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 Mystery of SL-1
On the evening of January 3, 1961, nestled in the desert away from the rolling hills and titular waterfalls of Idaho Falls, Idaho, sat Stationary Low-Power Reactor Number One. There have been plenty of fascinating and infamous nuclear accidents over the years throughout the world, but this one might just plague me the most. At this point, you may be asking yourself what this has to do with true crime? Just hold on to your pantaloons and we’ll get there.
By Joan J. Bell5 years ago in Criminal
My Journey Down the Rabbit Hole
Everybody’s gotten so de-sensitized towards people being arrested and claiming they’re innocent. Aren’t we all guilty of glossing over a story of some poor sap who got arrested for something “he didn’t do”? I know I am guilty of doing that--numerous times. However, fate had other things in mind & threw a monkey wrench my way. I didn’t see it coming and damn sure wasn’t prepared for it but my life was turned sideways by corruption. I never really paid attention to the news stories that featured the word “corruption” in them. I always believed the word was related to white-collar, victimless crimes. That could not be further from the truth. As a crime junkie, I never saw “corruption” listed as a cause of death, but it should have been. A double murder case with national media attention brought corruption to my front door and it will bring it to yours too.
By Jimmie Lee Staley5 years ago in Criminal
The Hollywood Con Queen
In summer 2015, aspiring screenwriter Greg Mandarano received the email he’d been dreaming of. He had been sending query emails to every production company he could find online, and Jing Huilang, a film executive from The China Film Group, had replied to say she was interested in his script. Thrilled, Mandarano eagerly provided everything she asked for: responses to essay questions, a synopsis, a copy of the full script, a 40-page mood board and a pitch. Within just a few weeks, Greg and his writing partner Dave were on their way to Indonesia to meet with producers.
By Jenifer Nim5 years ago in Criminal
The ocean alone can tell
When Mercedes Alcocer said goodbye to her husband Miguel on that hazy morning of September, she would’ve never imagined that it would be the last time she would see him. Miguel had gone on a sport fishing trip with a group of men from the Yucatan Rotary Club, all of them residents of the city of Merida, in Mexico.
By MARTHA LORENA PREVE AYORA5 years ago in Criminal
truly criminal
truly criminal (these things do not “just happen”) by the ADHD Accountant – Krid I have enjoyed the Phantom of the Opera since I was a child. Part of it may have been the exclusion by my Nana who took all of the family except my sister and I, the youngest. She was confident that we, as mere children, could not, would not, be able to appreciate the experience.
By ADHD Accountant5 years ago in Criminal
True crime, too close to home.
Brixton, Broadmoor, and Fatboy Slim. A conundrum, I know! How can all three be so closely connected to me. I grew up in that final generation, the one where we played in the streets until darkness fell, pedophiles were a thing of the future, or was it just that we had no idea? In fact here in the UK instead of lurking in dark corners, we were happily watching some of our countries most prolific child sex abusers on television, or dancing to their pop records.
By Serena D5 years ago in Criminal
They Told Me Small Town Were Peaceful
They told me small towns were peaceful. It was understood that we country bumpkins should be neighbourly and welcoming. They never warned me of the darkness lurking down dusty back roads.
By The Creative Chimera 5 years ago in Criminal
The Hinterkaifeck murders - Germany's oldest unsolved massacre
Intro Widowed Viktoria Gabriel (35) lived with her two young children Cäzilia (7) and Josef (2), her parents Andreas (63) and Cäzilia Gruber (72), and their maid Maria Baumgartner (44) in Germany.
By Sh*t Happens - Lost Girl Travel5 years ago in Criminal
Hell is for Children
An astonishing 20,000 child abductions a year is almost unbelievable. That some of these children survive years with their abductors is unfathomable.
By Mayra Martinez5 years ago in Criminal
Jack the Ripper
She was found lying on her back at the entrance of a gated stable in Buck’s Row, Whitechapel London at around 3:40 in the morning on August 31, 1888, with her neck cut back to her spine. The car man who discovered her body, Charles Allan Cross, thought she was a discarded tarpaulin. Later, when she was carted to the Old Montague Street Mortuary, Inspector Spratling and Dr. Llewellyn found that her injuries, mostly done postmortem, were far worse. This was the sad ending of Mary Ann Nichols and many of the other murder victims of Jack the Ripper.
By Cameron Hampton5 years ago in Criminal
What Happened to Tracy Kroh?
About 25 miles outside of the state capitol of Pennsylvania is a small, riverside town called Millersburg. It's one of those rare American gems deeply rooted in family, tradition, and kindness. Life is slow and sweet there; folks take care of each other.
By Jessica Conaway5 years ago in Criminal
The Unsolved Axe Murder of Daniel Morgan
Just after 9pm on the 10th March 1987, 37 year old Daniel Morgan a private detective, after having a drink with Jonathan Rees his business partner at the Golden Lion pub in Sydenham, walked to his BMW in the car park. He was found dead at 9.40pm by the side of his car next to two packets of Golden Wonder crisps he had brought for his children. He had been struck three times in the back of the head with an axe, killing him instantly. Lying prone dead on the floor, a fourth blow was struck embedding the axe in his face and severing his brain stem. A truly horrific personal murder. This unsolved case is the most investigated murder case in British Criminal History. Strangely hardly anyone is aware of the case and the extraordinary story of what may have happened defies belief.
By Tom Brad5 years ago in Criminal