General True Crime Shows

[BigBlueMastiff]

I probably already mentioned this but happened to turn on the show where the spoiled brat adopted boy somewhere in WA kills his parents, and kidnaps his ex girlfriend. She miraculously survives this psycho, by convincing him that they can still be together (go girl). This brat was given every advantage by wonderful parents, but squandered them all, wallowed in self-pity, blamed his problems and failings on everyone but himself. I have never wanted to see someone dies, as much as this waste of airspace. Felt so awful for those wonderful parents, and the son they left behind, uggghhh.

[applecrisp]

I probably already mentioned this but happened to turn on the show where the spoiled brat adopted boy somewhere in WA kills his parents, and kidnaps his ex girlfriend. She miraculously survives this psycho, by convincing him that they can still be together (go girl). This brat was given every advantage by wonderful parents, but squandered them all, wallowed in self-pity, blamed his problems and failings on everyone but himself. I have never wanted to see someone dies, as much as this waste of airspace. Felt so awful for those wonderful parents, and the son they left behind, uggghhh.

What was the name of the show?  Sounds interesting.  

[BigBlueMastiff]

 

What was the name of the show?

Show: Your Worst Nightmare

Episode: The Bad Son

Edited June 5, 2015 by BigBlueMastiff

[editorgrrl]

Show: Your Worst Nightmare

Episode: The Bad Son

 

20-year-old Matthew Heikkila wrote "Mom" and "Dad" on the shotgun shells. He used his mother's car and father's credit cards to take his girlfriend to dinner at Windows on the World, the restaurant at the top of the World Trade Center. (This was January, 29, 1991.) The next day, he fled to Jamaica. (The country, not Queens.) His defense argued he suffered from "adopted child syndrome."

 

His younger brother (the high school valedictorian who went to Dartmouth) later became a minister and did missionary work in West Africa.

 

Sadly, the parents had earlier refused to have Matthew committed after he fired numerous shots into the father's car. If only they had gotten him the help he needed. (And the father was a professor of neurology.)

[BigBlueMastiff]

 

20-year-old Matthew Heikkila wrote "Mom" and "Dad" on the shotgun shells. He used his mother's car and father's credit cards to take his girlfriend to dinner at Windows on the World, the restaurant at the top of the World Trade Center. (This was January, 29, 1991.) The next day, he fled to Jamaica. (The country, not Queens.) His defense argued he suffered from "adopted child syndrome."

 

His younger brother (the high school valedictorian who went to Dartmouth) later became a minister and did missionary work in West Africa.

 

Sadly, the parents had earlier refused to have Matthew committed after he fired numerous shots into the father's car. If only they had gotten him the help he needed. (And the father was a professor of neurology.)

This makes me so sad, if only they hadn't indulged Matthew when the signs of mental disturbance were so clearly there. Not blaming, the parents, just feel bad for them that he had the audacity to claim "adopted child syndrome" as a a defense (which I don't buy as a legit defense, way too subjective and arbitrary). Is he still alive, hopefully justice was doled out to him in prison?

[CajunGirl]

Is anyone watching ID's Serial Thriller; Angel of Decay? I've only seen Part 1 so far, but zzzzzzzzzzz....... Maybe parts 2 & 3 will be better. No matter how many times its been attempted, there has never been a more chilling depiction of Bundy and his crimes than Mark Harmon's in The Deliberate Stranger. JMO

[tobeannounced]

I started to watch it for my "falling asleep show," but realized it wouldn't work for that because it's an actual movie.  I thought it was going to be a documentary-type format.  I recorded it.  Not sure if I'll get around to watching it.

[miles2go]

I'm watching it, although I don't think it's particularly good. Material about Bundy always seems to grab my interest, even if it's mediocre stuff.  I'm a long time resident of the Seattle area and also spent some time at Central Washington University shortly after he abducted a woman from off campus.  So I remember the times and the fear the murders generated. 

 

I don't recall the press as dubbing him "Angel of Decay"; if they did, the name didn't stick.  

 

Anyway, I guess I'll watch the two remaining chapters.

[editorgrrl]

Is anyone watching ID's Serial Thriller; Angel of Decay? I've only seen Part 1 so far, but zzzzzzzzzzz....... Maybe parts 2 & 3 will be better. No matter how many times its been attempted, there has never been a more chilling depiction of Bundy and his crimes than Mark Harmon's in The Deliberate Stranger. JMO

I had no idea it's about Ted Bundy. Saw a commercial for an original three-part drama (airing on three consecutive nights) called Serial Thriller and set a program. It looks like these three episodes are called "Angel of Decay," so maybe they're planning to do more stories in the future?

The description just says "Investigators track a killer who is terrorizing a local community in this mini-series."

ETA The reviews are pretty bad, with headlines like "Investigation Discovery’s First Scripted Series May Be Its Last": http://collider.com/serial-thriller-tv-review/

Serial Thriller borders on self-parody. In fact, as a parody, it would have been pretty terrific. The production value is astoundingly low-budget, the camerawork and sound editing are head-scratching at best, and the dialogue is shockingly bad. At one point, a detective turns to another and says, without irony: “what the hell is he doing with all of those [missing] girls? He’s not starting a cheerleading squad … he’s killing them!”

Edited June 9, 2015 by editorgrrl

[walnutqueen]

As I suspected, that Serial Killer: Angel of Decay might as well be called Serial Killer: Crap on Toast.

 

Yet another ID offering I'll be shitting upon, no doubt.

[Maizie131]

I just finished watching the first of the "series."  It was pretty awful.  I kept wondering until the very end who was going to play Ted Bundy, and I actually went online to find out, thinking maybe we wouldn't see him until tonight.  Turns out it's a British actor - Ryan Gage - who doesn't even remotely resemble Bundy.  Not sure if I'll watch the remaining 2.  The above article posted by editorgrrl is right-on-the-money, in my opinion.  "The Deliberate Stranger" was, indeed, the best portrayal of that sick whacko. 

[editorgrrl]

The lead investigator's British, too—Elliot Cowan (Mr. Darcy from "Lost in Austen"). I never would've recognized him between the accent and the fact that he's styled like a 1974 David Hyde Pierce.

[Maizie131]

The lead investigator's British, too—Elliot Cowan (Mr. Darcy from "Lost in Austen"). I never would've recognized him between the accent and the fact that he's styled like a 1974 David Hyde Pierce.

No kiddin'!  I watched your clip - you're right.  I think I'm going to watch the next one, but doubt I'll be awake by the end of it.  Hope ID doesn't think this "format" is a good idea & they're reading the reviews!  The channel's been going downhilll for quite a while, but when they bring on shows like "A Crime To Remember" - I'm there in a heartbeat!  Thanks for posting that clip.

[FormerMod-a1]

They are discussion Serial Thriller here (the site did a story on it).

[walnutqueen]

Yet another really bad idea from the ID Channel.  You suck rocks, ID!!!  Buy a clue, fer fuck's sake, why dontcha.

Edited June 9, 2015 by walnutqueen

[Maizie131]

I think the whole show was taped in England - my first clue was the telephones.  WTF?!?  Never saw those here!  Arghhhh!  All the "countdowns" & everything ID's been doing as a lead-in.  Such bullshit for SUCH a bullshit show!  I'm pissed! 

[miles2go]

Just saw the second installment and it's no better than the first.  There's a couple of things bugging me:  First off, the guy playing Bundy doesn't look or act like him. This isn't trivial because one of the reasons Bundy was so successful at getting to his victims was his clean-cut upper -crust good looks and charm.  He looked like the sort of guy a woman would want to bring home to meet her folks.  No disparagement meant to the actor, but he looks pretty scruffy from the get-go.

 

Secondly, there's the terrible dialogue.  It makes me want to stick cotton in my ears so I don't have to hear it.

 

I will say that the acting is generally okay.  The cast seem to be doing their best with weak material.

[jacofa]

I didn't watch Serial Thriller on Sunday, and today chose to watch Devious Maids and Fatal Attraction on TV1 instead.

Seeing the reviews on it looks like I made the right decision.

[slensam]

Ha, ha, Queen of Walnuts, you amuse me!

 

I agree with others, Angel of Decomposition, or whatever, is lousy. I changed the channel because "ain't nobody got time for that!" My preference is a documentary-style program. Just the facts, ma'am, no soft-core porn or shitty acting required.  

Not going to watch this stuff either. The thing, to me, that trips up many of their shows is the awful re-enactments. Some of their programs go so heavy into it these days that you forget it's nonfiction. I prefer the "boring" stuff.

[editorgrrl]

Not going to watch this stuff either. The thing, to me, that trips up many of their shows is the awful re-enactments. Some of their programs go so heavy into it these days that you forget it's nonfiction. I prefer the "boring" stuff.

Did you just call no-nonsense Lt. Joe Kenda "boring"?! My, my, my!

[editorgrrl]

They are discussion Serial Thriller here (the site did a story on it).

From the story:

ID has respectfully requested that press not reveal the identity of the notorious subject until after the second installment of the three-part miniseries, so I will observe the letter of that law.

[screenshot of the yellow VW Bug]

I will also observe that even a newborn Mennonite will have said identity knocked in about 13 minutes, despite the production's best efforts to dissemble, starting with the casting, but I'll get to all that in a sec.

And this:

ID programming generally is the Domino's of TV true-crime fare: you're not proud of consuming it, but you know what it is and what to expect, and grading on that trash curve means you aren't disappointed.

Usually.

Edited June 9, 2015 by editorgrrl

[junemeatcleaver]

The acting on the Ted Bundy show is awful.  If they didn't want to spare the expense of hiring competent actors, why bother?

[tobeannounced]

So was Angel of Decay originally made for the UK?  Because that's the only way I can see anyone not getting that this is about Ted Bundy right off the bat.

Edited June 9, 2015 by tobeannounced

[editorgrrl]

So was Angel of Decay originally made for the UK?  Because that's the only way I can see anyone not getting that this is about Ted Bundy right off the bat.

 

As the PTV review notes, it doesn't even have an IMDB page. Serial Thriller: Angel of Decay was produced for Investigation Discovery by October Films. The press release says they're "one of the UK's most prestigious television producers, with a burgeoning presence in the US." It also says Serial Thriller will be "packaged into a feature-length film and distributed as a theatrical release to the global market." And that it was written and directed by Jamie Crawford.

 

Interestingly, neither http://www.octoberfilms.co.uk nor http://jamiecrawfordmedia.com has any mention of Serial Thriller whatsoever.

[tobeannounced]

Hmm, very interesting.  Thanks for the sleuthing, editorgrrl.

[Maizie131]

....It also says Serial Thriller will be "packaged into a feature-length film and distributed as a theatrical release to the global market." And that it was written and directed by Jamie Crawford.

 

Interestingly, neither http://www.octoberfilms.co.uk nor http://jamiecrawfordmedia.com has any mention of Serial Thriller whatsoever.

Ya gotta be kidding me - a feature length film?!?  Meaning people would actually fork over $$ to see this POS film?  That's really hard to believe.  I've already deleted this night's "installment" from my DVR. 

[editorgrrl]

At the end of episode 3, there was a teaser for Serial Thriller: The Chameleon, coming in December and based in a true story.

[miles2go]

Not sure I'm ready for another Serial Snoozer -- this one was bad enough.

[Tunia]

Thank you all for saving three hours of my life!  I started watching the first segment, got bored early, came here to see your opinions and decide if it was worth plugging through, and quickly bailed.

[Shriekingeel]

And why cast such an odd looking guy as Bundy? A large part of Bundy's success as a SK was his good looks, and the actor who plays him shouldn't be a dead ringer for Steve Buscemi.

Edited June 10, 2015 by Shriekingeel

[walnutqueen]

In case you miss it on the Disappeared thread :

 

 

 

San Diego local News10 is reporting that the evidence found buried with the bodies of the McStay family was a sledgehammer :

 

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. - A defense attorney says he expects prosecutors to argue that a Southern California man used a sledgehammer to kill a family of four whose bodies were found years later in desert graves.

Charles Merritt has a preliminary hearing next week in San Bernardino.
 
His lawyer, Jimmy Mettias, tells the Daily Press of Victorville that prosecutors will probably contend Merritt used a 3-pound sledgehammer to kill his business partner Joseph McStay, the man's wife and their two young sons in their San Diego County home.
 
The family went missing in 2010 and their bodies were found three years later.
 
Mettias tells KCBS-TV the prosecution alleges Merritt wrote checks to himself on the business account and McStay found out. He says no physical evidence ties Merritt to the home.
 
The San Bernardino County district attorney's office declined to comment.

[applecrisp]

There has been nothing good on ID.  They just played the Serial Killer series a lot.  I have no interest in it.  The famous serial killers have always spooked me.

 

I was 
forced to watch Blood Relatives and it is so boring.  Bring on a couple of good shows please.  

 

I have been binging Damages and there were only 5 seasons.

[BigBlueMastiff]

 

There has been nothing good on ID.

So true, I caught the Women In Prison show last night, which A&E's crime network does much better (blanking on the name of their show). I could muster no sympathy for the idiot who got caught picking up fraudulently obtained prescriptions, and when they showed her with her prison girlfriend, ewww, because homegirl was married with no indications of not being completely hetero. The other woman, who allowed her boyfriend to kill her mom, ugghhh. They kept harping on the fact that her preacher father was her only visitor, so? You allowed someone to kill your mom, and not surprisingly no one wants to see you again. At least she took some ownership of her actions, and plead guilty, sentenced to 100 years!

[auntjess]

I started to watch that Women in Prison, but only stayed a few minutes, then went and looked up Prisoner: Cellblock H.
Looks like a remake of it was done at some point, but don't know if it was a success, or made it to US.

[AltLivia]

 

an Diego local News10 is reporting that the evidence found buried with the bodies of the McStay family was a sledgehammer :

Oh gosh. Is it just my imagination, or was the Merritt fellow accused featured in the Disappeared episode? Doing this all from memory, but I think Husband McStay built....fountains, or did something to do with construction. It didn't seem like a multi-million dollar business. I can't imagine what would drive someone to murder a whole family. I get chills even thinking back to it because of all the bizarre, "Maybe they just walked into Mexico!" theories.

 

Reminds me of a similar episode, where a family was scouting land and then suddenly disappeared, leaving only a photo of their daughter behind. They were found, years later, buried a few miles from their car. The mother had written the father a scathing letter about how unhappy she was in the marriage, but there's no way to know how they died. Seriously creeps me out/saddens me. I love Disappeared. I wish it was still around.

Did you just call no-nonsense Lt. Joe Kenda "boring"?! My, my, my!

I loathe all the discount-bin ID "acting" but I just love Kenda. He's the best. Plus, the guy who plays young Kenda is sort of handsome.

 

To keep things relevant, I watched the first installment of Angel of Decay. I wasn't alive when Bundy was committing all these crimes and it was always something I'd just heard referenced. You know, guy so good-looking no one would think he was a murderer. The guy they cast is a total clown - not at all good looking. Doesn't really resemble Bundy. I'll definitely watch the special about him that airs in the next few days. My serial-killer obsessed best friend used to tell me that I looked like someone Ted Bundy would murder. Shudders,

Edited June 13, 2015 by AltLivia

[editorgrrl]

I watched the first installment of Angel of Decay. I wasn't alive when Bundy was committing all these crimes and it was always something I'd just heard referenced. You know, guy so good-looking no one would think he was a murderer. The guy they cast is a total clown—not at all good looking. Doesn't really resemble Bundy. I'll definitely watch the special about him that airs in the next few days.

Thanks for the heads-up. I hadn't heard about The Hunt for Ted Bundy, an original documentary airing Sunday from 9–10 p.m.

[walnutqueen]

AltLivia - you are correct, McStay was a contractor who built fountains.  I shudder to think how his partner made the leap from allegedly embezzling from their company to slaughtering 4 people (the kids!!!!) with a sledgehammer.  That will be a fascinating trial.

 

Thanks for the heads up, everyone - I can erase "Women in Prison" from my DVR, and just set it to record the Ted Bundy documentary.

[tobeannounced]

AltLivia, I remember that Disappeared episode about the family scouting for land.  It was very haunting.  I had no idea they found the bodies.  Does anyone remember the name of the family?

[badhaggis]

Bobby Dale, Sherilynn Leighann, and Madyson Jamison. It sounds like they still aren't sure what happened. The articles are vague...

[auntjess]

An article on ID's "murder porn," posted to Facebook by Carl Marino, who plays Joe Kenda.http://www.kansascity.com/entertainment/tv/article23772355.html
 

[editorgrrl]

An article on ID's "murder porn," posted to Facebook by Carl Marino, who plays Joe Kenda.http://www.kansascity.com/entertainment/tv/article23772355.html

Of course Carl Marino liked it:

It doesn’t hurt that Kenda is portrayed in re-enactments by actor Carl Marino, who makes Don Draper look like a clumsy slob as he smokes his way through crime scenes in a dapper black suit. Marino conveys Kenda’s dour skepticism as suspects are eliminated, but usually real-life Kenda wraps up cases with deadpan lines straight out of “Dragnet.”

“A crazy boyfriend, you say?” he muses. “I love crazy boyfriends.”

Carl Marino is pretty, but he cannot act. Bless his heart.

[Maizie131]

Did anyone watch the Ted Bundy program that was on last night?  I wasn't home & forgot to DVR it -- did I miss anything? 

[miles2go]

You really didn't miss much.  There were some interviews with Robert Keppel and Kathleen McChesney, also some news footage.  It would have been okay, except they supplemented the good stuff with film clips from Cereal Filler.  Like we needed more of that snoozer.

[Maizie131]

You really didn't miss much.  There were some interviews with Robert Keppel and Kathleen McChesney, also some news footage.  It would have been okay, except they supplemented the good stuff with film clips from Cereal Filler.  Like we needed more of that snoozer.

Thanks, Miles.  Now I'm not upset I missed it.

[Rina99]

How did I not know that Linda Hamilton was the narrator for Over My Dead Body?  Seems pretty similar to I Survived, except all the survivors seem to fight back in some way by crippling and/or killing their attackers.

 

On another note, ID is airing a special on the escaped convicts from New York.

Edited June 17, 2015 by Rina99

[auntjess]

Did anyone else see the Southern Fried Homicide, where the woman was killed in her trailer, right after a hurricane?
This happened in 2004. 
When they arrested the suspect, they thought it wasn't his first offense, then found he was using the same of an Oklahoma prisoner.
By speaking with an ex-girlfriend, they found another link.
WHY didn't they just put his prints into AFIS, and learn this immediately?

[roamyn]

I've had no ID for over a month (moved to another state; lived with family until we found our own place), but teading this forum, I guess I didn't miss much.

[applecrisp]

Roamyn, you missed nothing.  I am going to look for the episode you talked about Raven, Thanks.

 

I feel as if there is nothing on TV in general right now,

Edited June 19, 2015 by applecrisp

[walnutqueen]

I happened to be looking in the "New Show Forums Just Added" thread and saw that Cry Wolfe has it's own forum.  There are no posts other than the initial one from the Mod.  heh

[walnutqueen]

I'll scurry right over there...

 

Hah!  I was going to leave a comment on how unpopular the show is, but couldn't be bothered; just like I can't be bothered to watch that piece of shit.  :-)