Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Criminal.
What Really Happened at 215 Colony Drive? Part One
When you live in a place long enough, you tend to form a bond with it. You know the entire place inside and out like the back of your hand, and it knows you just as well, if not better. It quietly witnesses you eat your meals, dream your dreams, cry your tears, celebrate your achievements, and live out your life, unaware that everything you do is documented within the cracks and crevices of the structure, just as a human brain documents memory. It has seen the real you. The person that only comes out when you can take solace in the confines of your safe haven, raw and unedited, beyond the façade that is shown to the rest of the world. It knows your habits, the good and the bad. It keeps your secrets hidden from prying eyes without ever passing a judgment. If the walls of our homes could speak, they could tell the true stories of our lives.
By Stephanie Engel8 years ago in Criminal
Can We Actually 'Sense' Danger?
Have you ever met someone, in passing, and felt this overwhelming wave of discomfort? You look at them, they have normal haircut, a nice smile, maybe they smell nice and seem, for the most part, like an upstanding human being; however, you sense something in demeanor. You simply cannot shake the feeling that there is something unimaginably wrong with them. Almost like they are simply not operating on the same brain wave as you. You sit and overanalyze yourself over the prospect of being, perhaps, a little too judgmental. "Maybe I'm just being rude... they haven't done a damn thing to me." You force yourself to speak to the person who runs this chill up and down your spine, you push down the overwhelming feeling of nausea. This person speaks, perhaps making small talk, talking about their dog, asking if you have a dog, maybe offering some assistance in carrying something or standing just a bit too close. Now, almost without much of an offer, you've become friends with this person. You have no idea how, you just know, you are trying to be a nice person. People do say you often looked rude upon seeing you in a social setting.
By Nadia Rivera8 years ago in Criminal
Lessons I've Learned From True Crime Shows
You could say I got my love of true crime shows from my mother, an avid fan of cozy English murder mysteries. Sherlock Holmes, Miss Marple, and Hercule Poirot were names I recognized before I even started kindergarten. By the time I discovered Forensic Files in the fifth grade, it seemed no different than all of the stories and television shows that I loved for years. I was completely mesmerized by the chase and all of the methods that detectives used to solve crimes. Years later, when I saw that a forensic science class was being offered at my high school, I immediately registered for it.
By Jessica Pilla8 years ago in Criminal
Best Serial Killer Movies of All Time
Whether you want to admit it or not, we have a morbid fascination with serial killers. It doesn't matter if they're female serial killers or deadly killing couples—the bloodier their story, the better. The success of serial killer movies proves this dark intrigue. So whether you're in it for the spine-tingling fear or the edge-of-your-seat suspense, these films will keep you biting your nails long after the end of the credits. Here are the most timeless and applauded of them all.
By James Lizowski8 years ago in Criminal
10 Mysterious Unsolved Hollywood Murders. Top Story - May 2018.
Real-life mysteries are always interesting. And when you combine them with the mystique of Hollywood, you've certainly captured the interest of many. It's basically reading the best must-read detective crime novels but with even more suspense and intrigue. These are the top ten most mysterious unsolved Hollywood murders. You can't make these stories up.
By Kelsey Lange8 years ago in Criminal
The Scammer's Game
Nobody likes getting scammed, but here we are in a world where almost every little detail must be checked, double checked, and many more times checked to ensure that we, either as freelancers or hobbyists or anywhere in between, are not being taken advantage of. From research and personal experience, I decided to jot down some of the things that I found disturbingly and annoyingly impressive from the advancement of these scammers to hopefully keep others from falling into their traps.
By Kyndall Bennett - Kyrabe Stories8 years ago in Criminal
It's Hard out Here for a Pimp...
Odessa, TX—home to the Permian Basin, one of the most prolific oil fields in the US. What else is prolific here? Human trafficking, drugs, and violence. At the time, the the violent crime statistics against women were #4 IN THE COUNTRY, according to the local Sheriff's Department!
By Sofia Sinn8 years ago in Criminal
Why Do People Become Criminals?
There are several questions that surround this earth, and one major question I have heard throughout the years is: “why do people become criminals?" It could be a question answered, and simple as “people don’t understand right from wrong,” but it is so much deeper than that. A lot of individuals relate violence with religions, poverty, adrenalin, gangs, and many other things. However, there are also theories that believe that some individuals become criminals due to their genetics. If there are a variety of theories of why people become criminals, it makes it difficult to focus on only one area. Therefore, my primary focus will remain on the idea that your habitat, way of life, and thinking process influences the person you become.
By Lydia Cruz8 years ago in Criminal
