From Con Artists to Killer Moms: The True Crime Stories Gripping the Nation

“This week, the shadows deepened, and the stories got darker. From family tragedies to cold-blooded crimes, the headlines serve as a stark reminder that the line between good and evil can be razor-thin. We’re cutting through the noise to bring you the cases that matter, the details that shock, and the questions that demand answers. Buckle up — you’re in for a ride.”

1. “Exorcism or Murder? The Rhonda Paulynice Case”

A mother in Florida, Rhonda Paulynice, stands accused of killing her six-year-old son, Ra’Myl Pierre, during what she claims was an exorcism. The details are grim: neighbors reported strange chanting, and police found evidence of ritualistic behavior at the scene. Paulynice insists she was trying to save her son from “evil spirits.” The case has sparked heated debate about mental health, religious extremism, and the system’s failure to intervene sooner. The public’s split — some see a mother in crisis, others see a cold-blooded killer. The media’s running with the “Moms Who Murder” angle, and the story’s got legs because it’s as much about society’s blind spots as it is about one family’s tragedy. Source: True Crime Society

2. “The Decker Sisters: Custody Visit Turns Deadly”

Three young sisters — Paityn (9), Evelyn (8), and Olivia (5) — were found dead after a court-ordered custody visit with their father, Travis Decker, 32. The mother, Whitney Decker, had raised concerns about Travis’s mental state, but the courts handed him visitation anyway. Now, the community’s reeling, and the case is a flashpoint for debates about family court failures and domestic violence. The most chilling detail: the girls’ drawings, found in the house, showed a family “together forever.” The public is angry, demanding accountability from the courts. Source: True Crime Society

3. “Conman in the Bedroom: The Jason Porter Romcon”

Heather Rovet thought she’d found love with “Jace,” but he turned out to be Jason Porter — a seasoned con artist with a rap sheet longer than a city block. The new Prime docuseries “Romcon: Who the F*** Is Jason Porter?” dropped this week, and it’s got everyone talking about romance scams and the dangers of online dating. The twist: Rovet turned the tables, tracking down other victims and exposing Porter’s web of lies. The show’s a hit, and the public’s eating it up — part horror story, part revenge fantasy. Source: Dexerto

4. “The Mortician: Profits Over People”

David Sconce, once the owner of Lamb Funeral Home, is back in the spotlight with the docuseries “The Mortician.” Sconce, who served time for running a body-brokering scheme, now claims he “doesn’t put any value on anybody after they’re gone.” The show’s got viewers questioning the funeral industry and the line between business and basic decency. The most shocking bit? Sconce’s lack of remorse and the fact that he’s back in business. Public reaction: disgust, but also morbid curiosity. Source: Dexerto

5. “Trainwreck: Revisiting the Astroworld Tragedy”

Netflix’s new “Trainwreck” series kicked off with a deep dive into the Astroworld disaster, where 10 people died in a crowd crush at a Travis Scott concert. Survivors and their families are still seeking answers, and the docuseries is reigniting calls for accountability in the live music industry. The public’s response is one of raw anger at the organizers, sympathy for the victims, and a lot of finger-pointing. Source: Dexerto

6. “The Gilgo Beach Killer: House of Secrets”

Peacock’s new docuseries reopens the Gilgo Beach serial killer case, focusing on Rex Heuermann, the prime suspect. The show features new interviews, fresh evidence, and an examination of how the case went cold for so long. The most unsettling part: the killer’s ability to blend in, living a double life in suburbia. The public’s hooked, and the case is trending again, with armchair detectives picking apart every clue. Source: Dexerto

Trends & Stats: (New section. Let me know if you find the info of value. Comment below.)

Family violence and intimate partner homicides are dominating headlines, with several high-profile cases involving parents as suspects. Romance scams and online deception are on the rise, with law enforcement warning about new tactics. Streaming platforms are driving public interest, with true crime docuseries sparking renewed attention to cold cases and systemic failures. The public’s trust in institutions — courts, police, even funeral homes — is at a low point, and every new case seems to add fuel to the fire.

Teasers for Next Week: (New section. Like it? Comment below.)

Keep an eye on the developing story out of Georgia, where a missing child case is taking strange turns. Also, a new cold case breakthrough in Texas might finally bring closure to a decades-old disappearance.

This Week's Conclusion

That’s the week in true crime — no sugarcoating, just the facts and the fallout. These stories aren’t just headlines; they’re warnings, lessons, and sometimes, cries for help that went unanswered. The public’s not just watching — they’re demanding change, and the pressure’s building on the folks in charge. I try to write for readers who want more than just the gory details, readers who dig into the why and the what’s next. That’s where the real story lives. Until next week, keep your eyes open and your questions sharp. The truth’s out there, and it’s not always pretty.

Book of The Week

The Five: The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper

By Hallie Rubenhold

This week, we’re putting the spotlight on a book that doesn’t just flip the script on a legendary case — it tears up the old playbook and writes a new one in its place. Hallie Rubenhold’s The Five isn’t about Jack the Ripper. It’s about Polly, Annie, Elisabeth, Catherine, and Mary Jane — the five women whose lives were cut short in the autumn of 1888, and whose stories have been buried under a century of sensational headlines and lazy assumptions.

Rubenhold, a historian with a sharp pen and a clear sense of justice, digs deep into the real lives of these women. She finds them not as footnotes to a killer’s legacy, but as flesh-and-blood people: a ballad writer, a coffeehouse owner, a survivor of human trafficking, a woman who breathed ink dust in Fleet Street’s print shops. They came from all over — Fleet Street, Knightsbridge, Wolverhampton, Sweden, Wales — and they lived through poverty and homelessness. The only thing they truly had in common was being in the wrong place at the wrong time, and being born women in a world that didn’t value them.

For too long, the press and the public have painted these women as little more than “fallen” victims, erasing their humanity and their histories. Rubenhold sets the record straight, showing us the world of Victorian London not through the eyes of a killer, but through the struggles and small victories of the women he left behind. If you’re looking for a book that challenges the old narratives and gives voice to the voiceless, The Five is essential reading. It’s a tough, moving portrait of survival and loss, and a reminder that every headline hides a human story.

You can find "The Five: The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper" at MJon Crime True Crime Book List and support independent bookstores while you’re at it.

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