True Crime Literature

The 1964 Genovese murder in itself was not that unusual. Murders are an everyday occurance in New York City. What was shocking about this murder was over a 35-minute period, Kitty Genovese was stabbing while at least 37 neighbors heard her screaming, begging for help, as her killer came back not once but twice to stab her a total of three times, the last time fatally. After the final attact, one neighbor did call police, but not until he had called a friend in Nassua County to ask his advice. It was finally decided that calling the police would be the right thing to do. When the neighbors were asked why they didn't call police when Genovese first screamed for help the replies were: 'I don't know' OR 'I was tired. I went back to bed.'

The rest of the country was horrified at the coldness of these New Yorkers. After this steps were taken to encourage people to 'get involved'. Are we not 'our brothers' keeper?'

Ex-FBI agent Joe Pistone infiltrated the Mafia, scoring a big win for the Federal agents and the FBI. Part of Pistone's cover was to learn the ins and outs of daily life with organized criminals. Talking the talk was a big part of it. His very life depended on how well he could blend in with the mottley crew.

The phrase "forget about it" was one of their catch-all's that had many meanings. Like the Eskimo's 240 words for "snow". As far as anyone can tell, there are presently 56 definitions for this phrase.

Reference:The FBI Story by Don Whitehead, published Random House, NY 1956.

Perry was raised by his alcoholic mother after she left his abusive father. She died from alcohol related health problems when Perry was around 13. Two of his siblings commited suicide and a remaining sister broke all contact with him. It left him pretty much without a family. It sounds like there were some serious mental health issues at play with a majority of the immediate family.

The likelihood that Scott Peterson will confess is extremely small. Peterson's personality type dictates that he stick to his story. He has his staunch supporters (his mother for one) and the facade must be maintained. Peterson is laboring under the illusion that just because he says it, that makes it true. Unfortunately, this does not change the facts.

The only illusion Scott Peterson ever had was that being innocent meant he could never be convicted. Like many more, he has now found out that this is not true.

The state spent $11 million, including $1 million on a search of the bay which proved, like the rest of the evidence, that his wife's body was not there at that time.

The only 'evidence' the state ever offered against him was that he knew Laci Peterson. Nothing else was ever proven. None of the evidence fits the state's case or any variation of it. All of the evidence fits a failed fetal abduction.

Scott Peterson cannot offer any evidence about the crime since he knows nothing about it. In this he is joined by the Modesto PD who ignored all evidence which led away from him - which was all that there was.

Scott Peterson cannot confess because he is not guilty.

Leob and Leopold were teenages from affluent familys in the 1920s. The both were highly intelligent and supremely spoild rich kids. They killed a young boy named Bobby Franks just for the fun of it. When a pair of distinctive eye glasses were discovered near the murder site they were traced back to the 2 young men their fate was sealed. They were both convicted and barely escaped the death sentence. Their attorney was Clarence Darrow.

"Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil" ends with the trial of Jim Williams for the murder of Danny Hansford. Williams is acquitted of the murder charges, but the book concludes with the lingering mystery and intrigue surrounding the events in Savannah.

The statue in Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil is the famous Bird Girl statue, which originally marked the grave of a family in Bonaventure Cemetery in Savannah, Georgia. It became iconic after being featured on the book's cover and has since been moved to a museum for preservation.

Huckaby may be the only person that would know for sure but it seems to be a sexually motivated killing. What makes it so unusual is because Huckaby is a woman. Most women that kill tend to be caregivers or at least for profit. Huckaby fits neither of these.

Although Aileene Wurnos was compared to male serial killers, there is no indication that her crimes were sexually motivated. Wurnos needed her victim's money and cars. The easiest way to get what she wanted was to murder. In this respect, she does fit the mold of female serial killer.

Huckaby does not quailify as a serial killer for the fact that she got caught before she could kill again. But the sexual conotations makes her atypical.

The book you are referring to is most likely "The Bone Collector" by Jeffery Deaver. The story follows Lincoln Rhyme, a quadriplegic detective, and Amelia Sachs, a young patrol officer and later a detective, as they work together to track down a serial killer in New York City.

The Peterson House is located in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, near the site where President Abraham Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address during the American Civil War. It is the house where Lincoln spent the night before delivering his famous speech.

Due to lack of copious amounts of blood it seems unlikely that Laci was beaten to death. But the autopsy comfirmed that just prior to or immediately after the mom-to-be's demise she sustained injuries violent enough to fracture several ribs. The medical examiner felt certain these injuries were not consistant with a body being dropped after death. So, although these injuries were not the cause of death, it most certainly proves she endured some abuse very close to the time of her death.

Kevin Spacey played Jim Williams in the 1997 film Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.

No, JonBenet Ramsey and Dave Ramsey are not related. JonBenet was a child beauty queen who was tragically murdered in 1996, while Dave Ramsey is a financial author and radio show host known for his advice on personal finance.

Within the first few hours after the crime was reported to the Modesto Police there was a feeling of unease at Scott Peterson's behavior and to some of his answers to their questions. After his initial interview with Peterson detective Al Brocchini's feelings of unease were turning to suspicion. Over the next weeks it was becoming clear to the detectives that Peterson was not what he appeared. Uncovering past relationships with women while he was still a newlywed added to Peterson's lies he told at the onset of the search made it all but impossible for the police to believe him.

Jack the Ripper's signature behavior was the brutal mutilation of his victims, particularly targeting their abdomens. He also often removed organs from the bodies and displayed them in a gruesome manner. The killer's precise motivation and identity remain unknown to this day.

No, Gary Heidnik did not have any children. He was a convicted serial killer who kidnapped, tortured, and murdered several women in the 1980s.

The Lindberg's first son's name was Charles Lindberg, Jr.

Steve Thomas wrote a book about the Ramsey murder. Thomas was one of the first detectives that arrived at the Ramsey home the morning her 'kidnapping' was reported by Patsy Ramsey. He remained on the case for 18 months before he resigned his position as a homicide detective.

The book "Helter Skelter" was not banned. It tells the story of the Manson Family murders and trial in the late 1960s. However, some libraries and schools have chosen not to carry it due to its graphic content and the disturbing nature of the crimes it describes.

Not that I have ever heard. Both of Graysmith's Zodiac books were New York Times bestsellers, causing big ripples in law enforcement and the general public. If either of the books were banned anywhere it would have made the news, hence would have been common knowledge.

William Heirens confessed and was convicted for the murder of 6 year old Suzanne Degnan on January 7, 1946. He confessed to 2 more murders but later recanted all 3 confesstions. Better known as the lipstick killer, he left messages written in lipstick begging to be stopped before he could kill again.

Incarcerated at Dixon Correctional Center in Dixon, IL, Heirens had pretty strong arguments concerning his innocence but was never given the new trial he requested. I think he has recently died in prison.

There are literally hundreds, possibly thousands of books that fit that description. Amazon has a large selection of such books online, happy shopping.

The original Peacemaker was a single-action Colt 45, owned by Wild Bill Hickok, serial #139345. Hickok was supposed to have killed 14 men with this gun in the last 2 years of his life. Hickok was murdered by Jack McCall when McCall shot him in the back of the head while Hickok was playing poker on August 2, 1876.

On July 14, 1882 in Fort Sumner NM a young man was killed with this same gun. The dead man was none other than Billy the Kid, aka William Bonney. The Kid was killed by lawman Pat Garrett. After Hickok's death his sister gave his beloved Peacemaker to a family friend, which happened to be Garrett. Talk about a small world.

When Sheriff Garrett retired from law enforcement he gave the gun to a friend and gun collector Fred Suttun of Oklahoma City, OK. Since then it has been passed from one collector to another. Where it is now is anybody's guess.

Marilyn Sheppard was the wife of Dr. Sam Sheppard, a young neurosurgeon in Ohio. In the early hours of July 4,1954, Dr. Sheppard said he heard his wife's screams but was unable to help her because he was knocked unconscious by an intruder. Marilyn was murdered, not by her husband, but by a psychopath -- a man who had a history of violence perpetrated against women -- but Cleveland authorities (particularly Cleveland Press Editor Louie Seltzer and Coroner Sam Gerber) were blind to the obvious evidence that proved Dr. Sam's innocence. The Dr. was arrested and tried for the brutal murder. He was found guilty and imprisoned until, 10 years later, he was retried and acquitted of all charges. But he could never regain his former life and died on April 6, 1970.