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...]
BULLIED TO DEATH: A Story Of Bullying, Social Media, And The Suicide Of Sherokee Harriman
Do you think I’m pretty. No one likes me. I hate my life. I wish I had a friend. It was the mantra of fourteen-year-old Sherokee Harriman, who in September 2015 faced her alleged bullies in a small Tennessee public park and pulled out a concealed kitchen knife. She drove the knife into her stomach as the horrified teens watched. Local media focused on sensationalism rather than truth. The word “bullicide” was used, meaning bullying drove … [Read more...]
Premier Book Signing For Upcoming True Crime BULLIED TO DEATH
“Bullied to Death? A Story Of Bullying, Social Media, And The Suicide Of Sherokee Harriman” will be released by WildBlue Press on April 10, 2018. The premier release and author signing will be held April 11, the following day. This will be a different type of premier, and purposely so. Many people assisted in the telling of Sherokee’s story, from her family and friends to the community, so I wanted to include the community. I wanted them all … [Read more...]
Dr. Phil Show To Feature John Paul Fay, co-author of THE SHAWCROSS LETTERS
After a little more than three days in Hollywood to tape an appearance on the Dr. Phil Show, I've returned to Boston. The three days before the show were wrought with the seemingly insurmountable logistics of being chosen to appear, and then dealing with numerous family members signing releases and even uncertainty if they would even participate. So, by the time I was actually sitting with Dr. Phil, it was the least stressful part of the whole … [Read more...]
THE SHAWCROSS LETTERS Gives An Inside Look at One of America’s Most Notorious Serial Killers
“THE SHAWCROSS LETTERS is a graphic and dramatic page turner that delves into the twisted mind of a serial killer. A true crime book that will horrify, enlighten, and keep you up at night.” - Joseph Souza, Author of The Neighbor What happens when one of the most evil men in the history of America meets a man he trusts to share his darkest secrets with? How does it affect someone already on the edge of society when he is taken under the wing of … [Read more...]
Brian Whitney On Helping Write THE SHAWCROSS LETTERS
When I first was approached to help write THE SHAWCROSS LETTERS I had no idea what I was getting into. I knew it to be the story of Arthur Shawcross, one of America’s most notorious serial killers, and his friendship with a man named John Paul Fay. As a fan of true crime, I have read books before where a famous killer befriended a member of society, and I always found them lacking, they always seem to be reaching for something, promising some … [Read more...]
Bestselling Author M. William Phelps Provides Another True Crime Hit With TARGETED
In Colbert, Georgia, on June 5, 2000, local amateur bodybuilder, 38-year-old Doug Benton, disappears. Two weeks later, Benton is found shot and ‘stabbed,’ his body encased in cement inside a cattle trough, dumped on a remote stretch of farmland. Local law enforcement—with help from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation—launch what is later alleged to be a ‘targeted’ investigation, focused on one of their own—local deputy sheriff, 36-year-old Tracy … [Read more...]
M. William Phelps: In An Age of True Crime Excess
MY NEW BOOK, TARGETED, IS ABOUT A former Oglethorpe County Georgia sheriff’s deputy who claims to have been framed for a particularly brutal—for a female killer—murder. By whom, you ask? A few of her former fellow law enforcement officers—which has become somewhat of an ornamental and allegorical theme running through our (seemingly) “violent” and (seemingly) “corrupt” American law enforcement community today. We are living in an age of … [Read more...]
A “Smooth-Talking” Serial Killer Keeps On Lying, Stays In Prison
Subject of New York Times Bestselling Author Steve Jackson's True Crime Book SMOOTH TALKER, Murderer Roy Melanson, Denied Parole He's 80 years old, in poor health, confined to a wheelchair, and twice-convicted serial killer Roy Melanson believes he should be paroled to a nursing home to live out his remaining days on Medicaid. Besides, as he told a Colorado parole board on September 6, he didn't commit the murder that got him sentenced to … [Read more...]
Dennis Flynn Gives A Brief History of Hostage Negotiations
The subject of ‘hostage negotiations’, or more commonly referred to by most agencies due to its accuracy as ‘crisis negotiations’, is a relatively new police concept, beginning in the early 1970’s. Considering the City of Boston began using night watchmen in the 1630’s and centralized policing started in the 1830’s, less than fifty years is relatively new. It is argued that hostage negotiations began in New York City during the early 1970’s. … [Read more...]
