True crime

In his first work of nonfiction since The Innocent Man, #1 bestselling author John Grisham and Centurion Ministries Founder Jim McCloskey share ten harrowing true stories of wrongful convictions. Impeccably researched and grippingly told, Framed offers an inside look at the injustice faced by the victims of the United States criminal justice system. A fundamental principle of our legal system is a presumption of innocence, but once someone has been found guilty there is very little room to prove doubt. Framed shares ten true stories of men who were innocent but found guilty and forced to sacrifice friends, families, wives, and decades of their lives to prison while the guilty parties remained free. In each of the stories, John Grisham and Jim McCloskey recount the dramatic hard-fought battles for exoneration. They take a close look at what leads to wrongful convictions in the first place, and the racism, misconduct, flawed testimony, and the corrupt court system that can make them so hard to reverse. Told with page-turning suspense as only John Grisham can deliver, Framed is the story of overcoming adversity when the battle already seems lost, and the deck is stacked against you.

Dr. Robert Chastant was a successful orthodontist in New Iberia, Louisiana. He and wife Laurie raised Peruvian Paso show horses on a farm just south of their 4,700-square-foot colonial style home. By all outward appearances, he was happy and successful. But cracks had begun appearing in his third marriage and his practice was feeling the effects of a dramatic downturn in South Louisiana's petroleum-reliant economy, leaving him encumbered with crushing debt. Then, on the morning of December 13, 2010, he was brutally murdered by his farm hand, an illegal Mexican immigrant named Ismael Viera Tobar. Viera was apprehended and confessed within a matter of hours. But then there was an unexpected twist. He told authorities that Laurie, twenty-five years younger than Dr. Chastant, had paid Viera a thousand dollars to kill her husband. His story seemed to gain traction with discrepancies in her timeline of events, the existence of a prenuptial agreement, a budding extra-marital affair, the unexplained discovery of a pair of checks for cash totaling exactly one thousand dollars, missing evidence, and life insurance policies totaling more than a million dollars all combined to create a possible motive and to cast suspicion on the young widow.Could the fact that her father was - and remains - a deputy sheriff in a nearby parish have influenced a less-than-thorough investigation of her possible part in the murder? Could the fact that her father was also a retired Louisiana State Trooper who had worked with the Iberia Parish sheriff when they both were state troopers - serving in the same region - have led authorities in a different direction and allowed her to escape closer scrutiny?Murder on the Teche: A True Story of Money and a Flawed Investigation, Tom Aswell's fifth book, examines the relationship between Dr. Chastant and his wife, between her and her husband's family, and follows the frustrating investigation - whether by design or through institutional incompetence - of the sheriff's department. Aswell's research is supported up by thousands of pages of sheriff's department investigative records and court documents, some of which are reproduced for this book.Murder on the Teche examines the inability - or unwillingness - of the Iberia Parish Sheriff's Office to conduct a thorough investigation into the simplest crime, much less a brutal murder. It will cause you to question the competence level and the professionalism of your own local law enforcement agencies as never before and to ask yourself if Iberia Parish represents the norm or is it an unfortunate anomaly?

In this thrilling memoir, Suburban Bigamy: Six Miles Between Truth and Deceit, author Michael S. Zimmerman chronicles the painful story of two families built on one lie, forever linked through betrayal, infidelity, and bigamy. Then, after hitting rock bottom, Mike becomes a father of his own, and soon discovers something more powerful than the lie: a story of resilience, recovery, and hope."A frightening story intelligently told, one that exposes the frailty of even people's most pedestrian certainties. An engrossing work about the explosiveness of secrets exposed."

This is a true story of a child, the youngest of three kids. School was not challenging enough. Travelled all over North America, Canada, The Arctic Circle 9 times and managed to stay alive.

Explore the chilling true story of John Pycock, a former scout leader whose trusted position hid a dark and disturbing secret. For decades, Pycock used his authority and influence within the scouting community to prey upon vulnerable young individuals, leaving a trail of devastation in his wake.From his early involvement in scouting to his rise to leadership and the shocking revelations of his crimes, this book offers a gripping account of Pycock's descent into depravity and the legal battles that ultimately brought him to justice. Through detailed trial proceedings, compelling testimonies, and reflections on the broader implications of his actions, readers will gain insight into the complexities of the legal system and the enduring impact of sexual abuse.But "The Legal Challenges Of John Pycock" is more than just a true crime narrative-it's a call to action. It challenges readers to confront the uncomfortable truths about child abuse and the failures of institutions meant to protect the vulnerable. It urges us to listen to the voices of survivors, to demand accountability from those in positions of power, and to work together to create a world where every child is safe, respected, and empowered to thrive.Prepare to be shocked, outraged, and inspired by this compelling account of one man's crimes and the courageous fight for justice that followed. "The Legal Challenges Of John Pycock" is a powerful reminder that the battle against child abuse is far from over-and that we all have a role to play in ensuring a safer, more compassionate future for generations to come.

Are you concerned about the safety of your children in schools?Or curious about the intricacies behind James Crumbley's conviction? Concerned parents, educators, and citizens alike grapple with the same pressing question: How could such a tragedy occur, and what can we do to prevent it from happening again? Explore the gripping details of the case, unravel the complexities of parental responsibility in school safety, and discover proactive measures to shield our children from harm. This book isn't just for the curious-it's for anyone who refuses to accept tragedy as inevitable. Join the conversation, arm yourself with knowledge, and let's pave the way to a safer tomorrow. Get your copy now and be part of the solution!"

1979 ging Simmons nach 20 Dienstjahren als Master Sergeant der Air Force in den Ruhestand. Die Instabilität, die auf seine Militärzeit folgte, verstärkte sein Verlangen nach Kontrolle über seine Familie. Mithilfe von Einschüchterung, Demütigung und Gewalt versuchte er, die Oberhand über alle seine Familienmitglieder zu gewinnen, mit einer Ausnahme: Bei seiner Lieblingstochter Shelia, die er zu einer inzestuösen Beziehung zwang und mit der er schließlich ein Kind zeugte, zeigte er sich von einer sanfteren Seite. Sein Bedürfnis nach absoluter Kontrolle führte zur Isolation innerhalb seiner Familie und zu seiner Unfähigkeit, eine Arbeitsstelle zu behalten. Sein Frust wuchs ins Unermessliche, als Sheila das Elternhaus verließ und einen anderen Mann heiratete. Als seine Pläne zunichtegemacht wurden und sein Einfluss nachließ, unterstützte Simmons plötzlich den Wunsch seiner Familie, Weihnachten mit einem großen Fest zu feiern. Die Bühne war für ein herzliches Wiedersehen bereitet, doch er hatte ganz andere Pläne. Dem Bösen gehorchen ist ein erschreckender Bericht über Ronald Gene Simmons und eines der verstörendsten Massaker an einer Familie in den Vereinigten Staaten. Ryan Greens fesselnde Erzählung lässt den Leser in das reale Grauen eintauchen, das die Opfer erlebt haben, und bietet alle Elemente eines klassischen Thrillers.

In "The Tragic Story of Jayden Perkins," delve into the heart-wrenching tale of a young boy's life cut short by senseless violence, and his mother's unwavering determination to seek justice in the face of unimaginable grief. Set against the backdrop of Chicago's Edgewater neighborhood, the story follows the Perkins family as they navigate the aftermath of a brutal home invasion that leaves 11-year-old Jayden fatally wounded and his pregnant mother critically injured. As the community reels from the tragedy, questions swirl about the failures of the parole system that allowed the perpetrator, Crosetti Brand, to slip through the cracks time and time again. Through poignant storytelling and powerful narrative, witness Laterria Smith's relentless fight for justice as she confronts the flaws and failures of America's justice system head-on. From candlelight vigils to fundraising efforts, the community rallies around the Perkins family in a display of solidarity and support. But amidst the grief and turmoil, there emerges a call to action-a call to demand accountability, reform parole policies, and ensure that tragedies like Jayden's never happen again. "The Tragic Story of Jayden Perkins" is a poignant reminder of the urgent need for change, and a testament to the power of community, resilience, and hope in the face of adversity. Join us in honoring Jayden's memory by taking a stand against the systemic failures that cost him his life. Demand accountability from our justice system, advocate for reforms to parole policies, and support victims of violence in their quest for justice. Together, let us work towards a safer, more just society where tragedies like Jayden's are a thing of the past. Your voice matters-let it be heard.

"The Sunday School Killer" headlines an anthology of True Crime stories where seemingly sweet women transform into cold-blood killers when a hefty insurance settlement is offered upon the death of their husband. If the circumstances regarding Brenda Evers Andrew's murder of her husband was made into a movie, it would strain the credulity of the viewing audience. Sunday school teacher Brenda got together with another church member want to acquire an $800,000 life insurance policy. All they had to do was murder Robert Andrew, Brenda's ex-husband. Brenda had tired of being the good girl going to church every Sunday. She wanted the good life. Her lover, James Pavatt, was a man deep in debt. Together, they were the answer to each other's problems both physically and financially if only they could get rid of the one man standing in their way. No Bible passages or other church teachings would stop them. If they were going to hell, they were going to do it in style.

A discussion of different satanic cults that have appeared across North America in the last thirty years; The Cult of Santa Muerta, The Death Cult of Mexico and others.

Excitement filled the air in Alma, Arkansas on the night of June 9, 1995. A crowd of nearly three hundred surrounded the baseball pitch to watch a little league game on a warm summer night. Cheering could be heard echoing around the town, reaching far from the stadium. In what appeared to be a perfect summer's evening, spirits were high, with adults chatting jovially and children playing together, making new friends. But for one mother, the midsummer evening would become a living nightmare in an incident she would describe in an interview for Fox News as "pure childhood innocence and such evil that met in [the] same moment." Her six-year-old daughter disappeared, never to be seen or heard from again.

A True Crime anthology featuring serial killers who used the Internet to stalk their victims. This series is headlined by The Craiglist Killer, Miranda Barbour.On December 3rd, 2013, Barbour was taken into custody by Sunbury, Pennsylvania police and charged with the murder of Troy LaFerrara, whom she had previously met through a Craigslist ad. Shortly afterward, she professed to have been a member of a satanic cult and murdering at least 22 people between the years 2008 and 2013. Whether her claims of being a serial killer are to be believed or not, the details surrounding Miranda Barbour's life, arrest, and incarceration reveal a life of abuse and addiction. How did this young woman from Alaska, former classmate of Willow Palin, wind up a convicted murderer and self-professed serial killer in Pennsylvania?

Gary Hilton will not walk free again. One way or another, he is going to die in prison. If the gurney does not get him, then old age will. Currently, he sits in his cell paying penance for the deaths of four people including that of Cheryl Dunlap, whom he murdered in the Apalachicola National Forest, which lies in the north of Florida. He received the death penalty for that homicide.'He will most likely die in prison and most certainly never see the light of day again, ' the Hall County District Attorney in Georgia had said in 2008 after Hilton was convicted just a month after he killed Meredith Emerson on New Year's Day of that year. That was before he was sentenced for the killing of three other victims in a spree which lasted from the end of 2005. It is widely believed that Hilton also murdered several others, but either their bodies are yet to be found, or they were too decomposed to be tied definitively to him...How many people did Gary Hilton kill?

A lovely elderly woman named Doris Johnston accepted Jennifer Rose Trent's offer to come around on a weekly basis and clean her home. The two struck a friendship very quickly, and Jennifer started spending more and more time with Doris. The woman liked Jennifer's young son, and she would often look after him while Jennifer was running errands. Doris didn't know that Jennifer had other plans that included getting her out of the picture and stealing her identity. Unaware of Jennifer's previous misdemeanors, Doris thought she could trust her. Tragically, she was very wrong, and Doris paid the ultimate price.

The morning of October 24, 1961, started just like any other day for the Risch family of Lincoln, Massachusetts...Martin Risch was up before dawn, preparing to leave for a business trip he'd arranged. The plan was to drive himself to Logan Airport and then catch an 8 a.m. flight to New York City, where he planned to stay the night in Manhattan. After her husband left the house, Joan Risch woke their two children and busied herself making their breakfast...Once the kids were fed, Joan took them across the street to the neighbour's house - Barbara Barker would look after her son David while she and her daughter Lillian drove the family's blue 1951 Chevrolet into Bedford, where Joan had scheduled an appointment with a dentist after hearing a glowing recommendation from Morton, a friend from college...later that day, Joan would disappear in what would be one of the strangest missing persons case in modern history.

Jessica Lang was a bright and vivacious fifteen-year old girl who just recently began dating Roller Rink DJ Myk Bloom. But her new romance comes with a thorn in the form of a jealous ex-girlfriend named Kelly Fuller. While her friends brush off Kelly's angry obsession with Jessica as something that will pass with time, Kelly has a rage underneath the surface that no one sees. Humiliated after seeing Myk with Jessica at the roller rink, Kelly plots a brutal revenge that left the most hardened policeman with a crime scene he would never forget.

An anthology of True Crime...Serial killers are often caught in a span of five years because they cannot evade the justice forever. But one man managed to ruin many lives over four decades. A suspect in three murders, Robert J Gross was on a police radar many times, but they simply couldn't find any physical evidence connecting him to the crimes. The DNA technology was non-existent back then, and the forensic teams worked with what they had available. But he simply couldn't always be one step ahead of everyone and Robert J Gross had to slip up eventually.

As Bobby lifted his 'gooney stick' axe handle above his head and swung it down with brute force for the third time, he licked his lips as the weapon smashed again into the limp head of his train boxcar companion. He savoured the moment as he watched the frantic eyes of his victim stammer to a halt and slowly drain of life. Bobby had become exceptionally good at taking lives - the lives of those who would not be missed. This is the true story of an extremely brutal and extraordinary serial killer who plagued the United States' busy freight train tracks for some fifteen years. Over the decade and a half between 1981 and 1996, Robert Joseph Silveria Junior's horrific and truly terrifying killing spree led him to ultimately take the lives of some 28 fellow travellers until being finally apprehended.

A hard day teaching dance. Finish work and head to the beach. It's an appealing prospect especially when that beach is the North Shore of Oahu, on the beautiful Hawaiian Islands. Whether it is standing by the ancient temple looking out to sea, having a coffee on any of the waterfront cafes or swimming in the warm blue ocean, the beach is one of those paradise-like places about which we all dream...It might be a touch different today to what it was like back in the mid-1980s, but the ambience is little changed. On July 6th 1985, a talented and enthusiastic student planned to go to that beauty spot along with friends when she finished teaching her dance class at the Rosalie Woodson Dance Academy, located in the 'Aiea district of Honolulu. ..But Diane Yayoe Suzuki never made it. Her class finished at 3.00pm, but by the time her friend arrived fifteen minutes later, the student was missing. She has never been seen since.

Shannan and Chris Watts looked like the perfect couple. She had already proudly posted an ultrasound image of their new child, with whom she was just over three months pregnant, on Facebook. At a party, she would announce the gender of the latest member of the Watts family. It was a boy, and they would call him Nico. The thirty-four-year-old wife, with the good job, the nice home, the terrific kids and the perfect, loving husband really did seem to have it all.But, she didn't. It certainly seems to be the case that Shanann's publicly offered feelings were true to her heart, but her husband's were not. He was a man with many secrets; we are only just beginning to learn the extent of these, and time will help to identify those that are true, and those that have emerged, on shaky ground, from the gossip surrounding the tragic and horrific story which is about to unfold.Because Chris Watts is currently in prison, awaiting trial on a number of charges. Among them, are the first-degree murders of Shanann, Celeste and Bella, along with causing the premature termination of his son's life.

Some murders offer more questions than answers. The vicious slaying of Michael McMorrow, a forty-four-year-old real estate worker, is such a case. That his murder was carried out by fifteen-year-old kids is just one of the bizarre elements to the crime, which took place in the Strawberry Fields area of Central Park, New York City, in 1997.Who actually wielded the blows that killed Michael? Was it Daphne Abdela, the rich girl gone bad? Or Christopher Vasquez, the boy from the other side of the tracks whose numerous emotional issues saw him placed on prescription drugs to help him cope with anxiety and depression? Or was it the two, egging each other on in a fit of alcohol fuelled frenzy?

A love story gone horribly wrong, and the complex web that had to be untangled to get to the truth...On August 4th 1992, paramedics responded to an emergency call to Number Seven Summit Drive, Peru, Indiana. Outside, the caller still had the phone pressed to her ear, presumably still talking to Duke Memorial Hospital Emergency Room's dispatcher. Inside the master bedroom was a lifeless body lying on a couch, seemingly asleep. Upon closer inspection, E.M.T. technician Carolyn Shaffer could tell that the individual was no longer alive. Minutes later, the house was swarming with policemen, crime scene specialists, the medical examiner as well as a few family members. This quick response by authorities was mainly because the victim was one of their own. James Grund, who was called Jimmy by practically everyone, was a third generation lawyer in the town of Peru. His death came as a shock to many, and law enforcement officers pulled into the driveway to lend a hand, and their own theories as to who could have committed the murder...Little did they know just how tangled the web was...

In August 1994, two farmers working in a field stumbled upon the skeletal remains of Clinton Trezise. Unfortunately, there was no evidence present on the remains or the grave that could help police identify the victim. There was evidence of dyed hair and previously broken bones, which gave forensic experts hope that they would be able to identify the victim, but nobody came forth to claim the victim, not even after a $100,000 reward was offered. Trezise's family finally filed a missing person report in October 1995, but authorities still couldn't make the connection. Photos of Trezise were sent to forensic experts to compare against the skull, and they concluded that they were not a match - twice. Trezise was an openly gay man. Soon there would be numerous bodies of gay men found dead or missing in the area. A man or group of men were targeting them. Thus began the story of the Snowtown Murders...

On Wednesday May 6, 2020, investigators arrived at Clark Perry Baldwin's home in Waterloo, Iowa, and placed him under arrest for multiple murders. Brent Cooper, the district attorney general of the 22nd Judicial District in Tennessee announced the arrest later that day, revealing that Baldwin was the main suspect in three cold cases, one in Spring Hill Tennessee, and two in Wyoming. Baldwin is suspected of the 1991 murder of Pamela Rose Aldridge McCall and her unborn baby, and the 1992 murders of Bitter Creek Betty and the I-90 Jane Doe and her unborn baby. He was charged in Tennessee with two counts of murder in the case of McCall and her unborn baby. Two murder charges were also brought against him in Wyoming for the murder of the two Jane Does, Bitter Creek Betty and the I-90 Jane Doe, who had been discovered 400 miles apart in 1992. Baldwin, who grew up in Nashua, Iowa, graduated from Nashua-Plainfield High School in 1979. As an adult, he was a resident of a few different towns, including Nashua, Missouri, Waterloo, Virginia, Newport News, and Springfield. He worked as a long-haul trucker for Marten Transport for a number of years, spanning the times and locations of the murders.Baldwin's arrest came as a surprise to friends and neighbors, many of whom described him as a quiet person, with one person going as far as stating that he was a "gentle giant."What possessed Baldwin to commit the atrocities he did?

Debra Lynn Baker seemed to have scored the perfect job. She had no skills to speak of but called herself a "fast learner" when she interviewed for the position of bookkeeper for millionaire Jerry Sternadel. A close friend of his wife, the two allegedly began embezzling money from Sternadel's business, causing numerous checks to bounce. Sternadel caught wind of the embezzlement and threatened legal action. He died under mysterious circumstances weeks later with the money still outstanding. Who stole the money and why have they not been prosecuted?

Female serial killers are incredibly rare because the women, in general, are not prone to murdering more than one person. Even if they do, they usually use poison or kill their victims in a non-violent way. Brutality is not common, and it is more prominent when the authorities are dealing with a male killer. However, Irina Viktorovna Gaidamachuk does not match the standard description of a serial murderer. She didn't kill because she thought it was fun or felt an urge to take someone's life. Instead, Irina did it because she needed money to feed her ever-growing alcohol addiction which did fit into the profile because she killed in order to gain wealth.

Ebby was a shy and troubled teen who eventually came out of her shell when she changed schools. Hardworking, she worked two minimum-wage jobs during her teen years but unfortunately started running with the wrong crowd. Leaving home, she emancipated herself and began living with friends until one night she came back home, claiming she had been gang-raped. Shortly thereafter, she went missing. Her case remains unsolved and the questions linger...Who murdered Ebby Steppach?

An anthology of True Crime investigations into famous kidnappings such as Charles Lindbergh Jr, Bobby Greenlease, and others.

Ann Brier and her husband Eric Miller were nicknamed "Ken & Barbie" by both family and friends. She was a tall blonde and he was a successful doctor. He did research to find a cure for AIDS while she was a successful career woman. But Ann wanted more...She wanted more money and even more men...She soon fell herself going circling down a drain of sex, money...and murder.

On Christmas Eve of 2007, Michele Anderson and Joseph McEnroe drove to her parents' house, where McEnroe distracted her mother, Judy Anderson in a back room while Anderson confronted her father, Wayne Anderson, before he shot both him and later her mother...Their bodies were dragged to a backyard shed, and the couple spent the next hour mopping up the blood...Then her brother and his family came upon the scene, not knowing the carnage that had taken place...This is what happened that fateful night...