MrBallen Podcast: Episode 126 - "The Forever Home" (PODCAST EXCLUSIVE EPISODE) 

Those parents failed that child and his needs from the very beginning. He needed to heal and learn to trust and all they wanted was immediate structure? So sad.

As soon as they kicked Michael out and he was put in a hospital, i bet that it was Larry as if i was him id be on eggshells thinking one step wrong and i'm out. Its hard being a parent and navigating how strict you need to be on them but its a whole different story with foster or adopted kids. Theyve been through more emotional and likely physical trauma than a lot of adults can comprehend. The parents obviously didnt deserve to die but i do think they took too much on adopting 3 children. Most adults cant handle their own trauma let alone teach 3 children whose history they will never fully understand.

The beginning of this story really pisses me off. Kid probably had an undiagnosed learning disability or something, plus obviously had been through trauma, and didn't seem to have to receive any actual help, just blame. Not that that excuses anything, but still sucks.

I fall asleep every night listening to this guy and then wake up in the morning and watch the part I fell asleep to lol 😅

The court sentencing him to 20 years with parole after 9 is simply ridiculous!

I know the parents had made bad choices and the kids had been through the foster system so they already had trust issues but dang, loads of strict families exist… anger is one thing but that level of rage is hard to conceive

My fiancé was born and raised in Cape Saint Claire! He told me about this story years ago, this is the first time I hear it outside of that.

I knew it was him when he didnt wake up after the mom was screaming.

He killed two people and got paroled after 9 years? That should be life without parole.

Wow, didn't see that one coming.

This is why parents shouldn't be too proud to get professional help for their families! This is why parents shouldn't think that it's okay to yell at their children no matter what and especially not disown them! I'm not saying that killing is the saying or right thing to do at all but these people could maybe have prevented this by being more loving by allowing him to live somewhere else but still working on their relationship if it came to that but they should have consulted different counselors to help the parents be more understanding and to help the boy try and grow up in a more healthy way. Going to the extreme of disowning a child or teenager is the most hurtful thing you can do to that person and it is frankly unforgivable.

I don’t usually watch these ones because I love to watch Mr Ballans hand gestures and way he tells a story just reels me right in, but I’m giving it who because honestly you should do that sleep app story telling maybe not the scary stories lol they don’t bother me you’re voice is soothing….love how far you’ve come since 2020 I was there from first few hundred subscribers and still here today. You’ve channel has taken off like a true crime killer on crack evading the police (with the IQ of a rock) for some reason till manage to evade police.

It never fails that I fall asleep struggling to stay engaged just for a taste of Mr Ballen…the struggle is real although much more bearable these days I must say there’s nothing better than him in front of a green screen telling these stories to me!

I worked from Cape st Claire for years - Annapolis is my hometown. I love a good local story - thank you for doing this one!

What a surprising twist in this tragic account, and a further twist is that Michael Swartz was later convicted of a different murder (about 1990).

Love to hear the stories. Great job. Thank you❤

How in the world can you murder two people and only serve nine years in prison 😡

Wait omg this story was WILD damn

Imagine adopting your kid, and then kicking them out because they don’t value the same things as you and they wanted to hang out with their friend. That’s crazy to me a real mother would never do that.

I’m not against adoption and the foster system whatsoever, but it’s kinda like a box of chocolates… never know what you’re gonna get. Most are great, some are like Damien from The Omen.

I think there was a movie made about this called "Sudden Fury" which is really good. I'd love to hear him do a podcast on Thomas Sullivan, Jr. someday.

What happened to Annie afterwards?

HELLO EVERYONE AND GOD BLESS US ALL 👍🏿😎👍🏿

What are the odds of me hearing this January 16, 2024

Is the music to replace the ads

I like the pauses It sets the tone of anxiety! I feel anxious during the pause waiting for the next part 😅!

Im from Cape St Clair its a beautiful subdivision on the Chesapeake bay with the schools in the middle of the neighborhood very expensive

I watched this story on LMN years ago.

I would never thought Larry did that 😢

Kids aren't disposable... not sad about the outcome... they "seemed" horrible.

What happened to Annie?

Might seem like a small point, but remember kids are still "your own" whether they're biological or adopted. Two of my siblings are biological and one was adopted when we were young teenagers. In early childhood her guardian was a much older biological relative who died when my sister was about 8. Neither of her families, her birth family or ours, is less valid than the other. A true family is made of the people who love us, and there's no limit on that.

Was there the mix up of Larry & Michael at 33:42?? Or was it purposely done?

These people were awful. Willful children need negotiation. My way or the highway doesn’t work. This child has been abused. By his parents and these people. Poor boy how traumatic to be shown how you are so unloved and without a real home. Why would adults do this to a child and not expect retaliation for it shocks me. They are empty of any empathy. Hard to feel sorry for them.

The adopted parents were verbally abusing the kids.

This reminds me of that movie with Neil Patrick Harris and the kid from the Santa Claus.

So supposedly, Kay and Bob were "so mean and abusive" to the kids that they had no ability to defend themselves and, obviously, if they physically harmed them, they wouldn't cower and there would be evidence on Larry's or Annie or even Michael's body of harm or abuse that didn't exist at least in this podcast to prove his excuses. The detectives knew this. He killed because he wasn't allowed to do what he wanted and knew he could make any excuse and have michael as scapegoat hiding behind his "perfect child" mirage. He had alcohol hidden in his room which wouldn't be there as anyone knows "strict" parents search rooms daily and thoroughly. They may have did what they did with Michael but that does not excuse killing. Tons of parents expect good grades. Many people have had stricter parents and yelling and traumatic childhoods and dont act out and excuse their past trauma with violence. My sibling was sent away but I'd never take it out on anyone. When i was older i learned it was for our safety. So not only are people excusing a killer for having strict parents... they are saying the parents "deserved it" for something that wasnt proven and said by the killer and because he was "so angry" that they must of really "deserved" it? If it was the other way around...it still stands that we all have trauma and don't go around killing people no matter how bad it is. We need to stop using trauma as a crutch for doing wrong. Not to mention, the trauma he caused Annie with witnessing all of that would invalidate his "justice" killing.

This just reaffirms my hate for people. Adopt an animal. They appreciate it MORE😊

I looked for this episode on spotify can't find it

Its a good thing to do when you become a foster parent… but also risky lol

This is not the official Mr. Ballen podcast. Click on the podcast emblem and it’ll show you that.

My mom and dads names are Kay and Bob 😂.

Wow, sounds so much like the movie Halloween.

How very sad!!!

Very sad for the kids.

Is there a story after Larry got out of prison that you did? If not, can you do one?

The tag is Mrballen Podcast. ? Why do you say it'snot his channel?

This is every foster parent's nightmare... But what I dont understand in any circumstances the defense attorney shouldve told the suspect to tell the truth on what happened whether he did it or not, why advice not to talk in anyway to the detective, that is not right. Defence shouldve make sure the suspect got the justice they deserve not the suspect run away from their crime

Wait …what??? He only serve 9 years for murdering 2 people in cold blood??? Insanity!!!

But what happened to Annie? 😭

Is this channel a REAL Mr Ballen channel? I'm questioning bc there are so few subscribers.

Why you say they when there's only one !

You’re telling me a grown ass bob couldn’t protect himself? He couldn’t punch him, fight him, something? 🧐🤨 no way.

What a travesty she should be rotting in prison with those guys

I almost always figure out out It was Larry talked into it but Michael

Pretty sure there is a movie based on this

6:16 the child shouldn't be the one to "compromise" because the parents are not taking care about his feelings

Is it me or does his voice sound different than usual?

👍

0.o killed 2 ppl "HIS PARENTS" and got away with just 9 years ? !!

Those parents had it coming… You can’t mould a child it’s wrong, that kid needed therapy much more than forced education and punishment… how can you disown your child let alone an adopted broken kid? What religion they practiced????

How does this channel get away with this? Isn’t this a copy right issue? Idk😮

Mr Ballen, Im sorry, I love your program but those weird music pauses drive me nuts. And I am not the only one who feels this way. It’s just not necessary. We’re gonna listen to your stories anyway. Whoever thought of that idea should reconsider the decision. Just keeping it real. Love ya Kiddo.

Yeah! Ban the ludes!ban the ludes! Ban the ludes!

Why is the killer called "they "?

Had had had had had had had had had had had had.

Never heard my counties name pronounced so incorrectly

The parents treated Michael like shit, treated Larry like shit, and would have 100% treated Anna like shit if she wasn't up to par. Seems like there was a reason God didn’t allow them to give birth to children. All these folks in the comments could say what they want, but these parents were destructive and bad.

I hate so many commercials

Been listening for years, but I do not know who told you these pauses are a good idea, they are not.

Im only 6mins in and its already been 3 ads 😒

The creepy music bridges are incredibly distracting. Please stop it. I love your stories but the music is terrible.

I've always wondered no offense, but most western countries are all about raising their child w/ freedom and give their children everything yet there's way more violent cases in their countries than asian countries w/ strict households (that i think if western household were in, they might even go crazy by the idea). Im not being racist, I may be just talking about culture. Western ppl are so caught up in idea that when a kid does something bad, alw blame the parents when in reality, kids really have their own thoughts and opinion but got used to being babied and protected by parents, when in most cases, they grow up entitled.

THIS IS A PIRATE CHANNEL FOR MR BALLEN'S PODCAST!!! he only meant for it to be on Amazon on audio, never on RU-vid. these "people" are doing it for clicks and are USING HIS CONTENT WITHOUT PERMISSION. Do you really think Mr Ballen would put that kind of crap music on his videos???come on, FFS!

These parents where probably ultra-strict and supercontrolling religious maniacs... imagine a household with yelling and screaming matches every day. Imagine an environment where as soon as someone is "not functioning properly" (which means has a slight glimpse of own free will, wanting something else to do than nonstop study for A++ grades only to calm down the sadistic and constantly threatening controlling and yelling father-vulcan) or said person immediately gets fully disowned and institutionalized.... After the zealots disposed Mike now his brother Larry became their new prime target of all their hate and sadism and abuse of power. With never-ending threats of getting kicked out and disowned and die out on the streets for the slightest misstep like bad highschool grades. Imagine this neverending constant atmosphere of fear and threat for the own life beginning in the early teenage years, and a constant regime or terror with the only one possible solution for the kids: "I need to kill my own parents to be allowed to be free and to be myself and to finally end the never-ending screams and threats and finally live in peace!" Insane circumstances - but not the innocent kids. No wonder Larry snapped some day, maybe he noticed in the eyes of his insane father that now he was slowly becoming "the second Mike" and was therefore slowly but steady tyrannized terrorized and punished harder and harder over time for every slightest misstep. Until one day it was too much. Good story, till the end of the story I thought it was Mad Mike who was coming back at night with a knife to take revenge. Not the innocent looking little brother. Awesome plot twist!

and this is why you don't adopt foster kids

Yeah, never adopt kids.

Miss the way it was when you where still going and all the lil noises steps and doors opening with story etc