E178: Menhaz Zaman

(note: time stamps are without ads & may be off a little)

This week Beth and Wendy discuss the case of Menhaz Zaman, a 23 year old Bangladeshi-Canadian who murdered his entire family, all while chatting with his fellow video game players in real time.

First, we dive into the setting (08:09), the killers early life (19:31) and the timeline (25:27).  Then, we get into the investigation & arrest (40:47), “Where are they now?” followed by our takeaways and what we think made the perp snap (43:32).  

As usual we close out the show with some tips on how not to get murdered and our shout outs (45:38). 

This episode was researched & scripted by Wendy & Beth Williams.

Thanks for listening! This is a weekly podcast and new episodes drop every Thursday, so until next time… look alive guys, it’s crazy out there!

Sponsors:

This episode is sponsored by Better Help Online Therapy

Betterhelp.com/fruit

10% off your first month!

Best Fiends

Download Best Fiends free on the Apple App Store or Google Play!

Apple https://apps.apple.com/us/app/best-fiends-puzzle-adventure/id868013618

Google Play https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.Seriously.BestFiends&hl=en_US&gl=US

Shout Outs:

From Scratch on Netflix
https://www.netflix.com/title/81104486

Internet Hate Machine podcast
https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1119-internet-hate-machine-103468463/

Where to find us:

Our Facebook page is Fruitloopspod and our discussion group is Fruitloopspod Discussion on Facebook; https://www.facebook.com/groups/fruitloopspod/

We are also on Twitter and Instagram @fruitloopspod

Please send any questions or comments to fruitloopspod@gmail.com or leave us a voicemail at 602-935-6294.  We just might read your email or play your voicemail on the show!

Want to Support the show?

You can support the show by rating and reviewing Fruitloops on iTunes, or anywhere else that you get your podcasts from.  We would love it if you gave us 5 stars!

You can make a donation on the Cash App

https://cash.me/$fruitloopspod

Or become a monthly Patron through Patreon
patreon.com/user?u=11415202

Footnotes:

Articles/Websites

Westoll, Nick. (07/31/2019). Man charged in 4 Markham murders allegedly posts graphic details of deaths online. Global News. Retrieved 11/11/2022 from https://globalnews.ca/news/5698241/menhaz-zaman-online-posts/

CBC News. (07/29/2019). Quadruple homicide suspect sent messages, images to online chat after slayings: sources. Retrieved 11/11/2022 from https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/menhaz-zaman-discord-chat-messages-images-1.5229187

The Canadian Press. (08/01/2019). ‘I didn’t sleep’: Tunisian man says he gave accused Markham killer’s messages to police. CBC News. Retrieved 11/11/2022 from https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/tunisian-gamer-markham-mehnaz-zaman-1.5233708

Prasad, Sumith. (04/08/2022). Where is Menhaz Zaman Now? Why Did He Kill His Family? The Cinemaholic. Retrieved 11/11/2022 from https://thecinemaholic.com/where-is-menhaz-zaman-now-why-did-he-kill-his-family/

Bensadoun, Emerald. (07/30/2019). 4 members of same family found dead in Markham home remembered by friends, co-workers. Global News. Retrieved 11/11/2022 from https://globalnews.ca/news/5703074/markham-quadruple-homicide-victims/

Michallon, Clémence. (03/12/2022). A gamer murdered his family and told his online friends. Here’s how they tracked him down. Independent. Retrieved 11/11/2022 from https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/perfect-world-documentary-mehnaz-zaman-b2034470.html

Lamoureux, Mack. (08/02/2019). How a Group Of Gamers Tracked Down a Quadruple Murder Suspect. Vice. Retrieved 11/11/2022 from https://www.vice.com/en/article/kz4ezn/how-a-group-of-gamers-tracked-down-a-quadruple-murder-suspect

Shortland, Gail. (01/10/2021). Son murdered his whole family to avoid confessing about his double life. Mirror. Retrieved 11/11/2022 from https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/real-life-stories/son-murdered-whole-family-avoid-23288413

Laidlaw, Katherine. (02/25/2020). A FAMILY MASSACRE. Toronto Life. Retrieved 11/11/2022 from https://torontolife.com/city/he-seemed-like-the-perfect-son-then-he-confessed-to-slaughtering-his-family-with-a-crowbar/

Adler, Mike. (08/28/2020). Toronto’s Bangladeshi community struggles with cultural conflicts. Scarborough Mirror. Retrieved 11/11/2022 from https://www.toronto.com/news/torontos-bangladeshi-community-struggles-with-cultural-conflicts/article_ade7e4df-b9f7-55c9-a843-d4d9aa72cf6f.html

History

Collins, Katie. (08/16/2013). Study: family killers are usually men and fit one of four distinct profiles. Wired. Retrieved 11/11/2022 from https://www.wired.co.uk/article/family-killers

The Parricide Prevention Institute. (n.d.). The Youthful Parricide Offender. Retrieved 11/11/2022 from https://www.parricide.org/youthful-parricide-stats

Canada.ca. (n.d.). Origin of the name “Canada”. Retrieved 11/11/2022 from https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/services/origin-name-canada.html

Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. (09/29/2022). New France. Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 11/11/2022 from https://www.britannica.com/place/New-France

Guiding Star. (n.d.). History of Markham, Ontario, Canada. Retrieved 11/11/2022 from https://www.guidingstar.ca/markham_ontario_history.htm

Video

Perfect World: A Deadly Game (on Peacock)
https://www.peacocktv.com/watch/asset/tv/perfect-world-a-deadly-game/9016704165549276112

How Not to Get Murdered

General Holiday Safety and Crime Prevention Tips
https://nnw.org/holiday-safety

Music

“Abyss” by Alasen: ●https://soundcloud.com/alasen●https://twitter.com/icemantrap ●https://instagram.com/icemanbass/●https://soundcloud.com/therealfrozenguy●
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

“Warfare” by Yung Kartz
https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Yung_Kartz
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

“Lean and Pills” by Arulo
Mixkit Stock Music Free License
https://mixkit.co/free-stock-music/trap/

“A Saint” by Saibysed
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoyDwrTWfhlv_yBm84WXXBg
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

“Furious Freak” by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3791-furious-freak
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Connect with us on:

Twitter @FruitLoopsPod

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/fruitloopspod

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Fruitloopspod and https://www.facebook.com/groups/fruitloopspod