It was a shattering death bed confession by a heartbroken mother. But would it solve the oldest cold case murder case in American jurisprudence? In January 1994, Eileen Tessier told Jack McCullough's half-sister Janet Tessier that he, her son, kidnapped 7-year-old Maria Ridulph from their neighborhood in Sycamore, Illinois and killed her in December 1957. It was a case that tore the child’s family apart, as well as dividing and terrifying the … [Read more...]
Luka Magnotta’s Mother Tells All In MY SON, THE KILLER
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...]
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...]
Alan R. Warren Reveals Shocking Details Of Rodney Alcala’s Serial Murders In THE KILLING GAME
Beginning in 1968 and continuing into the 1970s, a predator stalked California and New York, torturing, raping and murdering young girls and women. But who was the monster behind these tragedies? Eventually, a suspect emerged, but he didn’t look like a monster. Indeed, Rodney Alcala was a handsome, charming photographer who’d once studied film at New York University under director Roman Polanski. With his wit and easy self-confidence and … [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...]
Daniel Zimmerman
Over the past eighteen years, first-time author Daniel Zimmerman has written nearly six hundred columns as a stringer for GateHouse Media, a United States publisher of daily and weekly newspapers. While only a toddler during the events in 1963, Zimmerman grew up with knowledge of the shooting: the victims, Toby and Mark Wagner, were his aunt and cousin. Years ago, he was granted exclusive access to Rocco Anthony Balliro and met with him in … [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...]
