"There's Something Wrong with Aunt Diane": The Diane Schuler Story

A Note from the Moms: Hey everyone! Just a quick heads-up: this is one of our early episodes, so please be gentle! We were still figuring things out, and we promise the audio quality and our hosting skills have gotten much better since. Thanks for sticking with us from the beginning! Welcome back to Moms and Murder! This week, we tackle a case that has baffled and divided people for years: the tragic story of Diane Schuler. You might know it from the haunting HBO documentary, There’s Something Wrong with Aunt Diane. On a sunny Sunday afternoon, a minivan packed with children drove the wrong way for nearly two miles on a busy New York parkway, ending in a horrific crash that killed eight people. The driver was Diane Schuler, a seemingly perfect mother. But what toxicology reports found in her system turned a tragic accident into a deeply disturbing mystery. In this episode, we explore the lingering questions: •The Taconic Parkway Tragedy: We set the scene for the devastating 2009 crash that killed Diane, her daughter, her three nieces, and three men in an oncoming vehicle, leaving only her 5-year-old son as the sole survivor. •A Perfect Family Weekend: We look at the hours leading up to the crash, as the Schuler family finished a happy camping trip. By all accounts, Diane was a sober, responsible “supermom.” •The Timeline of a Mystery: We trace Diane’s bizarre journey home, including stops at McDonald's and a gas station, and the confusing phone calls she made as she became increasingly disoriented. •The Toxicology Bombshell: We discuss the shocking toxicology results that showed Diane had a blood-alcohol level of .19—more than twice the legal limit—and high levels of THC in her system. •A Family in Denial: The heart of the documentary and the case itself. We cover the staunch refusal of Diane’s husband and sister-in-law to accept the toxicology report, pushing theories of a stroke, an abscessed tooth, or other medical emergencies to explain her behavior. •Theories and Debates: Was she a secret, functioning alcoholic who lost control? Did a combination of alcohol and marijuana edibles cause a sudden, severe impairment? Or was it something else entirely? We dive into the most prominent theories. •The Aftermath: We discuss the shocking lawsuit Diane's husband filed against the state and his own brother-in-law, and the incredible story of the Hance family, who lost all three of their daughters but found a way to heal and honor their memory. Join us as we try to make sense of a case where the facts only seem to create more questions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices