Just Melvin, Just Evil

Just Melvin, Just Evil

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Ratings: 7.88/10 from 213 users.

Just Melvin, Just EvilJust Melvin, Just Evil is the most disturbing documentary you'll ever see. It is a very hard to find documentary about the tormented family of Melvin Just, a man almost too evil to be believed.

In it, they detail their experiences of abuse over decades, at his hands, even admitting to knowing of a murder he committed to keep his crimes quiet.

Four generations of sexual abuse, substance abuse, terrible secrets, neglect, and violence are explored in Just Melvin, Just Evil. In a large American family ravaged by alcohol and suppressed trauma, it seems that only one member "made it out."

This man is James Ronald Whitney, who was brave enough to use this documentary as an outlet to explore his family's history, searching for answers (and closure) to the horror suffered by himself and his relatives.

Warning: Contains scenes which some viewers may find disturbing.

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C Hope
C Hope
2 years ago

I am so disgusted by the mentality many have regarding family. I no longer speak to my brother. If he beat me as an adult the way he beat me as a child when he was well into his teens, he'd serve time for aggravated assault. When people hear that I'm estranged from him, they often say "but he's your family - family means everything". This is the ignorant mentality that leads SOME victims to remain in contact with their abusers. Can you imagine telling one if these children "but Melvin is your Dad! - blah blah blah." Society needs to stop putting family on a pedestal. Children should be taught and adults encouraged to develop and value strong, meaningful, positive friendships. They can be with family members or non-family members. Good friends you can count on is everything.

Nick
Nick
6 years ago

What is not mentioned here is the need for research to find out WHY / how people like Melvin develop into the perpetrators they are. Pedophilia is a taboo subject. No one really knows why (mostly/only men) develop this sexual deviance. I would like to know why this hasn't been more explored in our society. Both my wife and I have fathers that were pedophiles. Neither were ever prosecuted and the damage done was similar to that displayed in this documentary. I think the extent to which this situation exists in our society is vastly understated.... probably unknown. Why is American society unable to deal with this abnormality? It is so destructive and in primitive societies they are immediately killed. Why don't we want to find out WHY????

No Name Screen Name
No Name Screen Name
6 years ago

Phillip Wong,

Um, just because there are other evil people in the world who you personally think are "more evil" than Melvin doesn't make the fact that Melvin was evil any less true. But you dont even think he IS/WAS evil. Astounding.

This doc is thorough and made well but the content is very disturbing. Watch at your own risk.

Alison
Alison
6 years ago

I was impressed at the daughters' ability to still have moments of joy and happiness in spite of the hell that was their reality. I hope with that monster's death they can all continue their recovery. The behaviors at the grave were shocking but understandable. It's disgusting the State of California took so long to finally "get enough evidence " and would choose finances over making him stand trial. The entire sordid affair is disgusting.

Jessica
Jessica
6 years ago

Wow how very sad, the generations of lost souls, toruted, & never able to regain their lost innocence. I cant believe this man never paid for the lives he destroyed & was allowed to continue his reign of terror. He should have never been out of jail. You play beautifully. Continue to use music as your outlet & healer. God bless

jobie
jobie
7 years ago

Dude...I wanted to shove him in that wheelchair right off that dock. That sorry, horrible piece of work. Those girls (and there brother) are all so messed up, it's unbelievable. All thanks to this guy and his wives who both knew full well and did nothing. Bless those girls hearts. I am so sorry this happened to them.

Anita
Anita
7 years ago

Wow, it is a world I can not even comprehend. It must have been so hard to film and have to hear from you own family.

LoLo
LoLo
8 years ago

This family reminds me of my mother's family. While they were not sexually abused they were physically & mentally abused by their father. But, their devotion to him was sickening. As a child I thought it was normal to see how he talked to my grandmother, mother & relatives. Everyone just laughed it off as he's crazy. As I grew older & had kids of my own I saw what a tyrant he was & how they all jumped for him, walked on egg shells around him. Hated him one minute but wanted his approval the next. Everything revolved around making him happy. He spoke to them like trash, worse than dirt at times. But all it would take was a little attention & they ate it up. This film minus the sexual abuse reminded me of them & him to a T.

JR
JR
8 years ago

He's the worst kind of pedophile there is on earth. Glad he's gone to hades. Bless the children and future generations.

bboops
bboops
8 years ago

This is one of the most devastating cases of injustice. This man melvin just has completely destroyed the lives of these girls. They have no idea what normal is. This is why some of them have a love-hate relationship with him. They weren't raised like most of us, in loving, nurturing, and safe families. He destroyed their sense of trust, and he violated their entire being. My heart aches for them. His two wives are just as guilty as he is for allowing this to happen. He and his wives deserve nothing less than to be pulled, screaming, to the depths of hell by the most evil demons. I can only hope that after he died, that the girls were finally able to move forward with their lives in some way. Although, it's very likely that his actions will haunt them until they die. I'm truly sorry that the adults in their lives did nothing to protect them. Shameful.

Stine
Stine
9 years ago

Does anyone know what happened to the family since this was made?

Don
Don
9 years ago

This could be me being ignorant and if so I apologize. But I can't fathom how you could love a person like that. I got it; we all make mistakes and do things we aren't proud of but how does being a sexual predator fall in that category? "He was a murderer and a child molester but he was cool.." How does that even make sense? Making excuses like that is what causes complete failure in this subject across society. If that was my family, He would have died alone in a cell. I don't care if they were related by blood or marriage. Anyone with that kind of mental illness is no family member of mine.

Anti
Anti
9 years ago

I'm severely disturbed by this film. It was very interesting, but devastating to watch and to hear about how all of them had their lives destroyed by one man, and the cycle of abuse continuing. I'm furious though that the family continued to bring children around this man knowing full well what he is capable of.
I'm so glad I was blessed not to have been born in this sort of family.

Vic Abacaxi
Vic Abacaxi
10 years ago

Thank you so much for this. I recognize myself, my sister, my father, my mother, and my grandfather in this film. These experiences are terrifyingly common, and permanently mutilating.

fabian
fabian
10 years ago

After watching this all I want to Do is kick the director in the balls for not at least punching that piece of **** at least once for his aunts and mother. I will never watch this again but i will never forget this ;(

Cynthia Baker Sophie Sonne
Cynthia Baker Sophie Sonne
10 years ago

Men are the cruelest and most forceful sexual predators living.

Troy Knudson
Troy Knudson
11 years ago

Quoting the bible. In proverbs when it says to "listen to the instruction of your father" should be ignored when your father asks you to do something immoral. And the bible records incest but it does not approve of incest. The bible records all kinds of evil, but that does not mean that that evil that the bible records is okay to do. We will all face judgement someday and then justice will happen.

Traci Muller Rylands
Traci Muller Rylands
11 years ago

Brutal film but if it can put a stop to the chain of shame it is worth it.

I am not surprised at all that the women did not go into attack mode on their Dad. The dysfunction runs too deep. They spent years thinking this horror happened to everyone. Their own mothers aided and abetted the acts. It is much easier, in their minds, to keep the peace with him than to face the evil he inflicted on them.

So instead you numb the pain with drugs, alcohola or whatever is handy. That's how they survived it and still do.

maggie mae
maggie mae
11 years ago

Glad the sicko is dead but james must have some balls to tell such a shamefull history so openly

IrishMom67
IrishMom67
11 years ago

As a mom who was blessed to have had a great childhood with two loving parents, I cannot wrap my brain around this. My dad worked 2 full time jobs to make sure we could go on vacations and to have great Christmases. I will never understand this kind of behavior.

bluejules80000
bluejules80000
11 years ago

A very powerful, honest and emotive documentary. The devastation and repercussions of abuse are shocking to witness in the portrayal of these families’ lives. Another very upsetting observation is the mixed feelings of hatred and love towards this man from the abused. To love ones parents is so natural that you can see these damaged children struggling to assimilate these feelings with the way they have been treated. Melvin made me feel there could be something worse than evil, that could be an indifferent world where good and evil only exist in the context of our existence. If this is the case then real justice will never be served on this man. Thank you for sharing your experiences and to your family for opening up themselves to us.

Steven Lowe
Steven Lowe
11 years ago

Quite possibly one of the most disturbing and powerful documentries I have viewed in a long time. The depravity that vile man stooped to was just unbelievable and worse yet his wives let him get away with it. The whole families sense of morality is completley skewed (the girls in particular), this is very evident from the scene in the hospital when they visit him. Perhaps the most powerful and chilling part for me was at the funeral where one daughter says how awesome her dad was and he was just flawed like the rest of us. The fact she views his abuse as almost normal and just 'a flaw' sums up perfectly the msg and horror of this piece. Unsettling but bravo.

Lovro Å ari? Kora?evi?
Lovro Å ari? Kora?evi?
11 years ago

In a way, this makes you proud of yourself, your family and friends. You always think of your faults but seeing this daemon makes you realize how many dimensions above you are from some creatures that are classified as the same specie. The amount of negativity he produced is an example of how much effect each of us makes. If your effect is positive imagine how influential your life has been by now, and how much influence did others good will have in yours.

These horrors could have happened to me or you, those women didn't pick to be born in that situation and they didn't deserve it. We should take our role in the society far more serious. We should go back to some old habits; get to know our neighbors and chat with the postman. Caring shouldn't necessarily mean sticking your nose into other peoples business! Lets face it, the most horrifying fact about this is that it went on even after a few reports! What kind of civilization is that? Far from the court far from the eyes??

I thank Jim for sharing this side of his life, and I find his acceptance of the damaged family very inspiring. All of you who accuse him of narcissism are only jealous of what he made of himself in the given circumstances. Even if you are right, why not overlook his faults for this gross taboo-breaking story he shared with the world despite its connection to himself.

Jennie Jonker
Jennie Jonker
11 years ago

I haven't watched this yet but by the comments made I can see that as always this subject has touched a few hearts...I never survived sexual abuse I lived with sexual abuse,you survive a car crash this **** you just live with,it becomes normal in a twisted reality..All I can say is let go....forgive the person and not the action,sick people do sick things,I fell pregnate to my grandfather at 16 and had a abortion sad yes but a part of my life.i don't use it as a reason to blame,

Boo Hicks
Boo Hicks
11 years ago

I've seen it few months ago, devastating for so many people in the family. You can see how the ripples of abuse ruined generations of lives.
He is a horrible horrible man...

browneyedgirl20
browneyedgirl20
11 years ago

My first cousin molested me and npbody cared. I hope he gets cancer and dies a horrific death. A child molester sentences his prey to a life sentence of sadness. They are evil and should be locked up FOR LIFE!!!!!

Karen
Karen
11 years ago

Thank you for this film and the truth it tells. I will hold all your family in my heart. May you all find peace.

Donisha McCalla
Donisha McCalla
11 years ago

This is the sickest thing I have ever seen.

D
D
11 years ago

That guy was pure evil. Saddens me to know that one person can cause so much harm to so many people.

Angie Jackson
Angie Jackson
11 years ago

thats hilarious. "Oh, hes not evil at all even though he tortures childre. Other people are more evil so hes fine". Get real.

katherinebollmann72
katherinebollmann72
11 years ago

Sadly, that family was much more normal than you think. I am a beautiful, smart, articulate woman. When my father dies, I will remain composed at the funeral. When no one is watching? I will piss on his grave and dance the dance of the free, the survivors.. Disappointed when they hugged him? You'd be very surprised what you would do facing the same thing. I have done it myself. Everyone hopes for some kind of reconcilliation, some kind of understanding, some kind of worth or love. It's hard to turn off that instinct. Don't judge these women. Some hide it better than others.

Experiences
Experiences
11 years ago

Sadly that family thought that was normal. Sick ******* needs to be dead. I was disappointed to see the daughters hugging and talking to him in the end. I understand about forgiveness, but he still does not admit what he did. Without standing up, admitting it and then asking for forgiveness - he wouldn't be worth my spit.
My can't wait to look across the courtroom at my abuser. I'm counting the days.

Sarita Otero
Sarita Otero
11 years ago

Had to turn off the documentary half way through. Had to go puke!

Etain Doe
Etain Doe
11 years ago

The girls couldn't confront him because they grew up with no limits, no respect and no protection. They know they were violated, but still want to belong, to be loved badly enough, that they dare not risk the fragile harmony they could still have with him. He made them helpless and they remained children in many respects. A cautionary tale for abusers - children do grow up and they aren't as silent or ashamed as they once were. You one day may reap what you sow and find yourself facing someone just brave enough to ask the right questions. May you find yourself in jail soon after.

bubascary
bubascary
11 years ago

What a crazy mixed up world we live in!!

MissStef
MissStef
11 years ago

I don't understand how some of the girls were so pleasant toward Melvin when they went to see him. I thought that was their golden moment to confront him and say what they've kept inside for so long. I was really hoping they would do that to help themselves.

Escada Es
Escada Es
11 years ago

The evil wasn't just what he did to the children he molested and raped but to his children's children and their children and their children. He created a legacy of sexual perpetrators or victims.

batvette
batvette
11 years ago

I didn't find this that disturbing, there wasn't much graphic description or images in it. It was amusing in a dark, sick way of course. Just another day in psychobillyville.
I think the guy they kept interviewing by the trailer (brother?) was almost as sick as Melvin, why is he walking around and not in prison somewhere? Seemed to be cut from the same filthy cloth. As for Grandma she seems so innocent and helpless with her breathing tube on her face, almost like they are making her out to be a victim too but she facilitated these crimes. She sounds like a real sicko herself.
Does she have a sister? LOL.

Lindsey Ziegelgruber
Lindsey Ziegelgruber
11 years ago

The man who made this video is obviously in love with himself. I've never seen so much blatant narcicism and begging for attention as the director/interviewer in this "documentary." Totally not worth watching.

bringmeredwine
bringmeredwine
11 years ago

Wow, what a crazy ride that was!
I wasn't as shocked as other viewers, because I spent a couple of days watching "The Steve Wilkos Show" while I was temporarily bedridden. Please don't hold that against me!
I always imagined the participants on the show were faking their stories. I guess this doc proved me wrong.
It's always amazed me how evil, horrible people get away with their apalling acts, live on and on, only to cause misery to more victims.
I was surprised that all the girls attended Melvin's funeral. Perhaps if James hadn't filmed it, they wouldn't have bothered.
I was disappointed that most of the women where fawning all over that monster in the hospital. I guess they had to convince themselves that he really did love them despite all he'd done to them.
I can't blame those women for staggering around drunk at his burial. Frankly, I'm amazed they were all still living.
I'll bet the preacher needed a belt or two after that fiasco.
As for Melvin's wives, I can only speculate that they came from disfunctional homes as well. How else can you explain them not a) killing Melvin or b) not going to the cops at the first sign of molestation. And to think they GAVE him more children. They are as sick as he was. The scum of the earth.
It's all so sad; and it goes on every day all around us.
I'm really glad that Jame's mother survived her suicide attempts to see Melvin dead. I wish her all the best.

batvette
batvette
11 years ago

does anyone know the piece he is playing at 2:02 on?

Faisal T Al-maiman
Faisal T Al-maiman
11 years ago

my god...this man was pure evil...

isatou1
isatou1
11 years ago

i was kind of hoping he died earlier. i do not actually know if hadnt put bullet in his head prior to his death. for me however this proves to me that the god never sleeps, the man up in the heavens made sure he died the same time this documentary was made. these girls are scarred for life because of this man. if there is a hell which i think there is he will suffer

seaki ache'
seaki ache'
11 years ago

if there is a hell,........I hope he is there right now, burning forever. This documentary is VERY disturbing on SEVERAL levels of decency, but it has to be shown to the public. Judging from some of the completely obtuse comments below, people need to learn and understand what sexual abuse does to children, its destructive and often violent longterm effects, and ways to cope if one is sexually abused. Kudos to the young man for creating a window into the soul of a monster, hopefully this film can help others.

afkors
afkors
11 years ago

Sorry but this "documentary" is bull... It`s all about "I play piano, I was on TV, I have high IQ..." And it is so obvious that is too much family involving (director, intervewer etc)...

Aaylsworth
Aaylsworth
11 years ago

Wow, what a heartbreaking and devastating story...

dmxi
dmxi
11 years ago

this was a nice christian commercial.

James Robert Edwards
James Robert Edwards
11 years ago

What a disgusting, vile, soul. I do not believe he will dwell in the house of the lord.

Keith Wilson
Keith Wilson
11 years ago

Wow, not sure why I felt compelled to watch till the end. I wanted so much to turn it off, but there was something that made me want to honor their reality or stare into the heart of darkness or something. Just makes me realize how profoundly each choice to do good or evil when it comes to our relationships (most importantly with children) matters - how much devastation can be left to ripple out indefinitely if we choose selfishly. I wish I still believed in hell.

phillip wong
phillip wong
11 years ago

Evil? No. There are much more evil people in the world.