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io9
History’s Forgotten “Denture Patent War” Spawned A Truly Bizarre Murder
To Samuel Chalfant, it seemed that his nemesis, Josiah Bacon. had pursued him since the day he graduated from dental school. He abandoned his first practice in Wilmington, Delaware in 1873 rather than pay the 45-year-old businessman the tribute demanded. Two years later, his dental office in St. Louis came to an equally ignominious end, … Continued
John Marr - Murder Can Be Fun -
io9
This Sweet, Two-Minute Short Brings a Disney Musical Fantasy to Life
Noam Murro—director of 300: Rise of An Empire—enters a decidedly more adorable fantasy realm with Night Shift, a Fantasia homage featuring a rubbery-limbed janitor/sorcerer (note the Mickey gloves!) taking care of business with the help of an animated, bucket-toting mop. Murro’s piece was featured as part of a larger showcase of shorts at the Cannes … Continued
By Cheryl Eddy -
Tech News
The Shocking 1982 Hollywood Attack That Raised Awareness About Stalking
In the early 1980s, actor Theresa Saldana’s star was on the rise. Her roles in Defiance and Raging Bull brought her fame—but also the attention of mentally unstable man who believed he was “the benevolent angel of death.” In 1982, his pursuit of her turned violent. Saldana’s deranged “fan” was a Scottish man named Arthur … Continued
By Cheryl Eddy -
Tech News
What’s Wife Killer Drew Peterson Been Up To in Prison? Nothing Good
Former Illinois cop Drew Peterson, convicted in 2012 of killing his third wife, Kathleen Savio, and suspected of killing his fourth, Stacy Cales Peterson (she’s been missing since 2007), is back in the news. He’s accused of trying to hire a hitman to take out the State’s Attorney who prosecuted the Savio case. As CNN … Continued
By Cheryl Eddy -
Tech News
The Bizarre Case of the Unfaithful Wife and Her “Attic Man”
Her name was Walburga Oesterreich, but she went by the much flirtier “Dolly.” In 1913, this “naughty vamp” was in her early 30s and hitched to textile manufacturer Fred Oesterreich when she met teenager Otto Sanhuber. A love triangle with a spectacularly bizarre twist soon formed. The twist? Well, wanting to keep her lover close, … Continued
By Cheryl Eddy -
Tech News
American tragedy: Glenn Ford, who spent 29 years on Death Row at Louisiana’s Angola prison for a murder he didn’t commit, died July 3. He was released last March, but his happiness at finally being free was short-lived, thanks to his cancer diagnosis; he was also denied restitution. Image: Glenn Ford leaves prison on March … Continued
By Cheryl Eddy -
io9Television
The Past Haunts the Present for Just About Everyone on True Detective
In “Maybe Tomorrow,” yesterday is actually the keyword. The criminal ties that Frank’s tried so desperately to shed are now the one thing he needs the most; Ray’s near-death experience makes him question nearly every decision he’s made; and Paul’s deeply in denial about his own past actions. Spoilers follow! Does anyone else sorta wish … Continued
By Cheryl Eddy -
io9Television
When Old Foes Clash on Hannibal, the Results Are Gloriously Gory
Though fans hope Hannibal finds a home beyond its NBC cancellation, the contracts of its two biggest stars have expired. Ain’t looking good, in other words. So let’s savor the flavor of what remains. “Contorno” being a great example of the kind of TV that Future Us is going to be missing, hardcore. After last … Continued
By Cheryl Eddy -
io9Television
Tensions Build to Explosive Heights (Literally) on Wayward Pines
Ethan’s finally up to speed on Wayward Pines’ dark secrets, but the town’s growing insurgent faction is still completely clueless about what’s really beyond the town walls. Even worse, they don’t believe Ethan when he tries to warn them. The episode’s title says it all, really: “Betrayal.” Spoilers follow! Ethan returns home, still shell-shocked by … Continued
By Cheryl Eddy -
io9
Guatemala’s “Volcano of Fire” Lives Up to Its Name, Spectacularly
While not as dramatic as its eruption in February, which necessitated evacuations and the closure of a nearby airport, the “Volcan de Fuego” in San Juan Altotenago, Guatemala, rumbled anew on Wednesday, July 1, when this photo was taken. It is one of Central America’s most active peaks. AP Photo by Moises Castillo
By Cheryl Eddy -
Tech News
These Ghoulish Crimes Inspired Ultra-Scary Aussie Horror Film Wolf Creek
Lots of horror films carry the not-so-subtle message that city slickers, especially good-looking youths thirsting for adventure, shouldn’t linger in the backwoods—including 2005 Australian entry Wolf Creek. It’s a gruesomely scary flick. And it was inspired by genuinely frightening real-life killers. First was the case of Ivan Milat, said to be one of Australia’s most … Continued
By Cheryl Eddy -
Tech News
The Sinister Mystery of the Circleville, Ohio Poison-Pen Letter Writer
New Jersey’s eerie “Watcher” mystery has a precedent: In 1976, the citizens of Circleville, Ohio began receiving sinister handwritten letters. The anonymous author knew many personal details about each resident and claimed to be watching them. They were postmarked from Columbus, without a return address. The most dangerous letters were directed at Mary Gillispie. The … Continued
Stephanie Almazan - The Lineup -
Tech News
In Puritan Times, A Teen Was Hanged For A Crime Judged Worse Than Murder
Perhaps if young Thomas Granger had been more discreet, more circumspect, his name would have long since vanished in the mists of history. But in Puritan times, his unusual crime so offended his community that it warranted the harshest of punishments. He was but a servant boy in the early days of Plymouth Colony, occupying … Continued
John Marr - Murder Can Be Fun -
io9
Which Famous Cold-Case Murder Are You Most Eager to See Solved?
When a murder turns cold, it only enhances the horror of the tragedy—and the intrigue. Cases like the Black Dahlia slaying, the death of JonBenét Ramsey, and the 1922 double homicide known as the Hall-Mills Murder all had suspects, but to this day, nobody has ever been held accountable. Let us know which notorious crime … Continued
By Cheryl Eddy -
io9
Zoo, The New TV Show About Killer Animals, Is Fun, Mindless Fluff
The first episode of the James Patterson adaptation Zoo is entitled “First Blood”—even though this action drama, which imagines what would happen if the animals on earth decided to rebel against their human overlords, is relatively bloodless (it is CBS, after all). That said, it does contain plenty of B-movie thrills! Spoilers follow. We open … Continued
By Cheryl Eddy -
io9Television
Creepypasta spawned the Slender Man, and now it’s invading TV, thanks to a new horror anthology series on SyFy, Channel Zero. The first season will be based on the internet horror forum-derived “Candle Cove,” a short story about a sinister TV show (meta!); future seasons will focus on other tales.
By Cheryl Eddy -
Tech News
The Chilling 1948 Kidnapping That Inspired Lolita (But Was Way Scarier)
History remembers her as “the real Lolita,” because young Florence “Sally” Horner’s grim ordeal helped inspire Nabokov’s novel. But the author drew on multiple sources for his famous tale, so it’s not an exact retelling. And Sally’s real-life kidnapping was much worse than the fictional version. Acting on a dare from some of her fifth-grade … Continued
By Cheryl Eddy -
Tech News
Student Suspected of Murder After “Pocket Dial” Incident Nabbed in China
The suspected killer of Iowa State University student Shao Tong—her boyfriend, University of Iowa student Xiangnan Li—has been apprehended, nearly 10 months after the young woman’s strangled body was found crammed into her car trunk. His capture was complicated because he’d fled to China after her death. Both students were originally from China, and had … Continued
By Cheryl Eddy -
Tech News
The Unbelievable Case of the Two-Year-Old Who Was Framed For Murder
Imagine enduring 25 years of being told that when you were two, you caused the death of your four-month-old brother. Conversely, imagine being the sort of person low enough to frame a toddler for murder. In 1971, a tragedy and its prolonged aftermath would go on to shape more than one life. Tracy Rhame grew … Continued
By Cheryl Eddy