Kwame Kilpatrick went from being the future of Detroit to one of the city's most notable felons. While Kilpatrick is out of prison, he still owes hundreds of thousands dollars. On a new Daily J, WWJ's Zach Clark wonders what it will take for Kilpatrick to clear his debt. (PHOTO: Phillip Faraone/Getty)

No one wants to believe a mother could actually kill her own son; holding a belt tight around his neck and squeezing until he took his last breath. No, an act this disturbing would defy comprehension, go against every innate parental instinct to protect, care for, and love your child. According to prosecutors, the evidence was conclusive: a suburban Philadelphia mom knowingly and purposefully strangled her 11-year old in an act of retribution. She wanted to get back at her husband for letting her down. Could this really be true? Was Ruth DiRienzo-Whitehead the monster Montgomery District Attorneys made her out to be? Or, did she snap? Did the pressures in her life become too much to bear? In Ruth DiRienzo-Whitehead: the Mother, the Monster, KYW Newsradio Suburban Bureau Chief Jim Melwert empties his notebook from nearly a year of covering this chilling, gut wrenching case that left a trail from the Philadelphia suburbs to the Jersey Shore. Be sure to listen to both parts.

Further reading:

Horsham mom tells police she strangled son

Ruth DiRienzo-Whitehead sentenced to life in prison

She was described as a loving, doting mother. From the outside, Ruth DiRienzo-Whitehead checked all the right boxes - the suburban mom who would go above and beyond for her only child, including sending him to an elite, pricey private school. From within, the pressure was mounting. Money problems, having to care for an elderly parent with dementia, maintaining a lifestyle beyond her family’s means - all of these factors pushed DiRienzo-Whitehead to the brink, and in April 2023, she did the unthinkable. She murdered her 11-year old son. Did DiRienzo-Whitehead suffer a psychotic break? Did she snap? Or, was the 51-year old Horsham resident out for revenge? Was the killing deliberate, as a way to get back at her husband? In Ruth DiRienzo-Whitehead: the Mother, the Monster, KYW Newsradio Suburban Bureau Chief Jim Melwert empties his notebook from nearly a year of covering this chilling, gut wrenching case that left a trail from the Philadelphia suburbs to the Jersey Shore. Be sure to listen to both parts.

Further reading:

Horsham mom tells police she strangled son

Ruth DiRienzo-Whitehead sentenced to life in prison

In August of 1989, Larry DeLisle drove a station wagon with his wife and four children in it into the Detroit River, killing the kids. On a new Daily J On The Case, WWJ's Christy Strawser and Zach Clark explore whether he had a leg cramp and a deficient car, or if he's a cold-blooded killer. (PHOTO: Fox 2 Detroit/YouTube)

Dr. Devon Hoover was one of Detroit's most well-respected doctors who lived in one of the city's most beautiful mansions. All of that came crashing down last spring when he was found brutally murdered inside of his house. On a new Daily J, WWJ's Christy Strawser and Zach Clark dig into the quest for justice for Dr. Hoover. (PHOTO: Ascension Michigan; Eric Seals/USA Today)

Gun violence is a national crisis. In Philadelphia, more than 10,000 people have been shot in the last five years. 2,100 people have died.

Every bullet fired has a ripple effect. In this series from Gone Cold, we’ll examine the issues through stories from those affected the most: victims, defendants, law enforcement, medical workers, judges and families, while highlighting unsolved cases. What makes someone pull the trigger? What is the lasting impact? And what, if anything, can make it stop?

Hear the first episode of “Ricochet” on Wednesday, January 24 on the Gone Cold: Philadelphia Unsolved Murders feed.
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Host: Kristen Johanson
Producer: Sabrina Boyd-Surka
Production Assistant: Winston Harris