tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39180912658262715122024-03-18T03:04:26.922+00:00 True Crime With Caledonian Kitty Est 2019 • Serial Killers & True Crime • Sunday Posts • Created, researched & written by Jo Donnelly Caledonian Kittyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07812087097647828789noreply@blogger.comBlogger327125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3918091265826271512.post-79758054312615543482024-03-17T17:00:00.001+00:002024-03-17T17:00:00.125+00:00Unexplained Deaths: The Truth May Never Be Known<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX-cJkIGzgGOkwqwOejJi5jqAduV2wMShGXM2mYIKjwVlmD8J-XbEWGzixRBl1ZIMPXbcIsGj4dvNtZvN0Im9rzkK8DWdXf8DQLTpO1L00lj6vXUKMEzJJXBlN0ays-ygzvebXAoUEFznv2pCLm7IE0o6d6Qd3L4Rch-6Z3vUSv-t-yCRxDtBQ8S6uI2mm/s1619/Picsart_24-03-14_23-54-50-224.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1619" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX-cJkIGzgGOkwqwOejJi5jqAduV2wMShGXM2mYIKjwVlmD8J-XbEWGzixRBl1ZIMPXbcIsGj4dvNtZvN0Im9rzkK8DWdXf8DQLTpO1L00lj6vXUKMEzJJXBlN0ays-ygzvebXAoUEFznv2pCLm7IE0o6d6Qd3L4Rch-6Z3vUSv-t-yCRxDtBQ8S6uI2mm/w640-h426/Picsart_24-03-14_23-54-50-224.jpg" width="640" /></a><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Linda Kurle & The Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital. Picture credits: <a href="https://www.chicagotribune.com/">Chicago Tribune</a>)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">This is one of those cases that you may not have heard about considering that it took place in 1980 and received little to no coverage. I actually stumbled across this story whilst going through one of my old true crime books which had been published many moons ago. I started to do some digging about the case to see if there had been any conclusion or updates and what I found was quite interesting to say the least. </div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;">As you know I have written about killer nurses in the past (<a href="http://www.caledoniankitty.co.uk/2020/11/nurses-who-kill-lucy-letby-beverley.html">Lucy Letby & Beverley Allitt) </a> as well as the shocking crimes of Doctors <a href="http://www.caledoniankitty.co.uk/2020/05/dr-death-harold-shipman-story-part-one.html">Harold Shipman</a> and <a href="http://www.caledoniankitty.co.uk/2022/03/inhuman-life-sadistic-crimes-of-dr.html">Josef Mengele</a> who have abused their position and harmed or murdered innocent patients in their care. It's a frightening thought to know that the stories I have written about involving these individuals are just a tiny speck on a huge number of cases which are still going on to this day. We used to be able to say that whilst in hospital you were considered to be in the best place, it was seen as safe, clean and staffed by qualified medical professionals that only had your best interests at heart. We used to be able to say that you could 100% trust your Doctor but in this day and age with numerous mistakes being made, patients concerns being ignored, corner cutting and unexplained deaths, you really do have to think twice. </p><p style="text-align: center;">So back in 1980 in Chicago, Illinois, USA, a shocking story briefly hit the headlines involving a 24 year old nurse by the name of Linda Kurle. Apparently Linda, who had been working her usual 11pm to 7am nightshifts at The Good Samaritan hospital was being suspended due to an investigation into two unexplained deaths of elderly female patients who had primarily been in her care. The two patients had been in hospital for routine surgery (one of the patients was in hospital for a hip operation) but suddenly died due to lapsing into a insulin induced coma. The two women had been perfectly fine previously so their deaths became a mystery and shock to the staff of the hospital. Linda was in charge of 12 patients on that particular ward and was the one who had apparently found both of these patients not responding and raised the alarm. According to Linda, she had done everything she possibly could to keep both of these women alive. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Both of the women had undergone autopsies which revealed that both of them had died through heavy doses of insulin. After the autopsies the remains were released to the families for cremation. Linda Kurle was suspended by the hospital who continued on with their investigation into the unexplained deaths. Linda contacted a lawyer and got the press involved declaring that she was innocent and had been targeted by the hospital. Her argument was that the insulin had been kept in a room which anyone could have had access to as it was always open and was situated right next to a public elevator. Her lawyer also argued the fact that the hospital was not questioning everyone who had access to that room, the focus was purely on Linda.</p><p style="text-align: center;">A hearing about Linda's suspension was held and she turned up with her lawyer and an army of friends who were prepared to provide a positive character reference for Linda. She had also alerted the media. The hospital forbid the press to attend but interviews with Linda and her lawyer as well as the attorney representing the hospital were conducted outside. The hearing only lasted 20 minutes but Linda was provided with a two-page document which contained the concerns that the hospital had in regards to her conduct during her shifts. Linda was in tears and again declared that she was innocent and even offered to take a polygraph (lie detector) test. </p><p style="text-align: center;">The shocking story did make the nightly news and the public were waiting to hear what the final decision was going to be in regards to Linda's possible guilt, innocence and her career as a nurse. The hospital board were set to make a decision within days of what manner in they wished to proceed. It ended up with Linda being fired from her position but because the deaths could not be proven to be her responsibility they still let her go. The hospital still believed the deaths to be highly suspicious and unexplained but they could not prove that Linda was 100% responsible although they did suspect her. Nobody else was ever questioned. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Not one to take the news of her nursing career at the age of 24 being over, Linda pressed forward and took the hospital to court to fight for her nursing reputation, employment and financial damages. She claimed that her life and professional career had been ruined and that she'd been made a scapegoat. </p><p style="text-align: center;">In a surprise turn of events due to lack of evidence which could 100% prove that Linda had been the person who had administered the insulin to the patients, the court decided that the hospital give Linda back her nursing position as well as money owed and financial compensation for distress caused. </p><p style="text-align: center;">The story quickly vanished from the media which is quite interesting because if it had occurred today, I think that members of the public and the media would be interested in getting to the bottom of it all. We have seen with the likes of Dr Harold Shipman, with his patients who had routine ailments mysteriously passing away out of the blue but those relatives of those victims and members of the public would not let it lie despite the victims being of a certain age. I could be wrong but it seems like because the two patients in the Good Samaritan Hospital case were elderly women and it occurred in 1980, there seemed to be an attitude of just letting the case dwindle away. You'd think that the hospital would continue their investigations into everyone who worked there, not just Linda. At the end of the day the hospital was left with a bad reputation as well as being dragged through the court in front of the media by Linda, you'd think they'd want to get to the bottom of the unexplained deaths. To not only bring some sort of closure to the patient's families but to help repair their image to the public. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Linda returned to her position as a nurse at the hospital which is quite baffling to me for a number of reasons. One being that she was allowed to return (by order of the court not by the hospital wanting her back) to her position despite the fact that it was not known if she had been responsible for the deaths. Two that she would even return to a place where everyone suspected her of being a murderer basically. In this situation I think that if there's any doubt (obviously with some sort of evidence) about someone's conduct in that position with vulnerable people, I think that chances should not be taken. </p><p style="text-align: center;">After Linda's return no other incidences were reported but was Linda 100% innocent all along or was it the case that she was guilty and knew that all eyes were on her, so if anything was to happen she knew they'd look to her first? </p><p style="text-align: center;">The unexplained deaths of Ellen O'Hara and Vivian Brown were never solved, nobody was brought to justice and their families were left with unanswered questions. Linda continued on with her career and reportedly passed away at the age of 35 in 1991 taking any possible secrets to the grave. This case was over 43 years ago and the people that were working in the hospital at the time are probably no longer with us or at least in their late 60s if they were around the same age as Linda. </p><p style="text-align: center;">The Good Samaritan Hospital still exists to this day but goes by the name of Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital. Linda having passed away at the young age of 35 one wonders if it was illness related or had she taken her own life? I couldn't find any information except for a death notice. If Linda was indeed innocent, it's a very sad end to a very tragic story. To be accused of murder at the age of 24 then passing away not that long after at the young age of 35 the ordeal of being falsely accused and no doubt suffering PTSD afterwards as a result for the rest of those years, one hopes that she did find some peace towards the end. On the other hand, if she was guilty, it is still tragic and questions remain why did she do it? was it an error in judgement or a deliberate act? </p><p style="text-align: center;">What would you have done in that situation if you had been accused of something you hadn't done? Would you have given up your nursing career? This is a case that leaves a lot of unanswered questions which in my opinion we'll never know the answers to. Too much time has passed, no evidence was saved and unless someone has a death-bed confession we may never know. </p><p style="text-align: center;">I think about the families of the deceased women and hope they were able to find some sort of peace despite everything. </p><p style="text-align: center;">RIP Ellen and Vivian </p><p style="text-align: center;">I feel that I should say RIP also to Linda because even I am not psychic and cannot say whether she was or was not guilty. </p><p style="text-align: center;">The story of what happened at that hospital back in 1980 has long been forgotten I'm sorry to say. It's popped up on my blog now in 2024 and it may inspire others to look for answers or cover the story but it's one of those cases that has been lost in the sands of time and it really is a tragedy no matter how old the victims were. There's also the thought that if Linda was innocent, someone spent all of those years allowing her to suffer and have her reputation as a nurse called into question. If that is the truth of the matter, I hope that karma has come back around for that person. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><u><b>Further reading & sources: </b></u></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune-lindas-euthenasia-conce/57106923/">Linda Kurle: Article | Chicago Tribune</a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://casetext.com/case/kurle-v-evangelical-hospital-assn">Kurle Courtcase | Case Text</a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://www.classcreator.com/Darien-Illinois-Hinsdale-South-1973/class_profile.cfm?member_id=9360118">Hinsdale High School Yearbook </a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Encyclopedia-Unsolved-Crimes-Facts-Library/dp/0816078181/ref=sr_1_1?crid=19AOY82UXRZ6F&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.pTiwRBhZ1SfO9JXa-461E6zVwf481fF5eTa-qsLmRUbls73gyqS4_zwZgfF_2-wiovVVCEzLEXyda626qlSqBIb2rDPtyc70h8nCCcLM2QHkzqXbl-Mi0dMfobix9zAU606AA18WbNdKBhVchfHDinhZywVpB0qQMPM06XPbi3nrd49rp34gKZaVRku5MrfawQc8W6sBLG9eNfB2IIxn9Yy3jrdzLlXWqxdkdYhNME8.xHlLbMON8UUIjSULYS1Ctfis19uCQF0aLJUnB51N8Bg&dib_tag=se&keywords=the+encyclopedia+of+unsolved+crimes&qid=1710466984&sprefix=the+encyclopedia+of+unsolved+crimes%2Caps%2C137&sr=8-1">The Encyclopedia of Unsolved Crimes | Book by Michael Newton</a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://www.advocatehealth.com/gsam/">Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital </a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXC_43lLv6Y&list=PLMrlubgAY-LcgUeYFIlV5fZ82Em6rht44&t=1532">Linda Kurle | News Report</a> </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"> </p><p style="text-align: center;">Thank you as always for joining me in my latest true crime post, I hope that you found it interesting and informative. please let me know your thoughts below, by email (jocaledoniankitty@gmail.com) or on my <a href="https://linktr.ee/caledoniankitty">Socials</a>. </p><p style="text-align: center;">See you next time and stay safe x </p>Caledonian Kittyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07812087097647828789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3918091265826271512.post-79348877720124816822024-03-10T17:00:00.001+00:002024-03-10T17:00:00.137+00:00The 'Canal Killer' Finally Brought To Justice After 30 Years! | The Horrific Murders of Angela Brosso & Melanie Bernas<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBunBe6l7FImPkhtLLvboy6r-DBGmMTw8j-ZgaBVEoLyAt2ONgbDfKvfodM-lU7pJoiuNfHne7xI93pcMUWRvm5cm8LaJDtxva5wDBOtMYmWlStRyEFA0lPw8LNghQEli-er9TxluMu6aJfZMojI5Nhpw6s4Xt59lqf3Gq1mrpc_dFxnrugwZZ0-1luSNT/s1080/Picsart_24-03-07_16-11-42-022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBunBe6l7FImPkhtLLvboy6r-DBGmMTw8j-ZgaBVEoLyAt2ONgbDfKvfodM-lU7pJoiuNfHne7xI93pcMUWRvm5cm8LaJDtxva5wDBOtMYmWlStRyEFA0lPw8LNghQEli-er9TxluMu6aJfZMojI5Nhpw6s4Xt59lqf3Gq1mrpc_dFxnrugwZZ0-1luSNT/w640-h640/Picsart_24-03-07_16-11-42-022.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Left: Bryan Patrick Miller. Top right: Melanie Bernas. Bottom right: Angela Brosso. Picture credits: <a href="https://www.the-sun.com/news/9435550/angela-brosso-melanie-bernas-phoenix-canal-killer/">The US Sun</a>)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>*Please be aware that I will be sharing some disturbing details in this post which involve details of murder, violence towards women and horrific crime scenes. As always I will try to be as sensitive as I can be without leaving out the facts of the case* </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">When we look back at some of the most horrific murders and serial killers over the years it's easy to look at the decades of the 70s and 80s as some of the most dangerous times but the truth is, we've always had sickening crimes happening. The frightening reality is, that there are serial killers out there right now and some will be caught and some will remain at large. Some cases will be solved in a short space of time and some may go decades without justice being done. Then there's the case files that are locked away in a cold case box which over time gathers dust and as years go by and other factors, such as lack of proper evidence, or lost evidence, they are sadly never solved. But sometimes incredible things do happen and thanks to the advances in DNA technology and the tireless efforts of dedicated investigators (as well as members of the true crime community) attention is once again brought to these historical cases and even though decades have gone by there have been cases which have eventually been solved. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I'm happy to say that in the past couple of years I have seen a significant number of cold cases solved, cases which a lot of people had given up on. The heartbreaking story of <a href="http://www.caledoniankitty.co.uk/2019/08/someone-knows-caroline-glachan-case.html">Caroline Glachan</a> which occurred in my hometown back in Scotland and which had a personal connection to myself, was solved after 27 years. I had worked with Caroline's mother and as a teenager I had walked the same route that Caroline did in those dark hours before her death. I knew first hand the culture and the mentality of the local people, the attitude of knowing information but keeping quiet. I also grew quite close to Margaret (Caroline's mother) and had seen first hand the devastating impact of years of not knowing who had murdered her child had done to her as well as the horrific loss of her beloved daughter. I wrote all about this <a href="http://www.caledoniankitty.co.uk/2019/08/someone-knows-caroline-glachan-case.html">previously</a> but the belief for so many years was that the case would never be solved, luckily that belief was wrong and the three murderers are now behind bars where they should stay. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We often look at the likes of <a href="http://www.caledoniankitty.co.uk/2023/06/the-many-faces-of-ted-bundy-charismatic.html">Ted Bundy</a> and <a href="http://www.caledoniankitty.co.uk/2022/04/the-life-gruesome-crimes-of-jeffrey.html">Jeffrey Dahmer</a> and numerous documentaries and films have been been made about them, but in years to come it will be the serial killers of the 90s and 00s that will be written about as well as them, maybe even more so. With the advances in DNA a lot of cases which occurred in the 90s and early 2000's are currently being solved as well as some being connected to well known serial killers. We have the technology now to go back and test evidence as well as track down relatives of deceased serial killers to test for DNA in a bid to close an unsolved murder case which carried all of their hallmarks. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;">So this case which I'm focusing on in this post took place in the early 90s and was only solved in recent times thanks to DNA technology. The murders of two beautiful young women just 10 months apart in Phoenix, Arizona in the timeline of 1992 and 1993 had shocked and horrified anyone who had watched the news and read the papers. Angela Brosso was just about to turn 22 years old the very next day when she decided that she would take her usual bike ride along the beautiful scenic route by Cave Creek Park the night before. This activity was a regular occurrence for Angela but she always had her boyfriend with her. On this rare occasion her boyfriend decided to stay home and continue planning her birthday celebrations as well as making her a cake. Obviously a young woman going for a bike ride late at night would concern a lot of people but because it was a regular routine and there had been times in the past where she'd been on her own and all was fine, she must have thought that this time would be ok too. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Unfortunately this time, Angela did not return home and panic set in. She was reported missing but the reality of what had happened was quickly apparent. Someone had cruelly murdered Angela in the most gruesome and cold-blooded way. Her remains had been found within hours on the day of her birthday, she had been decapitated and disemboweled, it was a crime scene so sickening that investigators believed the murder to be the work of a serial killer. Whoever murdered Angela had obviously been lying in wait and could possibly have been watching her and her boyfriend cycling previously so knew her routine. The murder looked like that of a fast, frenzied, aggressive attack with a sharp, ragged object. When Angela's remains were originally found, her head was missing. Her head was later found on the 20th of November, nearly two weeks later. With no clue as to who was responsible, the investigators tried to work with the evidence that they had but DNA techniques were still in their infancy at that point. The case remained opened.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Just 10 months after Angela's gruesome murder, a 17 year old girl by the name of Melanie Bernas had been found murdered at the same location where Angela's head at been found. Melanie had not been disemboweled or decapitated like Angela but both had been sexually assaulted before they were murdered or after the fact. Melanie had also had the letters WSC carved into her chest by the unknown killer. DNA evidence found at the scene connected both murders to the same culprit. Both girls had been out riding their bikes at the beauty spot near the Arizona Canal when they were attacked and murdered, the media dubbed the killings ''The Canal Murders''. Both of the bikes have never been found but the DNA collected was kept on file and later entered into the national database. </p><p style="text-align: center;">As I mentioned before, investigators believed the murders of both Angela and Melanie to be the actions of an unidentified serial killer. The evidence collected together with the perpetrator's DNA sample was kept on file and on the database but for decades there was no match. </p><p style="text-align: center;">For years the case went unsolved but a big break came in 2015 when investigators discovered a match on the national database. A man named Bryan Patrick Miller came to their attention and he was promptly brought in for questioning and later charged. All of the DNA evidence matched up to him and it turned out that Bryan had quite the background of violence towards women. During his trial (which took years to get up and running due to a series of delays, especially with the covid pandemic) details emerged of his difficult and abusive childhood, he had an addiction to violent porn and BDSM. At the time of the murders (of which he was just 20 years old at the time of the killings) he had been fantasizing bout abducting, sexually assaulting and mutilating women and had written about his fantasies. In later years he went on to marry and have a daughter. </p><p style="text-align: center;">During his trial his lawyer tried to plead his case trying to gain some sympathy for his client who was clearly a sexual sadist. They were trying to paint him as an abuse survivor who wasn't in his correct frame of mind at the time of the killings due to severe PTSD. Looking at the evidence presented and the gruesome reality of the crimes, it was clear that he had planned these murders and had written about violent fantasies involving sexually assaulting and murdering women since his teens. It was clear he had been a ticking time bomb. The fact he was able to just move on with his life after the murders and start a family shows just how callous he was. He continued on with his life whilst the families and friends of Angela and Melanie suffered. One wonders what it must have been like for Angela's boyfriend who must have felt a huge amount of guilt (even though he wasn't to have known what would happen that night) as well as devastation at what had happened. </p><p style="text-align: center;">After decades Bryan Patrick Miller was finally found guilty and was given two death sentences. As the murders of Angela and Melanie occurred when he was 20 years old and he wasn't caught until 2015 one wonders if he was connected to any other murders. Some investigators believe he could have started killing in his teen years. Investigators are still looking into other cases that he may have been responsible for. </p><p style="text-align: center;">I know this was a difficult post to get through and I appreciate that you have made it this far. </p><p style="text-align: center;">RIP to Angela, Melanie and to any other unknown victims of Bryan Patrick Miller. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><u><b>Further Reading & Sources:</b></u></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://eu.azcentral.com/story/news/local/phoenix/2023/04/11/bryan-miller-found-guilty-canal-killings-angela-brosso-melanie-bernas/70103898007/">Bryan Patrick Miller: Article | AZ Central </a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://www.the-sun.com/news/9435550/angela-brosso-melanie-bernas-phoenix-canal-killer/">Angela & Melanie: Article | The Sun</a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Encyclopedia-Unsolved-Crimes-Facts-Library/dp/081607819X">The Encyclopedia of Unsolved Crimes | Book by Michael Newton </a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/us-news/zombie-hunter-canal-killer-who-30633606">Bryan Patrick Miller: Article | The Mirror </a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://eu.azcentral.com/story/news/local/phoenix/2023/04/11/bryan-miller-found-guilty-canal-killings-angela-brosso-melanie-bernas/70103898007/">Bryan Patrick Miller: Article | AZ Central </a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/zombie-hunter-bryan-patrick-miller-phoenix-unique-murder-defense-48-hours/">Bryan Patrick Miller: Article | CBS News</a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://www.the-sun.com/news/9435550/angela-brosso-melanie-bernas-phoenix-canal-killer/">Angela & Melanie: Article | The US Sun</a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;">Thank you for taking the time to read my latest case and I hope that you will join me next time. In the meanwhile I hope to see you on my <a href="https://linktr.ee/caledoniankitty">socials</a>. Take care and stay safe x </p>Caledonian Kittyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07812087097647828789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3918091265826271512.post-38908003867693739282024-03-03T17:00:00.001+00:002024-03-03T17:00:00.155+00:00''If I go to hell,...I'll see you there.'' | She Told His Wife & All Hell Broke Loose | The Sugarbaby Murders<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-A8LMWhpByHJ9OqLnV0RNXacw5s4rowsHM_qmWLzwwNWaPBn7xVVLYHfvaYSoK-tiflppHXJ7pYzH4D_3v9esc641IHIhZOzmxwRvzkNkSNl-EbYrCxr8j-nTWzJ1iU3ja1zapXhm93IZLT8oCATNn9rgvwT399DctcT0sULiQj7yAFgg4l-whTdTe1BE/s1960/Picsart_24-02-29_21-17-35-873.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1960" height="352" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-A8LMWhpByHJ9OqLnV0RNXacw5s4rowsHM_qmWLzwwNWaPBn7xVVLYHfvaYSoK-tiflppHXJ7pYzH4D_3v9esc641IHIhZOzmxwRvzkNkSNl-EbYrCxr8j-nTWzJ1iU3ja1zapXhm93IZLT8oCATNn9rgvwT399DctcT0sULiQj7yAFgg4l-whTdTe1BE/w640-h352/Picsart_24-02-29_21-17-35-873.png" width="640" /></a><span style="font-size: x-small;">(From left: Sultan Shareef. Middle: Kania Brunson. Right: Johnny Hopgood Jr. Photo credits: <a href="https://hollywoodunlocked.com/kania-brunson-killed-by-married-boyfriend-milwaukee/">hollywoodunlocked</a>)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>*Please be aware that I will be sharing some disturbing details in this post which involve murder and the desecration of remains. I will, as always try to be as sensitive as I can be whilst stating the facts of the case*</b></p><p style="text-align: center;">In my final instalment of The Sugarbaby Murders series, I wanted to briefly share this shocking case which took place quite recently in Milwaukee, a city in the USA in September of 2022. 20 year old Kania Brunson was a beautiful young woman from a close family who was just about to attend college and work on her future dreams. Kania was a bright young woman who was still trying to decide which field of work she wanted to do, she was always interested in cosmetology but she also had thoughts of the possibility of a career as a dentist or veterinarian. Popular with friends and loved by those that knew her, the world was pretty much her oyster and she was excited to see what the future held. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Like a lot of students, she struggled financially but tried not to let financial worries get her down. For a young woman who seemed to have a bright future ahead and appeared to take any troubles in her stride, nobody knew the other side of Kania's life until those potential dreams and years were cruelly stolen from her. </p><p style="text-align: center;">For Kania's personal life was troubled. As a naive teenager she had gotten involved with a man in his 50s who promised her the world and when times were financially tough, she found herself becoming more involved with him. The man she was involved with was already married and had a lengthy criminal record behind him. He may have had the money but it was clear where he had gotten that money from, illegal activities and by the time Kania was starting college, she had already become financially dependent on him. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Sultan Shareef not only had a bad past as a drug dealer but he'd spent years in and out of prison in the 1990s and it was clear that even though he was no longer behind bars, he was still up to his old activities. The pair had been having a toxic relationship for years and when Sultan decided that he'd had enough of the relationship and helping Kania, the situation got worse. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Kania had pleaded with him to continue to help her financially especially as she was going to college but he refused. In an act of revenge, Kania decided to contact Sultan's wife and told her everything that had been going on between them. When Sultan found out he was full of rage and tried to cover things up with his wife and then set about looking for Kania. </p><p style="text-align: center;">When Sultan finally caught up with Kania, he decided to silence her for good in the most evil way. The poor girl (as naive as she was she didn't deserve what ended up happening to her) had been tied up with wire, shot, stabbed to death and (with the help of his brother in law) her body was burned in a recycling bin. Her remains were then dumped in an alleyway. Kania had to be identified by her dental records. </p><p style="text-align: center;">It wasn't long before the police knew who was responsible and Sultan and his brother in law were arrested. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Sultan denied killing Kania but the evidence against him was overwhelming. His brother in law (Johnny Hopgood Jr) who helped burn Kania's body, was given a plea deal if he gave up the full details of what happened. He was classed as having 'time served' and put on a 10 year probation order. In other words, he pretty much got away with his part in the gruesome act.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Sultan Shareef was sentenced to life in prison, he tried to appeal his sentence claiming that he was an innocent man but his appeal was rejected. </p><p style="text-align: center;">What happened to Kania was a cruel and cold hearted, selfish act that saw the promising future of a bright, young woman just wiped out and what for? a selfish career criminal who wasn't happy that more of his lies had been exposed? Kania was 20 years old and he was in his mid 50s, he'd been having an inappropriate relationship with her since she was a teenager. He had somehow manipulated her into thinking that she needed him in her life, especially financially. The situation was indeed very toxic and Kania should never have been involved with him but she didn't deserve to lose her life and to have been treated in such a horrific and disrespectful way. He was the adult and he was married, he should have known better but he obviously was never one to be told what to do or have respect for others since he made his illegal living off the back of the vulnerability of others. </p><p style="text-align: center;">My heart goes out to Kania's family and to Kania herself who (it is clear to see) has left a lasting effect on this world to those who knew her for all of her amazing qualities. </p><p style="text-align: center;">We all make mistakes when we are young, we've all maybe had relationships we shouldn't have entered into. Nobody is a saint and we don't know the full story of what went on between Kania and Sultan. It's a sad and heartbreaking story but again, a cautionary tale, to be careful of who we trust. </p><p style="text-align: center;">''If I go to hell,...I'll see you there.'' - Shawnte Brunson (what Kania's father shouted to Sultan in the courtroom).</p><p style="text-align: center;">RIP Kania, your beautiful smile and the memories that you have left will never be forgotten. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><u>Further reading & sources: </u></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://eu.jsonline.com/story/news/crime/2024/02/21/milwaukee-man-gets-life-in-2022-slaying-of-kania-brunson/72319958007/">Kania Brunson: Article | Milwaukee Journal Sentinal</a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://www.cbs58.com/news/charges-filed-in-murder-of-20-year-old-milwaukee-woman-victims-family-speaks-out">Kania Brunson: Article | CBS 58 News</a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://www.wisn.com/article/one-year-after-her-death-family-and-friends-remember-slain-milwaukee-woman/45293280">Kania Brunson: Article | WISN</a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://hollywoodunlocked.com/kania-brunson-killed-by-married-boyfriend-milwaukee/">Kania Brunson: Article | Hollywood Unlocked</a> </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milwaukee">Milwaukee | Wikipedia </a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;">Thank you for joining me in this final part of The Sugarbaby Murders series, I hope that you found this series informative and interesting as tragic and heartbreaking as the cases were. My heart goes out to all of the victims and their families who I have written about briefly in this series. </p><p style="text-align: center;">I will be back next time with a new case, at the moment I am not sure which that will be but I will be checking out my list of cases that I have not covered. As always, I welcome your requests or any comments either below, on my <a href="https://linktr.ee/caledoniankitty">socials </a> or by email at jocaledoniankitty@gmail.com </p><p style="text-align: center;">Take care and I'll (hopefully) see you in the next post x </p>Caledonian Kittyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07812087097647828789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3918091265826271512.post-442550954173339292024-02-25T17:00:00.001+00:002024-02-25T17:00:00.129+00:00Monster In Disguise: The Sugardaddy From Hell | The Sugarbaby Murders<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZd3HykI5umVo41bG3X52XjHNwwmPZnPrknwGUrO8tgVHhJTxJUxGuIBLs4QKUPoY92uSdw7IHrMCBxuKPxGl0dWZCD9R3IB7x3yTkMGNJWfhCaktlOm9qlF0oDzI66G40mI-QOuQbbTOWNxfmvzQKku6OEtoddkTyw6R3Hi2BPCO_lLDlcOC2shx4jdpZ/s1080/Picsart_24-02-21_21-05-37-625.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZd3HykI5umVo41bG3X52XjHNwwmPZnPrknwGUrO8tgVHhJTxJUxGuIBLs4QKUPoY92uSdw7IHrMCBxuKPxGl0dWZCD9R3IB7x3yTkMGNJWfhCaktlOm9qlF0oDzI66G40mI-QOuQbbTOWNxfmvzQKku6OEtoddkTyw6R3Hi2BPCO_lLDlcOC2shx4jdpZ/w640-h640/Picsart_24-02-21_21-05-37-625.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(From left: Mackenzie Lueck. Right: Ayoola Ajayi. Picture credits: <a href="https://www.sltrib.com/news/2020/10/23/ayoola-ajayi-be-sentenced/">The Salt Lake Tribune</a>)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>*Please be aware that I will be sharing some disturbing details in this post involving domestic violence, sexual assault and murder. I will, as always try to be as sensitive as I can be whilst stating the facts of the case*</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It pains me to have to include the beautiful and talented Mackenzie Lueck in my series, The Sugarbaby Murders. All of the cases have been tragic and each victim matters, but to describe Mackenzie as just a ''Sugarbaby'' would be a terrible injustice, for she was more than that. She was just 23 years old when she had her life cruelly and sadistically taken by a man she mistakenly trusted. Mackenzie (who preferred to be called 'Kenzie') was a promising student at the University of Utah and had dreams of becoming a nurse, she also worked part time and was committed to her Mormon faith. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So when Mackenzie mysteriously vanished in June of 2019, everyone was shocked and frantic with worry because it was so out of character for her. Mackenzie would always keep in contact with her close family and friends and for messages and calls to go unanswered? The people who knew her best knew that something was wrong. Those closest to her knew that she had taken a flight to Salt Lake City International Airport from her family home in California where she was originally from (she had been visiting her family and had been attending her grandmother's funeral) but when nobody could reach her, the panic set in. It's testament to how loved Mackenzie was that straight away alarm bells were ringing and people were concerned about her whereabouts. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Her family and friends had a right to worry because they were sadly right, Mackenzie did come to harm and it was a situation that should never have happened. Being a student, working part time and trying to make ends meet whilst away from the support of close family, took it's toll on Mackenzie and with student debts racking up she had heard about other girls at her University joining a site called 'Seeking Arrangement'. She had been told that joining this site would put her in contact with men who would help her out financially if she went on dates with them. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The opinion on 'Seeking Arrangement' is divided, some people have purely online arrangements whilst other girls will actually meet their 'Sugardaddies' in person. With some Sugarbabies they will just go on a date and with others they will provide sexual services in exchange for more money. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Mackenzie was looking for a man who could help her out with her debts and claimed in her advertisement on the site that she was serious and looking for a serious arrangement. It was on here that she was contacted by an older man by the name of Ayoola Ajayi who claimed to be living in Utah and had previously studied at the same University (he'd kept details to himself such as his history of violence towards women and the fact that he'd been kicked out of University for theft). He'd also had a stint in the army but that didn't last long either. Ayoola was the type of person who would never finish anything he started, situations with him would either end in some sort of disgrace or he would simply give up. His neighbours thought of him as a bit of a weirdo who never spoke two words to them, instead he would walk around his backyard with his earphones in preferring not to engage in conversation. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Ayoola was portraying himself as a nice, rich guy on 'Seeking Arrangement' but what he actually was, was a dangerous threat to women and had harmed women in the past as well as being involved in petty crime. He was a raving fantasist who had a strange sexual appetite as well as fantasies of committing murder, so much so that he actually wrote a self published book that he sold on Amazon (this book has now been removed). The book was about murder and the burning of victim's remains. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">If you have had the unfortunate opportunity of watching Ayoola in action in police footage, you will see how much of a master manipulator this guy actually is. When his home was searched when Mackenzie was reported missing, he was acting like Mr harmless nice guy who just wanted to help the cops. He was lying through his teeth but the cops were not buying it. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The tragic truth of Mackenzie's sudden disappearance soon became clear, she had been keeping in regular contact with Ayoola on the 'Seeking Arrangement' site and the pair were messaging each other back and forth before arranging a meeting. When Mackenzie had arrived back in Utah that night in June, she took a cab to a park in the early hours of the morning. It was there in the darkness that she met Ayoola. Either by force or persuasion, Mackenzie ended up back at Ayoola's house and the next thing that anyone knew was that she was missing and he claimed he had nothing to do with it, even going as far as to saying that Mackenzie had actually blocked him from the 'Seeking Arrangement' website. His phone records and search history said otherwise. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">All the evidence led back to him and when his house was searched the police made the heartbreaking discovery of Mackenzie's personal items along with some burned remains. Her body was later found and more items were found in the Jordan river which was near to the house. Ayoola had tied Mackenzie up with rope and zip ties, she had been subjected to a horrendous assault and suffered blunt force trauma to her skull as well as being strangled. He then tried to burn her remains along with her personal items. When he had problems burning her body he took her to a wooded area in Logan Canyon where she was placed in a shallow grave, the rest of her belongings were thrown in the river. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">As horrendous as this case was, thanks to the incredible effort of the family and friends of Mackenzie together with the police, Ayoola was charged very quickly with her kidnap and murder. A contractor had came forward to reveal that Ayoola had contacted him previously about the possibility of creating a soundproof room for him in his home, the room would also contain hooks. Ayoola gave a ridiculous story that he had a girlfriend who was Mormon and against drinking so he needed the soundproof room and hooks to hide the alcohol. It was clear that he had planned the whole nightmarish scene. The contractor found him to be very creepy and refused to do the job.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Ayoola kept telling everyone who didn't care to listen, that he had PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) as a way of gaining some sort of sympathy but the man was a monster with sick fantasies and any act that he was trying to put on just wouldn't wash. He faced the courtroom and was given life in prison. It was a small price to pay for taking away such a beautiful life. As well as being the sweetheart that she was, Mackenzie wanted to help others by fulfilling her dreams of becoming a nurse but all that was taken away from her. She was a young, naive girl who made a mistake meeting a monster. You wish you could turn the clock back and talk to her, tell her not to go and meet this strange guy in a park in the early hours of the morning but we've all done silly things when we were young. Mackenzie had just attended her grandmother's funeral, maybe her mind wasn't in the right place at the time or maybe she fell for Ayoola's nice guy act? whatever the case, she did not deserve to lose her life. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Ayoola was a loser, a no mark who has to spend the rest of his life behind bars at the cost of the American tax payer. He robbed us all of a shining light who brought goodness into the world and wanted to help people in need, just think of all of the vulnerable people she would have helped through her nursing career. It is a sad and tragic loss. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">RIP Mackenzie. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u>Further Reading & Sources:</u></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/US/utah-man-spend-life-prison-slaying-college-student/story?id=73498784">Mackenzie Lueck: Article | ABC News </a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Mackenzie_Lueck">Mackenzie Lueck | Wikipedia </a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8816959/Tech-worker-pleads-guilty-Utah-college-students-death.html">Mackenzie Lueck: Article | Daily Mail </a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://abc7ny.com/mackenzie-lueck-utah-murder-guilty/6870838/">Mackenzie Lueck: Article | ABC7 New York News </a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://lawandcrime.com/high-profile/ayoola-ajayi-admits-to-murdering-mackenzie-lueck/">Mackenzie Lueck: Article | Law And Crime News </a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://people.com/crime/mackenzie-lueck-utah-college-student-family-confronts-killer/">Mackenzie Lueck: Article | People </a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://www.sltrib.com/news/2020/10/23/ayoola-ajayi-be-sentenced/">Mackenzie Lueck: Article | The Salt Lake Tribune </a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://www.fox13now.com/news/local-news/new-evidence-interrogation-video-released-in-mackenzie-lueck-murder-investigation">Mackenzie Lueck: Article | Fox 13 Now News </a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/US/man-apologizes-sentenced-life-prison-mackenzie-lueck-slaying/story?id=73792792">Mackenzie Lueck: Article | ABC News </a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://www.instagram.com/kenzielueck/">Mackenzie Lueck | Instagram </a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Thank you for joining me in my latest post in this series, I know it was another difficult one to get through but I appreciate you being here. I think as well as sharing these heartbreaking cases in the series, it is not only important to share what happened to these beautiful young girls but to serve as a warning to anyone who is tempted to join sites such as 'Seeking Arrangement' or is tempted to meet a strange man for financial reasons. It is a very dangerous and risky thing to do. In these current days of 'influencers' and pressures to have a certain lifestyle, a lot of young people place a lot of importance on money and the lines between what is safe and not safe, become blurred. I'm sure that the lovely girls that I have written about in this series, would want to warn anyone who was thinking of going down this route. Money isn't everything. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I hope you will join me in my final post in this series next Sunday, until next time please stay safe and see you (hopefully) on my <a href="https://linktr.ee/caledoniankitty">socials</a> x</div><p></p>Caledonian Kittyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07812087097647828789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3918091265826271512.post-57356342017545626372024-02-18T18:00:00.001+00:002024-02-18T18:00:00.136+00:00My Thoughts On Casey Anthony, Jodi Arias, Rose West! Meeting Murderers & What Do I Think Of The The UK Justice System? | Q&A With Jo: Part Two<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNJhGyK_lzR_I108zC0291RGHbJpm0rzg6QOeQIWUZ3Ft8bRUm_ZO-c3ks-U7UMvXx3ZV7D3-PpEG329ViYlZ1IAcjVDkRoMfRnXsK_6g0kqdhUyRqo2Gl4LLOjM7kKt4005AxMp7vRtFK6ocsi-5A4_fUX9CrjGo2n3NHYPpk3nrOqj7KuJg-id5C2sKk/s3264/Picsart_24-02-08_17-53-35-329%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNJhGyK_lzR_I108zC0291RGHbJpm0rzg6QOeQIWUZ3Ft8bRUm_ZO-c3ks-U7UMvXx3ZV7D3-PpEG329ViYlZ1IAcjVDkRoMfRnXsK_6g0kqdhUyRqo2Gl4LLOjM7kKt4005AxMp7vRtFK6ocsi-5A4_fUX9CrjGo2n3NHYPpk3nrOqj7KuJg-id5C2sKk/w630-h640/Picsart_24-02-08_17-53-35-329%20(1).jpg" width="630" /></a></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><div style="text-align: center;">(For all of my links, check out my Linktree page <a href="https://linktr.ee/caledoniankitty">Here!!!</a>)</div></span><p style="text-align: center;">So. here we are in part two of my Q&A, I hope you found the first part interesting. I have tried to answer all of the questions that I was sent on Instagram and X/Twitter so if your question is not answered, please let me know and I'll update this post but I think I've covered everything. </p><p style="text-align: center;">So here goes....</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><u>Q1: Which crime related series is your favourite?</u></b></p><p style="text-align: center;">I have to say 'Mindhunter'! I was so obsessed with that series that I would literally sit up until 5 am, watching every episode when a new series came out. We only got two series which is a crying shame! I'm still fuming that Netflix are still back and forth about making a third series. The people are crying out for it, give the people what they want!!!! Here's hoping that Mindhunter 3 is made, otherwise we just have to appreciate it for what it was. I would like to own both series on Blu-Ray though. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><u>Q2: Have you ever met a murderer?</u></b></p><p style="text-align: center;">Yes, I have, loads of them! One of these strange encounters happened at university. I was on a psychology course and this older guy sat down next to me in the lunch area and proceeded to tell me (with a smile on his face) that he had murdered his step-father. I have written about this on my blog <a href="http://www.caledoniankitty.co.uk/2019/09/a-strange-experience-meeting-killer.html">previously</a> (this was back in 2019 that I wrote this so forgive the bad quality picture and serious lack of false eyelashes lol). It was a strange experience and the guy made my skin crawl to be quite honest. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><u>Q3: Would you ever become a cop?</u></b></p><p style="text-align: center;">Nope! I know there are amazing cops out there who work so hard and are passionate about helping people but I've seen a lot of things and conduct at the hands of British police that I'm not happy with. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><u>Q4: What do you think of the justice system in the UK?</u></b></p><p style="text-align: center;">Nine times out of ten it's a complete joke! I don't agree with cold-blooded murderers being given 15 years and serving half their sentence (in certain cases). I find it also ridiculous that people can be locked up for the most stupidest of things whilst the real monsters are let off with a slap on the wrist. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><u>Q5: Are you interested in doing a collaboration with other members of the true crime community?</u></b></p><p style="text-align: center;">Yes, I would love too! I always welcome it so if anyone would like to collaborate on a case or request a case, just email me at jocaledoniankitty@gmail.com</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><u>Q6: Which book are you currently reading?</u></b></p><p style="text-align: center;">A masterpiece of a book (which I've read before): And The Band Played On by Randy Schilts. The book is an in depth look and detailed account of the AIDS crisis in the 1980's. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><u>Q7: Do you believe in the paranormal?</u></b></p><p style="text-align: center;">Yes! I believe in aliens, ghosts and some sort of afterlife. I believe that our souls go to a higher frequency (I don't know if I'm making any sense here) and that the spirits of our loved ones are around us. I believe that they send us little signs every day to let us know that they are looking out for us. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><u>Q8: What is your favourite thing to cook?</u></b></p><p style="text-align: center;">I love cooking Italian food. It sounds simple but I love making Vegetarian Spaghetti Bolognese with garlic bread and sprinkles of grated Parmesan cheese. I also like cooking a traditional Sunday roast (vegetarian style) with roast potatoes and all of the trimmings and gravy. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><u>Q9: Which of your true crime posts took the longest for you to research and put together?</u></b></p><p style="text-align: center;">It's hard to point out one particular post because a lot of them have taken me a long time to research and write. If I had to choose one which I remember writing into the wee small hours of the morning for a number of nights, it has to be <a href="http://www.caledoniankitty.co.uk/2019/06/the-most-evil-woman-ever-gertrude.html">The Most Evil Woman Ever? | Gertrude Baniszewski</a>, this horrific case was about the cruel and heartbreaking murder of Sylvia Likens. It's a story that can never be forgotten and shocks anyone who has ever heard about it or read about it. A truly disturbing case that I have never forgotten. It was a tough one to research and took a lot of writing but I am glad I was able to share Sylvia's story along with many others. I have had various messages over the years about the post and I'm glad that other people have been inspired by my article to write about the case and that people think of Sylvia as she was before what had happened to her. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><u>Q10: What has been the best compliment that someone has given you on your work?</u></b></p><p style="text-align: center;">I have had some amazing things said about my work and it really means the world to me. As someone who has battled learning difficulties with dyslexia, the thought that my blog had been visited by over 1 million people is insane. So many interesting people have contacted me over the years. I guess I just love to hear that people enjoy my writing, I'm still growing as a writer, I'm still learning. I also love that I have dedicated readers who've been here with me from my very first true crime case back in 2019, I think that's amazing. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><u>Q11: Describe your ideal night-in?</u></b></p><p style="text-align: center;">My ideal night in would be a takeaway, some candles, a stack of classic horror movies and maybe some wine. I love nights like that, watching as many horror movies as you can until you basically pass out!</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><u>Q12: What are your thoughts on Rose West, Jodi Arias and Caylee Anthony? </u></b></p><p style="text-align: center;">Well, Rose West (I wrote about her and her husband Fred <a href="http://www.caledoniankitty.co.uk/2023/01/horror-at-25-cromwell-street-story-of.html">here</a> in a previous post) was a master manipulator who basically wore the trousers in the relationship with Fred. They were both evil and each had a part to play in the crimes but she was the mastermind in everything. When she basically threw Fred to the wolves in the courtroom and ignored him, he couldn't cope with that, he practically lived for her and couldn't cope with that rejection from her so he took his own life. I go into all of the details in that post so please check it out if you are interested in knowing more about the case. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Jodi Arias, what a lost and messed-up person she was but also a master manipulator. I do feel that the male victim, Travis Alexander used her and messed with her head but he did not deserve what happened to him. Jodi was a beautiful girl and this is part of the intrigue that some people have about her case. To anyone looking in they would wonder why she didn't just move on to someone else and forget about Travis. But behind the looks was a raving narcissist who would stop at nothing to get what she wanted. She stalked, begged and pleaded Travis until he gave in, she would use her sexuality to try and own him but it didn't work. In a final act of utter rejection she found that he wasn't interested in a serous relationship with her, he saw her as a dirty secret. In her mind, she had given him everything and posed for private, intimate pictures for him and still that wasn't enough. Her obsession with Travis drove her crazy and she committed the most evil and horrific murder whilst trying to cover her tracks. </p><p style="text-align: center;">The Caylee Anthony story was a case that shocked us all and is still talked about to this day. Casey Anthony got away with murder, she's as guilty as sin. The whole thing sickened me and again, she is another master manipulator, a narcissist who used her looks and pathetic performances to try and gain sympathy. All three of these women are proof that sometimes the female of the species can be (sometimes) more deadly than the male. </p><p style="text-align: center;">And there you have it, all done! I hope my responses to the questions didn't drag on for too long and that you enjoyed reading my replies. I enjoyed answering them and a big THANK YOU to everyone who sent me the questions. I liked the variety of questions...I did get a few naughty ones too lol! </p><p style="text-align: center;">In my next post I will be continuing with my series 'The Sugarbaby Murders' so I hope you will continue to join me for that. </p><p style="text-align: center;">In the meantime, I hope to see you on my other socials, you can find me <a href="https://linktr.ee/caledoniankitty">HERE!!</a> (I'm mostly on my X/Twitter pages: <a href="https://twitter.com/CaledonianKitty">@CaledonianKitty</a> / <a href="https://twitter.com/TrueCrimeWithCK">@TrueCrimeWithCK</a>) </p><p style="text-align: center;">To contact me for whatever reason if you're not on those social platforms, you can email me at: jocaledoniankitty@gmail.com </p><p style="text-align: center;">If you would like to stay updated with my work or help support me by buying me a coffee, you can do so <a href="https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/CalKittyTrueCrime">here</a> or <a href="https://ko-fi.com/caledoniankitty">here</a></p><p style="text-align: center;">Thank you as always & I hope to see you in the next post x </p>Caledonian Kittyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07812087097647828789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3918091265826271512.post-60971134581709709042024-02-11T18:00:00.001+00:002024-02-11T18:00:00.134+00:00Why Do I Write About Serial Killers?, My Book & The Thriller On Netflix That Everyone Should Be Watching | Q&A With Jo: Part One<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ_ho_1kFV1ydq4GrX2QnzAiy7IoGnnQpBF-5rjnHJC2WF0eLgmgylB1x1mwR3SSpFRQ3yyFAmaFqI3YtFzAPvxoO3rgONRxK9pFQFl9aHJ73XL7_nv63gkszl8b76KvHa3HB_6J8IbcrsJQ302S9zcvTo66KjgjfTa1ldz-hRWe1b8j_lxiwW8awXKZ9j/s3264/Picsart_24-02-08_17-53-35-329.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ_ho_1kFV1ydq4GrX2QnzAiy7IoGnnQpBF-5rjnHJC2WF0eLgmgylB1x1mwR3SSpFRQ3yyFAmaFqI3YtFzAPvxoO3rgONRxK9pFQFl9aHJ73XL7_nv63gkszl8b76KvHa3HB_6J8IbcrsJQ302S9zcvTo66KjgjfTa1ldz-hRWe1b8j_lxiwW8awXKZ9j/w618-h640/Picsart_24-02-08_17-53-35-329.jpg" width="618" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Me aka Jo aka Caledonian Kitty lol: All of my social media links can be found <a href="https://linktr.ee/caledoniankitty">HERE!!</a>)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">So, as you may know, I'm currently in the middle of doing a four part series here on my blog called 'The Sugarbaby Murders'. You may also know (if you are a regular reader of my work - thank you!) that I always post my content on Sundays, well, this week I haven't had the time to really research and study the third instalment of the series unfortunately. As I am always one to keep my promises and deliver fresh new content every week, I decided that I would do a Q&A since it's been a long time since I have done one. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">On Thursday I asked my followers on Instagram and Twitter to send me their questions and I ended up with more questions than Bob Holness lol (not that I'm complaining). So to be fair to everyone who asked me questions, I have split this into two parts. After these Q&A posts, I will continue on with the series, The Sugarbaby Murders. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Hope you enjoy reading my Q&A posts, here goes....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u>Q1: How is your book coming along and when will it be released?</u></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I'm still in the process of writing my book! As with a lot of things that I do, I want it to be right. I want to take my time so it's done properly. As an owner of so many true crime books, it's shocking to see seasoned criminologists and true crime writers who rush their books or self publish on Amazon only to find a mountain of mistakes. I also want a good quality cover that won't fall apart after a few reads. I will keep everyone updated when it's all done and I'll even send a few out to my regular readers with some Caledonian Kitty merchandise when the time comes. I'm actually excited just thinking about it. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u>Q2: Which true crime case has shocked you the most recently?</u></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I was reading about a case last night actually and it left me feeling both heartbroken and angry. It was the horrible story of the murder of 5 year old Shaniya Davis. The girl's mother had sold the poor child to a sick monster to settle a $200 debt under the knowledge that this man would SA the child (it just makes your blood boil). The man took Shaniya, assaulted and murdered her before dumping her remains. The whole story was horrendous and both the mother (if you can even call her that) and the peadophile are now behind bars. It just breaks my heart that this little girl went through all of this pain and suffering. There was some CCTV footage that caught the perpetrator carrying Shaniya towards an elevator and it's haunting, the poor girl looks so scared and confused and you wish that you could just jump through the screen and save her. A horrible case which left an effect on me for sure as I'm sure it does for anyone who reads about it. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u>Q3: Are you watching any trials lately? Which was the last one that you followed?</u></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I'm not watching any trials at the moment unless it's part of a case that I'm researching. The last trial I followed was the Gareth Pursehouse trial. He was given life without parole for the murder of Hollywood therapist Amie Harwick. I wrote about her case briefly on my X/Twitter page but didn't cover the story in full on my blog. The trial is still available to view on Youtube. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u>Q4: Can you recommend a good thriller on Netflix?</u></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">One that I watched recently which was more of a sci-fi thriller but brilliant all the same was 'T.I.M'. If you like the 'Black Mirror' series, this will be right up your street. It definitely taps into the modern age with all of this AI stuff and how much we rely on technology in our every day lives. I've actually watched this twice because it was so good! Highly recommended. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u>Q5: Will you be bringing out any new merch soon? </u></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Yes, I will be bringing out new merch, I'll update everyone when I get around to it. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u>Q6: What made you get interested in writing about serial killers?</u></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I saw The Silence of The Lambs when I was 6 years old and I was hooked! I wanted to be like Clarice Starling and work for the FBI Behavioural Science Unit. I'm a big fan of John Douglas (who the character of Jack Crawford is based on) and I have tons of true crime books. My grandmother loved her murder mysteries and my Dad was into true crime stuff so I suppose I just grew up around it. Re-runs of Columbo and Taggart were a big thing in my house growing up. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u>Q7: How long does it take you to do your research at average? </u></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It depends on the case but it usually takes a week. I spend hours and hours studying, going through books, court documents, newspaper articles etc until I feel like I know the case inside out and have all the important dates, names and locations and then I write about it. I try my best to have everything done for Sunday and I always manage to do it. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u>Q8: What is your favourite movie?</u></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">As I'm not sure what genre to go by, I'll say which is my favourite horror movie and that is the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre. </div><p style="text-align: center;">Well, that's a wrap for part one! I hope you found it an interesting read and hope you will join me next Sunday for part two. As I mentioned earlier, The Sugarbaby Murders series will continue after the second Q&A post. </p><p style="text-align: center;">In the meantime, I hope to see you on my other socials, you can find me <a href="https://linktr.ee/caledoniankitty">HERE!!</a> (I'm mostly on my X/Twitter pages: <a href="https://twitter.com/CaledonianKitty">@CaledonianKitty</a> / <a href="https://twitter.com/TrueCrimeWithCK">@TrueCrimeWithCK</a>) </p><p style="text-align: center;">To contact me for whatever reason if you're not on those social platforms, you can email me at: jocaledoniankitty@gmail.com </p><p style="text-align: center;">If you would like to stay updated with my work or help support me by buying me a coffee, you can do so <a href="https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/CalKittyTrueCrime">here</a> or <a href="https://ko-fi.com/caledoniankitty">here </a></p><p style="text-align: center;">Thank you as always & I hope to see you in the next post x </p>Caledonian Kittyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07812087097647828789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3918091265826271512.post-57184062162061256732024-02-04T17:00:00.001+00:002024-02-04T17:00:00.128+00:00Sugardaddy On The Run: The Shocking Murder of Sofya Krasilnikova | The Sugarbaby Murders<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKrTywZ3oXZSLMSD72E0GTs_bfXnLhy1T8uFA57e8iLdi8mn83c0M8DDueOzAQeryGDOtZGzKO7wWs8asQjC4P-4xzCihplTRyIKMZHf9CKZdpvQzbHJjav9tAlskS_aWEMGvxgGjJLpn1LU5qhOp5h3wlQ3yz8OteiEXtgMAm4cD_P8uKfbwF1IIFeCQg/s1080/Picsart_24-02-01_14-26-22-826.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="665" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKrTywZ3oXZSLMSD72E0GTs_bfXnLhy1T8uFA57e8iLdi8mn83c0M8DDueOzAQeryGDOtZGzKO7wWs8asQjC4P-4xzCihplTRyIKMZHf9CKZdpvQzbHJjav9tAlskS_aWEMGvxgGjJLpn1LU5qhOp5h3wlQ3yz8OteiEXtgMAm4cD_P8uKfbwF1IIFeCQg/w665-h665/Picsart_24-02-01_14-26-22-826.jpg" width="665" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Left: Sofya Krasilnikova. Right: Vyacheslav Popov. Picture credits: <a href="https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/19138629/woman-stabbed-to-death-by-lover-tattoos-recognised/">thesun</a></span>)</div><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I wasn't sure whether to write about this shocking and bizarre case due to the limited information available, but I thought for the sake of Sofya, I would. At the end of the day, her story deserves to be told and the individual who took her life deserves to face justice. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This case occurred in 2022 so it's not that long ago, part of the reason for there being limited information is because the crime took place in Russia. I have done my best to gather as much information as I can to provide you with as much details as possible. I will be updating this post as soon as more information about the case becomes available. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So what do we know about the backstory of this case? Well, Sofya Kraslinikova was a beautiful 18 year old Russian girl who decided at the age of 17 to join a website looking for a Sugardaddy (for those unaware, a Sugardaddy is often a older man who dates younger women whilst financially supporting them. This type of 'relationship' if you could call it that, is purely financial and the conditions vary. A Sugardaddy may want sexual favours in exchange for money. some might want 'the girlfriend experience', others may just want an attractive young woman to go to dinner with them without anything sexual occurring). Well, on this website, Sofya was pretending to be 18 and it wasn't long before her pictures and advertisement caught the eye of a seasoned Sugardaddy. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A man in his early 40s by the name of Vyacheslav Popov was no stranger to Sugarbaby arrangements, in fact he preferred to 'date' only Sugarbabies and claimed at that point to have been 'dating' various young women for over 10 years. Vyacheslav wasn't exactly up there in the looks department but he seemed to have quite a lot of money to keep his Sugarbabies happy (how he happened to have so much money to burn is a mystery). He would lavish them with gifts, luxury hotels, holidays and visits to 5-star restaurants but like a lot of these arrangements, Vyacheslav would grow tired of his latest Sugarbaby and move on to the next. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEielaNjw7qEtahtFKKzUAjIwhICKHzCKEbNhw81836C2zBKlg6GQ2NlZFq_KALI5DChDb31uiPebaMwp23haz3SsG0qNMOI0NMGNyCnDOiTiIkKxbdvpneFFhUeahRyHoH4SXDKc9uJ1ityBuUP3SD2w-Mq2Q_ITMFLbORHOv92YhyJWEuJqq-8VzbvwdoV/s3000/NINTCHDBPICT000745707134.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="2250" height="830" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEielaNjw7qEtahtFKKzUAjIwhICKHzCKEbNhw81836C2zBKlg6GQ2NlZFq_KALI5DChDb31uiPebaMwp23haz3SsG0qNMOI0NMGNyCnDOiTiIkKxbdvpneFFhUeahRyHoH4SXDKc9uJ1ityBuUP3SD2w-Mq2Q_ITMFLbORHOv92YhyJWEuJqq-8VzbvwdoV/w622-h830/NINTCHDBPICT000745707134.jpg" width="622" /></a><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Sofya krasilnikova. Picture credit: <a href="https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/19138629/woman-stabbed-to-death-by-lover-tattoos-recognised/">The Sun</a>)</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Vyacheslav was already a regular user of this particular Sugarbaby site and when he and Sofya started to message each other, it appeared that they both had a lot in common according to Vyacheslav. He claimed their chance meeting on a Sugarbaby site was <i>''like a fairytale'' </i>and he'd never felt that sort of connection before with any of his other Sugarbabies. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Vyacheslav liked to think of himself as a bit of a playboy and he had dreams of being famous. He appeared on a TV show in Russia bragging about his life with Sugababies. He was quite proud of his lifestyle and saw nothing wrong with it. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So after messaging each other back and forth on the Sugababy website, they arranged to meet in person on one condition, that Vyacheslav pay a 'meeting fee' (a 'meeting fee' is a standard arrangement that Sugarbabies always have in place, the Sugardaddy is expected to pay this fee whilst also paying for the dinner, any transport costs etc plus a discussion about a weekly or monthly allowance will also take place). </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Sofya requested that he pay £200 to meet her and he agreed. When they had dinner, Vyacheslav couldn't have been happier and claimed to have got on so well with Sofya that she didn't leave his home until morning. It puts a chill down the spine to think about this 17 year old girl just going to some random older man's house and staying there until the morning. He wouldn't go into details of what they go up to, he said they ''just talked'' but make of that what you will. Sofya finally confessed to Vyacheslav that she was just 17 but he didn't seem to mind this and the pair continued to see each other. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">In a further strange twist of events, Vyacheslav suggested they move in together and have a proper relationship. Sofya agreed but it wasn't the bliss filled experience that she hoped for. It turned out that Vyacheslav was a bit of a nutcase (incase that hasn't shone through already in this post) and there was a reason he was a single man in his 40s paying young women for their time. He enjoyed paying women for their time because he enjoyed the control and the power. The women would tell him what he wanted to hear and he would be in charge of what was happening whilst they collected the money. Going on arranged 'dates' was one thing, a Sugardaddy and Sugarbaby living in the same house is quite the other. Throw into the mix that Sofya was a child compared to 42 year old Vyacheslav, there would have been that father/daughter/adult/child dynamic. He probably expected homecooked dinners, ironed clothes and all the things you would expect from a mature woman in her 40s but trying to place all of these demands on a young girl who barely set foot out of High School. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6A1s1Bu8xv_a2iEpJ71_I1AOLU1prokbSeQrXRp7CUu-s08AeR3J2l1Gs1PbVX75t7yMFm3_b7h9eauILhHeEMAZI7npIq8tam5mBoAK-7KUFOcLbL5p_kwt1My3RYiCwcGe4PU-5P10ynItjjOlbljbOJv3792wEqEXJj8GuDSrLzl9Sibl2W9e7qMZC/s960/6143461a-1dd0-4666-ad53-5a8a598e6d42.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="818" data-original-width="960" height="546" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6A1s1Bu8xv_a2iEpJ71_I1AOLU1prokbSeQrXRp7CUu-s08AeR3J2l1Gs1PbVX75t7yMFm3_b7h9eauILhHeEMAZI7npIq8tam5mBoAK-7KUFOcLbL5p_kwt1My3RYiCwcGe4PU-5P10ynItjjOlbljbOJv3792wEqEXJj8GuDSrLzl9Sibl2W9e7qMZC/w640-h546/6143461a-1dd0-4666-ad53-5a8a598e6d42.jpg" width="640" /></a><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Vyacheslav Popov. Picture credit: <a href="https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/19138629/woman-stabbed-to-death-by-lover-tattoos-recognised/">The Sun</a>)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Being a teenage girl living with someone so much older would have been quite stifling I imagine but she obviously thought this would be a great financial set-up. Things continued to get worse with daily arguments between the pair, it was clear that it wasn't working and things were said to have turned violent. Sofya had reported a horrible incident to the police where she accused Vyacheslav of sexual assault but the charges were later dropped and nobody knows why. Was it through fear? According to Vyacheslav, it was all fake and designed to gain publicity as he wanted to be a social media influencer. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I don't know how that could possibly make anyone 'popular', being accused of sexual assault. The man was delusional and a fantasist just trying to cover his own tracks. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It wasn't long after this that it became common knowledge around Sofya's family and friends that she wanted to leave Vyacheslav and was putting plans in place to do so. Nobody could imagine the horrific moment when Sofya's mother went over to visit her at the house (Vyacheslav was nowhere to be seen) only to find her daughter, deceased and covered in blood. It was clear that Sofya had been through a horrendous ordeal before she died, she was totally unrecognisable. She had been stabbed 15 times and her mother later said that the only way that she knew that the poor girl lying on the floor was Sofya was by the distinctive tattoos that she had. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Straight away the police were on the scene looking for Vyacheslav who completely vanished without a trace. He had been the last person to see Sofya and footage emerged of him walking into the house with her and leaving in a hurry just 12 minutes later. It was shortly after this that her Mother arrived and nobody else was seen going to or from the house. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The motive for the heartless murder of a young girl? She was going to leave him, those close to her knew it and she was very unhappy and it was clear that she was terrified of him. When she reported the assault she maybe thought that the police would offer her some sort of protection but it didn't work out that way and like a lot of terrified victims, she felt she had to return to him. We don't know what he may have threatened her with? Maybe threatened to hurt her family if she didn't do as he asked. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So a manhunt is officially ongoing, where could he possibly be? A murderer who has cash at his disposal is a frightening thing, he could be in Spain, France, here in the UK, anywhere! A friend of his was questioned by the police and the friend refused to believe that Vyacheslav was responsible for the murder of Sofya. He said <i>''What would he have to gain out of it?''</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">You don't have to be Columbo to figure out what has gone on here, Vyacheslav said that he believed his relationship with Sofya to be like a fairytale. He treated her differently to his other Sugarbabies and claimed to have never felt that connection before. She'd tried to get away from him before and went to the police, the situation was violent and getting worse. She was trying to leave him and there was probably a part of him that really resented her because he gave her money (we've seen this happen a lot with Sugardaddies who have later found out that their Sugarbabies have a boyfriend and they seek revenge) hoping she would fall in love with him.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">None of us know what was going on in his mind but a young girl's life was cruelly taken. Sometimes I worry for young girls who watch Sugarbaby channels on Youtube who advertise this type of lifestyle. It can be very dangerous and it's not the 'easy money' they think it is. What they are seeing on Youtube and Instagram is the 'highlights', the material goods that a Sugarbaby has been given (whilst apparently doing nothing sexual at all for it lol) but they are never honest about what they have had to do to get that money. What happens when you get on the wrong side of your Sugardaddy or you have one that is a control freak and they find out where you live? There's so many ways that this situation can go wrong. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I love Pretty Woman as a movie but I think to certain women it gives this sort of ideal fantasy where they think the right Sugardaddy will pop up like Richard Gere and money will be no object. The reality of being a Sugarbaby is not all fun and glamorous as it's made to look on social media. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I hope that other content creators in the true crime community will cover Sofya's case and if you are in Russia and know more about the latest developments on the hunt for Vyacheslav Popov, please get in touch with me (jocaledonianKitty@gmail.com)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">RIP Sofya.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Thank you as always for checking out my latest post and for joining me in the second instalment of The Sugarbaby Murders series. I will be back again on Sunday evening with a new case. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">In the meantime, you can find me o my socials <a href="https://linktr.ee/caledoniankitty">here</a> and if you would like to support my work (that would be amazing, thank you!), you can do so <a href="https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/CalKittyTrueCrime">here</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Take care x</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">[Usually I provide a list of books, further reading & sources that have been part of my research on a particular case. in this instance, information is pretty scarce, all we know is that the investigation into the murderer's whereabouts is continuing. The article published by <a href="https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/19138629/woman-stabbed-to-death-by-lover-tattoos-recognised/">The Sun</a> newspaper was invaluable with the main details of this case. My knowledge of the Sugarbaby lifestyle is by my own research watching Youtube videos over the years and for my ongoing research for this series. Any questions or enquiries please don't hesitate to email me at jocaledoniankitty@gmail.com]</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div></div>Caledonian Kittyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07812087097647828789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3918091265826271512.post-22733525306031912132024-01-28T18:00:00.003+00:002024-01-28T18:45:39.491+00:00''You Actually Thought I Liked You? I Never Liked You. You're A Trick To Everyone'' | When Obsession Turns Deadly | The Sugarbaby Murders<p style="text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhGhP6FGG2whgXiQNXDGsyOnbier7BjMFKeliJiGVksEhyUfkO5FRUBNWuEmz69dzM8QxcVpsoOxzbudClCXhMgP7Ems6KWNueZTS-GDZjYYs78eqDMVeGDqLzDkV3y94mm1q3-9JQcXAPYqm7sX-pc6Un9eoluev2_f6pvN9Ap_0TsqrjloOqU6PWVmfL/s1080/Picsart_24-01-24_11-20-12-208.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="665" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhGhP6FGG2whgXiQNXDGsyOnbier7BjMFKeliJiGVksEhyUfkO5FRUBNWuEmz69dzM8QxcVpsoOxzbudClCXhMgP7Ems6KWNueZTS-GDZjYYs78eqDMVeGDqLzDkV3y94mm1q3-9JQcXAPYqm7sX-pc6Un9eoluev2_f6pvN9Ap_0TsqrjloOqU6PWVmfL/w672-h665/Picsart_24-01-24_11-20-12-208.jpg" width="672" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(From left: Abigail Saldana. Right: Stanley Szeliga. Picture credit: <a href="https://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/world-news/obsessive-strip-club-punter-shot-25368393">dailystar</a> & collage created by Caledonian Kitty) </span></p><p></p><p style="text-align: center;">Welcome back to my blog whether you are a regular reader or a newbie, I appreciate you being here and hope you will continue to join me every Sunday evening for more true crime content. In this particular post, I will be sharing with you the first in a short series of chilling true crime cases that have happened in recent times. This series is titled 'The Sugarbaby Murders' and will feature 4 different cases from the USA. If you are unfamiliar with the term 'Sugarbaby' I'll do a brief explanation because I know it can be confusing as there are different types of 'Sugarbabies', those that meet men for physical dates and offer sexual services and those who just talk to men online in exchange for cash payments and no physical interactions occur. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Now you would think that to some people that would sound like an easy way to make some money and I suppose that it is but the grass is not always greener on the other side as they say. There are cases where both the lady (said Sugarbaby) and the man (customer, client, trick, Sugardaddy, whichever term you wish to use) have an 'arrangement' and both of them know where they stand but in other cases things don't quite go to plan. For example, there are women (and men, cause guys can be Sugarbabies too) who have been known to con men into fake relationships online in exchange for money. There's quite a few on YouTube that do and they try to teach other women tips on how to 'Get that bag'. It's quite scary because they will actually encourage other girls and women to join websites and go on 'dates' with strange men in the hopes that an 'arrangement' can be made. During lockdown we saw how sites like OnlyFans and sugarbaby channels on YouTube blew up and it seemed like every second person you came across was involved in something. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Live and let live is what I say, if nobody is getting hurt and both parties (the sugarbaby and the customer or whichever name you wish to use) are agreed and on the same path then fair play to them but we have these common incidences where a lot of lies are involved and this is when trouble can happen. If someone is pretneding to be in a relationship with someone for money and that person finds out then there is no indication how that other person will react. Some guys will be deeply hurt and just never contact the lady/sugarbaby again but others can be aggressive, threatening and in a lot of cases, women have been tracked down and murdered. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaKxb_pV3qGb4s-qE1dA2m6Yn5bleRCAbs4SZ7MfVKZK6a0HwD8exf5CZqEvXZWeTxWmd3fU9OTVnIPeVdqSZZauvysOL7MZ-VhX5htmBZs4at5XKehB8Phyphenhypheng5Olm0MrwAb7bIjDEX1vIcWGQIF-SeGhUwWDOS0gPC6gtKXZtwn1KkPPWFsSkB0ADGLiHS/s630/49801797-10145145-image-a-51_1635524374252.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="630" data-original-width="306" height="1346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaKxb_pV3qGb4s-qE1dA2m6Yn5bleRCAbs4SZ7MfVKZK6a0HwD8exf5CZqEvXZWeTxWmd3fU9OTVnIPeVdqSZZauvysOL7MZ-VhX5htmBZs4at5XKehB8Phyphenhypheng5Olm0MrwAb7bIjDEX1vIcWGQIF-SeGhUwWDOS0gPC6gtKXZtwn1KkPPWFsSkB0ADGLiHS/w652-h1346/49801797-10145145-image-a-51_1635524374252.jpg" width="652" /></a><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Abigail Saldana. Picture credit: <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10145145/Man-54-charged-shooting-dead-woman-two-weeks-discovered-tracking-device-car.html">Daily Mail</a>)</span></div><p style="text-align: center;">So, now that I have briefly explained the background of the sugarbaby lifestyle and some of the issues that can transpire with it, I will share with you this disturbing case from Texas, USA which occurred in 2021. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Abigail Saldana was a beautiful, talented young single mother of just 22 back in 2021. She had dreams of working in the beauty industry full time and had a great reputation locally for being a 'Brow Queen'. Abigail (who preferred to be called Abby) had incredible makeup skills and was a talented brow technician. She was always doing her friends makeup and eyebrows and had picked up a few regular customers too. She dreamed of opening her own beauty parlour and this is what she was working towards, a better life for her and her son plus to have the opportunity to live out her dreams. </p><p style="text-align: center;">The trouble was like a lot of things in life, money was tight and being the beautiful girl that she was, she was introduced to exotic dancing in a club. She was never shy of hard work and also had a bar tending job too. The money that she made at the gentlemen's club was easy and a lot more than what she would earn at the local grocery store. She also enjoyed the lifestyle that the money brought her, she was able to afford things that she otherwise wouldn't have been able to have. As is very common in these clubs, there are 'regular customers' who frequent the club weekly and some of these guys have favourite girls who they will pay to dance for them on a regular basis. The customers are not supposed to touch the girls and often is the case that these men will offer the girls more money if they agree to meet them outside of the club in exchange for more money. </p><p style="text-align: center;">It's well known that exotic dancing can lead into full on sex work (which some people would still call prostitution but that term has now been deemed to be politically incorrect), escorting or 'sugaring' (meaning becoming a Sugarbaby). There's different terms and different approaches and this is why it can be quite confusing for some people to understand because some people believe it all to be a form of sex work ('prostitution' in their words).</p><p style="text-align: center;">Abigail had a regular customer by the name of Stanley Szeliga and she danced for him on a regular basis, he became very fixated on her and offered her more money to meet him in private for (as he claims) sexual services. Stanley had Abigail's personal phone number and the pair would text each other regularly. He would send her money and gifts and they would meet up. Going by the texts between the two, it was pretty clear that they had sexual relations and the majority of the texts that I read were very flirtatious, it was clear that Abigail had been trying to entice more money out of him by messages such as ''Hope I can see you next Friday?'' and ''I definitely can't wait to see you again. Babe you are unbelievable, you had me going crazy.'' These were just some of the responses that Abigail was sending back to the fixated and unhinged Stanley. He sent her a message saying ''I could seriously spend hours between your legs. You are so perfect, both personality and physically!''.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Stanley had been sending Abigail various payments and all seemed to be fine until Stanley claimed that he found out that Abigail (in his words) was 'part of a prostitution ring that was charging clients $2000 a session'. In his mind they were having a relationship, he was 54 years old and she was 22 and she worked as an exotic dancer in a gentlemen's club and he really thought that she could have been interested in something more from him that didn't involve cash. He knew that Abigail worked as an exotic dancer, so he knew she danced for other men for money and somehow that was perfectly ok because in his mind, the men didn't touch her and he thought he was special to her. </p><p style="text-align: center;">He claimed that he could see himself having a future with her even though the pair had nothing in common and it was obvious to anyone looking in what the actual set-up was. Part of Abigail's job was to charm him in the club as all dancers and hostesses do as a way to entice customers to spend more money. But away from the club, this Sugarbaby arrangement carried on with Stanley regularly sending Abigail cash and meeting up with her, in his mind this was something more. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4WXfIRQvrLdXHCroiHweQGrMq_uPelTfJE3JpaZl6PCR49fDJsmOlPT_uiAbF-Jnu7UhE0lHY8V6LZtEwTcwJgE2YPKKKf5FnIBtvL6oZ5x_w8XOZxE0Efx-q9rY2nXs-WtLdmqYEVr7o-gWar4WyhPJ1YAp_Xe0Y8cdN7Hpjai9AD8WY32O0oHBN3FYq/s852/Screenshot_20240124_130835_Chrome.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="852" data-original-width="414" height="1329" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4WXfIRQvrLdXHCroiHweQGrMq_uPelTfJE3JpaZl6PCR49fDJsmOlPT_uiAbF-Jnu7UhE0lHY8V6LZtEwTcwJgE2YPKKKf5FnIBtvL6oZ5x_w8XOZxE0Efx-q9rY2nXs-WtLdmqYEVr7o-gWar4WyhPJ1YAp_Xe0Y8cdN7Hpjai9AD8WY32O0oHBN3FYq/w644-h1329/Screenshot_20240124_130835_Chrome.jpg" width="644" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;">When he (as he said) ''found out about all these lies'', he contacted Abigail and made it clear that he wasn't going to send her any more money. When Abigail was told this she switched from being sweet real quick to mocking him and telling him that she never really liked him and that he was just a 'trick' (a trick - a client who pays for sex). </p><p style="text-align: center;">All hell broke loose because Stanley would not accept this and his obsession and what he thought was 'love', suddenly turned into pure bitterness and hate. He began stalking Abigail online and had made posts about her on Instagram telling people she was a 'prostitute' and that he had paid her for sexual services. At this point, Abigail wasn't bothered about him and didn't really care what he had to say and told him so. It was clear that there was no love lost between the pair. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJKuDHNVvQpFtsdS14zReNNzV6_EeYOF2m-HM2xbxlxZeO8QzBA3wOlvRlwC0BYuZcj2rFyrE6mJArD35mNXDcODERiIbvljW38qP8pLnfh9WOXPkizzKUaslmErP-GN4xbACw_WmcIlB_d0A7HbZrjQzzqCG4Se03uI3aQ7gxSPgThvwLRVjYzQ5YHKcJ/s918/Screenshot_20240124_130746_Chrome.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="918" data-original-width="678" height="867" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJKuDHNVvQpFtsdS14zReNNzV6_EeYOF2m-HM2xbxlxZeO8QzBA3wOlvRlwC0BYuZcj2rFyrE6mJArD35mNXDcODERiIbvljW38qP8pLnfh9WOXPkizzKUaslmErP-GN4xbACw_WmcIlB_d0A7HbZrjQzzqCG4Se03uI3aQ7gxSPgThvwLRVjYzQ5YHKcJ/w639-h867/Screenshot_20240124_130746_Chrome.jpg" width="639" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPfiYMJqRMbVdIedTONHPnsjlosi62aoXDR32L-5BK8E09Y0AG4xJDJCHXoyKiaLJelQucypiTU_peMyssCi8vlO6dip0Rr6gMniEsrdbMTyWUJTm612iO97zVOxIOnzvmgRcsKOeNaKgWY1lzd6PrLHnHzN5MhnbKCYUsDm-dBXs43j6PJxb71frnEeJR/s1105/Screenshot_20240124_130918_Chrome.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1105" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPfiYMJqRMbVdIedTONHPnsjlosi62aoXDR32L-5BK8E09Y0AG4xJDJCHXoyKiaLJelQucypiTU_peMyssCi8vlO6dip0Rr6gMniEsrdbMTyWUJTm612iO97zVOxIOnzvmgRcsKOeNaKgWY1lzd6PrLHnHzN5MhnbKCYUsDm-dBXs43j6PJxb71frnEeJR/w626-h640/Screenshot_20240124_130918_Chrome.jpg" width="626" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_KjbTIQN5mcphyov3C3BlZSxwLzPeMjUUFNu2I5uWXtbPSYBAXV-i47UPfMVy9UNlf3EdUXCJdRb2dtxJmRlV2e6wbTvUkViZP7wVPhXXvY7w9UsSMIACoKekibGZ8Kv1E0VOtsjCZnlERRCE1mFiDTHEAL7XXvZcq1-PZ-f_iFjTZU91GF1LSqTKXA72/s1082/Screenshot_20240124_131513_Google%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1082" data-original-width="731" height="964" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_KjbTIQN5mcphyov3C3BlZSxwLzPeMjUUFNu2I5uWXtbPSYBAXV-i47UPfMVy9UNlf3EdUXCJdRb2dtxJmRlV2e6wbTvUkViZP7wVPhXXvY7w9UsSMIACoKekibGZ8Kv1E0VOtsjCZnlERRCE1mFiDTHEAL7XXvZcq1-PZ-f_iFjTZU91GF1LSqTKXA72/w651-h964/Screenshot_20240124_131513_Google%20(1).jpg" width="651" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">Being just 22 and focused on other things in her life, Abigail didn't care too much about Stanley and his strange behaviour, she'd had customers who had been fixated on her before and assumed that he would eventually go away but things just escalated. For weeks she had been driving around without a care in the world when she noticed something odd under her car and found a tracking device. Stanley had placed a tracking device under her car and had been following her for weeks. Understandably this was a terrible shock and Abigail did the right thing at the time, she told the police, her mother, her friends and colleagues. Everyone knew about Stanley and everyone assumed right off the bat that it was him. </span></div><p style="text-align: center;">Nothing more seemed to have come of this despite alarm bells being raised and police being informed. Abigail posted a video to her Instagram about the tracker and obviously as he was watching her every move, Stanley knew that she had found it. This did not deter him though and he just placed another tracker under her car. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Just two weeks after this incident, Abigail had been going about her life in her usual manner but on the evening of the 26th of October 2021, she had been driving home when she noticed Stanley's car behind her. Stanley chased her and her car was seen speeding before veering off to the side of the road and crashing. A witness recalled to the police that they approached the vehicle to find Abigail slumped in the front seat, unresponsive and it was clear that she had been shot three times. She was pronounced deceased at the scene. </p><p style="text-align: center;">The police didn't waste any time (this time) in locating Stanley Szeliga. They contacted him and asked him to meet with them to be questioned, well Stanley didn't show up so they obtained a warrant for his arrest and headed to his apartment. </p><p style="text-align: center;">At Stanley's apartment, he refused to answer the door so a SWAT team gained entry and found him covered with self inflicted cuts to his face and neck. He was arrested on the spot. The evidence against him was overwhelming and investigators discovered that his car had been seen near to the area where Abigail was found plus his car had been seen around her home on 5 separate occasions in the 12 days before he killed her. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Investigators also found that Stanley had posted on Instagram just three hours before shooting Abigail. He had claimed that he had given her another $3000 payment and had threatened to tell authorities that she was part of a 'prostitution ring'. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Stanley said in one of his Instagram posts: </p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><i>''I never thought I'd be one of those guys to be taken advantage of. Sharing for awareness. Abigail S, and I, Since July 2021, We have been enjoying each other's company. She's so beautiful and personable that I envisioned a future with her. But dealing with all the lies is overwhelming. I realize that is part of your primary job as an adult entertainer. But leave it at the club. if you only leave your second job, being in a high-end prostitution ring we could move forward. Yes, this pays $2000 per session, but it's illegal. And having a boyfriend whilst having sex with other men?''</i></b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp5Tt_hwXvV38kCVfn5WeXB-l8xJLNA5pYFkhpIrlxjoesKHPIq-jNEAvDOv1o80E2ELXJI3nCmHtAAxWfNAW7Sra1Mxj53mcL1YmgeUtHr9HP7N1LvUgksXD_zmiY4IkgZSz5BaABjgsD0wLXiiLObbJOgFOoqclSffElZxcrKjjNLC2sRugdHKU138AF/s465/1_image-1jpeg.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="465" data-original-width="310" height="931" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp5Tt_hwXvV38kCVfn5WeXB-l8xJLNA5pYFkhpIrlxjoesKHPIq-jNEAvDOv1o80E2ELXJI3nCmHtAAxWfNAW7Sra1Mxj53mcL1YmgeUtHr9HP7N1LvUgksXD_zmiY4IkgZSz5BaABjgsD0wLXiiLObbJOgFOoqclSffElZxcrKjjNLC2sRugdHKU138AF/w620-h931/1_image-1jpeg.jpg" width="620" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Stanley Szeliga. Picture credit: <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10145145/Man-54-charged-shooting-dead-woman-two-weeks-discovered-tracking-device-car.html">Daily Mail</a>)</span></div><p style="text-align: center;">As of right now, Stanley Szeliga has been charged with the murder of Abigail Saldana. This horrible crime took place of October of 2021 so I assume that there's been some hold up with the court case. Abigail's mother was determined to see him in court but so far investigators have not commented any further on what's going to happen. We know they have the right guy in custody but what the next step is going to be is currently unclear but as you know, I will update this post as soon as I hear anything. </p><p></p><p style="text-align: center;">So what are your thoughts on this case? Feel free to comment below or share with me via my email at jocaledoniankitty@gmail.com </p><p style="text-align: center;">My thoughts? well like I mentioned before some people can perceive that working in a club as an exotic dancer or a sugarbaby etc is easy money but it actually isn't. I've seen what people go through and the toll it can take on one's mental health and the risks to safety are always there. You never know who's watching you, even us as we post our tweets or Instagram pictures, we have to be careful not to give our locations away. I read about a case where an online stalker had found out a victim's address just by zooming into a photograph and looking at the reflection on her sunglasses. It leaves a chill down the spine. There's risks involved in any job and anyone can be a victim of a stalker but as much as I feel incredibly sorry for Abigail (because she did not deserve to be harassed, stalked and murdered and taken away from her little boy and family) the truth was that she was playing with fire and it was obvious to anyone who knew Stanley that the guy had 'issues'. She put all of that aside and played on his vulnerabilities to get money and being just 22 maybe she didn't realise the danger and consequences of her own actions. This was a 54 year old unstable man who was always at the strip club and he threw thousands at her expecting everything in return. He wasn't going to just walk away as soon as she was done with him. These obsessed types can act like love sick gentlemen with money to burn but as soon as rejection is on the cards they can turn very nasty in the blink of an eye. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Some of these types of guys can't handle normal rejection where a woman might not respond to a message or take their offer of a drink and they fly off the handle at that. But just imagine the mindframe of a guy like Stanley who's spent thousands convinced he's got a bright future with this beautiful girl who's calling him babe and saying she wants to see him and can't wait to see him, it's a recipe for disaster. At 54 years of age he should've known better and to guys like him who are currently in that situation, they really need to wake up and accept that what they are involved in is an arrangement and make it clear together with the other person, what it is they are expecting from this. I can't imagine how a guy would honestly believe that offering a stripper more money outside of the club for sex is the beginnings of a beautiful and committed relationship but there are men out there who want to be the 'saviour' of some of these types of women, they believe that they can take the girl away from that lifestyle and turn them into what they want them to be, it's crazy. I think they've been watching 'Pretty Woman' too many times. </p><p style="text-align: center;">As for the women out there who choose this lifestyle, be honest and don't play mindgames with vulnerable and unstable men. I know the money is tempting but it's not worth losing your life over, ending up in prison and plus, it's just a very cruel thing to do, to take advantage of a vulnerable person. Nine times out of ten these situations always have horrific consequences. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Abigail didn't deserve what happened to her, no matter what her choices were and whatever the true involvement was with Stanley Szeliga, she should not have been put in the position to be terrified, harassed and to lose her life. Her little boy has lost his mother over something so senseless and to think what could have been if Abigail did go on to fulfill her dreams of working in the beauty industry. </p><p style="text-align: center;">RIP Abigail, you will never be forgotten.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><u>Further Reading & Sources:</u></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/us-news/obsessive-strip-club-regular-paid-30885282">Abigail Saldana: Article | Mirror </a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/crime/dancer-bugged-tracking-device-then-murdered-b1950962.html">Abigail Saldana: Article | The Independent</a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/man-threatened-followed-abigail-saldana-before-fatally-shooting-her-warrant/2797252/">Abigail Saldana: Article | NBCDFW</a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://people.com/crime/dancer-found-tracking-device-car-police-allege-stalker-killed-her/">Abigail Saldana: Article | People </a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://eu.timesrecordnews.com/story/news/2021/11/01/police-report-details-abigail-abby-saldana-murder/6236496001/">Abigail Saldana: Article | Times Record News </a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://youtu.be/uBNXe7rrO5c?si=D_YzmYd-a9EeUtNE">Abigail Salanda | News Report (Clip)</a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://youtu.be/JW1KoV2l33Q?si=5qcWYd2EgOHh1wFN">Abigail Saldana | News Report (Clip) </a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://www.ricksfortworth.com/">Rick's Cabaret | Fort Worth </a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas">Texas | Wikipedia </a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/16617713/strip-club-regular-shoots-dancer-dead-stalking-texas/">Stanley Szeliga: Article | The Sun</a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://www.fox7austin.com/news/fort-worth-pd-man-was-blackmailing-exotic-dancer-before-her-murder">Stanley Szeliga: Article | Fox & Austin</a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;">Thank you for as always for taking the time to read my latest post and this being the first installment in The Sugarbaby Murders series, I hope you do find my articles on these cases to be informative and interesting. If you would like to help support my work, I would really appreciate it, you can either donate here: <a href="https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/CalKittyTrueCrime">PayPal: @CalKittyTrueCrime</a> or on my Ko-fi page (where you will also find weekly updates) <a href="https://ko-fi.com/caledoniankitty">Ko-fi: Caledonian Kitty</a></p><p style="text-align: center;">For all of my social media links click <a href="https://linktr.ee/caledoniankitty">here</a></p><p style="text-align: center;">Hope to see you in my next post, stay safe x</p>Caledonian Kittyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07812087097647828789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3918091265826271512.post-4798463058041052042024-01-21T17:00:00.002+00:002024-01-21T17:00:00.124+00:00Harvey Glatman: From Disturbing Childhood To Terrifying Serial Killer | The Glamour Girl Slayer<p style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtc_uY4MPhzJsxk27_ol5MLFGvzHB9jsA7JU8leqpHdXFWOa5e-VFctkO4AUIN_9FK1IuagDaln9k_UWAjvBMSrVUzAgr8hWkhzhyIVoX3EJCTMCbvaoxjDsfDURwTdkLC2mflgK9EhTqDNJBlm4ko-Urbq8qnq88oSoY5sGeYRe7FgT9Z91YwIopUjxiK/s191/Picsart_24-01-18_16-53-56-481.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="191" data-original-width="176" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtc_uY4MPhzJsxk27_ol5MLFGvzHB9jsA7JU8leqpHdXFWOa5e-VFctkO4AUIN_9FK1IuagDaln9k_UWAjvBMSrVUzAgr8hWkhzhyIVoX3EJCTMCbvaoxjDsfDURwTdkLC2mflgK9EhTqDNJBlm4ko-Urbq8qnq88oSoY5sGeYRe7FgT9Z91YwIopUjxiK/w590-h640/Picsart_24-01-18_16-53-56-481.png" width="590" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Harvey Glatman. Picture credit: <a href="https://murderpedia.org/male.G/g/glatman-harvey.htm">murderpedia</a>)</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>*Please be aware that some of the details that I will be sharing in this post will be disturbing and deal with child self abuse as well as sexual abuse, assault and murder*</b></p><p style="text-align: center;">Often, when it comes to Serial Killers, it comes as no surprise when details emerge that their childhoods were less than satisfactory. Nine times out of ten there are signs and red flags of things to come pretty much early on in childhood through actions, behaviours as well as the environment in which the individual is brought up in. You can't always bank on that as we have seen with so many cases where killers have appeared to have had a normal childhood and then suddenly fallen on the wrong side of the law during their teenage years escalating into more and more disturbing behaviour. </p><p style="text-align: center;">I've written about so many Serial Killers that I've lost count but in this case, the story of Harvey Glatman is particularly disturbing, not just because of his sadistic crimes but his childhood behaviour. To have a child carrying out disturbing sexual acts on himself at the age of 4 is just too much to stomach. Harvey Glatman was obsessed with sexual practices and rope as a child, he would tie things around his private area in order to gain gratification. It's disturbing to write as well as to read but that was the situation. His parents knew what had been going on and had caught him doing these things on many occasions. They turned a blind eye to it at first but eventually sought help to which they were told that it would just be a phase. Well, Harvey's unhealthy and disturbing behaviour was not just a phase, in fact it was the beginnings of a Serial Killer who became obsessed with binding, sexually assaulting and murdering women. </p><p style="text-align: center;">As disturbing as this intro into this case is, I would like to go into Harvey's childhood to the very beginning. He was born Harvey Murray Glatman on the 10th of December 1927 in New York City to parents Albert and Ophelia. At first, things seemed pretty normal in the household, Harvey was his parent's only child and was the apple of their eye. The family moved to Colorado and there wasn't anything really out of the ordinary, no traumatic events or reported abuse from either parent but for some reason, Harvey started exhibiting some very disturbing behaviour. He was obsessed with rope and string. He would tie things around his private area for pleasure and he was doing this at the age of 4! His parents put it down to a phase as disturbed as they were and hoped that he would grow out of it but it carried on. By the age of 12 he was carrying out sexual acts in the bathroom involving rope. It sounds like to me that he was indulging in Autoerotic Asphyxiation which involves placing a rope around one's neck to the point of choking whilst masturbating at the same time. It's a very dangerous thing to do and has resulted in many fatalities and serious injury. The blood is cut off by the rope and it gives the individual a light-headed rush to the head which intensifies their orgasm. </p><p style="text-align: center;">His mother caught him in the bathroom and terrified that her son would accidentally kill himself, his parents sought help and shockingly they were told that it was just a phase and that Harvey would eventually stop. The truth was that even during his childhood his parents knew that their son was not normal but they had no way to help or stop him. All they could do was just try and prevent something terrible from happening but they were truly powerless. It is unknown how or why Harvey was doing these things or where he had learnt it from. His parents could not explain it. </p><p style="text-align: center;">As is often the case, Harvey wanted to carry out these things on women he desired. As a teenager he would stalk women, break into their houses and go through their lingerie drawers. He fantasized about tying women up, having complete control over them. The pattern of behaviour was escalating more and more because he no longer got a thrill just from the masturbation and stealing women's underwear, he wanted to carry out sexual assaults. He had carried out various sexual assaults during some of the break-ins at various women's homes but on one occasion he abducted a woman and subjected her to a horrific sexual assault, luckily she escaped alive and he was put behind bars but it wasn't long until he was back on the streets. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Whilst he was in prison he had been diagnosed by a psychiatrist as schizophrenic with a sexual impulse which was a warning right there that this guy was a ticking time bomb. Normally, people have sexual fantasies but know where to draw the line, with Harvey there was no line and no dulling down. As soon as he was released from prison his behaviour only got worse. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Back on the streets he'd discovered a new tactic for getting close to women, to beautiful women that he knew would probably not look twice at him. He posed as a professional photographer and lured aspiring models to his apartment in the pretence of a photoshoot to help with their modelling portfolio. Once the women were in his apartment the tone had changed, he either convinced them or forced them to allow him to tie them up as part of the photoshoot. </p><p style="text-align: center;">His first known murder victim was the beautiful 19 year old Judy Ann Dull, Judy had been subjected to a horrific ordeal and it was during this disgusting assault that Harvey was reported to have officially lost his virginity. He'd sexually assaulted women in the past but was technically still a virgin up until that point apparently. He was 29 years old at this time. There are infamous pictures of Judy on the internet and which you will often see pop up on documentaries. The haunting picture of her tied up on the chair with the look of fear in her eyes, it's very disturbing especially if you know what was actually happening at that time and after the picture was taken. After Judy's ordeal at the sick hands of Harvey Glatman, she was strangled and her body was dumped in a desert which was on the outskirts of LA. The location where Judy's body was placed became a regular spot where Harvey's victims would be discarded. Harvey would take the women there to further torment them, sexually assault them before strangling them and their bodies would be left there. </p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNm1rHHVc7eteuYCjk9vzI1sTflx36gQarcrv5yqhLtjBGUJSSzD-bdjxO8_5su1h81XTMR9DsHce8msxcHfwQMRZGt6TH1YWOQMqy7iWK0LL4o4X_W0kCNbzUMNAWeMudndimhyphenhyphen_pK6NWfnX7VefGf880c_qeP5bT3W6IphyEAWaWssChzONZVXMEBW82/s781/dull-001.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="781" data-original-width="600" height="1048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNm1rHHVc7eteuYCjk9vzI1sTflx36gQarcrv5yqhLtjBGUJSSzD-bdjxO8_5su1h81XTMR9DsHce8msxcHfwQMRZGt6TH1YWOQMqy7iWK0LL4o4X_W0kCNbzUMNAWeMudndimhyphenhyphen_pK6NWfnX7VefGf880c_qeP5bT3W6IphyEAWaWssChzONZVXMEBW82/w647-h1048/dull-001.jpg" width="647" /></a><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Judy Ann Dull. Picture credit: <a href="https://www.murderpedia.org/">murderpedia</a>)</span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;">Harvey went on to kill two other women in a similar manner, Ruth Mercado (24) and Shirley Ann Bridgeford (24). He attempted to carry out another kidnap, assault and murder on another victim, Lorraine Vigil (28). Lorraine initially got in his car on the knowledge that they were going to conduct a photoshoot but she soon realised that something wasn't right and tried to make an escape. Harvey tried to threaten Lorraine with a gun but she bravely fought back, resulting in a slight injury to her thigh. During the struggle, she bit him and managed to get hold of the gun and kept the cowardly Harvey Glatman terrified to move until the police arrived. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2CVn9-pUMKunZPLE9peXEwtP8_HI1fZ_Obuw71EcA0WkBdqjpkcnHQdbgFc7pcyC8Gpj6236XdP1EOAEoSNmAyM5ivsjeq0SPQNap_weoh2KDTfVi9_KD3NfqSWoXvN_f1pQhEJoNZ0H1UrxqqlLbsdpSNFvz5HHo5fPidubUuqWznK4Cc6F-Dk9FBYo-/s500/dull-003.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="364" height="1170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2CVn9-pUMKunZPLE9peXEwtP8_HI1fZ_Obuw71EcA0WkBdqjpkcnHQdbgFc7pcyC8Gpj6236XdP1EOAEoSNmAyM5ivsjeq0SPQNap_weoh2KDTfVi9_KD3NfqSWoXvN_f1pQhEJoNZ0H1UrxqqlLbsdpSNFvz5HHo5fPidubUuqWznK4Cc6F-Dk9FBYo-/w636-h1170/dull-003.jpg" width="636" /></a><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Judy Ann Dull. Picture credit: <a href="https://www.murderpedia.org/">murderpedia</a>)</span></div><p style="text-align: center;">To everyone's surprise, Harvey Glatman was only too happy to tell anyone who would listen, that he had killed women and confessed to everything. He'd kept trophies of his victims in a toolbox which contained photographs, lingerie etc. He wanted to be put to death and having been found guilty of his horrific crimes, he was sentenced to die in the gas chamber at San Quentin State Prison which he accepted. Harvey Glatman died on the 18th of September 1959. </p><p style="text-align: center;">RIP to the known victims of Harvey Glatman: </p><p style="text-align: center;">Judy Ann Dull</p><p style="text-align: center;">Ruth Mercado</p><p style="text-align: center;">Shirley Ann Bridgeford</p><p style="text-align: center;">And to all of the possible unknown victims. </p><p style="text-align: center;">RIP also to the brave and inspirational survivor, Lorraine Vigil who sadly passed away in 2002.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><u><b>Further Reading & Sources: </b></u></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Big-Book-Serial-Killers/dp/1548119644/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3FK30AFCBQHRL&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.kFmuPblqAKFF-Rn5H4zx5_Adqp2ZZC-y-tHxy947820IEoPrv3rk2ua763IEJ1lXHcIfGWx-2RXl9BO5I5fU10aQrqsmzOqRq8VfxYx3b8GUI4nRhmxsQK2j-jnSb5TWX0JnJzOIjmEj2micatnuM5XnW7t9Wkw1XnzMYcPrSgpHMlAXwDH6ZVmG81D8XX2yCxH4tqZgSZk2RfHf1PxPqsKeEIbipwD4NSfhJLVtjs4.pUrBTqoaFVZWnL3JT1jKFkufPY3LF3BbtAAV9SfhFKw&dib_tag=se&keywords=the+big+book+of+serial+killers+jack+rosewood&qid=1705609236&sprefix=big+book+of+serial+%2Caps%2C523&sr=8-1">The Big Book of Serial Killers | Book by Jack Rosewood </a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Killer-Book-Serial-Killers-Philbin/dp/1402213859/ref=sr_1_1?crid=LXQ3GSSHRW4J&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.zPPz_3-bn7wcL8OdBHt2uJZpH6BLX3ltn-QBZjrvNJsgtLAj2YKsgbL2t0IM6yGl50iKYn8KKXvovKW28wjaT_QyBwKRvmAtXAxCsuP_XMo1v1_o90FVLIOp_d_u0Hj9FkbRuJLrJcICJzYyR3yC0PVkYOMzu1zG4iUWDZjGo8pc63X5IWnpn6wVQGgBiqosz7vsRTzEeCw_xu-hUgk6JlcfjoVR1a3t-lDe69KGRUA.vfiQq5-lHIzW3fYswGxIJoEJLxBRMg5hBqMrlso8YNU&dib_tag=se&keywords=serial+killers+philbin&qid=1705609358&sprefix=serial+killers+philbin+%2Caps%2C133&sr=8-1">The Killer Book of Serial Killers | Book by Michael Philbin, Tom Philbin. </a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harvey_Glatman">Harvey Glatman | Wikipedia </a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://murderpedia.org/male.G/g/glatman-harvey.htm">Harvey Glatman | Murderpedia </a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/a-serial-killer-is-executed">Harvey Glatman | This Day in History </a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rope-Twisted-Crimes-Harvey-Glatman/dp/0671017470/ref=sr_1_1?crid=15UM74JLRMS5E&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.m0NV7KimJuvv59p2dqQEqv7ye1F14jL8xu5YhSTU7SvGjHj071QN20LucGBJIEps.X_ISpXVnYNfXOWl0RPxpJSOwRONEGIs2JiuZ2drL0c4&dib_tag=se&keywords=harvey+glatman+%23&qid=1705609665&sprefix=harvey+glatman+%2Caps%2C320&sr=8-1">Rope: The Twisted Life & Crimes of Harvey Glatman | Book by Michael Newton</a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">Thank you as always for checking out my latest true crime post, I hope you will join me in the next one. in the meantime you can find me on my socials <a href="https://linktr.ee/caledoniankitty">here</a> and if you would like to help support my weekly content, donations can be made <a href="https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/CalKittyTrueCrime">here</a></p><p style="text-align: center;">Stay safe x</p>Caledonian Kittyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07812087097647828789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3918091265826271512.post-8692009238649198152024-01-14T18:00:00.001+00:002024-01-14T18:00:00.150+00:00Unparalleled Perversity: The Sickening & Unbelievable Truths About Albert Fish | Graphic Content<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO3OgesfxfNdWnbWoi2Q1NwhtuIJEPZLu7aZXxsT7HCKyKDfiJS8GdWIgU2dbrRAfBY-U68fUZ0Rw8e-frk4hCdzWpTobjXVo0HO1fNz0pcLW8nDEEJRJiZm3J13JCjSyX7GHuWhnREIBKoTQOflpWQelqH3yLbVEC9cEgahu8qPhiYmEPTf0QPCccalD8/s294/Picsart_24-01-10_13-25-38-488.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="294" data-original-width="271" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO3OgesfxfNdWnbWoi2Q1NwhtuIJEPZLu7aZXxsT7HCKyKDfiJS8GdWIgU2dbrRAfBY-U68fUZ0Rw8e-frk4hCdzWpTobjXVo0HO1fNz0pcLW8nDEEJRJiZm3J13JCjSyX7GHuWhnREIBKoTQOflpWQelqH3yLbVEC9cEgahu8qPhiYmEPTf0QPCccalD8/w590-h640/Picsart_24-01-10_13-25-38-488.png" width="590" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Albert Fish. Picture credit: <a href="https://murderpedia.org/male.F/f/fish-albert.htm">murderpedia</a>)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>*Please be aware that the details that I will be sharing in this post will be very disturbing and will deal with such subjects as child murder, sexual abuse. dismemberment and cannibalism. I will try to be as sensitive as always without missing crucial facts*</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Just one look at those cold dead eyes, that hard drawn face and it is enough to send chills down anyone's spine. The name 'Albert Fish' has gone down in history for all of the wrong reasons, the most sickening of reasons. I've had a lot of requests over the years to write about this monster and I never plucked up the courage to do it until now. Two reasons for not writing about him included the fact that so many have covered his case and because of the sickening things I would be delving into as part of my research. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I'm sensitive when it comes to deaths relating to children and animals. All murder cases are heartbreaking but when the victims happen to be children or animals, it makes my blood boil. Despite such difficult cases to get through, I have managed to cover some stomach-churning cases on this blog over the years and here we are with another case which will be tough to get through. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Like a lot of people, I thought I knew the basic horror stories surrounding Albert Fish but as I did my research into his life and background, I found myself discovering details that I never knew before. As you can imagine, there were many times during my research that I had to step away for a few minutes or was constantly shaking my head at what I was reading. He wasn't just a monster he was THE monster! The nicknames that were given to him by the media do not live up to the actual demon that he was. Names such as 'Moon Maniac', 'Brooklyn Vampire', 'The Gray Man' amongst others are quite tame compared to what his actual crimes were, he was beyond evil, beyond sick and beyond perverted. Come to think of it, what would you call him? I can't even call him human, I can't even think of a name that best describes him. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I think that if you were to sit down and write a list of the worst traits of each serial killer you've ever read about you still wouldn't get close to describing Albert Fish. There was nothing this guy would not do, if you can even attempt to think of the worst thing imaginable to do, he's probably done it. As we move further through this post you'll see what I mean and it won't be for comfortable reading so brace yourself.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Albert Fish came into the world on the 19th of May 1870 into strange circumstances in Washington D.C (USA). His father was an elderly man who was 43 years older than his mother and actually died when Albert was just 5 years old. Albert was the youngest of four children and his full name at birth was Hamilton Howard Fish. He later changed his name to Albert because he suffered from bullying at school where the kids would call him ''Ham & Eggs''. After his father had died the family struggled financially and Albert was placed in an orphanage whilst his mother looked for suitable employment. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">From the outside some people were led to believe that Albert had come from a respectable, well together family but it turned out that a lot of his relatives had suffered with severe mental disorders and two relatives even died in psychiatric hospitals. So being placed in institutions from time to time was not uncommon in the family. The plan was for Albert to be taken into the care of the orphanage and his mother would collect him when she was financially comfortable. His mother did eventually retrieve him from the orphanage but by then the damage had already been done. According to Albert a number of very unsavory things happened whilst he was there. He claimed that he had been abused and had witnessed other boys being abused and doing things that they shouldn't have been. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The trauma of losing his father at a young age and the abuse he experienced and witnessed at the orphanage obviously had a profound affect on him. Albert frequently urinated his bed until the age of 12 and was known to run away quite a lot. Things took an ever worse turn when he became close with another boy who he claimed to have opened his eyes to various things. According to Albert the boy taught him various 'fetishes' which also included the sickening act of ingesting urine and feces. Albert's main interest was boys and he enjoyed spying on them getting dressed at his local bath house. It was clear that from a very young age, Albert was growing into something that could only get worse as time went on. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">No father figure in the household, surrounded by family members who struggled with their own mental health and witnessing the unsavory behaviour at the orphanage (as well as this uncomfortable relationship with this boy who was teaching him to eat human waste) was a recipe for disaster. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">As he got older he began to fantasize about children and wanted to carry out various 'fetishes'. He would flit from job to job as a painter and decorator. The jobs never lasted because word soon got around that Albert was up to some creepy behaviour involving children and he'd be fired. He was no stranger to crime, as well as being a pedophile, he was also involved in petty crime involving fraud and cashing blank cheques. He was arrested about 8 times in his life and had spent time in institutions where he was declared a psychopath and a pervert but they still released him. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Another shocking fact about Albert was that he'd actually been married three times! Three women actually married him! And he had 6 children with his first wife who soon ran off with another man. She returned to Albert briefly pretending that she wanted to make another go of things but it turned out that she had been hiding her secret boyfriend in the attic. Albert made the discovery and sent the two of them packing. His 'relationship' with his children was disturbing, the children (and their friends) were forced to spank him on his bare bottom either using their hands or a wooden paddle. Albert had been spanked in the orphanage and enjoyed the pain. he would encourage the children to hit him until he bled. He would tell the children that he was Jesus Christ and would insert needles under his own fingernails and groin. It got to the point where he was inserting needles so much that many of them disappeared (these needles later appeared on a prison x-ray, some were still intact and others had partially disintegrated). He also enjoyed soaking cotton balls in alcohol, inserting them into his backside and setting them on fire. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">With Albert Fish there is so much to unpack but another of his favourite things to do was to shock people with his vocabulary and written words. He would get a thrill out of finding addresses from lonely hearts ads in the newspaper and he would write disgusting letters to people. It was this very act that saw him being arrested for the very last time. Albert may have been 'creative' in thinking up what kinds of disgusting things he was going to do next but when it came to his crimes, he wasn't too bright. He'd sent a letter to the mother of one of his victims and the unique stationary was traced back to him by the police. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So it became clear, Albert Fish had gone even further than anyone could have imagined. There were no limits at all to this sick perverted monster and the truth was soon revealed that he was responsible for the unsolved murder of 10 year old Grace Budd. I will include the horrific letter that he sent to Grace's mother in this post but the way little Grace was murdered was the stuff of sheer nightmares. Playing the part of the nice, old man, Albert attended the Budd family home in response to a job advert. He befriended the family and was able to gain their trust, his original plan was to murder Grace's brother Edward but when Grace sat on his knee, he said that it was then that he decided that he wanted to ''eat her''. Chillingly, he was able to convince Grace's parents that there was a children's party and offered to take Grace along. Her parents were fine with this. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Instead of taking the little girl to the party (which of course was a lie) he took her to an abandoned building and told her to pick some flowers whilst he went inside. Once inside he removed his clothing for fear he would stain them with blood. He called for Grace to come inside and grabbed hold of the frightened child as she fought for her life. He sickeningly strangled her and dismembered her body so that (in his words) he could eat her.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">He didn't deny the murder of Grace, he described it in detail and bragged about other children he had killed. He claimed to have '<i>'had a child in every state</i>''. When detectives tried to guess the number of children he had murdered, Albert was offended and bragged that he had killed at least 400. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">In the following lines I will be sharing the letter in it's entirety that Albert Fish sent to Grace Budd's mother. Please be aware that the contents are very disturbing....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><b>''My dear Mrs. Budd, </b></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><b><br /></b></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><b>In 1894 a friend of mine shipped as a deck hand on the steamer Tacoma, Captain John Davis. They sailed from San Francisco to Hong Kong China. On arriving there, he and two others went ashore and got drunk. When they returned the boat was gone. At that time there was a famine in China. Meat of any kind was from $1 to $3 dollars a pound. So great was the suffering among the very poor that all children under 12 were sold to the butchers to be cut up and sold for food in order to keep others from starving. A boy or girl under 14 was not safe in the street. You could go in any shop and ask for steak - chops - or stew meat. Part of the naked body of a boy or girl would be brought out and just what you wanted cut from it. A boy or girl's behind which is the sweetest part of the body and sold as veal cutlet brought the highest price. John stayed there so long that he acquired a taste for human flesh. On his return to N.Y, he stole two boys, one 7, one 11. Took them to his home, stripped them naked, tied them in a closet then burned everything they had on. Several times every day and night he spanked them - tortured them - to make their meat good and tender. First he killed the 11 yr old boy, because he had the fattest a** and of course the most meat on it. Every part of his body was cooked and eaten except head - bones and guts. He was roasted in the oven, (all of his a**) boiled, broiled, fried, stewed. The little boy was next, went the same way. At that time I was living at 409 E 100 St rear - right side. He told me so often how good human flesh was I made up my mind to taste it. On Sunday June the 3 - 1928 I called on you at 406 W 15 St. Brought you pot cheese - strawberries. We had lunch. Grace sat in my lap and kissed me. I made up my mind to eat her, on the pretence of taking her to a party. You said yes she could go. I took her to an empty house in Westchester I had already picked out. When we got there, I told her to remain outside. She picked wild flowers. I went upstairs and stripped all my clothes off. I knew that if I did not I would get all her blood on them. When all was ready I went to the window and called her. Then I hid in a closet until she was in the room. When she saw me all naked she began to cry and tried to run down stairs. I grabbed her and she said she would tell her Mama. First I stripped her naked. How she did kick - bite and scratch. I choked her to death then cut her in small pieces so I could take my meat to my rooms, cook and eat it. How sweet and tender her little a** was roasted in the oven. It took me 9 days to eat her entire body. I did not f*** her, though I could of had I wished. She died a virgin.''</b></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><b><br /></b></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><b><br /></b></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Albert told investigators that he had been ordered by God to castrate young boys and that he had molested and murdered children in numerous states. He claimed that his first murder was in 1910 and that was of an adult male. The number of victims that Albert Fish was responsible for is up for debate. Investigators and psychiatrists couldn't say for certain how many lives he had taken because of his methods of killing and disposing of the bodies through cannibalism and dismemberment. As I mentioned before, Albert claimed the number to be closer to 400 but he was a fantasist as well as a sick monster. It leaves another chill down the spine to think of all of the children who had gone missing during those times, classed as runaways never to be seen again and could have been possible victims of Albert Fish, there is no way that anyone will ever know. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Another known victim was Francis McDonnell who was just 8 years old when he was murdered by Albert Fish. The poor child was put through hell, molested, tortured and strangled to death. Billy Gaffney was the youngest of the known victims at age just 4. The poor child was put through an endless nightmare and suffered greatly at this evil monster. Billy's horrendous ordeal began with constant torture until his skin bled. His nose and ears were cut off and he was slashed across his face. He was violently and repeatedly stabbed in the stomach which Fish had drank blood from. The boy's eyes were gouged out too. The poor child was then dismembered and the parts that Fish was not interested in were bagged up and thrown in the river weighted down with rocks. He took the rest of the remains home to cook and eat. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Albert Fish tried to plead insanity and claimed that God had told him to murder children. Although it was clear after everything he had done to those poor children as well as the strange things that he did to himself, that he was mentally ill and had a history of psychiatric disorders in the family. Nobody gave him any sympathy because he didn't deserve it, the jury were determined that he get the death penalty. On the 16th of January 1936 he faced the electric chair at Sing Sing prison. He was the oldest man to be executed at Sing Sing being the age of 65 at the time of death. Legend has it that he was only too happy to be strapped into the chair and even helped the guards put the electrodes on his body. He reportedly said that being in the electric chair would be the only thrill that he hadn't tried. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Also, his death was reportedly quicker than usual because of the pins that he still had embedded in his groin. His final words before his death were <i>''I don't know why I am here''. </i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">As is often procedure after the execution of a Death Row prisoner where a press conference is involved, his lawyer was supposed to have read out a statement which was supposed to be Albert Fish's final message to the world. The lawyer refused to read it publicly and vowed that he never would because the statement contained some of the most evilest and disgusting things that anyone could not even dare to imagine. So even in the end, Albert Fish couldn't resist being a monster, no apologies to the victim's families, no regrets just pure evil and sadistic right up to the final moment. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Albert Fish was buried in the prison cemetery in an unmarked grave. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I would like to just say that I knew going deeply into this case that it would be disturbing but it really shook me to my core the level of evil that this monster brought into the world. Nothing but pain and misery to so many children and families. The horrific murders may have happened a very long time ago but the victims should never be forgotten and the horrors that they went through. Albert Fish looked like a pathetic, frail old man, even at the age of 65 he looked more like he was 80. It's just another lesson to be learned that someone may appear to be a harmless old man or woman but you never really know what they are capable of. I think he was able to commit his crimes in such a way because he was able to fool people into thinking he was a nice old man. It makes you feel sick just thinking about it. I don't have children myself (yet) but I can imagine this post being a very traumatic thing to read as a parent. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Albert Fish may not exist anymore but the reality is that in this world, there could be more Alberts out there and we always have to be vigilant not just for the kids but for ourselves. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">RIP to the known victims:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Frances McDonnell</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Billy Gaffney</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Grace Budd </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and to all of the unknown victims, we may never know your names but we recognise and sympathise with everything you had to endure at the hands of that evil monster. There is always hope that the truth will be revealed one day and identifications will be made but nonetheless you are never forgotten. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><u><b>Further reading & sources :</b></u></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><u><b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></b></u></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Encyclopedia-Serial-Killers-Chilling-Phenomenon/dp/0816061963">The Encyclopedia of Serial Killers | Book by Michael Newton </a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Big-Book-Serial-Killers/dp/1548119644/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1O1ZQOSUO0CSA&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.kFmuPblqAKFF-Rn5H4zx57V4-VB13m9vFrXlPgINR7kyEI_Yam5AUZUQXHGoN0HJs60oGz2fq3omKRS-kqZ2gw.vFkWFK3ZEkr3qw7mO4EPXNI5DAAhn2CN0_ke7-U5ZOM&dib_tag=se&keywords=the+big+book+of+serial+killers&qid=1704908325&s=books&sprefix=the+big+book+of+serial+killers+%2Cstripbooks%2C94&sr=1-1">The Big Book of Serial Killers | Book by Jack Rosewood </a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Albert-Fish-His-Own-Words/dp/0692263756">Albert Fish: In His Own Words | Book by John Borowski </a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Deranged-Shocking-Americas-Fiendish-Killer/dp/0671025457">Deranged: The Shocking True Story of America's Most Fiendish Killer | Book by Harold Schechter</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Fish">Albert Fish | Wikipedia </a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://murderpedia.org/male.F/f/fish-albert.htm">Albert Fish | Murderpedia </a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sing_Sing">Sing Sing Prison | Wikipedia </a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Thank you for sticking with this post if you have made it this far, I know it wasn't an easy read but I do hope that you have been able to take away some more knowledge of the true, unbelievable monster that was Albert Fish. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I hope you will join me in my next post. In the meantime you can find me on all of my socials <a href="https://linktr.ee/caledoniankitty">here</a> and if you would like to buy me a coffee and help support my work, you can do so <a href="https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/CalKittyTrueCrime">here </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Stay safe & I'll see you in the next post (hopefully) </div><p></p>Caledonian Kittyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07812087097647828789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3918091265826271512.post-26381162967223670102024-01-07T17:00:00.001+00:002024-01-07T17:00:00.128+00:00Just A Little Message.... <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi54JCRIoUCq0VXa9-YF9UxqpbIMnZV5QFFpClv40sn1QHOFDhZHr2UCmdJUaM9HLwZZOSzfBxUAvp_juxqDn7MHaiZJgE6Z5_egMLsBiA3J7zZvOgF2b9AV24AZ5xHkxRCgcw2hm5mriT_zB4qSJpuNoDPEgCSHzTxGJWZL8xEFGuNYMupgIj_QUuvHb91/s1610/Picsart_24-01-04_11-32-10-811.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1610" data-original-width="1288" height="688" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi54JCRIoUCq0VXa9-YF9UxqpbIMnZV5QFFpClv40sn1QHOFDhZHr2UCmdJUaM9HLwZZOSzfBxUAvp_juxqDn7MHaiZJgE6Z5_egMLsBiA3J7zZvOgF2b9AV24AZ5xHkxRCgcw2hm5mriT_zB4qSJpuNoDPEgCSHzTxGJWZL8xEFGuNYMupgIj_QUuvHb91/w648-h688/Picsart_24-01-04_11-32-10-811.jpg" width="648" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(For all of my links, please check out my <a href="https://linktr.ee/caledoniankitty">Linktree</a> page</span>)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Hey everyone! I just wanted to start off the new year of 2024 with a little message to say thank you! I just wanted to show my appreciation for all of the support not just for last year but for the whole time that I have been writing about serial killers/true crime. </div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;">Whether it's been kind words of encouragement on my social media pages, comments here on my blog or private emails sharing your views on a post, all of it has meant so much to me, so thank you! Also a major thank you especially to the people who have donated to my <a href="https://ko-fi.com/caledoniankitty">Buy Me A Coffee</a> page. </p><p style="text-align: center;">As promised, I will be continuing on with more weekly content this year and I welcome your requests!</p><p style="text-align: center;">So here's to 2024, wishing you all the best for this year. Stay safe and I hope you will join me every Sunday evening here on my blog. </p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;">To be continued..... </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>Caledonian Kittyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07812087097647828789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3918091265826271512.post-64460573074404601262023-12-17T20:00:00.001+00:002023-12-17T20:00:00.127+00:00The Meanest & Most Evil Serial Killer in America? Donald Henry Gaskins (Pee Wee Gaskins)<p style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioolX4N15Ye4sZiWFGdqAiMnaI6dnV976BvxA1hV3etsU9rowYosyckWotz8MiIRQL9gGSRMi9uKadAcFQfjmRK7_0Fc3ufiHTDM9zRVI64EnYu4POuI1x7GIci_iAZJ2ZG1R6jAIohfrAt2gGrPsteQmhVA-N8fjlzDhKXe1pLcIJniOsJ7RLVsI5EYAx/s1200/feature-a-3-Donald-Pee-Wee-Gaskins-1200x720.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1200" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioolX4N15Ye4sZiWFGdqAiMnaI6dnV976BvxA1hV3etsU9rowYosyckWotz8MiIRQL9gGSRMi9uKadAcFQfjmRK7_0Fc3ufiHTDM9zRVI64EnYu4POuI1x7GIci_iAZJ2ZG1R6jAIohfrAt2gGrPsteQmhVA-N8fjlzDhKXe1pLcIJniOsJ7RLVsI5EYAx/w640-h384/feature-a-3-Donald-Pee-Wee-Gaskins-1200x720.jpg" width="640" /></a><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Donald Henry ''Pee Wee' Gaskins. Picture credit: <a href="https://www.thestate.com/news/special-reports/state-125/article44056854.html">The Sate</a>)</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>*Please be aware that I will be sharing disturbing details in this post. I have tried to be as sensitive as I can without shying away from the facts of the case*</b></p><p style="text-align: center;">I've read a lot of books about various serial killers over the years and have written about them on this blog but now and then there is a case which tends to haunt me and the story of Pee Wee Gaskins is such a case. I found a book about him in an old bookstore when I was about 15, I think it was called 'The Autobiography of A Serial Killer' and to say it was very graphic and disturbing, is an understatement. </p><p style="text-align: center;">The book detailed Pee Wee's crimes and a no holds barred interview on death row had been transcribed. Without a shred of remorse or human decency, Pee Wee went into details about what he did to his victims and it was horrific, there was a part where he was talking about the sexual assault and murder of a child and how he had enjoyed that sexually and I just couldn't cope with that. At the age of 15 I was just learning about the world myself and couldn't even bring myself to accept that such horrific things and evil individuals like Pee Wee Gaskins could even exist. </p><p style="text-align: center;">I threw the book away and it took weeks for me to get those horrible thoughts out of my head and forget the things he said. Whenever I see his face pop up in a book or a documentary, I remember how truly sick and evil this man was. I've read a lot of books and written a lot of blogs on serial killers but that book is one of the most spine-chilling, gut wrenching things that I have ever read. </p><p style="text-align: center;">I didn't want to write about him in all honesty but I keep getting requests to do so and thought I would just get it over with and add his story to the huge list of serial killers that I have already written about. I will be covering more serial killer cases in 2024 but I thought I would end this year with a readers request. </p><p style="text-align: center;">So let's get into the case.... </p><p style="text-align: center;">Donald Henry Gaskins was born on the 13th of March 1933 in Florence County, South Carolina. His original full name at birth was Donald Henry Parrott Jr. He was called ''Pee Wee' because he was known to be a small and weak child and he came into a home life that was no where near comfortable. There was no love from his single mother, who had a string of children from different fathers and the level of neglect to all children was appalling. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Different men would come and go from the house and Pee Wee often found himself being physically assaulted by the men his mother was acquainted with. There was no love or protection, just pure neglect in a very unsafe environment. Pee Wee was known to suffer from seizures during the early part of his childhood and this was believed to have stemmed from an incident when he was one years old where he drank a bottle of kerosene. </p><p style="text-align: center;">With no love and a home life in turmoil it was only a matter of time before Pee Wee went off the rails but it was worse than anyone could have expected. Sometimes an abused and neglected child will take part in various thefts, petty crime but not Pee Wee, he was a monster from the get-go. He had been a member of a gang of other kids that did some petty crimes but had also partaken in a horrendous gang r*** of a sister of one of the boys. Pee Wee had enjoyed the sickening act. Other assaults and thefts had occurred and he soon found himself being sent to a reform school because he was too young at that point to go to an adult prison. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Before he had even turned 18 he claimed that he had been sexual assaulted on a number of occasions by the other boys at the school and he ran away. He returned to continue the rest of his time there and was soon released. It was all supposed to be a fresh start for him and he'd manged to get a job but it wasn't to last. He was found guilty of assaulting girls and ended up again behind bars to serve 6 years. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Pee Wee was always seen as weak and a pathetic type of character but when he found himself being sexually assaulted again, he took matters into his own hands and fought back with a knife. He cut his attacker's throat and soon earned a level of respect. He also found a new level of confidence that he had never had before. He'd always hurt people who were smaller than him but he was now able to fight grown men and he enjoyed that. </p><p style="text-align: center;">His time in prison was not without drama and over that incident, he did have some time added on to his sentence but he managed to escape again. He was soon returned and like before, he completed his sentence and was deemed fit to be released. As soon as he walked out of the prison gates he was back into a life of crime. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Robberies and sexual assaults were back on the cards again and more sentences followed but he managed to escape once again and he was in and out of prison. The fact that they continued to release him and he'd be back in trouble in a short period afterwards, should have demonstrated that he should never have been released. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Getting a slap on the wrist for his sexual assaults and robberies must have made Pee Wee feel that he could pretty much get away with anything. He was no longer satisfied with the horrible things he had been doing, he wanted to take it a step further and commit murder. </p><p style="text-align: center;">When it came to his killings, nobody was safe, he targeted men, women and children. Most of the victims (who he nicknamed 'coastal kills') were reportedly hitchhikers and we may never truly know how many people he actually killed. His methods of killing were horrendous and there was no set way in which he did things. Some victims had been sexually assaulted and stabbed, some were smothered, tortured, butchered and reportedly had some of their flesh eaten by him. </p><p style="text-align: center;">His niece and her friend had fallen victim to him, both girls who were just 15 and 17 had been sexually assaulted and beaten to death. </p><p style="text-align: center;">All of the murders were horrendous and too much to stomach but the sexual assault and murder of his neighbour and her little girl who was just a toddler, was something that really disturbed me and something that I will never be able to not be horrified by or forget as I read the details all those years ago. </p><p style="text-align: center;">I won't go into the horrific details of the murders I just mentioned because it is just too horrendous to bare but I'm sure you understand and know it is a line that none of us want to go over and think about. Murders of anyone, no matter their age, is horrific but when it is the sexual assault and murder of a child by someone so evil and twisted that they would say that it was the most excited that they had gotten sexually, is just too much. His words (and I will say them as it is a fact of the case so please skip a few lines if you must) about the murder were <i>''It was the most overpowering come I had ever felt.'' </i></p><p style="text-align: center;">His murder spree came to an end when a former crime associate of his had ratted him out to the cops. The man had claimed that he had seen Pee Wee murder two men. In November of 1975 he had given up and told the police some of what he had done and where he had buried the remains of his victims. After a short trial he was found guilty of just murders based on the remains that authorities were able to recover. He was given a death sentence which was reduced to a life sentence due to changes in state but as always he found himself in more trouble behind bars and murdered a fellow inmate who he was shockingly, paid to murder by a relative by one of his own murder victims, that was a lot to get one's head around in this horrible case too. </p><p style="text-align: center;">His reduced life sentence was soon changed back to death row and the night before he faced the electric chair he tried to call the shots himself by cutting his wrists. I've heard of this happening quite a few times with inmates who are due to face their final punishment. It doesn't phase the prison guards, they will just wipe up the blood, stitch up your wounds and go ahead as scheduled. That's exactly what they did with Pee Wee Gaskins. He was a coward and it didn't matter what he did this time, there was no way of escaping, it was time to face the music. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Donald Henry ''Pee Wee'' Gaskins was executed by electric chair on the 6th of September 1991 at the age of 58. </p><p style="text-align: center;">His murder spree reportedly took place between 1953 and 1982 and shockingly he was only confirmed to have murdered 15 people but suspected of killing 110. He said himself that there were more victims. He once told authorities <i>''There are quite a few bodies that have never been mentioned but you've got enough for now.''</i></p><p style="text-align: center;">His last words before he was executed were <i>''I'll let my lawyers talk for me, I'm ready to go.''</i></p><p style="text-align: center;">This was a difficult post to get through and I appreciate if you have made it this far. What are your thoughts on this case? Pee Wee Gaskins was clearly a dangerous individual from day one, having committed such a horrendous crime from a young age. He should have been dealt with properly and never been released. He demonstrated that he was dangerous both inside and outside of prison walls. A frightening individual who targeted anyone, anywhere at any time and not a shred of remorse or feeling of guilt for what he had done. I watched a documentary about him a few years ago and his daughter was talking about him. The grown up daughter came across as having severe psychological issues, she kept saying '<i>'My Daddy was sick, my Daddy this and Daddy that'' </i>like what he had done could be easily forgiven. I'm sure I'm not alone in thinking that if I had a father or relative that was exactly like Pee Wee Gaskins, I would run a mile and never have his name mentioned in my presence ever again. </p><p style="text-align: center;">It's interesting the behaviour of some of these parents and relatives of serial killers or child killers. They are totally devoted to their sons or daughters even though they have committed the most horrendous pain and suffering to other people and their families. For example, Chris Watts who murdered his heavily pregnant wife then buried her in a shallow grave, came back for his two young daughters and smothered them before dumping their tiny bodies down two oil tanks. All the while he was texting the woman he had been having an affair with at work. He stood before the TV cameras playing the part of the worried and concerned husband and father. </p><p style="text-align: center;">He didn't confess to what he had done, oh no, he decided to claim at first that his wife went to stay with friends and when he could feel the net closing in he changed that to accusing his wife of abusing their daughters. It had all come out in the courtroom how he had been looking at jewelry for his mistress (who claimed to be completely innocent in everything even though she knew he had been married with kids and had stalked his wife on facebook etc then deleted tons of text messages. People have different opinions on that but the police say that she didn't have any part in what took place and didn't push him to make any rash decisions. We know she wasn't there at the crime scene but what some people believe is that she pressured him to choose between his family and her. What are your thoughts on that?), making arrangements to sell the house and had spoken to the girl's school and told them that the girls would not be coming back. </p><p style="text-align: center;">I mention Chris Watts because his parents think that the sun shines out of his backside even though they sat there and listened in detail to what he had done. The parents were never fans of his wife but that's no excuse, he's a monster and they think he's an angel. I think it says a lot when you look at the parents. I know the parents are not always to blame for how their children turn out but Chris Watts family are very strange people to say the least. </p><p style="text-align: center;">RIP to the known victims of Pee Wee Gaskins and we can but hope that one day the families of the unknown victims will have some sort of closure and be able to know the truth about what happened to their loved ones. RIP to the victims of Chris Watts, Shanann, baby Nico, Bella and Celeste. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Once again, thank you for getting through the post and also, thank you for all of your support this year. I will be taking a little break for the Christmas holidays but I will be back in January so keep your eyes peeled!</p><p style="text-align: center;">If you would like to help support my content by buying me a cheeky Christmas coffee, that would be amazing, you can either make a small payment <a href="https://ko-fi.com/caledoniankitty">Here on my ko-fi page where you will also find pictures and regular updates!</a> or simply make a payment to <a href="https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/CalKittyTrueCrime">My PayPal</a> or CashApp: £CaledonianKitty</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><u>Further Reading & Sources:</u></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/364446761734?chn=ps&_ul=GB&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=710-134428-41853-0&mkcid=2&mkscid=101&itemid=364446761734&targetid=1405537545018&device=c&mktype=pla&googleloc=9046677&poi=&campaignid=17218284410&mkgroupid=142217514411&rlsatarget=pla-1405537545018&abcId=9300867&merchantid=6995734&gclid=Cj0KCQiAyeWrBhDDARIsAGP1mWRFnNJcPsi7-0isoKDAOX_rhIHXm4JfXXZeUYZOEYnQQm2vxL7EOO4aAncoEALw_wcB">Autobiography of A Serial Killer | Book by Pee Wee Gaskins</a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://www.wob.com/en-gb/books/jack-rosewood/donald-gaskins/9781517756024?cq_src=google_ads&cq_cmp=18059580451&cq_con=&cq_med=pla&cq_plac=&cq_net=x&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAyeWrBhDDARIsAGP1mWTZGNV9U9gjXtUnhPzX4gnSoflMDBqx0efU1p42ufFg-UxeMyn1yJkaAskHEALw_wcB#GOR009830782">Donald Gaskins | Book by Jack Rosewood</a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Big-Book-Serial-Killers/dp/1548119644/ref=sr_1_1?crid=OFZOUSMXKJP2&keywords=serial+killers+jack+rosewood&qid=1702480151&sprefix=serial+killers+jack+rosewood+%2Caps%2C89&sr=8-1">The Big Book of Serial Killers | Book by Jack Rosewood </a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://www.wob.com/en-gb/books/michael-newton/encyclopedia-of-serial-killers/9780816061969?cq_src=google_ads&cq_cmp=18129456947&cq_con=&cq_med=pla&cq_plac=&cq_net=x&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAyeWrBhDDARIsAGP1mWT_NDCJvTmg1TGidl7EsOIn97B2wbg6G6hun0pQzJQfflEKvy5xcbUaAiAnEALw_wcB#GOR004809466">The Encyclopedia of Serial Killers | Book by Michael Newton </a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Famous-Serial-Killers-Search-Adults/dp/B09WKGG96B/ref=sr_1_5?crid=2Y1OJPVD4OG61&keywords=serial+killer+wordsearch&qid=1702480264&sprefix=serial+killer+wordsearch+%2Caps%2C134&sr=8-5">Famous Serial Killers Wordsearch | Book by Crook Crook </a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Henry_Gaskins">Donald Henry Gaskins | Wikipedia </a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://www.crimemuseum.org/crime-library/serial-killers/donald-pee-wee-gaskins/">Pee Wee Gaskins | Crime Museum </a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8J_pyF5vZv4">Pee Wee Gaskins: Documentary: Real Crime</a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">I wish you all of the best for Christmas and New Year and I hope to see you in January with some fresh new content x</p>Caledonian Kittyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07812087097647828789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3918091265826271512.post-87702384085228840432023-12-10T19:30:00.001+00:002023-12-10T19:30:00.128+00:00The 34 Year Old Teacher & The 13 Year Old Boy: The Disturbing & Bizarre Story of Mary Kay Letourneau<p style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4QzdkALBQ-t_ZWQc5QEdH32eT3am-_AoJKx9lPJPkjq9Ol_UvqU06gGY2D6LEUsRDfVqX3yUTsZ3sSwobmpvfEIndU4Kq-h4YHyU-Yap-UyBRZhRIfmZoA3z9knug8BXYurCLhU_z1txR1ZZNnzI804QnfcA3p63mq5PzEXhQXjAoTAInW4ZiY7vkjGoI/s1600/MaryK.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4QzdkALBQ-t_ZWQc5QEdH32eT3am-_AoJKx9lPJPkjq9Ol_UvqU06gGY2D6LEUsRDfVqX3yUTsZ3sSwobmpvfEIndU4Kq-h4YHyU-Yap-UyBRZhRIfmZoA3z9knug8BXYurCLhU_z1txR1ZZNnzI804QnfcA3p63mq5PzEXhQXjAoTAInW4ZiY7vkjGoI/w640-h360/MaryK.jpg" width="640" /></a><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Vili and Mary. Picture credit: <a href="https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/real-life/news-life/friend-reveals-details-about-mary-kay-letourneaus-illicit-relationship-with-her-student-vili-fualaau/news-story/c40f1dfdbe4782fca7228519d8777f4d">news.com</a>)</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>*Please be aware that quite a lot of the details that I will be sharing in this post are quite disturbing but as always I have tried to be as sensitive with the details without taking away the facts of the case*</b></p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;">Recently I posted a shocking story about a <a href="http://www.caledoniankitty.co.uk/2023/11/im-not-monster-im-not-predator-crime-in.html">teacher</a> who had abused her position and had an inappropriate relationship with one of her young students. Just when you thought that case was bad enough or the other cases where young men have fallen victim to devious, predatory older women (<a href="http://www.caledoniankitty.co.uk/2020/03/the-deadly-cougar-jimmie-sue-finger_1.html">The Jimmie-Sue Finger Case</a></div><div style="text-align: center;">and <a href="http://www.caledoniankitty.co.uk/2020/01/deadly-lust-pamela-wojas-smart-story.html">The Pamela Smart Story</a>) with deadly consequences, along comes another story that completely shocks and disturbs you. You've probably heard about this case already as it has been talked about for years and still horrifies people to this day. </div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;">Mary Kay Letourneau was a woman who found herself in her early thirties working as a teacher and bored with life. She was married but the marriage had run it's course and she and her husband had been having affairs and the affection had dried up a long time ago. The only positive for Mary was that she and her husband had 4 daughters out of the union but other than that it was pretty much about staying together because they had financial struggles. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Mary had come from quite a respectable family who were intelligent people, there was a huge interest in politics and her father became quite a prominent figure in politics. She was born on the 30th of January 1962 in California, into a big family and was one of seven children. Tragedy struck the family when Mary's three year old brother accidentally drowned in a swimming pool. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Mary got married at a young age to a guy that her family were really keen on, she later claimed that she was practically forced into this marriage as she wasn't in love and did it for the sake of her family. She was dating a fellow student at the University of Arizona and it wasn't long until she fell pregnant with their first child and then along came another. She was able to obtain a teaching degree and began full time work as a teacher at an Elementary school. From the outside looking in it seemed that Mary had it all, the husband, the beautiful two children, the teaching career but all was not as it seemed. Her husband was reportedly violent and visits to the hospital were not uncommon after arguments would get out of hand. So Mary was a deeply unhappy woman, I'm not making any excuses for her but you can see all of the emotional turmoil that she was in. </p><p style="text-align: center;">She enjoyed her teaching role and loved working with children but there was one particular boy that she was drawn to at the school and that was 8 year old Vili Fualaau. She only knew him briefly at this time but when she took over as his teacher when he turned 12, her feelings towards him were definitely not what they should have been. Very uncomfortable and disturbing to say the least. Vili developed a little crush on Mary and told his cousin that he wanted to make a bet that he could get her. It was just a silly kids thing where a young boy takes a shine to his teacher and it should never have gone any further than that. Vili wanted to win the bet so he would do little nice things for Mary but obviously Mary read more into everything and actually enjoyed the attention this 12 year old child was giving her. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Things just got more disturbing as time went on because before anyone knew what was happening, Mary (a 34 year old, married mother and also a trusted school teacher) was kissing the 12 year old boy and a disturbing 'relationship' between the pair developed. Obviously to anyone reading or aware of the case can see that she was clearly grooming him from day one and had forced this unhealthy interest onto this child. He was a 12 year old boy who was not mentally mature to understand fully what was happening. </p><p style="text-align: center;">The situation just got worse beyond all imagination because she actually had sexual relations with this boy. He was just 13 years old apparently, when this occurred. He was an underage child and she was a grown woman, the whole thing is sickening. When I think of the details of this case and about women like Mary, I think about not only how sick these women are but how incredibly selfish they are too. They are stealing childhoods, that's what I feel. They are pedophiles who are attracted to children and force their baggage and emotional drama on these kids and it scars these children for life. Not only do the children have the emotional abuse to deal with, there's also the sexual abuse too. </p><p style="text-align: center;">So at just 13 years old, Vili (who was just a child himself) was now a father to his 35 year old teacher/abuser's child. Mary had managed to get inside of this boy's head so much that it was almost as if she had brainwashed him. The pair had a very disturbing bond and it was a struggle to keep them apart, Mary especially was determined to see Vili at all costs. Her husband found sickening love letters that Mary had written to the boy and he turned to a relative for advice, the relative contacted the authorities straight away and Mary was promptly arrested. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR2vLogrn4qGu5V3PgSCS1M_XIE8XNGqJHNySIwNIkdEKR5TWkGtcHK5ExkykjGz1doBNhQQn_utnemRf3dQumvX74auay4N5sCLpMXJnBbFzoAwLs0JBbuda9n3UQR4qgger0LVn-BjSO2uQ_b-X0GL2YIgzgahqAEAPZ0PhDI50nMzUoLL9Ry1r2dvJs/s2500/20170530_sha_m52_785.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1680" data-original-width="2500" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR2vLogrn4qGu5V3PgSCS1M_XIE8XNGqJHNySIwNIkdEKR5TWkGtcHK5ExkykjGz1doBNhQQn_utnemRf3dQumvX74auay4N5sCLpMXJnBbFzoAwLs0JBbuda9n3UQR4qgger0LVn-BjSO2uQ_b-X0GL2YIgzgahqAEAPZ0PhDI50nMzUoLL9Ry1r2dvJs/w640-h430/20170530_sha_m52_785.jpg" width="640" /></a><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Mary Kay Letourneau. Picture credit: <a href="https://nypost.com/2021/10/18/mary-kay-letourneau-felt-remorse-about-relationship-with-student-villi-fualaau/">nypost</a>)</span></div><p style="text-align: center;">Despite the community's horror and aversion to this disturbing union, Mary and Vili carried on with this disturbing bond that they had. It appeared that there was a lot of Stockholm Syndrome on Vili's part, the child was manipulated by an intelligent, older woman who convinced him that this situation was meant to be. The whole thing was a mess and it went on for years. Mary ended up in prison after pleading guilty to two charges of second-degree child r***, She didn't serve all of her sentence at first, she was released early under the rules that she was to stay away from Vili. Mary promised to follow the law but soon broke that promise and the pair were found by the police trying to run off together. There was passports and money along with other items in the car, Mary was sent back to prison. All in all she spent seven and a half years in prison and still continued to pursue Vili who waited for her to leave prison. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Mary fell pregnant again and the unhealthy relationship was making headlines all over the world. They even started to take advantage of some of the attention. People were interested in their story and they ended up releasing two books as well as attending public appearances. TV interviews soon followed and the pair put up a united front and didn't show any sort of hesitation about their relationship. Mary was so delusional that she actually thought that she could have another child with Vili and return to work as a teacher. She was now classed as a sex offender and on the register for the rest of her life but that didn't seem to phase her.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Mary and Vili stayed together for a long time and got married in May of 2005 (she was 43 and he was 21). They continued to cause a stir wherever they went and still took advantage of their notoriety. Vili worked as a DJ and had a job as a retail assistant. The pair helped host an evening at a club called 'Hot For Teacher' and acted like the whole thing was a laugh. </p><p style="text-align: center;">They continued on with the marriage until 2019 where they decided to separate. A friend close to them said that their love for each other just faded. Vili moved away but soon returned after he got the news that Mary had been diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer. He reportedly helped look after Mary and stayed by her side, morning noon and night until she passed away on the 6th of July 2020. She was 58 years old. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpptgltg4TiIC9PSdAqAkq6M6ChKyDyStrWL8WHK83x0LTcivJ8ErqxWzkmd9nRE30xNMX-6qH8gpAjUxhH619xnCczEShfOWLz2RGGx6TwgPdY1MPaEX25h6xaq_Y4lhjmar8fxqCldBNPZIN6btlHrmjY8JpYatgGyhgcLdozFeNjjy5sNRZvOTmAd2p/s740/0264f805d80c5e2cb4533d4f6d603ceb_md.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="557" data-original-width="740" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpptgltg4TiIC9PSdAqAkq6M6ChKyDyStrWL8WHK83x0LTcivJ8ErqxWzkmd9nRE30xNMX-6qH8gpAjUxhH619xnCczEShfOWLz2RGGx6TwgPdY1MPaEX25h6xaq_Y4lhjmar8fxqCldBNPZIN6btlHrmjY8JpYatgGyhgcLdozFeNjjy5sNRZvOTmAd2p/w640-h482/0264f805d80c5e2cb4533d4f6d603ceb_md.jpg" width="640" /></a><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Vili and Mary. Picture credit: <a href="https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/awkward-interview-loosely-inspired-scene-215405411.html">uk.finance.yahoo</a>)</span></div><p style="text-align: center;">Years later when Vili was asked about the relationship and his thoughts on his daughters dating someone older, he was dead against it. Apparently he has expressed to those closest to him that he realises now that the relationship was not a healthy one from the start. Vili had been troubled in the past and had struggles with alcohol and even attempted to take his own life. Did he see Mary as a mother figure? It can be hard for some people to understand the way a victim may behave towards an abuser. Some victims feel that they need their abuser because they are manipulated into believing that. There's also a feeling of guilt that victims often feel even though it is not their fault. Mary targeted this boy from a very young age and it was almost like he had joined a cult, he stayed with her, echoed her words and defended her. It seemed that after her death he began to see things differently as his children grew up. </p><p style="text-align: center;">I feel sorry for Vili, he may have believed what he felt for Mary to be love but this all began when he was a child. She took his childhood away from him and forced the responsibility of being a father on to him at just 13 years old. She came to this child with all of her issues (she was also diagnosed as bi-polar) and problems and made him feel that he was somehow responsible for her. She was in charge all of the way and she knew what she was doing but she was psychologically disturbed. Despite knowing it was wrong and spending time in prison, losing her marriage, her daughters, her career and reputation, she was determined to see Vili at all costs. It was sheer madness. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Vili had spent a huge chunk of his life with Mary, she had, had her youth and had the chance to be a child, she stole that from Vili. She forced this child to become a parent when he was a child himself and take on the responsibility of taking care of this haggard, disturbed 34 year old woman. </p><p style="text-align: center;">I don't care if they were together a long time, that doesn't mean anything to me. The fact is that she manipulated this boy emotionally and used sex (I know, it's sickening) to control him. She was getting pregnant as another form of control, she was trying to tie him to her however possible way that she could. If she really did care about Vili, she would have left that boy alone and let him have his childhood and his life. </p><p style="text-align: center;">I hope wherever Vili is now (and I'm sure he has a great relationship with his children) that he is happy and has had the chance to experience real love with someone who has his best intentions at heart. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Another scary fact about this case is that people from the school that Mary had previously worked at, described her as a great person and continued to do so after everything had been exposed. That's quite unsettling to think that some people think that an adult person abusing a 12 year old boy makes them a 'good person'. You cannot be classed as a good person if you do a horrendous thing like that and that's not to mention everything else she did, trapping the boy with the pregnancies etc. In prison she was supposed to be having counselling for her unhealthy interest towards children and she was nothing but disruptive, she had no interest in rehabilitation, she saw nothing wrong with how she was. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Like I mentioned in the beginning, this story was insane to say the least and like I just mentioned, I come away from it feeling really sorry for Vili and I do hope things have gotten better for him. </p><p style="text-align: center;">What are your thoughts on this case? Let me know in the comments below or email me at jocaledoniankitty@gmail.com </p><p style="text-align: center;"><u><b>Further Reading & Sources: </b></u></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://people.com/crime/mary-kay-letourneau-and-her-student-husband-vili-fualaau-now/">Mary Kay: Article | People </a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/07/obituaries/mary-kay-letourneau-dead.html">Mary Kay: Article about death | New York Times</a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Kay_Letourneau">Mary Kay | Wikipedia </a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://people.com/all-about-vili-fualaau-children-8409395">Vili: Article | People </a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://www.biography.com/crime/mary-kay-letourneau">Mary Kay & Vili | Biography </a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://parade.com/news/mary-kay-letourneau-student-husband-vili-fualaau-what-happened">Mary Kay: Article | Parade </a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/revisiting-mary-kay-letourneau-vili-195311115.html">Mary Kay: Article | Yahoo </a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/revisiting-infamous-mary-kay-letourneau-and-vili-fualaau-scandal/">Mary Kay: Article | US Weekly </a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/may-december-netflix-movie-mary-kay-letourneau-vili-fualaau-inspiration-2023-12?r=US&IR=T">May December: Article | Business Insider</a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/did-mary-kay-letourneau-die-231005680.html">Mary Kay: Article about death | Yahoo</a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/mary-kay-letourneau-vili-fualauu-relationship-media-child-rape-tryst-1025466/">Mary Kay: Article | Rolling Stone</a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://www.intouchweekly.com/posts/vili-fualaau-today-update-after-ex-wife-mary-kay-letourneaus-death/">Vili: Article | In Touch </a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usYWVhw-uFI">Mary Kay: News report | Entertainment Tonight</a> </span></p><p style="text-align: center;">If you would like to buy me a coffee and help support my work (that would be amazing, thank you) you can do so <a href="https://ko-fi.com/caledoniankitty">here</a> or <a href="https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/CalKittyTrueCrime">here</a></p><p style="text-align: center;">For all of my socials (come say hi!): click <a href="https://linktr.ee/caledoniankitty">here</a></p><p style="text-align: center;">Stay safe and I'll see you in the next post x </p>Caledonian Kittyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07812087097647828789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3918091265826271512.post-39419891362110665542023-12-03T18:00:00.001+00:002023-12-03T18:00:00.123+00:00The Foster Parent From Hell! | What Really Happened To Billie-Jo Jenkins?<p style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB39p2UOyKL7jV7rBn94A0Hxinr9cH2AtjJbP3u6NrBivm4AzrD0vIUVwYpRqgiq1CufT8KS9Ddq-Wce3mfq-SO6HUgWDzSNIjcRrE6zX4lm2ff6omtj3W5uYMeZWyer-6mld8nT3dX6cy0_XRlq7xI-0btQG5swHtDyuzhCKU1vIJtN31PPblzrb0cV_S/s1080/Picsart_23-11-30_09-34-29-882.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB39p2UOyKL7jV7rBn94A0Hxinr9cH2AtjJbP3u6NrBivm4AzrD0vIUVwYpRqgiq1CufT8KS9Ddq-Wce3mfq-SO6HUgWDzSNIjcRrE6zX4lm2ff6omtj3W5uYMeZWyer-6mld8nT3dX6cy0_XRlq7xI-0btQG5swHtDyuzhCKU1vIJtN31PPblzrb0cV_S/w640-h640/Picsart_23-11-30_09-34-29-882.jpg" width="640" /></a><span style="font-size: x-small;">(From left: Sion Jenkins. From Right: Billie-Jo Jenkins. Picture credits: <a href="https://www.thatslife.com.au/who-killed-billie-jo">thatslife</a>)</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>*Please be aware that some of the details that I will be sharing in this post will mention sensitive subjects such as child abuse and murder. As always, I have tried to be as sensitive as I can whilst not taking away from the facts of the case*</b></p><p style="text-align: center;">This case has to be one of the most talked about in the UK for a very long time. The horrific murder of 13 year old Billie-Jo Margaret Jenkins in Hastings (England) in 1997 was a case that shocked and baffled not only the UK public but beyond. This beautiful young girl was just painting the patio doors in the back garden of her foster family home, when she was suddenly attacked and bludgeoned to death with an iron tent peg. She was later 'found' by her foster father, Sion Jenkins but there was more to this than met the eye. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Going into Billie-Jo's background, she had a tough start with her biological parents. Born in East London on the 29th of March 1983, her biological parents had not exactly been prepared for her arrival. With a father in prison and a mother who was struggling to make ends meet, Billie-Jo was taken into foster care and ended up with Sion and Lois Jenkins (they shared the same surname which can make it a bit confusing when discussing the case). The couple had four daughters and a beautiful house and at the beginning, Billie-Jo was welcomed in with open arms....at least by Lois. It seemed that Sion had a bit of a short temper to say the least. A man who was described as being quick to fly off the handle at the least little thing, he ruled his family with an iron fist. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Sion had been a troubled child and not much is known about his childhood except that he had been kicked out of school for his behaviour. Behavioural issues have been noted and his constant need for telling lies about the least little thing. He was a fantasist and like a lot of people, he would tell a few lies on his CV and application forms in order to get teaching jobs. Like a true narcissist he couldn't just tell a few lies about dates or the odd qualification here and there, he made out that he had 10 O-levels and was qualified for specific teaching roles when all he had was a pretty average educational background but not adequate training in the specific roles he was going for. He did manage to get away with a few things because he was quite good at presenting a certain image as well as being able to charm people. </p><p style="text-align: center;">So at home, the guy was a nightmare to live with and if anyone was to do anything that he deemed to be wrong or not perfect, he would raise his hand or use weapons to 'punish' his daughters. His wife also had been on the receiving end of his temper one too many times. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1cBBSQALhRqYDxAjO2dDQdwMs2fHfbwGWAtqtAgOYIb_3O49BvRCguHRcbM2n5pG_5459jzO_fVnRukLIOAdFm4za1ynFZB0usDZCyT7wVAXSAW5uN03aVZk45RF97_MRpEyzZcN_1q4KGNDNE6kF20tH0Ma_tyIqJvOBFl6eJRjEqj_gMrR7jhM45JGH/s1488/NINTCHDBPICT000001049690.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1488" data-original-width="1282" height="749" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1cBBSQALhRqYDxAjO2dDQdwMs2fHfbwGWAtqtAgOYIb_3O49BvRCguHRcbM2n5pG_5459jzO_fVnRukLIOAdFm4za1ynFZB0usDZCyT7wVAXSAW5uN03aVZk45RF97_MRpEyzZcN_1q4KGNDNE6kF20tH0Ma_tyIqJvOBFl6eJRjEqj_gMrR7jhM45JGH/w646-h749/NINTCHDBPICT000001049690.jpg" width="646" /></a><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Sion Jenkins. Picture credit: <a href="https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/17496832/billie-jo-jenkins-murder-questions/">thesun</a>)</span></div><p style="text-align: center;">Billie-Jo had been living with the Jenkins family for 5 years up until she was murdered and even though she was technically a 'foster child', Sion didn't let her escape his 'punishments' either. The pair clashed on a regular basis over silly things to do with music being on too loud or not doing homework. Sion would physically assault Billie-Jo to the point where she would go to school covered in bruises and her school friends would become concerned. Billie-Jo would tell them that Sion would get angry and grab her by the neck and hurt her. Billie-Jo was an abused child there's no doubt about that, she was in such turmoil that she had written 'I Hate My Dad' (meaning Sion) on her knuckles on one occasion. Her friends at school knew what had been going on at home and there was an incident where Billie-Jo had sprained her ankle and during an argument, Sion deliberately kicked her on the affected area. Various witnesses had seen similar incidences involving Sion's abuse of Billie-Jo and his family. It was no secret but for some reason people were too scared to say anything. Sion could also cut quite an intimidating figure. </p><p style="text-align: center;">So there had been trouble for a while when Sion had returned from a trip and had arranged for Billie-Jo to paint the patio doors in the back garden in exchange for some extra pocket money. Two of his other daughters were going to wash the car at the front of the house. The date was the 15th of February 1997 and Sion's behaviour on this day was reported to have been strange. He had two of his daughters in the car when he got out and left them inside before returning a short time later. He then drove to a DIY store with no money and then drove a different way home which took longer than his usual route. During this time, Billie-Jo was lying deceased in the back garden of the house. Nobody else was home at the time and when Sion and the girls returned, Sion went into the back garden where he claimed that he had suddenly found Billie-Jo laying in blood, unresponsive. </p><p style="text-align: center;">The odd behaviour continued with him taking his time to call for help having been practically forced to by a neighbour. He then refused to follow the operator's instructions on the phone of checking to see if Billie-Jo was still breathing. He just stood there calm and telling them that he didn't need to check that it was obvious she was deceased. Foster parent or not, you would think that in that situation and absolute horror at seeing this poor girl in the state that she was in, would be utterly devastating and that he would want to be by her side until the ambulance and police arrived. He vanished into the house for a short period of time and then came back. His story to the police wasn't straightforward either. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Because he was a well-dressed, well-spoken man of a certain class (or the appearance of a certain class with the nice big house, car etc), it was often the case that these types of people were treated a certain way by the police because he didn't look like a typical suspect. The police even asked him to do a public appeal for information but as the days went on, a lot of things were not adding up. The police began to see holes in Sion's story including the fact that he went to the DIY store without any money for items that he already had at the house. The different route he had taken to and from the DIY store which was soon seen as a way for him to provide some sort of alibi. Before going to the DIY store he had been bringing the two girls home from a clarinet lesson when he left the car for a short period of time and then returned to go to the DIY store. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Police believe that in that time, he had gone to the back of the house where he confronted Billie-Jo and some sort of argument ensued. There was paint on the windows of the patio doors and knowing how crazy Sion could get about things, maybe there was a disagreement about that? There was an iron tent peg that had been left in the garden and this was the weapon that was used to strike Billie-Jo violently over the head five times. The police believe that he then went back to the car and took the girls to the DIY store without any money, for items that he did not need, as a way to create an alibi. </p><p style="text-align: center;">During the time that Billie-Jo was murdered there were theories about someone else being involved and a few potential suspects had been thrown into the mix, however the police could not establish a connection to either of these suspects and experts claim that it would have been impossible for a random person to break into the back garden, find a weapon so quickly, murder Billie-Jo and then flee the scene without anyone noticing. </p><p style="text-align: center;">There was also the fact that Sion Jenkins (strangely enough - I say that in a sarcastic tone) just happened to have small droplets of Billie-Jo's blood all over him from head to toe. It was later determined that included in the droplets were pieces of bone and matter. Sion claimed that he had held Billie-Jo at some point and that she had breathed these droplets out on to him. He was arrested and put on trial and everyone around him believed he did it, including his wife and his own biological children. Too many people had seen or been a victim of his temper in the past and knew what he was like. People had also seen his treatment of Billie-Jo. </p><p style="text-align: center;">At the first trial they threw the book at him, sentenced him to life imprisonment and it looked like justice had been served but he decided to appeal, luckily this was thrown out. With the support of an Investigative Journalist, Sion and his supporters (yes, he has supporters!) pushed forward with another appeal and a re-trial was granted. This was based on the possibility that Billie-Jo could have (due to gases in her lungs) breathed out the blood on to Sion. It was all if's, but's and maybes but the re-trial went ahead. </p><p style="text-align: center;">So he had the first trial and was convicted and then appealed which was thrown out (hope you are still with me here) then a bunch of busy-bodies got involved and they pressed for another appeal. He was granted a re-trial which couldn't come to a conclusion, the jury were hung so another re-trial was ordered and guess what? long story short, he walked! Nobody could come to a decision on his guilt so he was set free. According to the powers that be, they couldn't prove that he was 100% guilty and they couldn't prove he was 100% not guilty. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHVKfHwuozVXPxeStbln466EIql7FPEoy1xr4H0wrqXwsFQPDTSiubA7eyfcxHqKaCRytiIW9FGZLxyBZEoUjCoyuqnR8n_XIGEGTYL5C64wROTs3_oyIv_Wk0Ne3ghc7RuwZeyG2p3dgAbHWiLcnx2H4L2pSliRBBPdslnUnmn4LHKRzHJGXc-yXZOhhW/s639/Screenshot-2022-09-28-at-15.44.29.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="630" data-original-width="639" height="630" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHVKfHwuozVXPxeStbln466EIql7FPEoy1xr4H0wrqXwsFQPDTSiubA7eyfcxHqKaCRytiIW9FGZLxyBZEoUjCoyuqnR8n_XIGEGTYL5C64wROTs3_oyIv_Wk0Ne3ghc7RuwZeyG2p3dgAbHWiLcnx2H4L2pSliRBBPdslnUnmn4LHKRzHJGXc-yXZOhhW/w640-h630/Screenshot-2022-09-28-at-15.44.29.png" width="640" /></a><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Newspaper article on the case. Picture credit: <a href="https://www.buggedspace.com/the-murder-of-billie-jo-jenkins/">buggedspace</a>)</span></div><p style="text-align: center;">I don't know what was going through anyone's minds at these trials but how much more red flags do you need? This was a violent man who abused his own family, even his wife and biological children believed him to be guilty. He wasn't just abusive, he was a pathological liar. </p><p style="text-align: center;">It seemed to be that because so much money had been spent on this case (apparently somewhere in the region of £10 million pounds) and so much time and work had gone into the trials that it came across that they had simply given up. It was like Sion Jenkins was too clever for them, he outsmarted them because I know people who have been thrown in jail for less. As they often say in the true crime community, this guy had the smoking gun. The time frames, the strange behaviour before, during and after the murder, the history of violence and constant lying. The microscopic blood, bone and matter that been found all over him. </p><p style="text-align: center;">You can't blame some people for still talking about this case today because for a lot of people in the UK this guy got away with murder! Where is the justice for Billie-Jo? After the decision was made to let him go, the police announced that they had fought so hard to get justice for Billie-Jo but they were closing the investigation. People were furious and quite rightly so. In my opinion and as I've often read in other cases over the years, the police believed that they had their perpetrator, they believe Sion Jenkins to be guilty 100% but why continue to waste tax payers money looking for another suspect that didn't exist? The police do all they can but in the end it's the courtroom that decides.</p><p style="text-align: center;">After being set free after spending 6 years in prison, Sion played (and still continues to do so) the part of the innocent man done wrong. He teamed up with his Investigative Journalist pal and they wrote a book about the case with a picture of Billie-Jo on the front cover. Criminals are not allowed to profit off of crimes but because he was technically set free obviously he was given the go-ahead to write a book. I haven't read it but my friends in the true crime community have and it did nothing to change their minds of his guilt and the words ''very narcissistic'' popped up a few times. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Sion decided to try and make more cash by doing interviews with anyone who would listen as well as trying to bag £500,000 compensation for being 'locked up for a crime he didn't commit'. Thankfully the attempt at wasting more tax payers money didn't happen because the board couldn't determine him to be 100% not guilty and eligible for compensation. To think he had the actual nerve to write a book, do interviews and try and claim compensation. You'd think that an innocent man would be too busy moving heaven and earth trying to find the supposed real murderer. </p><p style="text-align: center;">So where is he now? Well he tried to get into politics (I think he enjoys attention on a public platform way too much) but failed and is apparently living in Hampshire with his new wife. </p><p style="text-align: center;">I mentioned earlier that the police closed the case but in January 2022 they decided to do a case review which got everyone's hopes up. Basically this just means that they are not re-opening the investigation, they are just reviewing the case as they do routinely with 'cold cases'. This was reported in January 2022 and there hasn't been an update since. There was talk of a possible link to the murder of Billie-Jo to that of a well known convicted r**ist but nothing more has come of that either. If any updates happen I will share them as soon as they come up. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Billie-Jo would have been 40 years old today (at time of writing - 2023) if she hadn't had her life so cruelly taken. Just 13 years old with her whole life in front of her, she had a lot on her shoulders at 13, one let down after another and one wonders if when she first arrived at the Jenkins family home, was she thinking that this could finally be the place to call a true home? Her biological family vow to keep going and fight for justice for her. Her biological father passed away and is buried in the same plot as Billie-Jo at City of London Cemetery and Crematorium. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCbEm_oYaTasiy4vyOc-GW37hBhkAEDG53UGH5YfVwRkiVMfgG5eys76ysij12NfBobAZnY7pzhz9lz6LEbAFQgkRgYp4wZNvG3Ruh7xz4BxCOPSTLvXBiq8ZlXy18PQBN4DtZ9eQW3M7JsvFhzk3Q7g5vG3p1TA3vUsPgJzL2gcjVUOvfCm2Uuq5jVjB3/s827/0_Murder-victim-Billie-Jo-Jenkins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="827" data-original-width="615" height="860" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCbEm_oYaTasiy4vyOc-GW37hBhkAEDG53UGH5YfVwRkiVMfgG5eys76ysij12NfBobAZnY7pzhz9lz6LEbAFQgkRgYp4wZNvG3Ruh7xz4BxCOPSTLvXBiq8ZlXy18PQBN4DtZ9eQW3M7JsvFhzk3Q7g5vG3p1TA3vUsPgJzL2gcjVUOvfCm2Uuq5jVjB3/w639-h860/0_Murder-victim-Billie-Jo-Jenkins.jpg" width="639" /></a><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Billie-Jo's final resting place. Picture credit: <a href="https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/16806926/billie-jo-margaret-jenkins">findagrave</a>)</span></div><p style="text-align: center;">It's so heartbreaking to think that she only had 13 years on this earth and the majority of that was very difficult for her and then for it all to end in such a horrific way, it's just devastating. I pray for justice for Billie-Jo, it' important that none of us forget what has happened here. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEsnqYrV-ZaSVJbVlFhpB3lgVAH0SvygdYx1fkxnvPYcucWxAIFqvp8NOGW9kcoWxEBYeIFxDkHkVXcnrF41-ArpNwgfJMEE4NTceN3xBQflJ5zQm4hWHaaE02T-u3bXNZHPi5GeXeKNZtmq-0znz5wyJ5hrbCZIEB5tPV0f9Y1DYbuc6OucM5DRhl8-mG/s1128/54286781-10520603-image-a-25_1645046832380.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1128" data-original-width="634" height="1097" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEsnqYrV-ZaSVJbVlFhpB3lgVAH0SvygdYx1fkxnvPYcucWxAIFqvp8NOGW9kcoWxEBYeIFxDkHkVXcnrF41-ArpNwgfJMEE4NTceN3xBQflJ5zQm4hWHaaE02T-u3bXNZHPi5GeXeKNZtmq-0znz5wyJ5hrbCZIEB5tPV0f9Y1DYbuc6OucM5DRhl8-mG/w617-h1097/54286781-10520603-image-a-25_1645046832380.jpg" width="617" /></a><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Billie-Jo Jenkins. Picture credit: <a href="https://www.unilad.com/news/murder-of-billiejo-jenkins-may-finally-be-solved-after-25-years-20220131">unilad</a>)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">RIP Billie-Jo </div><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><u>Further Reading & Sources:</u></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/murder-billie-jo-jenkins-13-26094494">Billie-Jo Jenkins: Article | The Mirror </a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-sussex-60198324">Billie-Jo Jenkins: Article | BBC </a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-10520603/Billie-Jo-troubling-clues-new-Channel-5-documentary-25-years-later.html">Billie-Jo Jenkins: Article | Daily Mail </a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://aboutforensics.co.uk/billie-jo-jenkins/">Billie-Jo Jenkins | The Forensics Library </a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Billie-Jo_Jenkins">Billie- Jo Jenkins | Wikipedia </a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://www.standard.co.uk/hp/front/family-of-murdered-billiejo-we-re-glad-sion-jenkins-was-refused-compensation-6501326.html">Billie-Jo Jenkins: Article | The Standard </a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/news/crime/still-no-justice-for-billie-jo-25-years-after-her-murder-3544223">Billie-Jo Jenkins: Article | Sussex Express</a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/16806926/billie-jo-margaret-jenkins">Billie-Jo Jenkins | Find A Grave </a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://youtu.be/mqDMHaHMYQ4?si=sdKVhbmWbH431Zp4">Documentary Segment Feat The Billie-Jo Jenkins case</a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">Thank you for taking the time to read my latest post, if you would like to help support my work by buying me a coffee, you can do so <a href="https://ko-fi.com/caledoniankitty">here</a>, thank you so much!</p><p style="text-align: center;">To keep up with all my updates on social media, all of my links are <a href="https://linktr.ee/caledoniankitty">here</a></p><p style="text-align: center;">See you in the next post, stay safe x</p>Caledonian Kittyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07812087097647828789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3918091265826271512.post-75795170549380778452023-11-26T16:30:00.001+00:002023-11-26T16:30:00.126+00:00'I'm Not A Monster, I'm Not A Predator.'' | Crime In The Classroom: The Jennifer Caswell Story<p></p><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc5PsUllFfOoEdSyauvjcWdVXFkHyzRIOCsOzLPlM2uYqhmny8LRulkY1xYvBv1RKgBg5OsPdksACZv5f2-sJF-QSiUSk6yQKok5kDhH03Pk8o6lo9lSgYJ_I2qDzdL2L6eEAG53QRTSS9ZBGSpKZTyHGSjAHgZT4DUaTHg_0rf0dr4R4hGu9ODGcmFepV/s1500/jennifer-caswell-39122e848c3149d1a13e6d12c9af1f72.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="953" data-original-width="1500" height="406" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc5PsUllFfOoEdSyauvjcWdVXFkHyzRIOCsOzLPlM2uYqhmny8LRulkY1xYvBv1RKgBg5OsPdksACZv5f2-sJF-QSiUSk6yQKok5kDhH03Pk8o6lo9lSgYJ_I2qDzdL2L6eEAG53QRTSS9ZBGSpKZTyHGSjAHgZT4DUaTHg_0rf0dr4R4hGu9ODGcmFepV/w640-h406/jennifer-caswell-39122e848c3149d1a13e6d12c9af1f72.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><div style="text-align: center;">(Jennifer Caswell on the Dr Phil Show. Picture credit: <a href="https://people.com/crime/oklahoma-teen-1-million-lawsuit-teacher-rape/">people</a>)</div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>*Please be aware that some of the details that I will be sharing in this post with be quite disturbing. I will be talking about themes surrounding inappropriate relationships with elder people of authority and underage victims*</b></p><p style="text-align: center;">So this post is something a little bit different to some of the cases that I would usually share but I thought it was an interesting scandal to write about. I've covered the usual cases of the older woman seducing the younger man and setting up a situation where the youngster kills the woman's husband for whatever reason. I've talked previously about <a href="http://www.caledoniankitty.co.uk/2020/03/the-deadly-cougar-jimmie-sue-finger_1.html">The Jimmie Sue Finger Story</a> and the shocking <a href="http://www.caledoniankitty.co.uk/2020/01/deadly-lust-pamela-wojas-smart-story.html?m=0">Pamela Smart</a> case where both husbands were murdered by the older woman's young victim/love interest. In this case that I will be sharing here, nobody died....well it never got to that point, nobody knows what the outcome would have been if it had carried on. But the story of Middle School teacher, Jennifer Caswell (better known to her students as Mrs Sexton) nonetheless shocked America and beyond. </p><p style="text-align: center;">The case was brought to everyone's (outside of the small town in which it took place in Oklahoma, USA) attention through the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dr._Phil_(talk_show)">Dr Phil Show</a>. This attractive woman was being interviewed by Dr Phil and I wasn't paying much attention at the time but when I saw the subject matter I was cringing. The episode was based around teachers who had inappropriate relationships with their students and Jennifer Caswell (who was 27 at the time the offences were committed) was caught having sex with a 15 year old child, a schoolboy. She decided to give an interview to the Dr Phil show to tell her side of the story.</p><p style="text-align: center;">You'll get some guys who will joke ''Oh teachers didn't look like that in my day'' and ''I wouldn't have complained'' but let's be serious here for a moment. You have a 27 year old unhappily married woman who is also the mother of a young child, who just happens to be a teacher, a trusted position and one in which all children should be safe in the presence of. She got involved with a teenage boy, a child who wasn't even a fully grown adult and his brain was not fully developed enough to make adult decisions or able to handle a grown woman with so much psychological baggage, it was all hormones going on. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Adult relationships with underage children can be damaging and you don't need me to tell you that, it's an obvious fact. Jennifer had been with her husband for 10 years and according to her, there was no affection in the relationship. Her husband didn't buy her gifts or give her compliments, he'd come home from work and spend all night talking to friends on the phone and playing his video games. She claimed that he never told her she was pretty. They both existed under the same roof due to financial reasons. So you have a woman who is trapped in an unhappy marriage and one of her male students takes a shine to her. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Jennifer was a beautiful woman and I'm sure we've all had attractive teachers who we might have had a crush on but nothing inappropriate happened. I did have a male teacher who made inappropriate comments to me and gave me 'special attention' in class, I didn't think anything of it at the time until he recorded a 'music video' of all of us and told us that he ''lost the tape''. To cut a long story short, he got removed from the school. But, the fact is, she had issues with self esteem and claimed that the young boy had been flirty with her, telling her she was pretty etc. Instead of behaving in the manner that she should have, she encouraged this behaviour because it made her feel good, it gave her a confidence boost. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg-D3bg_KCWYgT45pP6m1bGbSdaqY0UTPrTxJco8Q5p-7-NeXl7awetGI5ScKGxHtiEf_P7Y3lbxZZIaUEgMQkzXoxLNfUHEK-9ifyiQ_UxBPCUjQHtR0zbIq5A4JuOkjTFoIZgFw5gRifxW6rRw77eQI471gSbF5Ht_Qv9yfI7AAtrZpgaJGehlD3Z91q/s620/jennifer-caswell-2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="443" data-original-width="620" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg-D3bg_KCWYgT45pP6m1bGbSdaqY0UTPrTxJco8Q5p-7-NeXl7awetGI5ScKGxHtiEf_P7Y3lbxZZIaUEgMQkzXoxLNfUHEK-9ifyiQ_UxBPCUjQHtR0zbIq5A4JuOkjTFoIZgFw5gRifxW6rRw77eQI471gSbF5Ht_Qv9yfI7AAtrZpgaJGehlD3Z91q/w640-h458/jennifer-caswell-2.png" width="640" /></a><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Jennifer Caswell. Picture credit: <a href="https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/jennifer-caswell-teacher-sex_n_55cce141e4b0898c4886d282">huffingtonpost</a>)</span></div><p style="text-align: center;">The flirting between the pair was getting even more out of hand when the boy was spotted hanging around her classroom after school hours and somebody reported to the principle that they'd seen the boy grab Jennifer's bottom in the hallway. </p><p style="text-align: center;">In the Dr Phil interview (which I went back to watch again as part of my research), I noticed (and Dr Phil himself later pointed out) that there was a lot of contradictions going on. She claimed to have had sex with the boy (I feel so uncomfortable writing that) only once in the classroom. She said she had been finishing off some work and straightening up the desks when he came up behind her and kissed her. She said that she tried to resist him but finally gave in and the pair had sexual relations right there and then. Rumours around the school were rife and authorities got involved. The school did an investigation into this alleged inappropriate relationship but found no evidence. The boy covered up for Jennifer and told anyone who questioned the situation with ''She's just a good teacher'' and that nothing was going on. </p><p style="text-align: center;">It was clear that everyone was still highly suspicious even though they couldn't find anything to pin on Jennifer, she knew she was being watched so she handed in her resignation. This was a role that she had been working for, for years and had only recently been classed as a fully qualified teacher but she was ready to throw it all away to continue (what she saw as a relationship) seeing this young boy. </p><p style="text-align: center;">It was all a bit sickening that she planned to keep on having this inappropriate relationship with this boy to the point of obsession. He made her feel like a teenager again and she wanted to keep that going and if that meant losing the teaching position and the husband, then so be it. The madness continued with her thinking that she was going to marry this boy and have a child with him.</p><p style="text-align: center;">So earlier I said that she claimed to have slept with the boy once but she later contradicted herself because according to evidence, she had sexual relations with the boy over several occasions in her car, her house, his house, hotels and elsewhere. She pursued him even to the point of travelling 650 miles to secretly meet him for sex at a hotel when he was on a family holiday. </p><p style="text-align: center;">At the time that she met him in the parking lot where he sneaked out away from his parents to meet her, she claimed that the pair had been texting morning, noon and night for weeks and missed each other. She said her ex-husband (who she was now apart from) was hacking into her Facebook and phone messages and kept making reports to the police about her actions towards the boy. It was common knowledge in the town but before this, she claimed that after she had resigned, she was invited to the boy's family home because they felt sorry for her losing her job. She said that she didn't believe that the boy's father thought they were actively having 'a relationship' (or the guy was very naive, no offence) but she would go over and sit with the boy and his father and they'd watch movies and talk. She would go upstairs with the boy and apparently had sex with him whilst the father was downstairs. The boy's father was a respected pastor and this sort of situation was not exactly the sort of thing you want the community to know about if you are all about appearance and having a clean-cut image. It's hard to know what really was the story there but she says that the father knew that his son had been reported hanging around her classroom and she lost her job. She wasn't aware exactly how much the boy's father knew.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Before all of this, the boy had been a promising popular athlete and well liked in his community as well as being from a well respected family. She claimed that he made the first move on her and that he knew what he was doing and what to say. She also claimed that he bragged that the pair had oral sex in the classroom to his friends and word got around the school. He later admitted that this was a lie. </p><p style="text-align: center;">So how did it all come to an end? well, as I mentioned, she drove 650 miles to meet him when he was on holiday with his parents. He sneaked out to meet her and they drove to her hotel. At some point during the evening there was a knock at the door and it was the police and all hell broke loose. Somebody tipped off the cops and she believed it had been her ex-husband because he apparently kept calling the police every time he saw her car parked at the boy's house. The ex-husband was also trying to keep full custody of their son who he believed to be in danger. </p><p style="text-align: center;">She was arrested at the hotel and the full story came to light. At first the young boy protected her but after months of police questioning, he finally gave in and told the truth. Messages, emails, phone bills and witness statements had all shown that they had been having an inappropriate relationship. She was kept in custody and the boy had to face the community who he claimed had ridiculed him. He claimed that the whole thing had left him feeling depressed and ashamed. The family ended up moving to another town and the boy was enrolled in another school because they couldn't stand any more looks and pointing from the town gossipers. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Jennifer tried her best to plead her case and make out that she was an innocent victim and that the boy knew what he was doing. She attempted to illicit sympathy by talking about her loveless marriage and blamed the ex-husband for not giving her enough attention. She also said that if there was a chance to have carried on the relationship with the boy, she would have done and that she would have no problems starting up a relationship with him again if he contacted her in the future. She doesn't believe that the boy suffered in any way and claims that he tried to contact her twice on Facebook to which she ignored and blocked him. </p><p style="text-align: center;">When it was all said and done, Jennifer Caswell was sentenced (in a plead deal in 2015) to 10 years in prison (with 5 years suspended) she was also placed on the sex offenders register for life. </p><p style="text-align: center;">The boy and his father tried to sue Jennifer for $1 million dollars and the school. Jennifer's lawyer said that she was now stripped of her credentials as a teacher and was now serving her sentence in prison with no means to pay. The school did settle with the family for $125,000 in a another lawsuit. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Jennifer Caswell tried time and again to excuse her abuse of her position by blaming her failed marriage, the boy and by claiming that lots of people in her town had 'age-gap relationships'. She said the only reason her situation with this boy was made public and made into a big deal is because her ex-husband had pressed the issue. According to her, if the ex-husband had left things then it wouldn't be a big deal. There was no remorse or acceptance of blame and a real air of immaturity about her which is pretty scary when you think that this woman was once trusted to be in charge of a room full of children. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMOjX6SJxez2Qd3hIOBrd4iCaQ5NNe8GtvqwhXRLUGEJxo7pu2A6AaqOV0AAPbgGI2dS_CKpcUa2YtWsjKeCc7_3VY13wkL5f6HVcOxNECR_O8nUps7Al9uKIHdt_O9jOchrYS-zk6yb-Iwc-xn1dW0WGiSukp89UWrN42Y3chPZk2fwZD3eQEElb3Tjxa/s2000/caswell.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMOjX6SJxez2Qd3hIOBrd4iCaQ5NNe8GtvqwhXRLUGEJxo7pu2A6AaqOV0AAPbgGI2dS_CKpcUa2YtWsjKeCc7_3VY13wkL5f6HVcOxNECR_O8nUps7Al9uKIHdt_O9jOchrYS-zk6yb-Iwc-xn1dW0WGiSukp89UWrN42Y3chPZk2fwZD3eQEElb3Tjxa/w640-h426/caswell.jpg" width="640" /></a><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Jennifer Caswell. Picture credit: <a href="https://nypost.com/2017/08/14/teacher-who-slept-with-student-ordered-to-pay-him-1m/">nypost</a>)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: center;">What are your thoughts on this case? Let me know in the comments below, on my <a href="https://linktr.ee/caledoniankitty">socials</a> or by email at jocaledoniankitty@gmail.com </p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><u>Further Reading & Sources:</u></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://eu.oklahoman.com/story/news/education/2017/08/14/judge-awards-1-million-to-boy-who-was-raped-by-teacher/60581982007/">Jennifer Caswell: Article | The Oklahoman</a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4789242/Judge-awards-1million-boy-sex-teacher.html">Jennifer Caswell: Article | Daily Mail </a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://nypost.com/2017/08/14/teacher-who-slept-with-student-ordered-to-pay-him-1m/">Jennifer Caswell: Article | New York Post </a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/teenage-pupil-female-teacher-rape-him-1-million-compensation-money-hollis-middle-school-oklahoma-jennifer-caswell-a7893681.html">Jennifer Caswell; Article | The Independent </a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/oklahoma-teacher-ordered-to-pay-student/">Jennifer Caswell: Article | CBS News </a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://www.courthousenews.com/dad-says-teacher-preyed-on-his-son/">Jennifer Caswell: Article | Courthouse News </a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFiDdyfCwgI">Jennifer Caswell | Full Interview on Dr Phil</a> </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oklahoma">Oklahoma | Wikipedia </a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://www.insideedition.com/10562-teacher-tells-dr-phil-im-not-a-rapist">Jennifer Caswell: Article | Inside Edition </a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">If you enjoy my content and would like to buy me a coffee, that would be amazing, you can find the link to my ko-fi page <a href="https://ko-fi.com/caledoniankitty">here</a> or if you prefer you can donate via my <a href="https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/CalKittyTrueCrime">PayPal</a>. Many thanks!</p><p style="text-align: center;">See you in the next post x</p>Caledonian Kittyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07812087097647828789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3918091265826271512.post-37471494961145140012023-11-15T18:18:00.000+00:002023-11-15T18:18:25.949+00:00What Happened To Georgina?<p style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCYyn9k7QP8bvg0icp7vlc_EIJCwQZMHsMmTQNerrV7xkwezYFWUp2gyoJ1IRQDm8ii3RU-ll4vKR8z8N9MvbTtfTTgQPXVpGCsoZlaSvZPyDboQ4KLi5MrABMxsk8MpZ9-c0WFR2D5aPVfI-zm9aOsP3Pbj0CZxBSh1UIhQZlbsl6Ew4lBP8CdT0Vqkzd/s1080/20200307-georgina-gharsallah-misper-sq.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCYyn9k7QP8bvg0icp7vlc_EIJCwQZMHsMmTQNerrV7xkwezYFWUp2gyoJ1IRQDm8ii3RU-ll4vKR8z8N9MvbTtfTTgQPXVpGCsoZlaSvZPyDboQ4KLi5MrABMxsk8MpZ9-c0WFR2D5aPVfI-zm9aOsP3Pbj0CZxBSh1UIhQZlbsl6Ew4lBP8CdT0Vqkzd/w640-h640/20200307-georgina-gharsallah-misper-sq.jpg" width="640" /></a><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Georgina Gharsallah, Picture credit: <a href="https://planetradio.co.uk/greatest-hits/sussex/news/review-reveals-sussex-police-missed-opportunities/">planetradio</a>)</span></p><p style="text-align: center;">It's nearly been 6 years since Georgina Gharsallah vanished without a trace after stepping foot outside of her Mother's doorstep in West Sussex (England) on the 7th of March 2018. Nobody has heard or seen from Georgina since. Numerous attempts at bringing awareness to her disappearance and public appeals for information have been shared over the years by the police and her family, in particularly her mother, Andrea who has worked tirelessly trying to find out what happened to her daughter. </p><p style="text-align: center;">It's hard to imagine what it must feel like for a parent to have a child vanish, no matter how old they are. Georgina was 30 years old but she was still Andrea's daughter, still her child and the never-ending pain and wondering that she must go through every day must be indescribable. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Georgina was no angel and her family were very honest about that and their thoughts on her lifestyle which could prove to be pretty hectic at times due to alcohol, too much partying and smoking cannabis. Georgina also had relationship problems and there always seemed to be some kind of drama going on with her life. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHtDaEgxdW5IOFcMFazT1BzLIm5zVLm2hlLblS3VttNXspXJ5dy1qiKUISGLuYzInaR8_-B_8h1Jof9JtrXmucdppsOilKfjHsCUK-Fkk_Qr4tAbTg7SKQNV7hbkG-gIimphLQLZyl3-YUGHGI3MTNThyphenhyphen0odIIjsObcVr7g-0fjtlKZlai50OmvfQFEHCM/s1340/20211125-georgina-gharsallah-worthing-misper-pt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1340" data-original-width="1080" height="794" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHtDaEgxdW5IOFcMFazT1BzLIm5zVLm2hlLblS3VttNXspXJ5dy1qiKUISGLuYzInaR8_-B_8h1Jof9JtrXmucdppsOilKfjHsCUK-Fkk_Qr4tAbTg7SKQNV7hbkG-gIimphLQLZyl3-YUGHGI3MTNThyphenhyphen0odIIjsObcVr7g-0fjtlKZlai50OmvfQFEHCM/w640-h794/20211125-georgina-gharsallah-worthing-misper-pt.jpg" width="640" /></a><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Georgina Gharsallah. Picture credit: <a href="https://www.sussex.police.uk/news/sussex/news/missing-people/georgina-gharsallah-five-years-since-worthing-womans-disappearance/">Sussex Police</a>)</span></div><p style="text-align: center;">At the time of her disappearance she was just 30 years old, had two children and a complicated on/off relationship with her partner. Money was tight too and she struggled to find employment. When Georgina left her mother's house that morning (she had recently moved in with her mother due to financial difficulties) she was supposed to be attending an appointment at her local Jobcentre and had plans to meet her father, she never appeared at either meeting. At the time nobody raised any eyebrows because this was apparently quite typical of Georgina at the point in her life, she had gained the unfortunate reputation for being unreliable. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Before leaving her mother's home she had borrowed some money in order to have her phone repaired, she had planned to stop off somewhere on her errands to the Jobcentre and meeting her father to try and have her phone fixed. Whilst the police were investigating her disappearance they stumbled upon some CCTV from a local grocery store that she had called into after just leaving her mother's house that morning. The owner of the store has mentioned that she was asking advice about where to have her phone repaired so he advised her. This is the last known footage of Georgina, after this she simply vanished. There was no record of her attending any phone shops and her phone was tracked by investigators showing that it had last been used around 3am that morning and all traces had left by 11:30am there was nothing else after that. So either her battery was faulty and ceased to work or someone had switched the phone off and destroyed it in order for it not to be traced. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbXk7BC58TlJhTM9xVa5eGGIINoaBSqlMkJyLXaEGXO2lW4np9rBrygNYWXpOJWSyWnEgNr-Ioejbnn95_BZ2uPBS1sszQ-FqxEb2MMCWnASRWbUIj01XnGoSXJM-dlVknZZEfzfT4E15H_R4MX7qDVlwRSOO4di-EFIIVQRix1s_hGV_KTYNyrq9SofCZ/s615/0_Missing-worthing-woman-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="461" data-original-width="615" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbXk7BC58TlJhTM9xVa5eGGIINoaBSqlMkJyLXaEGXO2lW4np9rBrygNYWXpOJWSyWnEgNr-Ioejbnn95_BZ2uPBS1sszQ-FqxEb2MMCWnASRWbUIj01XnGoSXJM-dlVknZZEfzfT4E15H_R4MX7qDVlwRSOO4di-EFIIVQRix1s_hGV_KTYNyrq9SofCZ/w640-h480/0_Missing-worthing-woman-2.jpg" width="640" /></a><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Last known sighting of Georgina. Picture credit: <a href="https://www.sussex.police.uk/news/sussex/news/missing-people/keeping-georgina-gharsallah-at-the-forefront-of-the-publics-mind/">Sussex Police</a>)</span></div><p style="text-align: center;">Georgina was not reported missing straight off the bat, her mother Andrea didn't contact the police until the 17th of March so some time had passed considerably before any proper search could be done. In that amount of time frame anything could have happened and valuable evidence lost but Andrea had claimed at the time that Georgina had a habit of going away for days and not showing up until some time later. </p><p style="text-align: center;">So what happened to Georgina? Where is she? Theories and speculations have continued over the years with so many questions but no answers. Some people believe that she had become fed up with her life and the problems she had been going through at the time and decided to start a new life somewhere. Some people believe that she was kidnapped and forced into a horrible human trafficking ring and others believe that she had taken her own life. </p><p style="text-align: center;">It's heartbreaking to have no answers as to what happened to this beautiful woman, just because she had been going through some trying times, it is no less important or tragic that she is nowhere to be seen and her family are suffering. </p><p style="text-align: center;">I aim to include more missing persons cases on this blog, especially as we go into a new year (2024). Every little helps and I feel that the more we talk about such cases the more chance that possibly someone somewhere might recognise a face or some details and end up picking up the phone and calling the police. The tiniest bit of information could mean so much in a missing persons case. </p><p style="text-align: center;">As I mentioned at the start of the post, it has nearly been 6 years since Georgina disappeared and all of her bank cards have not been used. It leaves a chill down the spine because the truth is that it does look bleak but I always say that you should never give up hope. We've actually seen cases where people have been returned to their families safe and well decades later. Thanks to the incredible advances in DNA technology today we are able to solve cases from 30 years ago. We have come so far but an eye witness statement or the tiniest detail from an onlooker in the street can mean so much. </p><p style="text-align: center;">I hope and pray that Andrea and her family get some answers as soon as possible and also for Georgina's children. So if anyone reading this knows anything, even the tiniest bit of information, don't be scared to pick up the phone and contact the police in confidence. </p><p style="text-align: center;">I hope for a positive end and closure to this case and it is always important to have hope in such circumstances. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><u>Further Reading & Sources: </u></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://www.sussex.police.uk/news/sussex/news/missing-people/georgina-gharsallah-five-years-since-worthing-womans-disappearance/">Georgina Gharsallah: Missing Persons Case | Sussex Police </a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11727259/The-people-vanished-without-trace-Anguish-unsolved-missing-persons-cases.html">Georgina Gharsallah: Article | Daily Mail </a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disappearance_of_Georgina_Gharsallah">Georgina Gharsallah | Wikipedia </a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-sussex-64862878">Georgina Gharsallah | Missing Persons Appeal </a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://www.theargus.co.uk/news/23366980.georgina-gharsallah-worthing-mums-pledge-missing-daughter/">Georgina Gharsallah: Article | The Argus </a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/georgina-gharsallah-disappearance-worthing-police-b2295878.html">Georgina Gharsallah: Article | The Independent </a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://www.facebook.com/brightonargus/videos/cctv-footage-of-the-last-sighting-of-missing-georgina-gharsallah/1246716936261581/">Georgina Gharsallah | CCTV Footage</a></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWMxZuflx0tpx1vHPYz7FeRjEPxMMI8oElWvS0K2w1B7Y6aAaTbuIPfZ4MJ2ywsI_j4Ef9TVByM69vQW5GFZeyoY__scT0-wyM7Q2DTp8pEuihV5BOV7rnVPevepQHSg7edhPG3JLGmuPdJxEsbR0u3o50ldHV8rWruCkdDPbz6yMB5d8HHAuzakYnLwRa/s1440/missing-georgina-gharsallah-v0-0hsvilzatk2a1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1016" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWMxZuflx0tpx1vHPYz7FeRjEPxMMI8oElWvS0K2w1B7Y6aAaTbuIPfZ4MJ2ywsI_j4Ef9TVByM69vQW5GFZeyoY__scT0-wyM7Q2DTp8pEuihV5BOV7rnVPevepQHSg7edhPG3JLGmuPdJxEsbR0u3o50ldHV8rWruCkdDPbz6yMB5d8HHAuzakYnLwRa/w638-h640/missing-georgina-gharsallah-v0-0hsvilzatk2a1.jpg" width="638" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: center;">Thank you for joining me in my latest true crime post, I hope you will share, comment below, tell me your thoughts by email (jocaledoniankitty@gmail.com) or on my <a href="https://linktr.ee/caledoniankitty">socials</a> </p><p style="text-align: center;">See you in my next post x </p>Caledonian Kittyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07812087097647828789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3918091265826271512.post-75673367346483006622023-10-29T17:22:00.001+00:002023-10-29T17:22:29.920+00:00Sid & Nancy: Fatal Love: It Was Never Going To End Well<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNm3nNbEwF_g0f528KK5lrh9LKsZKrFlGJ_wW8Sa3MzxbX1Z71ZMx5vv7sd-gL-agfW55bl47NM3r3nEgssFJXEnCyTghxZ04zYBemmurXm4Lc-mLOopiADJKheraBeA3UoIu7RJDm-HPhGc38LT5Hwit9BWVvP_OOGuVoKOmRLTgOFOdUmJg-uE91n5Lm/s950/sid-and-nancy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="713" data-original-width="950" height="503" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNm3nNbEwF_g0f528KK5lrh9LKsZKrFlGJ_wW8Sa3MzxbX1Z71ZMx5vv7sd-gL-agfW55bl47NM3r3nEgssFJXEnCyTghxZ04zYBemmurXm4Lc-mLOopiADJKheraBeA3UoIu7RJDm-HPhGc38LT5Hwit9BWVvP_OOGuVoKOmRLTgOFOdUmJg-uE91n5Lm/w662-h503/sid-and-nancy.jpg" width="662" /></a> <span style="font-size: x-small;">(Sid & Nancy. Picture credit: <a href="https://schonmagazine.com/dysfuntionalcouplesdaysidandnancy/">schonmagazine</a>)</span><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>*Please be aware that I will be sharing some details in this post that may not be suitable for anyone under the age of 18 or who are sensitive to certain themes involving suicide, self harm, substance misuse. As always, I have tried to be as sensitive with the details whilst stating the facts* </b></p><p style="text-align: center;">When it comes to the discussion of Sid Vicious and Nancy Spungen, you'll often hear a mixture of opinions. different opinions about them and their lifestyle and different opinions on how each of them had met their end. Sometimes it's hard to believe that the two people in the picture above were barely 21 years old, they were just kids basically who let the fame, the money and the drugs, go to their head. </p><p style="text-align: center;">My best friend is a huge Sex Pistols fan and has always adored John Lydon (aka Johnny Rotten) and it is through her that I discovered their music years ago. She knows all about the tragic story of Sid Vicious (Simon John Ritchie) and how he was just a confused kid who grew up around drugs due to witnessing his mother's own habit and then being encouraged by her to take them. </p><p style="text-align: center;">I went to a show of John Lydon's a few years ago and he spoke quite fondly of Sid and how much he missed him. He even encouraged the audience to sing (to the theme of ABBA's 'Fernando') ''There was something in the air that night, the stars were bright FOR SIDNEY. They were shining there for you and me, for liberty, FOR SIDNEY...'' It was a brilliant show and very funny. John spoke of how Nancy Spungen had been trying to make her way around the band members of the Sex Pistols and she started with him, he wasn't interested so she turned her attention to Sid after the other band members kept away from her also. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Nancy's was from the USA but she went to England because it was her goal to have a member of the Sex Pistols as her boyfriend. Well, she got what she wanted but at what cost? Both Sid and Nancy were from difficult backgrounds and had all sorts of emotional problems themselves, mix that with drugs and you have a disaster on your hands. The real Simon John Ritchie was an insecure, shy boy who became Sid Vicious and it gave him confidence and fame but it all went to his head. I think, to be honest, you could say that about each of the members of the Sex Pistols, they all became a bit big for their boots at that time. People were scared to interview them because nobody knew what they were going to say or do next. They thought they were invincible and they did get away with quite a lot because people at the top were intimidated by them but the public loved them. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMLyHzFAL05O6jVQlW3CVqCmUnIIG35ORzcIif91WOdssqwVKqnQAe1uuiQDwvwAbHW1iNuKHZ8TIvGBkSn09xXzhQyr4PeIa09rtW0Rty2D505Mi8SuVrp9vX73vjt_m0mLBFBauye2XVnSZaLVT-BZG-H_3G6UTb0HSpxTPoybQll56CaCakFVvjL8U4/s1200/4508.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMLyHzFAL05O6jVQlW3CVqCmUnIIG35ORzcIif91WOdssqwVKqnQAe1uuiQDwvwAbHW1iNuKHZ8TIvGBkSn09xXzhQyr4PeIa09rtW0Rty2D505Mi8SuVrp9vX73vjt_m0mLBFBauye2XVnSZaLVT-BZG-H_3G6UTb0HSpxTPoybQll56CaCakFVvjL8U4/w640-h480/4508.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Sex Pistols. Picture credit: <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/may/03/still-a-fascist-regime-sex-pistols-god-save-the-queen-reissued-to-mark-platinum-jubilee">theguardian</a>)</span></div><p style="text-align: center;">The Sex Pistols were just a flash in the pan but it's incredible what they were able to achieve in such a short space of time. Their songs are classics and still sound great to this day. They are seen as punk royalty and as for John? behind the 'John Lydon' persona, he's a big teddy bear and a really intelligent and caring person. Like Sid, John has always felt the need to put on 'the act' so not a lot of people get to see the real him but I highly recommend that you visit one of his shows, preferably when he is doing a talk. I have a lot of respect for John and how he took care of his wife who sadly passed away earlier this year. He was devoted to his wife and worshiped the ground she walked on. At his show, he shed tears talking about her. He really does wear his heart on his sleeve. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Anyway, back to what this post is all about, I am focusing on Sid and Nancy and their tragic short time together and what really happened? Well, as I mentioned before, Sid (Simon John Ritchie - born on the 10th of May 1957 in Lewisham, London) and Nancy (Nancy Laura Spungen - born on the 27th of February 1958) were both from difficult backgrounds and were not quite sure where they fit in. Nancy had been through a lot of depression as a child and had been diagnosed with schizophrenia at a young age. There had also been previous suicide attempts and various emotional outbursts. Nancy struggled with life and every day was a challenge but in music she found some sort of saviour, especially punk music that was all the rage in London in the mid 70s. </p><p style="text-align: center;">London was the place to be in the 70s and early 80s with the punk movement and then the New Romantics. It was all about the music, unique fashion and being yourself. Everyone was encouraged to look as different as possible and it was like the ultimate rebellion against the establishment. Everybody wanted to be in London because that seemed to be where everything was happening. Nancy was obsessed and wanted to run away to London, she dyed her dark hair blonde, wore heavy eyeliner, red lipstick and created her own style. She took off for London in 1976 in search for her dream to come true, to find a sex pistol and somehow that was the answer to everything. When she got there she felt like she'd finally found the place and people where she finally belonged. </p><p style="text-align: center;">It was the same for Sid Vicious, he'd been a huge David Bowie fan and was quite shy. His mother had bought him some drugs in his early teens (as a birthday present) and he was hooked but at that time the drug use wasn't as heavy as it became. He felt different to everyone else and struggled to fit in but when he started hanging around various clubs, hearing the punk music and being surrounded by struggling teenagers just like him, he felt he finally belonged. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Sid (Simon) had changed his style and had a more edgier look, he had plans for his own music career and there was some interest from other bands for him to join them. He also became known for his crazy behaviour at various punk shows, always making some sort of scene. He had been noticed at a Sex Pistols show and as he had 'the right look', he was brought into the band in 1977 after Malcolm McLaren, their manager decided to fire Glen Matlock. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Whilst in the Sex Pistols, Sid was pretty useless as a band member in all honesty. He couldn't play bass and failed to show up for rehearsal on more than one occasion as his drug and alcohol dependency continued to get worse. Malcolm McLaren insisted that he remain in the band because he loved the drama and chaos that he brought to the band. Malcolm's motto was 'Cash For Chaos' (it's even written on his gravestone at Highgate Cemetery in London). Sid would binge on alcohol and drugs and start fighting, spitting, throwing things and Malcolm loved that for the band's image. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYFchu9S7KIZpAB_AT6HFilN54QQ8EcjfffCKXTsLSJc5eXEGHaILb18KOYOONRcnFNLm5leTcmx2QrOKZW2fWOVwtcV55DkB4focBCB0FXPi8Cao4k_QBZV1QEOChbXgMabtSy6kZWmNT5k8MlkNsOUmdhSZi62frrkj2pWtnsBkCPwVJHyMyemy7hIN7/s1600/Malcolm-McLaren-1983-punk-rock.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1472" height="658" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYFchu9S7KIZpAB_AT6HFilN54QQ8EcjfffCKXTsLSJc5eXEGHaILb18KOYOONRcnFNLm5leTcmx2QrOKZW2fWOVwtcV55DkB4focBCB0FXPi8Cao4k_QBZV1QEOChbXgMabtSy6kZWmNT5k8MlkNsOUmdhSZi62frrkj2pWtnsBkCPwVJHyMyemy7hIN7/w635-h658/Malcolm-McLaren-1983-punk-rock.jpg" width="635" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Malcolm McLaren. Picture credit: <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Malcolm-McLaren">britannica</a>)</span></div><p style="text-align: center;">It wasn't long though until the mix of strong, rebellious personalities clashed and the band fell apart. Their journey and life as a band was a short one but they managed to make a huge impact and Malcolm McLaren pretty much got what he wanted because it was their image as well as the music that attracted the fans. </p><p style="text-align: center;">So Nancy and Sid became a couple and both of them lived a very drug and alcohol fueled lifestyle. They'd hang out at various shows, go to friend's parties at squats (a squat is a term used for a vacant building that has been taken over by a certain number of people who choose to live in it despite having no proper permission. Squats were often lit by candles and sleeping bags or mattresses would be placed on the floor to sleep on). When Sid's career with the Sex Pistols had come to an end, the drugs and relationship with Nancy took over. The pair flew to New York and settled in the famous Chelsea Hotel in 1978 in Room 100. The Chelsea Hotel was known for it's history of being home to some of the world's most famous artists, musicians and writers. However by 1978 it had fallen on hard times and most of it was run down with many of it's residents taking drugs. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWSi-WLH8bnZQWud3BoTp8c1MIkvIC4Q9bLl5YcD3kloJz5q89KtJLYHLt8KwCks8k0r6TtdHPmZdHEKtItJYcv30YlzYYnnxUF4JWPA4ziRLsJD1Bmtn_Fb01WPT-P9WUeHJg8E3NNKvW3h2Fi4LKRcwZ7Qaex08OeS80nx_DGFgtM2QadU8gI9dmftFN/s924/HotelChelsea.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="924" data-original-width="534" height="1003" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWSi-WLH8bnZQWud3BoTp8c1MIkvIC4Q9bLl5YcD3kloJz5q89KtJLYHLt8KwCks8k0r6TtdHPmZdHEKtItJYcv30YlzYYnnxUF4JWPA4ziRLsJD1Bmtn_Fb01WPT-P9WUeHJg8E3NNKvW3h2Fi4LKRcwZ7Qaex08OeS80nx_DGFgtM2QadU8gI9dmftFN/w580-h1003/HotelChelsea.jpg" width="580" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(The Chelsea hotel. Picture credit: <a href="https://www.thirteen.org/metrofocus/2012/01/op-ed-if-these-walls-could-talk-inside-the-fight-for-the-hotel-chelsea/">thirteen</a>)</span></div><p style="text-align: center;">Nancy and Sid turned their room into an absolute mess and lived on alcohol, drugs and takeaway food. It was a miserable existence. Nancy was now acting as his manger and when they had the strength, Sid would play the odd gig as a solo artist or they would do interviews and photoshoots. Most of the time they would spend in that room, various people would also come and go, including various drug dealers. Sid would be so out of it at times that when people would visit they would later say that he was totally out of it and didn't even realise that they were there. Sometimes there would be money and drugs lying around the room, things were getting worse and it was only a matter of time before something had to give and unfortunately it ended up with Nancy being found dead in the bathroom on the 12th of October, 1978, slumped between the toilet and the sink. Nancy was just 20 years old. She had been fatally stabbed and all the fingers were pointing at Sid as the one who was responsible. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik8pjKz08alWmhAZmKYkVwuTPByA1fbLbArmJYbzRSBSHwoEwqBpB3SyhmPUzEhEKwajHbgJ1-J6uytPtg7kV4Kl6R9gL6jB8QqUDmbM91DfcDNGQvTEOfsnKrDePydZYtIohINwwNvNuDdu_kuA896gAz2aPy_7ozhTJFcDs5onYUpDDZ2AUiVHUfigfm/s3608/GettyImages-1265168580.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2420" data-original-width="3608" height="453" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik8pjKz08alWmhAZmKYkVwuTPByA1fbLbArmJYbzRSBSHwoEwqBpB3SyhmPUzEhEKwajHbgJ1-J6uytPtg7kV4Kl6R9gL6jB8QqUDmbM91DfcDNGQvTEOfsnKrDePydZYtIohINwwNvNuDdu_kuA896gAz2aPy_7ozhTJFcDs5onYUpDDZ2AUiVHUfigfm/w640-h453/GettyImages-1265168580.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Sid Vicious and Nancy Spungen. Picture credit: <a href="https://metro.co.uk/2021/05/23/sex-pistols-nancy-spungen-was-worst-person-sid-vicious-could-meet-14628101/">metro</a>)</span></div><p style="text-align: center;">Witnesses who had been in the room just hours before had claimed that Sid had been really out of it and in no fit state to have stabbed anyone. The knife that had been used did belong to Sid and had been purchased by Nancy as a gift for him just weeks earlier (they both had an obsession with knives). With no witnesses to say otherwise, Sid was arrested for Nancy's murder despite the fact that various people (including drug dealers) were known to come in and out of their room, sometimes stealing money and their belongings. There was rumours that they owed money to a certain drug dealer and that it was all a set up to frame Sid. Some people believe it was a robbery gone wrong with someone getting into the room to steal money and Nancy trying to defend herself whilst Sid was passed out from drugs. A lot of people believe that Sid was unfairly framed for Nancy's murder and that the cops didn't take it seriously because the pair were well-known drug users. </p><p style="text-align: center;">At first, in a daze and in shock, Sid blamed himself and said he had killed Nancy but he soon changed his statement. Seeing the footage of Sid being taken out of the Chelsea Hotel in handcuffs, you can clearly see the bolt of reality that hit him. He was in a state of shock and disbelief, sometimes on heroin people can believe that they are invincible and living in a dream world. This was cold, harsh reality and he was facing a long jail term which his mother knew he wouldn't be able to cope with. Sid could be brash, put an act on and act the big man when he was high, but in all reality he was just a scared young boy who was in way over his head and some people did take advantage of him. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFBy8HmAVJ6Kq6ymMOuLNLf2y-xLvDHNesNHMBOALXDj7FA99f96SrfKiM__YIoPr6h-nRqwyf_mO-lKuZDBMOGz3zV0B1hlMhP6ReGM1K8DCE9CFkctWC6lQoWdFmnejATxtUuZzc_XZ7grfZN7J2vSfdBNfXRCWrmr0_yF8TwsUY3MNzdvjNqrcW-hus/s1200/sid_vicious_chelsea_hotel.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="443" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFBy8HmAVJ6Kq6ymMOuLNLf2y-xLvDHNesNHMBOALXDj7FA99f96SrfKiM__YIoPr6h-nRqwyf_mO-lKuZDBMOGz3zV0B1hlMhP6ReGM1K8DCE9CFkctWC6lQoWdFmnejATxtUuZzc_XZ7grfZN7J2vSfdBNfXRCWrmr0_yF8TwsUY3MNzdvjNqrcW-hus/w660-h443/sid_vicious_chelsea_hotel.jpg" width="660" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Sid Vicious. Picture credit: <a href="https://www.salon.com/2013/12/04/sid_and_nancy_the_final_hours/">salon</a>)</span></div><p style="text-align: center;">Whilst Sid was in custody, various people were trying to raise the funds to get him out on bail. He was released on the 17th of Oct. Whilst in custody he was detoxing and was taking methadone. Just days after his release he attempted to take his own life by cutting his wrist and overdosing on methadone. His mother and Malcolm McLaren were present and able to get help. Sid wasn't happy with this as he claimed that he wanted to die to be with Nancy and it had all been part of his side of a suicide pact. </p><p style="text-align: center;">There's all sorts of stories about Sid's time in New York after Nancy's murder and people who claim to have spoken to him. Apparently there is a recording on tape of him confessing to accidentally killing Nancy. He reportedly said that he and Nancy had been playing around with a knife when she got caught in the stomach. It looked to be a small cut and they didn't think anything of it because they were so out of it. He apparently left the room at some point and came back to find that Nancy had bled to death. </p><p style="text-align: center;">The shock of Nancy's death didn't seem to sober Sid up because he was still going out and causing trouble, getting drunk and getting high. He'd even started a relationship with a woman named Michelle Robinson. This wasn't a good look for him so quickly after Nancy's death. It was no surprise when he was arrested again and sent right back to jail. His whole attitude and behaviour came across as uncaring and arrogant but away from the cameras, Nancy's mother claimed to have received a letter from Sid declaring his undying love for Nancy and that he missed and loved her. </p><p style="text-align: center;">He reportedly wrote: <i><b><span style="font-size: medium;">''Her pain was just too much to bear because, you see, I felt Nancy's pain as if it were my own, worse even....I love her with such passion. Every day is agony without her. I know now it is possible to die from a broken heart. Because when you love someone as much as we love each other. They become fundamental to your existence. So I will die soon even if I don't kill myself. I guess you could say that I'm pining for her. I could live without food or water longer than I'm going to survive without Nancy....she was too beautiful for this world.''</span></b></i></p><p style="text-align: center;">Sid spent seven weeks in jail and was forced to undergo a detox program. When he was released his mother came to collect him and arranged a bag of heroin for him. Various versions of events have been shared over the years but what actually happened was that his mother knew how much he suffered in prison. Apparently Sid had been bullied and beaten, he knew that there was a huge possibility that he was going to end up in prison for the rest of his life for Nancy's murder and he could not cope with that. His mother believed that she did the right thing by saving her son from the misery of a lifetime behind bars. Apparently when he was passed out high on heroin she injected some more into one of his veins. Sid was declared dead of a heroin overdose on the 2nd of February 1979, he was aged just 21. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Sid was cremated and his mother secretly took his ashes to Nancy's grave site at King David Memorial Park in Pennsylvania where she scattered them on Nancy's grave. Some people thought this was in poor taste and others thought that it was fitting that they were together again. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoRhy0lyliUCb8qICAYFJ-YnwReTEzHW2JR_8VCEwLHrDNj1naMdaDxZLabIswieXw2hSJxlOCn1zgOb3BF6v52N1LGcEDsD3-ZmcABz4Cw_T0EhVb8h9rSKOxlJiTjhQaaPehp30wkUSonmJOPJZZU2vxm0qwJtNUkgDybIBuwFkLE_UjnNtOjCotMLtL/s667/4388_1054335335.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="446" data-original-width="667" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoRhy0lyliUCb8qICAYFJ-YnwReTEzHW2JR_8VCEwLHrDNj1naMdaDxZLabIswieXw2hSJxlOCn1zgOb3BF6v52N1LGcEDsD3-ZmcABz4Cw_T0EhVb8h9rSKOxlJiTjhQaaPehp30wkUSonmJOPJZZU2vxm0qwJtNUkgDybIBuwFkLE_UjnNtOjCotMLtL/w640-h428/4388_1054335335.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Nancy's grave. Picture credit: <a href="https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/4388/nancy-laura-spungen">findagrave</a>)</span></div><p style="text-align: center;">Due to the death of Sid, who was due to go on trial for Nancy's murder, the case was closed. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Various other people have been suspected of killing Nancy over the years but all have denied it and some have even passed away. An actor and stand-up comic by the name of Rockets Redglare fell under suspicion as he reportedly delivered drugs to Nancy and Sid's hotel room on a number of occasions, including that night but he denied it right up until his death in 2001. </p><p style="text-align: center;">With so many unsavory characters coming in and out of that room at all hours of the day and night and no security cameras in the lobby back then, there's no way of ever finding out who else (if anyone) was really there that night. Decades have gone by since Nancy died and the chances are that anyone who did visit that room are no longer with us and take any secrets they may have, to the grave. It could just be that Sid and Nancy were high on drugs and played around too rough with the knife and an accident happened. Sid passed out on the bed and Nancy crawled to the bathroom. Her injury was a cut to the abdomen and maybe she went to the bathroom (still out of it on drugs) to try and sort herself out with some towels or something and just slumped down. If Sid was guilty it's clear to see that it wasn't an intentional killing, it was a tragic and stupid mistake that should never have happened but the way that they both lived, it was only a matter of time before something happened. </p><p style="text-align: center;">The thing about Sid and Nancy and old school stars like them is that back then, musicians were more for real. They actually lived that life and a lot of them didn't make it. Some were lucky and thankfully are still with us today. But there was nothing glamorous about it and I think that sometimes some people forget that, especially younger people or up and coming artists who fancy being a chip off the old block. It's not games and it's not fun. Sid was famous for being violent, a drug user who was all the worst things that you could imagine a famous person to be. Could you imagine asking him for a selfie or an autograph? You wouldn't know if you were going to get a punch or a spit on the face. Deep down he was just a kid caught up in everything but he got lost in the character of Sid Vicious and felt that he had to constantly make a show wherever he went. </p><p style="text-align: center;">In the end Sid and Nancy as glamourised as we like to paint them now, ended up living in a run-down hotel room with drug dealers as pals and died in horrible circumstances before either of them reached the age of 22. It's heartbreaking and really shows the downward spiral of drugs and how important it is to keep your feet on the ground where fame is concerned. Adding heroin into everything just further fueled Sid's feelings of being invincible and that's why I mention that true moment when he was led outside of the hotel in handcuffs, reality set in and you could see that deep down he was just a frightened kid but soon had to switch the act back on for the cameras. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Some people can become famous to the point that they get lost in their own reality and you pair drugs and huge ego into the mix and you have an absolute bonfire. </p><p style="text-align: center;">What do I think of Sid and Nancy? well. Nancy was troubled and looking for something and she thought she had found it in Sid. He thought he had found his soulmate in her. There's no doubt that they loved each other but there was also a toxic element to their relationship. Things could get violent and Nancy was very jealous of other girls approaching Sid, she would order Sid to punch girls in the face as an act of proving his love and devotion to her. Sid was known to punch Nancy as vice versa. Two troubled young people lost in life, coming together and it was a disaster, it was never going to end well. Malcolm McLaren (who has since passed away himself) was part of the problem, he saw Sid as the poster boy for the band that he wanted to create and encouraged the violence. The other band members themselves have been accused of using Sid as a sort of attraction for the band's rough image. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivNOo0pR7Cu8l8BHulvqjUZ4tRtFzSA5jzlT3aFLmWXyWuOfI0id-Omld9FCx0v47qC1_bmG03jPpU-LsOMtgPH5m1ghjmbMbNNWmeIaUaimf2Z5nOlEsMMP0f2hxhUdKVrN_KBZiSJgpjduHDh-V1hmFfUz6t1U_Gcmf-8QI7GH7YBs3tWZUL4ErPCF-1/s3605/Sid__Nancy_78_5A0.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3605" data-original-width="2400" height="1008" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivNOo0pR7Cu8l8BHulvqjUZ4tRtFzSA5jzlT3aFLmWXyWuOfI0id-Omld9FCx0v47qC1_bmG03jPpU-LsOMtgPH5m1ghjmbMbNNWmeIaUaimf2Z5nOlEsMMP0f2hxhUdKVrN_KBZiSJgpjduHDh-V1hmFfUz6t1U_Gcmf-8QI7GH7YBs3tWZUL4ErPCF-1/w653-h1008/Sid__Nancy_78_5A0.jpg" width="653" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Nancy and Sid. Picture credit: <a href="https://steveemberton.com/gallery/celebrities-and-models/sid-and-nancy/">steveemberton</a>)</span></div><p style="text-align: center;">Do I think that Sid killed Nancy? it's a really difficult question to answer because they were both in the room at the same time, the knife that belonged to Sid had been used and the story he had reportedly told a friend about them playing around with the knife and him passing out, sounded plausible. On the other hand, everyone knew they had that room and that money was in there. People were always coming back and forth and drug dealers were always around. It would have been interesting to see this case being explored in a courtroom, maybe we could have found answers from that? I guess after so many years we may never know. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Since Nancy's death the Chelsea Hotel has undergone so many transformations and the room (Room 100) no longer exists. A lot of people are still fascinated with this case today and some people believe the case should be re-opened and re-investigated but I don't know if that would bring any answers. I don't think the police kept any of the evidence for proper DNA testing and there is no way, obviously that they can go back over the room where Nancy died. </p><p style="text-align: center;">RIP Nancy & Sid. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><u>Further Reading & Sources:</u></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://www.sexpistolsofficial.com/bio/sid-vicious/">Sid Vicious | Sex Pistols Website </a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/sid-vicious-40th-anniversary-sex-pistols-nancy-spungen-murder-heroin-john-lydon-malcolm-mclaren-a8757761.html">Sid Vicious: Article | The Independent </a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/flashback-nancy-spungen-found-dead-at-chelsea-hotel-118648/">Nancy Spungen: Article | Rolling Stone </a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/music/2009/jan/18/sid-vicious-death-icon">Sid Vicious: Article | The Guardian</a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/sid-vicious-dies-of-a-drug-overdose-in-new-york-city">Sid Vicious: Article | History Channel</a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://metro.co.uk/2019/02/02/sid-vicious-die-happened-nancy-spungen-8428204/">Sid Vicious: Article | Metro </a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sid_Vicious">Sid Vicious | Wikipedia </a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9180121/Will-touching-letter-Sid-Vicious-finally-end-riddle-killed-Nancy-Spungen.html">Nancy Spungen: Article | Daily Mail </a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/the-chelsea-hotel-tragic-unsolved-death-nancy-spungen/">Nancy Spungen: Article | Far Out Magazine </a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://nymag.com/arts/popmusic/features/51394/">Nancy Spungen: Article | NY Mag</a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nancy_Spungen">Nancy Spungen | Wikipedia</a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sex_Pistols">Sex Pistols | Wikipedia </a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malcolm_McLaren">Malcolm McLaren | Wikipedia </a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/09/arts/music/09mclaren.html">Malcolm McLaren: Article | New York Times</a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://hotelchelsea.com/">Hotel Chelsea | Official Website </a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hotel_Chelsea">Hotel Chelsea | Wikipedia </a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfkywgPbbyw">Sid Vicious: The Final 24 | Documentary </a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dont-Want-Live-This-Life/dp/0449911411/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1ES7E8Q2MBEAV&keywords=nancy+spungen&qid=1698339984&sprefix=nancy+spungen+%2Caps%2C284&sr=8-1">And I Don't Want To Live This Life: A Mother's Story of Her Daughter's Murder | Book by Deborah Spungen </a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sid-Vicious-No-One-Innocent/dp/0752893661/ref=sr_1_2?crid=22LA7XC0TMML4&keywords=sid+vicious&qid=1698340077&sprefix=sid+vicious+%2Caps%2C100&sr=8-2">Sid Vicious: No One is Innocent | Book by Alan Parker</a> </span></p><p style="text-align: center;">Have you ever seen the Sid & Nancy movie? You can find it <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gChYPrSqlOQ">here on YouTube</a> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6sn-oxyLTeluAVM4GraQcRJgZQopjncdJxyonV05w3AP3WnDVivOhDZG-20rt2Uyqsi1py9oytrLLlr9-Q5i6CCzC12ZRB0t35ZUdUU7Aafg181UihKr8WH2F9NlwvDsfHYIA_GFTAzEz2SLmHgt3dEuBEBMvpF-bpWRo9fg5aQxQAS3NTj2I-dQ-Itdg/s859/MV5BYzRiODJiYjMtN2RiNy00NGVhLWJlN2MtODc4ZThiMGJmYzk0XkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTQxNzMzNDI@._V1_.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="859" data-original-width="580" height="1224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6sn-oxyLTeluAVM4GraQcRJgZQopjncdJxyonV05w3AP3WnDVivOhDZG-20rt2Uyqsi1py9oytrLLlr9-Q5i6CCzC12ZRB0t35ZUdUU7Aafg181UihKr8WH2F9NlwvDsfHYIA_GFTAzEz2SLmHgt3dEuBEBMvpF-bpWRo9fg5aQxQAS3NTj2I-dQ-Itdg/w659-h1224/MV5BYzRiODJiYjMtN2RiNy00NGVhLWJlN2MtODc4ZThiMGJmYzk0XkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTQxNzMzNDI@._V1_.jpg" width="659" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">What are your thoughts on Sid and Nancy? Do you believe that Sid killed Nancy or do you have another theory? Please leave your comments below or contact me via email: jocaledoniankitty@gmail.com or message me on socials: <a href="https://linktr.ee/caledoniankitty">Caledonian Kitty</a></div><p style="text-align: center;">I'll be taking a little break this coming week because it's my birthday on November 5th but I will be back soon with more true crime content. </p><p style="text-align: center;">I hope you will join me in the next post, take care until next time... </p>Caledonian Kittyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07812087097647828789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3918091265826271512.post-75466118463880938382023-10-22T18:06:00.002+01:002023-10-22T18:06:31.923+01:00The Death of Brittany Murphy | ''I am a Survivor of Simon Monjack and I believe that Brittany did not survive him.''<p style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOfvr4tOCY-_lu295WFMaiF8V9eCC41-_Qpu7WWLVvhPEbYV_dgQvD29yZVS73KScFL4NnpOhfpnzZv9BZm9e1Y2sioPJ4Ne-rSoCjuJp0Rzlm4bls_QFULgmMP9n7cDen9PKBWXCv4Wf91Z03AHiBco9-x-cXUNRA-J4rHtQPZ7Tk7xpTcJtPEQYXpK2a/s1024/brittany-murphy-rip-988x1024.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="988" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOfvr4tOCY-_lu295WFMaiF8V9eCC41-_Qpu7WWLVvhPEbYV_dgQvD29yZVS73KScFL4NnpOhfpnzZv9BZm9e1Y2sioPJ4Ne-rSoCjuJp0Rzlm4bls_QFULgmMP9n7cDen9PKBWXCv4Wf91Z03AHiBco9-x-cXUNRA-J4rHtQPZ7Tk7xpTcJtPEQYXpK2a/w648-h640/brittany-murphy-rip-988x1024.jpg" width="648" /></a><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Brittany Murphy. Picture credit: <a href="https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/brittany-murphy-documentary-things-learned-1239245/">rollingstone</a>)</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Brittany Murphy's sudden death in 2009 shocked and saddened everyone who ever knew her personally and for us fans of her work, it was heartbreaking. Just 32 years old with a stack of iconic movies under her belt, she wasn't just a fantastic actress, she was a talented singer, a gifted musician and she had a heart as big as Texas. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It was so sudden when she passed away and everyone was trying to figure out exactly what had happened to her. The rumour mill was in overdrive and it still is to this very day. I received a few emails this past week in regards to my last post which focused on the death of another legendary actress, <a href="http://www.caledoniankitty.co.uk/2023/10/natalie-wood-what-really-happened-on.html">Natalie Wood</a> and one of my readers requested that I write about Brittany. I had planned to write about her at some point but had forgotten that I had her on my list of cases to cover. Her death has always troubled me and I think that anyone who has ever taken the time to really look into the circumstances of her demise will understand where I am coming from. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The truth is, is that Brittany Murphy should be alive today and would have been if she had been able to receive the proper treatment that she so desperately needed. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We are all deeply saddened when we lose someone we have greatly admired for their talent, beauty and kindness towards others, even though we do not know certain celebrities personally we appreciate their gifts and the memories of how watching their movies and listening to their songs, has impacted our own lives over the years. You really do feel the sense of loss as if you have had to say a final goodbye to a dear friend. It's tragic when a terrible accident has occurred but what if the death of someone leaves a bad taste in the mouth due to unexplained circumstances, strange behaviours of others and twisted truths? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">In this post I will be talking about Brittany's death and her late husband, Simon Monjack. I will try to be as sensitive as always with the facts whilst also not shying away from the details. I don't claim to have all of the answers but I do have my own opinions just like everyone else and the truth of the matter is, is that since 2009 a lot of things about Brittany's death have continued to leave a question mark and a lot of things don't add up. I always leave it up to my readers to come to their own thoughts about particular cases and this is another situation where you may think a certain way about the events as they unfolded or you may think there is a reasonable explanation for everything. Whatever the case, everyone is entitled to their own opinion and I always look forward to hearing what my readers have to say and a lot of the time they tell me things that I didn't know about a case as well as vice versa. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">So let's get into the brief background of Brittany's life. Brittany Anne Bertolotti was born on the 10th of November, 1977 in Atlanta, Georgia (USA). Her parents divorced when she was a toddler and her mother struggled financially whilst trying to raise her as a single parent in Edison, New Jersey. Money was very tight and necessities like food and clothes were often hard to come by but despite the struggles, Brittany's mother did her best and the pair were extremely close. Brittany was a fun, cheeky and bubbly child who never let financial woes dull her sparkle. From a young age she wanted to be either an actress or a singer like Madonna (who she adored). </div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;">Brittany also had two older half-brothers and a younger half-sister. Brittany had been showing signs of her talent of acting and singing from a young age and as she reached her teens, the decision was made for her and her mother to move to Los Angeles. Brittany often spoke of how important and instrumental her mother had been to her career. She would talk in interviews about how her mother sold everything they had so that her dreams of making it as a star would come true. Brittany was always grateful to her mother and appreciated the fact that her mother had believed in her from day one. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Fast forward to success, she had a stint on Broadway and various appearances in popular TV shows but it was her role in the iconic movie, Clueless (1995) that really put her on the map. Various star turns in movies alongside legends such as Michael Douglas and Kiefer Sutherland followed and also, my favourite role of hers was in the classic, Girl, interrupted. Brittany even appeared alongside the rapper, Eminem in the movie '8 Mile'. She also did voiceovers for TV and film. Time and time again she was demonstrating that she wasn't just a comedy actress, she could pretty much play any role that was handed to her and she did it brilliantly. </p><p style="text-align: center;">I remember hearing her singing for the first time and I couldn't believe it, she had an incredible voice (you can hear it here on this awesome track: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9vPvM7ph4g">Faster Kill Pussycat</a>) </p><p style="text-align: center;">She had various romances but the relationship that made the most headlines at that time was her romance with Ashton Kutcher. They both met on the set of a movie and the chemistry between the pair was plain for all to see. Even the Director knew they would end up together. Sadly the relationship fizzled out but they remained very close friends right up until Brittany's untimely death. </p><p style="text-align: center;">In 2006, Brittany bumped into a man named Simon Monjack, they'd met briefly during a photoshoot when she was a teenager. He had the unfortunate nickname around Hollywood as 'Conjack' because he was known as the man who had managed to con his way into Hollywood. His professional role was of a screenwriter and Director but his career wasn't going quite as he planned. He had a bit of a reputation and drama and rumours seemed to follow him in life (as it clearly has done, in death). He came across as a bit of an oddball and once claimed of his first meeting with the teenage Brittany as one that had made such an impact on him (he was older than Brittany, having been born in Uxbridge, England in 1970), that he watched her grow up from afar and waited for the right time to be with her. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieV2yJn5T_J-EouGFCKQgtKAGOsSH6axUxcApsLw72kMSbtqtdYHUaYyo3cAjm2krCz4S1FcWT2SHoMdJC4Nz_N99_9AsUrxOMMlL8USu7mje2F9l13HHdADY9hT6bD4B09OmQHSOvgLcN9wHWTVaywy0dswbJew2SkE-eOj2uVbul1jWZRbv9XVQb7DU1/s1920/50d5738c-348a-441e-b248-432a6f77ee80-simon-monjack-brittany-murphy%20(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="1322" height="943" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieV2yJn5T_J-EouGFCKQgtKAGOsSH6axUxcApsLw72kMSbtqtdYHUaYyo3cAjm2krCz4S1FcWT2SHoMdJC4Nz_N99_9AsUrxOMMlL8USu7mje2F9l13HHdADY9hT6bD4B09OmQHSOvgLcN9wHWTVaywy0dswbJew2SkE-eOj2uVbul1jWZRbv9XVQb7DU1/w648-h943/50d5738c-348a-441e-b248-432a6f77ee80-simon-monjack-brittany-murphy%20(1).jpg" width="648" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Simon Monjack & Brittany Murphy. Picture credit: <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-reviews/what-happened-brittany-murphy-review-1235030333/">The Hollywood Reporter</a>)</span></div><p style="text-align: center;">Some would say that is romantic, some would say creepy but nonetheless he managed to charm Brittany and the pair ended up getting married in a private Jewish ceremony in 2007. Things between them moved pretty fast from meeting again in 2006 to marriage in 2007 and then the heartbreaking death of Brittany in 2009 with his death soon to follow just months later. </p><p style="text-align: center;">It's unclear just how much Brittany actually knew about her husband but his background of fraud, deception, so-called abandoned children, abusive and controlling relationship history, financial difficulties, false claims of credentials etc....they didn't call him 'The Man Who Conned His Way Into Hollywood' for nothing. He was obviously quite good at pulling the wool over people's eyes, after all he ended up in Hollywood married to one of the most talented and beautiful actresses of recent times. </p><p style="text-align: center;">As time went on people close to Brittany had begun to notice that she became more and more withdrawn and the sparkle in her eyes seemed to be disappearing. People became concerned about her weight because every time they did see her she seemed to be getting thinner and thinner. Simon seemed to always be beside her and it was rare to see the two of them apart. He played the part of the adoring husband but people began to see more of a strange fixation, almost obsessive and controlling situation going on. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Some people believed that Simon saw Brittany as his meal ticket and a way to get himself into the spotlight. Things got more sinister when Simon encouraged Brittany to fire her assistant and other members of staff which also included her make-up artist, he insisted that he would do a better job of managing her career as well as taking over as make-up artist. So he began deciding how she was going to have her hair, make-up and clothing. </p><p style="text-align: center;">His behaviour towards Brittany was becoming more and more controlling and Brittany seemed to be caught up in what was obviously a very toxic relationship. Having worked so hard for years on her career and known in the industry as a professional as well as a well respected actress, Simon saw to it that piece by piece he would destroy what she had built. He made all of the decisions and it seemed to others who had witnessed his behaviour towards Brittany, that there was some resentment there that she was the star and he was always in her shadow. </p><p style="text-align: center;">She was excited about working on a new movie and had prepared herself as she had always done since a teenager on the set. However, Simon appeared and made a fool of himself as he was heavily intoxicated. The whole spectacle resulted in Brittany being fired from the movie and she was devastated but couldn't confront Simon about his behaviour for whatever reason. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Women who had been in relationships with Simon in the past described him as a 'control freak' and 'disturbing individual'. There seemed to be no end to the drama and troubles that this man had created for himself and other people in the past and now he was creating problems for Brittany. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Everyone at the time was really concerned for Brittany and their worst fears were realised when the news came through that Brittany had been pronounced dead, just days before Christmas (20th of December 2009) after being rushed to the famous Cedars-Sinai Hospital. Apparently she had been found unresponsive on the bathroom floor of the house she had been living in with Simon and her mother. There was utter shock around Hollywood but some people were not surprised because there had been some concerns for a while about Simon's behaviour towards Brittany and her weight continuing to plummet which was also said to have been a result of Simon's constant pressure. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2x9LHTljmEvCqm0mmYgi9Q8OjGz1PviUBunreA0Xwc7njyOCkkGhe-JywtTx3xlYLp5DpZ1PuhD8SdSFQiDUPvE8FXqXK9Gq-0XcoLAmYxLZe274yOCPgLYKEtQchoil0HAyla2aMxSb8-ZukUKrkASam1Kr9nK7IAfcHHNMx6aEx5xaQMYhZ66nH0NiK/s1111/48850705-10080859-Tragic_Murphy_unexpectedly_passed_away_in_December_of_2009_after-a-1_1633977347051.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1111" data-original-width="633" height="1003" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2x9LHTljmEvCqm0mmYgi9Q8OjGz1PviUBunreA0Xwc7njyOCkkGhe-JywtTx3xlYLp5DpZ1PuhD8SdSFQiDUPvE8FXqXK9Gq-0XcoLAmYxLZe274yOCPgLYKEtQchoil0HAyla2aMxSb8-ZukUKrkASam1Kr9nK7IAfcHHNMx6aEx5xaQMYhZ66nH0NiK/w571-h1003/48850705-10080859-Tragic_Murphy_unexpectedly_passed_away_in_December_of_2009_after-a-1_1633977347051.jpg" width="571" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Brittany Murphy: Article: <a href="https://www.eonline.com/news/1104644/remembering-brittany-murphy-s-life-and-career-in-pictures-10-years-after-her-death">eonline</a>)</span></div><p style="text-align: center;">Brittany's cause of death was determined to be caused by a combination of pneumonia, various prescription drugs (some of which were registered to Simon), various flu medications and anemia. Her iron levels were so low that it was suspected that it could have been a contributing factor to her immune system being low. She was also underweight. Brittany had been ill with the flu a few weeks and for some reason was not able to seek medical attention, she was not taken to the Doctor or a hospital, if she had been she would have been given the proper medication and had her iron levels checked and put on a proper diet. She would be alive today without a doubt. Her death was determined to be accidental but preventable. </p><p style="text-align: center;">It makes me angry personally because it was clear that Brittany was under Simon's control and seemed to follow everything he said from what she ate, what jobs she took on and even how she was to have her hair. He was a control freak with everything else and cut her off from proper support so is it any surprise that you would be led to believe that he was in control over what was going to happen with her health? Any decent husband would have called a Doctor straight away or took her to the hospital weeks before, why didn't he? </p><p style="text-align: center;">Simon Monjack didn't murder Brittany but there was serious neglect there and he did not get her the proper medical attention that she needed. The other terrifying factor in all of this is that Brittany's own mother was present the whole time and even she was under Simon's spell. Simon had been able to con Brittany and her mother as well as countless others over the years. Even after Brittany's death was announced, her mother and Simon clung together for support and his comments about his wife's death was bizarre to say the least. For example, he didn't want Brittany to have an autopsy in the beginning but after eyebrows were raised he had no choice and said ''This pristine body, curvy in all the right places with skin like silk...how could I say 'cut it up', in front of her mother?''</p><p style="text-align: center;">When Brittany's friends found out about her death and saw the continuing strange behaviour of Simon Monjack, not to mention the way he had managed to manipulate Brittany's mother too, they were shocked. They claimed that they had done everything they could to (in their words) ''Stop Brittany from marrying that bottom-feeding psychopath''.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Brittany was anti-drugs and was almost paranoid when it came to taking anything such as painkillers or too much caffeine. She was always focused on her health and career and was careful not to get addicted to anything but she did have a naivety abut her and reportedly hung on every word that Simon would say. He could be charismatic at times and there would be times he would talk about things with such confidence that he was able to get around people and convince them. With the difficulties that Brittany had in the relationship with her own father who had been absent for a lot of her childhood, she was probably looking for a father-figure and in many ways, Simon may have made her feel that she was safe no matter what the real story of his actions were. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Brittany's mother was also a victim of Simon's manipulation and control, she loved her daughter and thought she was doing the best for her but it is puzzling as to why she felt that she couldn't be strong enough to challenge Simon. Maybe she saw how Simon had persuaded Brittany to cut off her friends and associates and was scared that she would be next if she pushed too far? </p><p style="text-align: center;">Her mother claimed that Brittany's last words to her were ''Mom, I'm dying, I love you.''. Apparently Brittany had said this to her mother when the pair were in the bathroom together. The house that all three had been staying in had previously been owned by Britney Spears and it was a beautiful house but friends claimed that the couple often had the windows closed and there would be clutter everywhere. The environment in the house itself was said to have been unhealthy with items being left all over and reports of mould. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Now, just when you thought you were already disturbed by what you have been reading so far, wait until I tell you this. I was hoping this was just a rumour but it turned out that after Brittany's death, Simon and Brittany's mother grew a bit too close for comfort and had a relationship. The pair would sleep in the same bed together in the same house where Brittany had passed away. At this point even I don't know what to make of her mother either? Let's address another elephant in the room, they were living in Brittany's house and Brittany was keeping them both comfortable financially and it's heartbreaking to state this but it is a fact. There's no doubt Brittany's mother loved her but she was in a lot of ways a typical 'stage mom'. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDXLYMm_mjk3u2IXaF1zHoPHyW0ZUgVDafyyV5wEQV9SRD6TME4HDJhWbJGB3GiT9Tz4-b31JvRkWs5LlIYPyIK_nlSEtdJJWuJHnxPVfeW0T9MiVglxhMR54YCqyF5GcWfvR5RqafsunPJHNFdqiAcTdywHSKopADFEL3qstUz8oUYoeDD7bz-Uq7jJYl/s776/rs_1024x759-211011151542-1024-Sharon-Murphy-Simon-Monjack-mp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="776" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDXLYMm_mjk3u2IXaF1zHoPHyW0ZUgVDafyyV5wEQV9SRD6TME4HDJhWbJGB3GiT9Tz4-b31JvRkWs5LlIYPyIK_nlSEtdJJWuJHnxPVfeW0T9MiVglxhMR54YCqyF5GcWfvR5RqafsunPJHNFdqiAcTdywHSKopADFEL3qstUz8oUYoeDD7bz-Uq7jJYl/w640-h476/rs_1024x759-211011151542-1024-Sharon-Murphy-Simon-Monjack-mp.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Simon Monjack with Brittany's mother, Sharon. Picture credit: <a href="https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/tv/a37962982/true-story-what-happened-brittany-murphy-death-hbo-max/">esquire</a>)</span></div><p style="text-align: center;">Anybody else in their right mind (and this is my opinion) would see their daughter losing tons of weight, having health issues, a shadow of her former self, friends being cut off, unhealthy living situation and they'd step in and take her away from a man like Simon. To hell with the fame and money, what is more important? And then to hook up with the guy after your daughter's death? I cannot get my head around that, can you?</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvimcIWbdILfEO34xxGHNLjdL39-bYaK0s5QN4-Av0uhTWu7yObEgMXgr47Mv0pK72xgx30GfM_q_Ypf6rpFioFRuDnmmoXkjlwlJbs5yXLfVsF8gvnhBat2uO53YuCNfUsEtMcqI7BsFzBRamDBcVuu5oUBreEOleJdCE1YUiEKWWCbbj6EOT6Y42b_Ez/s591/723d3c21-d812-431d-8973-597d4e81a6e5-getty-97753156.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="591" data-original-width="414" height="881" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvimcIWbdILfEO34xxGHNLjdL39-bYaK0s5QN4-Av0uhTWu7yObEgMXgr47Mv0pK72xgx30GfM_q_Ypf6rpFioFRuDnmmoXkjlwlJbs5yXLfVsF8gvnhBat2uO53YuCNfUsEtMcqI7BsFzBRamDBcVuu5oUBreEOleJdCE1YUiEKWWCbbj6EOT6Y42b_Ez/w617-h881/723d3c21-d812-431d-8973-597d4e81a6e5-getty-97753156.jpg" width="617" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Simon Monjack with Brittany's mother, Sharon. Picture credit: <a href="https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/tv/a37962982/true-story-what-happened-brittany-murphy-death-hbo-max/">esquire</a>)</span></div><p style="text-align: center;">Well, nobody was buying Simon's story and a lot of people were looking at both him and Brittany's mother with raised eyebrows. Nobody believed it was just a simple tragedy. There was definite neglect, control and abuse going on there and it looked like her mother was more concerned about losing the financial stability Brittany had given her especially as Simon had such a hold on her. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQE6YzYbarbLahL7XZlza2D1MQ70O5Taz0Cz-yrPjxyb0oNuWdPgJXY5Hy_HgsBjblukrhLXtjmSS_bJUa6ZRkJHpUQaH66_dfOv_aacN0NsLWe4iQcxgyhuqOjbcblICx4aikWx7xObZq7QViWkhYXKXPrgjYsMoleMtpVocMOLiKbH7p7InOCothFycr/s3000/simon-monjack-husband-of-deceased-actress-brittany-murphy-news-photo-1634228527.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="2142" height="883" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQE6YzYbarbLahL7XZlza2D1MQ70O5Taz0Cz-yrPjxyb0oNuWdPgJXY5Hy_HgsBjblukrhLXtjmSS_bJUa6ZRkJHpUQaH66_dfOv_aacN0NsLWe4iQcxgyhuqOjbcblICx4aikWx7xObZq7QViWkhYXKXPrgjYsMoleMtpVocMOLiKbH7p7InOCothFycr/w629-h883/simon-monjack-husband-of-deceased-actress-brittany-murphy-news-photo-1634228527.jpg" width="629" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Simon Monjack with Brittany's mother, Sharon. Picture credit: <a href="https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/tv/a37962982/true-story-what-happened-brittany-murphy-death-hbo-max/">esquire</a>)</span></div><p style="text-align: center;">Another shocking twist to this awful story is that Simon Monjack himself was found dead under similar circumstances. This further set the conspiracy theory mill into more chaos. He died just months later at the age of 40 and his autopsy revealed that he also died of anemia and pneumonia with similar prescription drugs in his system. All three individuals, Simon, Brittany and her mother had all suffered from the flu in those months and were using similar medications but because of Brittany's already fragile state physically and Simon's health issues, they were not strong enough to cope with it. Rumours went around (and still continue to this day) that the couple were poisoned, murdered, made some sort of strange pact. Whatever the truth, I still believe that Simon with the help of Brittany's mother (who I have said was also a victim of Simon's manipulation so I don't believe it was intentional on her part) was a huge contributing factor in Brittany's death. Piece by piece that man had broken that beautiful woman down to the point where she wasn't strong enough to fight off a common cold and isolated her from support and denied her proper medical attention. Just a five minute phonecall to a Doctor just weeks before would have prevented it all. </p><p style="text-align: center;">When his death was announced, people were shocked but there wasn't an outpouring of grief. Some people continued to believe that there was more to the story. Instead of the beautiful memories and tributes that Brittany had received and her continuing support for homeless charities being talked about, Simon had more dirty laundry exposed. It was bad enough all of the stuff that was already out there about him and what he had done when he was alive, but now more victims came forward and it turned out more abandoned children of his were revealed as well as survivors of his narcissistic abuse. One of his previous victims said: ''I'm a survivor of Simon Monjack and I believe that Brittany did not survive him. He was letting me be sick like that when I was pregnant with our child until my friend walked in''.</p><p style="text-align: center;">More financial drama was revealed too because he was paying off thousands of dollars to different people, had debts as long as his arm and was in all kinds of financial trouble. It's unclear where all of this money that he was using was coming from?</p><p style="text-align: center;">Brittany's mother was left the bulk of her estate so maybe that is part of the reason Simon was trying to cosy up to her when Brittany died? Another interesting fact is that Brittany left Simon out of her will, reportedly stating ''I am married to Simon Monjack, who I have intentionally left out of this will'' So Brittany made sure that Simon would not get a penny from her if she was to pass away. Was she planning on eventually leaving him and he knew it? Did he see the opportunity of her illness as a way of getting his hands on her money either by her or by manipulating her mother? With Simon Monjack, you always had to read between the lines, this guy did not do anything out of the goodness of his own heart, there was always a hidden agenda. </p><p style="text-align: center;">I've written about various cases over the years on this blog where people have met their end by being struck by a weapon, shot or physically assaulted but there are ways to kill someone slowly, psychologically by denying them their basic needs as a form of control. Simon had a history of abusing and controlling women. His abuse of Brittany started with preying on her insecurities and controlling her career, what decent man tells a woman how to dress, wear make-up and have their hair? What decent man turns up to their partner's place of work, drunk and making a fool of himself? His previous victims had been able to escape him but he must have thought he struck gold when he set his sights on Brittany.</p><p style="text-align: center;">The death of Brittany Murphy will forever haunt me and there will never be a time where I don't see her fantastic performances on screen and not think ''What if?''. She was brilliant at everything and great with her fans, most importantly, she never forgot where she came from. We really did lose a wonderful human being and for what? </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4FIYK6zgM4LRvtYRd0mG8PnrJ0xr0xPKQTZZsCuC02Zvmq1RDJ-SBZBHxonizoHSWYoewQJ3ctUJRt439SUo2ZO1XRom_aDaaTUgSTRw3kqvToWfZA9dL-60kw4TiWc2NFFmC3qy2r3KRAU1TFrFrVc4v87ljyEBaREiCzaz3GloFD8Kf8rDpuAbMqLVO/s1024/brittany-murphy-rip-988x1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="988" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4FIYK6zgM4LRvtYRd0mG8PnrJ0xr0xPKQTZZsCuC02Zvmq1RDJ-SBZBHxonizoHSWYoewQJ3ctUJRt439SUo2ZO1XRom_aDaaTUgSTRw3kqvToWfZA9dL-60kw4TiWc2NFFmC3qy2r3KRAU1TFrFrVc4v87ljyEBaREiCzaz3GloFD8Kf8rDpuAbMqLVO/w618-h640/brittany-murphy-rip-988x1024.jpg" width="618" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Brittany Murphy. Picture credit: <a href="https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/brittany-murphy-documentary-things-learned-1239245/">rollingstone</a>)</span></div><p style="text-align: center;">RIP Brittany, you may have physically left us in 2009 but here we are in 2023, still enjoying your amazing performances, listening to your music and sharing your story. You remain forever an icon. I hope that you are somewhere up there ''Rollin with the homies'' </p><p style="text-align: center;">Brittany's final resting place is at Forest Lawn Memorial Cemetery in the Hollywood Hills. Simon Monjack was buried next to her. </p><p style="text-align: center;">What are your thoughts on what happened to Brittany? Let me know in the comments below, by email: jocaledoniankitty@gmail.com or on my social media <a href="https://linktr.ee/caledoniankitty">platforms </a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><u>Further Reading & Sources:</u></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/brittany-murphy-documentary-things-learned-1239245/">Brittany Murphy: Article | Rolling Stone </a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2021/10/the-truth-about-brittany-murphys-life">Brittany Murphy: Article | Vanity Fair </a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://people.com/movies/brittany-murphy-sudden-death-hollywood/">Brittany Murphy: Article | People </a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://www.eonline.com/news/984877/inside-the-endlessly-bizarre-aftermath-of-brittany-murphy-s-sudden-death">Brittany Murphy: Article | E Online </a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brittany_Murphy">Brittany Murphy | Wikipedia </a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005261/">Brittany Murphy: Movies | imdb</a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/8-mile-actress-brittany-murphy-437928">Brittany Murphy: Article | Mirror </a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/star-clueless-mile-actress-brittany-murphy-dies/story?id=9385992">Brittany Murphy: Article | ABC News </a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simon_Monjack">Simon Monjack | Wikipedia </a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://eu.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/tv/2021/10/11/brittany-murphy-hbo-max-documentary-simon-monjack-death-claims/6050827001/">Simon Monjack, Brittany Murphy: Article | USA Today </a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://www.thesun.co.uk/tvandshowbiz/celebrities/16350659/brittany-murphy-husband-simon-monjack/">Simon Monjack: Article | The Sun </a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2021-10-14/brittany-murphy-simon-monjack-elizabeth-ragsdale-hbo-max">Brittany Murphy: Article | LA Times </a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSq4o2GDFT8">Brittany Murphy (Documentary) | Our History </a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLmJEuyOqKE">Brittany Murphy (Documentary Clip) | Inside Edition</a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OaQvsFIB4Uw">Brittany Murphy (Documentary clip) | HBO Max</a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;">- <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-reviews/what-happened-brittany-murphy-review-1235030333/"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Brittany Murphy: Article | Hollywood Reporter </span></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://heavy.com/entertainment/2020/05/brittany-murphy-mother-sharon/">Sharon Murphy: Article | Heavy</a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;">- <a href="https://www.eonline.com/news/1104644/remembering-brittany-murphy-s-life-and-career-in-pictures-10-years-after-her-death"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Brittany Murphy: Article | E Online </span></a></p><p style="text-align: center;">- <a href="https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/brittany-murphy-documentary-things-learned-1239245/"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Brittany Murphy: Article | Rolling Stone </span></a></p><p style="text-align: center;">Thank you for taking the time to read my latest post and I hope that you will join me next Sunday. I always post on Sunday evenings so get your cookies and cups of tea ready - remember, self care is very important!</p><p style="text-align: center;">Take care until next time x </p>Caledonian Kittyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07812087097647828789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3918091265826271512.post-20408331964022716262023-10-15T16:56:00.002+01:002023-10-15T17:12:12.841+01:00Natalie Wood: What Really Happened On The Night Of Her Death?<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Bigmz4ayRBUPfO58G2vCugbalJYisHWgR0BDkL9aD7NWHcNZDih7yKr1vuUS07U_eLcfW8fD5Ytgggl93IhP9u5shQg9w53WB3X84Qt1zGd1aoavoO8Zs9ZoUTw5jCcm_JQ_daXSylTdLF0cJqPuO48rECd7_LblYfqQjhK1OP6T1ga-UkR-sUk2SZBw/s1250/MV5BZGNjYWQyODUtODIwZS00MDQ3LWFkMTEtODQ4Mzk2YWM0MzVmXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMzk3NTUwOQ@@._V1_FMjpg_UX1000_.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1250" data-original-width="1000" height="798" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Bigmz4ayRBUPfO58G2vCugbalJYisHWgR0BDkL9aD7NWHcNZDih7yKr1vuUS07U_eLcfW8fD5Ytgggl93IhP9u5shQg9w53WB3X84Qt1zGd1aoavoO8Zs9ZoUTw5jCcm_JQ_daXSylTdLF0cJqPuO48rECd7_LblYfqQjhK1OP6T1ga-UkR-sUk2SZBw/w638-h798/MV5BZGNjYWQyODUtODIwZS00MDQ3LWFkMTEtODQ4Mzk2YWM0MzVmXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMzk3NTUwOQ@@._V1_FMjpg_UX1000_.jpg" width="638" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Natalie Wood. Picture credit: <a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000081/">imdb</a>)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The unforgettable Natalie Wood was one of those actresses that didn't just light up the screen with her incredible beauty, her acting abilities and range were a real scene stealer too. The first time I ever saw her was whilst watching an old classic film where she played the role of Gypsy Rose Lee in the iconic 1962 movie, Gypsy. Natalie was no stranger to iconic roles, having worked in the entertainment industry since the age of just four years old, her career was nothing short of astonishing with classic roles in Miracle On 34th Street, Rebel Without A Cause, West Side Story as well as many others. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">She was born Natalie Zacharenko on the 20th of July 1938 in San Francisco, California. She was of Russian descent and had one younger sister, (full name: Svetlana) Lana who was also an actress. Natalie's surname was changed from Zacharenko to Wood when she first began acting as RKO executives believed that it would help her appeal to American audiences. Her career took off from the get-go and she just seemed to naturally shine on screen, audiences could not get enough of her and numerous awards and nominations piled up. She certainly had a glittering career and even though she had such a short time on this earth, she left behind an incredible legacy of iconic roles (and not to mention, stylish moments) that most actresses and actors could only dream of. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">As well as her career success, her love life was also full of sparkle. Many leading men in Hollywood had their eye on her and she did have some romances with some of the handsome leading men of the day. It was her love story with the legendary actor, Robert Wagner which seemed to be the one that was the most prominent and long lasting of all her relationships. People would liken their love story to that of Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, it seemed to be a beautiful fairytale of two very attractive, talented people. Natalie and Robert crossed each others pasts twice in Natalie's short life. The first time they were together, Natalie was 18 and Robert was 26 and despite the age gap, the pair fell deeply in love. Things were great for a while but Robert began to grow very envious of Natalie's career which continued to go from strength to strength. Robert had difficulty sharing the spotlight with someone else and being with Natalie he resented the fact that people seemed to be more interested in her than in him. It wasn't long before the pair went their separate ways and entered into other relationships. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-WGqKZMf9ShoDmhT6Z7HnXxG1o7t3_OdDkhKmgmH0rTnnlDxeWZxRMhCdUw-Pi8-gtNe3RjvWkJ6AlZMJqlr2QCIBGXHmMohl3hXUxWCzuKlq89otEMrVph8tIg6kHlIlLxHokf-5lbJvY3fTUDgFnV-UQJpZ22JNvYAvTbgQLnd4VVMiC-lOFFccjT0s/s1825/robert-wagner-2000-ff7c54c23f5d457797245fce8ad97ec5.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1825" data-original-width="1500" height="742" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-WGqKZMf9ShoDmhT6Z7HnXxG1o7t3_OdDkhKmgmH0rTnnlDxeWZxRMhCdUw-Pi8-gtNe3RjvWkJ6AlZMJqlr2QCIBGXHmMohl3hXUxWCzuKlq89otEMrVph8tIg6kHlIlLxHokf-5lbJvY3fTUDgFnV-UQJpZ22JNvYAvTbgQLnd4VVMiC-lOFFccjT0s/w610-h742/robert-wagner-2000-ff7c54c23f5d457797245fce8ad97ec5.jpg" width="610" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Robert Wagner & Natalie Wood. Picture credit: <a href="https://people.com/books/robert-wagner-natalie-wood-death-new-memoir/">people</a>)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Just like Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, they found that over the years they couldn't stop thinking about each other and never seemed to find a relationship with the same sort of spark and bond that they had. They ended up getting back together again and for a while things were good until Robert's jealousy returned. With her talent, Natalie had already done something so rare in the acting field and that was transitioning from a child star to an adult star. Very few can make this transition, for example, Macaulay Culkin is a talented guy and we all love him but a lot of people still see him as Kevin from Home Alone (check out his incredible sinister performance in 'The Good Son') and it's a shame because he has a lot to offer. Maybe one day Tarantino might give him a shot and it could really turn things around?. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Robert's career was not what it once was but Natalie was still big news in Hollywood and to make things worse in Robert's eyes, she was working alongside the up and coming male talents of the day. In particular, Christopher Walken, we know him as a master of the screen now but back then he was still fresh, exciting and people just knew that he was an incredible talent who was going to have a legendary career. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">There's no doubt that Robert was in love with Natalie but he was also in love with himself and his own career as well. The relationship was a fiery one with tempers often flaring. Sometimes it was Robert who'd explode in a rage, sometimes it was Natalie, neither one of them was an angel and when they had a few drinks things would get more toxic. A former neighbour of the couple told investigators after Natalie's death that she had appeared at his parent's house late one night, terrified for her life after one of Robert's outbursts. She ended up staying with the family overnight and claimed that Robert was going to kill her. She returned home in the morning and nothing else became of the matter but various people have spoken over the years of the couple's intense arguments. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So what happened to Natalie Wood? well, the couple owned a boat named 'Splendour' and they planned to spend Thanksgiving weekend on board with their caretaker/captain (Dennis Davern) and Christopher Walken (who Natalie was working on a movie with) in the November of 1981. It was odd that Christopher had been invited along because Robert was fiercely envious of him and grew increasingly paranoid about Christopher's friendship with his wife. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5V1QT6Q1ulTDg6UUs0PJf_VCqAhFE3TgVVUqDyz2pcXxQwc1kBGdINzaiojzKQ4fYuMTIyodWpjYIHVJr44ubkgr8w6GJYwjgIDIceGDwb82nrAmigEwTo8edzW8TQEClqugd9WaShWu7coxca1r_XqS-Adij_keppHVF8kFpcd3Hu8ut1mqpWGhYcbbk/s634/article-0-0EDC05EF00000578-466_634x389.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="389" data-original-width="634" height="392" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5V1QT6Q1ulTDg6UUs0PJf_VCqAhFE3TgVVUqDyz2pcXxQwc1kBGdINzaiojzKQ4fYuMTIyodWpjYIHVJr44ubkgr8w6GJYwjgIDIceGDwb82nrAmigEwTo8edzW8TQEClqugd9WaShWu7coxca1r_XqS-Adij_keppHVF8kFpcd3Hu8ut1mqpWGhYcbbk/w640-h392/article-0-0EDC05EF00000578-466_634x389.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Splendour. Picture credit: <a href="https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/07514954">Flynet Pictures</a>)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The couple were at each other's throats before they even set sail and the lead up to Natalie's suspicious death was marred with heavy drinking and heated arguments. At one point, Natalie requested that Dennis (the boat caretaker/captain) take her away from the boat and the pair stayed in a hotel whilst Natalie poured out all of her troubles to him. She reportedly told Dennis that the marriage with Robert was hell, she couldn't cope with his jealousy of her success and that she planned to leave him. The next morning though, Natalie returned to the boat and seemed to patch up her differences with Robert.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Things were still tense when the group decided to go for some dinner in the evening. Robert, Natalie and Christopher had dinner and the drinks continued to flow and tensions continued to build. Robert grew tired of watching Natalie and Christopher laughing and his paranoia was in overdrive. When the three actors finally decided to leave the restaurant, they were so drunk that the staff had a word with Dennis and told him to make sure they got back on to the boat safe. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Some hours passed, Dennis, Christopher, Robert and Natalie were all aboard the Splendour. The weather was horrific and the sea was harsh, it was a very dark, cold and stormy night. Dennis went about doing bits and pieces on the boat and the three actors were below deck having drinks and talking. Natalie decided that she'd had enough alcohol and made some tea. At some point, Natalie and Christopher shared a joke about something and Robert suddenly snapped ''Are you trying to f**k my wife?''. The situation was awkward and Natalie was so upset that she said she wasn't dealing with it and went to one of the bedrooms. Christopher didn't hang about either and he retired to one of the rooms. Dennis could hear the drama and later reported that just before Christopher went to bed, he heard a heated conversation between him and Robert where Robert smashed a bottle of wine deliberately (Robert denied this taking place on numerous occasions but later admitted that this did indeed happen). </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So Christopher had gone to his room away from Robert's drama. Robert then went into the room where Natalie was and all hell broke loose in there. Dennis claimed that he heard a heated argument with sounds of objects being thrown. There was constant commotion and then a sudden silence. Dennis decided to go and see if everything was ok, when he knocked on the door, Robert answered looking flustered and angry, he told Dennis to go away to which he did. The next thing he knew, Robert was in tears, frantic telling him that Natalie had vanished.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Natalie couldn't swim and was terrified of water, especially dark water so Robert was trying to imply that she had somehow slipped and fell off the boat. They searched the boat again and alerted Christopher who joined them. No sign of Natalie was to be seen. Dennis suggested turning on the search lights and telling the coast guard asap but for some reason, Robert told him not too. Robert also insisted that everyone drink a shot of scotch and get their stories together. Natalie went missing at midnight and authorities were not alerted until 1:30 am. Robert was also quick to mention that a dingy had gone missing and he came up with the theory that Natalie had left the boat on the dingy. It was a ludicrous story, Natalie was in her bed clothes and socks when she was last seen and there's no way that she would get on a dingy in the middle of the night when it was freezing cold and the water was so fierce.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">When authorities were finally on the scene, Robert appeared to be distraught, Christopher and Dennis were in a state of shock. When Natalie was sadly found deceased hours later in the water, Robert ordered Dennis to identify her body, he and Christopher left the boat. The whole chain of events raised a lot of questions but because of Robert's fame and power, everyone just took his word for it and declared the tragic incident as simply an accident. This, despite what had been heard just hours before with the arguing, Robert's mood that night, his strange actions and the delay of reporting Natalie missing as well as refusing to turn on the search lights when Dennis was trying to look for her. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-MeOnUkt_RVsqeUe0V8iaL5_x7NEAp-CS52PAfutgJJyc5bRM6uufbZhG5xcMHAIseqO1Je9Q6-0F9Cp6JAf8IxdFIitz7ornfTqzDLJfdbZh69jjNNccUZVa7Ees4jPiuTmRwhqGZVrB-D8wKTySCypXViiX5_X5wqbPRWi3XnJRYnC-mgI1JVIe5_To/s640/dennis_davern_111911.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-MeOnUkt_RVsqeUe0V8iaL5_x7NEAp-CS52PAfutgJJyc5bRM6uufbZhG5xcMHAIseqO1Je9Q6-0F9Cp6JAf8IxdFIitz7ornfTqzDLJfdbZh69jjNNccUZVa7Ees4jPiuTmRwhqGZVrB-D8wKTySCypXViiX5_X5wqbPRWi3XnJRYnC-mgI1JVIe5_To/w640-h480/dennis_davern_111911.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Dennis Davern. Picture credit: <a href="https://eu.jacksonville.com/story/entertainment/local/2011/11/19/local-man-behind-natalie-wood-death-probe/15883796007/">jacksonville</a>)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The injuries to Natalie's body was consistent with someone who had been assaulted, according to a coroner. Witnesses had also claimed to have heard (and seen) a man and woman on the boat that night arguing. So many questions, not enough answers.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Dennis went along with the story that he agreed with Robert but later confessed that he knew other details. Some people believe that Dennis was and is just looking for attention and money. Natalie's sister has also raised doubts about Robert's real actions that night, she believes that he is responsible for Natalie's death. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Various theories have circulated around for years and one of them is the silly idea (in my opinion) that Natalie heard the dingy bashing against the boat and went outside to untie it but slipped and fell in the water. Why would she do that when Dennis was there? that was his job and why would she go out there on a freezing cold night in her nightgown to untie a dingy? Another theory was that she decided to end her own life? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It's been over 40 years since Natalie Wood's death and questions still remain. Was it a simple tragedy that ended this lovely lady's life or did something happen with Robert that night? Did an argument go too far? Robert didn't seem to be in a hurry to call authorities, why? Will we ever know the truth after all these years?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9jBHbkr2YnUH6iLreSxtWVLMp6Gzhjjs1HCspThdKjVVVvcmQx3B0DwI1Mt_qN-gNxd_wxIK31OcncATCORrbHZg5Rv6300X_5UDey2ZgMKkBe1COFLsZWfADgeLwzMib7taGNPu8PtGm7NzrOvFodlAbaTnepf3svIMOD9n7xwKoa-ItLfytv-YYkzSv/s400/American-actor-Christopher-Walken-2011.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="400" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9jBHbkr2YnUH6iLreSxtWVLMp6Gzhjjs1HCspThdKjVVVvcmQx3B0DwI1Mt_qN-gNxd_wxIK31OcncATCORrbHZg5Rv6300X_5UDey2ZgMKkBe1COFLsZWfADgeLwzMib7taGNPu8PtGm7NzrOvFodlAbaTnepf3svIMOD9n7xwKoa-ItLfytv-YYkzSv/w640-h480/American-actor-Christopher-Walken-2011.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Christopher Walken. Picture credit: <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Christopher-Walken">britannica</a>)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Opinion is divided, some people believe that Robert is responsible and others think he is completely innocent. Some people believe that all three men were responsible (Christopher and Dennis have been ruled out as suspects). Some people think that Christopher is keeping quiet for Robert. Everyone has an opinion on this case, what's yours? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">In recent years, Natalie's official cause of death has been changed from 'Accidental' to 'Undetermined'. The police have stated that Robert Wagner is a 'person of interest' and not an official suspect. Robert is remarried and living in Aspen, Colorado with his family, he is 93 years old. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMYxBw1nUiKDigltqbVMmCnFGM4euxRkHCfJZPaKJS-wHhhYorgba-cuJw5ap7XEWJl_HkF8flVK3If7Ar6g5fiN0gPXsbJSVOCPnelv50elOhzNY5berkHzmH7K-jrJhlx-hI3-bnRskPGDuPng7mbMN2NpqhqQa1E0XTfikpF5LxsJZ483idn0m_e48C/s800/AT_AT200710482241782AR.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="522" data-original-width="800" height="418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMYxBw1nUiKDigltqbVMmCnFGM4euxRkHCfJZPaKJS-wHhhYorgba-cuJw5ap7XEWJl_HkF8flVK3If7Ar6g5fiN0gPXsbJSVOCPnelv50elOhzNY5berkHzmH7K-jrJhlx-hI3-bnRskPGDuPng7mbMN2NpqhqQa1E0XTfikpF5LxsJZ483idn0m_e48C/w640-h418/AT_AT200710482241782AR.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Robert Wagner. Picture credit: <a href="https://www.aspentimes.com/news/a-heartfelt-role-for-robert-wagner/">aspentimes</a>)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Natalie was only 43 when she died, with an already legendary career as a child star behind her and at that time, a respectable adult career ongoing, who knows what other screen gems she would have given us. She'd be in her 80s now. She lives on for eternity as the beautiful, talented woman that she was in cinema history.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Rumours have continued for years that Natalie and Christopher were having an affair but he denied it. There's so many things to unpack with this sad story that I could be here all night telling you the rumours and theories as to what really happened and the possible reasons behind it all. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Maybe we will never know the truth?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">RIP Natalie x</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge_n0k093YzRqePm17NCmRIhrSRK-PX_4Mpy4lgx7SddtOItQrXMbXVSWLj7NyFSfpchcYubKNKEYq9CwUE0RuqyecOKrjV0iVdilILjQvO-s6mVvctCiJeFRPxqi2PwYY7YMAE7_xhVTDjHoykKT16BdA4XNe5w8niVz6qRCz08neUNy08ZplR_9WKgh2/s3500/NatalieWood.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2280" data-original-width="3500" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge_n0k093YzRqePm17NCmRIhrSRK-PX_4Mpy4lgx7SddtOItQrXMbXVSWLj7NyFSfpchcYubKNKEYq9CwUE0RuqyecOKrjV0iVdilILjQvO-s6mVvctCiJeFRPxqi2PwYY7YMAE7_xhVTDjHoykKT16BdA4XNe5w8niVz6qRCz08neUNy08ZplR_9WKgh2/w640-h416/NatalieWood.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Natalie Wood. Picture credit: <a href="https://www.tcm.com/unavailable">tcm</a>)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u>Further Reading & Sources:</u></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-11-30/40-years-later-the-mystery-over-natalie-woods-death-endures">Natalie Wood: Article | LA Times </a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://www.harpersbazaar.com/culture/film-tv/a32420871/natalie-wood-death-true-story-timeline/">Natalie Wood: Article | Harpers Bazaar</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://www.townandcountrymag.com/society/tradition/a25242203/natalie-wood-death/">Natalie Wood: Article | Town & Country Magazine</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2020/03/natalie-wood-death-murder-robert-wagner-book">Natalie Wood: Article | Vanity Fair </a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://variety.com/2023/film/actors/natalie-wood-death-boat-accident-1235671556/">Natalie Wood: Article | Variety </a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/natalie-wood-death-what-happened-b1954723.html">Natalie Wood: Article | The Independent</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://nypost.com/2021/11/04/natalie-woods-sister-says-robert-wagner-killed-the-actress/">Natalie Wood: Article | New York Post </a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://pagesix.com/2022/05/27/robert-wagner-cleared-as-natalie-wood-case-goes-cold/">Robert Wagner: Article | Page Six</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2018/feb/01/robert-wagner-natalie-wood-death-person-of-interest-">Natalie Wood: Article | The Guardian</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://eu.usatoday.com/story/life/2018/02/01/natalie-wood-who-she-how-she-died-and-what-you-need-know/1086573001/">Natalie Wood: Article | USA Today </a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natalie_Wood">Natalie Wood | Wikipedia </a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000081/">Natalie Wood: Movies | imdb</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/1124/natalie-wood">Natalie Wood | Find A Grave </a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Little-Sister-Investigation-Mysterious-Natalie/dp/0063081628/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1D5S3Z1WILBHT&keywords=natalie+wood+book&qid=1697153149&sprefix=natalie+wood+%2Caps%2C121&sr=8-1">Little Sister: My Investigation Into The Mysterious Death of Natalie Wood | Book by Lana Wood </a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Natalie-Woods-Fatal-Voyage-Detectives/dp/1510755187/ref=sr_1_2?crid=1D5S3Z1WILBHT&keywords=natalie+wood+book&qid=1697153220&sprefix=natalie+wood+%2Caps%2C121&sr=8-2">Natalie Wood's Fatal Voyage | Book by Dylan Howard</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Natalie-Wood-The-Complete-Biography/dp/B084T6SCSL/ref=sr_1_3?crid=1D5S3Z1WILBHT&keywords=natalie+wood+book&qid=1697153220&sprefix=natalie+wood+%2Caps%2C121&sr=8-3">Natalie Wood: The Complete Biography | Book by Suzanne Finstad </a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Walken">Christopher Walken | Wikipedia </a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lifestyle/lifestyle-news/natalie-woods-yacht-captain-claims-robert-wagner-held-him-hostage-1147168/">Dennis Davern: Article | The Hollywood Reporter </a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7648425/Captain-Natalie-Woods-boat-speaks-fateful-night-nearly-40-years-death.html">Dennis Davern: Article | Daily Mail </a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBAeUZZ8ZV4">Natalie Wood: Death In Dark Water (Documentary) | 48 Hours </a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Let me know your thoughts about what you think happened to Natalie below, by email: jocaledoniankitty@gmail.com or on my <a href="https://linktr.ee/caledoniankitty">socials </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Thank you for joining me in this post and I hope you will come back next week for more of my weekly true crime content (I post every Sunday evening).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Take care & stay safe until next time x</div><p></p>Caledonian Kittyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07812087097647828789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3918091265826271512.post-53551150652248978002023-10-08T18:35:00.000+01:002023-10-08T18:35:08.446+01:00Three Terrifying Serial Killers You May Not Have Heard Of (& One of Them Has Been Released!!) | Serial Killers of The 70s, 80s & 90s | Graphic Content<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcerBtvj5XTGlPsW-DfVAQyg80YtITzGvOeDmknKqVsQh3aMjzJHddGah4k5rpBg8JlGwzVewhNY5lZLmHi56U-KADvq-byldEtFO2FcQRqgIO4RaxxikBvsTTVSQ7lBQkRlysqT7lXqqkn5n40W43zjP45fQR7-mvioI437VT_jdhEk6kJ9DWg8ZpUN7Y/s1080/Picsart_23-10-05_23-17-27-298.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcerBtvj5XTGlPsW-DfVAQyg80YtITzGvOeDmknKqVsQh3aMjzJHddGah4k5rpBg8JlGwzVewhNY5lZLmHi56U-KADvq-byldEtFO2FcQRqgIO4RaxxikBvsTTVSQ7lBQkRlysqT7lXqqkn5n40W43zjP45fQR7-mvioI437VT_jdhEk6kJ9DWg8ZpUN7Y/w640-h640/Picsart_23-10-05_23-17-27-298.jpg" width="640" /></a><b style="text-align: left;">*Please be aware that shocking details are shared in this post. I have tried to be as sensitive as possible without shying away from the facts of the cases included. The contents of this blog are not suitable for anyone under the age of 18*</b></div><p style="text-align: center;">In this post I have decided to include three Serial Killers who you may not have heard of before. In my Serial Killers of The 70s, 80s and 90s Series, I have tried to include Serial Killers who you will be familiar with as well as unfamiliar with. In this final post in this series I have decided to briefly focus on three very dangerous and frightening men, all three are American but their murderous paths were each unique and no less disturbing, enough to give you nightmares. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Before I delve in to these three cases, I just want to say that I hope you have enjoyed this series and managed to catch up with the posts below: </p><p style="text-align: center;">- <a href="http://www.caledoniankitty.co.uk/2023/05/the-worst-serial-killer-in-american.html">The Dating Game Killer: Rodney Alcala</a></p><p style="text-align: center;">- <a href="http://www.caledoniankitty.co.uk/2023/06/i-murdered-over-90-women-they-are-my.html">He Murdered Over 90 Women: Samuel Little </a></p><p style="text-align: center;">- <a href="http://www.caledoniankitty.co.uk/2023/06/i-may-be-34th-victim4-other-people-had.html">The Killer Clown: John Wayne Gacy: Did He Have Help? </a></p><p style="text-align: center;">- <a href="http://www.caledoniankitty.co.uk/2023/06/tea-parties-with-dead-bodies-400.html">400 Victims? The Monster of The Andes: Pedro Lopez</a></p><p style="text-align: center;">- <a href="http://www.caledoniankitty.co.uk/2023/06/the-many-faces-of-ted-bundy-charismatic.html">The Many Faces Of Ted Bundy </a></p><p style="text-align: center;">- <a href="http://www.caledoniankitty.co.uk/2023/07/i-know-i-have-to-be-destroyed-i-was.html">The Butcher Of Rostov: Andrei Chikatilo</a></p><p style="text-align: center;">- <a href="http://www.caledoniankitty.co.uk/2023/07/how-many-people-do-i-have-to-kill.html">BTK: Bind, Torture, Kill: Dennis Rader</a></p><p style="text-align: center;">- <a href="http://www.caledoniankitty.co.uk/2023/07/i-tied-her-up-because-i-wanted-to-keep.html">The Evil Child Killer: Robert Black</a></p><p style="text-align: center;">- <a href="http://www.caledoniankitty.co.uk/2023/08/every-womans-worst-nightmare-grim.html">The Grim Sleeper: Lonnie Franklin Jr</a></p><p style="text-align: center;">- <a href="http://www.caledoniankitty.co.uk/2023/08/ive-lost-count-of-how-many-women-i-have.html">Finally Caught! The Green River Killer: Gary Ridgway </a></p><p style="text-align: center;">- <a href="http://www.caledoniankitty.co.uk/2023/09/when-serial-killer-gets-attacked-in.html">The Shocking Crimes Of Alfred Gaynor </a></p><p style="text-align: center;">- <a href="http://www.caledoniankitty.co.uk/2023/10/suspected-serial-killers-death-note.html">The Cul-De-Sac-Killer: Stephen Akinmurele</a> </p><p style="text-align: center;">So, moving on to the three cases in this post, please be aware that I will be sharing some disturbing details. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><u><b><span style="font-size: large;">Scott William Cox (also known as Seth Scott Cutter): </span></b></u></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center; text-decoration-line: underline;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVcombDnWEjrXAmeGGKv2gjibb6wXLkTk6L9wBCHsQZcyHFpDpp3XZOSua0AtBibuNKzAk53M-YTdjvhWazxBKsUnvfqUflard7UbRgisls5ze6HpiDtfGIopQK73ZygArfSgGrsxoq73ZA5j2bdY24rGZkno15KIPs2xGVXUYNxnZjqE0hOT-AoO8AZpf/s1347/12314192-large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1347" data-original-width="1280" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVcombDnWEjrXAmeGGKv2gjibb6wXLkTk6L9wBCHsQZcyHFpDpp3XZOSua0AtBibuNKzAk53M-YTdjvhWazxBKsUnvfqUflard7UbRgisls5ze6HpiDtfGIopQK73ZygArfSgGrsxoq73ZA5j2bdY24rGZkno15KIPs2xGVXUYNxnZjqE0hOT-AoO8AZpf/w608-h640/12314192-large.jpg" width="608" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Scott William Cox. Picture credit: <a href="https://www.oregonlive.com/portland/2013/02/man_convicted_in_portland_murd.html">oregonlive</a>)</span></div><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">Not much is known about Scott's childhood but what we do know is that his date if birth is listed as November 1962 or 1963. As these cases are not well known, it was difficult to find a decent proper amount of information on the backgrounds, just information about their crimes and the crimes that they are suspected of. Even in the mountain of Serial Killer encyclopedias that I own, only one features briefly, hopefully their cases will be covered more in the future but back to this particular subject. Scott was employed as a long distance lorry driver and had a history of mental illness and violence towards women. He had spent a lot of time in and out of psychiatric institutions (reportedly being admitted 115 times) and had found himself on the wrong side of the law on many occasions for petty crime to do with theft and forgery. </span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;">As is usually the case, his life of petty crime soon turned deadly and he was convicted of two murders. Scott frequently used the services of sex workers and had been violent to the women on several occasions. A lot of the incidences went unreported but one of the women was beaten so badly by Scott that she almost died. The lady went through a horrendous ordeal of being sexually assaulted, beaten, strangled and had an object forced into her rectum before being thrown out of his truck. A witness saw the victim being thrown from the truck and was able to give the police a description of the vehicle. Fortunately and by some miracle, the lady was able to survive the horrific ordeal and gave what information she could to investigators. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Scott soon found the cops on his tail and he was brought in for questioning, He was not only suspected of this horrible crime but also of the unsolved murders of two women. He pleaded innocence but the evidence against him was overwhelming. He ended up confessing to the murders of two women by the names of Rheena Ann Brunson and Victoria Rhone. Both women had been sex workers who had been sexually assaulted, beaten and left for dead by Scott in the same style as many of his other victims. He claimed to have been only responsible for these two murders but nobody else. Investigators believe that Scott is a Serial Killer and could be responsible for up to 20 other murders which currently remain unsolved. Being a long distance lorry driver at the time of the crimes through the 1980s and 1990s, Scott was able to be in various locations throughout the United States and would regularly use the services of sex workers in those locations. As I mentioned before, a lot of women who had survived his assaults refused to go to the police fearing that they would end up in trouble themselves because of their line of work or that they would not be believed. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7mbKN7sfxBaI9mQCl71iDoT9NFZIhPvsvr1rnrQ2Bp4MBOaZX0vo8m1caK05rEqcPKi0WIrDKAkzzUn-kBK5K1fhpH0NtV41XqpR0EcD8lmYM1QHxwGJWy43a2fjRkiKgELz9L0myaj30bWsTCVkffJab8e4luq7zI9yYu7U_IyiH1uj5DpQvhb-LjiKk/s1643/cox-scottjpg-e5f7791a9431f22c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1643" data-original-width="1280" height="681" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7mbKN7sfxBaI9mQCl71iDoT9NFZIhPvsvr1rnrQ2Bp4MBOaZX0vo8m1caK05rEqcPKi0WIrDKAkzzUn-kBK5K1fhpH0NtV41XqpR0EcD8lmYM1QHxwGJWy43a2fjRkiKgELz9L0myaj30bWsTCVkffJab8e4luq7zI9yYu7U_IyiH1uj5DpQvhb-LjiKk/w530-h681/cox-scottjpg-e5f7791a9431f22c.jpg" width="530" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Scott William Cox. Picture credit: <a href="https://www.oregonlive.com/portland/2013/02/man_convicted_in_portland_murd.html">oregonlive</a>)</span></div><p style="text-align: center;">Now, due to the confessions to the two murders and being highly suspected as being a dangerous Serial Killer who was clearly a danger to women, you would think that they would have locked him up and threw away the key. What happened was a bit of a mess because when he gave these confessions it was reportedly under duress so the confessions were thrown out of court but he was convicted on DNA evidence. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Scott ended up serving 20 years of a 25 year sentence and was released in 2013 with certain conditions. He was fitted with a GPS tag on his ankle which is basically a tracking device that informs the police of his whereabouts at any given time. He is not allowed to visit certain public places and he is subject to a curfew. In the UK we call this 'out on licence'. If Scott is found to be violating his conditions, no matter how small, he will be sent straight back to prison. </p><p style="text-align: center;">As of 2023, investigations into the possible victims connected to Scott William Cox is still ongoing but as of this moment, he is out there and that is a scary thought. </p><p style="text-align: center;">RIP to Rheena Ann Brunson, Victoria Rhone and to the numerous suspected victims who have yet to be identified. Thoughts also to the countless women who survived Scott William Cox's evil assaults and I hope that they were able to somehow move on with their lives despite such a horrific ordeal. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><u><b><span style="font-size: large;">Cleophus Prince Jr:</span></b></u></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center; text-decoration-line: underline;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3xt8ahyd0yNJFulNGW4T3FkpFf1avdHdZDNWfYV7U2ZEGFlYDAL8dWty77MOFzPKRDqQve3kxAxLVI0rSN1Ipyz1j20ayIdJfLrQHT2nJIJ_bP8syFO31dwvCc416ImC-s_Bq9EwlQcTsGV6_DWjb8hNgnGpMfj3X1Psu8VeFUeirDhVeYqzy3d4vk4sJ/s293/220px-CleophusPrince.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="293" data-original-width="220" height="733" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3xt8ahyd0yNJFulNGW4T3FkpFf1avdHdZDNWfYV7U2ZEGFlYDAL8dWty77MOFzPKRDqQve3kxAxLVI0rSN1Ipyz1j20ayIdJfLrQHT2nJIJ_bP8syFO31dwvCc416ImC-s_Bq9EwlQcTsGV6_DWjb8hNgnGpMfj3X1Psu8VeFUeirDhVeYqzy3d4vk4sJ/w551-h733/220px-CleophusPrince.jpg" width="551" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Cleophus Prince Jr. Picture credit: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cleophus_Prince_Jr.">wikipedia</a>)</span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;">Cleophus Prince Jr is an American Serial Killer who is also known as The Clairemont Killer. He is currently serving his sentence on death row at the infamous San Quentin State Prison for the murders of six women but he is also suspected of more murders. Cleophus was sentenced to death in 1993 and is still on death row in 2023 due to endless appeals. Cleophus was born on the 24th of July, 1967 in Birmingham, Alabama. His methods of murder were horrific, each of the victims had been robbed, subjected to a terrifying sexual assault and stabbed to death. The known murders were said to have all taken place in 1990 in San Diego County, California in what was a sickening murder spree which spanned months. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Cleophus had severed some time in the US Navy before the murders but was discharged due to theft and misconduct. All of Cleophus's victims were young females who he spied on and broke into their homes and apartments. He would attack the women and subject them to a sickening sexual assault before stabbing them to death with knives he had found in their kitchens. </p><p style="text-align: center;">He was finally brought to justice when he was arrested for an attempted theft and information had gotten through to investigators that he had been heard previously bragging about the murders and seen wearing victim's jewelry as well as giving stolen items from various crime scenes to girlfriends as gifts. DNA he had given previously on another theft arrest provided investigators with enough evidence to connect him to the murders. On the day of his arrest in 1991, investigators tricked him into attending the police headquarters to complete some bail paperwork, once he arrived he was taken into custody. </p><p style="text-align: center;">At his trial in 1992 he was found guilty of first degree murder for the deaths of the six women and 21 other felony charges. He was sentenced to death in 1993 and continued to appeal his sentence to which these appeals were thrown out. He is still currently on death row as of October 2023. </p><p style="text-align: center;">RIP to the known victims of Cleophus Prince Jr:</p><p style="text-align: center;">Tiffany Schultz, Janene Weinhold, Holly Tarr, Elissa Keller, Pamela Clark, Amber Clark (who were also mother and daughter). RIP also to the possible unknown victims that have never been identified. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Ronald Dominique: </span></u></b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioeWEzkFDNavDaj6dJqrTVdQFLtKEKgnnNIOTp7bNx6FZxpaB6iZTIYp7rcdDFvUyEa3kWcp5TqYMRMHNgheOqbXorhgcSviH9NxZbv4GnigP1LzuIr_fVpR-bPufiw8GcZLPdy65PYtDuZphiYV_3f75DIYDmTlMttOFcx9rPBrZDSMtXbpw9qraDekfQ/s1196/Screenshot_20231005_230128_Google.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1196" data-original-width="876" height="695" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioeWEzkFDNavDaj6dJqrTVdQFLtKEKgnnNIOTp7bNx6FZxpaB6iZTIYp7rcdDFvUyEa3kWcp5TqYMRMHNgheOqbXorhgcSviH9NxZbv4GnigP1LzuIr_fVpR-bPufiw8GcZLPdy65PYtDuZphiYV_3f75DIYDmTlMttOFcx9rPBrZDSMtXbpw9qraDekfQ/w585-h695/Screenshot_20231005_230128_Google.jpg" width="585" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Ronald Dominique. Picture credit: <a href="https://eu.houmatoday.com/story/news/2006/12/10/does-he-fit-the-profile/27020290007/">houmatoday</a>)</span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;">Ronald Dominique, also known as 'The Bayou Strangler' was responsible for the horrendous murders of 23 men and boys, aged between 16 and 46 in the 1990s through to 2006. The victims were sexually assaulted and murdered. Ronald confessed to all 23 murders saying that he murdered his victims because he did not want to go to prison, he was scared that his victims would report him to the police. All of the disturbing murders took place in Louisiana. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Born in Thibodaux, Louisiana on the 9th of January 1964, Ronald grew up in hardship with his hardworking parents struggling to make ends meet. They both had laboring jobs which provided very little money. Ronald was the youngest of two children and the family lived in a trailer park and did what they could to get by. School life was tough for Ronald and he struggled to fit in and was very self conscious about his weight. He had dreams of what he wanted to do with his life and had focused on doing something in the computer science field. Despite the dedication to his studies and graduating school, he attended university but quickly dropped out. He was known to suffer bouts of depression and was confused about his sexuality. </p><p style="text-align: center;">When he finally came to accepting his sexuality he began to frequent LGBTQIA+ bars and clubs in the hopes of meeting someone. Ronald suffered homophobia and bullying because narrow minded people would see him out and about near to certain establishments or on dates with other men and he would be the target for abuse. The constant taunting led Ronald to deny that he was gay and his depression at not being able to fully be himself deepened. Things soon went from bad to worse when he was arrested for sexually harassing various men on the telephone, leaving obscene phone calls. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhouaGMnBnAaPyXMBcqBd77S6fjAij0cp-u0L_jq_5IwQvO6UcGAH6NJDqUMXQ8mXhXe3wgxSs37i0vh-OnrxKRD4KGqwbGA9tJ4YaXcqP3xOgDDZI9BUR-pOcOEZBbezqmEDVeYCKK3ur1v-iXcEFhlVp-X2KD9lkoGOQxbJPnIi-6sz0vzWGQd-ReI5R6/s1012/061205_dominque_vmsall_4p%20(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1012" data-original-width="760" height="776" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhouaGMnBnAaPyXMBcqBd77S6fjAij0cp-u0L_jq_5IwQvO6UcGAH6NJDqUMXQ8mXhXe3wgxSs37i0vh-OnrxKRD4KGqwbGA9tJ4YaXcqP3xOgDDZI9BUR-pOcOEZBbezqmEDVeYCKK3ur1v-iXcEFhlVp-X2KD9lkoGOQxbJPnIi-6sz0vzWGQd-ReI5R6/w582-h776/061205_dominque_vmsall_4p%20(1).jpg" width="582" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Ronald Dominique. Picture credit: <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna16062465">nbcnews</a>)</span></div><p style="text-align: center;">He tried to get some form of employment but could only seem to land low paid jobs which he couldn't seem to keep hold of. He ended up having to borrow money constantly from relatives and lived with his mother because he couldn't afford a place of his own. Circumstances continued to be dire and he turned to alcohol which resulted in another arrest for driving under the influence. </p><p style="text-align: center;">As I've previously mentioned in the two earlier cases, the petty crimes soon moved into something more sinister and horrific. Ronald had been accused of sexually assaulting and beating a young man in August of 1996 at his sister's house. He was arrested over the incident and the case went as far as court but was thrown out after the young man failed to appear, so he basically got away with that incident. </p><p style="text-align: center;">He came to the attention of police again in 2002 after he punched a woman in a parking lot during an argument over her driving. Despite this being a disturbing incident and another red flag, nothing further came of it as the pair were said to have apologized to each other and didn't wish to take the matter further. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Ronald tried to fit in with the local LGBTQIA+ community and was always hanging around the bars and nightclubs, often dressed in drag. He was a huge fan of the legendary Patti LaBelle and his outfits and makeup were said to be a tribute to her but no matter how hard he tried he just couldn't gel with anyone. Maybe people could sense there was something not quite right about him? or maybe it was the aura that he gave off or his reputation for being short fused? Whatever the case, he didn't feel that he was getting the acceptance that he felt he deserved. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Despite not being that popular he was still able to meet various men for encounters. This soon turned sour, he would set up situations where he would arrange to meet young boys and men, trick them back to his trailer (where he was now living) and subject the poor victims to a horrendous rape before murdering them by strangulation or suffocation. His reported final victim was said to have been murdered after being violently struck over the head with a blunt object. After murdering his victims he would dispose of their bodies. Most of his victims were African American and not all of them were gay, his victim's ages ranged from 16 to 46. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Ronald's sickening crimes were soon to be put to an end when he was arrested in November of 2006. A young man contacted the police and reported that Ronald had tried to force himself on him in his trailer after luring him there with the promise of drugs. Ronald was taken in for questioning and DNA samples were taken from him before he was released. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Forensics soon matched Ronald's DNA with traces of semen and other bodily fluids that had been left on/in the victims and at the crime scenes and he was promptly arrested again. Ronald wasn't shocked when the police arrived at the homeless shelter he had been staying at, he told them that he knew after the DNA had been taken from him that it would only be a matter of time before he was arrested. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwtAx-tmCyN_ede3ZFpL0YzQRO5RjNocOQXR7VJ-nQbf0Oa9l0DlyxJDLisPHDNrR2BfH9g7fGTndvgUrDojz1Towx5p16EeP9LMF_NC5jGEgyfMIu4ZY3dz_lWc5KvK0jzralITaVHNN1C2qwvy1XUpt8W__2CJ_eDuDmgmqkXWlj6G8X5j9PvBTk7Vmv/s450/0_Mww1BI5PaFrLSnvA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="450" height="498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwtAx-tmCyN_ede3ZFpL0YzQRO5RjNocOQXR7VJ-nQbf0Oa9l0DlyxJDLisPHDNrR2BfH9g7fGTndvgUrDojz1Towx5p16EeP9LMF_NC5jGEgyfMIu4ZY3dz_lWc5KvK0jzralITaVHNN1C2qwvy1XUpt8W__2CJ_eDuDmgmqkXWlj6G8X5j9PvBTk7Vmv/w640-h498/0_Mww1BI5PaFrLSnvA.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Newspaper article identifying some of Ronald Dominique's victims. Picture credit: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/22136044-crime-anniversaries-2022?page=2">goodreads</a>)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">Ronald Dominique confessed to the 23 murders that he was accused of and accepted a plea bargain which saw him sentenced to eight life terms without parole on the 24th of September 2008. As of October 2023, he is still alive and serving his sentence. </span></div><p style="text-align: center;">RIP to the known victims of Ronald Dominique:</p><p style="text-align: center;">David Mitchell, Gary Pierre, Larry Ranson, Oliver LeBanks, Joseph Brown, Bruce Williams, Manuel Reed, Angel Mejia, Mitchell Johnson, Michael Vincent, Kenneth Randolph Jr, Anoka Jones, Datrell Woods, Larry Matthews, Michael Bamett, Leon Lirette, August Watkins, Kurt Cunningham, Alonzo Hogan, Wayne Smith, Chris DeVille, Nicholas Pellegrin, Christopher Sutterfield. Thoughts also to the young man who escaped in the first known incident at the hands of this dangerous individual and to any other possible survivors. As I mentioned before in the previous cases, I can only hope that these brave people were able to move on in some way with their lives after what they had been through. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><u>Further Reading & Sources: </u></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bayou-Killer-Serial-Ronald-Dominique/dp/1731480199">The Bayou Killer: Life of Serial Killer Ronald J Dominique | Book by Jack Smith </a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/us-news/worst-serial-killer-youve-never-15990374">Ronald Dominique: Article | Mirror</a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://www.crimelibrary.org/photogallery/lesser-known-serial-killers.html">Ronald Dominique | Crime Library </a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronald_Dominique">Ronald Dominique | Wikipedia </a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://murderpedia.org/male.D/d/dominique-ronald.htm">Ronald Dominique | Murderpedia </a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNSgYGEVahE">Drag Queen Turned Serial Killer | Documentary | A&E </a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cleophus_Prince_Jr.">Cleophus Prince Jr | Wikipedia </a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://murderpedia.org/male.P/p/prince-cleophus.htm">Cleophus Prince Jr | Murderpedia </a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Clairemont-Killer-Serial-Cleophus-Homicide/dp/1533032599">The Clairemont Killer | Book by C.L Swinney </a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://caselaw.findlaw.com/court/ca-supreme-court/1246178.html">People v. Prince | Court Documents | Find Law </a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-04-13-mn-22391-story.html">Cleophus Prince Jr: Article | LA Times </a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://thetvdb.com/series/born-to-kill/episodes/5263511">Cleophus Prince Jr | Documentary | Born to Kill</a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scott_William_Cox">Scott William Cox | Wikipedia </a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://www.co.yamhill.or.us/content/yamhill-county-corrections-community-alerts-scott-w-cox">Scott William Cox | Yamhill County </a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://www.oregonlive.com/portland/2013/02/man_convicted_in_portland_murd.html">Scott William Cox: Article | Oregon Live </a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/scott-william-cox/amandasedlakhevener">Scott William cox | Ranker</a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://casetext.com/case/people-v-scott-2383">People v. Scott | Court Documents </a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">I hope you found this post and this series on Serial Killers of The 70s, 80s & 90s to have been an interesting (but obviously disturbing) read. I hope you found this post as well as the previous ones, to be informative. I really appreciate all of the feedback, comments and thoughts about each of the cases that I have covered over the past few months and I appreciate each and every one of my readers. </p><p style="text-align: center;">I hope you will join me again next Sunday and beyond for more weekly true crime content. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Take care and I hope to see you in my next post as well as on my <a href="https://linktr.ee/caledoniankitty">socials</a> x</p>Caledonian Kittyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07812087097647828789noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3918091265826271512.post-47748412394637626402023-10-01T19:03:00.003+01:002023-10-01T19:07:53.631+01:00Suspected Serial Killer's Death Note Confession? | Stephen Akinmurele aka The Cul-De-Sac-Killer | Serial Killers of The 70s, 80s & 90s<p style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizTcsUDfwumNXTPrsKGvkxYMfsY8d7EXobHYNbEU0qpw9J0_USlju_Q99RbyU9OoM5J2LcWNOOW-47wi8qdlJcHP5E0iKGyA_1Zpk1borMUHVLVHsf_w77xY0MhaB5F6-YYWinf1Yu6wUf_GPsbptXfW0yqgDciJ4Rqeqf9ea1A5UuspTHDpet9vTFAvsg/s352/5af9361444992.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="352" data-original-width="290" height="748" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizTcsUDfwumNXTPrsKGvkxYMfsY8d7EXobHYNbEU0qpw9J0_USlju_Q99RbyU9OoM5J2LcWNOOW-47wi8qdlJcHP5E0iKGyA_1Zpk1borMUHVLVHsf_w77xY0MhaB5F6-YYWinf1Yu6wUf_GPsbptXfW0yqgDciJ4Rqeqf9ea1A5UuspTHDpet9vTFAvsg/w617-h748/5af9361444992.jpg" width="617" /></a> </p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Stephen Akinmurele. Picture credit: <a href="https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/suspected-seaside-serial-killer-hatred-14644457">manchestereveningnews</a>)</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>*Please be aware that shocking details are shared in this post. I have tried to be as sensitive as possible without shying away from the facts of this case. The contents of this blog are not suitable for anyone under the age of 18*</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">He was described by the seasoned detectives that interviewed him as <i>''One of the most dangerous men they had ever met'' </i>but so little is known about the individual you see in the grainy picture above. His name was Stephen Akinmurele but to the few people who know this case, as well as the families of his 'alleged' victims, he will always be known as The Cul-De-Sac-Killer. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Not much is known about Stephen's background except for the usual details of his birth date and so forth. I have tried to find more pictures of him and the victims but as I said before, this case is not that well known which is a real shame because I always think it's important to remember the victims and tell their story. Hopefully more people in the true crime community will discuss this case in the future but in the meantime, let's delve into what we do know...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Stephen Oladimeji K. Akinmurele was born in Nigeria on the 16th of March 1978. His father was born and bred in the country but his mother was from England. Little is known about his father but records show that Stephen and his mother moved to England whilst he was 10 years old and his father remained in Nigeria after his parents split up. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">When Stephen and his mother moved to England they settled in the scenic Isle of Man which is a popular place for holidaymakers. The Isle of Man is known for it's seaside, history, museums and stunning landmarks. For the majority of his early childhood, Stephen was brought up by his maternal grandmother and it was reportedly a very difficult relationship for him due to her old fashioned ways and strict rules. He was very fearful for getting on the wrong side of her because her punishments could be severe at times. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Having only been in England for one year at this point, Stephen found himself on the wrong side of the law at the tender age of 11. He began a path of petty crime as well as getting involved in various other types of trouble involving drugs and alcohol. He became fixated on targeting elderly people too, he enjoyed frightening them, upsetting them and stealing from them. He saw them as easy targets to abuse. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">With the broken relationship with his father, the massive change of moving from Nigeria to England at such a young age and having to live by his grandmother's strict rules, one wonders if this was Stephen's way of lashing out, but it is no excuse and unfortunately it was not just a phase of an angry young boy. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">As he got older he moved to another popular tourist part of England...Blackpool! Blackpool is like a cheaper, less glamorous version of Las Vegas but many people in the UK have visited Blackpool many times and it is actually a nice place (I've stayed there many times). Blackpool is popular for it's bars, nightclubs, casinos, beach, the famous landmark 'Blackpool Tower' and The Pleasure Beach which features rollercoasters and various rides. So Stephen moved to Blackpool and began working in a welfare office during the weekdays whilst also making some extra money during the evenings and weekends as a barman. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It all looked like he had turned over a new leaf and had really found his feet but unfortunately, he could not shake off the drive and urge to cause harm. One of the things about Blackpool is that it's not just popular with younger people and families, it is popular with a lot of elderly and retired people whether they live there or go for a day out, you will always see lots of elderly people around. </div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;">For some reason this set Stephen off again and this time he wasn't interested in just robbing and being a pest, this time he (allegedly - we have to say allegedly. I'll explain why as the post goes on) wanted to go further and take the lives of his victims. </p><p style="text-align: center;">He had a particular hatred for elderly women, who he would rob, beat and strangle. His first known victims were a couple in October of 1998, Eric and Joan Boardman. Eric was 77 and Joan was 74. It is believed that Stephen had seen the couple out and about in Blackpool as they lived there and spent a lot of time in the town. The heartbreaking crime scene after Stephen had fled, was discovered by Eric & Joan's daughter. Joan was found in the livingroom of the house and Eric had been found in the hallway underneath a wardrobe, there was evidence to suggest that Eric had put up a fight to try and protect his wife and himself but sadly the elderly man could not be expected to have survived such a brutal attack by a younger, stronger man with a weapon. Eric was later honoured with a bench in his memory and recognition for his incredible bravery that day. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOVkxhz8C9M2FP5myEJIEVSBJUIrQPgXghUxOvFiN6cXJDZKht1ueZ2wtV8_xAAFfAf3PgB1S3_9MnZzMf8MAHmuCAgRTh4dL4GmM_q1vfIFcCY1WIfwCgtHbSyFQ2LscC9Zf_S24ZBBk_qwxum7Q6RpIvMvKhQWO8EeQeh9wKgF2Sy3TQA3fMb12Na-lq/s640/0312.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="477" data-original-width="640" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOVkxhz8C9M2FP5myEJIEVSBJUIrQPgXghUxOvFiN6cXJDZKht1ueZ2wtV8_xAAFfAf3PgB1S3_9MnZzMf8MAHmuCAgRTh4dL4GmM_q1vfIFcCY1WIfwCgtHbSyFQ2LscC9Zf_S24ZBBk_qwxum7Q6RpIvMvKhQWO8EeQeh9wKgF2Sy3TQA3fMb12Na-lq/w640-h478/0312.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Bench memorial in tribute to Eric Boardman. Picture credit: <a href="https://www.blackpool.cc/stephen-akinmurele/">blackpool.cc</a>)</span></div><p style="text-align: center;">Stephen was arrested when investigators found his fingerprints on the weapon and evidence at the scene that he had been there. He was promptly taken into custody where he confessed to more murders of elderly people. One of the victims had previously been his landlady. His other victims were all elderly women, all strangled and their houses or apartments were set on fire in an attempt to burn evidence. In total, Stephen Akinmurele was said to have been responsible for at least five to seven murders. </p><p style="text-align: center;">He never expressed any remorse but in the weeks before his trial, he was found deceased in his cell at Manchester Prison. He had apparently taken his own life, not because of feeling remorseful but because he couldn't live anymore with the constant urge to kill elderly people. He had previously told a prison Doctor that he would lay in bed all night fantasizing about killing old women. He had previously attempted to take his own life in the past and had to be moved around for his own safety, he'd even once threatened to take a female guard hostage. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6NhWyXGFJcpU1xhaIdzgKhC2MPDTQxdDDvkxexBDHK_KDjPJfGSDwz0OVJRhqlom42Kh6dl428ZHNY5vVTlTtzNj4RdNILyS5SYunPvkoajyPEu-CqQ7pv8O502wvlogLn3DS6NXAhJsLjBNi-hVZCMQfneei4xSeuk25AEOFvVeDs1z4l4aPJikQmlkp/s300/152_328_4166_1922.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="134" data-original-width="300" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6NhWyXGFJcpU1xhaIdzgKhC2MPDTQxdDDvkxexBDHK_KDjPJfGSDwz0OVJRhqlom42Kh6dl428ZHNY5vVTlTtzNj4RdNILyS5SYunPvkoajyPEu-CqQ7pv8O502wvlogLn3DS6NXAhJsLjBNi-hVZCMQfneei4xSeuk25AEOFvVeDs1z4l4aPJikQmlkp/w640-h286/152_328_4166_1922.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Newspaper article about the case & Stephen Akinmurele's death. Picture credit: <a href="https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/259631331/">newspapers.com</a>)</span></div><p style="text-align: center;">He had a girlfriend at the time (how anyone could see this guy as a catch, is beyond me) and she would visit Stephen and write letters to him in prison. She became aware that he was spiraling deeper and deeper into some sort of depression and alerted the prison staff but not much was done about it. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Stephen had taken his own life by hanging himself from his prison window. He was found with two notes, one which was a general suicide note and the other was addressed to his mother. </p><p style="text-align: center;">In the notes he said: </p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><b>''I know it's not right, always thinking like this but it's always on my mind. I can't help the way I feel, what I did was wrong - I know that and I feel for them - but it doesn't mean I won't do it again. I'll keep on having this feeling. I'm going mad because I can't take any more of this and that's why I'm saying goodbye''</b></i></span> - Stephen Akinmurele</p><p style="text-align: center;">(Excerpt from a note to his mother): </p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">''I couldn't take any more of feeling like how I do now, always wanting to kill''</span></i></b> - Stephen Akinmurele </p><p style="text-align: center;">Stephen was pronounced dead on the 28th of August 1999, he was 21 years old. </p><p style="text-align: center;">I would like to take a moment to remember the victims that we know about and the ones who we may never know about. As mentioned before, sadly I cannot find any photographs but their names will never be forgotten. RIP: </p><p style="text-align: center;">Eric & Joan Boardman</p><p style="text-align: center;">Jemmimah Cargill</p><p style="text-align: center;">Dorothy Harris</p><p style="text-align: center;">Marjorie Ashton </p><p style="text-align: center;">The police believe that Stephen Akinmurele may have been responsible for murders in both Isle of Man as well as Blackpool. Sadly he was never to face his day in court and many questions remain unanswered but it is highly believed that he is responsible for 5-7 murders. </p><p style="text-align: center;">I know this was another difficult post to get through and I thank you for continuing through it. I don't think any of us can bear the thought of someone harming our elderly relatives. A lot of us have so much respect for the older generation and could not imagine any wrong being done to them. What was is that drove Stephen Akinmurele to do these horrendous things? What created this anger towards innocent elderly people? Why did he want to just kill elderly women in particular? was it the difficult relationship with his grandmother? or was it the feelings of abandonment from his father? I guess we will never know the answer to these questions. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><u>Further Reading & Sources:</u></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/suspected-seaside-serial-killer-hatred-14644457">Stephen Akinmurele: Article | Manchester Evening News </a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Akinmurele">Stephen Akinmurele | Wikipedia </a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk/1999/aug/30/jamiewilson1">Stephen Akinmurele: Article | The Guardian </a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_H4Z7L_o5o">Murder By The Sea | Documentary </a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://medium.com/crimebeat/the-hero-that-brought-the-cul-de-sac-killer-to-justice-378843b6a8e8">Eric Boardman: Article | Medium </a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/6111248.relief-killers-hanging/">Stephen Akinmurele: Article | Lancashire Telegraph </a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/108412372/stephen-akinmurele">Stephen Akinmurele | Find A Grave </a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/432715.stm">Stephen Akinmurele: Article | BBC News</a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackpool">Blackpool | Wikipedia</a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;">Please don't forget to check out my previous posts in this series:</p><p style="text-align: center;">- <a href="http://www.caledoniankitty.co.uk/2023/05/the-worst-serial-killer-in-american.html">The Dating Game Serial Killer: Rodney Alcala </a></p><p style="text-align: center;">- <a href="http://www.caledoniankitty.co.uk/2023/06/i-murdered-over-90-women-they-are-my.html">He Murdered Over 90 Women: Samuel Little </a></p><p style="text-align: center;">- <a href="http://www.caledoniankitty.co.uk/2023/06/i-may-be-34th-victim4-other-people-had.html">The Killer Clown: John Wayne Gacy </a></p><p style="text-align: center;">- <a href="http://www.caledoniankitty.co.uk/2023/06/tea-parties-with-dead-bodies-400.html">400 Victims? The Monster of The Andes: Pedro Lopez</a></p><p style="text-align: center;">- <a href="http://www.caledoniankitty.co.uk/2023/06/the-many-faces-of-ted-bundy-charismatic.html">The Many Faces of Ted Bundy </a></p><p style="text-align: center;">- <a href="http://www.caledoniankitty.co.uk/2023/07/i-know-i-have-to-be-destroyed-i-was.html">The Butcher of Rostov: Andrei Chikatilo </a></p><p style="text-align: center;">- <a href="http://www.caledoniankitty.co.uk/2023/07/how-many-people-do-i-have-to-kill.html">BTK: Bind. Torture. Kill: Dennis Rader</a></p><p style="text-align: center;">- <a href="http://www.caledoniankitty.co.uk/2023/07/i-tied-her-up-because-i-wanted-to-keep.html">The Evil Child Killer: Robert Black </a></p><p style="text-align: center;">- <a href="http://www.caledoniankitty.co.uk/2023/08/every-womans-worst-nightmare-grim.html">The Grim Sleeper: Lonnie Franklin Jr</a></p><p style="text-align: center;">- <a href="http://www.caledoniankitty.co.uk/2023/08/ive-lost-count-of-how-many-women-i-have.html">Finally Caught! The Green River Killer: Gary Ridgway </a></p><p style="text-align: center;">- <a href="http://www.caledoniankitty.co.uk/2023/09/when-serial-killer-gets-attacked-in.html">The Shocking Crimes of Alfred Gaynor</a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">I hope you will join me in the next post and I wish you a great week ahead.</p>Caledonian Kittyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07812087097647828789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3918091265826271512.post-16730394987715390392023-09-24T17:21:00.001+01:002023-09-24T17:21:48.346+01:00When A Serial Killer Gets Attacked In Court: The Shocking Crimes of Alfred Gaynor | Serial Killers of The 70s, 80s & 90s<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmxa_BxbqN5mvdJHl6yx8B3q9x90V__QTylkfX4ntU6uXmXKY7nzKUIsa-n7JU6SRqZwstxtLmhmH68jTJM24W4A_Ukz0LsKCCr4pvlWMbX7XCpqMmIAicURNe--1P4smMQqZAJpmM8eBqaXm_5fFCJbnpG6Ad7CbDCLvLZqhsvtKTaAwWFT9LjZwuNQpR/s665/gaynor_mug.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="388" data-original-width="665" height="374" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmxa_BxbqN5mvdJHl6yx8B3q9x90V__QTylkfX4ntU6uXmXKY7nzKUIsa-n7JU6SRqZwstxtLmhmH68jTJM24W4A_Ukz0LsKCCr4pvlWMbX7XCpqMmIAicURNe--1P4smMQqZAJpmM8eBqaXm_5fFCJbnpG6Ad7CbDCLvLZqhsvtKTaAwWFT9LjZwuNQpR/w640-h374/gaynor_mug.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Alfred Gaynor: Picture credit: <a href="https://murderpedia.org/male.G/g/gaynor-alfred.htm">murderpedia</a>)</span></div><b><p style="text-align: center;"><b>*Please be aware that shocking details are shared in this post. I have tried to be as sensitive as possible without shying away from the facts of this case, The contents of this blog are not suitable for anyone under the age of 18*</b></p></b><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"> In this installment of my Serial Killers of The 70s, 80s and 90s Series, I will be focusing on a very disturbing and callous serial killer who is not that well known. The case of Alfred Gaynor was both shocking and horrific but for some reason not very much is known about him or documented about his crimes. I hate to say it but I think with this particular case we have come across a lot of judgemental attitudes because of how some of the victims lived their lives. </p><p style="text-align: center;">This shocking case took place in the mid 1990s and from what little we know of Alfred's background I was able to uncover that he was born on the 10th of December 1966 in Springfield, Massachusetts. He had come from a big family who struggled financially so the focus was never on his schoolwork but finding ways to make money, even at a young age. He started doing odd jobs as a young boy and his education was basically non-existent. As the years went on things did take a more positive turn when he began to try and learn a trade as a mechanic and managed to get a job in a repair shop which he very much enjoyed. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Somewhere along the way however, Alfred got in with the wrong crowd and began heavily drinking as well as taking drugs. They were habits that he struggled to shake and soon they were to take over his life. It wasn't long before he found himself unemployed and desperate for money. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Alfred continued on this downward spiral and his addictions just got deeper and deeper. He was reported to have committed his first nightmarish murder in April of 1995. He managed to befriend a 45 year old woman by the name of Vera Hullums and spent the night at her house. Whilst Vera was asleep in her bed that night, Alfred savagely beat her to death before sexually molesting her deceased body. He then ransacked the apartment and made off with a few items. It was a horrendous and evil act and his motivation for this was to get money for drugs. </p><p style="text-align: center;">This became a sickening theme for Alfred, he would stop at nothing to find the money to feed his addiction. He would arrange to meet unsuspecting women in the pretense that he would do a drugs binge with them. As soon as he was able to get the women alone, he would attack them, sexually assault either before or after strangling them. He would then empty out their pockets or purses and use whatever he found to score some drugs. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Another frightening fact about this case is that Alfred, despite his lack of education he was quite good at conversating with people and could come across as quite charismatic, it was clear that he would say anything to his victims in order to gain their trust and get what he wanted out of them. His victims were all female, mostly dependent on drugs and he would tell them that he had some drugs that he wanted to share with them. He had no drugs and was looking for a way to make money. Instead of just robbing the women, he would brutally assault them and perform sexual acts on their bodies before or after strangling them. The way in which he left his victims was also appalling. One victim was found nude wearing just one sock on her foot whilst her other sock had been used as a gag and had been tightly wrapped around her head. She had also been bound with the laces of a boot she had been previously been wearing. He had no respect for his victims and no ounce of remorse. Another victim was found deceased on her bathroom floor by her 11 year old son. </p><p style="text-align: center;">At first the police didn't take the investigation seriously because the majority of the victims (9 in total that we are aware of at present) had high levels of cocaine in their systems and had previous history of regular drug use. The cops put it down to either pimps, disgruntled customers (suspecting that some of the women may have been partaking in sex work) or drug deals gone wrong. They noticed a pattern with the victims and soon began to take things seriously. Alfred Gaynor was brought in for questioning and whilst in custody he provided a DNA sample which ended up matching the evidence found at the scene of the murders. He was found guilty and put on trial (he would later confess to all 9 murders that he was suspected of).</p><p style="text-align: center;">Alfred told investigators that he wanted to make a deal with them, he promised to reveal crucial details about his case in exchange for his nephew (who was also on the wrong side of the the law for murder) to be given a new trial. Alfred took his time with providing the cops with the exact details of the murders and the deaths he was responsible for, he later claimed that he couldn't bring himself to confess to all 9 murders originally whilst his mother was still alive. He claimed that with his mother now deceased, he felt that he could talk about his crimes. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihj9Ug_7tsxE5bBcU3SEUStqm7o-nq0wbyqu4L1oN4Uu6o6c7kqlxb_2EcCeZSSGsqx9mC-lk2J94xnrfEf5I668ZGbFh0wan47s8DTG7PjnJA0AgaawOZyY60PDpDkRoJbLs2P4z3AUkYyM58i4urGjIu9v6hao370BovAEH6gaHOCAztXhEJTp29TQKk/s600/gaynor_victims.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="519" data-original-width="600" height="554" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihj9Ug_7tsxE5bBcU3SEUStqm7o-nq0wbyqu4L1oN4Uu6o6c7kqlxb_2EcCeZSSGsqx9mC-lk2J94xnrfEf5I668ZGbFh0wan47s8DTG7PjnJA0AgaawOZyY60PDpDkRoJbLs2P4z3AUkYyM58i4urGjIu9v6hao370BovAEH6gaHOCAztXhEJTp29TQKk/w640-h554/gaynor_victims.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Some of Alfred Gaynor's victims. Picture credit: <a href="https://murderpedia.org/male.G/g/gaynor-alfred.htm">murderpedia</a>)</span></div><p style="text-align: center;">At his trial there was more drama when a son of one of the victims ran over to Alfred and was able to punch him whilst physically throwing him over a railing. The young man had to be restrained by police officers but he certainly had his moment with Alfred Gaynor and who could blame him. It's quite amazing that this young man was able to carry this out as we've seen from previous courtroom settings, how protected these murderers are. It is pathetic to note that the young man, along with two other relatives were actually charged with assault. Nothing major happened but they were warned that their behaviour towards the man who savagely murdered their mother/loved one would be monitored at future hearings. They were specifically told that they would have to report to authorities if they planned on attending court proceedings. It was all a bit ridiculous because the powers that be were concerned that Alfred Gaynor was at risk of another assault in the future. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg927BA1ozsXZVAqRyW32EPkhYTbXMB3j6-wtKwBN9K6BZvy0rOH0sEICGeUN1OmvIOdl0XQ1CugQppyQWZiYMwD5d4T-hxZf-d2AmpYGDRjrFNRspPzk46jGDb2b2zY9GE5L3HBOi-NsLGnRy1BF40o5M2VElnc3pRDjDvi0HM7_ij9TxeCp-xYKJaVYT/s665/gaynor_attack_003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="558" data-original-width="665" height="538" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg927BA1ozsXZVAqRyW32EPkhYTbXMB3j6-wtKwBN9K6BZvy0rOH0sEICGeUN1OmvIOdl0XQ1CugQppyQWZiYMwD5d4T-hxZf-d2AmpYGDRjrFNRspPzk46jGDb2b2zY9GE5L3HBOi-NsLGnRy1BF40o5M2VElnc3pRDjDvi0HM7_ij9TxeCp-xYKJaVYT/w640-h538/gaynor_attack_003.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(The moment Alfred Gaynor was attacked in court. Picture credit: <a href="https://murderpedia.org/male.G/g/gaynor-alfred.htm">murderpedia</a>)</span></div><p style="text-align: center;">At the conclusion of the trial, Alfred Gaynor was sentenced to life in prison without parole. When he finally did confess to the additional murders that he was suspected of (and claimed that he didn't admit to whilst his mother was still alive), he had five more life sentences added on. He is still alive and is currently 56 years old. His nephew was given the new trial that Alfred had requested as part of the deal and his nephew was sentenced to 20 years originally but he had already spent 14 years in prison so he still had to serve his remaining time, the new trial did nothing for him. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNKvcPIVNRcSVdmVc-0GJIK1fZ3y1ZVlT6VwcxGNNlzFMZXd2lBGHGfhES1hCwx23QbYWY3ry4VnnfRhmsaUkF16kpCIm1jtTJeuauer03Z0wZzImsUf_X-wmjEQMWKXcqOC4P0iQGlfm-tW8omJarsHGVmhoru14C0IuSt5NESwipgtrOLJx9NV8riEc1/s818/gaynor_102610.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="818" data-original-width="665" height="647" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNKvcPIVNRcSVdmVc-0GJIK1fZ3y1ZVlT6VwcxGNNlzFMZXd2lBGHGfhES1hCwx23QbYWY3ry4VnnfRhmsaUkF16kpCIm1jtTJeuauer03Z0wZzImsUf_X-wmjEQMWKXcqOC4P0iQGlfm-tW8omJarsHGVmhoru14C0IuSt5NESwipgtrOLJx9NV8riEc1/w526-h647/gaynor_102610.jpg" width="526" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Alfred Gaynor. Picture credit: <a href="https://murderpedia.org/male.G/g/gaynor-alfred.htm">murderpedia</a>)</span></div><p style="text-align: center;">I would like to take this moment just to remember the victims that we know about and thoughts as always to the possibility that there could be more women out there not yet identified as victims of Alfred Gaynor. RIP: Vera Hallums, Amy Smith (his nephew was also convicted of the murder of Amy and her daughter), Jill Ermellini, Robin Atkins, JoAnn Thomas, Yvette Torres, Loretta Daniels, Rosemary Downs and Joyce-Dickerson-Peay. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><u>Further Reading & Sources:</u></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://law.justia.com/cases/massachusetts/supreme-court/volumes/443/443mass245.html">Alfred Gaynor | Court Documents </a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1338111/Alfred-Gaynor-Serial-killer-confesses-EIGHT-sex-murders-Springfield-Massachusetts.html">Alfred Gaynor: Article | Daily Mail </a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna40629524">Alfred Gaynor: News Report | NBC News </a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://www.unilad.com/news/alfred-gaynor-attacked-victims-son-738896-20221227">Alfred Gaynor: Article | Unilad </a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfred_Gaynor">Alfred Gaynor | Wikipedia </a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://murderpedia.org/male.G/g/gaynor-alfred.htm">Alfred Gaynor | Murderpedia </a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDpZiky9MlM">Alfred Gaynor: News Report Footage | WWLP-22 News </a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">Check out my previous posts in my Serial Killers of The 70s, 80s & 90s Series: </p><p style="text-align: center;">- <a href="http://www.caledoniankitty.co.uk/2023/05/the-worst-serial-killer-in-american.html">The Dating Game Killer: Rodney Alcala </a></p><p style="text-align: center;">- <a href="http://www.caledoniankitty.co.uk/2023/06/i-murdered-over-90-women-they-are-my.html">He Murdered Over 90 Women? Samuel Little </a></p><p style="text-align: center;">- <a href="http://www.caledoniankitty.co.uk/2023/06/i-may-be-34th-victim4-other-people-had.html">Did The Infamous Serial Killer, John Wayne Gacy Act Alone? </a></p><p style="text-align: center;">- <a href="http://www.caledoniankitty.co.uk/2023/06/tea-parties-with-dead-bodies-400.html">400 Victims? The Monster of The Andes: Pedro Lopez </a></p><p style="text-align: center;">- <a href="http://www.caledoniankitty.co.uk/2023/06/the-many-faces-of-ted-bundy-charismatic.html">The Many Faces of Ted Bundy </a></p><p style="text-align: center;">- <a href="http://www.caledoniankitty.co.uk/2023/07/i-know-i-have-to-be-destroyed-i-was.html">The Butcher of Rostov: Andrei Chikatilo </a></p><p style="text-align: center;">- <a href="http://www.caledoniankitty.co.uk/2023/07/how-many-people-do-i-have-to-kill.html">BTK: Bind, Torture, Kill: Dennis Rader </a></p><p style="text-align: center;">- <a href="http://www.caledoniankitty.co.uk/2023/07/i-tied-her-up-because-i-wanted-to-keep.html">The Evil Child Killer: Robert Black </a></p><p style="text-align: center;">- <a href="http://www.caledoniankitty.co.uk/2023/08/every-womans-worst-nightmare-grim.html">The Grim Sleeper: Lonnie Franklin Jr</a></p><p style="text-align: center;">- <a href="http://www.caledoniankitty.co.uk/2023/08/ive-lost-count-of-how-many-women-i-have.html">Finally Caught! The Green river Killer: Gary Ridgway </a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">Thank you as always for getting through another disturbing case with me, I really appreciate it and hope you will join me in the next post (I publish new true crime content every Sunday evening). In the meantime, as always, I hope to see you on my <a href="https://linktr.ee/caledoniankitty">Social Media Platforms</a> x </p>Caledonian Kittyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07812087097647828789noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3918091265826271512.post-10197037726935530882023-09-10T19:30:00.000+01:002023-09-10T19:30:38.951+01:00Prison, Pizza & 24 Hours In The 1980's | Part Two: Let's Talk......Anything Goes!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqdZKtGgfGRdB1BNdssJvT43iC4tQr1Zv6DYQO5bSMyS9f7G4s-ukXc0wy7dR7JLqvvH0qUZmL1W8Fje5-4XNZ4kho406m2O1CtW_Wznp87w1R-gDwn-mtt-KNMsjp6BvPUqYLbl7e5JVSCbEFxMTQZpH-dwZRYUXgqglLbuL36_hlJw1yEwXlOaIpiDPf/s1506/Picsart_23-09-07_15-46-54-583.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1506" data-original-width="1506" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqdZKtGgfGRdB1BNdssJvT43iC4tQr1Zv6DYQO5bSMyS9f7G4s-ukXc0wy7dR7JLqvvH0qUZmL1W8Fje5-4XNZ4kho406m2O1CtW_Wznp87w1R-gDwn-mtt-KNMsjp6BvPUqYLbl7e5JVSCbEFxMTQZpH-dwZRYUXgqglLbuL36_hlJw1yEwXlOaIpiDPf/w640-h640/Picsart_23-09-07_15-46-54-583.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Welcome to part two of my Q&A, thank you for joining me for this concluding post before we go back into my Serial Killers of The 70's, 80's & 90's Series. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So grab a snack and let's see about answering some more of your questions....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><u><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #666666;">Question One:</span> How often do you run into discrepancy issues between sources and how do you resolve them? </span></b></u></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><u><b><br /></b></u></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I'm lucky enough to have so many books that have been written by professional criminologists, forensic psychologists, police officers, coroners etc so I always do proper research and look at court documents along with newspaper articles, courtroom footage, interrogations, news reports etc. Because I have been doing this for years and know a lot of cases quite well especially when it comes to certain serial killers, it always shocks me when I stumble across a new writer or a well-known criminologist and I notice that they've made a mistake with victims names, dates of birth or locations. I'm very OCD about that sort of thing. I'm currently working on my own book and I aim to have every detail 100%. It just goes to show that there are a lot of people out there who are in such a hurry to self publish and have a book. I believe in doing things properly, I'm still growing as a writer. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #666666;">Question Two:</span> What is the biggest hindrance to your research, and how do you overcome it? </span></u></b></div></b><p></p><p style="text-align: center;">I think that I put a lot of pressure on myself at times because I always aim to publish quality content but one of the things that can be an issue is health. If I'm on my period or like right now, I'm going through a cold virus and can't stop coughing, it can really affect my concentration. There's also a matter of time, I have set evenings where I do all of my content and I like it to be completed before Friday if I can so that I can relax and really enjoy the weekend before I edit and publish on a Sunday evening. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><u><span style="color: #666666;">Question Three:</span> What would you do if you had the possibility to go the 1980's for 24 hours? </u></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;">Only 24 hours? That's cruel!!! Let me think.... I'd probably go to London and visit Top of The Pops and then go nightclubbing with the New Romantics! I have no idea, never thought of just having 24 hours in the 1980's before. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><u><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #666666;">Question Four: </span>What's your favorite pizza topping? </span></u></b></p><p style="text-align: center;">I love a good old margarita pizza with lots of olives on top. If I'm feeling extra hungry, I'll order a Veggie Supreme from Domino's. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><u><span style="color: #666666;">Question Five:</span> Do you think you would be able to spend a long stretch in prison? </u></span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;">I'm such a diva that it's hard to imagine me in prison but knowing my approach to things, I would get my head down and get on with it. Obviously glamour would have to go out of the window, I'd have to walk around in a tracksuit with my hair in a bun, giving it the big tough act (only joking). I would be scared as hell and I'd hate it but I'd get on with it and if I managed to survive it, I'd write a book about it. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><u><span style="color: #666666;"><b>Question Six:</b></span><b> What laws would you like to see happen? </b></u></span></p><p style="text-align: center;">There's so many....but off the top of my head, I would have tough jail time for animal abusers, jail time for sex offenders and those that expose themselves in public (we all know this leads them down a path to go on to more extreme and dangerous acts of behaviour). Tougher laws on stalking and more support for victims of stalkers. Prison terms for online trolls/bullying. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Well, I hope you enjoyed these two Q&A posts, any questions I didn't cover this time will be added to a future post. Thank you to everyone who sent me questions, I really appreciate it and I'm happy to respond back to them if you would like an answer through email: jocaledoniankitty@gmail.com</p><p style="text-align: center;">I hope you have a great week ahead and I will be back with the next installment of my Serial Killers of the 70's, 80's & 90's Series next Sunday so I hope you will join me then. </p><p style="text-align: center;">In the meantime, I hope to see you on <a href="https://linktr.ee/caledoniankitty">socials</a> x</p>Caledonian Kittyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07812087097647828789noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3918091265826271512.post-34787365672897639622023-09-10T19:00:00.001+01:002023-09-10T19:06:12.967+01:00From TikTok Fame To Prison, Online Affairs To Revenge Porn Etc | Part One: Let's Talk......Anything Goes!<p style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBcLyQ-bMappuQ5kT0qtbwVDrUGbm5B8_WvD28dqisNJGFr4iXYpSIGYTTuwmXYgxFtjJEPdssLXYxZEzHS2L-noViKuIrUWqmhy_ephf1_WM8qQvQkKm2-fOWWjCp_Vq3BBrmMFg0oUUgA3pSmGqm9vyE9KcQaXyEzy1SaFee-psE0D9Xa_8Cp2Tb5gwN/s1506/Picsart_23-09-07_15-46-54-583.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1506" data-original-width="1506" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBcLyQ-bMappuQ5kT0qtbwVDrUGbm5B8_WvD28dqisNJGFr4iXYpSIGYTTuwmXYgxFtjJEPdssLXYxZEzHS2L-noViKuIrUWqmhy_ephf1_WM8qQvQkKm2-fOWWjCp_Vq3BBrmMFg0oUUgA3pSmGqm9vyE9KcQaXyEzy1SaFee-psE0D9Xa_8Cp2Tb5gwN/w640-h640/Picsart_23-09-07_15-46-54-583.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;">So, you're probably wondering where this week's installment of my Serial Killers of The 70's, 80's & 90's is. Well, it's in the bag don't worry, I'm currently researching my final cases in this series ready to be added to the list these coming weeks. The problem right now is, that I am currently coughing my lungs out and sounding something like a cross between Regan from The Exorcist and Bonnie Tyler (of both which I love by the way). So I simply cannot concentrate properly on research and putting my cases together right at this moment in time. I realize that I have been burning the candle at both ends lately (as writers often do) and so I've taken the decision to have a couple of weeks break. I will be doing some research though and will continue on with my series after this fortnightly break. I hope you can bare with me and enjoy these next two posts that will give you a bit of an insight into the author behind this blog. </p><p style="text-align: center;">I have invited you (my fabulous friends/readers/partners in crime) to ask me any questions (nothing was off of the table) and in the next two posts you will see some of the answers to those questions. Obviously I couldn't cover every single question but I still have them for another time. </p><p style="text-align: center;">I hope you enjoy this two part Q&A and I hope you will join me for my next installment in my Serial Killers of The 70's, 80's & 90's Series. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><u><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: #666666;">Question One:</span> I found out about your blog through Instagram and I've been a huge fan ever since. Do you have any plans to do merch? </b></span></u></p><p style="text-align: center;">It's funny that you mention that (and by the way, thank you for saying that you enjoy my work, that means a lot) because I am planning on sorting out some new merchandise very soon. I want bigger mugs (LOL) and more fun bits and pieces. I had some merchandise with my original logo on but it's something that is in the works, watch this space....</p><p style="text-align: center;"><u><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #666666;">Question Two:</span> Jo, have you been following the case about the female TikToker and her mother who had two young men murdered in England and what are your thoughts on the case?</span></b></u></p><p style="text-align: center;">By the sounds of it you must be talking about the Mahek Bukhari case. </p><p style="text-align: center;">[For those unaware of the case, 24 year old Mahek was a rising influencer on TikTok. She would often post videos to do with fashion, lifestyle and dances with her mother. Mahek had a unique relationship with her mother, they were/are very close and acted more like sisters. However, Mahek's mother (who was in her mid 40s) began an affair with an 18 year old boy online and all hell broke loose. The affair managed to last for three years with Mahek's mother and the boy meeting up now and again in hotels and restaurants. When Mahek's mother tried to break off the affair, the boy (who was now 21) turned nasty and threatened to send nude pictures and videos of Ansreen (Mahek's mother) to her husband. Things grew more and more toxic with the 21 year old boy (Saqib) demanding money and leaving endless messages on Ansreen's phone. It ended up with Mahek trying to protect her mother by threatening Saqib and arranged to gather some people together to frighten him. Saqib was led to believe that Ansreen wanted to meet him for a talk and to hand over the money that he demanded. Saqib arranged for his friend, Hashim to take him to this supposed meeting place to see Ansreen. However, the two boys could see that it was pretty much a set up and decided to leave in Hashim's car. Mahek and co followed the boys in their cars and to cut a long story short, they chased the boys and drove them off of the road to which the car had burst into flames, killing the young men trapped inside. Mahek, her mother and the rest of the gang tried to lie to the police about what really happened. All of them except one man, stood trial and were found guilty and sentenced last week. The judge was not playing with the sentences. He handed 24 year old Mahek a 31 year and 8 months sentence, her mother, Ansreen, received 26 years and 9 months. Both are expected to appeal their sentences] </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIS6T-mOdkVUiGVtlTUS_wi46EoGDFAVAQArR05XRbiXgTdjZR9iit-vPZMln-Nnc-5spdDb-yuucfsiMpJND_vT7rlT0wE_IH5Tyw-Lq7Y7GryfaqQ8CT26XyJ4U18EBunmTwZBCaeVZNFU3VL8WGknLHvnWl9cexncelHsPKkpCNWwqDQTe4xHEVvevh/s976/_130661309_bukhariscomposite.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="549" data-original-width="976" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIS6T-mOdkVUiGVtlTUS_wi46EoGDFAVAQArR05XRbiXgTdjZR9iit-vPZMln-Nnc-5spdDb-yuucfsiMpJND_vT7rlT0wE_IH5Tyw-Lq7Y7GryfaqQ8CT26XyJ4U18EBunmTwZBCaeVZNFU3VL8WGknLHvnWl9cexncelHsPKkpCNWwqDQTe4xHEVvevh/w640-h360/_130661309_bukhariscomposite.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><div style="text-align: center;">(Mahek and Ansreen Bukhari. Picture credit: <a href="https://news.sky.com/story/tiktok-influencer-mahek-bukhari-and-her-mother-jailed-for-life-for-double-murder-after-sex-tape-threat-12951501">Sky News</a>)</div></span><p style="text-align: center;">As you can see, I have been following the case and it's completely shocking how all of it just spiraled out of control the way that it did. A married mother in her 40's messing around with a teenage boy online and for it to have gone on for three years. Saqib was clearly caught up on Ansreen, she seduced him and messed with his head and when she grew tired of him she thought that she could just cast him to the side. It's very dangerous to play with someone's emotions like that, especially a young boy. Saqib was no complete angel in this either, revenge porn is simply not acceptable! He was a good looking young man, he could have moved on with a girl of his own age but things just turned toxic. Mahek wanted to protect her mother, her father, her family and her online reputation. According to the Bukhari lawyers, Ansreen was put under considerable amount of pressure from Saqib who constantly harassed her with threats of exposing the affair. Mahek stepped in and it was a whole mess and now two young men are dead, Mahek is going to spend a big chunk of her life in prison and Ansreen (if she ever gets out of prison alive) will be in her 70's when she is released. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Ansreen has a lot to answer for because she was the adult here and she has caused so much trouble and heartache. I look at Mahek and I see a total waste of a beautiful, promising young woman who could have continued to grow in her career and really made something of herself. Instead she will be watching years of her life slip away in prison. It was a really awful situation and I don't know what I would have done in this predicament. I would have just told Ansreen to come clean and tell her husband the truth. Going by the fact that he's been supporting them in court and Mahek blew kisses to him in the courtroom, tells me that the family have worked past the knowledge of the affair. It's a shame that two young men's lives were wiped out over this mess. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><u><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: #666666;">Question Three:</span> Comparing what you've been covering with your Serial Killers of The 70's, 80's & 90's Series, do you think the severity of the crimes committed have changed over the decades? For example more violent as time has progressed or more bizarre? </b></span></u></p><p style="text-align: center;">I think that we've always had very brutal and gruesome killings since time began. In regards to crimes I think that when it comes to dismemberment, there seems to be a lot more cases where that is now becoming a more common way to dispose of a body. With the internet we have more vulnerability because sometimes people can get access to some details about our lives (that's why you always must be careful what you put online). I'm currently following a trial where a stalker was able to find out his victim's phone number and address by trawling the internet. We've seen a rise in cyberstalking, trolling and homicides where someone has met their (unknown to them) killer from an online dating site. I think we are more easy to track now but at the same time I see the advances in forensic technology and the usefulness of GPS systems and CCTV cameras in helping catch suspects. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><u><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: #666666;">Question Four:</span> Do you have a favorite drink or snack whilst you are writing your cases?</b></span></u></p><p style="text-align: center;">I go through endless cups of tea and coffee. I try not to sit and stuff my face whilst doing research cause obviously I'm sitting for a number of hours reading, writing and typing so that can be a bit unhealthy. I make sure that I get all of my meals and snacks at appropriate times but I might have a slice of cake every now and then but drinks are an absolute must when I'm studying. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><u><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #666666;">Question Five: </span>I love your storytime posts as well as your true crime and serial killer posts. Do you have any plans to incorporate more of your personal posts on your blog. I for one would love to hear your thoughts on current trials. </span></b></u></p><p style="text-align: center;">Thank you! I suppose you could call this a bit of a personal post. I do plan to share some more of my rambling posts on here but there are some cases that I can't comment on if they are currently conducting a trial with said case. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><u><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: #666666;">Question Six:</span> What would be the subject of your next upcoming True Crime Series? </b></span></u></p><p style="text-align: center;">Well I still have five installments of this series to go and then I will think about it. There are a few things that I have in mind. I may do another series or I may do some isolated cases that do not involve serial killers, maybe lesser known or unsolved? Watch this space. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Well, that's a wrap for part one of this Q&A, I don't want to make these two posts too long but I have very much enjoyed answering the questions put to me. I appreciate everyone who sent questions and if you don't see your question featured, don't worry, it will feature in a future post or you are welcome to contact me and we'll have a chat about it. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Anyway, I wish you a great week ahead (whilst I sit here with a mouth full of honey & lemon medicated sweets trying to get over this cough lol - I did a couple of Covid tests and they're negative!) and I hope you will join me again next Sunday for part two.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Hopefully we'll bump into each other on my <a href="https://linktr.ee/caledoniankitty">socials</a> x</p>Caledonian Kittyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07812087097647828789noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3918091265826271512.post-7274284641693644322023-09-03T17:00:00.000+01:002023-09-03T17:00:15.717+01:00''My New Year's Resolution Is To Become A Serial killer'' - Colin Ireland | Serial Killers of The 70s, 80s & 90s | GRAPHIC DETAILS<p style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw4ZyZNyUKFfeJWHScq7htSUeJPLOCyLaygJgFRpROG0JnzOzaJsoBs3nxrTKw7LPdCV6RcaVEo6r1J1Nra3dZlYnmX1sA7FcgnqpeUnnikEMalgjGJEW29cmWbUxZaQxV3dth722QnSVJehLd9TXvj9cpNscHtR5zYgZZPwgVNJrKK4g5CIweabkHVq8q/s370/14332-370x278.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="278" data-original-width="370" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw4ZyZNyUKFfeJWHScq7htSUeJPLOCyLaygJgFRpROG0JnzOzaJsoBs3nxrTKw7LPdCV6RcaVEo6r1J1Nra3dZlYnmX1sA7FcgnqpeUnnikEMalgjGJEW29cmWbUxZaQxV3dth722QnSVJehLd9TXvj9cpNscHtR5zYgZZPwgVNJrKK4g5CIweabkHVq8q/w640-h480/14332-370x278.jpg" width="640" /></a><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Colin Ireland. Picture credit: <a href="https://documentaryheaven.com/serial-killer-camera/">documentaryheaven</a>)</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>*Please be aware that disturbing details are shared in this post. I have tried to be as sensitive as possible without shying away from the facts of this case. The contents of this blog are not suitable for anyone under the age of 18*</b></p><p style="text-align: center;">After a life of nothing but disappointment, abandonment and hassle, loner Colin Ireland took it upon himself to come to a really dark and disturbing decision....to become a Serial Killer. Born to teenage parents in 1954 in Dartford, Kent (England), his mother was just 17 years old and found herself in a difficult situation especially as his father ran off leaving the young girl to struggle with a baby on her own. Colin never met his father. It was a tough start with no money and no decent living conditions and throughout his life it wasn't to get any better.</p><p style="text-align: center;">His mother struggled to cope with him and he spent some time in care before he was returned to her. It wasn't long before his mother met someone else and got married leaving Colin pretty much out in the cold. She had decided that she wanted to have her own life and at just 16 years old, Colin found himself homeless and on a train to London. Whilst in London he would hang around a well known amusement arcade which was reported to have been frequented by sex offenders. It is believed that Colin had been sexually abused on one of the occasions that he was there and this was what sent him on this path of hatred for homosexual men. He was in and out of detention centers due to committing petty crimes. At one point he was noted as having over 50 court appearances.</p><p style="text-align: center;">His criminal career of petty crimes and various stints behind bars had continued up until the early 1980s. In 1982 he had began a relationship with a woman named Virginia and the pair were soon married and they raised a little girl together, things were good for a while but Colin soon fell into trouble again and was soon back behind bars. The pair ended up getting divorced in 1987 after his wife had discovered that he'd been having an affair with another woman. When it came to relationships, Colin didn't seem to have any trouble meeting women even though he didn't exactly have an engaging personality. He was quite awkward and many people later commented that they found him to be uncomfortable to be around due to his sullen demeanor. He wasn't exactly the life and soul of the party. </p><p style="text-align: center;">After the marriage with Virginia had ended, he met and apparently fell in love with a woman named Janet. By this time it was 1989 and to say that he treated Janet horrendously, is an understatement. The poor woman was put through hell. She was shocked at the sudden change in him because when they first met, he seemed to be the perfect gentleman. She knew there was always something quite off about him but put it down to him just being shy. Janet already had children from a previous relationship and the kids were really starting to bond with Colin so it was a shock when he completely abandoned her and the children out of the blue. Janet had always been good to Colin and gave him the family life that he never had but instead of being thankful he decided to steal all of her belongings and empty out her bank account of 10k before vanishing into thin air. Janet and her children were left with nothing and had to rely on her parents for support as well as staying in temporary accommodation. </p><p style="text-align: center;">With this sudden and harsh change of events, Janet was left in so much shock that she reported Colin missing to the police, she tried to tell herself excuses about what really happened but in the end she had to admit that he had used her and stolen from her. The whole ordeal traumatized Janet and her children and it was even worse for them in years to come when they discovered who Colin really was and what he would become. </p><p style="text-align: center;">After a harsh early start in life, rejected by both parents and always ending up on the wrong side of the law whilst also hurting the very women who he had been in relationships with, Colin seemed to have had a moment of kindness but it was short lived. He decided that he was done with always being in trouble and wanted to do something positive. He became interested in volunteering and had taken a role at a homeless shelter. Again, it seemed that all was well in the beginning but Colin's real personality began to make itself known. His colleagues became more and more uncomfortable with his rude behaviour and comments. When Colin was overheard saying that he wanted to force some snooker balls down a man's throat as a form of torture, it was decided that a meeting had to take place about his future at the shelter. It was decided that it would be best for Colin to move on and he was furious about this decision and felt that he had been unfairly let go. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Some people believe that this was Colin's last chance to have put his demons to rest and really try to make a positive go of his life in his voluntary role and with that now being over, there was nothing left for him. He saw it as another rejection. </p><p style="text-align: center;">For reasons only known to himself, he returned to his hatred of homosexual men. There's some debate over whether he himself was gay but according to psychiatrists, Colin claimed that he was heterosexual and that there was no indication that he was gay. Some criminologists have argued that he could have been gay and sought out to kill homosexual men because he couldn't come to terms with his own sexuality. In my opinion, with the way that he treated the women in his life and the horrendous actions he was to carry out in his future crimes towards innocent gay men, I believe that he was gay himself and for some reason just could not accept it. </p><p style="text-align: center;">After a life of petty crime and disappointment, Colin decided that he couldn't face another year of more misery so his twisted aspiration was to become a serial killer and target gay men. This was his New Year's resolution because he wanted to be famous and he felt that this was the way to do it. He planned the whole thing out and used what knowledge he had of the gay scene to find his victims and carry out his sickening acts. Colin knew what places to target and what terminology to use because he had worked for a brief period of time in the past as a doorman at a gay night club (so for someone who was apparently so against homosexuality, he had no issues working at a gay club in the past). </p><p style="text-align: center;">Colin was an avid reader of true crime books and was obsessed with serial killers. He focused on some of the techniques that some of the infamous killers in history had used and thought that he could do the same. He also had a high interest in forensics and thought that he had what it took to outsmart the police if he began killing. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Colin began to frequent a well known gay pub in Earl's Court, London called 'The Coleherne Arms'. The pub itself is now closed and the building has new owners but in the 1970s, 80s and early 90s, it was the place to be and very much an important landmark in the gay community. The downside of this popular establishment was that it did attract the wrong sort of people such as serial killers, for example, Dennis Nielsen and Michael Lupo along with Colin were notable regulars who encountered their victims at the pub. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Colin (who claimed that he wasn't homosexual himself but seemed to know everything in great detail about the gay community) would take along certain coloured handkerchiefs to the bar and this would be a secret code to other men that he was interested in sadomasochism. He would also look for any men who happened to be carrying these handkerchiefs. Colin would either approach them (as he later claimed, pretending that he was a gay man) or they would approach him and the pair would have a few drinks before going back to the victim's apartment. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Colin claimed that he only pretended to be gay so that he could lure the victim into his trap. He'd go home with them and murder them before leaving a sickening display for the cops to find. </p><p style="text-align: center;">His first known victim was a man named Peter Walker, a popular West End theater director. Peter was a regular of the Coleherne and was very open and proud of being gay and he made no secret that he liked to spice things up in the bedroom department with some sadomasochism. Peter much preferred to have a more submissive role (known as a 'bottom' in gay terminology) rather than dominant when it came to sex. On the night of the 8th of March 1993, Peter had the unfortunate luck of running into Colin Ireland who he assumed to be gay and into similar interests as him. The pair chatted for a while and had a few drinks before going back to Peter's apartment. Peter had two dogs which were kept in another room. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR3nWBBNZn_ciVotElId0UCKbEO71XlEPZDQ6OPd_C2b1zc_w2smcSAoX1EIJVmjLw1JQzrfmEcK8dWLLdXLEQSlhWyIj8Jw7XTLa1q-DnDjrL0y0SAo6jqVMp8KhH55gVP4TLzht-kv2ZUnaEl88LYItLMcKdzPEq2PCCkZMrTiU9Ep5Le70bcKxjo23R/s1280/Pembroke,_Earls_Court,_SW5_(7413737664).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="854" data-original-width="1280" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR3nWBBNZn_ciVotElId0UCKbEO71XlEPZDQ6OPd_C2b1zc_w2smcSAoX1EIJVmjLw1JQzrfmEcK8dWLLdXLEQSlhWyIj8Jw7XTLa1q-DnDjrL0y0SAo6jqVMp8KhH55gVP4TLzht-kv2ZUnaEl88LYItLMcKdzPEq2PCCkZMrTiU9Ep5Le70bcKxjo23R/w640-h428/Pembroke,_Earls_Court,_SW5_(7413737664).jpg" width="640" /></a><span style="font-size: x-small;">(The former pub known as The Coleherne Arms was later branded The Pembroke. Picture credit: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coleherne,_Earl%27s_Court">wikipedia</a>)</span></div><p style="text-align: center;">Whilst both men were in Peter's home what happened next was utterly horrendous. Colin had tied Peter up and obviously Peter went along with it at first thinking it was all part of the role play. What was supposed to be two men engaging in some fun turned out to be a horrific nightmare with Colin savagely beating Peter as he laid there tied up with condoms in an undignified fashion. He also put a lighter close to Peter's testicles in order to torture Peter into telling him his pin number. Colin placed a plastic bag over the poor man's head and suffocated him to death before proceeding to burn Peter's pubic hair because he ''wanted to know what it would smell like''. After this disgusting act he decided to have a look around Peter's apartment to see if there was anything of any value that he could steal, whilst going through Peter's personal letters he discovered that he was HIV positive. Colin was enraged and decided to place some condoms up Peter's nostrils and in his mouth. He then placed two teddy bears in a 69 position on top of the bed. He would later use Peter's bank card to draw out cash from a ATM machine. </p><p style="text-align: center;">In a common theme through Colin's horrible crimes was that he wouldn't flee the crime scene straight away after the killings. He would wait until the morning before leaving to not arouse suspicion from the neighbours. Colin would sit and watch TV or make sandwiches whilst his deceased victim would be laying lifeless in a horrible display that he had left. Colin later told investigators that he hated having to stay with the bodies after the murders because he would see the skin start to change colour and purple blotches would appear. He said he had to stay to ensure that he wouldn't be seen. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Colin carried his own murder kit which contained handcuffs, rope and clothes which he would change into after he'd committed the murders. </p><p style="text-align: center;">After Peter's murder, Colin was annoyed to see that nothing had been reported on the news or in the paper so he contacted a journalist and told him that there were two dogs being kept in a room in Peter's apartment and that he had murdered Peter. When asked by the journalist why he had carried out the murder Colin responded that he wanted to be famous and that it was his New Year's resolution to become a serial killer. </p><p style="text-align: center;">A few months after Peter's murder, Colin returned to the Coleherne bar and selected his next victim. Christopher Dunn was just 37 years old and had worked as a librarian. He was a quiet man and well liked and like a lot of people he had a fetish which involved BDSM. Sadly for Christopher, he trusted Colin and the pair went back to his home where he was cruelly murdered by Colin. Christopher's body was found two days after his murder, he had been in a harness and pieces of cloth had been forced down his throat. He also appeared to have been strangled. The police believed it to have been a sex act gone wrong and didn't take the situation as seriously as they should have done at the time. </p><p style="text-align: center;">With Colin's first known murder of Peter Walker, there was a little bit of time where he appeared to have been quiet as if waiting to see what attention the murder would stir up. Not being satisfied, he struck again and this time he murdered Christopher Dunn and just four days after his murder he killed 35 year old Perry Bradley so the murders were getting more closer together. The situation with Perry had been a little bit different to the other two known victims, he wasn't into BDSM and was pretty nervous about it, Colin persuaded him that it was nothing to worry about and that he would be fine. Colin tied the poor man up and threatened him, demanding that he give him his bank details. Perry did so and Colin manipulated him into thinking that it was just a robbery and told him to go to sleep. Perry eventually fell asleep whilst Colin sat and watched him, at some point he decided that he didn't want to risk Perry being able to give the cops a description of him so he strangled him and placed a doll on top of his body. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Despite having murdered three men Colin was still angry that there didn't seem to be any news or media attention. He struck again and his next victim was 33 year old Andrew Collier. Once the pair were back at Andrew's apartment, they were just about to get a drink when they hear a loud noise outside of the house. They both went over to the window to have a look, There was a steel bar that ran across the window and without thinking, Colin placed his hand on it, leaving behind his finger prints. For a man who was a huge fan of cop shows and thought that he knew how to cover his tracks when it came to forensics, this was a big mistake on his part. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Like the other innocent victims, Andrew was tied up believing that he was taking part in a role play only to find that Colin had other plans. He threatened Andrew and demanded his bank details like he did with Perry Bradley. Andrew refused to give them to him and in a horrific and sickening act, he strangled Andrew's cat before murdering Andrew the same way. Just like what happened with the first murder of Peter Walker, Colin found out that Andrew was HIV positive after going through his belongings. Furious to find that this had happened a second time, he further humiliated Andrew by burning parts of his body and placing a condom on the tail of his cat which he forced into Andrew's mouth. He also placed the cat's mouth over Andrew's penis which also had a condom on. It was a very disturbing scene. </p><p style="text-align: center;">When the police finally found the horrific murder scene at Andrew's apartment they finally started to piece some of the missing puzzle together by connecting both Peter and Andrew's murders. Colin continued to grow impatient and wanted the police to know that he wasn't just responsible for just the two murders, he wanted them to know that he had killed 4 men so that he could achieve that label he so desperately desired which was to be a serial killer. Colin contacted the police and told them that he was angry that they were not making a bid deal about the murders and threatened to take someone else's life. </p><p style="text-align: center;">His final known victim was 41 year old Emanuel Spiteri who was a chef. Colin also met Emanuel at the Coleherne bar and the pair went back to his apartment on the train. Having took this journey police were able to gain footage and pictures of Colin with Emanuel. The pair ended up at Emanuel's home and again, Emanuel was tied up and forced to reveal his bank details. The brave man refused to give Colin his personal details, Colin strangled him and set fire to the apartment before leaving the scene. Colin contacted the police again but this time he said that he didn't want to carry out any more murders, in his eyes he had achieved what he had set out to do. </p><p style="text-align: center;">With the footage from the train station that had been captured on the night of Emanuel's death, the police believed they had their killer and made the footage public. Colin panicked when he saw himself and contacted a lawyer claiming that he was the man that was on the footage with Emanuel that night but that he simply went back to Emanuel's home to find that another guy was waiting on the doorstep. Colin told his lawyer that he didn't fancy a threesome so he left Emanuel alone with this unidentified guy. </p><p style="text-align: center;">The cops were soon knocking at Colin's door and the story didn't wash, investigators knew it was him on the train station footage and the fingerprints found on the window bar from Andrew's apartment had matched his. The police charged him with the murders of Andrew Collier and Emanuel Spiteri but Colin wasn't giving them any more information at first but his ego was taking a bruising because he wanted so bad to be known as a serial killer that he ended up caving in and confessing to all 5 murders. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwtus1KtdWWRF-RPMA0fVckxMKO8D-V4cP1b9ERODJ5sLq4mSI7rEcEDIWNpvIl3c6n0yvAKekKM0TRDX07SmilVwQefRoa73lC5S8qn0MhARzWL_LVXkbAH_2WtcUDSyFS3Oo-R1iVBjfVaEZKUKVQ4_pYq_mM-09s3qq_InJ7BL5Eicann3vR1bQtLyZ/s615/How-gay-slayer-serial-killer-justified-murdering-five-men-in-violence-driven-by-self-loathing.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="410" data-original-width="615" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwtus1KtdWWRF-RPMA0fVckxMKO8D-V4cP1b9ERODJ5sLq4mSI7rEcEDIWNpvIl3c6n0yvAKekKM0TRDX07SmilVwQefRoa73lC5S8qn0MhARzWL_LVXkbAH_2WtcUDSyFS3Oo-R1iVBjfVaEZKUKVQ4_pYq_mM-09s3qq_InJ7BL5Eicann3vR1bQtLyZ/w640-h426/How-gay-slayer-serial-killer-justified-murdering-five-men-in-violence-driven-by-self-loathing.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Newspaper article about the case featuring pictures of the 5 known victims. Picture credit: <a href="https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/gay-slayer-serial-killer-tortured-11512812">mirror</a>)</span></div><p style="text-align: center;">During interrogation Colin spoke of his crimes like he was reading out a shopping list, he had no remorse and agreed that he believed he should be locked up and kept away from the public. He said that he targeted gay men because they were easy victims. A lot of people would argue with that because as awful as it sounds, he could have chosen a number of vulnerable people to choose from such as female sex workers or homeless people but he was 100% focused on murdering gay men. Was Colin Ireland a homosexual man who could not accept his sexuality? or was he just a messed up, evil individual who wanted to punish innocent men for the abuse that he suffered as a child and teenager? What are your thoughts, comment below or email me at jocaledoniankitty@gmail.com </p><p style="text-align: center;">In the 1980s and 1990s, crimes against people in the LGBTQA+ community were not taken seriously as they should have been. There was a lot of hostility from the community towards the police and you could understand why. During the AIDS crisis, the police would often show up at gay establishments and would search the premises and handle innocent members of the public by wearing rubber gloves after someone would make false accusations. There was a lot of trouble and violence from the police against people who campaigned for the rights to HIV medications and other important issues effecting the community. </p><p style="text-align: center;">On a positive note, things have moved on significantly in the police's attitude to hate crimes and incidences that occur in the gay community are taken more seriously now than they were back them. Obviously everything can't be perfect and I'm sure there are a lot of faults still there and more improvements that could be made but it's a bit better than it was. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Colin Ireland pleaded guilty to all five murders at his trial in December of 1993 and was given five life sentences. He died behind bars of infamous 'Monster Mansion', <a href="http://www.caledoniankitty.co.uk/2021/10/wakefield-prison-monsters-mansion.html">Wakefield Prison</a> of pulmonary fibrosis on the 21st of February 2012. He was 57 years old. An end to a life full of nothing but pain, misery and suffering, not just through his own experiences but through what he dished out to innocent people. Colin Ireland didn't just take the lives of 5 innocent men, he left behind heartbroken families, friends and a community that was just celebrating their freedom and self expression. He also left behind scars on his ex partners and their families because of how he treated them and because of what he went on to do. Prisoners who had shared a cell with Colin later said that he boasted of his crimes and apparently claimed that he had murdered far more men than he admitted to. Who knows the truth? All we know is that Colin Ireland was a sick individual who showed no remorse for his crimes. </p><p style="text-align: center;">I would like to take a moment to remember the innocent men who fell into Colin Ireland's evil clutches, may they rest in peace:</p><p style="text-align: center;">Peter Walker</p><p style="text-align: center;">Christopher Dunn</p><p style="text-align: center;">Perry Bradley III</p><p style="text-align: center;">Andrew Collier</p><p style="text-align: center;">Emanuel Spiteri</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><u>Further Reading & Sources:</u></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/History-British-Serial-Killing-2011-02-03/dp/B017MYHKV8/ref=sr_1_2?crid=5GHNXXWVJSH9&keywords=a+history+of+british+serial+killing&qid=1693509344&sprefix=a+history+of+british+serial+killing+%2Caps%2C402&sr=8-2&ufe=app_do%3Aamzn1.fos.42a483c5-1df2-46ee-a728-92d018483bf9">A History of British Serial Killing | Book by Professor David Wilson</a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Big-Book-Serial-Killers-Encyclopedia/dp/171030779X/ref=sr_1_3_sspa?crid=17S3QG7PIL13U&keywords=the+big+book+of+serial+killers+volume+2&qid=1693509444&sprefix=the+big+book+of+serial+killer%2Caps%2C123&sr=8-3-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&psc=1">The Big Book of Serial Killers: Volume 2 | Book by Jack Rosewood & Rebecca Lo </a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Gay-Slayer-Serial-Killer-Ireland/dp/1500473588/ref=sr_1_1?crid=7NYKFL701RJM&keywords=colin+ireland&qid=1693509522&sprefix=colin+ireland+%2Caps%2C137&sr=8-1">The Gay Slayer | Book by Fergus Mason</a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Colin-Ireland-Slayer-True-Crimes-ebook/dp/B00G1TRDJ0/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=colin+ireland&qid=1693509569&sr=8-4">Colin Ireland: The Gay Slayer | Book by Andrew Alexander </a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://murderpedia.org/male.I/i/ireland-colin.htm">Colin Ireland | Murderpedia </a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colin_Ireland">Colin Ireland | Wikipedia </a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/news/west-yorkshire-news/monster-mansions-serial-killer-colin-22023621">Colin Ireland | Article by Examiner Live </a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/gay-slayer-serial-killer-tortured-11512812">Colin Ireland | Article by The Mirror</a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-5070423/Colin-Ireland-serial-killer-gay-men-famous.html">Colin Ireland | Article by Daily Mail </a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEseKwsqNwg">Colin Ireland | Born To Kill (Documentary)</a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://news.sky.com/story/gay-slayer-serial-killer-dies-in-jail-10480796">Colin Ireland | Article: Sky News </a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coleherne,_Earl%27s_Court">The Coleherne Arms | Wikipedia</a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="https://lgbthistoryuk.org/wiki/Coleherne">The Coleherne Arms | LGBT History UK</a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;">I know this was another difficult case to get through and the details were pretty horrific but I thank you again as always for making it through with me. I hope you will join me for next week's case. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Check out my previous posts in my Serial Killers of the 70s, 80s & 90s Series:</p><p style="text-align: center;">- <a href="http://www.caledoniankitty.co.uk/2023/05/the-worst-serial-killer-in-american.html">The Dating Game Killer: Rodney Alcala </a></p><p style="text-align: center;">- <a href="http://www.caledoniankitty.co.uk/2023/06/i-murdered-over-90-women-they-are-my.html">He Claimed To Have Murdered Over 90 Women: Samuel Little</a></p><p style="text-align: center;">- <a href="http://www.caledoniankitty.co.uk/2023/06/i-may-be-34th-victim4-other-people-had.html">The Killer Clown (Did He Act Alone?): John Wayne Gacy</a></p><p style="text-align: center;">- <a href="http://www.caledoniankitty.co.uk/2023/06/tea-parties-with-dead-bodies-400.html">400 Victims? | The Monster of The Andes: Pedro Lopez</a></p><p style="text-align: center;">- <a href="http://www.caledoniankitty.co.uk/2023/06/the-many-faces-of-ted-bundy-charismatic.html">The Charismatic Serial Killer: Ted Bundy </a></p><p style="text-align: center;">- <a href="http://www.caledoniankitty.co.uk/2023/07/i-know-i-have-to-be-destroyed-i-was.html">The Butcher of Rostov: Andrei Chikatilo </a></p><p style="text-align: center;">- <a href="http://www.caledoniankitty.co.uk/2023/07/how-many-people-do-i-have-to-kill.html">BTK: Bind, Torture, Kill: Dennis Rader</a></p><p style="text-align: center;">- <a href="http://www.caledoniankitty.co.uk/2023/07/i-tied-her-up-because-i-wanted-to-keep.html">The Blackest Heart: Robert Black</a></p><p style="text-align: center;">- <a href="http://www.caledoniankitty.co.uk/2023/08/every-womans-worst-nightmare-grim.html">The Grim Sleeper: Lonnie Franklin Jr </a></p><p style="text-align: center;">- <a href="http://www.caledoniankitty.co.uk/2023/08/ive-lost-count-of-how-many-women-i-have.html">The Green River Killer: Gary Ridgway </a></p><p style="text-align: center;">If you would like to help support my work by buying me a coffee, you can do so <a href="https://ko-fi.com/caledoniankitty">here</a>, thank you!!</p><p style="text-align: center;">Stay safe and I will see you in my next post & hopefully on my <a href="https://linktr.ee/caledoniankitty">socials</a> x</p>Caledonian Kittyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07812087097647828789noreply@blogger.com2