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9-Year-Old Girl and Her Baby Brother Kidnapped at 7-Eleven – She Follows Her Gut and Saves Her Brother’s Life

It's the scariest situation a parent could imagineFox 5 Las Vegas interviewed Nyla Prentiss, who detailed the night her mother pulled into a local 7-Eleven to use the ATM, leaving her and her 11-month old brother, King, in the car. Nyla details how a man approached the car, got in the driver’s side, and sped off with her and her brother still in the car. Karen Quinn, Nyla’s mother, said she had locked the door before entering the store, but that it unlocked when the car’s technology sensed that her key was nearby. The suspect, 38-year-old Mario Estrada, jumped inside the vehicle and drove off as Nyla’s mother desperately tried to stop him — begging him to let her kids out.RELATED: How a Podcast Exposed a New Break in the Unsolved Delphi MurdersNyla recalls “I was like, ‘Please, sir, please let us out the car. I ain’t got nothing to do with this, please just take the car and let us go.” She continues, “And I didn’t want to put my hands on him because he was driving fast and I didn’t want to die, so … and then he turned and he went the other way.” Luckily, after a few moments the suspect pulled over and told Nyla to get out. A Sister’s Love and BraveryIn the same interview, Nyla recounts how her focus throughout the scary ordeal was her little brother. She proudly tells the interviewer how she watches him everyday, and her selflessness is evident.“The only thing I was worried about was my little brother. And so I tried to grab my shoes, and [the suspect] didn’t let me. He was like, ‘Here, get out.’ So I grabbed his binky and me and him ran,” Nyla said. Despite the terrifying event, Nyla was able to remain calm enough to find her way back to the 7-Eleven. “I was looking for some lights, and then I saw the 7-Eleven that we was at, and then I went in there and I was shaking and crying,” Nyla recounted.RELATED: How Cynthia Vigil Escaped ‘Toy Box Killer’ David Parker Ray and Ended His Horrific CrimesPolice who were working near the scene eventually found Nyla and her brother, reuniting their worried mother with her children. An officer soon spotted the stolen SUV, and a high-speed chase ensued, ending when Estrada crashed into another vehicle. Allegedly, he exited the damaged car and attempted to run away, but was quickly apprehended. Estrada faces 10 charges, including child abuse or neglect, second-degree kidnapping and grand larceny of a motor vehicle.Bravery Inspires Awe in the CommunityA quick look through the comments on the Fox 5 video shows the outpouring of support and admiration for Nyla. Many are amazed at her bravery and maturity, admiring both her ability to get out of the situation and the love she has for her little brother.Nyla is clearly a brave soul, and an incredible older sister. Awful things happen, but so do miracles.KEEP READING:How 17-Year-Old Lisa McVey Saved Her Own Life by Outsmarting the Serial Killer Who Abducted Her

How True Is Netflix's Monster to the Real Jeffrey Dahmer Story?
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How True Is Netflix's Monster to the Real Jeffrey Dahmer Story?

America was transfixed in the early 1990s by the horrific discovery of a string of grisly murders committed by Jeffrey Dahmer. Also known in the press as the Milwaukee Cannibal and the Milwaukee Monster, he was one of the most prolific serial killers in U.S. history. Now, with the release of Netflix's Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story, the murderer, and his victims, have returned to the forefront of the American consciousness. RELATED: Zodiac Killer: What We Know (So Far) About True Crime's Most Enduring MysteryMonster rocketed to No. 1 on Netflix following its premiere on Nov. 21, 2022, reinforcing how obsessed people are with true crime. However, the miniseries, created by Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan, has drawn more than viewers. It has also attracted its share of criticism from people who feel that Monster is attempting to romanticize Jeffrey Dahmer, played by Evan Peters.Who Was Jeffrey Dahmer, and How Many People Did He Kill?Jeffrey Dahmer in 1991 booking photosJeffrey Dahmer was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1960, and committed his first murder and dismemberment at age 18, a few weeks after graduating from high school. By the time of his arrest in 1991, Dahmer had killed 17 people, all of them men and boys.RELATED: Committing the Perfect Crime in Yellowstone's Zone of DeathTo be more accurate, however, we should say by the time of his last arrest. Dahmer was arrested multiple times, primarily for disorderly conduct, including indecent exposure and public drunkenness. Alcohol abuse was also one of the primary factors of his life, leading him to flunk out of college and to be discharged from the Army. Alcohol factored into virtually every one of his murders, most of which were followed by sexual acts performed on the corpse, before it was dismembered. The body parts were then disposed of using acid, and pulverization.Dahmer preyed predominantly on Black men in Milwaukee's gay community, whom he lured to his apartment with the promise of money in exchange for sex or nude photo sessions. He then drugged his victims using drinks laced with sleeping pills, and bludgeoned or strangled them to death. His later murders incorporated necrophilia and cannibalism. Dahmer also preserved body parts, from heads and skulls to entire skeletons.How Was Jeffrey Dahmer Caught?Evan Peters in Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer StoryDahmer was arrested on July 22, 1991, after his intended victim, 32-year-old Tracy Edwards, escaped his apartment. Edwards then returned with police, who discovered Dahmer's cache of Polaroid pictures, many of which depicted dismembered bodies. Dahmer was apprehended following a brief struggle. However, it was only when an officer found a human head in the refrigerator that the realization of the true horrors took began to take hold.RELATED: Who Is Ted Bundy’s Daughter, Rose Bundy?Milwaukee police subsequently found three more severed heads in the kitchen, and seven skulls in the bedroom. But that was only the beginning. Dahmer's apartment also contained two human hearts, a frozen torso and organs, two complete skeletons, and two severed hands and penises. The gruesome list goes on. And that was only at Dahmer's Milwaukee home. The investigation soon expanded to Bath Township, Ohio, where Dahmer spent his formative years. It's also where, in 1978, he murdered and dismembered his first victim. In 1991, investigators found more than 50 bone fragments scattered around the property of the former Dahmer family home.In the weeks following his arrest, Dahmer admitted to every murder, and provided police with the gruesome details. He was sentenced in February 1992 to 15 life terms in prison. A 16th term was added in May 1992, following Dahmer's admission to the 1978 murder of his first victim, Steven Hicks, in Ohio. That's a total of 941 years. However, Dahmer ultimately served less than two before his own life ended.How Did Jeffrey Dahmer Die?Furly Mac as Christopher Scarver in Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer StoryDahmer served his first year in prison in solitary confinement. He was then moved into the general population of inmates at Columbia Correctional Institution in Portage, Wisconsin.A professed born-again Christian, Dahmer was attacked and injured in the prison chapel in July 1994. Then, on Nov. 28, Dahmer and convicted murderer Jesse Anderson were bludgeoned by fellow inmate Christopher Scarver while the three were on work detail, cleaning the prison gym. Dahmer was declared dead one hour later, at a nearby hospital. Anderson died two days later. How Accurate Is Netflix's Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story?Niecy Nash as Glenda Cleveland in Netflix's Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer StoryEvan Peters' performance in Monster as Jeffrey Dahmer is certainly spot-on. When it comes to an accurate retelling of the events of Dahmer’s life and of his many crimes, the series is also quite close to reality. RELATED: Netflix's Devil in Ohio Is Inspired by a True Story - But Which One?Yes, there are details altered, or omitted, for cinematic effect. For instance, Glenda Cleveland, played on the series by Niecy Nash, didn't live in Oxford Apartments. She actually lived in the building next door. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel suggests the dramatization combined aspects of Cleveland with Dahmer neighbor Pamela Bass. And, while Dahmer did work at the Milwaukee Plasma Center, he didn't bring home a bag of blood to drink, as the series depicts. Instead, he told police he tasted blood from a vial on the roof of the center, but then spit it out.Why Netflix's Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story Is ControversialScott Paophavihanh as Anouke Sinthasomphone, and Khetphet "KP" Phagnasay as Sounthone Sinthasomphone.It’s one thing to take guilty pleasure in each time fictional serial killer Dexter Morgan commits a bloody act. However, it's another to, in any way, diminish the real-life horrors of Jeffrey Dahmer by making him appear sympathetic. Yet, that's what some are accusing Monster of doing.RELATED: Are True Crime Podcasts Unhealthy, or Can They Solve Real Problems?That judgment extends beyond viewers and TV critics, though, to the families of Dahmer's victims. Rita Isbell, the sister of Errol Lindsey, has spoken out about the adaptation. Her cousin, Eric Perry, meanwhile, questioned the purpose of the series: "It’s retraumatizing over and over again, and for what? How many movies/shows/documentaries do we need?"Monster is hardly the first TV or film project to delve into Dahmer’s life and crimes, either as drama or as documentary. However, the Netflix series doesn't whitewash his horrendous acts or attempt to rehabilitate his image. Actor Evan Peters does a tremendous job of bringing the serial killer to life. The actor portrays Dahmer as a complex, and profoundly troubled, man. As a result, the "monster" of the title comes across as a real person, and not merely a newspaper sensation. That’s not romanticizing a murderer. Instead, it’s merely telling a story -- one that was all too true.KEEP READING: The Wife Swap Murders: The Tragedy of at Stockdale Farm, Explained

The Zodiac Killer: Everything We Know (So Far) About True Crime's Most Enduring Mystery
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The Zodiac Killer: Everything We Know (So Far) About True Crime's Most Enduring Mystery

Despite society understandably viewing them with scorn, the worst criminals are also an object of fascination. Serial killers, in particular, have captured our imaginations so much that they compose a significant bulk of true-crime analysis. However, few have captivated us like the Zodiac Killer, active in Northern California between December 1968 and October 1969.RELATED: The Waco Siege: 5 Deadly Facts You Never KnewAlthough his identity remains unknown, numerous Zodiac suspects have been proposed over the past five decades, including (jokingly) U.S. Senator Ted Cruz. And then there are the four ciphers the actual serial killer included with some of his taunting letters to newspapers. To date, only two of the cryptograms have been cracked.The multiple theories, and opinions, surrounding the Zodiac only make him more mysterious. However, there is evidence to support credible suspects, and information to create a general profile of the Zodiac Killer.Murders and Correspondence: Letters from the ZodiacPart of the Aug. 4, 1969, letter to the San Francisco ExaminerThe Zodiac Killer originated his own pseudonym through provocative letters mailed to San Francisco Area newspapers. He threatened killing sprees and bombings to coerce the publications into printing his letters, which continued until about 1974. The missives were intentionally cryptic in nature, with some containing cryptograms. Through decoding the letters, it was revealed the Zodiac was directly taunting the media. The deciphered letters also exposed an implied the motive. The Zodiac claimed that, by killing his victims, he would have “slaves to serve him in paradise." People are still trying to decipher all of the Zodiacs messages, including one that begins with “My name is ____.”The Zodiac claimed to enjoy murdering people because, “It is more fun than killing wild game in the forest." “Man is the most dangerous animal of all," he wrote.The Role of the San Francisco Chronicle and the MediaThe Zodiac’s murders occurred in the San Francisco Bay Area. And, while the killer mailed letters to other newspapers, the San Francisco Chronicle became inextricably linked to the case. Originally, the killer’s involvement with media outlets was fairly balanced. In fact, he coined his own pseudonym in an Aug. 4, 1969, letter to The San Francisco Examiner, in which he wrote, "This is the Zodiac speaking." That letter also provided details about the murders of David Arthur Faraday, Betty Lou Jensen and Darlene Elizabeth Ferrin that had not been released to the public.RELATED: Who Is Ted Bundy’s Daughter, Rose Bundy?The Chronicle’s larger involvement began with its publication of part of the cryptogram sent by the Zodiac. Most notably, the newspaper received evidence for his last confirmed murder, a torn section of a victim’s bloody shirt. In the past four years, the Chronicle began to publish more articles about the history of the case. The newspaper notes that the two sketches of the suspect remain the best clues we have.However, the case took a step forward in 2021, when one of the ciphers was cracked, two decades after the last successful attempt. How Many People Did the Zodiac Kill?Betty Lou Jensen and David Arthur Faraday The Zodiac claimed in his letters to have killed 37 people, but authorities have ever only substantiated seven victims, two of whom survived their attacks. While the Zodiac has been linked to other crimes -- among them, the murder Cheri Jo Bates, the disappearance of Donna Lass, and the alleged abduction of Kathleen Johns -- those were never confirmed.RELATED: The Psychology Behind True Crime AddictionThe Lake Herman Road murders, which occurred on Dec. 20, 1968, in Benicia, California, were the first crimes attributed to the Zodiac. He shot and killed Betty Lou Jensen and David Arthur Faraday, teenagers on their first date. That was followed, on July, 4, 1969, by the shootings of Michael Renault Mageau and Darlene Elizabeth Ferrin in Blue Rock Springs Park in Vallejo. Ferrin died, but Mageau survived.The next targets were 20-year-old Bryan Hartnell and 22-year-old Cecelia Shepard, attacked on Sept. 27, 1969, at Lake Berryessa, near Napa. Shepard was still conscious when police arrived, despite being stabbed 10 times by the Zodiac, and provided a description of their attacker. She died two days later. Hartnell was stabbed eight times in the back, but survived.Paul Stine, a cab driver shot in the head on Oct. 11, 1969, in Presidio Heights, was the final victim. Aside from Jensen and Faraday, who died in 1968, all of the Zodiac’s confirmed murders occurred in 1969. The Most Prominent Zodiac Killer SuspectsArthur Leigh AllenThe Zodiac’s true identity never been determined. But, while there have more than a few suspects, Arthur Leigh Allen was the only one ever named by police. A former school teacher fired amid sexual-misconduct allegations, Allen was interviewed by Vallejo police in October 1969. Seen near the site of the Lake Berryessa attacks, he explained that he had been scuba diving. Allen's home was searched in September 1972 by the San Francisco Police Department. Additional searches followed over the next two decades, the final one taking place mere days after his death in 1992. However, Allen was never charged in any of the Zodiac crimes.In 2021, a team of former investigators, military-intelligence officers and journalists called the Case Breakers identified the late Gary Francis Poste as the Zodiac Killer. Forensic evidence, photos from Poste’s darkroom, and scars on his forehead were used to support the claim. Although that sparked newfound interest in the case, the FBI and the Case Breakers have been criticized for also relying on circumstantial evidence.The Zodiac Killer remains one of the most infamous serial killers in history, due to the cryptic messages and the unsolved nature of the case. Even if the Zodiac Killer is properly identified, the murders will, no doubt, continue to fascinate people.Movies Inspired by the Zodiac KillerJake Gyllenhaal and Robert Downey Jr. in Zodiac (2007)Given how Zodiac captured the popular imagination, it's little surprise the mysterious serial killer has been the repeated subject of, and inspiration for, at least a dozen movies. In fact, the first were released in 1971, when the Zodiac was still considered active.The first, The Zodiac Killer, was a highly fictionalized slasher film that's likely only remembered by devotees of the genre. However, most recall Dirty Harry, at least by name or reputation. The first of the series of five crime thrillers starring Clint Eastwood, it borrowed heavily from the Zodiac case, but changed the killer's pseudonym to Scorpio.Most of the other movies are mere footnotes, from Exorcist III and its Gemini Killer, to the direct-to-DVD horror flop Curse of the Zodiac. But then there's David Fincher acclaimed 2007 thriller Zodiac, based on true-crime books by author Robert Graysmith. He was a political cartoonist for the San Francisco Chronicle at the time of the murders, and attempted to crack the Zodiac's code.The killer's cinematic influence extends to today, with the depiction of The Riddler in Matt Reeves' 2022 film The Batman.KEEP READING: Why the Gruesome Hello Kitty Murder Shocked Hong Kong - and Still Horrifies the World

Why the Gruesome Hello Kitty Murder Shocked Hong Kong - and Still Horrifies the World
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Why the Gruesome Hello Kitty Murder Shocked Hong Kong - and Still Horrifies the World

Humans have a macabre, yet irresistible, tendency to attach nicknames to horrific criminal cases. There’s the Black Dahlia murder, the Taliesin Massacre, the Zodiac Killer. The list of luridly named crimes and criminals goes on. Perhaps it's as simple as writing a catchy headline, or a need to blunt the horror of the true crime. Regardless, what’s beyond question is that one gruesome murder in 1999 shocked the people of Hong Kong, and the world. And its descriptive name is as horrific as it is grimly accurate: the Hello Kitty murder.RELATED: The Bloody True Crime, and Shocking Acquittal, Behind Hulu's CandyBefore we get into the details of the Hello Kitty murder, be warned. This was grisly affair. So, if you're bothered by dark topics, you may want to look away.. The Hello Kitty Victim: Fan Man-yeeFan Man-yeeFan Man-yee was only 23 at the time of her death in 1999. And none of those 23 years had been easy. Fan Man-yee was abandoned as a child by her family, and raised in a Hong Kong orphanage.RELATED: Netflix’s Devil in Ohio Is Inspired by a True Crime – But Which One?She aged out of the orphanage at 15, and turned to sex work to survive. A drug addict, Fan ended up in an abusive marriage with a client, with whom she had a child. Despite the many challenges, Fan cleaned up, left her husband, quit prostitution, and found a job as a nightclub hostess. She hoped to earn a living so she could care for her son.Unfortunately, the the Romance Villa was a gathering place for the worst of the worst in Hong Kong. Guests included everyday criminals, drug addicts, dealers, and members of the powerful Chinese crime syndicate, The Triads.Fan Man-yee’s interactions with one member, Chan Man-lok, led to her awful suffering and gruesome death.The Hello Kitty Murderers: Three Men and a MinorChan Man-lokHer fate was sealed when Fan stole the wallet of Chan Man-lok, a 34-year-old drug dealer and pimp, with whom she had a sexual relationship. The theft of the wallet, containing the equivalent of $500 USD, was quickly realized by its owner. Fan returned the wallet, but Chan insisted she pay an exorbitant penalty fee. However, Fan had no way to pay the amount Chan demanded. Thus, sought other means to exact his “fee.”RELATED: Committing the Perfect Crime in Yellowstone’s Zone of DeathWith two associates, 27-year-old Leung Shing-cho and 21-year-old Leung Wai-lun, and Chan's 14-year-old "girlfriend," Ah Fong, he kidnapped Fan Man-yee and stashed her in a Hong Kong apartment.Over the course of the next few weeks, Fan suffered in abject misery at the hands of these four people.The Torture and Killing of Fan Man-yeeThe Hello Kitty mermaid dollChan initially planned to claim his penalty fee by forcing Fan back into prostitution. However, he and his accomplices instead tortured the young woman, apparently for no other reason than perverse enjoyment. They badly burned Fan's feet with molten plastic to hamper her ability to escape. Over the course of a month, the three men and the 14-year-old girl beat, cut, burned and otherwise tortured Fan. (Ah Fong was apparently a less-active participant in the abuse, but she later admitted to taking a role at times.)RELATED: The Wife Swap Murders: The Tragedy at Stockdale Farm, ExplainedFan was sometimes left hanging from the ceiling for hours, treated like a literal punching bag. She was soiled with urine and excrement, force-fed drugs, and sexually assaulted countless times. And after about a month of this unthinkable abuse, Fan died as a result of the trauma. Soon, she became known widely as the Hello Kitty murder victim.Chan and his accomplices covered up their crime with the same grim attachment. The victim’s body was sawed apart in a bathtub, and then the group boiled her body parts. Some of the pieces were fed to stray dogs, and others thrown into the trash. They boiled the flesh from Fan’s skull, and then stitched it inside of a Hello Kitty mermaid doll. That, of course, is how the horrific crime earned its nickname.The Hello Kitty Murder TrialIf not for feelings of guilt that plagued 14-year-old Ah Fong, we might never have known Fan Man-yee's grime fate. But the teenager was tormented by remorse, and believed she was haunted by the dead woman's ghost. That brought her to a Hong Kong police station to confess to the crimes.RELATED: A Mother and 8-Year-Old Daughter Were Kidnapped for 7 Weeks – Their Escape Was Unbelievable, But Only the BeginningThe three men were arrested, and then prosecuted in 2000, during a six-week trial. They were found guilty, but not of murder. They were instead convicted of manslaughter, as well as lesser crimes, such as false imprisonment and preventing lawful burial. That's because the jury found that, without more of Fan's remains, her precise cause of death couldn't be determined. She could have died from a drug overdose or starvation, for all jurors knew.Chan Man-lo, Leung Shing-cho and Leung Wai-lun were sentenced in 2000 to life in prison. However, Leung successfully appealed his conviction, and was subsequently sentenced to 18 years after pleading guilty in retrial. He was released from prison in 2011.Because of her age, and her testimony in the Hello Kitty murder trial, Ah Fong was granted immunity. She never faced punishmentHello Kitty Murder Defendant Returns to the News in 2022If you thought years in prison for his role in the Hello Kitty murder might reform Leung Wai-lun, think again. In August 2022, more than a decade after his release, Leung was sentenced to 12 months in jail. This time, it was for indecent contact with the 10-year-old daughter of a friend.Leung Wai-lun, now 48, is again behind bars, more than two decades after the torture and death of Fan Man-yee.KEEP READING:How a Podcast Exposed a New Break in the Unsolved Delphi Murders Case

The Bloody True Crime, and Shocking Acquittal, Behind Hulu's Candy
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The Bloody True Crime, and Shocking Acquittal, Behind Hulu's Candy

In summer 1980, a killing rocked Wylie, Texas, at the time little more than a sleepy town northeast of Dallas. It was shocking not simply because of the community's size, but because of the sheer brutality, and the identity of the victim. Betty Gore was a wife, mother, grade-school teacher, and a devoted church member. Her accused killer, homemaker Candy Montgomery, struck Betty 41 times with an ax. What's more, Candy ultimately walked out of the courthouse a free woman. If it sounds too wild to be true, you need only watch Hulu's Candy.RELATED: Netflix's Devil in Ohio Is Inspired by a True Crime - But Which One?The five-episode miniseries is based on actual events. Here’s what led to that fateful morning, on June 13, 1980, and what happened afterward -- as unbelievable as it may seem.Candy Montgomery and Betty Gore: Friendship and BetrayalThe real Candy Montgomery, left, and Jessica Biel in Hulu's CandyBorn on Nov. 15, 1949, Candy Montgomery moved to Wylie, Texas, in 1977 with her husband, Pat, and their two children. She soon befriended Betty Gore and her husband, Allan, at the Methodist Church of Lucas. Their daughters likewise became fast friends.RELATED: Committing the Perfect Crime in Yellowstone's Zone of DeathHowever, trouble began in October 1978, when Candy propositioned Allan at a church event. She was bored with her life, and in search of “fireworks." Allan was apparently in a similar mindset. Their affair began in December 1978, and lasted the better part of a year, until the relationship was ended by Allan. He felt guilty for cheating on Betty.Candy purportedly didn't mind the end of the affair, because the "fireworks"-level sex she craved never materialized. Their illicit relationship could have faded into memory, with little damage done to either marriage ... had Betty not learned about the tryst.The Brutal Killing of Betty GoreBetty Gore, left, and Melanie Lynskey in Hulu's CandyWe’ll never know exactly what happened in the Gore home that Friday the 13th in June 1980, or why. In Candy Montgomery’s account, she stopped by Betty Gore's house to borrow a bathing suit for her daughter. That's when Betty confronted her about the affair with Allan (he was out of town on business).RELATED: The Wife Swap Murders: The Tragedy at Stockdale Farm, ExplainedCandy didn't deny the affair, but confirmed it had ended months earlier. She claimed Betty then flew into a rage and attacked her with an ax. Indeed, Candy had a single cut on her toe that was consistent with an injury from a wood-splitting ax. In addition, she sustained several bruises and scrapes consistent with a struggle. It was the damage to Betty's body that was so shocking -- horrifying, even. She was struck 41 times by an ax.That means Candy had to disarm Betty, and then, rather than flee the house, she swung the ax at least 41 times. She continued to strike even after the fatal blow. To add to the horror, Candy then left the house -- in which Betty's infant daughter lay in a crib -- and went home. She bathed, changed clothes, then attended a church event, as if nothing had happened.Candy Montgomery's Trial - and Its Shocking OutcomeJessica Biel as Candy Montgomery in Hulu's CandyBetty's body was found later that day by neighbors who were asked by Allan to check in after he couldn't reach his wife by phone. Authorities summoned to the Gore house encountered what they later described as a scene from a horror movie. Blood was spattered everywhere, and the corpse was so mutilated that is was difficult to tell what had happened to Betty Gore.RELATED: A Mother and 8-Year-Old Daughter Were Kidnapped for 7 Weeks - Their Escape Was Unbelievable, But Only the BeginningCandy was charged with murder, but insisted she had acted in self-defense. To explain the level of violence, her attorneys argued a repressed childhood memory of her mother shushing exploded into Candy's mind when Betty said “Shhh!” during confrontation. That, they said, caused Candy to effectively go temporarily insane as she fought back. That is, of course, plausible, as the human mind is a frail and malleable thing. However, it hardly explains Candy's lack of remorse, or the calm she displayed after the killing.Nevertheless, the jury deliberated for fewer than five hours before returning a verdict of not guilty. Candy left the courthouse a free woman. In the eyes of many, however, she was a ruthless murderer. Divorced, and now in her early 70s, Candy goes by her maiden name, Wheeler.Candy’s story was first dramatized in a 1990 made-for-TV movie called Killing in a Small Town. However, Hulu's 2022 miniseries Candy is viewed by many critics as imperfect, but nevertheless true to actual events. And if you're searching for another version, you can wait for HBO Max's Love and Death, expected to premiere in 2023.KEEP READING: How a Podcast Exposed a New Break in the Unsolved Delphi Murders Case

The Wife Swap Murders: The Tragedy at Stockdale Farm, Explained
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The Wife Swap Murders: The Tragedy at Stockdale Farm, Explained

We may never know what drove a young man from a conservative Ohio family to murder his mother and his brother before turning the gun on himself. However, many have wondered whether the 2017 murders can be connected to events that took place nearly a decade earlier. Those events led to the killings being dubbed the Wife Swap Murders.RELATED: Committing the Perfect Crime in Yellowstone's Zone of DeathWho is Jacob Stockdale? What occurred in the Stockdale family that led him to kill such a “wonderful mother” and her youngest son? How could a family possessed of a strong Christian faith meet with such tragedy?To address the questions, we must start in 2008, with the reality show that pushed them into the limelight: Wife Swap.What Is Wife Swap?Among certain people – especially those alive in the 1970s – “wife swap” is a euphemistic reference to the practice of swinging. To be blunt, that's when couples exchange partners for sexual encounters.RELATED: Was Anything Real in Jessica Simpson's Reality-Show Relationship?However, in our context, “wife swap” refers not to swinging, but to a reality television show. The series' name was obviously intended to titillate viewers. But Wife Swap had nothing to do with sex. The series aired for the better part of a decade, beginning in 2004 on ABC, and then on Paramount Network. Wife Swap selected two families with starkly different lifestyles, then had them exchange wives/mothers for two weeks.Often, the comedy or drama arose from a strict mother trying to cope with children from a laid-back household. Or, on the flip side, with a laid-back mom trying to get a high-strung household to relax and enjoy themselves.It was intended largely as family fun. Wife Swap was clearly edited, if not outright scripted, in order to create the best entertainment for viewers. The show wasn't to be taken seriously -- and certainly not deadly seriously. But that’s how events may have played out in one tragic case.Did a young man’s experience with an alternative style of parenting light the fuse that, nine years later, exploded into the Wife Swap Murders?The Strict Upbringing of Jacob Stockdale The Stockdale family bandJacob Stockdale and his three brothers, Charles, Calvin and James, were raised in a home so strict that it would appall many. That's surely why the Stockdales caught the eye of Wife Swap producers. From the outside, they may have looked like a wholesome family bluegrass band. But, in truth, the household was unbelievably strict, bordering on oppressive.RELATED: How 17-Year-Old Lisa McVey Saved Her Own Life by Outsmarting the Serial Killer Who Abducted HerThe boys had to complete grueling hours of chores to earn “tokens” that could be exchanged for activities most of us take for granted. The children weren't allowed to have friends, and they were rarely permitted freedom to choose how they spent their time. "We don’t allow any cussing," mother Kathryn Stockdale said on their family's episode. "[And] I think that dating has physical dangers, like pregnancy. It’s not worth it. It’s important we have control over their character and their education.”That lack of freedom is what Kathryn Stockdale's Wife Swap counterpart, Laurie Tonkovic, felt may have contributed to the so-called Wife Swap Murders. Jacob reportedly told Laurie at the time he feared his parents would condemn him to hell for the freedom of choice she offered. That included permission to watch TV or play video games while she was temporary matriarch.Charges and SentencingJacob Stockdale in 2018 booking photo (Image: Stark County Sheriff's Office)On June 15, 2017, Jacob Stockdale fatally shot his 54-year-old mother, Kathryn, and his youngest brother, 21-year-old James. As police arrived at the family home following a hang-up emergency call, they heard a gunshot. It was 26-year-od Jacob, shooting himself in the head.RELATED: 8-Year-Old Abducted from Her Bed Recalls Vital Details That Helped Solve Her CaseHis wound was serious, and required a long hospital stay. Jacob subsequently pleaded not guilty, by reason of insanity, to two counts of murder. However, no one doubted he killed his mother and brother -- and he didn’t deny it. Had he broken, mentally and emotionally, under the long strain of his upbringing? Or was he seeking revenge?After he was determined to be legally sane, Jacob changed his plea to guilty. He was sentenced in 2018 to 30 years in prison, 15 years for each killing, to be served consecutively.Statements from the Stockdale FamilyJames Stockdale, Kathryn Stockdale and Jacob Stockdale, on Wife SwapGranted, there is much one can judge about the way father Timothy Stockdale, and the late Kathryn Stockdale raised their sons. But one must appreciate the tenderness and magnanimity of the statements several Stockdale family members released after the tragedy.RELATED: How Cynthia Vigil Escaped ‘Toy Box Killer’ David Parker Ray and Ended His Horrific CrimesTimothy Stockdale said, “Kathy has been my beloved wife of 32 years and a wonderful mother to our four sons. She loved nothing more than being a mother and grandmother. She had a strong love of learning and was passionate about her Christian faith, natural health, and organic farming.”Even more moving were the words of the oldest Stockdale son, Calvin, who said, “James, our youngest brother, has always been a catalyst of family fun. He leaves behind many friends and a family that loved him dearly. My brother, Jacob, is still in critical condition and we are praying for his physical recovery as our family makes funeral plans and begins the healing process.”KEEP READING:Netflix’s Devil in Ohio Is Inspired by a True Story – But Which One?

Committing the Perfect Crime in Yellowstone's Zone of Death
Pop Culture

Committing the Perfect Crime in Yellowstone's Zone of Death

When most people consider the perfect crime – academically, or for a work of fiction, of course – they think of one for which there's no way to be caught. Or, if apprehended, they can't be prosecuted. It would require meticulous planning, a complete lack of witnesses or evidence, or a clever legal loophole. Some believe they have found the latter in the Yellowstone Zone of Death.The 50-square-mile area, in the Idaho section of Yellowstone National Park, theoretically provides a safe place to commit a crime. That's because of the U.S. Constitution, and a series of jurisdictional entanglements, first exposed by law professor Brian Kult.RELATED: A Mother and 8-Year-Old Daughter Were Kidnapped for 7 Weeks - Their Escape Was Unbelievable, But Just the BeginningAs far as we know, no one has actually tried to get away with murder in this Zone of Death. Indeed, hardly anyone is even ever there. It isn't named for a slew of heinous crimes, or for a single grisly murder. So why is this place called by that name? Because it just might be the only place in the United States where you can commit the perfect crime.Theoretically, a killer could avoid the law, because in this stretch of land, it may not apply. We’ll talk about the legality of committing crimes in the Zone of Death later. But, first, what and where is this so-called Zone of Death, anyway?What, and Where, Is Yellowstone's Zone of Death?Yellowstone's Zone of Death (Map: Amusing Planet)It’s a sliver of land, really, created by the quirkiness of state borders. The region is 2 miles wide, and 25 miles long, starting below where Idaho, Montana and Wyoming meet. That's roughly 50 square miles, or an area slightly larger than San Francisco.Not a single established road runs through the Zone of Death. One of the few named features on the map is Buffalo Lake, beside which sits a cabin and unmaintained campsite. There are also a few small creeks with uninspired names like Boundary Creek.Long story short, this is wilderness. Which is the point, of course. When Yellowstone National Park was established in 1872, 2.2 million acres was set aside to remain wild. The Legal Loophole: A Constitutional QuestionPhoto by Anthony Garand on UnsplashThe Constitution of the United States is a wonderful document. It has proved strong enough to guide lawmakers and judges for nearly 250 years, while also being flexible enough to remain relevant. It’s far from a perfect document, however. Inevitably, there are situations its Framers could not have foreseen and, thus, are left unaddressed.To understand the problem the Constitution left when it comes to the Yellowstone National Park Zone of Death, read Article III, Section 2: “The Trial of all Crimes, except in Cases of Impeachment, shall be by Jury; and such Trial shall be held in the State where the said Crimes shall have been committed.”RELATED: How Cynthia Vigil Escaped ‘Toy Box Killer’ David Parker Ray and Ended His Horrific CrimesNote that the Constitution clearly stipulates that crimes must be tried by juries. Now take a look at another bit of language added to the Constitution a few years later.The Sixth Amendment, added in 1791 as part of the Bill of Rights, reads: “In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the state and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for his defense.” (Italics have been added for emphasis.)Put those together, and you have a legal obligation for a defendant to be tried in the state in which the crime was committed, and by a jury selected from that same "state and district." That leads to a legal loophole. The problem? There are two, actually. First, the Zone of Death lies in Idaho, but the U.S. District Court for the District of Wyoming has legal purview over all of Yellowstone National Park – even those parts that lie in Idaho and Montana.RELATED: Where Is JFK’s Brain? A Mind-Boggling Mystery & Conspiracy Theory, ExplainedSo, that’s problem one. You have an area that is technically under the auspices of two different parts of the government, so which has the actual authority. The second is that the Constitution clearly states juries must be comprised of members of the public that reside in “the state and district wherein the crime shall have been committed.” Even assuming legal experts could work out whether the Zone of Death was more properly a concern for the state of Idaho or the federal government, no one lives in that narrow strip of land just across the Idaho border. It would be impossible to select a jury from residents of the region, as there simply are none.And if you can’t be properly tried by a jury for your crimes, then, theoretically, you can’t be tried at all.The Gabby Petito CaseA photo of Gabby Petito, released by her familyHad Gabby Petito’s life ended a few miles northwest of where it did, the history of the Zone of Death may have moved from the academic to the all too real. RELATED: How 17-Year-Old Lisa McVey Saved Her Own Life by Outsmarting the Serial Killer Who Abducted HerPetito was murdered by her fiancé, a Brian Laundrie, in late August 2021, as far as experts can tell. Her body was found in Grand Teton National Park, south of Yellowstone. However, it's fully within Wyoming, and doesn't cross state boundaries, thus freeing it of the legal complications of the Yellowstone Zone of Death.Of course, Laundrie killed himself within two week's of the murder. His body found in a wilderness preserve in Florida, near where the couple had lived. According to the FBI, Laundrie confessed to the murder in a notebook, found near his body.What to Do About Yellowstone's Zone of Death DilemmaPhoto by Dustin Commer on UnsplashIt’s highly unlikely anyone will travel to Yellowstone’s Zone of Death to commit a major crime. And even if they did, jurisdiction might fall to the place where they planned the crime.RELATED: 8-Year-Old Abducted from Her Bed Recalls Vital Details That Helped Solve Her CaseHowever, the Zone of Death loophole has been raised in court, in a crime as relatively mundane as poaching. In 2005, Michael Belderrain illegally shot an elk in Montana, and then attempted to use Kalt's loophole as his 2007 defense. Because he was within Yellowstone when he committed the crime, Belderrain was indicted in the U.S. District for Wyoming. However, he demanded to be tried by jurors from Montana. The court dismissed the Sixth Amendment argument, and Belderrain ultimately took a plea deal. Therefore, the Zone of Death loophole went untested.But Brian Kalt proposes what should be a relatively easy way to clear up the murky matter: Congress can pass a law declaring Idaho’s portion of Yellowstone National Park as part of the U.S. District Court for the District of Idaho. Loophole would then be closed, and Yellowstone's Zone of Death would be no more.Thus far, however, there's been no congressional action on the matter.KEEP READING: Netflix's Devil in Ohio Is Inspired by a True Story - But Which One?

A Mother and 8-Year-Old Daughter Were Kidnapped for 7 Weeks - Their Escape Was Unbelievable, but Just the Beginning
True Crime

A Mother and 8-Year-Old Daughter Were Kidnapped for 7 Weeks - Their Escape Was Unbelievable, but Just the Beginning

Mary Stauffer and her 8-year-old daughter, Elizabeth, were leaving a beauty salon in suburban St. Paul, Minnesota, on May 16, 1980, when a man appeared, and held them at gunpoint. He forced them into the trunk of his car, and then drove away. Although Mary didn't immediately recognize their abductor, she soon discovered Ming Sen Shiue was someone from her past.RELATED: How a Podcast Exposed a New Break in the Unsolved Delphi MurdersMary and Beth screamed from inside the trunk, in hope of drawing the attention of passing drivers. Shiue stopped to reprimand them, covered their mouths with duct tape, and then continued driving. He stopped a second time, at an Anoka County park, and found Mary had partially freed Beth. Shiue's action attracted the notice of two boys, who approached the car to investigate. Six-year-old Jason Wilkman walked toward the trunk, spotted the Stauffers and said, “Whoa.” He didn’t have a chance to say anything else before Shiue grabbed the boy, stuffed him inside the trunk with the Stauffers, and then continued his journey. He left behind Jason’s friend, who alerted police.Shiue drove north to Carlos Avery State Wildlife Park, where he forced Jason out of the car, and beat him to death with a metal bar. He hid Jason’s body in the woods, then took Mary and Beth to his home in Roseville, a suburb of Minneapolis and St. Paul. He bound them and locked them in a bedroom closet measuring 21 inches wide by 4 feet long.Their abductor revealed his identity to Mary on the second day. Twenty-nine-year-old Ming Sen Shiue had been a student in Mary's ninth-grade algebra class 15 years earlier. He developed an unhealthy obsession with his former teacher, which had progressed into years of stalking. Shiue made four previous attempts to abduct her, and in 1975 even attacked her in-laws. He threatened them not to tell police.RELATED: How Cynthia Vigil Escaped ‘Toy Box Killer’ David Parker Ray and Ended His Horrific CrimesShiue continued to work at the Roseville electronics store he owned as he kept the Stauffers locked in the closet for weeks. He raped Mary daily, sometimes for hours, and once tried to suffocate Beth until Mary kissed him to make him stop. He tortured them, played mind games, and threatened to kill them and their family if they didn’t comply.“Every day we wondered if it was going to be our last day,” Mary recalled. “We had no confidence that we would get through it alive.”How Mary & Elizabeth Stauffer Escaped Ming Sen ShiueThe kidnapping occurred days before the Stauffers planned to return to the Philippines for a four-year missionary trip. Beth called her father on June 15 to wish him happy Father's Day before she quickly hung up and returned to the closet. On July 7, after 53 days of captivity, Mary broke open the closet door. She was chained to her daughter, but nevertheless reached the phone to call police. Mary told them who and where she ways, then left the house with Beth to await police. They initially waited on the front porch, but then hid behind a car, fearing Shiue might return from work. Police arrived minutes later, and rescued them. Shiue was arrested shortly thereafter at his electronics store. It wasn’t until then police realized Jason Wilkman hadn't been held captive with the Stauffers. Jason’s body was recovered after Shiue showed authorities where his body was hidden two months earlierRELATED: How 17-Year-Old Lisa McVey Saved Her Own Life by Outsmarting the Serial Killer Who Abducted HerShiue faced two trials, one federal for the kidnapping of the Stauffers and the rape of Mary, and the other state, for the murder of Jason Wilkman. Mary testified against him at both trials -- and both times Shiue attempted to attack her. The prosecutor, U.S. Attorney Thomas Berg, prevented Shiue's attack at the federal trial. However, in the state trial, Shiue slashed Mary's face with a knife that he had sneaked into the courtroom. Her wounds required 62 stitches.Where Are Mary and Elizabeth Stauffer and Ming Sen Shiue?Ming Sen Shiue was convicted in both trials, the first in 1980 and the second in 1981. He received 30 years to life on the federal kidnapping charges, and 40 years on the state murder charge. He was eligible for parole in 2010, but that was denied. It was determined that Shiue should be held in prison indefinitely RELATED: 8-Year-Old Abducted from Her Bed Recalls Vital Details That Helped Solve Her CaseMary reunited with her husband, Irv Stauffer, and her son, Steve, and returned to her work as a Baptist missionary. The Stauffers have since retired, and Elizabeth and brother Steve have married, and now have children of their own. Mary rarely grants interviews. However, he has shared her experience with reporters and church groups, focusing on how faith helped her and Beth endure the ordeal. Faith was crucial to Mary’s recovery. “We continue to pray for [Shiue], because God is so merciful," she said. "I have not felt the need to reach out to him. I just felt that would be unwise to make any sort of contact with him.” However, Mary has expressed concern about what Shiue might do if he’s released. According to a 2008 psychologist evaluation, Shiue expressed remorse for his crimes, saying, “I devastated [Mary], I ruined her life.” But the Stauffers didn’t allow him to do that. “He didn’t get to ruin our lives,” Beth said. “He ruined his life.”The Stauffers Share Their StoryMary and Beth’s understanding of what happened, their resilience, and their desire to share their story for other survivors is inspiring. Lifetime released a 2019 television movie, Abducted: The Mary Stauffer Story, starring Alyson Hannigan as Mary Stauffer, Daphne Hoskins as Elizabeth Stauffer, and Howie Lai as Ming Sen Shiue.Mary said that having her experience portrayed on the screen shows other survivors they’re not alone, and that their traumas don’t have to define them. “I think many people have gone through really bad things; many women have been raped,” Mary said. “They need to see that there’s life after this.”KEEP READING: How to Overcome Trauma Triggers

Netflix's Devil in Ohio Is Inspired by a True Story - But Which One?
Pop Culture

Netflix's Devil in Ohio Is Inspired by a True Story - But Which One?

Devil in Ohio is Netflix's No. 1 TV series United States, surpassing such hits as Stranger Things Season 4 and The Sandman. The suspense thriller is adapted from showrunner Daria Polatin's 2017 young-adult novel of the same, which is billed as "inspired by true events." Polatin doubled down on that while promoting the Netflix series, yet remained cagey about the details. So, if Devil in Ohio is inspired by a true story, the question remains, which one.RELATED: Where Is JFK's Brain? A Mind-Boggling Mystery & Conspiracy Theory, ExplainedIn the surprisingly successful miniseries, as in Polatin's novel, a teenager named Mae escapes a satanic cult led by her father, and finds temporary safety in the home of hospital psychiatrist Suzanne Mathis (played by Emily Deschanel of Bones fame). Without giving away too much, Mae's arrival leads to anything but safety for Dr. Mathis, her family or the girl herself. There’s the pentagram carved into Mae’s back, her strange behavior toward Mathis daughter Jules, the drama at the harvest dance, and, of course, the cult members determined to bring Mae back.What Devil in Ohio's Author Said About Its True-Crime InfluenceMadeleine Arthur as Mae and Keenan Tracey as Noah in Devil in Ohio (Photo: Netflix)If you want to know what unfolds in Devil in Ohio, you can read the book, watch the Netflix adaptation, or both. If you’re more interested in the true-crime influence, you will need to dig for clues. That's because Polatin remains tight-lipped about which real events inspired her thriller.RELATED: The Waco Siege: 5 Deadly Facts You Never Knew"The bones of the story are true and happened," Polatin explained to The Columbus (Ohio) Dispatch before the Netflix release, "and I wanted to take that as a jumping-off point. It’s inspired by true events, but it’s not a documentary. That’s just a different kind of storytelling. For this, I felt that the best outlet would be to free it up creatively and fictionalize the details and let it take on a life of its own. [The real story did] take place in Ohio."Although the Dispatch was unable to pry further details from Polatin, others have dug into the state's true-crime history to offer up some real events that may have influenced Devil in Ohio.Jeffrey Lundgren and the Kirtland Cult KillingsThe Avery family, murdered in 1989 by Jeffrey Lundgren and members of his cultKirtland, Ohio, east of Cleveland, has a dark past that, in the eyes of many, dates back to 1837. That's when Joseph Smith, the controversial founder of Mormonism, fled the town he once viewed as Zion to avoid arrest. He is believed to have left behind a curse that has seemingly played out over the decades in grisly murders, and in stories of ghosts and strange creatures known as melon heads.RELATED: How a Podcast Exposed a New Break in the Unsolved Delphi Murders CaseHowever, the grimmest tale emerged from Kirtland in 1989, with the murders of a family of five by self-proclaimed prophet Jeffrey Lundgren and his paramilitary religious cult. The victims -- Dennis and Cheryl Avery and their three daughters -- were, like Lundgren, members of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints who had become disillusioned by the denomination's embrace of liberal social policies.Lundgren convinced his small group of followers that the only way to speed entry into Zion was for him to seize control of the Kirtland church through force. However, that would first require the culling of unwanted members of their cult.By most accounts, the Averys were devoted to Lundgren, referred to as "Dad" by members of the group. They even signed over tens of thousands of dollars to help pay the cult's expenses. But, as The New-Herald recounts, Lundgren began to suspect the Averys, and in particular Dennis, posed a threat to his leadership. They had kept some of their finances separate from the group's, which he considered sinful. Therefore, the Averys had to be killed in what Lundgren referred to as "pruning the vineyard."RELATED: How 17-Year-Old Lisa McVey Saved Her Own Life by Outsmarting the Serial Killer Who Abducted HerOn April 17, 1989, Lundgren invited the Averys to the farmhouse he lived with other cult members. The pretense was a party to celebrate an impending wilderness trip tinged with religious meaning. However, the Averys walked into a trap. Within hours, the five family members -- including 15-year-old Trina, 13-year-old Rebecca and 7-year-old Karen -- was dead. Their bodied were dumped into a pit Lundgren ordered dug inside the barn seven days earlier. It remains the largest mass murder in Lake County, Ohio, history.Lundgren and 12 of his followers were indicted in 1990 in the executions of the Avery family. Charges ranged from kidnapping and aggravated murder to conspiracy and obstruction of justice. Lundgren was convicted in August 1990 of five counts of aggravated murder. He was executed on Oct. 26, 2006.The All Saved Freak Band and the Fortney Road CultMembers of the All Saved Freak Band, part of Larry Hill's Church of the Risen Christ (Photo: Jeff Stevenson)The Christian cult on Fortney Road in Windsor, Ohio, might not have seemed like the worst of the worst, at least from the outside. Indeed, its leader, Rev. Larry Hill -- a fire-and-brimstone preacher and self-proclaimed prophet -- was never suspected of murder. But he did ruin the lives of many followers. And, through his actions, people did die. RELATED: How Cynthia Vigil Escaped “Toy Box Killer” David Parker Ray and Ended His Horrific CrimesHill claimed in 1965 to have been struck by a vision of a war that would bring the end of days. That led him to gather followers around him in what he called the Church of the Risen Christ. Many of Hill’s adherents were musicians – some even classically trained and accomplished. Music, thus, informed much of the practices of the cult, which had its own band: the All Saved Freak Band. On the Fortney Road farm, followers were subjected to little sleep, and intense exercise and training in preparation for the coming war. Hill whipped and struck anyone who disobeyed, and was accused of sexually abusing children. Three cult members, including Hill's eldest son, died in a car accident attributed to sleep deprivation.The cult endured until the early 1970s, when many members were finally shocked to their senses by Hill’s whipping of an 8-year-old girl. As members left, the FBI closed in. Hill fled, and hid out for years, only returning to Ohio after the statute of limitations had expired. As of 2015, Hill reportedly still lived on the Fortney Road farm.Xenos Christian FellowshipAnother Ohio religious group that may have informed Devil in Ohio, the Xenos Christian Fellowship, still exists. However, it changed its name in 2020 to Dwell Community Church.RELATED: How a 24-Year-Old Victim Became the Hero Who Stopped the Real "Dirty John" MeehanBased in Columbus, Ohio, the church recruited young members -- even minors -- and then reportedly employed shame, intimidation and blackmail to ensure their complete devotion.Young members were forced to live in close quarters, with sometimes as many as a dozen sharing a single room. Church leaders compelled them to share secrets and sexual details. Former members alleged the renamed Xenos continues to recruit minors.KEEP READING: How Jaycee Dugard Reclaimed Her Life After an 18-Year Kidnapping

Where Is JFK’s Brain? A Mind-Boggling Mystery & Conspiracy Theory, Explained
Pop Culture

Where Is JFK’s Brain? A Mind-Boggling Mystery & Conspiracy Theory, Explained

The assassination of President John F. Kennedy was a magnet for conspiracy theories virtually from the start, encompassing a magic bullet, a second gunman, the Mafia, and even his successor, Lyndon B. Johnson. However, none of them is as bizarre as those surrounding the whereabouts of JFK's brain.The facts of Kennedy's assassination in Dallas, Texas, on Nov. 22, 1963, are well-established by now, even if virtually each and every one is guaranteed to have a conspiracy theory attached. What’s not well known, however, is what happened to Kennedy's brain. In fact, JFK’s brain is unaccounted for, nearly 60 years after his death.John F. Kennedy's Assassination and AutopsyKennedy motorcade in Dallas on Nov. 22, 1963 (Photo: Victor Hugo King, Library of Congress)President Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy arrived in Texas on Nov. 21, 1963, as part of planned a two-day, five-city campaign tour. He needed to unite the state's Democrats, and secure its electoral votes, if he hoped to win reelection the following year.After stops in San Antonio and Fort Worth, Kennedy arrived on Nov. 22 to Dallas, where his presidential motorcade rolled through the streets, to the cheers of onlookers. However, six floors above the crowds, in the Texas School Book Depository, was Lee Harvey Oswald, a disgruntled former Marine. As the open convertible carrying the Kennedys turned off Main Street at Dealey Plaza at 12:30 p.m., Oswald fired three shots, striking the president in the back and head, and hitting Texas Gov. John Connally in the back.RELATED: 65 Famous John F. Kennedy Quotes on Life and LeadershipKennedy was rushed to nearby Parkland Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 1 p.m. (Connally recovered from his serious injuries.) An autopsy was performed that night, confirming the president's death was caused by two bullets. One struck JFK in the back and exited through his neck. The other hit his head, fragmenting upon impact with his skull.Theories have long circulated about a "magic bullet," the FBI, KGB or others hiring Oswald, Kennedy secretly surviving, and so on. However, it's safe assumption that Lee Harvey Oswald was a disturbed man who acted alone.Was JFK's Brain Stolen to Conceal Evidence?Lee Harvey Oswald (Photo: FBI)Six decades later, questions still surround the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. However, the strangest by far is, what happened to JFK's brain?Kennedy's brain was removed during the autopsy, which may sound macabre, but it's hardly unusual. It was stored for three years in the National Archives, the federal agency tasked with the preservation and cataloging of government records. (Thankfully, it wasn't put on display, like the Constitution.) But then, in 1966, JFK's brain went missing. Some conspiracy theorists believe the brain was stolen to conceal evidence that Kennedy wasn't shot from behind, but rather from the front. To their minds, that would prove Oswald wasn't the assassin. However, it would also means the autopsy was a sham, as was the famed Zapruder film, which captured the exact moment of the assassination. That's to say nothing of the testimony of eye witnesses, or the findings of the Warren Commission.Another theory contends President Kennedy’s brother, Attorney General Robert Kennedy, ordered the brain to be removed from the National Archives. However, in this scenario, Robert Kennedy's motive had nothing to do with the details of the assassination itself. Instead, theorists say, it was an effort to conceal the illnesses that afflicted JFK, and the medications he took during his time in the White House. The Robert Kennedy theory was put forward by author James Swanson in his 2014 book End of Days: The Assassination of John F. Kennedy.RELATED: The Waco Siege: 5 Deadly Facts You Never KnewPerhaps the least-sensational possibility, of course, is that the organ was simply misplaced, accidentally discarded or destroyed. There is a lot of material in the National Archives, and it’s plausible mistakes were made. What’s more, if someone did accidentally damage or lose JFK's brain, and then realized the gravity of the situation, it’s easy to imagine they would never come forward to admit to a mistake of historical proportions. Long story short, we don’t know where the brain is, or what happened to it. It's likely we never will.Why JFK’s Brain Remains a Fascinating MysteryJohn F. Kennedy (Photo: Library of Congress)John F. Kennedy has been dead for six decades. Had he not been assassinated on Nov, 22, 1963 -- and he been very long-lived -- JFK would have turned 105 years old this year. Yes, that's highly improbable, if not entirely impossible. But it illustrates the point that JFK, brain and all, is an important part of America's past, but not necessarily its present.RELATED: A Newborn Baby Kidnapped by a “Nurse” Discovers the Truth – 23 Years LaterSo why is there an enduring fascination with his missing brain? It’s not about JFK's brain itself so much as it is about his myth and, by extension, the lore of the Kennedy family. They were arguably as close to royalty as the United States has seen. The Kennedy White House became romanticized as Camelot, because of its blend of glamor and power. (Jackie Kennedy herself first made the comparison, in a Life magazine interview.) In the years that followed, the Kennedy family forged a political dynasty that lasted until 2009.Were the brain in question that of King George VI of England, it’s safe to assume there would be a similar level of interest and intrigue. People would similarly wonder at the missing brain of a Hollywood star. Say, Marilyn Monroe or Elvis Presley. But as it happens, the brain that’s unaccounted for belonged to JFK, untimely death led to the so-called “interrupted promise” with America. Because that interrupted, rather than left fulfilled -- or broken, considering this is politics -- the attention, wonder and intrigue involving JFK's brain may never fully fade.KEEP READING: How a Podcast Exposed a New Break in the Unsolved Delphi Murders Case