Episode Description
Julissa Thaler: The Mother Who Bought a Shotgun After Losing Custody Battle
In May 2022, Orono police discovered six-year-old Eli Hart's body in the trunk of his mother Julissa Thaler's vehicle during a routine traffic stop in Minnesota. The investigation revealed Thaler had shot Eli up to nine times with a 12-gauge shotgun just ten days after regaining full custody. Evidence included the weapon purchase six days after the father filed for custody, Google searches about child blood loss and life insurance payouts, and ammunition specifically requested to "blow the biggest hole." Despite 21 police calls to Thaler's home, documented mental health crises, and explicit warnings from family members that she would kill Eli rather than lose custody, Dakota County Social Services recommended returning the child to her care.
Eli was a kindergartener who loved the monkey bars, fishing with his dad, and making friends at school. Despite being born with medical challenges that required surgeries and hearing aids, everyone said he was one of the happiest kids they'd ever met. His foster mother told social workers directly that she believed Thaler would murder Eli to keep him from his father. Two weeks after getting full custody, that's exactly what happened.
#EliHart #JulissaThaler #TrueCrime #MinnesotaMurder #ChildWelfare #Justice #SystemFailure
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In May 2022, Orono police discovered six-year-old Eli Hart's body in the trunk of his mother Julissa Thaler's vehicle during a routine traffic stop in Minnesota. The investigation revealed Thaler had shot Eli up to nine times with a 12-gauge shotgun just ten days after regaining full custody. Evidence included the weapon purchase six days after the father filed for custody, Google searches about child blood loss and life insurance payouts, and ammunition specifically requested to "blow the biggest hole." Despite 21 police calls to Thaler's home, documented mental health crises, and explicit warnings from family members that she would kill Eli rather than lose custody, Dakota County Social Services recommended returning the child to her care.
Eli was a kindergartener who loved the monkey bars, fishing with his dad, and making friends at school. Despite being born with medical challenges that required surgeries and hearing aids, everyone said he was one of the happiest kids they'd ever met. His foster mother told social workers directly that she believed Thaler would murder Eli to keep him from his father. Two weeks after getting full custody, that's exactly what happened.
#EliHart #JulissaThaler #TrueCrime #MinnesotaMurder #ChildWelfare #Justice #SystemFailure
🔔 Subscribe for True Crime Cases multiple times a week
Never miss a story. Subscribe to 10 Minute Murder for bite-sized true crime episodes delivered fresh every week.
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