Investigation Discovery’s Toxic turns its focus to a particularly harrowing case of domestic abuse this Monday, airing at 10 PM ET. The true-crime series, hosted by investigative journalist Elizabeth Chambers, examines the destructive spiral of Kate Ranta’s marriage to Tom Maffei—a relationship that started with love but ended in a night of violence that would change her life forever.
Don’t Shoot Mommy (Season 1, Episode 4) gives voice to Ranta’s story, a military wife whose repeated pleas for help were met with inaction—and, ultimately, tragedy. Maffei’s military service became a shield against accountability, as he steadily escalated his abuse despite Ranta’s desperate attempts to escape the cycle of control and fear.
The episode details the devastating night when Maffei shot both Ranta and her father in front of their four-year-old son. It’s a visceral look at the flaws in systems meant to protect victims and the lasting trauma that can follow.
Toxic returns to familiar territory for ID—the complex, often deadly dance of toxic relationships. The series sets out to explore the many ways these bonds can fracture, and this week’s story underscores the deep failures that can enable abuse—and its far-reaching consequences.
“Toxic” airs on Investigation Discovery on Monday, June 2 at 10:00 PM ET.
