Government
How America Became an Oligarchy
The robber barons of the late Victorian Age made their billions on the backs of the poor; some see a parallel in today’s wealth inequality.
Witness Protection Program: Real or Myth?
We see it all the time on TV, in movies and discussed in the media. But what is the Witness Protection Program? How does it work?
The Perfect Family Murder
John List meticulously planned the killing of his family and then disappeared.
Those Living Under Capitalist and Socialist Regimes Have Similar Illusions
No ethnic, racial, religious, or economic label can change who we intimately are. We can be equally happy or miserable whether we live in Bel Air or in a small community of the Third World.
The False Testimony of Prison Informants
Despite the oath to tell the truth, witnesses frequently lie in court. But, there’s a class of liar that stands below all the rest―the jailhouse snitch.
A Sensational Victorian Murder Trial in Liverpool, England
In the late 1880s, American-born Florence Maybrick faced trial in England for the murder of her husband James. Was she guilty or innocent of poisoning him with arsenic? Here's her compelling story.
Voting Rights for the Incarcerated
1 in every 100 people in the US currently resides in a prison. Many more are on parole. How does a prior conviction affect voting rights for the current or formerly incarcerated, and how might this shape US politics forever?
Darlie Routier: Myth Vs. Fact
This article will address several misconceptions—as well as mistruths—surrounding the highly debated case of Darlie Routier.
How to Apply Online for a Voter ID in India
I was living abroad for many years, and it is only now that I got a chance to register for a Voter ID in India. Since COVID-19 was at its peak, I did not wish to visit the Akshaya Centers directly and wanted to try out a safer method.
Revisiting the Chilling Death of Elisa Lam
This real-life tragedy will bring you nightmares.
Bad Teacher News: December 2021
Bad physicians and police officers receive plenty of regional and national media coverage in the United States. But, reports about bad or criminal teachers and school staff rarely reach beyond the immediate city or state that's involved. Yet, bad teachers can do great damage to future generations.
The Cracks and Crevices in the Criminal Justice System: A First-Hand Account
The system is broken. The odds are stacked against the many while privilege is reserved for the few. Life indeed is a hand of cards we are all dealt, but why are these hands so unfairly uneven?
The Murder of 4-Year-Old Kali Ann Poulton
Kali Ann Poulton was the "apple of her mother's eye," and an only child. One day she vanished with her pink and white Big Wheel, sending the city of Rochester into a panicked search for a kidnapper.
Baby Lisa Irwin Vanished Ten Years Ago: Parents Still Hope They Will Find Her
On a chilly October night over ten years ago, Baby Lisa vanished into the night. Her parents believe she was trafficked, but the police focused on them as suspects, and may have missed critical evidence.
4 American Honorary Titles
Who wouldn't want to be the “Admiral of the Fleet,” even if you had no warships to command?
Serial Killer Gary Heidnik Inspiration for Movie Silence of the Lambs
Gary Heidnik abducted six women in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania during the mid-1980s. What he did with them is what nightmares are made of.
Who Cares About Prisoners?
Our prisons are overflowing with people. Let's not forget that. People who for whatever reason landed within the confines of cell walls. And who gives a damn?
The Infamous New Orleans Trunk Murders
The Sausage Ghost is one of the enduring haunting stories of the French Quarter, based on the Moity case of two women brutally murdered and stuffed into trunks before their killer escaped into the swamps.
The Mystery of Tom Thomson's Death
In 1917, a Canadian artist of outstanding talent vanished on a canoe trip in Ontario's Algonquin Park.
Gary Francis Poste and Possible Ways to Link Him to the Zodiac Killer Murders
In this article, I look at evidence pertaining to the Zodiac Killer in hopes of finding a way that he might be linked to or rebutted as Gary Francis Poste.
Who Is the Isdal Woman?
In November 1970, a woman's body was found in Norway. Who was she? Where did she come from? As yet, there are no answers.
A Timeline of Gabby Petito’s Disappearance and Theories About Her Fate
Here is a handy timeline of Gabby Petito's disappearance and some theories about what happened.
All-American Girl: The Disappearance of Gabby Petito
Gabby Petito is an adventurous and free spirit who had embarked on a cross-country journey with her boyfriend. All of the sudden her texts to her family stopped and her boyfriend showed up back home alone.
Inside the Murder Mystery of the Prominent Murdaugh Family From South Carolina
A high-profile murder of a mother and son from a prominent South Carolina family uncovers other potential brutal crimes.
The Budget Legislation Process in the Philippines
How the national budget is passed in the Philippines.
How Can an Angel of Mercy Go on to Become a Prolific Serial Killer?
Charles Cullen is a former nurse and the most prolific serial killer in New Jersey state history. In December 2003 Cullen told authorities that he had murdered as many as 45 patients during a 16-year period while working for 10 hospitals in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
Lab Murder: The Brutal Slaying of Yale University Student Annie Le
A Yale University student goes missing and is later found hidden in the wall of the lab she worked in.
Murder and Lust in the Baptist Church
In 2011, a twisted web of murder, fundamentalist Protestantism and a thread of deceit unravelled in the loyalist town of Coleraine. The shockwaves are felt to this day.
The Tragic Beginning and End of Serial Killer Carl Panzram
Carl was only seven when he committed his first crime. By age eleven, he was sent to the first of many correctional facilities. Physically abused and sexually violated, Carl soon began to hate all mankind. A series of events sent him on a mission of vengeance whose like had never been seen before.
The Horse Murder Scandal
Insurance fraud is quite common; it even extended into the rarefied world of equestrian sports in the 1970s and '80s.
Where Is Asha Degree?
Asha Degree is a young girl who has been missing since February 14, 2000. There have been very little leads in this case. Someone knows what happened to her. Here is her story.
When Justice Is Elusive: The Murder of Linda Ann O'Keefe
A little girl goes missing and is murdered in 1973. Find out what the police did 45 years later to catch her killer . . .
Islam and Peace: The Ulama’s Exercise of Power in Local Conflict Resolution and Management
Ulamas or religious scholars can help resolve local conflicts and build social cohesion.
A Tale of Two Phantom Whistlers
Hearing a mysterious whistle with no clear origin would be an unsettling experience for anyone. Here are a few cases people have chosen to report, and the possible explanations behind them.
Mysterious Disappearance of the Man Who Invented the Motion Picture Camera: Louis Le Prince
Louis Le Prince invented the single-lens motion picture camera in 1888. He was on his way to a public premiere of his invention in New York in 1890. Le Prince boarded a train in France and disappeared. William Kennedy Dickson of the Edison Company is often given credit for inventing it in 1891.
Why I'm Against Mandatory Arrest Laws
While mandatory arrest laws seem to have been born of good intentions, in practice, they often have negative results. They amplify the existing systemic racism in the criminal justice system, and they can also negatively impact the victims of crimes in a variety of ways.
Desperate Search Continues for Missing Child Summer Wells, 5, Not First Family Member to Go Missing
Little five-year-old Summer Wells was out planting flowers with her mother and grandmother at their house in the beautiful mountains of Tennessee. One minute she was there and the next minute gone.
Reflections on Society: Slab City, California
Living life beyond the pale offers immense perspective. Luke wrote these musings down in 2017, after a west coast adventure that ended in the Sonoran Desert. Enjoy his reflections and wisdom gleaned from his time in Slab City, California.
The Most Notorious Book Thief in America
James Richard Shinn was a book lover. But besides loving books, he was also a master book thief. And his targets were public libraries in America where he would masquerade as a "jolly," well-educated professor and ultimately pillage rare books to the tune of more than half a million dollars.
Top 16 Emergency Powers of the President of the United States
How long have Americans debated presidential emergency authority? Sixteen of the most extreme emergency actions of the U.S. president appear in this article. Learn about instances of presidential abuse with these actions. What are PEAD's and how are they used in such times?
The Unsolved Mystery of Peter Bergmann
In 2009, a man calling himself Peter Bergmann was found washed up on an Irish beach. Twelve years later, police, journalists, and investigators are still trying to unravel his identity. He is aptly called the "man with no past".
Kenneka Jenkins: What Really Happened?
A 19-year-old woman was found dead inside a freezer at a hotel in Rosemont IL. Police say it was an accident; others say it was foul play.
Missing: Sunny Sramek
A day trip ended in disaster when an 18-year-old woman disappeared near Omaha, NE in 2019. No official suspects, no leads, where is Sunny?
Missing: Ricky Lane Thomas Jr.
Ricky Lane Thomas Jr., 13, left to go to his cousin's home one day and was never seen again. The family believes he ran away but the police think it was foul play. Where is Ricky?
Who Killed Ashley Okland?
West Des Moines murderer still on the loose 10 years later. Who killed this Realtor during the open house? Ashley Okland’s murder is still unsolved; she was 27 years old.
3 Unsolved Disappearances That Will Send You Down a Rabbit Hole
Looking for a true crime rabbit hole to keep you up all night? Despite tons of weird clues, the mysterious unsolved disappearances of Andrew Gosden, Jacob Cabinaw and New York boys Christopher Dansby, Shane Walker and Andre Bryant have all gone cold but they still have loved ones looking for them.
She Was Forced to Watch Her Own Grave Being Dug: The Murder of Rachel Burkheimer
A young girl gets wrapped up in hanging with a gang and faces the ultimate betrayal of her friends as she watched her grave being dug.
The Fascinating Story of the Oldest Murder in History
Ötzi, the iceman was shot in the back with an arrow. The arrow hit the main artery and death was almost instantaneous. Was it an act of revenge? Who had killed him at this desolate location? One of Europe’s most renowned detectives, Chief Inspector Alex Horn was called to investigate the case.
Three Cold Case Murders Solved After Decades Using DNA Advancements
There are thousands of unsolved murder cases throughout the United States, but thanks to advancements in DNA technology, justice is not out of reach for the families of the victims.
Two Sisters Vanish: The Mysterious 1985 Disappearance of Rozlin and Fawn Abell
t was a beautiful summer day on July 25, 1985. Two sisters, Rozlin Rochelle Abell, 18, and younger sister Fawn Marlene Abell, 15, were last seen at their home . . .