Cloudy with a Chance of Murder

I reviewed Billy Jensen's book, Chase Darkness with Me , on the blog back in 2019, and I'm also a fan of the podcast he co-hosts with Paul Holes, Jensen & Holes: The Murder Squad . Now Jensen has a new project, Unraveled: The Long Island Serial Killer , which is available in podcast form and as a special on Discovery+. Unraveled  is described as "a search for answers in one of the biggest murder mysteries in American history," and Jensen and his co-host, Alexis Linkletter, tell the story of an unsolved case involving 11 murdered women and a corrupt police chief. This case is also the subject of the 2020 Netflix film "Lost Girls," and if you liked that, you'll definitely want to check out Unraveled . You can find Unraveled wherever you listen to podcasts or watch it on Discovery+ (which is a great streaming service, by the way...I'm doing a free trial right now, and I'm loving all the true crime and paranormal stuff they have to offer). I high...

Michelle McNamara's I'll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman's Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer  is the best true crime book I've ever read (and I've read a lot of them), so of course I was excited about HBO's six-part documentary series, which concluded last Sunday. I'll Be Gone in the Dark  is thrilling, unsettling, and heartbreaking and really does the book (and Michelle) justice. If you're a fan of true crime at all (and I'll assume you are if you're reading this blog), do yourself a favor and check it out. You can find out more about the series here (and if you're not an HBO subscriber, you can sign up for a free trial of HBO Max and watch it that way): HBO: I'll Be Gone in the Dark (Also, you can read my review of the book here:  Book Spotlight: I'll Be Gone in the Dark .)

Looking for something fun to read while you avoid crowds? Keep your mind off all the bad news with Never Trust an Angel and Other Plays! It'll be free on Amazon through March 16th, and I hope you have as much reading it as I did writing it. I don't usually post about my books on this blog, but Jeffrey Dahmer is a character in Never Trust an Angel, so I thought my fellow true crime buffs might be interested. Here's what it's about: Satan is sure that his overachieving son will run Hell someday, but his wife has a secret that may change everything. Jesus wants to quit his job to start a Christian metal band, and now it's up to God to find a new Messiah...but the person he has in mind doesn't want the job. Will God be able to find a suitable Messiah? Will Christian metal be as terrible as it sounds, or will Jesus take the music business by storm? Will Satan and Angel's relationship survive Angel's betrayal? You'll find answers to these questions a...

I've been wanting to read Elizabeth Kendall's The Phantom Prince: My Life with Ted Bundy  for years, so when it was re-released a few months ago, I had to buy it. The book was originally published in 1981, and the updated and expanded 2020 edition includes a new introduction and afterward by Kendall as well as a contribution from her daughter, Molly, who was three years old when her mother began a relationship with Ted. Kendall met Bundy at Seattle's Sandpiper Tavern in October 1969 and embarked on a six-year relationship with him. During their relationship, she became suspicious of him and worried that he might be the man police were looking for in connection with murders in Washington and Utah. She went to the police with her suspicions but felt conflicted and guilty about it, and though the police assured her that Bundy wasn't the man they were looking for, it wasn't enough to quell her fears. The Phantom Prince is a fascinating story about what happens when ...

As someone who's interested in both true crime and music, I was pretty sure I'd enjoy Jake Brennan's Disgraceland: Musicians Getting Away with Murder and Behaving Very Badly , and it did not disappoint! In this book, Brennan tells some fascinating stories about Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Axl Rose, Chuck Berry, and more, and his writing style really pulled me into the story and made me feel like I was there, witnessing the events in person. I enjoyed the whole book, but the most interesting chapter was the one about Jerry Lee Lewis. Of course I knew about Jerry Lee marrying his 13-year-old cousin, but I had no idea that he possibly murdered one of his other wives and got away with it or that he rammed his car into the gates of Graceland one night, threatening to assassinate Elvis. The Sid Vicious chapter was also really interesting...before I read Disgraceland , all I knew about him was that he was in the Sex Pistols and killed his girlfriend, Nancy Spungen. I didn...

I just discovered that the delightful and hilarious Nick Offerman and Megan Mullally have a podcast, In Bed with Nick and Megan , and was excited to find out that they welcomed My Favorite Murder 's Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark into their bed on the January 5th episode. I thought my fellow Murderinos might be interested in listening to it, so of course I had to share the link here. Enjoy! 😃 Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark

I started listening to My Favorite Murder  a few months ago and immediately became obsessed with it, so of course I had to buy Stay Sexy and Don't Get Murdered , which is a dual memoir by the podcast's amazing hosts. Karen and Georgia talk about their successes, therapists, true crime obsessions, and things they've learned from their mistakes, and they give great advice about how to "fuck politeness," avoid joining a cult, be a latchkey kid, and more. If you love My Favorite Murder  as much as I do, you've got to read this book...you'll learn a lot about Karen and Georgia and learn some valuable life lessons in the process. My rating: 8.5/10 Visit  myfavoritemurder.com  to listen to the podcast, join the Fan Cult (the only kind of cult you should join), or buy merchandise that will make you the envy of your fellow Murderinos. (Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.) 

On January 13, 1996, 9-year-old Amber Hagerman and her 5-year-old brother Ricky rode their bikes to an abandoned grocery store parking lot. After playing and using the bike ramp for awhile, Ricky rode home by himself; Amber was abducted, her body discovered four days later by a man walking his dog. Amber was found in a creek behind the Forest Hills Apartments; her autopsy revealed that she had been dead for two days before she was found, and her abductor had beaten and sexually assaulted her before cutting her throat and leaving her in the creek. Amber's kidnapping was witnessed by 76-year-old Jim Kevil, who said he saw a man jump out of a dark-colored truck and grab Amber. He described her abductor as white or Hispanic, between 25 and 40, under six feet tall, with a medium build, and though police showed up within minutes of the abduction, no one has ever been arrested for Amber's murder.  True Crime Daily  covered the case on the 20th anniversary of Amber's murder, and y...

On November 28th, 1969, 22-year-old Betsy Aardsma went to the Penn State library to do research for an English paper. While she was in the stacks on the second floor, an unknown assailant stabbed her in the chest. Approximately twenty minutes later, a student discovered Betsy on the floor and summoned help, but it was too late. Several students later reported seeing a man flee the library, stopping to say, "Somebody better help that girl." A janitor cleaned up the area before the police arrived, compromising the crime scene and destroying any potential evidence. Because Betsy was wearing a red dress, it wasn't obvious that she had been stabbed, so no one realized she had been attacked until she was examined at the campus medical center. Betsy's boyfriend was originally a person of interest, but he was cleared since he was 100 miles away at the time of the attack. Alleged pedophile Richard Haefner (who had once dated Betsy) was also a person of interest, but there was...

On September 15, 1999, 36-year-old Allean Logan disappeared from her Washington, DC apartment. Her family became worried when their calls to her went unanswered, so they asked the building manager to check on her. In the apartment, Allean's infant son was alone, strapped in his car seat; there were signs of a struggle but no sign of Allean. Her body was discovered in 2000 near a neighborhood called Barnaby Terrace, but it was not identified as Allean until 2018, when her sisters provided DNA samples. Allean's nephew, Henderson Long, said that Allean had witnessed a murder the day of her disappearance and had talked to detectives right before she vanished. You can find out more on this episode of Intrigued Full Effect : If you have any information about Allean's death, please call the Metropolitan Police Department at 202-727-9099 or send a text to 50411. Allean and her family deserve justice. More resources: Police investigating death of Allean Logan 20 years af...

On September 12, 1992, 27-year-old Northwest Airlines ramp supervisor Su Taraskiewicz left work at Boston's Logan Airport to go get food for her coworkers. It was the last time they ever saw Su alive. Two days later, Su's body was found in the trunk of her car at a nearby auto body shop; she had been stabbed and beaten to death. Her family thought Su had been the victim of a random attack until her mother found Su's diary in late 1993. In the diary, Su wrote about sexual harassment, threatening graffiti (including a drawing of a coffin), and other things that had happened to her at work, and her mother began to suspect that this might have something to do with her murder. Police discovered that some of Su's coworkers had been operating a stolen credit card ring; two of the main suspects in her murder (Joseph Nuzzo and Robert Brooks) were involved in this illegal activity, but no one has ever been charged with her murder.  The Massachusetts State Police produced a ...

Jack L. Robinson was stabbed to death at Rosewood Boat Landing in Columbia, SC, on August 17, 1996. Witnesses saw him arguing with an unknown Hispanic man around 6 p.m., but he fled the scene and still has not been caught. The dark-haired, mustached assailant was described as being 25-35 years old, around 5'5," and 150-180 pounds; he would be in his late 40s to late 50s now. Jack was a 65-year-old military veteran who had recently retired, and he loved his family and often volunteered at homeless shelters and soup kitchens. Witnesses said that he seemed to know his killer, but no one knows why Jack was at the boat landing. Unsolved Mysteries featured Jack's murder on its website in 2014, and you can watch the video here:  If you have any information about this murder, contact the Richland County Sheriff's Department at 803-576-3000 or call 1-888-Crime-SC. Jack and his family deserve justice. More resources: Project Cold Case: Jack L. Robinson ...

On March 17, 1990, 14-year-old Rachel Hurley enjoyed a fun day of boating with friends in Jupiter, Florida, then went off on her own to meet her mother in the parking lot at Carlin Park. She never made it. A few hours later, Rachel's partially-clothed body was found in a wooded area at the park; she had been raped, beaten, and strangled. More than 120 men have been ruled out after having their DNA tested, but after nearly three decades, there have still been no arrests. The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Department has released a mini documentary about Rachel, which you can watch here to find out more about the case: Rachel was a kind, thoughtful girl who loved the beach and played softball, and her loved ones have not given up hope that her killer will be identified. It's been 29 years - it's time for Rachel's family to get answers. The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office has physical evidence, but what they don't have is a name. If you know the name they...

I read about the murder of Jennifer Cohen in Billy Jensen's Chase Darkness with Me , and since he called this case his "white whale," I decided that it should be the first unsolved murder I cover on this blog. Jennifer Cohen was a 35-year-old mother of 2 who was found beaten to death in Brooklyn's Owl Head Park on September 29, 2016. The last known image of Jennifer alive was a video of her walking with a man who still has not been identified. The police have described this mystery man as being around 5'8" and 175 pounds, and his face can be seen in this video: . If you know this man's identity or have any information about this crime, call NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS. Jennifer's family deserves answers. For more on this case, check out Jensen & Holes: The Murder Squad podcast: The Owl's Head Park Man and the Girl with the Serpent Tattoo More resources: Who Is Jennifer Cohen? New Details About th...

I was inspired to start this blog after I read Michelle McNamara's I'll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman's Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer , and since investigative journalist Billy Jensen helped finish that masterpiece after Michelle passed away, of course I was excited to read his book. Chase Darkness with Me follows Jensen's journey as he becomes someone who solves murders instead of just writing about them, and it's a fascinating read. It was really interesting to read about all the cases Jensen took on, and I could tell that he truly cared about the victims and their loved ones. The book is really inspiring too...I decided a long time ago to devote my life to writing/making people laugh, but after reading  Chase Darkness with Me , I have a really strong desire to try to solve a murder. Chase Darkness with Me gave me quite a dilemma...I tore through it, but I also didn't want it to end (a dilemma I never mind having). It's one of the best ...

If you love Netflix's Mindhunter as much as I do, you might be interested in learning about the real serial killers and FBI agents who inspired the series. Of course we all know about Charles Manson, Dennis Rader (the BTK killer), and Richard Speck, but here's some interesting info about the less infamous people who were inspirations for the fascinating characters on Mindhunter . The Real Serial Killers and FBI Agents Who Inspired Netflix's Mindhunter

Netflix released their new Ted Bundy movie yesterday, and if you're a true crime junkie, you're going to want to check it out. Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile  stars Zac Efron, Lily Collins, Kaya Scodelario, and John Malkovich, and it focuses on Bundy's (Zac Efron) relationship with Liz Kendall (Lily Collins) as well as his arrests and trials. All the actors were great, especially Zac Efron and Lily Collins. I'll admit that I was skeptical when I first heard that Zac Efron had been cast as Ted Bundy, but he did an amazing job, and I was really impressed with his performance in this movie. I thought the film did a great job at evoking the time period it was set in (loved the '70s wardrobe), and since it didn't spend much time showing Bundy's crimes, it felt very different from the other movies I've seen that are based on true crimes (in a good way). I really liked Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile and highly recommend it. Netflix:...

I spent the weekend watching  Dirty John , and what a great show! I liked it so much that I watched seven episodes in one night...and going to bed with only one episode left wasn't easy, but I was just too tired to stay up for one more. The show is based on the podcast by Christopher Goffard, and it stars Connie Britton, Eric Bana, Juno Temple, Julia Garner, and Jean Smart. Dirty John  tells the story of Debra Newell (Connie Britton), a successful fifty-something interior designer looking for love. When she meets John Meehan (Eric Bana), he seems too good to be true...and he is. It doesn't take long for Debra to fall for John, but her suspicious daughters (Juno Temple and Julia Garner) soon find out that John isn't what he seems. I won't say too much because I don't want to spoil things for people who don't know the story, but if you like entertaining true crime shows with great performances, Dirty John  is perfect for you. 😊 My rating: 8/10

When we hear about murder, our hearts go out to the families of the victims, but we often forget about another set of victims: the family of the murderer. In A Serial Killer's Daughter: My Story of Faith, Love, and Overcoming , Kerri Rawson tells us what it's like to find out your father is a serial killer (the BTK Killer in this case) and live with the shock, sadness, and guilt that follows. It's a really interesting read, and it must've taken a lot of courage for Rawson to write it. If you're a fan of true crime books, this is one you don't want to miss.

People magazine recently published an article called "Faces of the Missing: 13 Unsolved Disappearances - and How Their Families Fight for Answers," and I wanted to share it here in case anyone who comes across this blog has seen any of these missing persons. Please check out the article, and if you happen to recognize any of the faces, contact The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST. Faces of the Missing