From Hollywood Star to Prison Inmate — “Fate or some mysterious force can put the finger on you or me for no reason at all.” — Tom Neal as Al Roberts in “Detour” (1945). From the moment of his birth in January of 1914, Tom Neal seemed destined for the fame he craved most of his life…

Could a Young Mother Be Responsible for the Shootings of Her Three Children? — The evening of Thursday, May 19, 1983 was a normal, if quiet, one at the McKenzie-Willamette Hospital in Springfield, Oregon. The ER’s 4 p.m. until midnight shift consisted of only four people: Dr. John Mackey, Rosie Martin, RN, Shelby Day, LPN, and Judy Patterson, the receptionist. The hospital had three…

An MGM Extra Makes Rape a Federal Case — I wasn’t trying to get anything. I just wanted someone to believe me. — Patricia Douglas Hollywood and MGM Located at 8439 Sunset Boulevard, on the Sunset Strip in trendy West Hollywood, the Hacienda Park Apartments was home to many Hollywood notables of the late 1920s and early 1930s. Built in 1927 as…

The Killing of the Lead Singer of the Punk Rock Band The Gits Goes Cold For a Decade Before Justice is Served — “Mia Zapata was an extraordinary human being. She was a beloved friend, a gifted songwriter, musician, visual artist and performer. . . . We prefer to remember her friendship, talent, humor, and the incredible art and music she left to the world.” — Andy Kessler, Matt Dresdner, and Steve Moriarty…

An obsessive teenage love leads to the brutal murder of a fellow student. — “There are not any winners in this case.” Judge Joe Drago

The disappearance of a young actress aboard an ocean liner leads to one of Britain’s most sensational trials. — It was around 2:58 a.m. on Saturday, October 18, 1947 when Frederick Steer, a duty watchman for Union-Castle Line ship Durban Castle, was awakened by a summons from cabin 126, a first-class cabin on the B deck. …

Could a Vicious Attack and the Murder of a North Carolina Businessman Lead Back to Dungeons & Dragons? — The Crime It was 4:24 a.m. on Monday, July 25, 1988 when the call came in to North Carolina’s Beaufort County Law Enforcement Center. It had been a slow night, with dispatcher Michelle Sparrow reading a Stephen King novel throughout much of her 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. shift. The woman on…