They did what? A crime of passion is one thing, but a son who kills his entire family or men who kidnap a school bus full of children boggles even the most jaded mind. These are the shocking cases that give veteran cops nightmares and generate headlines for decades. Enter the twisted minds of the world’s most notorious serial killers who murder—and murder again— for reasons that make sense only to them. Revisit the sensational trials with twists and turns that Hollywood could never have dreamed up, and then see how real-life celebrity homicide cases play out. Go inside the terrifying cults that lure in the unsuspecting and brainwash the naive, and meet the master thieves who steal as much for the thrill as for the money. Try to unravel the motives of mothers who kill their children—and the children who slaughter their own loved ones. And get up close to the kidnappers who will stop at nothing to get their ransom. It’s a terrifying journey into the darkest of criminal minds. And it’s all true
CRIMES THAT SHOCKED THE WORLD
HORRIFIC & UNFORGETTABLE • THEY’RE THE CASES THAT ALMOST DEFY BELIEF.
CHAPTER 1 SERIAL KILLERS • THE MONSTERS AMONG US WHO WERE DRIVEN TO MURDER, AGAIN AND AGAIN.
THE MILWAUKEE MONSTER • HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT, JEFFREY DAHMER PREYED ON OUTCASTS AND THE MARGINALIZED.
A KILLER ROLE
THE HANDSOME SOCIOPATH • TED BUNDY’S SMILE AND CHARM LURKED PURE EVIL.
THE SON OF SAM • DAVID BERKOWITZ HAD NEW YORK CITY ON EDGE THROUGH THE SWELTERING SUMMER OF 1977.
HE DRESSED UP AS A CLOWN • JOHN WAYNE GACY LIVED IN A HOUSE OF HORRORS, WHERE HE STASHED THE BODIES OF HIS VICTIMS.
HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT • THE BTK KILLER DENNIS RADER LET HIS OUTSIZE EGO GET THE BEST OF HIM.
POLICE CONTINUE THEIR SEARCH • THE INVESTIGATIONS INTO THESE BLOOD THIRSTY MURDERERS ARE ONGOING.
CHAPTER 2 TRIALS THAT CAPTIVATED THE COUNTRY • THEY’RE THE CASES THAT HAD US GLUED TO OUR TVS AND FEVERISHLY CHECKING THE NEWS.
A SHOCKING VERDICT • DESPITE THE OUTRAGE, CASEY ANTHONY, THE MOM ACQUITTED OF KILLING HER DAUGHTER, CAYLEE, DOESN’T CARE WHAT YOU THINK.
THE LIZZIE BORDEN TRIAL
THE CASTRATION THAT CRIPPED THE NATION • LORENA BOBBITT COULDN’T TAKE HER HUSBAND’S ABUSE ANYMORE, SO SHE CUT OFF HIS PENIS.
JAILED FOR A MURDER SHE DIDN’T COMMIT • ACQUITTED OF KILLING HER ROOMMATE, AMANDA KNOX FINDS SOME WON’TLETHER PUT IT BEHIND HER.
THE CASE THAT POLARIZED AMERICA • GEORGE ZIMMERMAN KILLED UNARMED BLACK YOUTH TRAYVON MARTIN IN ACASE THAT SPURRED THE BLACK LIVES MATTER MOVEMENT.
THE SOCIALITE ACCUSED OF PUTTING HIS WIFE INTO A COMA • Claus von Bülow’s attempted murder case tapped into the Reagan era’s fascination with the wealthy.
CELEBRITIES ACQUITTED OF SERIOUS CHARGES • THESE STARS WERE ALSO TRIED IN THE COURT OF PUBLIC OPINION.
CHAPTER 3 DANGEROUS CULTS & GURUS • HOW REGULAR PEOPLE SPIRAL INTO BRAINWASHING, ABUSE—AND WORSE.
FROM SELF-HELP TO SEX SLAVERY • NXIVM’S PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT COURSES HID ADEPRAVED CULT.
A FIGHT TO SAVE HER DAUGHTER
MANSON KILLER GRANTED PAROLE • LESLIE VAN HOUTEN WAS RELEASED IN JULYAFTER 53 YEARS IN PRISON—AND MORE OF CHARLES MANSON’S FAMILY COULD FOLLOW HER TO FREEDOM.
AN FBI SIEGE ENDS IN FIERY DEATHS • THE BRANCH DAVIDIANS, AN APOCALYPTIC RELIGIOUS SECT LED BY DAVID KORESH, FACED OFF WITH THE FEDS IN WACO, TEXAS.
MASS MURDER AND SUICIDE IN GUYANA • MORE THAN 900 MEMBERS OF THE PEOPLES TEMPLE WERE FOUND DEAD AFTER THEIR LEADER, JIM JONES, ORDERED THEM TO SWALLOW A SOFTDRINK SPIKED WITH CYANIDE.
THEY DIED WITH THEIR NIKES ON • MEMBERS OF THE HEAVEN’S GATE CULT DONNED TRACK SUITS AND ATHLETIC SHOES TO SET OFF ON A JOURNEY BEHIND A COMET.
LETHAL LEADERS • THESE CHARISMATIC CULTMASTERS...