In 2012, the Canadian Press ignited a firestorm of criticism by naming killer Luka Magnotta as its “Newsmaker Of The Year.” But while the recognition was questionable for its sensitivity, there’s no doubt that few people had captured the public’s attention like the young murderer and internet sensation. A male escort and sometimes model, Magnotta had earned his notoriety by videotaping himself stabbing Chinese student Lin Jun to death with an … [Read more...]
Why “Making a Murderer 2” Is Probably Better Than The Original
Last weekend, I was glued to my couch as I finally had an opportunity to binge watch and critique Netflix's highly anticipated "Making a Murderer 2." Friday night/Saturday morning I finished episodes 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. Saturday night was episodes 6,7, 8 and 9. I saved episode 10, the captivating finale, for Sunday afternoon. I have a close connection to the case, having produced dozens of in-depth pieces when I was living in Wisconsin as an … [Read more...]
Was Four-Year-Old Brandon Sims Murdered By His Mother? Find Out More In INCONVENIENCE GONE
Where is Brandon Sims? The four-year-old had not been seen since July 3, 1992, when he attended a birthday party with his twenty-year-old mother, Michelle Jones. Jones was employed, confident, talented, smart, assertive and involved in many community activities in Indianapolis, Indiana. In contrast, when he was last seen, Brandon Sims, an only child, was a serious, quiet, thin boy who rarely maintained eye contact with his mother. After that … [Read more...]
TOXIC RAGE: A Tale Of Murder In Tucson
Brian Stidham fell in love with Tucson, Ariz., the minute he came to town. A young and talented eye surgeon, he accepted a job with an established eye surgeon to take over his pediatric patients. “It’s a beautiful place,” Stidham told a friend. “I can live right there by the mountains and go hiking. It’s a great deal for me there. The partner I’ll be working with is ultracool. He’s giving me the keys to the kingdom.” Brad Schwartz, the doctor … [Read more...]
SHOTS IN THE DARK: The Saga Of Rocco Balliro
On a cold, winter's night in early 1963, mob enforcer Rocco Anthony Balliro and a pair of associates stormed a darkened apartment on the outskirts of Boston and engaged in a fierce gun battle with several assailants (police officers, it turned out) waiting in ambush for the ex-convict and recent prison escapee. In the aftermath, a young woman and her toddler son lay dead. The story of Rocco Balliro, a petty criminal and enforcer for New England … [Read more...]
[VIDEO] James Byron Huggins Reviews Acclaimed Thriller (3/3)
Video Three in a Three Part Series where James Byron Huggins discusses his writing career and his acclaimed thriller THE RECKONING "In a world ruled by the purest survivors, the fiercest warriors, Gage was the strongest - an American executing his country's darkest missions with legendary cunning and skill...." James Byron Huggins was a decorated police detective in Huntsville, Alabama, when he published his first novel, Wolf Story, to … [Read more...]
Anne K. Howard Reveals The Confessions of A Serial Killer In HIS GARDEN
Winner of the 2020 INDEPENDENT PRESS AWARD and 2018 LITERARY EXCELLENCE PENCRAFT AWARD A practicing attorney, author Anne K. Howard first contacted Howell while he was serving a fifteen-year sentence for the murder of one of his seven victims. He was about to be charged for the remaining six murders. A unique and disturbing friendship between the two began, comprised of written correspondence, face-to-face prison visits and recorded phone … [Read more...]
Investigation Discovery Show Previews Case Behind New True Crime By Steve Jackson
The Real Story With Maria Elena Salinas Gives Taste Of "SAVING ANNIE" As with most true crime television documentaries, especially involving a case with as many moving pieces and storylines as are involved in my new book, SAVING ANNIE, the creators of "Fall of Innocence" made some mistakes, got some things wrong, and barely touched on many of the facts. Prior to airing, the producer acknowledged that even at an hour, the show could only … [Read more...]
THE CRATE: A Story Of War, A Murder, And Justice
Winner of 7 Literary Awards! "THE CRATE is an important and impressive piece of work. I'm glad it was written, and I'm glad I read it." -- Lee Child, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Jack Reacher Series After surviving the horrors of the Holocaust - in ghettos, on death marches, and in concentration camps - a young couple seeks refuge in North America. They settle into a new life, certain that the terrors of their past are behind … [Read more...]
Frank C. Girardot Jr. Joins Lori Orr Kovach To Tell The Story of Her Father, Serial Arsonist Of Los Angeles, In BURNED
For years Lori Orr believed her Los Angeles firefighter dad was a selfless hero. When Lori’s dad was arrested and charged with four murders and countless arson fires, it was her testimony that helped keep him from being sent to Death Row. Eventually, Lori’s search for the truth lead her to the dark secrets lurking in her family’s past and to an inescapable conclusion about the remorseless killer and arsonist known as the "Pillowcase Pyro" and his … [Read more...]