In the lawless wilds of 1870s frontier Kansas, a gruesome tale unfolded that would earn one family infamy as America’s first serial killing clan. The so-called Bloody Benders—a quartet posing as a kind, welcoming family—used their rural inn in Labette County as a house of death. From 1870 to 1873, travelers entered their cabin seeking … Read more
In 2003, Detective Steven Mack of the Huntington Beach Police Department reopened a murder retrial that would ultimately unmask one of America’s most prolific serial killers. The subject of that trial, Rodney Alcala, had already faced conviction for the 1979 murder of 12-year-old Robin Samsoe—twice. Both convictions were overturned due to procedural errors. This time, … Read more
In the remote Colorado desert stands ADX Florence, the most secure federal prison in the United States. Built to cage America’s most dangerous criminals, this “supermax” fortress operates on isolation, silence, and total control. However, the origin of ADX Florence didn’t begin with strategy—it began with violence. Two brazen murders inside another federal prison shattered … Read more
The quiet town of Kingston, New York, found itself at the center of a scandalous murder case—one involving a respected dentist, a fatal sedative, and a secret affair. When Linda Kolman discovered her husband, Tom, dead in his parked car in November 2011, she had no idea the trail of suspicion would eventually lead to … Read more
From luxury real estate and coastal mansions to prison walls and murder charges, Peter Chadwick’s descent shocked America. The multimillionaire real estate investor and father of three murdered his wife, Quee Choo “Q.C.” Chadwick, then lied, ran, and tried to vanish completely. But justice caught up with him—even if it took nearly a decade. Let’s … Read more
Joel Rifkin wasn’t born a monster—but many wonder if his lonely, tormented childhood helped create one. Between 1989 and 1993, he murdered at least 17 women, dismembered several of them, and scattered their remains across New York and New Jersey. His brutal crimes shocked the country, but for some investigators, the warning signs had been … Read more
Samuel Little quietly confessed to being the deadliest serial killer in U.S. history—but the truth behind his reign of terror is anything but quiet. Between 1970 and 2005, he murdered at least 93 women, targeting the most marginalized in society—Black women, drug users, sex workers. Although law enforcement eventually caught him, it wasn’t until the … Read more
Serial killers have long fascinated the public, thanks in part to the sensationalism of true crime media, films, and TV shows. Unfortunately, much of what we think we know about serial killers is based on myths—not facts. These misconceptions can distort our understanding, misguide investigations, and even let killers slip through the cracks. In this … Read more
In 2017, the lives of two teenage girls and an entire community changed forever. The small town of Delphi, Indiana—home to just under 3,000 people—was thrust into the national spotlight when best friends Liberty “Libby” German and Abigail “Abby” Williams vanished during a hike on a local trail. What followed was a chilling saga filled … Read more
When police responded to a 911 call on a summer morning in 2021, they expected to find a home invasion in progress. Instead, they uncovered a crime so chilling it stunned the Cedar Rapids community—and the nation. The seemingly all-American University of Iowa student, Alexander Jackson, had murdered his parents and younger sister in cold … Read more