investigation

Whodunnit, and why? All about criminal investigations and the forensic methods used to search for clues and collect evidence to get to the bottom of the crime.

The Last Run of Lars Mittank: The Tourist Who Ran Into the Wind
When travelers pack their bags for a summer trip, they imagine beaches, drinks, and new memories—not becoming part of one of Europe’s strangest disappearances. Yet that is exactly what happened to 28-year-old German tourist Lars Mittank in 2014, a story that continues to haunt the internet and puzzle investigators.
By Amanullahabout a month ago in Criminal
The Forest That Eats People: Inside the Bennington Triangle’s Strange Vanishings
There are forests that feel old, forests that feel quiet, and then there are forests like the Bennington Triangle—places where the silence itself feels aware of you. Tucked into the Green Mountains of Vermont, this region looks harmless at first glance: rolling hills, soft trails, tall pines. Families hike here. Tourists camp here. Sunlight slips between branches like it has for thousands of years.
By Amanullahabout a month ago in Criminal
The Man Who Locked Himself In: The Impossible Murder of Room 1046
There are murders that frighten you because they are violent. And then there are murders that frighten you because they make no sense at all. The case of Room 1046 sits firmly in the second category — a story built of contradictions, shadows, unanswered questions, and a victim whose own identity was a mystery.
By The Insight Ledger about a month ago in Criminal
The Silent Twins: A Bond So Deep It Terrified Everyone Who Tried to Break It
There are mysteries made of missing people, strange footprints, or odd camera footage. Then there are mysteries like that of June and Jennifer Gibbons — two girls who never disappeared, never hid, never ran… yet remained unreadable, unreachable, and ultimately unexplainable. Their story feels less like true crime and more like a psychological ghost story written in real time.
By The Insight Ledger about a month ago in Criminal
Shootouts, Sex & Scandals: Crimes That Forever Haunted Small Towns
Most small towns are known for their peace, routine, and tranquil predictability. But a few become known for something else entirely: dark crimes that unfold behind closed doors and echo for decades. From sexual undergrounds to vigilante justice and catastrophic cult collapses, these are the stories that turned quiet towns into global sensations.
By Chelsea Roseabout a month ago in Criminal
The Teen Killers Who Shocked the World
They were not hardened criminals, with no long-standing criminal history. They were just teenagers-kids who should have been thinking about school, friendships, and the future. Yet, behind innocent faces, they carried secrets so dark that the world still struggles to understand them.
By iftikhar Ahmadabout a month ago in Criminal
Reason First: San Diego May Pay $30M to Family of Black Teen Fatally Shot by Police
When a teen is shot in the back by police, dollar figures tend to tick upward almost always. San Diego is set to pay out $30 million to the family of 16-year-old Konoa Wilson who received a cop’s lethal round in January.
By Skyler Saundersabout a month ago in Criminal
The Empire of Shadows: A History of Organized Crime in New York State. Content Warning. AI-Generated.
Beyond the Five Boroughs: Beyond the celebrated skyline of New York City lies a huge state with a criminal empire that has moved and shaped itself. A criminal empire is one that operates within the wings of other operations and is normally well-organized and is run by professionals. The history of organized criminal activities within New York State is more than just a story involving gangsters lurking within the corners of New York City. It is a carefully hidden string within the fabric of the state. Crime within New York State was widespread and included various sectors such as the garment industry and construction on Long Island.
By xJRLNxabout a month ago in Criminal
EPPD Officer Castro: Cosplaying as a Sergeant While Serving as Officer in Charge
A correction is in order. In a previous article, I mistakenly referred to El Paso Police Department Officer Castro (badge #3308) as a sergeant. Multiple officers quickly set the record straight.
By Steven Zimmermanabout a month ago in Criminal
How Respect Is Earned, and Why Forcing It Puts Everyone in Danger
I never planned to write about what goes on inside the El Paso Police Department. Yesterday, while deleting old emails, I found one I had missed. After rereading it and speaking with multiple officers who still carry the weight of what it describes, I realized the story is too important, and too dangerous, to stay quiet.
By Steven Zimmerman2 months ago in Criminal
The Shame That Echoed: Understanding the Brian Cole Pipe Bomber Case
Some stories stay with you because they reveal how easily an ordinary life can fall apart. The case of the Brian Cole pipe bomber is one of those stories. It forces you to sit with uncomfortable questions about anger, loneliness, and the silent pressures that can grow inside a person until they spill into violence. You don’t need to be an expert in crime or psychology to feel the weight of it. It’s the kind of event that makes you look twice at the strangers you pass every day, wondering what might be simmering beneath the surface. This article walks through the case in simple language, but it also tries to understand what drives someone toward harm, and what we can learn when a community is shaken by fear.
By Muqadas khan2 months ago in Criminal
El Paso Police Department
This article is not about Stephenie Han. It is about the El Paso Police Department (EPPD) and a growing perception among its officers that rules, ethics, and discipline are applied selectively — favoring some while punishing others — and that this inconsistency is crushing morale.
By Steven Zimmerman2 months ago in Criminal