Despite the title, only about the first third of the book has to do with the aforementioned couple. The reminder focuses on their son, Brian, who killed both of his parents while in the midst of a psychotic break, and his subsequent life as a mental patient.
The twenty-some years that Brian has spent as a patient in a mental “hospital” sounds very One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, minus Jack Nicholson’s charm. What this book highlights is the awful irony of Brian’s, and I’m sure many other’s, situations, being that they’re supposed to be remanded for treatment, while at the same time being told that they can’t get better.
It’s a sad and discouraging narrative that sheds a little light on the people often overlooked as the dregs of society.
Thanks to #netgalley and #henryholtandconpany for this ARC of #couplefoundslain in exchange for an honest review.

I received a free audio copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

First of all, I want to say that I think this book needs a new title. I don't feel like it represents the story and the meaning that is gained from it. Couple Found Slain refers to the crime that was committed by Brian Bechtold, the subject of the book. It refers to the incident in which Brian shot and killed his parents in 1992. Yes, the subtitle is After a Family Murder, which indicates that we are following what happens to Brian AFTER the crime is committed and he is found not criminally responsible. However, I don't see how the title connects with the treatment of mentally ill criminals.

"Not criminally responsible" is the more commonly used term in place of the former "Not guilty by reason of insanity". This is what the court deems Brian after his psychotic break. He's diagnosed as a paranoid schizophrenic, and that diagnosis follows him around for the rest of his life. We learn about the events that led up to the murder, but the focus is more on Brian's life after the crime.

I felt like I was in the Perkins center with Brian because the descriptions dragged on and on and on, and I got an idea of how tedious and boring the center must have been for him. But that being said, I couldn't really make myself care. I felt like the author was trying so hard to get me to sympathize with Brian and make me believe he needed to be free. At the end of the day, the people in this center have committed awful crimes. I do want to see them rehabilitated, but I also can't muster up sympathy for people who have raped and killed children. (This is not the case for Brian, but we get a lot of background about the other patients).

Background about the other patients is another issue I have with the book. I found some of this information unrelated to Brian's story and it almost seemed like it was there to just shock the reader.

I've always been curious about what happens to those people who are found not criminally responsible for heinous crimes. I understand that mental illness can drive people to do things they normally would not do. I appreciated the information I learned about some of these institutions they are sent to. I hope to see some reform. But am I convinced Brian needs to be set free? I don't know.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3957091901

Really interesting book it's more about mental illness than a murder mystery there is no mystery we know who the murderer is right away, it’s about his mental illness. This is a really interesting look at different mental illnesses, drug protocols and misdiagnosis. Also what happens when someone is found guilty of a crime but are mentally ill and are sent to a hospital instead of jail, is that better?? The changing of medications just doesn’t seem like the best course of treatment.

The scary things going on in this hospital are not better than what a person goes through in prison. You would think that even in a high security mental hospital it would be safer but that doesn’t seem to be the case.

This is really a blistering look at the mental health system especially when it is chosen over prison because someone was mentally ill when they committed their crime.
It’s pretty sad that this man had to fight to go to prison; people who think going to a hospital is a lighter sentence should really read this book!

Brian had so many different diagnosis’s that really the only for sure thing is he did commit a murder, then spent 20+ years trying to fight them and go to prison or be released.

This was a fascinating look into what happens when a prisoner is sentenced to a hospital instead of prison.

Christina Delaine did a great job at the narration.

Really fascinating book I highly recommend it! I think this book would make a great book club book!

4 stars

I received this book from NetGalley and the publisher Macmillan Audio for a fair and honest review.

This book was fairly interesting. I thought there was going to be more information on the family. However majority of the book was about his stay in the mental facility. And the injustices that he faced.

I am a true crime fan, and I loved the introduction to this book-- It said that most true crime stories unravel what happened to get people to where they committed the crime, but that this one would be different because it primarily follows the person after the crime. For that reason, I was a little surprised when the first 15% of the book was an extremely long, very detailed family history from the time the parents got married. I did keep listening, and I do think it did a good job of following life after the arrest, but it was overwhelmingly dry and I don't think the narration helped with that.

I always find stories from different perspectives fascinating. This story was what happens AFTER Brian was convicted of killing his parents and being declared not mentally competent. You hear stories of what happens in the mental health hospitals but you don't know what happens first hand. The story that was told here was heart breaking and had me really feeling for Brian. With his childhood, I could understand why he would have mental health issues, but it was more than that here. You feel sympathy with the way that he was treated in this facility, but you are also getting it from only his side. I don't know what is real, but I am sure a blend of both truths are what actually happened. I loved getting a glimpse inside these doors though because it sheds some light on poor situations that do need changed. The narration was spot on and was engaging. Thank you to Macmillian audio, Netgalley and the author for an early copy of this audiobook.

This is without a doubt, one of the most twisted and bizarre true crime books I’ve ever read. The story has sex, murder and millions of dollars in play. Police are called to the home of multi millionaire Jonah Shaknai, where they find the body of his girlfriend Rebecca, naked and bound at the wrists and ankles. Written on the wall near her hanging body are the words, She saved him can you save her. Rebecca’s death came just two days after the death of Jonah’s toddler son, who died as the result of a fall he suffered while under Rebecca’s care. Unbelievably, police rule the woman’s death as a suicide. Rother’s investigation into this bizarre and horrific case reveals a plot crazier than anything Hollywood could cook up. Married with Perry’s solid narration, this is a must listen for fans f true crime

Audiobook narrated by Christina Delaine. I thought it was very well done. This is my third true crime book this year and it’s been the best so far. The first half of this book is a bio of the family and the crime. Really liked how the author told this part.
The second half was the aftermath of the crime. What actually happened to the guilty party. Where they went. How they lived and all the difficult issues this entailed.
As a side note I want to mention that I spent a couple of days on a psych floor in my 20’s and it was surreal. I’ve never felt so helpless. Now having said that I was really torn about this situation. And I’m glad I don’t have to decide what’s safe for “us” in society.
Again, I really liked this book and it’s made me appreciate my family. I highly recommend if you love true crime.

My thanks to Net Galley and MacMillan Audio for this copy to listen to.

Brian Bechtold shoots his parents, goes to the police, and freely admits his guilt and is sent to Perkins Psychiatric Hospital. I was mislead a bit by the title. It's not just Couple Slain, it's Brian s journey from early family abuse and thru the hospital from his perspective. Great research and information on mental illness and medications for such diagnosis. It is an angle I have not read since One Flew Over the Cuckoo s Nest. Interesting listen.

My only complaint....did not connect to narrator. Very monotone and robotic . Could have used more expression.

The book’s sensationalistic title “Couple Found Slain”—and even the cover art—is a bit misleading. It gives you a sense that you’re about to embark on solving a true crime mystery. One that involves a 22-year-old son who kills his parents. But that’s not what this book is about. Rather, it’s about Brian Bechtold’s mental issues and his loooooong stay in a maximum security psychiatric hospital. The author, Mikita Brottman, does a thorough job researching life "in the aftermath." And how our legal and medical systems fail people with mental health issues. She takes us inside these hospitals and gives case study examples of how people like Brian are put into institutions and “left to rot.” No one knows what to do with them.

I listened to the audiobook and it was OK. Not excellent. This program includes an introduction read by the author, which is a reiteration of what I wrote above. This book is largely about how we do and don’t care for people with mental issues and how we do and don’t diagnose them. And it's about our weakening criminal justice system. Christina Delaine did a fine job narrating. The reason for my 3-star review is that I just didn’t connect to the content. It felt like I was reading a journal or white paper. That said, people in the medical profession or criminal justice roles will definitely enjoy this book!

Special thanks to Macmillan Audio and Henry Holt and Company for a copy of the audiobook, via the NetGalley app. This is my honest review.