Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Criminal.
Signs of the Times
During my sophomore year of high school, in 1993, I discovered the book Zodiac by Robert Graysmith in our small public library. It was the original 1986 hardcover, encased in a library-issue clear jacket and appropriately carded. I flipped through the book and was immediately arrested by the drawings and by Graysmith’s detailed appendices at the back. These appendices, grouping every conceivable detail about this singular and unsolved case, were so extensive it was a day before I flipped back to the frontispiece and began reading the book proper. Within a week, I had reached armchair expert status on the case. I passed the book to a friend of mine and upon reading it, he put forward the idea that we should review the material and solve the case ourselves. This effort exhausted itself within a week, but years later, when I returned to revisit the case, I realized that our failed effort to solve the case and identify Zodiac (I eschew the definite article) was not out of the ordinary. Untold thousands, through the years and with the advent of the internet, had made the same attempt. What is it about this case that creates this shared impulse, across the country and over fifty years, to solve this mystery? Why did the killer do what he did? Why did this happen? I will answer these questions. For those unfamiliar with case, here are the basics.
By Andrew Dabbs5 years ago in Criminal
Scott Peterson: The Monster Within
My mild OCD has been present for as long as I can remember: the constant resets, the inevitable restarts, the never-ending rewinds. Though my symptoms have taken shape much differently in adulthood, including those representative of skin-picking disorder (SPD), there's one obsession I've not been able to let go of: locking the front door.
By Lindsay Coffta5 years ago in Criminal
Double Crime!
I was running away, crying out for help in the middle of the streets, when right in front of me, stood a lady at her porch, replying by simply pushing the door open, so I did, I entered. I’m not even going slightly over board with it, when I say: “It felt like home”. I’m not sure how to say it so I’ll whisper. There were pieces of heaven in there. There were words of grace written on the walls for me. In the entry way, a beige jacket was hanging of the main post of the grand staircase. It was like, time didn’t exist. So after realizing about where I was and of how truly welcoming the atmosphere resonated with me, I thought of how extremely curious it was that she still didn’t ask me what I needed help with? So I, I just said what was happening; that some people wanted to burn me alive so I needed a place of refuge. And the truth is that, in that entire tantrum, I ran so fast, that puppy didn’t even take notice, so I entered alone. And she still didn’t speak a word. The words on the walls spoke out already perfectly. “This place is a safe haven” one held. “Welcome to your new home” said another. To be honest, I wouldn’t want you to think that this whole thing was a setup, so I won’t think on that thought another instant.
By Alice K.S.5 years ago in Criminal
The Tragic True Crimes of Jamestown
Where do I even start with choosing my favorite true crime story? I have so many that have stayed with me over the years. Growing up loving to read and research serial killers and true crimes, I always wanted to know why. What could make someone turn into what we call a monster? Were they born this way? What goes through their minds when they commit their crimes? Why do they do what they do? Do they feel remorse? I have read, watched, and listened to podcast talking about so many of our most infamous true-crime stories to date. Throughout the years, the one that stayed with me is the story of Jim Jones and the Jonestown massacre back in 1978. This case, to this day, still leaves me with chills. Of course, everyone has heard about how it all went down, phrases that reference back to the Kool-Aid and the massacre are still being used today, it’s not until you dive deeper into the story, specifically deeper into who Jim Jones was and what went down in Jamestown, that makes it linger in your brain.
By Mariah Faith5 years ago in Criminal
The Devil We Invent: The "Monster of Florence" Was Merely a Man
Glutting ourselves on misery The problem with the true crime genre is that it's rife with manufactured mystery so that its merchants of misery can wring a few bucks out of a tragedy. When we rake through witness statements and freeze-frame interviews, we aren't treating the loss of life with respect. Instead, we are reducing murder to an intellectual puzzle at best and tasteless entertainment at worst. We merchants and consumers of misery ought to be ashamed.
By Angela Volkov5 years ago in Criminal
Postcards from the Hanging
I was recently doing some background research into the ironically named “Redemption Era” in the United States when all the rights won by African-Americans in the post-Civil War Reconstruction Era were systematically stripped away. I was rather distressed to see the language of the Church..”Redemption”... used to describe something so truly alien to anyone’s concept of compassion or God’s Kingdom.
By Julia Schulz5 years ago in Criminal
The Phantom Killer
All my life I have always wondered is there such thing as the boogeyman but, during the spring and summer of 1946 one little, small town was about t0 know the terrible truth that would haunt them forever. As a monster was on the loose sending panic into the streets of Texarkana, Texas that would soon be known as “The Town That Dreaded Sundown”!
By Joanna Blaze5 years ago in Criminal
JUST A SIX YEAR OLD GIRL
I absolutely love this challenge. It may be my favorite thus far. I am an "Unsolved Mystery, Forensic Files, True Crime, Real Crime, FBI Files, Real Stories, Monster’s," etc buff. Many of these stories are sad and horrendous. The fact that most remain unsolved can sometimes be gut wrenching. Investigations at times are long and hard, and it is a known fact if the killer isn’t found within the first 48 hours, the case may never be solved. Although you have ideas of who the culprit could be, it is still pertinent that everyone in relation to the victim (not just family members) be considered a suspect before you point fingers. If all avenues are not fully investigated and crossed out, this can lead the investigation into many problems the judicial system can’t even begin to pull the foot out of their mouth, and/behind.
By Beautiful Intelligence5 years ago in Criminal
Mary Faye Hunter and Her Mysterious Death
Mary Faye Hunter was a quiet, intelligent young woman who lived in Decatur, Alabama. Although she was an adult, she stilled lived with her parents in 1967 sharing their modest home near the small downtown area. She maintained a quiet existence in the town she had always called home. The highlights of her week included walking to the beauty salon and playing the organ at her church. Mary Faye was employed at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama where she performed secretarial type work. It was here that one might say her eventual demise began.
By Melissa Wright5 years ago in Criminal
Fur Elyse
Life is full of irony, both literal and figurative, and a deeply rooted appreciation for the absurd has served me well. Cynicism and gallows humor inoculate those of us for whom unchecked empathy would otherwise render inert. Strength through sarcasm, if you will.
By Eva Marie Chastain 5 years ago in Criminal
Betty Broderick- Wife, Mother, Murderer
After being married and suffering her husband's abuse for many years, Betty Broderick and her husband Dan Broderick separate, and Dan files for divorce. He moves on with his office temp turn secretary Linda Kolkena Both of whom she kills in a fit of rage after months and years of abuse. First, she fought for no divorce, then she fought for what she thought was a fair divorce. She was convicted of 2 counts of second-degree murder and later sentenced to 32 years in prison in a California women's penitentiary where she currently resides.
By Amanda J Mollett5 years ago in Criminal
Monster with 21 Faces
Katsuhisa Ezaki, President of Glico (Creator of Pocky), was bathing in the bathroom when two armed masked men kidnapped him and took him to a warehouse in Ibaraki, Osaka. Before finding Ezaki, they had tied up his mother, wife, and eldest daughter. When the wife offered them money, they said, “Be quiet. Money is irrelevant." Despite saying this, they demanded one billion yen, almost eleven million in today’s dollars, and 220 pounds of gold bullion. This was the largest ransom ever demanded in Japan. The kidnappers called themselves, “The Monster with 21 Faces”. Ezaki escaped three days later and the ransom wasn’t paid. The criminals didn’t seem to care about the money though. What did they really want?
By SharvaStudio5 years ago in Criminal
