General True Crime Shows

[Mannahatta]

I recently read "The Sociopath Next Door" by Martha Stout. It's a fascinating read. Watching Erin Caffey on Killer Women with Piers Morgan reminded me of a study mentioned in the book. Apparently when a sociopath is asked a question regarding feelings their brain has to work hard - the way a normal person might if asked a difficult math question. Because while they may be good at acting as if they have appropriate feelings it's all just an act. That's how Erin Caffey presented herself. She had all the canned answers but when pressed it was obvious that she had no idea what love, guilt, or remorse really are. Good Lord - the first thing she wants to do when she gets out "is to go pay my respects to the graveyard". Scary that she's getting out at all.

[Maizie131]

1 hour ago, Mannahatta said:

I recently read "The Sociopath Next Door" by Martha Stout. It's a fascinating read. Watching Erin Caffey on Killer Women with Piers Morgan reminded me of a study mentioned in the book. Apparently when a sociopath is asked a question regarding feelings their brain has to work hard - the way a normal person might if asked a difficult math question. Because while they may be good at acting as if they have appropriate feelings it's all just an act. That's how Erin Caffey presented herself. She had all the canned answers but when pressed it was obvious that she had no idea what love, guilt, or remorse really are. Good Lord - the first thing she wants to do when she gets out "is to go pay my respects to the graveyard". Scary that she's getting out at all.

Holy Toledo, Mannahatta!  Your post was so intriguing I went on Amazon to find a copy.  $12.99 for the KINDLE edition; however, 1,399 reviews are almost 5-star, so I've no doubt it's a great read!  My eyes aren't the greatest & I only read Kindle books.  Also checked local library - nope, only print.  Anyhow, absolutely agree w/you it's very unnerving that Caffey's ever getting out of prison.  Thanks for your post. 

[Maizie131]

Last night I watched the first ep. of The Coroner and was disappointed.  I was hoping it would be a similar format to Dr. G: Medical Examiner, and it wasn't even close.  The re-enactments were awful, as usual for ID.  I'll give it another chance next week.  (sigh)

[Brattinella]

3 hours ago, Maizie131 said:

Last night I watched the first ep. of The Coroner and was disappointed.  I was hoping it would be a similar format to Dr. G: Medical Examiner, and it wasn't even close.  The re-enactments were awful, as usual for ID.  I'll give it another chance next week.  (sigh)

I know.  I was expecting something a little different and a lot better.  And the Coroner only slightly gave me the creeps.  Didn't there used to be several autopsy/coroner shows on TV?

[Maizie131]

47 minutes ago, Brattinella said:

I know.  I was expecting something a little different and a lot better.  And the Coroner only slightly gave me the creeps.  Didn't there used to be several autopsy/coroner shows on TV?

He gave me the creeps, too.  Dr. G was far more personable & with a good sense of humor, too.  The only other coroner show I can recall is Quincy, M.E.  Remember that one from waaay back?  Starred Jack Klugman?  I used to love that show! 

[slensam]

6 hours ago, Maizie131 said:

Last night I watched the first ep. of The Coroner and was disappointed.  I was hoping it would be a similar format to Dr. G: Medical Examiner, and it wasn't even close.  The re-enactments were awful, as usual for ID.  I'll give it another chance next week.  (sigh)

I don't know why this network is so wedded to their re-enactments. They stink and cheapen the real stories. Over-the-top and unintentionally laughable.

[Brattinella]

There is a channel on our TV that shows all kinds of old mysteries: Columbo, Murder, She Wrote, Quincy, M.E., some of the other ones too.  Some of the best stuff that was EVER on TV!

[ratgirlagogo]

10 hours ago, Brattinella said:

There is a channel on our TV that shows all kinds of old mysteries: Columbo, Murder, She Wrote, Quincy, M.E., some of the other ones too.  Some of the best stuff that was EVER on TV!

Discussion of all these channels here:

Okay, I give up.  I was trying to just link to the forum and now I can't remove any of the rest of this even with closing and reopening the page.  Anyway, Bratinella, I'm sure you'll enjoy the Retro Channels forum here.  Sheesh.

[Brattinella]

Thanks for the link, ratgirlagogo!  Did you fix your quote problem?

[KellsBells]

On 7/17/2016 at 4:45 PM, Mannahatta said:

I recently read "The Sociopath Next Door" by Martha Stout. It's a fascinating read. Watching Erin Caffey on Killer Women with Piers Morgan reminded me of a study mentioned in the book. Apparently when a sociopath is asked a question regarding feelings their brain has to work hard - the way a normal person might if asked a difficult math question. Because while they may be good at acting as if they have appropriate feelings it's all just an act. That's how Erin Caffey presented herself. She had all the canned answers but when pressed it was obvious that she had no idea what love, guilt, or remorse really are. Good Lord - the first thing she wants to do when she gets out "is to go pay my respects to the graveyard". Scary that she's getting out at all.

Thanks for the book suggestion -- i put it on my list! 

I think I may be the only "Women in Prison" fan here, but it fascinates me. I didn't understand, in last week's, why the drug addict got so much time. I wouldn't think prescription med abuse would be that big of a deal (I mean, it's still stealing, but it's not a big time thing, hello, rehab!). Also, so many of these women are in prison because of men! What a shame! 

[Ina123]

6 hours ago, KellsBells said:

I think I may be the only "Women in Prison" fan here, but it fascinates me. I didn't understand, in last week's, why the drug addict got so much time. I wouldn't think prescription med abuse would be that big of a deal (I mean, it's still stealing, but it's not a big time thing, hello, rehab!). Also, so many of these women are in prison because of men! What a shame! 

I like the show, too. The young girl last night (armed robbery) was also doing it for the guy. She went to jail and he didn't. So stupid.

[Brattinella]

2 hours ago, Ina123 said:

I like the show, too. The young girl last night (armed robbery) was also doing it for the guy. She went to jail and he didn't. So stupid.

I'm a fan of Women in Prison, too.  Yeah, the druggie went to prison for armed robbery, why the boyfriend didn't was beyond me.  Unless they offered her a plea deal (and HOW STUPID) if she said no!  Like, testify against him and you might get out someday?

The woman who drowned her little girl was the worst thing I've seen in a long time.  Such a despicable person, I truly think she should have gotten DP.  Texas, right?  Maybe they thought she might actually be a mother someday?  AGH!

[Ina123]

21 minutes ago, Brattinella said:

The woman who drowned her little girl was the worst thing I've seen in a long time.  Such a despicable person, I truly think she should have gotten DP.  Texas, right?  Maybe they thought she might actually be a mother someday?  AGH!

That poor little boy witnessing it and having to testify. He didn't even recognize his mother until they pointed her out.

[KellsBells]

52 minutes ago, Brattinella said:

The woman who drowned her little girl was the worst thing I've seen in a long time.  Such a despicable person, I truly think she should have gotten DP.  Texas, right?  Maybe they thought she might actually be a mother someday?  AGH!

Was that the Piers Morgan show? I didn't see that one. 

[Brattinella]

19 minutes ago, KellsBells said:

Was that the Piers Morgan show? I didn't see that one. 

Yes, it was.  I had intended never to watch it again, but I gave it one last chance.  Piers didn't annoy me nearly as much, but the one woman...OMG!  Who says "mm-hmm" every time they require a yes or no answer?! That does NOT qualify as YES!

[KellsBells]

I didn't watch it because last week's episode made me so angry with that psychotic, delusional girl. Maybe I'll give it another chance if I see it on again. 

[ButterQueen]

I am giving I Am Homocide one more chance.  Such a low rent Kenda knock-off, and the detective is not a good storyteller.

[auntjess]

I'm another non-fan of The Coroner.
I see that he's had a lot of crime scene training, but isn't a medical doctor.  http://www.dauphincounty.org/government/Publicly-Elected-Officials/Coroner/Pages/Staff.aspx
It just seemed like he was trying to be all things.

I like I Am Homicide.  His cases have been different from most of Joe's, and I loved the guy's lawyer, ready to strangle his client, when he said he hit her in self defense, or whatever confession he made.

[walnutqueen]

12 hours ago, Ina123 said:

That poor little boy witnessing it and having to testify. He didn't even recognize his mother until they pointed her out.

That poor little boy shouldn't have been interrogated by the cops, and should NEVER have been put on the witness stand in court.  That was child abuse.

[Brattinella]

1 hour ago, walnutqueen said:

That poor little boy shouldn't have been interrogated by the cops, and should NEVER have been put on the witness stand in court.  That was child abuse.

I have to say that really broke my heart.

[ButterQueen]

I'm enjoying Piers Morgan show.

[Court]

I feel very misled by this episode of Killer Women. The first lady kept fighting the crappy men in her life but she only stabbed one of them. They're married now.

I'm glad no one died but why is it called Kier Women? 

 

I love I am Homicide. However, I can't stand Kenda. I'll be in a corner by myself.

[hoosiermom]

I'll be sitting with you in the corner court. I just can't with Kenda.

[roamyn]

Marie Gilbert, mothee of Shannen Gilbert who disappeared in 2010 in Long Islanbd, and who was later found dead, has herself been murdered.  Apparently by her other daughter.

This was the episode where she went on a private escort date w/only her friend/driver, and she ran out of the house having hallucinations.

I also posted this in the Disappered forum.

[auntjess]

I rememberf seeing the daughter's case on one show.
Here's the murder's mother.
http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/Mother-Shannan-Gilbert-Woman-Linked-to-Long-Island-Serial-Killer-Mystery-388063522.html

[auntjess]

Wikipedia has a "further reading" section on DB Cooper.
I have seen shows, but not recent enough to remember when or where.

On another note, does anyone else only watch part 2 of 2 part shows, like Dateline or 48 Hours?
I figure they'll recap episode one, and I'll gain an hour of my life for other things.

[MissT]

Sam Elliot as Gar in the movie Mask.  He looked good.  I love his voice.  

[FanOfTheFans]

What a tragic ending for the whole family. I have never understood law enforcements insistence that it was an accidental death. They really had nothing substantial to make those claims. In fact, it seemed just the opposite with all the other people's remains that were found in the area.

[roamyn]

3 hours ago, FanOfTheFans said:

What a tragic ending for the whole family. I have never understood law enforcements insistence that it was an accidental death. They really had nothing substantial to make those claims. In fact, it seemed just the opposite with all the other people's remains that were found in the area.

I alwaya felt - and still do - that Shannen's death was srug related.

Hopefully her mother's at peace, though.

[smittykins]

The Stacey Castor 20/20 episodes were on today.  I'm surprised it wasn't updated with the news of her death.

[Brattinella]

Well, I'm watching that wretched Coroner show again.  This doofus who is pretending to be a DOCTOR, said the cause of death was the "protrusion" of the large knife into her heart.  NO, that would be PENETRATION.

[auntjess]

Quote

Well, I'm watching that wretched Coroner show again.

I'm recording it.  Why don't you come back and tell us if the case itself is worth the annoyance.  Please.
This guy is an elected official, but I"m not sure if this show is going to help him or hurt him.

[Brattinella]

Yes, the case itself is very interesting, but the man is really BORING.

[Albino]

2 hours ago, Brattinella said:

Yes, the case itself is very interesting, but the man is really BORING.

Quincy he's not.

This case was done on Dateline and numerous other shows a few years ago.  The murderer killed about 5 women in PA and NJ, this murder was his first.  If you remember, he was the guy who snuck into a family home and started attacking a teenage girl whose parents rushed into her room and held him until cops arrived. Not sure how Dr. Graham can take credit for the solve - I mean, I know he speaks for the dead and all but still.  I'm sure it involved outsmarting police in 3 states, the entire FBI and one wily serial killer.  

Edited July 26, 2016 by Albino

[Ina123]

Yeah. I was glad they caught the actual killer because people just assumed it was the husband. He went thru hell. IIRC, the real killer was a truck driver who slipped off from truck stops and randomly killed someone in the truck stop neighborhood. When he was caught by the family mentioned by Albino above they found a receipt from another city. Just a gut feeling made them check the other city on the receipt  and that's how they connected the crimes. I think there was a third one too. I can't remember how they made that case.

[TattleTeeny]

Quote

Well, I'm watching that wretched Coroner show again.  This doofus who is pretending to be a DOCTOR, said the cause of death was the "protrusion" of the large knife into her heart.  NO, that would be PENETRATION.

Awww, I like the show, and appreciate so much that it's done in the style of Homicide Hunter (though no one will ever beat Kenda!) instead of the tawdry, disrespctful manner of so many other I.D. shows in the last few years are--no salacious and overwrought narration (Scorned, Deadly Women, etc.), reasonably understated reenactments, investigation details...I used to watch so much I.D. but tapered way off in the last few years because of the sheer volume of crap shows with so little real content. (And, while I noticed the "protrusion" thing, it's just semantics; one could argue that, from the inside, it is a protrusion.)

Also, "coroner" is not synonymous with "medical examiner," (which is, I think, what Dr. Michael Baden of Autopsy is? Or was? Is he retired? I think he's in his 80s by now), and coroners are not required to be actual doctors, and as auntjess mentioned above, are often elected officials that don't require medical degrees. Unless he's calling himself "Doctor," the dude isn't "pretending" anything. I liked him (and his skull-print bow-tie!).

As for reenactments, I assume it's a way to break up the "talking head" nature of a show like this?

Edited July 29, 2016 by TattleTeeny

[Albino]

On 7/26/2016 at 10:28 PM, TattleTeeny said:

Awww, I like the show, and appreciate so much that it's done in the style of Homicide Hunter (though no one will ever beat Kenda!) instead of the tawdry, disrespctful manner of so many other I.D. shows in the last few years are--no salacious and overwrought narration (Scorned, Deadly Women, etc.), reasonably understated reenactments, investigation details...I used to watch so much I.D. but tapered way off in the last few years because of the sheer volume of crap shows with so little real content. (And, while I noticed the "protrusion" thing, it's just semantics; one could argue that, from the inside, it is a protrusion.)

Also, "coroner" is not synonymous with "medical examiner," (which is, I think, what Dr. Michael Baden of Autopsy is? Or was? Is he retired? I think he's in his 80s by now), and coroners are not required to be actual doctors, and as auntjess mentioned above, are often elected officials that don't require medical degrees. Unless he's calling himself "Doctor," the dude isn't "pretending" anything. I liked him (and his skull-print bow-tie!).

As for reenactments, I assume it's a way to break up the "talking head" nature of a show like this?

ID is starting to run commercials for new season of Lt. Joe!  August 24.  Can. Not. Wait.

I think Dr. Hetrick  is pretty to look at, but I take issue with his (or the producer's) insistence that he's this great crime solver.  As far as I can tell, he is one of many contributors to the solution. I don't dislike him but his low key manner doesn't make for exciting TV.  But as you said, I appreciate the fact that there are no scenes with women in lacy red bras writhing in the arms of their (usually married) lovers.

I was a juror on a 1975-ish trial where the not-yet-famous-but-still-pompous Dr. Baden testified.  There was just something so smarmy about him. (It was a 9 month trial, BTW)  I was amazed to see him turning up on all these talk shows and press conferences years later.    The man does love attention!

[TattleTeeny]

HA! You are pickin' up what I'm layin' down! I don't mind the "dry" manner of some crime shows, especially if I am getting valuable information about procedures and processes (why it is valuable to me, I really don't know--what the hell am I gonna do with it?). But I've also been known to read things like Sex Crimes: Patterns and Behavior (a textbook!) and the Forensic Science Laboratory Manual & Workbook for entertainment.

Michael Baden looks like Yoda.
 

Edited July 28, 2016 by TattleTeeny

[EllenCam]

CRY WOLFE....Anyone one watch this disaster Tuesday night? I am speechless, really can't list the problems with this show, but I hope ID takes a look at viewers comments which are 99.9 disgusted. (I guess he does have a couple of family members or friends who like it). I was hoping it might improve from last year, but it is exactly the same with all the bad acting, implausible stories, Running around like it is real, blurring out the actors faces, bleeping out the imagined curse words, not disclosing the real names of the original criminals, insisting everyone call him "Mr. Wolfe", when he calls them all by their first name, bringing the "crime victim" to confront the    perpetrator which always ends up in bedlam, too much to list. ID should be ashamed of this one.

Edited July 28, 2016 by EllenCam
misspell

[Brattinella]

2 hours ago, EllenCam said:

CRY WOLFE....Anyone one watch this disaster Tuesday night? I am speechless, really can't list the problems with this show, but I hope ID takes a look at viewers comments which are 99.9 disgusted. (I guess he does have a couple of family members or friends who like it). I was hoping it might improve from last year, but it is exactly the same with all the bad acting, implausible stories, Running around like it is real, blurring out the actors faces, bleeping out the imagined curse words, not disclosing the real names of the original criminals, insisting everyone call him "Mr. Wolfe", when he calls them all by their first name, bringing the "crime victim" to confront the    perpetrator which always ends up in bedlam, too much to list. ID should be ashamed of this one.

Great post!  Bravo!  I hope the folks at ID see it.

[Albino]

5 hours ago, EllenCam said:

CRY WOLFE....Anyone one watch this disaster Tuesday night? I am speechless, really can't list the problems with this show, but I hope ID takes a look at viewers comments which are 99.9 disgusted. (I guess he does have a couple of family members or friends who like it). I was hoping it might improve from last year, but it is exactly the same with all the bad acting, implausible stories, Running around like it is real, blurring out the actors faces, bleeping out the imagined curse words, not disclosing the real names of the original criminals, insisting everyone call him "Mr. Wolfe", when he calls them all by their first name, bringing the "crime victim" to confront the    perpetrator which always ends up in bedlam, too much to list. ID should be ashamed of this one.

It is the very essence of cheesy.  Reminds me of Mystery Diners or Restaurant Stakeout over on Food Network.  

[auntjess]

It is indeed cheesy, and is also on my DVR schedule.  So there!

[LexieLily]

The first Cry Wolfe on Tuesday actively pissed me off. The investigator finds out enough to know that the guy's sister was dating a creeper and had a restraining order against him, and knows enough to figure that she is probably running away from him, but he still tracks her and actively encourages her friends to call her and track her down? If the woman was so close to her brother and mom, shouldn't they have known where she was?

ETA: Got to the end. The abusive boyfriend posed as a concerned brother to track her down. That's some creepy Lifetime shit right there.

Edited July 29, 2016 by LexieLily

[Ina123]

I love ID but I truly hate the "Tabloid" shows. Examples: the Rosanne thing and the Susan Lucci one come to mind. Wives with Knives, etc. I want to take a shower when these type shows come on.

[TattleTeeny]

I KNOW! Since I was pretty young, I have loved true crime (stole Helter Skelter from my mom's bookshelf when I was maybe 10?), and I've been watching investigation and forensics shows since, I guess, the early '90s? Recently, some of my friends decided they too are now so into true crime, which made me happy. Until...

I realized that their interest stemmed not from serious, well-thought-out productions and books, but from I.D.'s recent spate of shit shows. All they knew about and wanted to discuss were Wives with Knives, Deadly Women, Scorned, and the like. Come on! 

Edited July 29, 2016 by TattleTeeny

[ButterQueen]

On July 20, 2016 at 10:24 PM, walnutqueen said:

That poor little boy shouldn't have been interrogated by the cops, and should NEVER have been put on the witness stand in court.  That was child abuse.

I love you, but I disagree.  The little boy told his grandmother what happened after he was taken from the scene, and she notified the police.  That prosecutor handled him with loving care.  If not for the little boy, his sister's murderer would be free to abuse him.....now THAT would be child abuse.

[MichaelaRae]

Quote

And then the Dateline episode A Killing in Cottonwood came on! And I had to change the channel again.

That's the, Mark Duenas might have killed his wife and might have confessed in a 911 call, case.

I was ambivalent about his guilt or innocence but Stephanie Bridgett's (the prosecuting attorney's) arrogant, 100% confidence pushed me towards believing him innocent. [/quote]

I just saw this one the other day for the first time and was SO enraged and appalled by the prosecutor's attitude (and courtroom behavior) that I had to do a bunch of Googling to find out more about the case and her. She was just AWFUL.

Edited August 2, 2016 by MichaelaRae

[walnutqueen]

On 7/30/2016 at 5:58 PM, ButterQueen said:

I love you, but I disagree.  The little boy told his grandmother what happened after he was taken from the scene, and she notified the police.  That prosecutor handled him with loving care.  If not for the little boy, his sister's murderer would be free to abuse him.....now THAT would be child abuse.

Making a little boy cry on the witness stand in open court isn't my idea of tender loving care.  Taking the witness stand in a murder trial is stressful & traumatic for most adults; for little kids it is unthinkable. There are better ways of obtaining testimony from a child - like, for instance, taking that testimony in the judge's chambers with a video recorder.

[ButterQueen]

4 hours ago, walnutqueen said:

Making a little boy cry on the witness stand in open court isn't my idea of tender loving care.  Taking the witness stand in a murder trial is stressful & traumatic for most adults; for little kids it is unthinkable. There are better ways of obtaining testimony from a child - like, for instance, taking that testimony in the judge's chambers with a video recorder.

I think it was handled beautifully.  The little boy only cried when he recognized his abusive mother, otherwise, he was a great witness, strong voice for his murdered sister, and amazingly articulate.  After seeing and hearing about his home life, I don't think testifying was that hard for him.  What an awesome child.

[auntjess]

Found on Facebook.  Not sure if this will work.https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/13876483_10206819771995423_2454498594138009293_n.jpg?oh=485875e9cd7089fc41a9a9252eb9bbbd&oe=58501D93