This episode deals with violence against women and describes injuries caused by domestic abuse. Please listen with care.

The unsolved disappearance of Amy Sher is a disturbing story of violence, isolation, coercive control, and how one person can terrorize an entire family. Amy’s haunting case reveals the devastating realities of domestic violence—the emotional abuse, despair, and powerlessness she endured.

Amy Beth Sher, a 38‑year‑old mother, was last seen at work on Monday, October 14, 2002, at Lahey Clinic in Burlington, Massachusetts. Her life had been marked by struggle since meeting Robert J. Desmond, Jr., an office temp at her job. Their relationship moved quickly, and those closest to her were stunned by how reckless Amy seemed in this new connection. Over time, they witnessed the frightening transformation of a once‑vibrant woman fading under the weight of coercive control and isolation.

While the official record states Amy was last seen at Alewife MBTA Station around noon on Friday, October 18, 2002, there are no eyewitnesses to confirm this. The detail is widely repeated, but its origin remains unclear—likely stemming from her husband’s shifting accounts. What we do know is that Amy’s last confirmed location was Lahey Clinic in Burlington, and the last place she had to have been was her home in Billerica, where she lived with her husband and son.

The chilling disappearance of Amy Sher underscores the profound impact of domestic violence. In this episode, we confront the realities of abuse and the helplessness experienced by everyone around her—family, coworkers, and friends—who could not save her from torment, no matter how they tried to offer a lifeline. By sharing Amy’s story, we shed light on the insidious nature of coercive control, the urgent need for advocacy and education, and the importance of collective action to break cycles of violence. This deep dive into a missing person case serves as a vital resource for understanding the delicate, destructive dynamics of domestic abuse.

There is so much more to this than the question, “Why did you stay?”

TheHotline.org — National Domestic Violence Hotline

Directory of local providers of DV support

JaneDoe.org

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Episode page: CrimeoftheTruestKind.com/amysher

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Online: CrimeoftheTruestKind.com

Created, written, hosted by Anngelle Wood

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