Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Criminal.
Book Review: 'Truth and Lies' by Caroline Mitchell
Detective Inspector Amy Winter has always wanted to be like her father—a great cop and an inspiration to all. She has followed in his footsteps all the way and now heads a special crimes unit that deals with serial killers and the lowest of the low in the crime world. She has a reputation for understanding criminals like nobody else, which has always made her question why.
By Monita Roy Mohan7 years ago in Criminal
50 Shades of Brooklyn
Another day, another man committing a crime to defend his lover allegedly. The hero fantasy is something that many people will admit to having and yet sometimes that particular fantasy takes a turn that is dark. Christopher Membreno is evidence of how the hero fantasy can turn into a nightmare of epic proportions. In an instant, four lives were changed because of two decisions that cannot be unmade. One man is facing time in jail, and another is dead because of one woman.
By Edward Anderson7 years ago in Criminal
Belt Buckle Attack
It’s a scary time for people who are not straight White men. Seems like a facetious statement until you consider that hate crimes against gay, transgender, and people of color has risen exponentially in recent years. Violence against women is at an all time high. The group perpetuating these acts of violence? In many instances, the attacker is a heterosexual, White male. The case of Christopher Bradford is no different, down to the alleged reason that the attack occurred in the first place.
By Edward Anderson7 years ago in Criminal
The Forgotten McScam
Do you want to be an instant winner? It’s hard to imagine anyone saying no to a question like that, especially when the prize money is a million dollars. There is a group of people who would argue that the consequences of them saying yes were not worth the amount of money that they “won.” Being ensnared in the forgotten McDonald’s scandal that nearly brought down the fast food giant in a public relations nightmare and found a once-thriving marketing firm closing its doors is not something anyone wants to be remembered for.
By Edward Anderson7 years ago in Criminal
The Butcher of Plainfield
How many people can look at the above image and tell me his name? How many people have heard of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre or Buffalo Bill From Silence of the Lambs? How about Norman Bates from Psycho and Bates Motel? Chances are you have heard of if not all, some of these familiar characters. But have you ever stopped to wonder if these characters are works of fiction or are they based on something deeper? Something truer?
By Rebecca Slaney7 years ago in Criminal
'Orange Is the New Black' Is the Harsh Reality Check We All Needed
The latest season of the popular Netflix series Orange is the New Black (OitNB) dropped on Friday and if you’re anything like me you’ve already binged the entirety of it. The Netflix show is famous for opening up discussions on a number of taboos and is the only mainstream series where you will find mixed race couples with no white people, black and Latinx actors having complex storylines, a female-dominated cast, and lesbian sex in pretty much every episode. But the series has come a long way since the infamous screwdriver incident and every season the writers offer an increasingly nuanced political conversation through the stories of the inmates and prison owners, MCC.
By Ziggy Moth7 years ago in Criminal
Best Investigative Journalism Websites
In the technological age, print publications are rare. Most people get their news and information either directly from online news sources, like the digital versions of the New York Times or Washington Post, or, more often, second-hand through social media. This ease of information access is both a blessing and a curse: there is an abundance of information and news for your consumption, free and right at your fingertips, but at the same time, anyone can say anything they like on the internet. Shoddy research, questionable interpretations, and more can make good reporting hard to find. But it's out there, if you know where to look. That's why, now more than ever, investigative journalism websites are extremely important. Some of the next best investigative journalists of all time could come from these sites.
By Nicola P. Young7 years ago in Criminal
Dead Man Walking on New Year's
The music is loud, the place is messy, but hey, you're having fun. The fact that you snuck in to Marco's New Year's party makes it even better! While you're not "That Unpopular Guy," you weren't popular enough to be formally invited. Of course, that didn't stop you. Besides, it's either this or spending New Year's at home alone watching Let's Plays on YouTube. Your parents are at a friend's party and your own friends are busy with family.
By Monos Alba7 years ago in Criminal
Murders That Inspired Ghost Stories
Ghost stories are as old as time itself, and for as long as humanity can remember, they often started the same way. For one reason or another, a person dies a tragic death, and they have to come back to the world of the living to let everyone know of the tragedy that occurred.
By Ossiana Tepfenhart7 years ago in Criminal
Freedom on Alcatraz Island. Top Story - July 2018.
The once-familiar sounds of doors clanging shut did not make me cringe or dredge up suppressed memories. Instead, they had the curious effect of bringing me a sense of peace. Integrating a difficult past into a present inextricably intertwined with a single impulsive action committed long ago can be hard. Many people that have been to prison allow their imprisonment to become their identity; you become known as a felon when convicted. Yet the process of reintegration after a long stretch of incarceration often means reconciling the two. And it was this reconciliation that took place during my recent trip to Alcatraz.
By Stanley Gray7 years ago in Criminal
