10 STORIES ON THIS BEAT
She Ran Barefoot and Handcuffed From a Serial Killer: How 17-Year-Old Cindy Paulson Brought Down Alaska’s “Butcher Baker”
Seventeen-year-old Cindy Paulson was shackled, bleeding and moments away from being flown into the Alaskan wilderness when she made a desperate run for her life. Her escape not only saved her, but also exposed Robert Hansen, the seemingly ordinary baker who admitted to murdering 17 women.
He Vanished Before Closing Arguments. 20 Years Later, Marshals Found Him On A Sailboat
Ronald L. Fischer, a former Rhode Island anesthesiologist convicted of first-degree sexual assault after fleeing his 2005 trial, has been captured after more than 20 years on the run. U.S. Marshals say the longtime fugitive was found aboard a 56-foot sailboat registered under an alias off the New York/New Jersey coast.
A Newborn Was Found in the Trash. 16 Years Later, a Costco Receipt Helped Lead Police to Her Mother
A newborn baby found dead in a Union City dumpster in 2009 was named Matea Esperanza by police who refused to forget her. More than 16 years later, advanced DNA testing and evidence including a Costco receipt helped investigators connect the case to Angela Beth Onduto, the baby’s mother, who was sentenced to six years in prison.
He Thought the Documentary Would Help Him. Instead, Robert Durst’s Own Words Helped Convict Him of Murder
Robert Durst, the wealthy New York real estate heir long tied to multiple deaths, was convicted of murdering his best friend Susan Berman in 2000. Prosecutors argued he killed Berman to stop her from revealing what she knew about his wife Kathie’s 1982 disappearance, while evidence uncovered through “The Jinx” documentary helped bring the decades-old case back into the spotlight.
He Hid in Plain Sight for Decades. Then a Discarded Napkin Helped Expose the Golden State Killer
For decades, the Golden State Killer terrorized California while hiding in plain sight. Investigators finally identified Joseph James DeAngelo through DNA evidence, genealogy databases, and discarded items like napkins and razors, linking him to 13 murders, 51 sexual assaults, and more than 120 burglaries before he was sentenced to life in prison without parole.
His Ex-Wife Sleeps in the Room Where He Says Victims Were Killed: Now the Gilgo Beach Killer Will Die in Prison
Rex Heuermann, the convicted Gilgo Beach serial killer, has been sentenced to the maximum punishment for the murders of eight women. As his ex-wife says he “got what he deserved,” the case continues to raise disturbing questions about the suburban life he hid behind, the home tied to his crimes, and whether investigators may still uncover more victims.
She Faked a Pregnancy for 10 Months-Then Her Friend Was Murdered and Her Baby Was Gone
Reagan Simmons-Hancock believed Taylor Parker was her friend and fellow expectant mother, but Parker’s pregnancy was an elaborate lie that ended in unimaginable tragedy. After faking a pregnancy for months, Parker murdered Reagan and abducted her unborn daughter, a case that exposed how deeply deception can hide behind trust, friendship, and everyday appearances.
He Worked Inside San Quentin. A Jury Found Corrections Officer Was Hiding Horrific Crimes at Home.
A former California corrections officer who worked at San Quentin Rehabilitation Center has been convicted of child sex crimes involving three young family members. Prosecutors said Richard Phillip Bardouski abused the victims for years while holding a position of authority and trust, and he now faces a potential life sentence after a Napa County jury found him guilty.
“I’m Not a Criminal Anymore”: Former Mob Enforcer-Turned-New Jersey Councilman Arrested in Extortion Case
Former mob enforcer-turned-New Jersey councilman John Alite is facing new extortion and misconduct charges after prosecutors accused him of running an illegal loan scheme and threatening debtors. Alite, who once claimed to have committed multiple murders during his years tied to organized crime, had publicly said he was no longer a criminal and wanted to serve his community.
They Claimed They Were “Good Samaritans.” Police Say the Truth Was Much Darker
Two young women went out for a night in Los Angeles and never made it home. After Christy Giles and Hilda Marcela Cabrales-Arzola were left at separate hospitals by the same masked men, investigators uncovered a chilling trail of surveillance footage, phone data, toxicology reports, and survivor testimony that helped convict David Pearce of murder and sexual assault.