Richard Chase became known as the Vampire of Sacramento after murdering six people in just one month. Years before the murders, he had been diagnosed, hospitalized, and repeatedly identified as a serious psychiatric concern. Nurses begged for him to remain hospitalized. Doctors documented his delusions. His deterioration was visible to almost everyone around him. So why was he released?

Many of the people accused of witchcraft weren't outcasts; They were healers, midwives, and respected community members. Their neighbors relied on them, and then those same neighbors decided they were servants of the devil.