MURDEROUS MINDS: The Model Student Murderer Pt. 1

Jennifer Pan seemed like the perfect daughter—straight A’s, trophies, and a future in medicine. But behind closed doors, the pressure was suffocating. In 2010, she decided there was only one way out: murder. This is the twisted story of how a model student turned into a killer. Killer Minds is a Crime House Original. Follow us @crimehouse for more true crime content.

Speaker names marked ? are inferred from speaking time and the show’s known hosts — they are not voice-verified.

• 0:01Vanessa Richardson?

  Hi, everyone. Before today's episode, there's another show I want to tell you about. It's called What the Fact with Connor Tomlinson from Netflix's Love on the Spectrum and Carter Roy. Every week, they take three unbelievable true facts from history and tell you the full story behind them. Plus, Connor's infectious energy that'll make you realize history is the most fascinating thing on earth. Follow What the Fact wherever you listen or subscribe on YouTube at What the Fact Pod.

• 0:37Speaker 01

  This is Crime House.

• 0:41Vanessa Richardson?

  Being a teenager is hard. From juggling school and extracurriculars to dealing with social pressures, not to mention a developing mind and body, it's a lot to deal with, especially if they're dealing with strict rules and restrictions at home. Some teens can suck it up and abide by those guidelines. Others find a way around it, whether it's sneaking out of the house or staying up past curfew. But there are a few kids out there who've taken these small acts of defiance to the next level. People like Jennifer Pan. As a teenager, Jennifer struggled with her parents' overbearing rules and unrealistic expectations.

• 1:26Vanessa Richardson?

  Those struggles simmered into resentment and eventually boiled into full-on hate. Before she knew it, her desire for independence had spiraled out of control, and she was willing to do anything for freedom. Even kill.

• 1:57Vanessa Richardson?

  The human mind is fascinating. It controls how we think, how we feel, how we love, and how we hate. And sometimes the mind drives us to do something truly unspeakable. This is Killer Minds, formerly known as Mind of a Serial Killer, a Crime House original. Every Monday and Thursday, we'll be taking deep dives into the minds of history's most notorious serial killers and murderers. The show is still the same, the name just changed. And if you're interested in more true crime stories from this week in history, check out Crime House: The Show.

• 2:36Vanessa Richardson?

  Every episode covers multiple cases unified by the same theme, so every week you get something a little different. At Crime House, we want to express our gratitude to you, our community, for making this possible. Please support us by rating, reviewing, and following Killer Minds wherever you get your podcasts. Your feedback truly matters. And to enhance your Killer Minds listening experience, subscribe to Crime House Plus on Apple Podcasts. You'll get every episode ad-free, and instead of having to wait for each episode of a two-part series, you'll get access to both at once, plus exciting Crime House bonus content. I'm Vanessa Richardson.

• 3:18Tristin Engels?

  And I'm Dr. Tristin Engels. As Vanessa takes you through our subject's stories, I'll be helping her analyze what drove them to commit their crimes as we try to understand how someone can do such horrible things.

• 3:31Vanessa Richardson?

  Before we get into the story, you should know it contains descriptions of self-harm and suicidal ideation. Listener discretion is advised. This is the first of two episodes on Jennifer Pan. After spending her whole life doing the right thing and trying to live up to her parents' expectations, 24-year-old Jennifer hit a breaking point. In 2010, she decided the only way to truly break free from her family was to have them killed.

• 4:03Vanessa Richardson?

  In today's episode, we'll follow Jennifer's strict upbringing, her struggle to please her parents, and one violent night that changed everything.

• 4:14Tristin Engels?

  And along the way, I'll be jumping in to talk about things like the challenges of adapting to an entirely new society and culture, the burden of living up to unrealistic expectations, and the psychology of deception, both from the deceiver and the person being deceived.

• 4:31Vanessa Richardson?

  Next time, we'll follow the investigation as detectives work to piece together the truth. We'll learn how Jennifer's story slowly unraveled, and we'll take you into the courtroom to see if justice was finally served. And as always, we'll be asking the question, what makes a killer?

• 4:54Speaker 01

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• 5:23Vanessa Richardson?

  When Hu Han Pan and Bich Hau Luang came to Canada in the late 1970s, they were looking for a better life for themselves and their future children. Han grew up in Vietnam during a difficult time in the country's history. The decades-long war that started back in 1954 had left the country in shambles, physically and economically. When Canada announced they'd be taking in political refugees from Vietnam, Han jumped at the opportunity to start fresh. In 1979, he joined tens of thousands of other asylum seekers on a harrowing journey across the South China Sea. At 26 years old, he arrived in Toronto

• 6:08Vanessa Richardson?

  with no money and no grasp of the English language.

• 6:12Tristin Engels?

  Migrating to a new country can impact an individual in so many ways. And the most common is cultural disorientation or culture shock, particularly for someone of Han's age, who spent his entire developmental years and into early adulthood in his home country. And with that includes difficulty assimilating because of those language barriers, cultural differences, and even financial hardships. But when discussing the impact, we also have to consider the reason for migrating. Han is migrating as a refugee. He's fleeing a war-torn country and is enduring a very risky and traumatic journey. That's very impactful. Migrants are at a greater risk of depression, anxiety, stress, and loneliness.

• 6:56Tristin Engels?

  But when we consider that Han is a refugee, there may be some complex trauma there as well.

• 7:03Vanessa Richardson?

  Despite the difficult transition, many other refugees were eager to follow suit, like Han's future wife, 23-year-old Bick Ha. In 1979, she also made the trek from Vietnam to Toronto. The immigrant community there was tight-knit and vibrant. And soon, Bick and Han crossed paths. But it wasn't the first time. It turned out they'd actually known each other back in Vietnam. Soon, they reconnected in Toronto and started dating. After a little while, they got married and moved in together. But being in a new country came with its own set of obstacles. Han had gone to college for mechanics and found a job making tools for an auto parts manufacturer.

• 7:47Vanessa Richardson?

  Bick also had some kind of mechanical training and joined Han at the company assembling car parts. It was physically demanding, and the hours were long. But the couple had been taught that hard work was the only way to achieve success. And even though the pay wasn't great, Bick and Han never complained. Still, their meager salaries meant they could only afford to rent a small apartment in Toronto's Malvern neighborhood, one of the rougher parts of the city. But Bick and Han weren't discouraged. They were determined to rise up in their new Canadian society, especially because their family was growing.

• 8:29Vanessa Richardson?

  On June 17, 1986, Bick gave birth to a little girl. She and Han decided to name her Jennifer. Not only did they think it sounded nice, but it meant she wouldn't have to deal with kids and teachers mispronouncing a Vietnamese name. When their son was born three years later, in 1989, Han and Bick followed this same thinking and named him Felix. But although Bick and Han wanted their children to assimilate into the society around them, they struggled to adapt themselves. While Han slowly picked up English at work, he never became fully fluent. It seemed like Bick didn't either.

• 9:11Vanessa Richardson?

  Which meant the kids were living two very different lives. At school, they immersed themselves in Canadian culture, but at home, it was a traditional Asian environment, and the family only spoke Vietnamese and Cantonese. Luckily, they were surrounded by many families doing the same thing. By the early 1990s, Bick and Han had saved up enough money for them to purchase their first home, a three-bedroom house in Scarborough, a multicultural community in Toronto. Even today, Scarborough is considered to be one of the most diverse cities in Canada, with immigrants from around the world, including Asia and the Caribbean.

• 9:52Vanessa Richardson?

  Still, it wasn't the nicest neighborhood, but Han didn't want the family to stay there forever, especially because he had big dreams for his two kids.

• 10:03Tristin Engels?

  There are a lot of cultural factors here that really play a significant role in Jennifer's story. One of the most common pressures that first-generation children experience is that pressure to succeed, especially in a family such as this, where their parents were quite literally refugees who sacrificed everything for a better life. There is cultural trauma that can be passed down, and in some cases, it can be unconsciously projected onto children in the form of guilt. Jennifer and Felix will likely be raised with knowledge of what their parents went through in Vietnam, their harrowing journey to freedom, their struggles financially to provide, and all to create a better life for their children. That can cause children to struggle with feelings of guilt as a result.

• 10:48Tristin Engels?

  They often inadvertently feel as if it's up to them to make their parents' sacrifices worth it. And first-generation children are also at a greater risk of experiencing feelings of isolation, cultural dissonance, anxiety, and depression stemming from navigating two very distinct cultures. Vietnamese culture is collectivist, meaning the needs of the family take precedence over the needs of the individual, whereas Canadian culture is more individualistic and community-based. And those are very distinctly different expectations and approaches. This can cause a great deal of cultural dissonance. Also, if the children of immigrant parents are needed to translate, that's a role reversal that forces children to take on adult responsibilities.

• 11:32Tristin Engels?

  They subsequently miss out on social experiences because of their parents' dependence on them. And especially for someone like Jennifer, who is stuck between an individualistic and collectivist culture, if she would rather prioritize her own needs, that also contributes to those feelings of guilt.

• 11:51Vanessa Richardson?

  Han was determined to make sure both Jennifer and Felix would be wildly successful. One would become a doctor, the other would be a mechanical engineer, something Han himself had always aspired to, but never got the proper degree for. And he made sure his kids were set up for success from the beginning. He and Bick enrolled Jennifer in piano lessons when she was only four. Two years later, she entered the intense world of youth figure skating. Unlike activities like soccer or orchestra, these were both solo endeavors, which meant if Jennifer failed, the blame rested entirely on her shoulders. And her parents weren't shy about letting her know

• 12:34Vanessa Richardson?

  how disappointed they'd be if she did badly.

• 12:38Tristin Engels?

  And this is something that can create those feelings of guilt that I mentioned, and it can really impact her self-esteem as well as how she measures her worthiness.

• 12:47Vanessa Richardson?

  Lucky for Jennifer, she was really good at both activities. By elementary school, she'd racked up one trophy after another. But even when her parents celebrated her, their eyes were always on the next prize. Besides piano and figure skating, they also put Jennifer into swimming and wushu, an ancient Chinese martial art. None of these expensive extracurriculars were Jennifer's choice, and they definitely put a strain on the family's finances. But Han and Bick thought it was worth it because to them Jennifer wasn't doing these activities just to have fun. She was laying the groundwork for the rest of her life.

• 13:30Vanessa Richardson?

  But even in such a demanding household, there was room for a little tenderness, especially from Jennifer's mom. If Han was ever too hard on the kids, Bick was the one who quietly knocked on Jennifer's or Felix's door to check on them. For Jennifer, these moments with her mother were essential. Han wasn't the most affectionate father. When she was alone with Bick, Jennifer got the kind of attention she craved. All the pressure was still hard for Jennifer to manage, though. She sought an escape wherever she could, including through piano and skating, because while she hadn't chosen to participate in these activities, she did actually enjoy them, at least when she wasn't competing. When she

• 14:13Vanessa Richardson?

  was skating, she felt free out on the ice. Despite her severe asthma and poor eyesight, Jennifer was able to let go of some of the expectations bearing down on her and just exist freely. The same went for piano, which she said was like her therapy, a place where she could release any pent-up emotions she had.

• 14:36Tristin Engels?

  At this point in the story, it's clear that Jennifer has very little control in her life, and she does not appear to have a home that fosters open communication. And that's vital because it teaches children how to assert their needs, express their feelings, and feel valued. Not to mention, her father seems cold, and her mother is seemingly nurturing to her, but in secret almost, when her father's not around or if he's unaware. And that says a lot about the dynamic of her parents as well and the overall tone in the home. They could be inadvertently teaching Jennifer to view the world in black or white. You're either succeeding or you're failing. You're either perfect or you're a disappointment. And this is psychological pressure for Jennifer, especially if those same demands are not

• 15:20Tristin Engels?

  expected of her brother. Because all of Jennifer's activities are controlled, it makes sense why she's gravitating towards skating and piano to find relief. They're the only activities that her parents support. And so they're the only outlets at her disposal. She's specifically getting relief in the moments where she can skate for herself or play piano for herself without critique, without competition, without pressure, and within her control.

• 15:48Vanessa Richardson?

  How does this intense pressure, like the kind Jennifer was feeling from her parents, impact a young child?

• 15:55Tristin Engels?

  Yeah, children who lack control in their lives or aren't given a voice or the freedom to explore their own interests tend to experience low self-esteem, anxiety, depression, anger, poor emotional regulation, identity confusion, and helplessness, which can greatly impact their interpersonal relationships and their overall sense of value. Children need outlets. Nothing good comes from bottling up emotions. Without a sense of control, they will seek out anything that they can control. And oftentimes, that leads to risky or maladaptive behaviors. Common maladaptive behaviors that occur from this are substance abuse, as well as the formation of an eating disorder.

• 16:36Vanessa Richardson?

  Well, even though Jennifer was able to cope with the pressure, the knowledge that she had to succeed never went away. And it didn't stop when she got up from the piano or left the rink. Although Bick was Buddhist, both Jennifer and Felix were raised Catholic, like their father. So when Jennifer started elementary school sometime in 1992 or 1993, it was at St. Barnabas Catholic School. She tackled her schoolwork with the same intensity as her other activities. According to one teacher, Jennifer saw herself as, quote, "not just the teacher's pet, but the school pet." While other kids were out at recess, Jennifer chose to spend her lunch helping out in the school office.

• 17:19Vanessa Richardson?

  She offered to grade homework for the younger kids and help them learn to read. When it was time for the first and second graders to go out into the yard, Jennifer would watch over them.

• 17:30Tristin Engels?

  Yeah, it appears Jennifer's become a parentified child. And these are these examples of a role reversal that I talked about. She behaves more like an adult, and it does not appear to know how to just be a child, even when it's okay to do that and when her parents aren't watching.

• 17:46Vanessa Richardson?

  Well, while Jennifer was busy helping everyone else, she was neglecting her own well-being. With every second of her day dedicated to school, volunteering, and extracurriculars, she barely had a second to breathe. And like a kettle, it was just a matter of time until she boiled over.

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• 19:11Vanessa Richardson?

  By the time Jennifer Pan was in elementary school in the mid-1990s, she'd racked up tons of awards and accolades. She was a top student with straight A's and an accomplished pianist and junior figure skater. Jennifer was a natural on the ice, and the more she progressed, the more pressure her parents put on her. Han and Bick dreamed of their daughter representing their new country, Canada, in the 2010 Winter Olympics. And Jennifer did her best to follow through, no matter the toll. Some nights, she wouldn't come home from skating practice until 10:00 PM. She'd immediately start doing homework and only head to bed around midnight.

• 19:56Vanessa Richardson?

  Jennifer never complained and never asked to slow down. But eventually, the pressure became too much to bear.

• 20:04Tristin Engels?

  And this is concerning because if this is affecting her emotionally and physically, then she should feel safe expressing that. But clearly, she did not.

• 20:13Vanessa Richardson?

  A few years into elementary school, when she was around 10 or 11, Jennifer was desperate for a release. That's when she began cutting herself, at first with small horizontal marks on her forearms.

• 20:28Tristin Engels?

  So let's talk about why a child would turn to self-injuring like this. There's been a lot of research done on this topic because it affects about 17% of adolescents, with the typical age of onset occurring around the age of 13 and peaking around 16. Jennifer is 10 or 11, so she's starting this quite early. There's no one cause for self-injurious behavior, but what is commonly experienced among those who do self-harm is a deep and overwhelming emotional pain, pain that they may lack the insight into the origin of. Like Jennifer, all she knows is her immediate micro and macro environment. And because of that, she likely thinks that these demands

• 21:11Tristin Engels?

  and her lack of control is normal for daughters to experience. And many individuals who have self-injured have reported doing it because it provides a distraction from that emotional pain, as well as a sense of immediate relief. It's as if it's grounding to them. They take their emotional pain, which they may or may not be fully aware of, make it tangible, and then they can watch it heal. It also is a way for them to take control when they feel they are lacking control, which is likely the primary reason for Jennifer doing this. We also know that when the body's injured, it triggers the release of endorphins, which are the body's natural pain reliever and mood boosters. This causes individuals who self-injure to feel momentarily better,

• 21:54Tristin Engels?

  but this also can cause them to continue to self-harm as a result. So most of the time, people who do this hide their self-injuries because they are distressed by it, or they're embarrassed by it, and it makes it hard for friends and family to intervene. So over time, without the interventions they need to overcome this, cutting can become increasingly more dangerous. In addition to being at risk of severe infection or improper healing, they can lose control over the urge to self-injure, which places them at an elevated risk for an unintentional, serious, or even lethal injury.

• 22:31Vanessa Richardson?

  And on top of feeling depressed, no one in Jennifer's life seemed to notice the pain she was in. And she either didn't want to ask for help, or didn't know how to. So she pushed her feelings away, and did what she had always been expected to do: she excelled. By 1999, when she was 13 years old, Jennifer's 8th grade graduation was fast approaching. With her impressive report card and sterling reputation, Jennifer expected to be named valedictorian. She was stunned when the honor went to someone else. But instead of expressing her devastation, Jennifer put on something she called her "happy mask." Whenever someone asked how she was doing, Jennifer insisted she was "perfectly fine."

• 23:17Vanessa Richardson?

  And from the outside, it certainly looked like it. By the year 2000, when 14-year-old Jennifer started high school, she seemed to come out of her shell. Although she wasn't the most popular, Jennifer definitely fit in. Other students described her as a "social butterfly" who could get along with just about anyone, from guys and girls, to jocks and nerds. But just when it seemed like Jennifer was finally hitting her stride, disaster hit. Sometime in high school, Jennifer was at figure skating practice when she tore the ACL ligament in her knee. Although she eventually recovered, she was never able to skate at the same level as before.

• 23:59Vanessa Richardson?

  Just like that, her hopes of qualifying for the 2010 Winter Olympics disappeared in the blink of an eye. Jennifer was crushed. Not because becoming an Olympian had been her dream, but because she had let her parents down. Still, it wasn't all bad. This unexpected change of plans also meant Jennifer suddenly had way more free time. So she decided to do what any other teenager would: she focused on her social life. She hung out with friends and started to become curious about boys. But even though Jennifer was finally letting loose and having some fun, she still wasn't able to participate in high school life the way she wanted to.

• 24:46Vanessa Richardson?

  Jennifer's parents had a very strict set of rules they expected her to follow, and "no dating" was at the top of that list. Except, her dad didn't just forbid her from having a boyfriend, Han also intentionally tried to make Jennifer seem less attractive to the boys at school. Classmates said she was pretty, but plain. She didn't wear makeup and kept her hair straight and unstyled, and she always wore her signature wireframe eyeglasses. What her peers didn't know was that some of these things weren't Jennifer's choice. In reality, Han didn't let her cover up her acne scars, dye her hair, or even pluck her eyebrows,

• 25:30Vanessa Richardson?

  anything to keep the boys at school from finding Jennifer attractive.

• 25:35Tristin Engels?

  All parents have rules when it comes to their children, especially when they start to enter their teenage years. Those rules typically are intended for their child's safety, such as curfews, no substance use, checking in when you're out with your friends, and even rules about dating are appropriate. But what you're describing is excessive, especially when compared to the control Han already had on Jennifer. I've already outlined how her lack of control in her life would likely lead to her finding ways to regain that control, which she's already started doing in maladaptive ways. But now Han is taking her freedom of self-expression. This can cause impairment in her ability to form her own identity. It can also cause something called psychological reactance,

• 26:18Tristin Engels?

  and that's when someone's freedom of choice is restricted, they will then resist or react against that perceived restriction, even if it means going against their own interest. This typically also causes anger or aggressive behavior, rebelliousness, and impairment in communication. She already lacks communication with her parents, but now we will begin to see more rebellious behaviors.

• 26:43Vanessa Richardson?

  Beyond trying to control Jennifer's appearance, her parents, especially Han, also monitored her movements. She wasn't allowed to go to school dances, and parties were completely off limits. Occasionally, Jennifer was allowed to sleep over at a friend's house, but even then, Bick and Han would bring Jennifer over late at night and pick her up early in the morning. Still, despite the many constraints her parents put in place, 18-year-old Jennifer seemed hopeful as she entered her senior year in 2004. And her mood only improved when she told her family she got into college. Apparently, she'd been accepted early into Ryerson University's science program in downtown Toronto.

• 27:28Vanessa Richardson?

  While it wasn't the University of Toronto pharmacology program Han had wanted her to attend, he seemed happy enough, especially because Jennifer promised she'd be able to transfer to it in two years' time. She just needed to maintain her grades. And Jennifer wasn't the only one with good news that year. After working nonstop for 25 years and pinching pennies, Bick and Han had saved up enough money to move to a wealthier community. In 2004, they left Scarborough and bought a large home in Toronto's prestigious Markham neighborhood. The two-car garage was the perfect place to store Han's Mercedes-Benz and Bick's Lexus ES300.

• 28:13Vanessa Richardson?

  And the area felt much safer than where they used to live. It was a symbolic moment for Jennifer's parents, who had come to Canada with literally nothing.

• 28:24Tristin Engels?

  I can see how this is a very pivotal moment for their family. The core values and the pay and home have surrounded social and financial status as well as education. Han and Bick came to Canada, like you said, with nothing. And although they may have had an education from Vietnam, they did not have the same resources that they are now able to give to their own children. Meeting this milestone not only validates Han in his authoritarian-style parenting, but it strengthens his position even more. I would imagine that this would serve as a reminder to Jennifer that if her parents can do it, there is no reason she can't, when she is given the resources and support that they never had. To Han and Bick, there's no reason that she can't succeed

• 29:09Tristin Engels?

  when there's no war affecting her home country. They're likely comparing her situation to theirs. And when that is the model you have to go off of, it would make it even more difficult for Jennifer to feel like she could voice any opposition, let alone voice her struggles meeting their expectations.

• 29:28Vanessa Richardson?

  You're right. In regards to those resources, they didn't just use their savings on themselves, they also spent plenty of it on Jennifer. As she prepared for her first year of college, Bick and Han wanted to show Jennifer how proud they were of her. They put money into her checking account, and Han co-signed a credit card for her. Jennifer had free rein to buy herself school supplies, fresh clothes, and a new laptop. Come September 2004, she was ready to hit the ground running at Ryerson. For the next two years, Jennifer continued to live at home and commuted to school during the day. As far as her parents knew, she worked hard and got excellent grades. And by 2006,

• 30:12Vanessa Richardson?

  20-year-old Jennifer told Bick and Han that she'd been accepted to the pharmacology program at the University of Toronto. Han was especially thrilled. Jennifer was too, and she used the opportunity to ask for a little more freedom. She had a friend named Topaz, who lived downtown, close to the University of Toronto campus. Jennifer asked her parents if she could stay with Topaz three nights a week. The commute was over 30 minutes, usually closer to 45 with traffic. Bick felt bad that Jennifer had to travel so long, and thought it was a good idea. And after some convincing, she got Han to agree to the arrangement as well.

• 30:56Vanessa Richardson?

  The next two years flew by. Jennifer finally got some distance from her parents, but also spent a few nights a week at home with them. Like always, she seemed to thrive at school. And by the time her graduation arrived in 2008, the 22-year-old had a transcript full of As. Vic and Han were thrilled with how much she'd accomplished and looked forward to seeing Jennifer get her diploma. But when they asked about tickets for the ceremony, Jennifer said her graduating class was especially large and the students were only allowed one guest each. Jennifer didn't want one of her parents to feel left out, so she'd already given the ticket to a friend.

• 31:39Vanessa Richardson?

  Vic and Han were disappointed, but they understood. Still, Han was eager to see photos of his daughter walking across the stage. However, when Jennifer got home from the ceremony, she said she didn't have any. Apparently, her friend had taken pictures, but was already on a plane flying back home to Hong Kong. Once again, Han was upset, but he let it go. After all, the most important thing wasn't all the fanfare. It was what Jennifer actually did with her supposed degree.

• 32:14Tristin Engels?

  Jennifer spent decades living for her parents. And now that she has some autonomy, she's preying on their weaknesses. She knows the areas of naivete with her parents, and she is one of them. Now that she has exposure to life outside of their rules, it seems she might be taking advantage. We are seeing her rebelliousness take root. And her parents are overlooking these details that don't add up because they have something called parental truth bias. This occurs when parents have a rigid perception of their child based on their beliefs and experiences. And in this case, Han and Vic have a rigid, positive view of their daughter because she has always followed their rules to their knowledge, and she's never complained or pushed back.

• 32:58Tristin Engels?

  And this causes them to be less suspicious of her, which then allows her to successfully deceive them. Not to mention, she's telling them what they want to hear. And because of that, they're less likely to challenge that when it confirms their bias.

• 33:14Vanessa Richardson?

  Regardless, Han knew Jennifer had big plans for her future. After graduating in 2008, Jennifer told them she was going to volunteer in the blood testing laboratory at Toronto's Hospital for Sick Children. It wasn't a paid gig, but Jennifer explained it was a way for her to gain experience in the field while doing something good for the community. Her parents agreed. They looked on with admiration as their oldest child inched closer to fulfilling the dreams they had for her. It seemed like everything Vic and Han had worked towards was finally coming true, and it was all thanks to Jennifer.

• 33:54Vanessa Richardson?

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• 36:33Vanessa Richardson?

  After announcing her graduation from the University of Toronto's pharmacology program in 2008, 22-year-old Jennifer Pan was adjusting to adult life. Although she was still living at home with her parents, Bick and Han, in Markham, Ontario, she spent a few nights a week downtown, supposedly at her friend Topaz's apartment. She also told her parents she volunteered at Toronto's hospital for sick children, doing blood testing on Friday nights and over the weekend. She said it was like a residency program in which she was gaining work hours. Once she accumulated enough, she could find a high-paying job in the field.

• 37:14Vanessa Richardson?

  Her parents didn't question her, and for the next two years, Jennifer continued working towards her ultimate goal of becoming a pharmacist. But then, in the winter of 2010, whatever plans she might have had came crashing down. On the night of November 8, 2010, the Pan family was winding down for the evening. 24-year-old Jennifer was watching Gossip Girl and John and Kate Plus 8 in her room. Meanwhile, Han read a Vietnamese newspaper down the hall before heading to bed at around 8:30. Jennifer's brother, Felix, was studying engineering at nearby McMaster University, so he wasn't home.

• 37:57Vanessa Richardson?

  Neither was 53-year-old Bick, who was at a line dancing class with some friends. She got back at around 9:30 PM, feeling exhausted. Vic changed into her pajamas, then sank onto the couch on the ground floor. Her feet were killing her, so she soaked them in some water while watching TV. Meanwhile, Han was upstairs, sleeping peacefully. At least until around 10:15 PM. That's when he woke to find a masked man standing over his bed. Han tried to shake off his grogginess as the man yelled at him, asking where he kept his money.

• 38:37Vanessa Richardson?

  When Han tried to argue, the man pressed a gun to the side of his head and told him to be quiet. Then, he ordered Han to get up and follow him downstairs. Han did as he was told. The man kept the gun pressed firmly to the back of Han's head as they descended the spiral staircase. With each step, Han felt his pulse quicken. And when they got to the bottom, Han nearly shouted out in fear. There were two more masked men in the living room, and one of them was standing over Vic and holding a gun to her neck. She was still soaking her feet in that tub of water. Han could see the terror in her eyes.

• 39:21Vanessa Richardson?

  She spoke to him in Cantonese, asking how they'd gotten inside the house. Han said he didn't know. Before he could add anything else, one of the men yelled at them to shut up, and asked where they kept their money. Han told them he had sixty dollars cash in his wallet, but their possessions around the house were worth a lot more than that. The men didn't believe him. Han was telling the truth, though. Part of the reason they'd moved to Markham was because they'd been robbed before. Ever since then, they no longer kept large amounts of money in the home. But before Han could explain that, one of the men hit him in the back of the head. Han crashed to the floor.

• 40:05Vanessa Richardson?

  Without giving him a second to recover, the men shouted for him to get up. Bick pleaded with the men. She said they could do whatever they needed to them, as long as they didn't touch their daughter. It seemed like Bick's pleas worked, because instead of focusing on Jennifer, the men led Bick and Han down to the basement and ordered them to sit on the couch. Han did his best to remain calm, but Bick was hysterical, and she only became more agitated when one of the men pointed his gun at Han, and then he fired. The first bullet fractured the bone near Han's eye and grazed his carotid artery.

• 40:50Vanessa Richardson?

  The second hit his shoulder. Han fell to the floor as a pool of blood formed around him. Bick screamed at them to stop, but it only seemed to anger the men. Before she knew what was happening, they turned the gun on her and fired three more shots. Then, Bick collapsed next to her husband.

• 41:14Tristin Engels?

  Han's apparent calmness during this ordeal is likely due to his past trauma. He came from a war-torn country, but he's also already been a victim of robbery. He likely went into fight, flight, or freeze mode, and given that his family was in the house, it seems like he chose to be as calm as he possibly could and agreeable for the safety of his entire family.

• 41:39Vanessa Richardson?

  Physically and psychologically, what's happening inside someone's mind and body when they're in fight or flight?

• 41:46Tristin Engels?

  So physically, the body releases adrenaline to prepare for a life-threatening situation. Whether you ultimately end up fighting in that situation, fleeing, or freezing, that adrenaline supplies your body with extra oxygen and energy to take action. When the brain, in particular the amygdala, perceives a threat, that's when it signals the hypothalamus to release that adrenaline as well as cortisol. Han and Bick were in survival mode, not just for themselves, but for their daughter as well. And a parental instinct to protect a child is rooted deeply in evolution.

• 42:22Vanessa Richardson?

  Considering how intense the situation was, it seemed like Bick and Han handled it the best they could, but it still wasn't enough to keep them safe. After hearing the gunfire, Jennifer rushed to call 911. She told them that while she was watching TV, she heard multiple people break into the house and confront her parents downstairs. Jennifer told the dispatcher she was hiding in her room when she heard gunshots. A few moments later, two masked men ran into her room and dragged her out into the hallway. According to her, they tied her to the banister overlooking the main floor. They rushed out of the house without realizing Jennifer had her cellphone in her pocket.

• 43:07Vanessa Richardson?

  She explained that despite being tied up, she had managed to reach her phone and call emergency services. At that very moment, while Jennifer was on the phone, Han slowly regained consciousness down in the basement. As he looked around the room, his worst fears came true. The two masked men were gone, and his wife was dead.

• 43:37Vanessa Richardson?

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• 44:22Vanessa Richardson?

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• 45:07Vanessa Richardson?

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• 45:47Vanessa Richardson?

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• 46:03Vanessa Richardson?

  After realizing the intruders had fled and Bick was dead, Han dragged himself upstairs to the main floor of the house. The emergency dispatcher on the line with Jennifer could hear him yelling out in agony. Despite his injuries, he was able to stagger to the front door and into the front yard before collapsing. A few minutes later, emergency services arrived. Han was loaded into an ambulance and transferred to a hospital where he fell into a coma. Meanwhile, police officers pulled up to the house. Inside, they found Jennifer tied up. In a panicked voice, she told them she was okay, but something was wrong with her mother.

• 46:47Vanessa Richardson?

  After untying her, the officers searched the house and located Bick in the basement. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Jennifer said she thought it was a robbery gone wrong. But when the officers walked through the house, they noticed something strange. Everything seemed like it was in order. It didn't look like the assailants had taken anything. The only thing that indicated there was any sort of trouble was the trail of blood from when Han made his way to the front door. And since Jennifer was the only one who was unharmed, they wanted to ask her a few questions. Four hours after the masked men broke into her home and shot her parents, Jennifer Pan was led into an interrogation room

• 47:32Vanessa Richardson?

  at the Markham Police Station. Detective Randy Slade told Jennifer she was the only one who could help them find the people who did this.

• 47:44Tristin Engels?

  So even though Jennifer, at least according to her, she did not see her parents get shot, she overheard the entire thing, and that can really impact someone emotionally. A lot of people don't realize that stress reactions, including post-traumatic stress disorder, can result from something that was witnessed or even overheard. You don't have to be the direct victim. And when someone experiences an acute stress reaction, they can also experience impairment in cognition. And by that, I mean, they can experience impairment in memory, concentration, decision-making, and problem-solving. Another byproduct of an experience like the one Jennifer is describing is survivor's guilt. Symptoms of that include intense guilt or self-blame,

• 48:27Tristin Engels?

  mood lability, such as irritability or outbursts, and difficulty accepting the event. This all, provided it being true, coming from Jennifer, could affect how she responds during an interrogation, especially since she has spent years perfecting an identity that was outlined by her parents that is now under question by police in a way that it has never been before.

• 48:51Vanessa Richardson?

  Well, Jennifer looked nervous. She did her best to describe the intruders, who she referred to as "gentlemen." The first man, who she called "number one," carried a handgun, wore black leather gloves, and sounded like he was born in Canada. According to her, "number two" had a long oval face and wore a dark hoodie. Jennifer said he seemed more like an assistant and ran back and forth between the other two men, helping them when they asked. As for "number three," Jennifer said she didn't get a good look at him. He was the one holding her parents at gunpoint, but she did hear his voice. According to Jennifer, he had a Caribbean accent.

• 49:33Vanessa Richardson?

  While Jennifer described the men, Detective Slade noticed something odd. Not only did she call them "gentlemen," a strangely polite way to refer to the men who had just killed her mother, she also seemed utterly calm. In fact, the only time she did show any emotion was when her mother was mentioned. At that point, Slade handed Jennifer a tissue. He watched as she dabbed at her eyes and pulled the napkin away. He noticed it was completely dry. While Jennifer's reaction might have seemed suspicious, Slade knew it didn't necessarily mean she was involved in the crime, so he kept an open mind as she told him what happened

• 50:15Vanessa Richardson?

  that night, this time with more details. According to Jennifer, once she heard the intruders come in, she was so scared she couldn't move from her room. Once she thought they were gone, she peered out into the hallway when "number one" came towards her. She said he tied up her hands and put a gun to her back. Then he told her to show him where the money was. Jennifer had $2,000 cash she was saving to buy a new iPhone, so she gave him that, but it wasn't enough. After that, Jennifer said the night was a blur, although she did recall the moment they tied her to the banister. Jennifer said the last thing she heard was the men say,

• 50:59Vanessa Richardson?

  "You lied to us," followed by two gunshots. After that, she called emergency services.

• 51:07Tristin Engels?

  Let's circle back and talk about those lack of tears that the investigator noticed. I think it's important to understand that there are varying emotional reactions that can occur after a serious tragedy like this one that don't necessarily mean guilt. Shock, for example, has varying responses where some people will show anger or fear, while others present as emotionally detached or numb. Some may still be in disbelief, having not had the time to fully process the tragic events that took place, and a tragedy like this could take a lot of time to process.

• 51:44Vanessa Richardson?

  Is it strange that Jennifer seemed to be crying, but the tissue was dry? Why pretend at this point?

• 51:50Tristin Engels?

  Yeah, I think it certainly warrants further exploration, given that it appears performative. However, at the same time, we have to remember and consider what we know about Jennifer's history. She has never really had an environment that nurtured emotional expression or fostered open communication. The pain that environment may have caused her, in addition to her lack of emotional outlets, has led her to self-injure, and she has always had to do what she was told to do without the ability to assert what she wanted or express her needs. So it is worth considering, at this point in the story, the fact that Jennifer has likely never been able to express emotions in authentic ways, and that could be something

• 52:34Tristin Engels?

  that could be occurring here. I would expect to see more of a detached response rather than a performative one. Even if she's being genuine, pretending to cry when you actually aren't is not a good look during an interrogation.

• 52:52Vanessa Richardson?

  And while Detective Slade knew not to rush to judgment, he did have several questions about Jennifer's story, including how Jennifer was physically able to call 911. Shockingly, she had an explanation. She demonstrated how she was able to reach into her back pocket and dial for help. Even so, the phone was about a foot and a half away from her ear. He asked how she was able to hear the operator, and Jennifer paused. After a moment, she blurted out that she turned the volume all the way up, but Slade could see the panic in her eyes. Her explanation was far-fetched, but possible. However, there was one big lingering question he just couldn't get past.

• 53:37Vanessa Richardson?

  According to Jennifer, this was a robbery gone wrong. But if the intruders were there to ransack the house, why didn't they steal Bick's Lexus? When the officers searched the scene, they noticed the car keys were right there by the front door. Why didn't they take them? And how did they break in? There were no signs of forcible entry, and everything in the house looked in order. According to Jennifer, the men didn't have a crowbar to break in or a backpack to carry the stolen loot. But most confusing of all, if this was a home invasion, why would the men have shot two witnesses but left one unharmed?

• 54:20Vanessa Richardson?

  As Detective Slade sat across from Jennifer Pan, a dark thought crossed his mind. Was it possible he wasn't looking at a victim, but instead, a perpetrator? He wouldn't have to wait long to find out, because over at the hospital, Jennifer's father was steadily recovering. And despite his injuries, he remembered the night in question very well. Because while he and his wife were being terrorized, Jennifer was chatting with the masked men like they were old friends. It seemed clear to Han that these weren't random intruders. He believed Jennifer had invited them in

• 55:05Vanessa Richardson?

  to kill her own parents.

• 55:20Vanessa Richardson?

  Thanks so much for listening. Come back next time to learn what really happened with Jennifer Pan and find out if justice was served.

• 55:29Tristin Engels?

  Killer Minds is a Crime House original powered by Pave Studios. Here at Crime House, we want to thank each and every one of you for your support. If you like what you heard today, reach out on all social media at Crime House. And don't forget to rate, review, and follow Killer Minds wherever you get your podcasts. Your feedback truly makes a difference.

• 55:50Vanessa Richardson?

  And to enhance your listening experience, subscribe to Crime House Plus on Apple Podcasts. You'll get every episode of Killer Minds ad-free, along with early access to each thrilling two-part series and exciting bonus content.

• 56:06Vanessa Richardson?

  Killer Minds is hosted by me, Vanessa Richardson, and Dr. Tristin Engels, and is a Crime House original powered by Pave Studios. This episode was brought to life by the Killer Minds team: Max Cutler, Ron Shapiro, Alex Benedon, Laurie Marinelli, Natalie Pritzowski, Sarah Camp, Sheila Patterson, and Carrie Murphy. Thank you for listening.

• 56:35Speaker 07

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• 57:17Speaker 07

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• 57:35Vanessa Richardson?

  If you're looking for your next podcast, check out What the Fact with Connor Tomlinson from Netflix's Love on the Spectrum and Carter Roy. Every week, they take three unbelievable true facts from history and tell you the full story behind them. Follow What the Fact wherever you listen or subscribe on YouTube at What the Fact Pod.