Jon Yount and Diane Brodbeck

[justins5256]

Watched this story again recently, yesterday in fact. I still can't understand why this seemingly happy church-going wife and mother basically threw everything away to help a convicted murderer escape from prison.

Just doing some searching on Google I found some interesting sites about Jon Yount. Apparently he's looking for another penpal:

http://www.prisoners.com/mfyount.html

http://www.prisoners.com/yountad1.html

Some articles about his capture:

http://www.collegian.psu.edu/archive/1988/06/06-30-88tdc/06-30-88dnews-10.asp

http://www.collegian.psu.edu/archive/1988/06/06-30-88tdc/06-30-88dnews-05.asp

[SageSlowdive]

I know...it was so obvious from the beginning she helped him escape.

[justins5256]

I know...it was so obvious from the beginning she helped him escape.

I was surprised to learn that Diane's husband, Chester, died several years ago. I can't help but wonder if she ever contacted Jon Yount again.

[MegtheEgg86]

It's difficult for me to wrap my mind around why Diane Brodbeck would want to help Jon Yount escape prison, too.

About the only thing I can imagine is that Diane was somehow convinced that Jon was a "changed man", that he didn't need to be in prison anymore, regardless of what his sentence proscribed. Whether she came to this conclusion completely on her own, or he coaxed and cajoled her into believing it--that it was HIS initial suggestion--could be anyone's guess, I suppose.

Another thing I could envision is Diane being "bored" with her marriage, or maybe she didn't feel appreciated by her husband. Maybe the idea of having a romantic relationship with a prisoner brought her some sense of excitement, a huge thrill. As was shown on UM, he did write her dramatic, extensive love letters. She may have gotten caught up in the desperately romantic notion of being in love with someone who would be perpetually separated from her--that is, unless she could free him from his "chains." I think lots of women who assist male prisoners in escape fall victim to this particular syndrome.

Things I'm nearly certain of, however:

1. Jon Yount did not threaten Diane into helping him escape.

2. Diane Brodbeck is not a psychopath, eager to help a convicted rapist and murderer out of prison so he can continue his crimes.

[SageSlowdive]

I think she simply was in love with him...

Her husband came off as being a bit hard to live with (RIP) but that still didn't mean she needed to help him escape.

[wiseguy182]

I can't remember if it was this one, or one of the similar type segments, but they basically explained why a person like Diane would fall in love with someone like John as this: A person who is imprisoned, more or less, has all the time in the world. That is to say, John can write these letters and pour all of this attention on Diane because he has the time to. Whereas most people in society would not have near that amount of time. Diane was basically John's entire world and I think this flattered her. I'm not saying I agree that that's the way it should be, but that is probably what happened.

[Drakken]

I can't remember if it was this one, or one of the similar type segments, but they basically explained why a person like Diane would fall in love with someone like John as this: A person who is imprisoned, more or less, has all the time in the world. That is to say, John can write these letters and pour all of this attention on Diane because he has the time to. Whereas most people in society would not have near that amount of time. Diane was basically John's entire world and I think this flattered her. I'm not saying I agree that that's the way it should be, but that is probably what happened.

I have a simpler explanation: bored, unsatisfied housewife feeling the thrill of being seduced by a bad boy with all the time in the world to wedge himself in her desires. She wanted to live a more adventurous life, like some sort of Bonnie and Clyde fantasy, and framed it in her mind as being "in love" with Jon Yount.

People in love are capable to do anything, even criminal nonsensical things, for their mates, and those with abhorrent personalities or unfulfilled needs are capable to hurt, kill, and commit all kinds of felonies to join, protect, or satisfy their loved ones. What we call Love is a brain chemical and hormonal reaction, it's worse than crack and cocaine combined for someone "in love". Our brains are literally hijacked during the time we are under passion, and it can lead some of us to do totally immoral things.

If it hadn't been Jon Yount, it would have a been the mailman or the neighbor. However, Yount had the special something that he was a dangerous, carefree, confident, and assertive male to her, yet safe and capable of protecting her and excite her - as long as she was submissive to him.

[MissFit29]

They mentioned that Diane and Chester had been married for 25 years, and she was 43 years old. That means she got married at age 18. Basically, she went from her parents straight to her husband. I don't know about anyone else, but those early 20s are really formative years, and I'm of the opinion that you need to do some living on your own during that time. Maybe she felt she got married too young, was bored, regretted her decision later in life, etc. Her daughters could have been old enough to be out of the house, and the empty nest was too much. Maybe she just didn't like Chester anymore. Who knows? But yeah, if it hadn't been John Yount, it would have been someone else.

[DarkDante]

Watched this again last night and for me I believe that Jon Yount and Diane Brodbeck actually loved each other. I don't think he brainwashed her in any way and he obviously didn't threaten her as Chester alleged in the segment. I just think the two of them connected.

You have to remember with Jon Yount that he was an educated man who as far as I'm aware up until the time that he murdered Pamela Sue Rimer didn't have a history of violence. I think I read somewhere where Yount said the reason he killed Rimer was that he tried to make sexual advances towards her and she started acting hysterical and things deteriorated from there. That obviously doesn't excuse what Yount did but the point I'm trying to make is that prior to murdering Rimer, Yount's line was probably more in life with that of an average citizen than a stone hard killer.

This is borne out by the fact that once Yount had escaped from prison both he and Brodbeck easily assimilated back into society and I believe Diane may have had several character witnesses at her sentencing hearing talking about positive things that she and Jon had done for others during their time on the run.

This being said I could easily see why Diane Brodbeck fell in love with Jon Yount. He was probably a very attentive, well spoken, likeable person who if you didn't know about his grizzly past probably wouldn't grab you as someone capable of taking a human life.

[WishfulDreamer]

I believe she was in love with him, and probably very drawn to him. He probably had very good rhetoric and before murdering had been well-liked.

I think the scum should have fried. "You have no idea what it's like being in a car with a hysterical 18-year-old" Nice excuse, Yount. So your manparts just happened to get inside her while in such a situation? Same excuse for the killing?

Of course, I doubt Diane knew it from the real point-of-view. He probably told her it was an accident or that he was sorry, etc. and she was drawn in enough to believe him/accept him.

What really saddens me is that this woman was married for 25 years to a man (who apparently loved her enough to stay with her after this) and had a mother and children left behind as well, worried sick, hurt, confused.