What happens when a man loses not just his wife—but the version of reality he’s built for over 50 years?
In this gripping episode, we unpack the emotional, erratic, and deeply revealing courtroom statement of Harvey Adelson, the husband of convicted murderer Donna Adelson. At her sentencing, Harvey took the stand and delivered a passionate defense of his wife—denying all wrongdoing, blaming the justice system, accusing witnesses of lying, and even calling Dan Markel’s grieving parents dishonest.
But here’s the twist: Harvey’s grief is real. So is his collapse. And so is his refusal to acknowledge the truth.
With psychotherapist Shavaun Scott, we explore:
- The psychology of enmeshment and why Harvey can’t separate Donna’s guilt from his own identity
- Why family loyalty in narcissistic systems becomes more important than the truth
- How denial, image preservation, and emotional breakdown all show up in real time