Privacky Massacre

Can strained familial ties push someone to the brink of committing an unthinkable crime? Join me, Thomas, on this chilling episode of the Human Wreckage True Crime Podcast as we uncover the haunting details of the Privacky Massacre. On November 2nd, 1998, the tranquil town of Muskegon, Michigan, was shattered by the horrifying murder of the Privacky family. We begin with the alarming discovery made by April Boss's parents, leading to the gruesome crime scene with five victims, including April herself. It's a tale of unimaginable tragedy, with the spotlight quickly turning to 18-year-old Seth Privackyand his accomplice Stephen Wallace, catapulting the community into a state of fear and confusion.

Throughout this episode, we dissect the troubling backstory of Seth Privacky, exploring the tumultuous relationship with his father that culminated in this tragic event. Despite his short criminal history and various psychological concerns, his parents' unwavering support couldn't avert the catastrophe. We'll delve into the lives of the victims, their dreams, and the heartbreak that engulfed Muskegon. From the swift law enforcement response to Seth's startling confession, this episode will leave you questioning the depths of human nature and the factors that drive someone to commit such heinous acts.

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:00

It was the 2nd of November 1998, in Muskegon Michigan, when the mother and stepfather of 19-year-old April Boss became concerned when she didn't return home from her boyfriend Jedediah Privaki's home. Shortly before midnight they traveled over to the Privaki home. As soon as they pulled up outside, they were confronted with the lifeless body of a man in the driveway. Welcome to another episode of Human Wreckage True Crime Podcast. I am your host, thomas. Thank you for joining me today. If you like what I do, please hit the subscribe button. This episode is about the Privaki Massacre. Let's get into it. The family immediately contacted police. There's a man, I believe dead, in the driveway, said April's mother, julie, to the 911 operator. All the people expected to be here are not here, but their cars are. She said that the man on the driveway was covered in blood. He was cold and not moving or breathing. Police responded to the scene within minutes. The man on the driveway was checked for vital signs, but it was apparent that he was deceased. The investigators then proceeded to conduct a sweep of the home. In a back room, off the garage, they found two more bodies. In a lower room, off the basement, they found another body and then in an upstairs bedroom they found a fifth body. The victims were identified as 50-year-old Stephen Privacki, his 49-year-old wife Linda Privacki, his 78-year-old father John Privacki, his 19-year-old son Jedediah Privacki and Jedediah's 19-year-old girlfriend April Boss. All of the victims had been shot dead.

Speaker 1: 1:59

Not long after police arrived at the scene, a teenage male was spotted coming out of the woods within a few hundred feet of the home. He was identified as 18 year old Stephen Wallace, the best friend of Stephen and Linda's 18 year old son, seth Pravaki. It quickly became apparent to investigators that Seth Pravaki had slaughtered all of the victims and then Wallace helped him clear up the crime scene. Seth Pravaki was still nowhere to be found and security at Reith's Puffer High School was increased as the search continued as a precaution. Both Pravaki and Wallace were seniors at the high school. Superintendent Gloria Lewis said security is to comfort the families of students and the staff. We don't know where Seth is at this point. Whether he has harmed himself. If police thought we were in serious danger, we would take more serious measures.

Speaker 1: 2:48

Stephen was well known within the local school community. He had taught fifth grade in the system for the past 25 years. By all accounts, he was a wonderful and dedicated teacher, as well as a hard worker. He could always be counted on to work on the school improvement committee and help any students who needed that extra bit of care. As for Linda, she was a receptionist and a medical officer. John was a widow and he lived near the family. Jedediah and April were both studying at Muskegon Community College and they had ambitions to one day become teachers. They had been in a relationship for years.

Speaker 1: 3:24

Pribaki eluded investigators for almost 24 hours but was found the following afternoon hiding out in a barn around a mile away from his home. Prosecutor Tony Tague said the house was scattered with bodies. There was blood everywhere. It's difficult to imagine what possesses 18-year-olds to do something like this. Investigators were initially perplexed as to the motivation, but once Priwacki was arrested he would provide them with one. He readily confessed to murdering his family and his brother's girlfriend and said that he hadn't been getting along with his father.

Speaker 1: 3:57

Priwacki had a short criminal record which included just two incidents. In 1996, he had stolen beer from a store where he worked. He was placed on probation and satisfied all terms of that probation. He was then arrested for shoplifting a compact disc. His parents had expressed concern about his psychological well-being after the incident he was prescribed the antidepressant Welbitrin and was referred to a psychologist for therapy. He was also ordered to serve 10 days in the county youth home Six.

Speaker 1: 4:28

Both Stephen and Linda were extremely supportive of their son, trying their hardest to get him the help he needed. By April 1997, Privaki's grades had improved from average to 3.28 out of 4.0. Privaki said that he and his father had some real disagreements lately and lamented the fact that his mother and brother always sided with his father. He said he felt as though the family were ganging up against him. Stephen and Linda had reached breaking point with their oldest son and Stephen had threatened to kick Privaki out of the family home if he did not change his ways. On the Sunday they were killed. Stephen finally told his son it was time for him to move out.

Speaker 1: 5:08

The family had gathered at the home for a delayed Thanksgiving celebration. Linda was taking a shower and Jedediah was watching television and waiting for his girlfriend April to arrive. As for Stephen, he was over picking up his father John to arrive. As for Stephen, he was over picking up his father John to bring him over for the family dinner. In his bedroom upstairs, pravaki was loading his father's .22 caliber Ruger. The first to die was Jedediah. He was shot in the back of the head while he watched television. When his father and grandfather returned shortly thereafter, they were ambushed by Seth. He shot his grandfather twice just to make sure that he was dead. Linda, who was in the shower, was completely oblivious to the horrors that were unfolding. As soon as she got out of the shower, seth shot her. April showed up not too long afterwards. She saw the lifeless bodies of Stephen and John, so Seth shot her dead as

Speaker 1: 5:58

well. Prebacke admitted to shooting all five victims and then calling his friend Wallace to help him move the bodies around the home and out onto the driveway. Wallace had known about the murder plot. Prebacke had made a vow to slaughter his entire family just the day beforehand. When Prebacke called him up, he simply stated it's done. Prebacke had anticipated that by moving the bodies, investigators would theorize that the murders were the result of a robbery gone wrong. After the bodies were strategically placed, preveke got rid of the shells, while Wallace tossed the gun into a pond. Seth Preveke then spent hours mopping up the blood before driving to a grocery store where he purchased duct tape. Investigators believe that the purchase was made to set up the phony robbery scene. Meanwhile, wallace went to a video store and then went to a church meeting. He returned to the home later to help Prevacchi clean up more of the scene. While setting the scene, april's parents showed up and Wallace fled into the

Speaker 1: 6:56

woods. During his confession, prevacchi said showed up and Wallace fled into the woods. During his confession, prevecchi said I never thought about killing my parents until that morning. I feel awful. I wish I'd never done it. It was all a mistake. I'd take it back a thousand times. He said that when he fled from police he intended on taking his own life, but he had given away the murder weapon to Wallace for him to dispose

Speaker 1: 7:17

of. Both Prevecchi and Wallace were arraigned on five counts of open murder and were ordered to be held on $5 million bail. During their arraignment, prevacchi asked if he could go on a break on his bond so that he could travel before going to prison for life. He stated I would just like a chance to get out and see the world before I go away for a very long time. His request was immediately denied. The murder charges against Wallace would be dropped and he would instead be charged with being an accessory after the fact and using a firearm during a felony. His bond was reduced from $5 million to $500,000, and he was released from

Speaker 1: 7:55

jail. In May of 1999, privecki appeared in court where he pleaded no contest to the murders. The plea came with a life sentence without the possibility of parole. In handing down the sentence, judge James Graves said the entire community stands shocked at your actions. You turned what should have been a pleasant Thanksgiving weekend into your own killing field. Seth Pruvecki apologized for his actions, stating I'm sorry for what I did, but that is not enough. I know. Nothing I could ever do will change the

Speaker 1: 8:26

facts. He then sent a letter to the Chronicle in which he said he should not be compared to the Columbine shooter's writing. I was not an outcast in my school. Although I was not the most popular student at school, I had no lack of friends. I got along with pretty much everybody. He continued, although it is very regrettable that this happened to my family, april Boss included. I am not this monster people make me out to be. I do have feelings and, for whatever it's worth, I am not totally responsible for what happened, because I'm convinced Mr Cain played a role in this event. He did not reveal what he meant by Mr Cain, but investigators on the case theorized that he was using cocaine at the time of the murders. They also established he was a regular drug user, experimenting with LSD and marijuana as well as alcohol. He could have also been referring to the biblical story of Cain and Abel. In November, wallace was found not guilty of all charges against

Speaker 1: 9:24

him. In July of 2010, seth Prevacchi was shot dead while attempting to escape the Kinross Correctional Facility. He and two other inmates overpowered a man driving a tractor-trailer at the prison just after 9 am. They crashed the truck through a double chain link fence topped with razor wire. They traveled around 100 yards before jumping out and beginning to run. Prison guards ordered the men to stop. The two other men did, but Pervocky continued to run, so the prison guards opened fire, killing him. Just wow, definitely a messed up individual. What makes a person do such horrible deeds? Thanks for joining me again. Please subscribe if you enjoy what I do. Till next time, please take care of yourselves, thank you.