Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Criminal.
I know a Murderer
The title says it all: I know a murderer. He's a recent murderer. He murdered for the first time September 16, 2020. It's the only murderer I know. Period. This man I let in my home, I let him hold my child, I let him eat my food, breathe the same air, use my stuff. It's been about a week since this murder happened, and it took me a long time to process it. I know it doesn't seem like a "long time" in the scope of most things, but for someone who reads about a lot of crap on the news, it was a long time for me, especially because there are many dynamics that I had to break down to get to this point.
By Anastasia Barth5 years ago in Criminal
My First Felony
I had been lying there in my uncle’s motor home for three days in a puddle of putrid post heroin sweat. Not quite sleeping and not quite awake, but always aware of the demon crawling up and down my spinal cord. The sickness was just starting to settle in and I knew I had to do something soon. I could hear my relatives outside working and going on about their busy days. They were unaware of my presence.
By Jack Manning5 years ago in Criminal
Dear Mr. Police Officer
Dear Mr. Police Officer, You probably do not remember me. In fact, you probably forgot my face the moment I walked out your office door. That’s okay, I don’t need you to know who I am, but I will never forget you. Your scrawny frame, the same mustache typically seen in cartoons, the look on your face when you were finished listening to my story. I did not want to go to the station, but the guy I went to tell you about had started spreading rumors about me. He told people I wanted what he did, that I enjoyed it. I could have lived my whole life without talking to you and I might as well have. But he took things too far and now your face lives in the darkest parts of my brain. Right next to his. I walked into the station and a lady told me to write down everything about what had happened. I tried so hard, but my mind was still fighting to deny the things that had happened to me. So, I wrote down the easy parts, the parts I told my mom when I finally couldn't stand her frustration at my decision to ignore his "kind gestures" any longer. I cried while I watched those words fall from my pen and a female police officer looked at me like she knew. If only I could have spoken to her instead of you. When I walked into your office did you see me? I mean really see me, or was it like I wasn’t there at all? As I sat there and tried to tell you about something I had been trying so hard to forget could you see the words that refused to come out of my mouth? When you looked at me and told me that you didn’t believe me did you see the hope die out? I have had so many struggles in my life and what that boy did to me was among the lesser. When I first walked in, I thought that was my chance. My chance for someone to see me, for someone to take away at least some of the pain that weighed so heavily on my sixteen-year-old shoulders. Even just that small amount would have been enough to make my life feel worth something. To make me believe that my pain and the healing that comes after, could be a priority. Did you know that because of what you said I would have to spend the rest of my life carrying that burden silently? I am only twenty-three now, but oh what a burdened twenty-three that is. My mother hardly said anything when I told her what you said. What was there for her to say anyways? What happened to me happens to so many. She put me in counseling but somehow that ended up being for her instead. I wonder how different that would have been if I had been able to speak. No matter how hard I have tried to make the words come out it is like I am trapped in my silence. And no one can let me out. To be honest I think about you more often than I think about him now. People do terrible things all the time and I have seen more than my fair share. But you… You were my hope when I had spent my life being silenced and all you did was dismiss the violence. Maybe I could be someone better today, more bubbly and less broken. Like the people I so admire. If you had not shattered my hope perhaps I could have been that same hope for others. Instead I ended up more beat down and broken because I spent so much of my life trying desperately to prove to myself that I was worth being loved and listened to… maybe even understood. Mr. Police Officer, I do not want you to feel bad about yourself. If you are still working just please do better for somebody else.
By Sara Splendore 5 years ago in Criminal
What to Do If You Were Accused of Assault at a Protest
Everyone has the right to protest and to form demonstrations throughout the United States. If you recently attended a protest, then you know firsthand that it can become a heated environment. What do you do if someone accuses you of something that you didn’t do? It is not unusual for someone to try to paint someone who protests in a bad light. Likewise, it is not unusual for someone to make false allegations against another person because they don’t share the same beliefs. If they cannot win the argument, then they may try to punish others. They might do this by spreading false allegations.
By Kari Oakley5 years ago in Criminal
Australia's infamous 'shark arm' homicide
Australia is known for its beauty. But it’s also known as a place where the wildlife can kill you if you aren’t careful. Australia is known for its deadly saltwater crocodiles, kangaroos, koala bears, and monstrous sharks.
By Marc Hoover5 years ago in Criminal
Hit and Run Case
When you think of hit and run accidents, do you imagine a vehicle speeding through a red light, striking a pedestrian, and zooming off? There are hit and runs where someone is bodily injured, but many hit and run accidents involve someone hitting a parked car and driving off. No one enjoys fessing up to a mistake like hitting something with a vehicle. Wanting to flee is a natural response to conflict, punishment, or negative experiences. But that response is also highly illegal, even if no one is there to witness it. Every driver needs to understand the seriousness of hit and run accidents.
By Attorney Miya Griggs5 years ago in Criminal
Latasha's Song Can Still Be Heard
The short original Netflix documentary “A Love Song For Latasha”. In its twenty minute running time, what you get is a powerful, heart breaking look at the young girl, who at fifteen years old, had her life cut tragically short. While it would have been easy to focus entirely on the circumstances surrounding her untimely death, what we got with this short film was an insight into the young girl herself.
By Chloe Medeiros5 years ago in Criminal
The deadly butcher of Elmendorf
This is the true story of Joe Ball, a man often referred to as either “The Alligator Man” or “Butcher of Elmendorf.” Joseph Douglas Ball was born on January 5th, 1896. He was one of eight children born to Frank and Elizabeth Ball. From all accounts, Joe had a normal childhood. Although we don’t know much about his childhood, it’s been said he was a loner who loved guns.
By Marc Hoover5 years ago in Criminal
