General True Crime Shows

[Annber03]

I'm watching this, too. My sister got me into the show (she was more into the fandom side of things than I was, but still, I did watch it), and I did like it, so I'm curious to see what all they have to say here. 

It's creepy seeing some of those interview clips of Mark Saling :/. And sad to see clips of Naya and Cory. 

[SunnyBeBe]

1 hour ago, Annber03 said:

I'm watching this, too. My sister got me into the show (she was more into the fandom side of things than I was, but still, I did watch it), and I did like it, so I'm curious to see what all they have to say here. 

It's creepy seeing some of those interview clips of Mark Saling :/. And sad to see clips of Naya and Cory. 

There’s actually a thread around here for it!  I’m not sure how many are watching.  Here’s the link:  

 

Edited January 17, 2023 by SunnyBeBe

[LuvMyShows]

Wow, a first, I think...don't read if you haven't watched the "Playing With Fire" episode of Oxygen's Accident, Suicide, or Murder yet. I believe this is the first time in the series that it actually did turn out to be an accident.  Seems like always in the cases where people think it could be an accident, it turns out to have been staged to look that way (especially the car accidents where one person miraculously escapes with just minor injuries and the other dies, or someone tragically falls to their death).  This was a fascinating accident, and bravo to the coroner/ME/pathologist(can't remember which it was) who kept thinking about the case and figured it out.  

[Annber03]

I saw that one, too! Such a weird story (but really, when you think about all the stuff they were playing around with, it really shouldn't be a surprise that things ended as they did. There's a reason those "Do not try this at home" warnings exist, people). 

I like the episodes like that on that show, when it isn't so obvious like that, or when it looks that way at first only to turn out very differently. Some very bizarre stories featured on here. 

[SoMuchTV]

Is anyone watching Web of Death on Hulu?  It’s several self-contained episodes about various true crime stories. I tuned in because one of the episodes was about a podcast/case I follow (ep 3 Truth & Justice/Ed Ates) and I thought it was well done, so I’ll probably check out some more episodes. 

[LuvMyShows]

How did I not know there was a season 1 of a show on ID called "Calls from the Inside"?  I saw that season 2 started and then realized I had somehow missed the entire season 1.  It's an interesting show, focusing on calls made from inside prison and their role in convicting someone who has been accused.  Amazing what people will say on calls that always begin with an automated recording saying that the call could be recorded!  Guess they think it won't happen to them, or that their veiled references are so clever that no one will figure out what they're really talking about.

[Vermicious Knid]

Just a reminder the Alex Murdaugh trial starts tomorrow with jury selection. 

[LuvMyShows]

I've been following the Brian Walshe case, where he's accused of killing his wife although her body hasn't been found.  (They live in Boston but she's a regional manager in a DC real estate investment firm.)  He has apparently provided a treasure trove of evidence by doing everything wrong as a killer, contributing to what should be a strong circumstantial case.  What I found interesting was that even though no-body cases are harder to prove, when they do go to trial, they result in convictions more often than an average case.  I'm guessing that's because they need to be certain that they have lots of proof, to overcome the hurdle of not having a body, and so having lots of proof leads to greater conviction rate.

[Razzberry]

"Death By Fame" on Monday nights on ID was pretty good.  I don't remember hearing about Amie Harwick (Drew Carey's former fiance) getting murdered by a crazy ex-boyfriend before.  I've been doing a little research however and she was not a real doctor despite her bringing up her "Phd" in Sex Therapy.  It was from an unaccredited diploma mill in San Francisco that's since been shut down.  I think the alleged killer, Gareth Pursehouse, is due to go on trial next month.

Edited January 24, 2023 by Razzberry
added 'alleged'

[Jaded]

On 1/24/2023 at 11:19 AM, Razzberry said:

"Death By Fame" on Monday nights on ID was pretty good.  I don't remember hearing about Amie Harwick (Drew Carey's former fiance) getting murdered by a crazy ex-boyfriend before.  I've been doing a little research however and she was not a real doctor despite her bringing up her "Phd" in Sex Therapy.  It was from an unaccredited diploma mill in San Francisco that's since been shut down.  I think the alleged killer, Gareth Pursehouse, is due to go on trial next month.

When her murder was still in the news and Wendy Williams was still able to host her show she disgustingly joked about what happened. Instead of typing out a description of what she said I'll post this clip from ET Canada reporting on it. I'm not sure if it may have been mentioned in that ID show or not.
 

 

Edited January 26, 2023 by Jaded
Repeating words

[LuvMyShows]

5 hours ago, Razzberry said:

"Death By Fame" on Monday nights on ID was pretty good.  I don't remember hearing about Amie Harwick (Drew Carey's former fiance) getting murdered by a crazy ex-boyfriend before.  I've been doing a little research however and she was not a real doctor despite her bringing up her "Phd" in Sex Therapy.  It was from an unaccredited diploma mill in San Francisco that's since been shut down.  I think the alleged killer, Gareth Pursehouse, is due to go on trial next month.

That would explain why she didn't seem like someone with a PhD, for whatever that's worth!

There was a talking head on the show named Sara Azari, and it said she was a Criminal Trial Attorney.  She was explaining something about Amie's death and said that the "manner of death" was strangulation.  Uh, honey, that's not manner of death, that's cause of death.  Manner of death would be natural, accident, suicide, homicide, or undetermined.  She also was talking about strangulation death and said it means it was done by someone the victim knew.  Uh, no...it means it was likely someone the victim knew, but it doesn't mean it definitely was.

I looked her up in Google, and it said she provides legal commentary, hosting and expert analysis on a variety of television programs, talk shows and news broadcasts. If this is an example of her "expert" analysis, color me unimpressed!

[Razzberry]

5 hours ago, LuvMyShows said:

That would explain why she didn't seem like someone with a PhD, for whatever that's worth!

There was a talking head on the show named Sara Azari, and it said she was a Criminal Trial Attorney.  She was explaining something about Amie's death and said that the "manner of death" was strangulation.  Uh, honey, that's not manner of death, that's cause of death.  Manner of death would be natural, accident, suicide, homicide, or undetermined.  She also was talking about strangulation death and said it means it was done by someone the victim knew.  Uh, no...it means it was likely someone the victim knew, but it doesn't mean it definitely was.

I looked her up in Google, and it said she provides legal commentary, hosting and expert analysis on a variety of television programs, talk shows and news broadcasts. If this is an example of her "expert" analysis, color me unimpressed!

Sounds like the producers really should verify people's qualifications on this show.  Plus they left a lot out.  

[nokat]

"How To Murder Your Husband. I'm not sure where to put this. It's a Lifetime movie.

[Annber03]

Holy lord. The newest "Evil Lives Here" that's on right now. Just. Holy lord :(. 

[kathyk24]

36 minutes ago, Annber03 said:

Holy lord. The newest "Evil Lives Here" that's on right now. Just. Holy lord :(. 

So many adults failed those kids. Where were their fathers? The schools never called social services when the kids didn't show up?

[Annber03]

14 minutes ago, kathyk24 said:

So many adults failed those kids. Where were their fathers? The schools never called social services when the kids didn't show up?

It sounded like the mom didn't have the greatest relationship with the kids' fathers, so it seems they weren't in the picture much after a time, if at all :(. 

But seriously, the schools and the investigators really dropped the damn ball. I have never understood investigators having these meetings at the home, when the parent is there. Of course everyone's going to be on their best behavior in that moment- their abusive parent is literally hovering over them. They know exactly what will happen the moment those investigators leave if they dare slip up even once. Why didn't someone take the kids somewhere private to talk to them? I get that might be a hard thing to do, 'cause the parent would be even more on alert then, but still... 

And I just don't understand how people can see kids coming to school with banged up faces and practically looking like death and not realize something is off, or not do something, or say something. 

Such an utterly horrifying story. Those poor kids. 

[kathyk24]

55 minutes ago, Annber03 said:

It sounded like the mom didn't have the greatest relationship with the kids' fathers, so it seems they weren't in the picture much after a time, if at all :(. 

But seriously, the schools and the investigators really dropped the damn ball. I have never understood investigators having these meetings at the home, when the parent is there. Of course everyone's going to be on their best behavior in that moment- their abusive parent is literally hovering over them. They know exactly what will happen the moment those investigators leave if they dare slip up even once. Why didn't someone take the kids somewhere private to talk to them? I get that might be a hard thing to do, 'cause the parent would be even more on alert then, but still... 

And I just don't understand how people can see kids coming to school with banged up faces and practically looking like death and not realize something is off, or not do something, or say something. 

Such an utterly horrifying story. Those poor kids. 

I have a degree in social work and we were taught to never interview the abused with the abuser present. I understand why Gabi didn't tell anyone she would have ended up dead herself. 

[One Tough Cookie]

22 hours ago, Annber03 said:

And I just don't understand how people can see kids coming to school with banged up faces and practically looking like death and not realize something is off, or not do something, or say something. 

Such an utterly horrifying story. Those poor kids. 

I had an occasion where one teacher said to me:"Did you see Kenny's face?  He was obviously beaten up".  I said I hadn't seen him yet. She was supposed to call DYFS, but she went to the principal and said I had not called DYFS when I saw him him!  I immediately took out my cell and called from the ladies room--but I GOT IN TROUBLE b/c the other bitch didn't want to get involved.

Edited January 31, 2023 by One Tough Cookie

[Razzberry]

Johnny Lewis on "Death by Fame" tonight.  I barely remembered him being on Sons of Anarchy.  Sounds like he developed some severe mental illness, but his family being Scientologists would not have gotten him the help he needed.  They knew he had violent episodes but instead got him an apartment in the Writer's Villa.   

[Annber03]

Oh, I didn't know his family were Scientologists. Dang. 

I thought this case sounded vaguely familiar, and then when they mentioned him being on "Criminal Minds", that's when it clicked, 'cause I did remember hearing about someone who played a serial killer in an episode actually winding up going on to commit a murder. 

I didn't know all the specifics of the case, though, so a lot of this was totally new to me. Such a weird, creepy, sad story. I agree that he was clearly struggling with some deeper mental issues, and it's sad for all involved that he never got the help he desperately needed before it was too late. 

[Razzberry]

They just mentioned Scientology once and briefly, but to me that's a crucial factor in this whole thing since they don't believe in medication or therapists.  

[Razzberry]

Now that I think of it,  after his arrest for assault Johnny's lawyer got him a sweet deal to serve the time in a mental health facility getting treatment.  Johnny turned that down and said he'd rather serve the time in jail.  Who would do that?  A Scientologist, but this aspect is never brought up again because I guess it didn't fit into their narrative of how fame drives people crazy?

[Jaded]

On 1/31/2023 at 4:30 PM, Razzberry said:

Now that I think of it,  after his arrest for assault Johnny's lawyer got him a sweet deal to serve the time in a mental health facility getting treatment.  Johnny turned that down and said he'd rather serve the time in jail.  Who would do that?  A Scientologist, but this aspect is never brought up again because I guess it didn't fit into their narrative of how fame drives people crazy?

Maybe the people who were doing the show only mentioned the cult in passing instead focusing on it more was because they didn't want to risk the ire of Scientology? Apparently his family has been outspoken about a history of untreated head trauma which they think lead to his mental health issues.

[LuvMyShows]

The identity-stealing motive is real!  We've seen a few cases of it -- Ari Squire, who went to Home Depot to scout for people who looked like him, so he could supposedly hire them to do construction, then kill them and plant his ID on them so it would look like he had died, and he could cash in on his $5M insurance; and Lois Reiss whose gambling got out of control and she killed her husband in Minnesota then went to Florida in search of a woman who looked like her and ended up killing Pamela Hutchinson. 

Well a woman in Germany just did the same thing. Sharaban searched for people on Instagram who looked like her, and finally found someone willing to meet with her, supposedly for some sort of cosmetics offer.  Then Sharaban killed the woman, so that it would look like Sharaban was dead and she could then 'disappear' to avoid a family dispute.

These crazy motives that would seem to be tabloid-invented do sometimes prove to be true, just like we have seen murders where a pregnant woman was befriended and then killed, or answered an ad for baby clothes and then was killed, so that some crazy woman could cut her open and take the baby to raise as her own

[Annber03]

...okay, this new "Evil Lives Here" that's on now...it's going to be a  LOT to get through this hour and listen to this dad going on about "demons influencing his son" and whatnot. It's been just over ten minutes and I've already rolled my eyes far too many times. 

[LuvMyShows]

I watched the Accused Guilty or Innocent episode called "Murder Mastermind or Innocent Witness".  That case should never have been brought to court.  After all those years, the only thing they had was the word of a clearly drugged-out witness, who had been basically compensated for her testimony.  I liked how the defense attorney nailed her that if she said it was such a life-changing event, then how could she recall so few details about the phone call in which the suspect supposedly confessed.  And OMG that detective was slimy, and I loved how the judge was not having any of his attempt to talk about "themes" rather than what the suspect actually said in that mysteriously not taped and no-notes-taken pre-interview.

 

[kathyk24]

3 hours ago, Annber03 said:

...okay, this new "Evil Lives Here" that's on now...it's going to be a  LOT to get through this hour and listen to this dad going on about "demons influencing his son" and whatnot. It's been just over ten minutes and I've already rolled my eyes far too many times. 

If Tyler had been a minority he would have been sent to juvenile hall when he was younger. I wanted to tell the dad that there are many nice people who listen to heavy metal and don't attend church. 

[Annber03]

22 minutes ago, kathyk24 said:

If Tyler had been a minority he would have been sent to juvenile hall when he was younger. I wanted to tell the dad that there are many nice people who listen to heavy metal and don't attend church. 

Seriously, the way the dad kept harping on about how if one didn't have God in their life, they were in trouble...there are PLENTY of non-religious people who don't commit crimes like that, who aren't violent, who live perfectly normal, simple, uneventful lives. I'm one of them. We need to show him a few more true crime shows, 'cause I get the feeling he'd be amazed at how many of the killers on them were described as "God-fearing, church going folks". 

And then he started talking about his own porn addiction when he was younger (and he buried that stuff in the backyard in the hopes his son wouldn't come across it, and I was like, "...you DO know the internet exists, right? Or that your son can find porn at someone else's home, or something?"), and how he wrote the same kinds of dark poems that his son wrote...you could perhaps see where his son might've learned some of his behavior. Mind, I agree that writing dark poetry on its own isn't automatic cause for alarm, plenty of people do that and don't go on to murder anyone.

But in this case, that in connection with the threats towards his family and the physical violence towards others and the fact that he deliberately killed two fish as a child...like...dude, the guy was giving off MASSIVE warning signs for years, this really shouldn't have come as a shock to you. 

But it's no wonder his son wound up as he did, 'cause it seemed like his dad was WAY too passive and unable to hold him accountable for anything he ever did. His description of his reaction to the dead fish seemed a little underwhelming, he said that he was "distressed" by it or something like that, and just let it go at that instead of being deeply disturbed that his son literally fried a fish to death. When his son had that weird incident with the foamy stuff around his mouth, instead of seeing it as the actions of a bratty kid, he was like, "Oh, demons have taken over my son." Any questionable behavior Tyler exhibited was either blamed on demons or shrugged off as him just being "an independent, strong-willed kid", or however it was he described him, and was never seen as a sign that hey, there's something really, deeply, potentially mentally wrong here. 

Even after he committed his crimes, the dad was still like, "He shouldn't have done it, but..." There was always a "but...", always some kind of excuse or defense to explain away his son's behavior, or him chalking it all up to his lack of belief in God. You're blaming the wrong thing here, guy, your son's lack of religious belief was NOT the problem. I guarantee that. 

Just. Yeah. It was a very frustrating episode. 

Edited February 6, 2023 by Annber03

[Razzberry]

That Dad was getting on my nerves too.  A lot of people on "Evil Lives Here" do, because they have to fill an hour recounting horrible behavior and why they didn't do anything about it sooner.  It's NOT Satan whispering in their ear, and it's not the police's job to raise your kids!

They do have the best theme music though. :)

 

Edited February 6, 2023 by Razzberry

[geekgirl921]

12 hours ago, Razzberry said:

That Dad was getting on my nerves too.  A lot of people on "Evil Lives Here" do, because they have to fill an hour recounting horrible behavior and why they didn't do anything about it sooner.  It's NOT Satan whispering in their ear, and it's not the police's job to raise your kids!

They do have the best theme music though. :)

 

I do think we judge some of these parents too harshly. Granted, there are ones who don't do nearly enough or buy the kid guns or something but for a lot of them, there just aren't any resources to help. They desperately try to find help for the troubled kid and there just isn't any. 

This man was annoying though! Sorry, but "the devil made him do it" just doesn't cut it! And the fact that we were blaming the wife and the ridiculous notion that the cheated on spouse should be able to kill the lover!!

[Annber03]

3 hours ago, geekgirl921 said:

I do think we judge some of these parents too harshly. Granted, there are ones who don't do nearly enough or buy the kid guns or something but for a lot of them, there just aren't any resources to help. They desperately try to find help for the troubled kid and there just isn't any. 

This man was annoying though! Sorry, but "the devil made him do it" just doesn't cut it! And the fact that we were blaming the wife and the ridiculous notion that the cheated on spouse should be able to kill the lover!!

Yeah, I can very much sympathize with the struggle to get the proper help - even when he did start reaching out to outside sources for help, they could only keep his son for so long or could only do so much, so I can understand his frustration on that level

Just that, yeah, the constant blaming his behavior on "demons" got to be too much, and even with his attempts to reach out it still felt like he always had to try and make some excuse for his son. I get not wanting to accept that your son could do something so awful, I can understand how that'd be a lot to process and come to terms with and all that. But the constant excuses aren't helping. 

I was also struck by one point where he mentioned that his daughter had brought her boyfriend over...and said boyfriend had hit her in the past, which was what caused Tyler to go after him and beat him up. Meanwhile, the dad's just snoring away in his room. Did he know that his daughter was bringing her boyfriend over before he went to take his nap, or did he discover he was there once he'd heard the fight? 'Cause the way he described the situation, he made it sound more like it was the former, which, if that's the case...not many dads I could think of who'd just let any guy who hurt their daughter back into the house. 

[kathyk24]

Death to Fame was so sad last night. I remember how shocked and sad the Voice coaches were when Christina Grimme was killed. I don't think you can blame Youtube celebrities have had stalkers before the internet was created.

[Annber03]

Yeah, that one actually made me cry. I haven't seen "The Voice", so sadly, the first I'd heard of Christina was when she was murdered. It was nice to get to learn a little more about her life - so much promise and potential gone far, far too soon. 

My heart breaks for her brother and father. Losing not just Christina, but their mom/wife, too. Her brother's story about what he witnessed the night she was killed was just...I can't even begin to imagine. I'm glad he was able to stop the shooter before he hurt or killed any other innocent people. 

And If I recall rightly, the weekend she was killed was the same one where the Pulse nightclub shooting happened. Rough weekend in Orlando, for sure. 

[Razzberry]

Finally found out whose "head was in a pot on the stove" on Floribama Murders this weekend.  *spoilers ahead,  no pun intended.

 

Okay, this limo driver who lived with one woman but had a joint checking account with a hoarder woman across the street was a head scratcher.  She killed him and cut him up to keep getting his social security checks that were direct-deposited into their joint account?  I feel like there's more to this story but I may have missed it.

[Vermicious Knid]

I thought that episode would have been much better suited to a 30 minute format. We knew who killed him by the half hour mark, the rest of it was her recounting in detail how she killed him, cut him up, and disposed of the body parts. Intercut with the horrified reactions of the interviewers. That's the first time I thought the show was really dragging things out. Otherwise, FM seems to be on par with the other Murder series. I hope they do another season of New York Murders. 

Quote

We need to show him a few more true crime shows, 'cause I get the feeling he'd be amazed at how many of the killers on them were described as "God-fearing, church going folks". 

John List. 

[SunnyBeBe]

Can someone help me identify a case and show?  It was on ID Discovery last night, but I fell asleep before it ended. Lol. The murder victim was shot while in his truck by a high powered rifle.  Police suspected a murder for hire professional killer.  The victim was involved in small motor car races.  He was well liked in the community. For some reason police were looking into hit men from the gambling world.  The victims wife was interviewed from the side.  I’d like to see how it unfolded.  

[Razzberry]

1 hour ago, SunnyBeBe said:

Can someone help me identify a case and show?  It was on ID Discovery last night, but I fell asleep before it ended. Lol. The murder victim was shot while in his truck by a high powered rifle.  Police suspected a murder for hire professional killer.  The victim was involved in small motor car races.  He was well liked in the community. For some reason police were looking into hit men from the gambling world.  The victims wife was interviewed from the side.  I’d like to see how it unfolded.  

I think that was on "Murder in the Wicked West' , but I looked on ID's website and don't see it.  The guy who was killed was Rex Harper in Oklahoma?  I don't remember how it ended and just saw it last night lol.  Must have fallen asleep too. 

Edited February 10, 2023 by Razzberry

[CrazyInAlabama]

Here's an analysis of the Rex Harper case.   

https://www.vizaca.com/rex-harper-murder/

[SunnyBeBe]

That’s it. Thanks.

[SunnyBeBe]

Ref. Under Friday Nights on ID Discovery about college student Jodi.  I’m wondering why young women would realize they are being followed by a strange car at night (multiple times), yet not report it to any parent or police.   

[Razzberry]

There's something odd about this picture from the Rex Harper article  😃  What the hell?  Is he wearing blonde hair extensions?

 

[Tdoc72]

On 2/6/2023 at 2:58 AM, Razzberry said:

 

They do have the best theme music though. :)

 

I knock along with it every week!  

[Vermicious Knid]

Coming to ID, new three part series Jared From Subway: Catching a Monster, on March 6.

Quote

 

Fogle was ultimately exposed as a pedophile thanks to the work of one journalist and mother. That’s the story ID’s new docuseries will be telling. Rochelle Herman-Walrond alerted the Sarasota Police Department shortly after she met Fogle at a school health event, stating that the Subway spokesperson had made lewd comments to her middle school-aged girls. For the next four years, she befriended Fogle, taking care to record the disturbing comments he made and save his texts...

Legal descriptions of Fogle’s crimes don’t portray how horrifying his texts were. An appeal to reduce his sentence was denied due to a message from Fogle stating he would “pay you big for a 14 or 15-year-old.” He also once wrote “underage girls are what I crave” while also expressing interest in underage boys. This is a true crime case that only gets darker the more you learn about it.

 

[SunnyBeBe]

I’ve just started on this. 
 

It consist of several episodes.  And, it covers more cases than Morgan’s.  

[kathyk24]

A new season of Cold Justice starts next Saturday.

[Vermicious Knid]

Discovered that SiriusXM has an HLN channel, which is just audio of whatever is being broadcast that moment. So I was tooling around town listening to Forensic Files. I couldn't remember the outcome of the last episode on before I left the car but I managed to get home before it was over to watch the end. 

[SunnyBeBe]

9 hours ago, kathyk24 said:

A new season of Cold Justice starts next Saturday.

Good to know!  I’ve been waiting for this.  

[SunnyBeBe]

I can recommend the series Secrets Of The Morgue, Season 1, episode 24,  Severed Ties.  It’s a heartbreaking case, but interested me, since the murder occurred in my city of Raleigh, NC.  I actually watched the trial and I know quite a few of the attorneys, DA, police, etc. and know all the landmarks they show.  This case is pretty bizarre and I think it was also featured on See No Evil.  It’s sort of like two cases in one.  I’m watching it on Hulu.  

[Razzberry]

I really like Cold Justice.  One of the few shows that actually solves cold cases.

[One Tough Cookie]

Is anyone watching  the Murdagh trial?  I've been watching it on and off and am just clean amazed at his selective memory and agility in lying. However, my SIL is down in the are and she's pretty sure he's gonna walk -apparently he is still influential down there.  Between the murders and the massive financial misconduct he is going away for life, no matter what.