Diane Schuler | Taconic State Parkway Killer | Mental Health & Personality

[@myfurryfam365]

I’m an alcoholic and I’ve been waaaay over the legal limit and people could not tell. It all just depends on your tolerance. Everyone who is intoxicated is not falling over drunk and slurring their speech. All of those people saying Diane did not appear intoxicated doesn’t mean she was sober.

[@sandydee8003]

Thank you for saying what I thought to be true, and also for sharing.

[@chunkyMunky329]

Yeah, where I live the legal limit is only two drinks. If she was double the limit, then thats only like 4 drinks

[@macconmara7252]

So true-my father was a hardcore alcoholic and made his living driving tractor trailers -he never had a accident, was never fired for being drunk(because no one knew he was), never got a ticket and everyone always said what a great driver he was and he was and 99% of the time he was driving he was drunk.

[@myfurryfam365]

Amaravi I can see where you’re coming from but that’s not necessarily true. BAC depends a lot on a persons weight and how that factors in to how long it takes to metabolize alcohol. The amount of drinks to intoxication is not the same for everyone. At least that’s how I understand it.

[@evelynwaugh4053]

@@chunkyMunky329 The average person can only metabolize one (small) drink per hour and remain legally not under the influence. A small woman, or anyone with medication in their system, will not even be able to clear 1 drink from their system per hour.

[@barnacles62]

I have heard so many stories and opinions on this woman. I'm a recovering alcoholic, 18 years sober. Vodka is odorless and tasteless, it's what closet drinkers or people that drive and drink love to use. They had been on a camping trip. Many times, I woke up Sunday morning, we had camped in a gravel pit because the law wouldn't bother us there, and I know even though I went out about 3 that morning, had I blown, I'd still blow over the limit or just under it. The last time I drank I got a DUI because I went home. slept, but got back up hungry. I was stopped not from swerving or anything, I was stopped for going so slow. The toxicology won't lie, and I doubt they would have fudged it for any reason, she was gone as well as the other poor victims. There are many times I drank, and had even used Vodka as well, yet people never realized I had, until I got to the stage off my alcoholism it never took many to tell I was drunk. I'd still drink a lot, but I got toasted quick. I think she had drank obsessive the night before, had a hangover, couldn't get rid of the headache, so she hit the bottle to try and take the edge off. Problem was, didn't take her much because she was still pickled from the night before. I thank God every day I never killed anybody, because I did that same exact thing many of times, and don't even remember good parts of the day.....

[@Mimienan59]

Diddo😅

[@aliciamarie9704]

Damn. When was the last time you drove & drank? I know some folks that will drive around with a beer can clearly in a cup holder. My papaw (a cop) was an alcoholic, too. He died from a blood clot after having surgery. I forgot how alcohol thins the blood. Perhaps it wouldn’t have clotted if he’d been drinking in the hospital. It’s strange how things work out. Tempting fate & then something random takes us. Those poor kids though. I hope that the loss of those children encouraged a lot of people to live differently. P.S. Diane wanted to be a better mom than her own mother. But she ended up causing this tragedy. So sad.

[@Jolers63]

Vodka was my ex-husbands alcohol of choice. It is NOT odorless!!! Prayers for her victims and it's amazing that there were not more people killed or disabled for life because of her actions.

[@niemandistheuteda1727]

@@Jolers63 Nor it is tasteless

[@evelynwaugh4053]

Ironic that the sister in law, Jay, says after lighting up a cigarette `No one in my family knows that I smoke.' This family is good at keeping secrets.

[@nyouge]

Especially because she's extremely stereotypical smoker. The voice, wrinkles, and no doubt the smell.

[@mrs.reluctant4095]

😊

[@susanmarie2231]

I had the exact same thought and you beat me to it.

[@gigi9301]

Exactly! I can smell a smoker from a block away. She’s not fooling anybody in her family. Her clothes, hair, and car probably reek.

[@smashthebug4723]

Also the husband got a D.U.I. and that was never mentioned in the documentary. They hid their secrets.

[@susanmarie2231]

Diane’s sister-in-law has been a staunch defender of Diane, saying the family would have known if she had a substance abuse problem. There is no way she could have hidden it. Yet in the video, the sister-in-law is smoking a cigarette, telling the cameraman that her family doesn’t know she smokes. She hides it. Well, if she’s a big cigarette smoker and “hides” it from her family, why can’t she draw the comparison that Diane could have been abusing alcohol/marijuana and the family wouldn’t know?

[@Desertmoonlight23]

Denial

[@carolynokraska2583]

It’s possible to hide serious substance use from family for a long time. Most addicts will agree…

[@myguitarwantstokillyourmama]

@@carolynokraska2583keyword is "most." denial is right.

[@elliebellie7816]

She's not hiding anything. The family smells the cigarette smoke in her hair, in her clothes and in her breath. They also see the nicotine on her fingers. She's another Diane.

[@jlnriddick]

@@elliebellie7816 Don't be so quick to assume that it's not possible to hide a smoking habit. You may think you can determine who's a smoker and who isn't right off the bat, but as with anything you're trying to hide, you become better and better at it the longer you've been hiding it. Could you walk outside, smoke a cigarette, walk back inside and expect no one to notice? That isn't likely at all, and I agree, the sister-in-law seems to be handling her smoking habit in the very same way Schuler handled her drinking habit, but to suggest that no one gets away with either of these habits without people around them becoming aware is naïve. People will go through some amazing steps to be certain their secrets remain hidden, and there will always be those who pull it off more often than you think. Nicotine on their fingers? I'm not sure I've ever actually seen that, even on people I know who are smokers.

[@tonyabrookes9931]

I'm haunted by this case. Especially how that poor little boy was treated by his dad after the accident. My heart breaks for all the children involved

[@lushhaus7839]

Right

[@nyvatrinigurl4743]

What did the dad do?

[@linda10989]

@@nyvatrinigurl4743 He said he never wanted children within earshot of his son. He was also resentful of being a single father: he has to cook, clean, help Bryan with his homework, etc. Apparently, Daniel's mother raised him to be completely useless around the house. 🙄

[@JustJen19]

@Okay. The dad admitted that he never wanted kids. I think the sister in law raised him.

[@jillmeredith2012]

I was struck by his whining about having to parent. What a strange and unsupportive oaf. Yikes.

[@sharonhoyt2133]

I especially felt sorry for the two men who first arrived on the accident scene...Edward Blaikie and Kevin Martz. They were the two civilians who just wanted to help but experienced the horror of this first hand. I hope for healing for all of the victims families and observers to this nightmare...especially the little boy who lived through it all.

[@paprgl]

I wonder how the son is now.

[@sharonhoyt2133]

@@paprgl So do I but I know his life got better the day his aunt and uncle took over his care and raising him.

[@kimma508]

@@sharonhoyt2133I had no idea that Bryan was being raised by his aunt and uncle instead of his father. Thank goodness for that! He’s better off with them than an unloving and detached father.

[@sharonhoyt2133]

@@kimma508 Even when he was still living with his dad it was Jay that was taking care of him and that was mentioned in the video. Eventually Jay and her husband brought him into their home to raise him. I don't know if they adopted him or took him into their home and care.

[@kimma508]

@@sharonhoyt2133 Thank you for the information. I appreciate it.

[@TROYMILLAYsr]

I was a truck driver for 25 years and quit in 2016 because the difference in people's demeanor from when I started driving to when I stopped was drastic. People just got nastier as time progressed. I mean it was basically every day I could expect to see people riding other cars and speeding up intentionally to not allow another driver over only to slow down once that driver got over behind them. And it seemed to me in some situations people were willing to attempt to kill someone or even themselves if someone made a right turn on to a highway and the person that was far enough away for that person to turn onto the highway gunned their vehicle to make it look as if to me, they wanted to run into that person for coming onto a road. Then you have the people that drive 45 in the passing lane with a line of 100 cars behind them and refuse to move over. it just got to be too much. And then you add the distraction of phones into that, and it seemed to be a good time to find a different career.

[@whiteyfisk9769]

Thank you for saying this. Ive been driving for almost 30 years, i thought maybe i just hadnt noticed it before, but the last few years the total and utter disregard for others on the road these days boggles the mind. Everyone acts like everyone is in their way and arent just rude, but at times down right homicidal. It started about the time social media really hit mainstream culture. Everyone is a lover of themselves first and foremost these days.

[@ElectricSmurf]

I know I’m nine months late, but I agree. I’ve been driving for over forty years in the UK, and at least 600,000 miles were business miles mostly on motorways, and there’s no doubt to me that drivers today are more arrogant, entitled, aggressive, with very poor driving skills.

[@barbaradonlin3675]

@@TROYMILLAYsr Interesting . my husband is a truck driver now - been driving for years.. He says too the roads are full of maniacs - No one knows how to drive properly - there are accidents every day . every day We live in N.Y and he travels to L.I . - road rage is insane. And Ive been with him where people are practically riding in his trunk - he goes berserk when they do that.. Our car has been hit 5x in the bck And he now wont tolerate it.. Not to long he stopped the car got out and asked the person behind him Why are you riding up my arse . If I stop short ur going to hit me and I have my daughters in the bck seat . Like Enough is Enough . Effin drive properly. Cars are killing machines - and many drivers drive forgetting that - one false or irresponsible move and someone Loses their Life 😔

[@sharksport01]

It's gamers, they drive like they play their games, thinking they can't get hurt.

[@DonnaMayStanish]

ser-ju7cv1in5s - Thank God you changed careers and got the hell away from driving a truck. I agree with what you had shared. I live in southern NJ, and I am extremely tired of how poorly people drive. Forget defensive driving for them. I most certainly am a very careful driver. I have told my son, as well as many other young drivers, if someone is tail-gaiting or driving erratically -- move to the shoulder and let them pass! It is not worth an accident nor becoming upset. I hope you are well. Thank you for sharing. Take care ❤️

[@daniellevin4475]

"How to convert unjustifiably high confidence into lost credibility, in three easy steps" . I love all of the sassy book titles you come up with Dr. Grande.

[@solvewithwinnie]

Wish I was this funny

[@2manybooks2littletime25]

@@solvewithwinnie if you lol at Dr. Grande's deadpan and sneaky humor, you are that funny! It's the people who don't find any Grande-isms amusing that have no sense of humor and are therefore not funny.😊

[@pirbird14]

Where can we join this Dr.Grande book of the month club? I need all those books.

[@johnkeller3226]

Dr. Grande rocks.

[@mariebernier3076]

Want to read them.

[@mybraineatseverything7404]

I was married to an alcoholic for nearly 15 years (he died of liver failure). Let's call him D. His dad didn't think much of me until he came to our house after D died and found out D had been drinking since a year into our marriage. As an alcoholic himself, his dad was shocked, sad, and embarrassed he'd missed all the signs. He saw D drunk as a skunk many times, and totally missed it. He actually apologized to me! People are very good at hiding their substance abuse.

[@melancholymartialarts7095]

I think this is a case of someone being better at being in denial then someone better at hiding it.

[@missmew3499]

Also, if you're always seeing someone in a certain state of consciousness, we just always think that's their "normal".

[@GabrielBacon]

If you look at the toxicology report, she had ambien in her system. Drunk driving doesn’t make you totally forget how to drive & suicidally go down the wrong way on the highway. That’s ridiculous. It makes you swerve & nod off. In the gas station she was looking for pain relievers which they didn’t have. I believe she then went back to the car, mistakenly took an ambien in hopes it was a pain reliever & stayed awake. If you stay up on ambien you start consuming things like crazy, a whole box of pop tarts or snacks is a common occurrence. What did she do, consumed a whole bottle of vodka. Ambien puts you in a dreamlike state where you don’t make a lot of sense. You’ll forget how to use a microwave correctly. This state of mind lines up with the witnesses. This is the only plausible explanation in my mind. It was just too out of character for her.

[@conniepruitt3086]

​@@GabrielBaconAre you kidding? Ambien? Why was that never mentioned? Her husband never disclosed that she ever took Ambien. That stuff can really f*** you up.! If true that could be the answer right there---

[@laurieeyebee]

@@conniepruitt3086 I heard that back when this first happened.

[@src3360]

I have an aunt who was a functioning alcoholic. She was an RN, worked in the ICU, had her CCRN, was nurse of the year twice. She kept vodka in her trunk. She had the little single serve size vodkas in her work bag. She had vodka everywhere you can think of. Never had a DUI or even a speeding ticket. We, her family, all knew she drank but not to the extent and magnitude. She hid it very well. She was divorced and lived alone. She finally broke down and told her mother (my gramma) and my mother. My moms an ARNP. My aunt went to rehab and dried out. Went back to work and within a few months found out she had non hodgkins lymphoma. She beat it and had another type of cancer within a year! She also beat that as well. She was on disability for awhile and is now retired. Just sharing this story to let everyone know that functioning drug addicts are out there in places you would never expect. I believe Diane was a drunk and her family was in denial. She functioned normally until, sadly, she didnt and killed people.

[@AJLinthe5D]

I had a brother in law who's been a drunk since I can remember. I met him when he was about 23 and lost contact with him in his 60's. He was always drinking but you wouldn't know it because he didn't slur his words or stumble around. Since I stopped talking to him I realize that his out of control raging fits at me that came out of nowhere were a symptom. He had issues with narcissism and he used me as his object of hatred and scorn to make himself feel better because the alcohol is not the way to deal with your problems. He might be sick by now from all the drinking. I don't care.

[@cgarcia2739]

The dangers of untreated mental illness and substance abuse. Very sad.

[@JP-wx6uh]

@@Feinrizulwur I've had 2 experiences of paranoia, extreme anxiety and slight dissociation after Marijuana. In the first Marijuana experience I felt almost no effects at all. However, the 2nd and 3rd times were both horrible and frightening. Incidentally, the 3rd time was after also consuming alcohol (I can reasonably say I was legally drunk before the Marijuana). I'm not a female.

[@matheya]

@@Feinrizulwur, Schizophrenia can not be caused by drugs, it's a genetic very serious illness. You're talking nonsense. Usually people with mental issues use drugs to Balance.

[@melindac3368]

@@Feinrizulwur Good one!! I especially liked the "raging violence and death by prolonged anti-psychotics."

[@shelaughs]

@@Feinrizulwur No. Stop it. None of that is true.

[@klattalexis]

@@matheya Drug-induced mental illness is rampant now in the Western world.! Scientists have now learned that there is no chemical imbalance in the brains of those with DSM-5 diagnosed illnesses as formerly believed. Say NO to DRUGS & watch mental illnesses disappear.

[@2010kgurl]

"Getting out of pain is the goal", is a very powerful and understated reality of why so many people commit crimes or exhibit bizarre behavior. Excellent analysis! I really enjoyed the images for context.

[@CharlotteRothmeier]

I know the feeling..I can get panic attacks from my hortons pain. .it's awfull

[@lindsays2007]

@@Askadena213 I love your take on this. This case has always disturbed me and you put it into a perspective to humanize Diane. It’s hard to understand her and why she wouldn’t just pull over, and it’s easy to hate and demonize her. I read the book by her sister in law, the mother of the 3 nieces who were killed, and that woman’s pain was unimaginable. A bell you can’t unring. Take care!!

[@ME-gz8yi]

@@lindsays2007 and @adena bannick -All good arguments here and it's been a while since I saw the doc, but do you not think that the way her husband, brother, and their families depended on her, triggered a rage of some sort? Also maybe she got fed up and drunk late into the night and woke up with a hellacious hangover, then drank some hair of the dog, then got saddled with ALL the kids and thought, "screw this, I'll show them!" -but maybe just wanted to scare everybody but didn't realize how impaired she was? I vaguely recall she was put upon from a young age... maybe she got sick of being invisible and taken advantage of? I think the trauma of her mother leaving was untreated and untreated trauma catches up to you around mid-life. What a sad story and I gotta say the current economic hard times and more ahead certainly puts all kinds of pressures on people and relationships.

[@gotchabet]

For the author of this video to say that s gas station wouldn't have sold a pain reliever such as Tylenol is rediculas! I have seen it in most of them. I believe she was in terrible pain. Too bad she didn't just park the car and call for help.

[@sharonhoyt2133]

@@gotchabet It was the lawyer of the husband and Jay who made up the tylenol story...the clerk refused to talk to police..I believe she asked the clerk if she could buy alcohol and since it was illegal to sell it in NY on Sunday before 12 he told her where she could buy it...because there is always a place to buy alcohol even if it is breaking the law. There is a map online of all the places she was driving and she was not aimed towards her home or her brothers house. I believe she found the place to buy Vodka...bought it and drank it as fast as possible. And I am sure the husband said something to her the night or morning before the accident that made her world crash down on her when she finally realized that she really did not have control over her life and had been used by her birth family, husband and job all of her life.

[@cornbreadflapjacks]

I got promoted twice while I was an alcoholic. Sometimes I'd wake up still drunk and go into work and no one knew. Once I had coffee and something to eat I'd start to work and be fine. Once I finally decided to stay sober and admitted to my friends and coworkers that I was an alcoholic, everyone was stunned. It's sometimes that easy to hide. Also, for the driving bit, I remember that I'd always avoid highways when I was intoxicated and I'd drive exactly the speed limit or under. One time I thought I was getting pulled over so I pulled off to the side but it was just a tow truck with flashing lights. I think that was close to when I decided to get sober.

[@MLMLW]

What you had done while drinking sounds more in line with somebody that drives drunk but doesn't want to hurt anybody. You drove at or under the speed limit and were aware of your surroundings which is why you pulled over when you saw flashing lights. I applaud you for getting sober and wish you the best of luck. 👍

[@asalindstrom6652]

Well done!!!!!

[@ThangNguyen-kk1wh]

The tow truck driver saved your life... Thank God !!!

[@Scorned405]

Not drinking is not very rock n roll

[@cathyridley3005]

@@Scorned405 Neither is KILLING innocent people ! Got the attention you wanted? 🙄

[@broeheemed32]

I believe that this was intentional. Points to ponder: * Her husband was supposed to be at the campground on Friday night, but didn't show up until the next day, suggesting that he was somewhere else.... with someone else. This suggests that there could have been a fight that weekend, and Diane wanted revenge. * She was a narcissist and one of those women that think they're the only parent, and that her children would not survive without her, so she decided to end their lives with her own suicide. * She hated her brother because he continued a good relationship with their mother - the one who abandoned them previously, and wanted more revenge, so she killed hid children. * There was no medical condition - abscessed tooth or anything else - as proved by TWO autopsies. She was blitzed, for courage, as Dr. Grande suggested. She knew what she was going to do. * The "Tylenol" story is a lie... when you watch the convenience store video in real time, she wasn't in that store 10 seconds, and she went straight to the coolers, then back out the door. ALL convenience stores carry some kind of pain reliever. She was looking for more vodka. If it were pain medicine she needed, she would have gone to another store. She didn't. She was trapped in a world of her own creation, and wanted out.

[@nicholaswoods4055]

100%

[@MLMLW]

My question with this is why would the clerk at Sonoco lie about her wanting Tylenol?

[@jonim9725]

If the clerk was telling her where she could buy liquor he could be in trouble. So he went with the tylenel theory. He refused to talk to police.

[@broeheemed32]

@@jonim9725 - There is no evidence of what the clerk told anyone, since he wasn't interviewed. The "Tylenol" story was concocted by sleazy Dominic Barbara - Daniel Schuler's lawyer - to try and explain away her actions. If it were true, the defense would have subpoenaed him as a witness.

[@rucianapollard4057]

Why would she hurt the children?? I just can't see her doing that.

[@donfrandsen7778]

Dr. G your 100% correct! My ex wife is a addict/alcoholic , prescription abuser , been that way for decades, one of the reasons I divorced her, I finally won primary custody of my two kids in 2018. It cost me my entire Army retirement , I have never seen someone such as my ex as a masterful manipulator, addict , being a registered nurse, her parents as enablers , I have never seen the absolute denial of grown adults denying this in all my adult life It’s tragic !!! I despise these type of people , your observation I believe in this case are 100% correct Thank you Dr. G Great video . Well done!!!

[@karnerblue7658]

Hope you and your kids are doing well. 🙂

[@samum5856]

The kids said there was something wrong with aunt Diane, that she couldn’t see. Now I think that they were probably screaming and calling her, but she paid no attention, just blindly carrying out her mission. Dr. Grande, you said something nobody wants to accept, but is possibly the truth. This may have been a suicide mission. Something happened, perhaps some last straw was broken, and the decision was made. I dread to think what the last minutes of those poor kids’ lives were...

[@maryannbrown9863]

The SIL said she could hear the kids crying when the daughter called. That is why Diane got rid of the phone. Didn’t want the kids calling for help again.

[@YoureMyBlueSky2022]

@@maryannbrown9863 I think her 9-yr-old niece called on her own cell phone.

[@coll4455]

@@maryannbrown9863this!!!

[@coll4455]

@@YoureMyBlueSky2022no she called oh Diane’s phone she didn’t have her own phone. It was after that call that Diane left the phone on the side of the road

[@canadachandler7521]

I never even considered the `intentional suicide/homicide` theory before. Best analysis of this case I have ever heard. Dr.Grande nails it again!

[@miasaurusxx]

fully convinced me

[@annmariemarin5513]

Yep me too. Dr. Grande makes it make sense.

[@2manybooks2littletime25]

This is one of the most tragic events I've heard of. I've watched the HBO documentary several times and can't make any sense of what Diane did. Those poor families of the 3 men, her daughter and her nieces!

[@SHurd-rc2go]

Me, too.

[@2manybooks2littletime25]

@CalmCamilleMakes thank you for mentioning that! No doubt that they were traumatized by what they saw.

[@teresahowick5197]

Debbie Milam “there’s something wrong with aunt Diane” I’m pretty sure.

[@nancyayers6355]

Yes, I've read the book written by Mrs. Hance, and it's heartbreaking! I'm pretty hardcore about what I read, but Diane's nieces, the three Hance sisters, absolutely devastated their parents. The Dad was broken, and lived from day to day just trying to get through the pain each day. But their Mom was suicidal for several years! Friends she knew finally got organized and one of them was appointed to sleep just outside her bedroom door in case she did try to kill herself. Both parents had centered everything around their three daughters, and were left totally bereft by their deaths! I lost my mother when I was 14, and went into a heavy depression that lasted for years and years - but even that paled into almost nothing compared to what the Hances went through when all three of their daughters died in the backseat of Aunt Diane's minivan! Be sure you have a strong Constitution before you read the mother's book, "There's Something Wrong with Aunt Diane!"

[@ahnraemenkhera7451]

Nancy Ayers You never “get over” the Loss of a good parent. 💦💧But this Schuler woman sounds like an absolute terror. As I listened to Dr. Grande’s analysis, however, initially I thought ‘Okay! Local career woman makes good.’ But as he continued, all I thought after hearing about all those lives lost (including destroying entire families) was ‘Entitled.’ Never saw the film or read the book-too many Movies of the Week in those days. Good cheer to you.

[@rolandcharriez7631]

I was there after the accident occured; maybe 50 minutes when I saw it. It was horrific. The authorities were there and putting out the remaining fire. The Windstar was on an incline between the South and Northbound lanes of the Taconic Parkway. As you stated, her car was the Ford Windstar and it was completely burnt out. The other car the Chevy SUV was totally destroyed. As I and my young son passed it, I knew that if anyone survive it would have been miraculous. Later I found out what had happened and what caused it. That area of the Taconic Pwky entries and exits onto the highway can be confusing to some who are not familiar with the roadway. Personally, I know those entry/exit points are clearing marked. Everything you said about her behaviour and her respective family members beliefs ring true. From my perspective, the family denying her behaviour may also be monetary as a factor. Her husband and family have been aware of her behaviour all along: plausible deniability. The victim's family in the other car including the relative's children who perished in Diane Schur's car would sue Diane Schur's estate as a wrongful deaths. If she is making more money than her husband, the impetus on his part would be to minimize potential loss of her estate. Everything you said is right but I would include the monetary factory to this situation. Unfortunately, the real victims were those who perished. Love your videos

[@cyberspelunker1980]

This woman committed suicide. I don’t know why this is hard for people to grasp. Successful, intelligent, seemingly kind people can flip and do horrible things. She was under a lot of pressure. The fact that she loaded up on alcohol as opposed to just driving drunk is what solidified my conclusion. Her leaving her phone on the side of the road. It all seemed very purposeful to me. All kinds of people are capable of murder suicide. She was not in her right mind at the time and sadly, she took many innocent people and children with her.

[@missiris1234]

She could have done herself in!!!

[@JohnnyOla511]

She left her phone because her brother in law said he was coming and she didn't want him to see how trashed she was. Definitely intentional.

[@TiffWaffles]

So according to you, it's okay what this woman did because she committed suicide. I do not feel sorry for her at all. You know who I feel sorry for? HER VICTIMS. There is absolutely no excuse for what she did. No excuse. If you want to excuse this woman for what she did, then you are also a monster.

[@missiris1234]

@@TiffWaffles I didn't think the comment said it was ok. Did I miss something

[@JohnnyOla511]

@TiffWaffles you're making assumptions. That person never said it was OK or that they condone the behavior. Just that the lady was sick and it's sad because if people were paying attention it might have been avoided.

[@GwenPidgeon]

"There's something wrong with Aunt Diane" Diane was a functional alcohol.

[@luciaconn6788]

look at her pics there was a change.

[@SarahBethBreck]

Lucia Conn . can you elaborate or link the pics. I saw the bodies of the accident victims at the site (photographs) It wasn’t pretty. I saw some pictures of her beforehand but I couldn’t get a read on it.

[@valleygirl2530]

Noticeable weight gain & bloat.

[@SarahBethBreck]

Barb Ra .. Okay I think I remember that comparing wedding pics to later pics but kinda wrote it off thinking she didn’t seem like a woman bothered by a weight gain .. she didn’t seem to be a makeup kinda girl... And that husband yuck.. I’d probably look like a shrew to avoid him.

[@barbaravyse660]

Barb Ra The documentary said Diane struggled with weight her whole life , although she managed to trim down for her wedding.

[@christinamarie1926]

Thank you, Dr. Grande, for your insight into this case. As a drug and alcohol counselor, I've routinely breathalyzed individuals who appeared sober and whom I did not suspect had been drinking, only to read a BAL of two or three times the legal limit. The clerk at the convenience store, not having the advantage of working with alcoholics, would likely assume that unless a person is slurring their words, walking with an unsteady gait, or other obvious signs of alcohol impairment, that the person is sober. I too have seen the surviving family members of alcoholics and/or addicts who died tragically in a DUI accident, state their loved one had a low white blood cell count, or other medical diagnosis which was responsible for the accident. It appears living in denial is easier for the survivors than accepting the truth, in some cases. I've known addicts with major depression who died by suicide and the family reports they died of the common cold virus in their sleep, or had an allergic food reaction.

[@figgy7099]

I saw a documentary, where a guy went into that same gas station, and there was a complete shelf dedicated to aspirin, tylenol, all sorts of medications, band-aids, etc etc, he showed it in his doc. The one thing they DID NOT sell was alcohol. I think she was there for more alcohol, she didn't buy any gas..

[@karenpoteet751]

I agree. Every gas station store has some kind of aspirin or Tylenol-type medicine. Makes no sense. Too bad the older children didn't just get out and take the little ones with them. So sad that innocent people were killed. I don't know how I'd go on if I lost ALL of my children in one moment.

[@jujumulligan43]

Yes that is why she walked around puzzled and then left.

[@DonnaMayStanish]

figgy7099 - Damn! I had the same thought!

[@maureenperez9999]

I watched the full documentary here on KZbin. I think the reason why the husband and sister-in-law are desperate for an "alternative to the obvious", it allows them to believe their children were not killed because of Diane...but because of some medical emergency which is easier to live with. I had more sympathy for the sister-in-law, than the husband. He was an absolute idiot who apparently didn't work much since Diane was the "breadwinner" and didn't want to deal with parenthood...so he "checked out" and left Diane to handle it all. I don't think he was a good parent and I think his surviving son should live with other family members. Father is deluded and a risk to his son. The sister-in-law or the narrator...not sure which...said at the end of the KZbin video, that "Danny" didn't want children and he felt that Diane should deal with them all...and leave him free...to be what?... a couch potato who contributes nothing to the household either by sweat or DOLLARS? The sister-in-law seemed to accept the reality at the end of that show...and was already criticizing "Danny" as a terrible husband and father and a hothead...which he definitely appeared to be. This a is a horrible tragedy that didn't have to happen. I agree with people here, that want to know why "Danny" didn't help with driving the kids during the return from the camping trip. He cared more about being around his DOG...then his own children and nieces and nephews. POS.

[@sharksport01]

I watched it on youtube, too. And you just typed 6 paragraphs ragging on the father and not a word about a woman who was full of vodka and weed and killed 8 innocent people.

[@AmusedChild]

Her friends admit she was also a very obstinate, controlling person, which they seem to find amusing and endearing. Diane often argued with the GPS! So of course she could down a bunch of alcohol while justifying to herself she was not "drinking." Also, her husband sued the victims' family - really a class act.

[@paprgl]

I don't think you "get" her.

[@UrbanMediaReview]

The best comment on here

[@evestar100]

And she smoked pot everyday. Everyday?!

[@monicacox8820]

Her husband sued her brother because it was his van. Real class act

[@DebNKY]

​@@monicacox8820Diane wasn't insured on the van, right? So he had to sue. His son had medical bills.

[@kellie5476]

I also want to say that yes it certainly is possible to hide substance abuse.

[@ladymopar2024]

Yep I have worked with some of high-functioning Alcoholics

[@h.borter5367]

Yes. It possible. To me, it's as possible to hide it just as well as a porn addiction.

[@sandydee8003]

Is it possible Vodka is perceived as less detectable by someone trying to hide their drinking?

[@kellie5476]

@@sandydee8003 I've heard that one but I don't think it's true, I was referring to tolerance and being a functioning addict. I knew someone who used TCP to cover the smell of alcohol, it lingers for days.

[@jamesrobertson9149]

@@kellie5476 Not really. Vodka doesn't give you a strong smell. It does make you walk funny though.

[@madelainewinger7014]

She was beyond three sheets to the wind, and I agree with your analysis. She was fed up, depressed, and sick of it all. I watched There's Something Wrong With Aunt Diane, it should have been re-titled There's Something Wrong With Aunt Diane And Her Husband. I got a vibe off the husband that he knew she was an alcoholic and would say anything to deflect. I think her brother knew as well. Every time I hear about her niece telling Warren that she isn't speaking clearly and having difficulty with her vision I wonder why Warren didn't tell his daughter to get all the kids out of that van immediately and refuse to get back in no matter what Diane says, to get the attention of an adult to help her and do not get back in that van. The part in TSWWAD where Diane's mother in law refers to Diane's husband Danny as Diane's "oldest" when she talks about the kids is very telling. Diane, in effect, had an adult man-child for a husband who (it appears to me) relied very heavily on her to do it all.

[@jillmeredith2012]

He seems antisocial. He has no affect, no emotion. He whines about having to parent and that she left him with a kid to take care of, making him angry. He’s definitely has some type of personality disorder. Very selfish and unable to emote.

[@Attabasca]

"I've also seen situations where there is a car on fire in the middle of the road...some were even yelling for at the car's owner to move the car. Which of course doesn't make any sense. The car's air conditioning couldn't keep up when a car is on fire. It would be uncomfortably warm in that environment." NO ONE does deadpan humor better than you! 🤣

[@sharosmith]

Kristen Cyr #truth

[@lisetteeliseparis7070]

Right? I'm dying!

[@nancyrode9781]

xctly😉

[@angelachouinard4581]

I used to drive in that area a lot. I can attest his descriptions of driver reactions are spot on, I've seen similar. It just makes his comments even funnier to me.

[@laurenferguson959]

I love Dr. Granda’s humor ‼️

[@Adam_Dot_Com]

Imagine how scary it must be seeing that car coming in hot going the opposite way on the highway. You could be the safest driver in the world but there's nothing you can do about that

[@pou618]

The husband actually had the balls to sue his brother-in-law (who lost all of his children) because he was the owner of the van. I have zero sympathy for Diane's husband. I feel sorry for their son. The father doesn't seem interested in him at all.

[@KathyCarter-Nelson]

😢😢

[@Serenitynow958]

He was adopted away from the father.

[@mightymommom5888]

I do not feel bad for the father either. In the HBO Documentary he doesn’t mention his daughter once! 🤬

[@taraerskine3954]

Exactly, he doesn't care about anyone, but himself!!! He complains about being a single parent! His poor son who amazingly survived & he complains. What a Loser.

[@pou618]

@@Serenitynow958 Really? I hadn't heard that. I hope the poor kid went to a loving family.

[@antoniobranch]

The bottom line, this woman was ignored by everyone she knew, including herself.

[@jillmeredith2012]

Nailed it.

[@amyhutchinson7771]

This sums it up perfectly.

[@askadena10]

i have written a book on this site about what I feel about this case and you summed it up in one sentence. yes. all of her life.

[@beatleschick1000]

Sorry, that sentence doesn’t make sense to me. Yes, she lost her mom and a young age and I’m sure that was hard to deal with but the way her friends took up for her, denying she had a drinking problem, and say that she had some good friends. Maybe her husband ignored her, but her kids didn’t. No way.

[@CMDPromptify]

"Behind the facade that people put up, there are all types of mental health problems. Depression, anxiety, obsessions, traumatic memories, all types of fears and of course, substance use. All these are more hidden than visible, and yet people seem surprised when they discover someone who suffers from one or more of these symptoms." effing YES, the part about surprise!!! It's such a frustrating paradox to watch repeatedly in real-time. Didn't realize how important it was to hear someone say this in a straightforward way, but I super appreciate it right now. Thank you.

[@jillmeredith2012]

I believe she was incredibly depressed, took lousy care of herself, had a crap husband and committed suicide. The vodka was liquid courage. How very sad.

[@rickbrenner6079]

Agree 100%. Suicide/homicide with alcohol being her, as u say, “liquid courage”. Why else would she be driving “pin straight” doing 80 going the wrong way on a major highway without swerving. If she truly “blacked out” from drinking so much, as I’ve heard some people like to argue as being the cause of the tragedy, then why was her driving observed to “pin straight” on the Taconic? And why prior to getting on the Taconic was she quickly weaving in and out of lanes “with precision”? If one is truly “blacked out” from drinking too much vodka or whiskey, they typically don’t drive in and out of lanes “with precision” and usually don’t drive “pin straight” on ANY road for any length of distance, especially not at suicide speed (80 miles an hour). No, they are going to be very uncoordinated with their driving decision-making which means swerving in and out of lanes with NO precision, and NO ability to keep the vehicle straight and in one lane for a good length of distance. Hence the term “drunk”, which usually implies a significant impairment in vision and coordination caused by excessive alcohol consumption, two things one kind of needs to be working properly in order to drive Iike a normal motorist. Suicide/homicide, as brutal as it is to think Dianne would intentionally kill her own 2 children and her 3 nieces, is the theory that holds the most weight in my book.

[@robynholliday4794]

I agree

[@kikismama]

@TheReaper74 I think you mean she took 5 other people with her. Either way, even if she just took one person with her, that would be one too many! So very selfish and cruel of her to do that. This case still haunts me.

[@Kiki-yw9kc]

Why have the children in the car and why crash into innocent people

[@wendyrobertson4156]

I don’t think this women intentionally did this but the alcohol marijuauna does suggest that

[@redrumtruecrime]

The main issue I've always had with this tragic loss of lives is Diane driving towards oncoming traffic, for as far as she did and witnesses' reporting her aiming "pin" straight and determination expression fixed on her face just seconds prior to collision. Obviously she was driving whilst under the influence, but that cannot be the reason she drove into oncoming traffic. Even pissed up, you'd realise pretty quick and correct your error fast before the cops get you, also, if THAT pissed you'd not be driving so straight, naturally if you misjudged road signs and warnings, your vision is blurred and spinning so you'd be falsely correcting the car and swerving left and right, even quick slight steering adjustments are magnified greatly at speed. So YES she WAS drunk, YES her driving WAS affected but I believe she decided to take her life. She intentionally went the wrong way, she kept her arms braced on the wheel, foot pedal to the metal and waited for impact. I think she consumed alcohol for "Dutch" courage and perhaps her earlier erratic, horn honking, light flashing and tail gating exploits were her final "cries for help". She didn't get stopped by police, the chance to save the children was missed, so she executed her final plan by purposely driving up the off ramp. Diane had probably lost control of her mental health a long time ago, but hid it from everyone. She decided that was the day, perhaps in her eyes, a great opportunity, where it could be seen as accidental rather than suicide? The main selfish thing she did do was obvious. She could have kicked the children out beforehand, but keeping them with her enhanced the "accidental" death narrative and the community still hold Diane Schulers memory in high esteem? Sorry its so long winded, but this is the only theory I cannot move past. I've not shared this on other channels as most would attack me for saying she murdered those innocent children by taking her own life. This is the only channel to suggest this is possible. So thanks Dr Grande.

[@redrumtruecrime]

@@avamyst70 when you're killing yourself and murdering children in the process I doubt she'd "sweat the small stuff" with the booze and people knew about the weed consumption every night.

[@kapb4149]

She would never have killed her nieces and children. Her reputation was everything to her. What happened was much simpler than we’re getting here. It was not a suicide or homicide . Diane was deeply repressed in every area of her life . She was a literal work horse. Worked all the time, paid all the bills, took care of the kids entirely, husband did 0 . Nothing. She was a great friend, boss, aunt .!etc. she had no fun. No romance , nada. Now add a mental health diagnosis on it. Ok a few. Her mother leaving , her OCD, etc , now add her self med to deal with all this. No one is on to how much she actually takes. She’s smart. She shows them when she does some, so they think “ I know when she does, and it’s not a lot”. But she takes a lot. And it’s getting worse. So on that day - something- who knows what - happens, she takes an amount . It usually suffices . It doesn’t work quickly. She takes more because she has a huge tolerance . Uh oh . She took too much. She’s in trouble. Right before she blacks out , she thinks , I’ll make it back home, sooner than then they will get there and they’ll never know. But Diane didn’t make it. Blackouts look exactly like Diane did driving. E x a c T l y . I’m sure Diane is up there thinking that this was the one and only thing she fought so hard not to become .

[@heathernikki5734]

@@kapb4149 nah, she committed murder/suicide.

[@jennifergracehebel6856]

@@kapb4149 Actually, I think she might have deliberately chosen to take her children out with her. Her husband admitted, on the documentary, that he never wanted children and made Diane promise that, if they were to have them, they would be her responsibility in full. However, I don't understand why she would take her nieces out with them...that part is the only part of this that doesn't fit for me. Either way, this is a sickening, horrific tragedy. Those children were all so beautiful. And the other family who lost the three men was also a tragedy. Diane's husband and sister-in-law were so deeply in denial. I am actually showing the documentary in my DUI first offender's program that I facilitate next week for the "substance abuse and family" unit. This entire tragedy was just.... ugh. I am still sick over it, all these years later.

[@geofflow8117]

I completely agree with what you’ve said. To add to your point - the selfishness - I’d assume that her final cry for help was a cry for attention. She must have known that killing herself and the kids would get national attnetion - or at least a lasting image for her family and inner circle. She wanted to make an impact with her choice - simply taking her own life wasn’t an option for her - and that could be a direct link to how poor her mental state had been for months. Maybe she was angry that others didn’t notice that she was struggling. I have bipolar disorder and when i was at my worst, i wanted to act out (in smaller ways Ofc) to get attention from others, hoping that they’d notice me. I think this is what happened on that day

[@judis3476]

This is one of saddest documentaries I have ever watched. A family in absolute complete denial. A child who lived through the horror, forever scarred by his mother’s decision. Still so many unanswered questions, and we will never know the true story. But I feel strongly that she hid her substance abuse, and put herself into some kind of altered state when she drove that vehicle. Her tox reports were conclusive. TWICE. My heart goes out to all who had to endure that horrible choice she made. 😢 Thank you Dr Grande.

[@elliebellie7816]

The child who not only survived a horrible accident but then had to go home to a father who seemed angry at having to now be the person to take care of him. Poor guy.

[@Dil3MM4]

I'm so glad you covered this...I have literally been obsessed with this case since first hearing about it.

[@TravelinRosy2025]

M2. M2

[@paulinbrooklyn]

This was a fascinating, albeit disturbing video. I was driving south on the Taconic Parkway that very afternoon and came upon the accident scene probably no more than three minutes after it happened. I was traveling in the right lane with the AC on high (it was a sweltering summer day) and windows fully closed, yet the heat from the Ford Windstar engulfed in flames in the median was intense while passing by noticeably heating my left shoulder and up with an intensity I’ve not felt before or since. There were several cars of heroic passerby’s who pulled off into the median to assist on the scene, frantically running to and away from the fireball that had engulfed the van and sirens of emergency responders getting close. It was clear that nobody was getting out of that van alive. I was very surprised that one did survive nonetheless.

[@Gardenroses12]

Her son who survived was at the bottom of the rest of the other kids. So so sad.😢😢

[@putmeinagrave]

i go to Pace and i take this road to go to class as im a commuter :( it scares me every time i think about it

[@helenmoss9740]

Hello, fellow Setter!

[@Griffindor1955]

This is a case that has fascinated me since it happened. For one thing, despite everyone saying what a conscientious mother and person she was, she was driving on a road that was apparently known for aggressive driving with five children WHO WERE NOT IN CAR SEATS! She was not conscientious and not protective. I read a book about this and also watched the documentary several times. The level of denial is incredible. By both her husband and her sister-in-law. I see this as a fairly straightforward case of family annihilation. I appreciated your well thought out and logical analysis. Thank you!

[@tonyabrookes9931]

Agreed. The only "mystery" is what happened to set her off that day. Her husband was very dodgy when talking about their interaction before she left. I always wonder what was said between them

[@sarahsparks3818]

So they borrowed the minivan, but the brother didn’t send cars seats for his kids in his own van? I would be interested to know if she removed them, or they never sent them. Not blaming the victims, but if she removed them then it definitely shows intent.

[@itz_brittani_bitch4882]

@@sarahsparks3818 they were all 8,7,5,5 & 2. So yes there would have been car seats. None of the kids were actually ejected tho because they were wearing seatbelts. It just looked as if they were ejected because motorists on the taconic had seen the van start to burn and pulled them out as quickly as possible

[@Punnoosia]

If you read the actual police reports, the first bystanders confirmed they were all wearing seatbelts. I don't remember if they said they were in car seats, but everyone was buckled in somehow. I found the actual witness reports of the immediate aftermath of the incident somewhat inconsistent with the rumors and documentaries, which is odd.

[@Strype13]

While I completely agree with your assessment, the majority of the children were a little too old for car seats, weren't they?

[@irenegroden6480]

I remember watching the documentary and was so shaken by the the little boy at the end not wanting to hold his dads hand 😔

[@dottiewofford7656]

That told me volumes about the relationship.

[@sarahholland2600]

Software what the sister in law said about his attitude to his sons grief & his demeanour if his son mentions his Mom, it's not surprising.

[@karenpoteet751]

That was so sad....

[@Meanbob2010]

I think that if the producers truly wanted to protect Brian, they shouldn't have put those horrible post accident photos of his mother in the documentary.

[@DonnaMayStanish]

irenegroden6480 - I saw this and it bothered me as well. I felt so bad for the little boy, Bryan. He's had it so tough. It's been 15 years. I hope he's okay. ❤️🫂

[@HallelujahBK]

This case has weighed heavily on my mind since the day it happened. And watching the HBO doc only made it even more haunting. I have to admit, I was swayed into believing that there MUST be some other explanation (I.e. stroke, complete psychotic break) by how *fervently* the family denied that it could’ve been a substance-induced blackout or intentional homicide… But this video has finally put this to rest for me. Dr. G specializes in stripping away sentimentality, cultural noise, confirmation bias, etc. to help us look at the facts. And here we have a woman who was very drunk and high who refused help offered & available to her and drove deliberately, with unflappable intention, head-on into another vehicle. That’s what happened. No more, no less.

[@SingPandaProductions]

Yes Dr.G is great at that! I love that though. Truth is important. But sometimes I do find myself getting angry at him occasionally but eventually always agree in the end.

[@1911Drew]

“In some parts of the United States, if two door mirrors touch in a parking lot, people are on the phone trying to get a SWAT team to come out.” OMG Todd! That was too funny!!! 🤣🤣🤣 Thanks for putting the video up.

[@judydoyle1124]

You don’t live in NYC suburbs I guess...

[@ethos1236]

He's not wrong about that.

[@basically2956]

I’m listening to this on my headphones next to my sleeping husband and I laughed!!

[@realmriot]

I'm so glad you quoted this as it cracked me the hell up I wanted to read the words again 😂

[@realmriot]

4:37 🤣

[@BassPlyr23]

in a conversation about this accident years ago - I lived about ten miles from where it happened, and drove that stretch of road frequently - I was pilloried when I suggested that Diane Schuler had deliberately killed herself, perhaps because of some family difficulty that nobody else knew about. And yet, here is a mental health professional agreeing with me…

[@MelieSue]

I’m here after watching the HBO documentary! I agree that this seems like intentional suicide/homicide, and that the alcohol was consumed to lessen her inhibitions. I think there may have been a fight or something with the husband the night before which caused her to snap. That would also explain why he’s in such denial about it (because he probably feels partially culpable). A couple little nuggets were dropped in the documentary that I think are also telling….one is that her lifelong friends said she stopped communicating with them around the time that she got married. That could be a sign that the husband may have been controlling. The husband also mentions that he never wanted kids and seems pissed that Diane left him there to be a single dad to their surviving son. This could be why she was willing to take out the kids with her (at least her own). She knew he didn’t want to be a dad to begin with, so she would have felt bad leaving them on earth with him. She also didn’t want her kids to have to grow up motherless like she did. The nieces were just in the wrong place at the wrong time, as well as the 3 men in the other vehicle. It’s so senseless and selfish what she did.

[@sfuterfas]

I'm watching the doc now. 100% agree with you. The husband seems super controlling and shady, as is the sister (?). The fact that they can't take the evidence at face value just makes me think they are culpable in some way. Maybe the husband set her up?? I don't trust that guy AT ALL. And the fact that he refuses to take his kid to therapy? Major red flag to me.

[@LAJiini]

I don’t agree with you on everything but I agree that the husband is involved and covering up that he may have had anything to do with it.

[@24JJ821]

It has been in fact suggested that she was the controlling one. Her mother left her at 9 years old and it's speculated that she took on the parental role to her brothers. She also was the primary bread winner in her marriage earning over 100k a year. Her husband apparently was lazy around the house and only worked a part time shift job. Interviews with her work colleagues reveal that she would get drunk with them at pubs and tell them how lazy her husband was and stressful her life was. Someone who was as successful as she was in her career and labeled a super mum by other parents at her children's school indicates she leaned towards a perfectionist and conscientious personality type. It's said that he was like a third child which weighed heavily on their marriage. He also appears to have confirmation bias all the way through the aftermath of the accident and seems quite intellectually impaired in general.

[@sheilagravely5621]

Or, the husband had a hand in all of it....

[@kk2u4]

Don’t know if this is related or true in anyway but I read somewhere that the family is so dead set on changing the cause of death because they want the insurance money.

[@Banichi04]

This video was very interesting to me, as I watched the film “There’s Something Wrong with Aunt Diane” a few years ago and came out of it with a lot of confusion. Your third theory ties everything-including some of the previously inexplicable things, to me-together in a very logical way. I still have trouble in my heart understanding why Diane would have chosen that day to do this deed, when she would have all those kids in the car with her. My mother was an alcoholic for many years and died of complications of cirrhosis at 52, and the biggest connection I can see between her and Diane is the desperate quest to ease her pain. However, in my mom’s case, I honestly don’t think she would have endangered her kids and innocent strangers. But-maybe I am still in denial, too? You’ve given all of us a lot to think about, here. Thank you.

[@sharonbarker5751]

I’m SO glad you covered this case. I have always thought this family was in complete denial. Even after everything, the autopsy and exhumation, they still refuse to believe the truth.

[@thebarky1988]

I followed this case for a while and find it haunting. It was such a tragedy and hard to understand how it could happen. I wondered if she smoked cannabis and drank alcohol on a regular basis and was able to hide it. Perhaps on the day of the crash she had a bad toothache and drank more vodka than usual pushing her over her window of tolerance? The unanswered question is “why didn’t she pull over and call for help? Why was her phone left on the rail?..... I wonder how her son is doing? His father made it clear in the documentary he didn’t want kids.... this was a tragedy on multiple levels for many families.

[@mamabear-9.18.18]

@Testa Rossa ... Agree, I don't trust the husband or the "helpful" and almost "takeover/replacement" of Diane, sister - in - law, that seemed a little too close for comfort with Diana's hubby for my comfort. I often wonder if she, the sister-in-law, was having an affair with the husband. The whole abscess tooth theory or she took ambien theory is bullshit in my opinion. They know that she often drank and used drugs, much harder than just weed, and the attitude of the husband along with the audacity to sue the brother-in-law and deflect attention away from himself causes me to truly feel that he perpetrated the snapped emotions that Diane displayed that day! Plus, rejecting his surviving son and never apologizing to the family's who innocently lost their lives that day, is much much more than an "immature attitude" in my opinion. It shows his true colors and he strikes me as an extremely entitled, abusive, napoleon type of man.

[@kikismama]

Stacy 100% agree with everything you said!

[@SarahBethBreck]

Stacy .. 🤔 That could explain some of this for sure.

[@SarahBethBreck]

thebarky1988 .. Thing is if you are a regular drunk driver you know not to draw attention to yourself. Weed smokers generally pretty laid back and drive slower because of the paranoia that every car is a cop car. This seemed out of character for her. Like I’ve said there is a missing piece here. I personally think it’s withdrawal of a benzodiazepine.

[@nancyayers6355]

From what little I know about migraines, I don't think a person in the throes of that level of pain is ever in the mood to do much talking. P.S. Diane's body was autopsied, and no evidence of a tooth problem was found - I think she had a killer migraine, she drank and smoked (pot) at the campsite, and she and her husband had a bad argument that morning! These are known facts. Her marriage was bad. She had a very demanding job. She had to take responsibility for the house, the two children, supper, dishes, clothes, the works after coming home from work every evening. Hubby shirked his part at home, and held some kind of night job that paid far less than Diane's. She was angry, overworked and underappreciated - I would be upset too!! I also think that both of them were in denial about everything. Hubby might not have realized how much she drank, or he rationalized it away. Both of them were just letting bad stuff go on and on, without a whisper of care or concern.

[@jriver3145]

Dr Grande, with the utmost respect, your jokes are so bad they go full circle and become funny XD Keep it up!

[@kikihowe4799]

All in his dead pan delivery ...he’s epic ❤️🤣

[@liona6185]

That's why they're funny. That and the way he just slips them in and carries on like nothing happened.

[@paulgoogol2652]

dad jokes

[@mwheeler138]

His jokes and dry delivery is one of the best parts of his videos.

[@jriver3145]

@@mwheeler138 Yeah as an Englishman I definitely appreciate his dry sarcasm

[@rejaneoliveira5019]

I have so much to say about this case but I will refrain from doing so because whatever I say it will be extremely biased. When I was 19 (41 now) I made a decision to never drink alcohol. So I do not drink any alcohol nor use any drugs. This decision was made because I have seen in my family the destructive power of alcohol, it has certainly change me as a person. As such, I have experience with manipulation, denial, and overall extreme pain. I will leave it at that. Thank you again for the video Dr. Grande, it’s important that people see what intoxication can cause. On another note, ugh I miss it so much when you don’t upload.🥺 I don’t want to put any pressure on you, but yes I do miss...yesterday I felt something was wrong.😔

[@carinabittner6249]

Yes! Dr. Grande kept my brain busy when Germany was in COVID-19-lockdown.

[@h.borter5367]

I'm glad you decided to post your comment. It speaks from experience. Experience is what shapes our views and lives. Thank you. I appreciated reading it. Just wanted to thank you personally.💜

[@rejaneoliveira5019]

Heidi Borter - Thank you Heidi, I appreciate your comment.

[@thebarky1988]

I also want to thank you for sharing. This case can be very triggering. All the senseless deaths. We will never know what Dianne was really thinking but I think she felt she could make it home. It’s tragic.....

[@MGJDMNJ]

I worked at westchester medical center. I drove the taconic every time. Seeing the burned out park for a few days was haunting

[@paprgl]

I think that way, too, when I pass the site of crimes. It's hard.

[@kristee4237]

I live on Long Island in NY and you explaining the type of driving is so spot on I had to laugh a little. I’ll never forget this. Lived not too far from North Babylon and worked in West Babylon for a few years. The community was rocked after this. I knew someone who worked with her at the cable company…they said she was definitely that “super mom” mom. Literally did everything. Her husband did nothing. He didn’t want kids, he was lazy. Even his own mother said in the documentary that he was like Diane’s other child that she had to take care of. Such a shame. If only she wasn’t so prideful maybe she could have been more forthcoming with her struggles trying to keep everything together. Maybe her and all those poor kids would be alive today.

[@cyberspelunker1980]

Yeah. She hit her limit. She was not only bringing in the money, had a demanding job, but was also responsible for everything at home. She snapped. She was fully human and unfortunately children and innocent children were victims of it all. 💔

[@rebeccagrieger429]

I pray the son is going to be able to have a wonderful life and the precious families of the other victims

[@rebeccagrieger429]

I feel like the accident was due to alcohol and drugs. I found it very difficult to watch the husband and cousin or whatever she was deny facts .unhealthy and bizarro

[@ann-mariepaliukenas19]

@@cyberspelunker1980why didn’t she just divorce him

[@margarettelewis5355]

I watched the documentary and what got me was the way he treated his son. I didn't have any patience with him and he said that he didn't want children, that it was Diane who wanted the children. And his sister-in-law Jay said he didn't like taking care of his son like he was supposed to. Why didn't someone take the boy away from him? If he's not taking care of him the way he should, and he himself said he didn't want children. Why not take the boy away? Give him a good, loving home? I think this boy survived one tragedy just to be stuck in another one.

[@jodymathews6142]

Someone questioned whether she was very angry with her brother and her husband. Diane's mom, who abandoned the family when Diane was 9, had made amends with Diane's brothers, had a relationship with them. Mom states Diane refused reconciliation. Could she have felt betrayed by her brother? Also, Daniel stated he went to the campgrounds a day early to fish, leaving Diane responsible for bringing kids, etc, to campgrounds on Friday after work. Perhaps she was resentful about Daniel's lack of participation in his role as father, husband. It was mentioned somewhere that Daniel actually arrived at the camp shortly before his wife, not the day before. If that's true, where was he? I'm curious about two other points. Why did we see so little of Jay's husband, Daniel's brother? The very public display of hand holding and support by Jay was off-putting to me. Finally, if Diane was this wonderful mom, why weren't the kids buckled in and/or in carseats? There is a theory she suffered from OCPD, obsessive-compulsive personality disorder. Her impulse buying and hoarding could be indications of this. Who goes out to buy groceries and comes back with a Jeep? Or shopping for milk and brings home a big-screen TV? She had years' worth of clothing neatly packed in the attic for her children. There definitely was something wrong with Aunt Diane.

[@LisaNC832]

Great insight!

[@sheliaandrews3829]

Jay mentioned that her husband never wanted kids. Maybe she decided to resolve that for him. In addition, hurt her brother by taking away those he loved most. I wonder how much resentment she had over having to be the “woman” of the house at such a young age from her Mom’s abandonment.

[@AliValentine143]

I believe that the abandonment issues from childhood would've made the children more important her and codependent to her husband despite any poor partnership behaviors. He may not have even been aware of bad she was suffering and how poorly she was coping. She likely snapped that day and that's why it surprised her family so bad, sober she never would've hurt the children too, she wanted out of her pain and over did it with alcohol when she was usually overly-controlled. So very sad. She likely loved her family so much, they gave her sense of purpose in her CPTSD and mental health.

[@paintandart519]

Yeah I guess you’re right 😞

[@hampter4177]

Maybe Diane’s husband did something to the kids (her nieces) and she felt she was protecting or saving them from some kind of trauma. It’s possible she suffered some kind of trauma in her childhood that she kept to herself which is why she wouldn’t forgive her mother. I definitely felt something was so strange with her husband. Like you said why wasn’t her husband’s brother in the doc? Why is he so chummy with his sister in law? It’s weird for sure. I don’t think she had anything against her brother but I definitely think there was something strange with her husband. They had her nieces for the camping trip and I’m sure they had them a lot. Who knows what he could’ve done to them? I hate to accuse someone of abusing a child with zero evidence but it’s a thought I had. It would make sense that she was abused and spent her adult life self medicating. If she found out her nieces were abused, then next would be her own children. Being drunk and high, you don’t make the best decisions. In that state, she could’ve believed she was sparing them from whatever hell she lived all her life.

[@suesuepake6002]

I find it odd the husband didn’t help drive any of the kids back. I realize he was in his truck, but he could’ve helped out by taking one or two of the kids . Instead, he let HER take all of the kids which seems to have been a running theme not only in her marriage, but in her family of origin. I saw the HBO documentary in which the husband insists something other than alcohol , thc and/or a domestic spat caused the accident. I got the feeling that he was well aware of the liability issues connected to this case. If he had admitted to any type of drinking, drugging or arguing it could have meant that a jury of his peers would fine HIM culpable . Remember the family was killed, in addition to 3 other men in the car she hit head on. Very sad indeed. 💐

[@katwebbxo]

Normally that would be an odd situation. Unfortunately he seems to be extremely selfish and let her handle everything. The way he spoke about his son surviving is telling. So awful.

[@khloeknievel3874]

I remember from the documentary that her husband only agreed to have kids if she did 100% of the work. He didn’t want them and only relented if she did everything. That sounds like a terrible arrangement. There is no way resentment doesn’t build up on both sides over the years. Even if he expected she was drinking, he had a lot of incentive to keep his mouth shut. So tragic that the children ending up suffering for their parents mistakes.

[@colonelspicymustard]

I haven’t seen the documentary so I can’t speak on that, but having one parent take both kids isn’t that weird in my opinion.

[@steppy3736]

I believe it was her side of the family that said her husband did not want children, but she did. As a couple they agreed they'd have kids *only* if she was completely responsible for their care 24/7/365. The family also said she'd use Ritalin to stay awake and get things done, then smoke weed to calm down to sleep.

[@annaw2909]

@Adena Bannick AACP®, CMT®, & RMT Host Of meta Mondays on the BBS Radio Network Station 1 11 am EST im stunned...what came out of this suit, may u provide any links, on a side note there is special breed of men that have zero interest what mothers and wifes r up to, tons of responsibilities and work w/o spousal involvement, sad

[@KingofHearts]

It kind of sounds like she felt a lot of pressure to uphold her 'super mom' image and resorted to alcohol to help her cope.

[@majorkade]

Sad world we create for ourselves.

[@jakehammond12345]

Women most affected

[@frankie1012]

More likely marijuana as a crutch. I don’t think it had anything to do with what happened.

[@fang3839]

That definitely plays a part considering she never forgave her mom like her siblings did. I wouldn’t take extra three girls camping with my own kids and no other adults helping. Her husband really doesn’t do anything. He is a extra kid to care for.

[@mbb--]

@@jakehammond12345 Isn't it amazing? At what point does personal responsibility come in?

[@djzio]

I will say that, living for more than 60 years in Queens, and regularly driving up in the vicinity of Westchester and Rockland counties, Dr Grande's account of driving there has been my experience too

[@jdub2100]

I just watched the doc on HBO, its chilling to say the least. Definitely secrets in the family, something weird with Danny and Jay. The denial and guilt is unreal. The only fact that makes me consider this was intentional, was she wasn't swerving, drifting, or acknowledging in any way that she was driving the wrong direction. All I can think about is how terrified those poor children must have been watching this happen, absolutely heartbreaking 💔

[@kapb4149]

I agree that she most likely had a disorder that she covered up and self medicated . I am reluctant to say she committed suicide/ murder. Just not who she was. Whatever made her take the amounts she took , is a mystery, but it’s clear to me, that her actions, behavior, attitude was of someone in a blackout. She was not aware on a conscious level. People do and say things and sound normal in them. But they aren’t . I think something deep and hurtful and never dealt with came to the surface and she couldn’t deal with it so she took more this time and thought she’d beat them all home

[@megatherion2695]

Flurg, flurp durrdle

[@reactions_VX67]

@@kapb4149 This. This is what I think happened. I think something came out on that camping trip and that's why her husband and Jay are so shady.

[@peggypasson8794]

Cars reported she was swerving an they saw the kids heads moving with the swerving. She was going very fast . Allegedly according to witness.

[@peggypasson8794]

​@@kapb4149has anyone ever heard of a fugue stage? It's very strange . They go into o almost like a trance ?

[@elizabethclothier3267]

I watched the documentary and your theory was never even considered, but for me, it's the one that makes the most sense. They all really did seem to be in denial. It is a tragic case, so many innocent's lost their lives and the ripple effect is enormous. My heart hurts for all the victim's families. especially the mom who lost all of her children.

[@sunnyquinn3888]

Diane's husband had financial motive to be so vehement about her not having a drinking problem. There was a life insurance policy that would pay a significant amount of money to him, but not if she caused the crash by knowingly driving under the influence.

[@Otaku155]

Daniel needs to be investigated.

[@paprgl]

I wish I thought he was that bright.

[@Fishouta]

That's interesting, but that suicide restriction is removed after 2 years from when the policy originated.

[@sunnyquinn3888]

@@Fishouta Maybe he didn't know that? Idk. 🤷

[@Fishouta]

@@sunnyquinn3888 yeah, maybe so

[@tasmaniandevil6750]

Driving the wrong way on a road “is one of those things that other drivers tend to notice, even in areas where aggressive driving is normally tolerated.”😂😂😂 now I’m dead

[@francie2915]

I’m really late in watching this , but I just want to say that my mother was an alcoholic narcissist who taught me ,as a child (beginning at age 12) to Mx her drinks while she drove long distances. She set up her little bar on the front seat between us,either for screwdrivers (vodka and orange juice) or Cuba libres (rum and coke).The family was all scattered then and it was just her and me mostly. My grandmother sent her enough money to live on mainly because my grandmother was worried about me. So my mom decided to move us to Mexico where it was cheaper living.But we had to travel every six months to the border (from Guadalajara) to renew out tourist cards, plus she’d impulsively decide to move up to Canada to join my first stepfather,also alcoholic school teacher); then to New Mexico,and California,and Mexico again.I could write a book about those years. It was survival for me and very traumatic. She was drinking heavy amounts of alcohol but she was able to drive night and day,just pulling over to the roadside to sleep about an hour-then continue. In those days,early sixties,that was possible even on freeways at night . She seemed to go into a certain mode when driving drunk, where she was able to focus stoically on driving. She hardly ate and later I found out she was bulemic. There were just two episodes when I had to yell at her about near death experiences. The first was while driving us through the night in Mexico,we approached a narrow bridge. I saw a big bus headed towards the short bridge and suddenly I realized that my mom had no intention of pulling over to let the bus through first! She was numb and going for the bridge when I yelled and she slammed on the brakes.She skidded and our car did a sharp 45 degree turn before our car stopped,now facing the side of the giant bus,about a foot or two from hitting the bus as it flew full speed past us . She stopped just before she would have been on the bridge at same moment with the bus. Can only imagine how many deaths might have happened when if I had been sleeping,and we were very very far from emergency help.She didn’t express any emotion at all. She had different levels of drunkenness-like different rooms in her mind. In driving drunk she stayed numb. So she didn’t say anything and just continued driving (there was no other traffic at all-just us in a long drive). The second event happened at night in California. Driving on the freeway with me as bartender, she suddenly crossed over the raised grassy divider and started to drive the wrong way into oncoming traffic! I screamed at her as headlights were approaching us, and she quietly and quickly drove back over to the right side of the freeway. So I’m not surprised that Diane could could hide her alcoholism from people close to her,and focus in a “pin” straight manner at high speed in the wrong lane. But whether she meant to do so or was numbed out and couldn’t hear the children’s screams, I guess we’ll never know.

[@johelenfugate3498]

That is a terrifying story.

[@SingPandaProductions]

Oh man this...this is what happened to Diane.

[@SingPandaProductions]

Also I am so so sorry you went through all that. 😢 terrible. But thank you for sharing it cause thus story will definitely stick with me.

[@mightygeshe]

Thank you for your videos. Just a few corrections to add. The stop at the store wasn’t just for pain relievers, she specifically asked for Tylenol gel caps. That is why he remembered her, because they didn’t carry that variety and it stuck in his head because it was so specific. When Diane called the Hances. The first call was a normal call about a delay to Jackie Warren wasn’t home. The second contact was from the daughter. When she passed the phone to Diane Jackie noticed she was slurring and confused. . This is when Jackie passed the phone to Warren who had just walked in the door. Warren went out to try to find the van. This is all detailed in Jackie’s book.

[@sharonhoyt2133]

I don't think Diane wanted any form of Tylenol...she wanted liquor which was not allowed to be sold in NY before noon on Sunday at that time. I suspect the store clerk told her where she could find someone who would sell it to her which is why she called to make the excuse that they would be late getting home because it would take her out of her way to buy the vodka. The Tylenol story was made up by Danny's attorney. The store clerk refused to ever speak with the police.

[@carolynokraska2583]

This. No one can say where this gel cap report came from. The clerk didn’t speak to the police. She totally looked like she was looking for alcohol.

[@leprophete364]

"in other parts of the country, people are one the phone trying to get a swat team to come down" Karen vs Karen showdown

[@xeokym223]

indeed 😆 😅

[@FiercedeityBrad]

Thanks so much for shedding light on the truth I feel sorry for Danny Schuler clinging onto the belief that his wife was a together lady who loved being a mom. You can tell he hates the fact that people are aware that his wife wasn't a perfect person you saw his anger in the documentary about having to care for his son and that Diane wasn't there to take care of him. Seems he was angrier that he had to step up and be a parent than that he lost alot of family members. You should do an analysis of Danny Schuler and his reaction to everything.

[@mariebernier3076]

Oh, YESSSS! That's a great idea!!! The story has so many fascinating aspects, psychologically - her father, the fact that the brothers still had a relationship with the mom, the whole weird Jay to Danny loyalty, substitute-wife thing, why her brother and sis in law let the kids go in her car if they knew she drank, etc.

[@karenpoteet751]

He seemed to be pretty useless and child-like. I imagine she was sick of the pressure.....BUT.....still.....to take innocent children and other people with you when you kill yourself? THAT I can't wrap my head around. She seemed to be a control freak, with a perfection complex and some OCD. Some of that I had/have myself. Never once did I think of harming my children.

[@e_b_]

So glad you covered this. I remember when this happened and it was really disturbing. The HBO documentary, "There's Something Wrong With Aunt Diane" was quite intense too.

[@josephcaroleo4363]

there's something wrong with uncle daniel! and aunt jay! ay dios mio!

[@hampter4177]

And you could tell that HBO hated her by showing her dead body on the ground. Total disrespect but can’t say that I felt it was wrong.

[@e_b_]

@@josephcaroleo4363 I totally agree! They are either in serious denial, or they know she was an alcoholic and are trying to purposely save face.

[@e_b_]

@@hampter4177 I know...I was shocked when they showed that, but I understand why they did.

[@southpark1029384756]

The husband wanted the accident ruled as a medical reason so he could collect the Insurance in my opinion.

[@facebookcom-ej7dm]

AND avoid being sued from the other 2 cars a 3 dead men’s families.

[@allysonfuller255]

Agree 100%

[@kingayy9267]

Nothing wrong with wanting to claim insurance they paid for. With Brian's medical bills and the loss of Diane's income, he certainly needed it.

[@jessetm7732]

@@kingayy9267 needed & deserved are very different lol

[@tppp7068]

Yes. She was drugged, can't say who, but follow the money.

[@actiondork]

I've been up close and personal with a few dependent alcoholics in my time and you don't always know. One close friend that I (and others) thought barely drank almost died from withdrawal after being admitted to the hospital for an unrelated issue. I was shocked as hell. You never know. Her family may not have known. But here we are.

[@xquetzalo]

She was more concerned with continuing on, not accepting help, and maybe not getting caught than the lives in her care and the concern of the girl who called. She didn't seem like the type to own up to her shortcomings before. Guilty as hell.

[@thebarky1988]

I agree but do you think she planned the crash? I think not but she thought she could make it home

[@patriciahayes7315]

@@thebarky1988 The video makes it sound like a probable suicide.

[@xquetzalo]

@@thebarky1988 I don't think she planned it. I do think she believed she could make it home.

[@ED80s]

@@thebarky1988 I think the same. She thought she could make it home. I think she was worried about the police pulling up beside her while she was pulled over waiting for her brother. She would be charged w DUI. That's why she ditched her phone so she could not be followed if police was called

[@MichelleonaHike]

This story was so tragic. And infuriating!! I read the moms book about losing her three daughters...I’ll never forget this family. 😩

[@aivlysplath]

It was just such a needless act, killing a bunch of people due to intoxicated driving. What a shame

[@RepentfollowJesus]

I read it also

[@peggypeggy4137]

I agree that it is really infuriating. If Dr Grande is right and it was most likely intentional, that makes her just plain evil and incredibly self centered. In that case it is a tragedy that she didn't just jump off a bridge. She had no right to take the lives of all those innocent people

[@coll4455]

I have a 3 year old son and it just registered to me that Diane’s 2 year old wasn’t in a car seat. Also this is best analysis of this tragedy I have seen you are the only one who actually considers that this was intentional. In my mind there is more evidence that she did this on purpose than anything else

[@mhthmusicvideos]

I was coming back from a friend's house along the Taconic that day and was caught up in the traffic jam as a result of the crash. We passed the wreckage after they had diverted traffic into the opposite lane and collectively agreed that it 'didn't look good'. It wasn't until the following morning I learned on the news the full extent of the horror.

[@qmaube1]

I have just revisited this site and found my comments. I have changed my opinion of your very dry sense of humor. I like it.

[@chloefox8471]

This is just my own theory based on watching the documentary numerous times. I think she was a closet alcoholic and was able to hide this from her husband especially since they worked opposite shifts. I think she was going though withdrawal and jonesing for a drink so bad that as soon as her husband wasn’t around she drank and she drank too much.

[@crackmanjones1710]

Good theory

[@raquelalvarez7700]

I think when Emma called her dad and told him that aunt Diane was doing weird stuff, she totally freaked out bc for the first time she was close to be found drunk and high with kids on her care. And when she enters the gas station store she went directly to where the fountain soda is normally placed and looked for a big soda plastic glass with a straw to mix her drink .

[@nicolecandicemesteth5165]

@@raquelalvarez7700 i thought that too. Or that she was going to get a smaller bottle of alcohol to down in the bathroom but they only sold beer. Ive went into many gas stations and left because i was looking for rum and they only sold beer. I think she parked by the gas pumps so the kids couldn't see in the windows what she was buying.

[@sunrae7680]

Yes.

[@sharonhoyt2133]

@@nicolecandicemesteth5165 At the time you could not buy alcohol in NY on Sunday until noon.

[@yepitsme3336]

Bottom line: She murdered 7 people and committed suicide. I think once she was going the wrong way on the Taconic, her actions showed intent. Whether she left the camp intending or contemplating this is unknown, but the more blasted she got, the more she realized how awful life was for her and how unhappy she was (reasons we don't really know either). If she was willing to kill her kids, no one else will matter, hence the horrific ending to this nightmare. I often think of the 3 dead Hance daughters and their parents and I cannot wrap my head around their situation.

[@breck6520]

People commenting about how “since everyone said she appeared sober she must not have started drinking yet” I’ve seen alcoholics who act totally normal only because of the fact that they’ve been drinking- then they start to act weird when the alcohol wears off. There are people who go through their entire workday sipping alcohol the entire time and nobody realizes because at that point the person needs to keep drinking to feel/act normal & people become experts at hiding it. On top of that, closet alcoholics are often opportunistic binge drinkers. They wait until they have a second alone or sneak off and then chug their drink of choice. This can cause the person to unintentionally become extremely inebriated - especially if she was already hungover/still had alcohol in her system from the night before.

[@SuburbanSavage]

I've seen the HBO documentary and I've read the book by Jackie Hance, which is one of the saddest books that I've ever read. In the book, Mrs. Hance sounds rightfully distraught and furious at what happened to her daughters. It’s her husband’s family’s reaction that is somewhat bizarre; at the hospital her husband and FIL immediately start making phone calls to friemds, even while one of the girls was still being worked on. The mother of Diane was shunned and wasn't allowed near them for decades, even at the funerals. All of the "women's work" was placed on to Diane, even though she was younger than most of her brothers, by quite a bit. Then she marries a man who is described by his own mother as a child. Based on what I've seen, it seems like she was high-strung and unable to ask for any type of help. It was like just asking for Tylenol was unacceptable to her, like she failed in some way. The whole story is sad and as a parent, I can't imagine losing my child, but I also feel such sadness for the Longo and Bastardi families (the 3 men in the other car). Daniel Longo had just retired and was just starting to travel and make new friends. Guy Bastardi was taking his father Michael and Daniel to dinner at a family member's home. It's probably a drive that he did countless times with no trouble.

[@jennifergraceh]

I didn't know Jackie Hance wrote a book! I will absolutely read it!!! Thank you!!!!

[@SuburbanSavage]

@@jennifergraceh it's really sad, but a tad self-indulgent, which given her situation, I gave her a pass on it.

[@brancarl]

this one really haunts me because the motive for why she did it was never exposed. i also believe she did it on purpose but the fact that that’s not confirmed also really keeps me thinking about this story. i will never understand why she would do it with the children in the car.

[@johnwescott1500]

OK, I admit it. When I first saw "Taconic State", I thought it was a psychological term. " She's not criminally responsible, she was in a Taconic State"

[@EvadoCouto]

🤣🤣

[@river8760]

You’re thinking of catatonic, probably 😀

[@kcc-karenschroniccorner9432]

Me too lol. I thought it was a version of catatonic 😜

[@Jendromeda]

lol i've been on the taconic many times, i've actually been frightened to drive on it, people driving very fast, too fast and many areas seem narrow, winding.

[@holleyjomartinez4009]

Thank you for the analysis of this case. It’s so refreshing to know that there are actually individuals left in this world (especially you) that have level headed reasoning based on professional knowledge. No bias....just straight forward and honest. ❤️

[@nicoledidyk2669]

I wouldn't have thought it possible to laugh out loud at a video with such serious subject matter, but luckily, Dr. Grande just finished reading the book: "Using dark humor appropriately to enhance learning in educational videos",

[@kcc-karenschroniccorner9432]

I think he wrote the book!

[@CTPepenelli]

This guy is a hack. He has no clue what went down. This is just his five minutes of fame.

[@TheKoolbraider]

My father was an alcoholic for over 50 years and his liver was in perfect condition. His doctor was amazed at this. And yes, he was a functional alcoholic.

[@gabe-po9yi]

Heavily intoxicated drivers going the wrong way on an interstate is not as rare as some might think. In their drunken state they’re either unable to identify which of four - 2 exits and 2 entrances to take or just turn down the first ramp they see. They can be also be completely oblivious of honking horns and flashing headlights. I’ve seen it.

[@theghostofarchiebunker8859]

The thing that makes me KNOW in my heart that it was intentional is the fact that those kids had to have been screaming in fear and begging her to stop driving. That’s the fact that the documentary doesn’t address. So if she lost her vision from a stroke or migraine WHY KEEP DRIVING? Even if she was simply drunk and high to the point of vomiting…WHY KEEP DRIVING? when you get really drunk things get spinny and you want to pass out. Had she simply been drunk than when the husband offered to pick them up she would most likely have waited and passed out in the car. The kids had to have been screaming for her to stop. And she even left her phone so they couldn’t try to escape again!!! Very evil and very intentional

[@rucianapollard4057]

I agree that the children had to be frightened and were no doubt crying. But Aunt Diane was in a blackout drunk, she wasn't aware of the scared children, she wasn't aware she was driving erratically, she wasn't aware that she was on the wrong side of the road. She was completely wasted.

[@chanelhp2889]

Thank you for covering this story, Dr Grande. This situation was always a big question mark to me, appreciate your insight on this one.

[@opieutt9038]

Except he's wrong.

[@diandie1838]

@@opieutt9038 I don't know if any of us will ever know what really happened. He expressed his opinion based on the facts he knows and I appreciate his insight. What do you think happened?

[@opieutt9038]

@@diandie1838 I think she was a precise and analytical person, and would not consider suicide in this manner, let alone with five precious babies in the van. Ever. However, she was demanding of herself and thought with a few shots she could make this trip home through whatever physical or emotional fit she was trying to hide. She accidentally over drank (and she was, I believe, a seasoned drinker), went into an alcoholic blackout (similar to a dream state), and had no cognitive knowledge after that. It literally happens every day. People drink too much and drive the wrong way on the highway. She made a fatal, drunk error in judgment. I'm telling you, Google here on YT Brandon Barber, drunk cop from Cuba, NM. Do you think that poor drunken sap was suicidal? No, he was "blackout drunk".

[@diandie1838]

@@opieutt9038 Could be! I Iike to think that a mother would never intentionally put children in harm's way, but I know, sadly, that is not always the case.

[@opieutt9038]

@@diandie1838 True, but she doesn't fit that profile at all. I think Dr. Grande is grandiose and also creepy af though for full disclosure lol.

[@mcd5478]

From what I’ve experienced, it seems that substance abusers MUST have enablers in their lives. They also seem to consciously gravitate to people that they know will enable their substance abuse.

[@josephcaroleo4363]

enablers are the greatest evil the world has ever known!

[@rickbrenner6079]

@@josephcaroleo4363 I respectfully disagree. I’ve heard people say that before and I understand where that perspective comes from, however, were Hitler’s enablers, the German people, more evil that Hitler? I’d have to say, “no” affirmatively. The German people enabled Hitler because some believed the Nazi propaganda that was being put out in the public that Jews were lower than rats and filthy, and demon-like. Others believed Hitler was himself godlike and therefore, anything Hitler said in his speeches had to be true. Others enabled Hitler because they feared what would happen to them if they stood up against the Nazi party to defend the Jewish people, homosexuals, Gypsies, and anyone else who were targeted by the Nazis for persecution. In terms of being an enabler from a drug addict or alcoholic, again, I have to respectfully disagree. In an addiction situation I don’t think it is comparable to Nazi Germany. There isn’t necessarily an “evil” player maintaining and surrounding the person with the addiction. There could be, like in a pimp/prostitute situation where the pimp intentionally introduces his women to heroin as a means to control them. But in the typical addict situation where the user is not forced to start using and simply turns to using drugs/alcohol based on their own individual choice (which often is influenced by a genetic predisposition to succumb to addictive behaviors), I don’t think anyone is “evil” per se, not even the drug dealer who is simply trying to put food on his table and has never once tried to force anyone to buy his product and start using. I think in most addiction situations the “evil” is the cycle of addiction itself, which users become so trapped in that they can’t escape. Enablers of people who are addicted many times just want to see their friend or family member to be comfortable and not suffer the pain of withdrawal. So they end up doing things that make it easier for their friend or family member to continue their usage because they saw how much pain and suffering and begging that their addicted friend or family member went through and did because of the misery of withdrawals they went through during the time they tried to “stand up to” their addict friend or family member by trying to get them to STOP using and to check them into rehab or a hospital. Many loved ones unwillingly become enablers because it tears them apart to see their son or daughter or husband suffer the pain and misery of withdrawals that they end up not being able to continue to “stand up to” their loved one and display the stoicism and persistence that is usually needed to get their addicted butts to rehab and refuse to give them any more money. I can totally see a loved one with a tender heart unwillingly enabling their loved one’s addiction because they don’t want their loved one to suffer the physical and emotional pain of withdrawals. Does this make those friends or family members “evil”? I have to respectfully say, “No”. Heck, I don’t even think it makes them “a bad friend” or “a bad relative”. It makes these “enablers” human beings put in an incredibly difficult situation where enabling is the path that, at least in the short-term, keeps your loved one “comfortable” relatively speaking, and doesn’t make them go through any suffering from withdrawal. To me, in this situation, enabling, in a weird way, is a form of kindness. They’re trying to keep their friend or loved one from suffering and shouldn’t be demonized or even harshly criticized for enabling. That being said, the addiction will just continue and continue the longer the enabler continues to enable their friend or loved one to use. That is why I think so highly of “interventions” for people in the cycle of addiction. Gathering EVERYONE that cares about the addict takes some of the onus off of any one person who might have been unwillingly enabling the addict and tries to make it a team approach.

[@Whol3NothaL3v3l]

I love that Dr. Grande just says what he thinks. He's not concerned with people being offended. He is also humble in that he always said that these are just his "opinions" and "theories". Most KZbinrs act like they posses the ultimate truth on whatever subject.

[@earthling8585]

I was stunned to find my brother had a problem with Coke when we were younger. He said, " How could you have known? You never saw me sober." There you have it.

[@jessicascott5847]

I'd never heard the suicide/murder theory before watching this video. Just when I thought this horrendous case couldn't get any darker...

[@nancyayers6355]

Well, this was a great video, but no one will ever really know the truth that led up to this horrible accident. No one in Diane's extended family knew she drank and smoked pot to remove herself from her problems. I've read the book her sister-in-law, the mother of the three nieces Dr. Grande mentioned, wrote after the fatal accident. In this book, she describes what took place as she and Diane got the little girls in the van. I was particularly alert to the fact, as they drove away from the nieces' home, their mother began to cry as she watched the van drive away until it finally turned a corner and disappear from sight. The little girls' father asked her why she was crying, and she replied that she didn't know. I believe in one part of her mind, she did know! Unconsciously, she already knew she would never see her little girls alive again! But this knowledge was so horrendous that she could not possibly be able to face it, so it just remained below the level of conscious awareness. I have experienced "premonitions" myself since I was a child, but unfortunately, I always knew what was going to happen, hours before it occurred! Ideas would come to me, along with a bizarre absolute certainly that they would happen, and that there was absolutely nothing I could do to stop them! And they did happen, usually later the same day, or certainly within a 12-24 hr. window of time! But most did not take but a few hours to occur! Plus, they all seemed to involve someone (or, in one case, a dearly loved pet) in my immediate family. I've never experienced the same psychic foreknowledge of anyone I did not love!!

[@-SarahElizabeth-]

I know, right?

[@frankie1012]

The documentary completely avoided this possibility. It’s the only outcome that makes sense. No tooth abscess makes you kill 8 people. Ridiculous.

[@jenniferlane9000]

@@frankie1012 I had an abscessed tooth so bad I passed out in target. Getting in a vehicle and killing myself children and extended family would be the furthest thing from my mind. This abscess tooth theory has never made sense to me.

[@frankie1012]

@W Zee she was drinking for liquid courage to go through with it. She wasn’t even totally drunk and still in control of her faculties. What she did was purposeful and horrible.

[@MarysMaamCave]

At first in your description of her driving I was on “team stroke” but your explanation makes sense. Something may have happened on that trip that made her angry, and the vodka exacerbated that to a rage. A habitual drunk wouldn’t drive like that from alcohol alone at .19 BAC, the aggressiveness and rage that the alcohol exacerbated would cause a habitual drunk to drive like that. Drunk rage would explain why she didn’t care at that moment about her children or her brother’s children. Leaving the phone at the side of the road may not have been to avoid tracking, as she had such a head start that no one was going to catch up to her. If it was done deliberately, it could have been her way of saying she was done talking to her family. Or that she had decided what she was going to do and she didn’t want any calls to bring back in the real world of people her actions were going to hurt. I’m just spitballing here, but it does sound like the family does know more about the events preceding her getting into her van that day, and they cannot face what possible preventative actions they should have taken but didn’t. But her answering her phone up till then, and driving so aggressively before driving one way, could that have been part of her wanting someone to stop her?

[@amandahugginkiss61]

This is the most realistic explanation that I’ve seen.

[@KatieCooksandCrafts]

Based on her husband's actions after her death can give her an idea of how he behaved during their marriage. So. Much. Denial. So little accountability. I'm guessing most of the parenting fell to her. Most of the breadwinning fell to her. And I'm guessing most of that weekend trip responsibilities (planning, packing, cooking) fell to her and it was the last straw. She is a monster for dragging those children and men in the other vehicle into her suicide but she seemed desperate get away from her overstressed undersupported life and her loser of a husband.

[@tasmaniandevil6750]

You’re wrong, .19 is extremely drunk plus combined with marijuana. There is no need to look for an explanation, it’s right there. Basic logic, you choose the simplest explanation, unless it’s unsatisfactory. In this case her bac and marijuana use is sufficient to explain any manner of terrible driving and erratic behavior.

[@KatieCooksandCrafts]

@@tasmaniandevil6750 yes, but the question is not "why did she crash" the question is "why did she slam vodka and reefer, make confusing phone call while driving a van full of children"

[@amandahugginkiss61]

Katie Cooks and Crafts , my opinion is that she was a regular smoker and drinker. She’s a closet drinker though so she might not have awareness of her levels the same way a regular open drinker would. (When you’re sneaking drinks, it’s easy to lose track.) I don’t think this is the first time she drove under the influence but I do think this time it got away from her. If she was extremely depressed or angry, this would have exacerbated her condition and lent to a further lapse of awareness and judgement.

[@justmel2042]

I really appreciate your opinion on this Dr Grande! Mental illness is still so misunderstood & people are always looking for something "medical" that must have gone wrong to explain situations of this nature. Sometimes the things hardest to consider are actually the truth.

[@sunitamosesesq]

This is the best analysis I've heard so far. You take a very unfavored view, i.e., it was a deliberate act, but if one truly examines all of the available information, hands down, it makes the MOST sense! Earlier on, I leaned toward simple intoxication as the reason for this tragedy, but I couldn't get over the facts of the quantity of unabsorbed alcohol in her stomach, and why, after knowing help was on the way, she would abandon the cell phone get back into the car and get onto the highway in the wrong direction. If she had been suffering a medical emergency, it's not very likely that she would have been so successful in driving up the ramp and getting onto the highway, plus drivibg straight for 1.7 miles. As an addition, I'd like to add that she might have freaked out upon hearing that her brother-in-law was coming, and knowing that she might be caught in her current state. That intense fear of being discovered could have caused her to desperately need to end her situation.

[@coimindeburka7716]

My aunt "mother" was a functioning drunk. She was successful in the day, but by night😢. No one really knew unless they lived with us. It shows how little her own friends and co-workers actually knew her.

[@kellie5476]

Legend has it that people are still driving around that burning car seen by Dr Grande. (That deadpan look as he said the air con might not be too good in that environment lol!)

[@SarahBethBreck]

Michael Longford 😆😆😆

[@lisetteeliseparis7070]

😄🤣

[@Craigevansagain]

and when he mentioned about it getting uncomfortably warm in there, that was the understatement of the year!

[@Eldoggia]

"There's Something Wrong with Aunt Diane" was the title of the documentary - it was what one of the the nieces told her father over the phone. The children must have been terrified and screaming as she got worse and worse. I think she was evil - because that's what you have to be to kill children. Also, her "deniers" were being self-serving because they had to deal with the families of the people she killed in the other car, as well as the parents of the children she killed.

[@TaureanTruth]

my theory: her mother being absent in her life was so tramautic that when she wanted to commit suicide she took her children with her so they wouldn't grow up without a mom like she did. kinda twisted

[@paintandart519]

Yeah that’s what I thought

[@feelthejoy]

I actually think there might’ve been sexual abuse by someone in the family and the mom either covered it up or refused to believe her and that’s why she wouldn’t forgive her and why her friend wouldn’t say it in the doc

[@sharonhoyt2133]

@@feelthejoy I also believe Diane was sexually abused by her father and perhaps her brothers as well.

[@feelthejoy]

@TheReaper74 not really… as you can see plenty of people agree with me. Her behavior is pretty classic SA victim

[@colin6603]

@@feelthejoy you’re just spewing BS

[@juliakaz146]

I have a long commute to my clinic every morning and ive been hooked on these videos listening to them for 4 days now. I love your rational snd educated opinions and hearing your point of view. Thanks dr grande!

[@joannabrites6288]

This is the only person who actually made sense of this case. Half the people on KZbin pulling this case apart have no idea what they’re talking about. Thank you doc, I love listening to your brilliant mind.

[@Kiki-yw9kc]

I own a pub and what I have observed over the years is that someone drunk on spirits appear to look sober , they can walk normally and more reserved . Someone intoxicated on beer slurs their words and are obviously drunk ie loud , struggling to walk straight and loss of inhibitions . Off course everyone is different but just my experience

[@LadyAquarius_NY]

As a New Yorker, we not only drive aggressively, we are aggressive bicyclists and pedestrians as well. Tip: as a tourist don’t stop suddenly on the sidewalk, walk slowly, or block the subway platform while we are on our way to work.

[@majorkade]

Some lady got shoved in front of a subway years ago.

[@barbaravyse660]

The folks in Amsterdam are super aggressive on their bikes too.

[@cynthiahart3747]

Drivers in Cairo are very aggressive

[@sharonhoyt2133]

@@majorkade Many people have been shoved in front of the subway in just the past few years...including a few weeks ago. NYC has been running towards hell for a number of years.

[@majorkade]

@@sharonhoyt2133 Yes. That's sad.

[@JohnPaul-le4pf]

"Sherlock Holmes" would have admired your work on this one. Outstanding!

[@akeminicole9438]

This situation sends chills down my spine. Thank you for covering this.

[@ghogsten]

I use to live on Pleasantville road as a child. Live there for over 20 years, to turn on to that exit isn’t a easy thing to do. Signs were everywhere about it being one way. The Taconic State parkway is a beautiful, pleasant drive. 3 lanes, with a large separation between lanes of travel.