Sparks was later charged in her death by a grand jury in August. 40 Creepy Crime Stories From Small Towns You Haven’t Seen In The Newspaper By January Nelson Updated January 25, 2021. And members only had to obey one rule: “Thou shall not snitch to the cops.”. In December, Yazeed’s charges were upgraded from first-degree kidnapping to capital murder, CNN reported. Although the charges were dropped against the actor for allegedly filing a false police report and staging an assault he reported to Chicago police in January, his reputation has been tarnished by the case. BELIEVE ME, DAMN YOU." The woman had been incapacitated for years when she gave birth to a boy on December 29, and the birth began an investigation. Tevin Biles-Thomas, the biological brother of Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles, was hit with multiple charges in 2019 for a shooting in Ohio on New Year’s Eve, USA Today reported. 5 months ago. The boy allegedly shot them all in the head as they slept. In May 2006, Epstein was charged with multiple counts of unlawful sex acts with a minor. The Story of Titanic for Children: Astonishing Little-Known Facts and Details About the Most Famous Ship in … Some Dixie Mafia members were allegedly hired to collect debts and carry out hits for him. Sadly, Spurlock’s body was recovered in an “unnatural position” in a shallow grave on property belonging to family members of suspect David Sparks on July 10. Nathan Sutherland was arrested in January after he was suspected of assaulting and impregnating an incapacitated woman who gave birth at a long-term care facility, Hacienda HealthCare, NPR reported. Kirksey McCord Nix Jr., one of the lead figures of the Dixie Mafia, was suspected to be one of the men behind the hit. Asa Rodger . One guy in Kansas mortgaged his house and sent $30,000 to the scammers over a period of months.” To make matters worse, some of the prisoners eventually confessed the scheme to victims and threatened to out them if they told anyone. One of the top leaders, Kirksey McCord Nix Jr., had been caught running a scam from prison and even ordering a mob hit from behind bars. Although much of the Turpin case took place in 2018, the sad saga ended in 2019. Kutcher even testified in the case against Gargiulo. Miraculously, her baby was found alive in the same house and she was reunited with her father, Shane Carey, on Christmas Eve. If you’re into organized crime and the age gangsters, then this is a must-read. While the Dixie Mafia had no formal ties to La Cosa Nostra, they did have an “understanding” with a notorious Italian-American Mafia mob boss named Carlos Marcello. Jennifer Dulos went missing on May 24, 2019. Chelsea Houska Debuts New Aubree Says Gear, and Baby Walker Models! Meanwhile, the Dixie Mafia received hundreds of thousands of dollars during this time. 4 months ago. After the mob apparently ordered a hit on the judge, Sherry and his wife were murdered in their Mississippi home in 1987. It was then that the teenage girl managed to escape and get help, leading to Patterson’s arrest. Heidi Broussard of Austin, Texas, went missing on December 12, 2019, ABC News reported. Barnard College freshman Tessa Majors was walking in Manhattan’s Morningside Park near her college on December 11 when she was attacked, CNN reported. Sadly, Broussard’s body was found strangled in a home near Houston just days later on December 19. During the 1960s, a group of criminals known as the Dixie Mafia began to creep across cities and towns in the South. He was previously a nurse at the facility and was one of the individuals responsible for the woman’s care. 22-year-old Ashley Ellerin was dating Kutcher when she was killed. “There were hundreds of victims. But even incarceration couldn’t stop them from committing crimes. Have you heard of these cases? Three of the most widely known erroneous murder convictions all came at once in 1994, when teenagers Damien Echols, Jessie Misskelley, Jr. and Jason Baldwin were all … Unbeknownst to authorities, Dixie Mafia leader Kirksey McCord Nix Jr. was orchestrating an elaborate extortion scheme from behind bars. “They were doing anything and everything illegal down here,” said retired FBI Special Agent Keith Bell, who grew up on the Gulf Coast and worked on cases linked to the Dixie Mafia. The show premiered with a two-hour pilot—a film which had been exhibited theatrically—and was watched by over 30 million viewers. This seedy history — and the ongoing corruption of local officials — made the city an attractive place for lawbreakers. 7 Mind-Blowing Facts About Richard Ramirez. The assailants — who were masked and armed — ambushed the camp and used chains and padlocks to restrain their victims. Shockingly, employees of the facility realized she was pregnant only after she went into labor. The Dixie Mafia’s territory stretched all over the South, from Georgia to Oklahoma. This is another case that began long before 2019 but came to a close this year. From murdering authority figures to burning down buildings to creating elaborate extortion schemes, the Dixie Mafia was known far and wide as an “anything-for-a-buck gang.” While they were initially based out of Biloxi, Mississippi, it didn’t take long for their reach to spread all across the South. Editors' Picks. About a year after I graduated high school a local girl a couple years younger than me went missing. by Norberto Briceño. Nix and later Halat were both convicted in the conspiracy that led to the judge’s death. All with a good range of cases; murder and other crimes, iconic and the obscure. But the operation unraveled when half a million dollars suddenly went missing. New York authorities will keep investigating Epstein’s case and several women are still filing lawsuits against his estate, Vox reported on September 4, so although the indicted criminal is dead, we may continue to hear more about his crimes into 2020 — especially if the Epstein memes keep the story alive. A coincidence is defined as a series of events and circumstances which seemingly have no apparent connection to each other, but wind up being related by pure chance. Twenty-four others, mostly women and children, had stayed behind at the campsite. Revisiting the Yorkshire Ripper Murders. Actor Ron Ely‘s wife Valerie Lundeen Ely was fatally stabbed inside his Santa Barbara home on October 16. See Where the 'Married at First Sight' Couples Are Now, See Where All the 'Are You the One?' 28 Spine-Chilling Photos of the Son of Sam Murders. In 2019, plenty of criminal cases rocked the news, and we compiled a list of some of the most outrageous examples here. BuzzFeed Staff. He was sentenced on May 24, 2019, to life in prison without parole after receiving one life sentence each for the murders and a 40-year sentence for Jayme’s kidnapping. Crime Stories Filters. The investigation is ongoing. Natasha Ishak is a staff writer at All That's Interesting. There were at least two casualties: Margie George, a 44-year-old fortune-teller who was hacked to death for refusing to reveal the location of a supposed safe, and Gary Elbert McDaniel, a known Dixie Mafia associate who turned up dead a month after the murder. The boy allegedly killed his father, John Sisk — pictured here — and his stepmother, Mary Sisk, along with the couple’s three younger children — Kane, 6, Rorrie, 5 and 6-month-old Colson. A 14-year-old boy allegedly confessed to fatally shooting five members of his family in Elkmont, Alabama in September 2019. By the 1980s, many top members of the Dixie Mafia had found themselves in prison. I rated it lower as the title is misleading and the stories while fine are often not great. Couples Are Now. On February 21, the Empire star was arrested for filing a false police report after he claimed that two men attacked and screamed “racial and homophobic slurs” at him, In Touch confirmed at the time. Chelsea DeBoer Reveals Why Sharing Her Post-Baby Body Was 'Important', Adrienne Bailon Opens Up About 'Scary' COVID-19 Experience, Inside Chelsea DeBoer's 'Edgy, Cozy' South Dakota Home, Kardashian BFF Adrienne Bailon Is 'Happy' for Kourtney and Travis Barker, Below Deck's Captain Glenn Weighs In on Adam and Jenna's Split. For access to all our exclusive celebrity videos and interviews – Subscribe on YouTube! As of December 26, Fotis is trying to have his divorce case dismissed and to regain custody of his five children. Last but not least, Smollett’s case. According to the indictment, Epstein was accused of sexually exploiting and abusing “dozens of minor girls at his homes in Manhattan, New York, and Palm Beach, Florida, among other locations.”. Some of the most horrific true crime stories come from serial criminals—killers, rapists, arsonists. They collected roughly $12,000, although the victims may have underreported the theft to avoid tax troubles. Pam’s story spread some years ago through a documentary show on a cable channel. He was arrested the following day and charged with tampering with physical evidence and for abuse of a corpse. In Touch Weekly is part of the A360 Media Entertainment Group.Copyright © A360 Media LLC 2021. Just In. Sparks is scheduled for trial in January 2020. The businessman pleaded not guilty and potentially faced up to 45 years in prison if he was convicted of those new crimes. But what about the shocking true crime stories that didn’t get around-the-clock coverage on cable news networks? “But I don’t have any illusions that this is the end of the Dixie Mafia.”, Next, meet Joe Valachi, the first mobster to expose the Mafia’s darkest secrets, and Frank Lucas, the real-life heroin kingpin who inspired the film ‘American Gangster.’, The Little-Known Story Of The Dixie Mafia, The ‘Cornbread Cosa Nostra’ Of The South. He was found dead in his cell on August 10, 2019, and while his death was officially ruled a suicide, some believe it was murder. Here are 10 of the craziest true crime stories you won’t believe are real: 10 True Crime Stories You Have To Read To Believe: 1. See the 'Are You the One?' Savannah Spurlock disappeared after leaving The Other Bar in Lexington, Kentucky on January 4, the International Business Times reported. From serial killers to shocking current events, these true crime stories prove that sometimes real life is a lot darker than fiction. 23 Creepy True Crime Stories That'll Make You Gasp, "Oh My God" Warning: includes details some readers may find disturbing. Her infant daughter, Margot Carey, also disappeared. List of articles in category Crime Stories; Num: Title Author Hits Vote Rating; Bottom Of The Mine Written by Andrew Hughes Hits: 63 Vote: 3 Rating: 5 The Texas Way Written by Charles West Hits: 162 Vote: 2 Rating: 5 Deadly Passion Written by Thomas G. Schmidt Hits: 812 Vote: 3 Rating: 5 Where'd Shirley Go? Robin Warder . The 36-year-old initially said he was approached by two unknown offenders who “gained his attention by yelling out racial and homophobic slurs towards him,” and when the alleged crime was first reported, the Chicago police department said he was allegedly “battered” around his face and that “an unknown chemical substance” was poured on him. Marcello tolerated the Dixie Mafia’s presence as long as they played by his rules and paid for his hospitality. Pete Halat, Nix’s former lawyer who once served as the mayor of Biloxi. The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office announced it was none other than Valerie and Ron’s son, Cameron Ely, who committed the crime. By the 1980s, the blurred lines between government officials and Dixie Mafia members had become so extreme that federal authorities designated the entire Harrison County Sheriff’s Office in Mississippi as a criminal enterprise. A friend found Ellerin’s body the next day. The life of an international trafficker is seedy and extremely dangerous, and exactly the kind of life a couple of Kentucky bluebloods decided to lead. Murder Most Foul. “For money, the sheriff and officers loyal to him would release prisoners from the county jail, safeguard drug shipments, and hide fugitives. The story of how two women, both named Mary Morris, who lived in the same city, died within the same week. Broussard’s friend Magen Fieramusca was charged with kidnapping and murder charges are pending as investigators work to figure out if Fieramusca kidnapped Broussard and Margot to keep the baby as her own. They primarily operated in Biloxi, Mississippi, but the group’s reach soon stretched from Atlanta, Georgia to Tulsa, Oklahoma. But Epstein was arrested and indicted again in July 2019, for sex trafficking of underage girls. The seizure of a cocaine-laced package bound for Thailand at an airport in Bolivia is only the latest along a little-known drug trafficking route to south and southeastern Asia that relies on commercial flights out of Bolivia. Mary-Kate Olsen's New Man John Cooper Is 'Her Type': Get to Know Him! Little-Known Mysteries of New England (True Crime Stories) During the 1960s, a group of criminals known as the Dixie Mafia began to creep across cities and towns in the South. 1. Three men were arrested in connection with her disappearance — David Johnson Jr. was charged with hindering prosecution, while Ibraheem Yazeed and Antwain Fisher were each charged with first-degree kidnapping, WVTM-13 reported. Buford Pusser supposedly took out several members of the Dixie Mafia to avenge his wife’s death. Despite the loose structure that made up the Dixie Mafia network, the Southern crime syndicate was implicated in a number of high-profile cases. A second, 14-year-old suspect, was later arrested. Loughlin, on the other hand, has pleaded not guilty to the charges against her. And there you are: 7 books to get you started on your true crime journey. Anything you can think of, they were involved in.”, As one member of the Dixie Mafia put it: “What makes them so dangerous is they don’t think, they just act. We may be hearing more about this case in 2020 as well. By January Nelson Updated January 25, 2021. Tell us in the comments below. Her attackers allegedly intended to rob her and she was stabbed multiple times in the altercation and died from her wounds. Their abuse, including extreme malnutrition, shocked the country, and in April 2019, the couple was sentenced to 25 years to life. Aside from forming alliances with some members of law enforcement, the Dixie Mafia also worked alongside fellow mobsters. Marcello, one of the most powerful leaders in organized crime in America, operated in New Orleans around the same time that the Dixie Mafia was coming to power. He placed ads in gay publications posing as a young “stud” named Eddie Johnson to attract correspondence from unsuspecting readers. Little Known TV Crime Dramas Television Programmes from the United States and the United Kingdom that were destined to be favourites but for that one pesky little detail. But despite the massive crackdown on former members that followed, many believe that the group is still secretly active today. Here are just a few shocking cases that may not have dominated the news cycle — but were still totally shocking. Gypsy Rose, America’s Most Sympathetic Murderess. Aniah Haley Blanchard, the stepdaughter of the UFC fighter Walt Harris, went missing on October 24. February 19, 2019; In real criminal cases, 99 times out of 100, the perpetrator is the husband, or it's a robbery gone wrong, or else it's the crazy guy outside shouting, "I did it! Halat was released from prison in 2012, while Nix continues serving a life sentence. Biles and her younger sister were eventually taken in by their maternal grandfather and his wife. Turns out her … Rob Kardashian's Dramatic Weight Loss in Photos: See His Transformation! More Life After Death Stories. Crime is fascinating, to be sure, because most of us don’t commit it. True crime isn’t just for podcasts. All Rights Reserved, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), See What the 'Are You the One?' In the 1960s, the Dixie Mafia emerged as a loose confederation of crooks and con artists based in Biloxi, Mississippi. Little-Known Tales From New York’s Crime Scene The authorities removed a bomb that was planted in the Paramount Theater by George Metesky, who terrorized New York in … Often described as the “Cornbread Cosa Nostra,” the Dixie Mafia first emerged in the American South in the 1960s. There was also the infamous “Gypsy Camp Murder” in Louisiana. The books are meticulously researched short reads – the perfect length for a flight, the beach, or a sleepless night. TV doesn't always mean television, aye? Since then, very little has been heard about the Cornbread Cosa Nostra. 5 little-known laws of Singapore The Amusement Ride Safety Act, which came into force in 2011, when more amusement parks, such as the Universal Studios Singapore which houses the … Click here to read more . He pleaded not guilty in February 2019. It has far more to do with the very essence of how storytelling works. The Story of Titanic for Children: Astonishing Little-Known Facts and Details About the Most Famous Ship in the World [Fullman, Joe] on Amazon.com. But later, an Illinois grand jury found probable cause the actor staged the assault he reported to Chicago police in January. The stories are fine, there is a decided British/Continental tilt to the selection which is good. Authorities initially speculated that the gang members had killed McDaniel because they were afraid that he was an informant, but others suspected that he was actually taken out by Pusser. After he was charged with filing a false report, the actor was removed from the last two episodes of Empire that season. Asa Rodger. In August, a Los Angles jury found Michael Gargiulo guilty of two counts of murder and one of attempted murder after prosecutors said he murdered three young women over several years — including Ashton Kutcher‘s former girlfriend, the Washington Post reported. Season 2 Cast Today, Still Together? Display # Filter. Nix’s former lawyer Pete Halat, who later became mayor of Biloxi, blamed the missing money on his former law firm partner Vincent Sherry, who was then a judge of the Second Mississippi District Circuit Court. 5 Little-Known True Crime Stories That Will Blow Your Mind. Best collection of short stories on the internet grows daily. Most of the carnival workers were busy manning concessions in the French Quarter of New Orleans that night. It is known that many people have survived after spending some time lifeless. This is the little-known story of the “Cornbread Cosa Nostra.” What Is The Dixie Mafia? In June 2008, he appeared in court to plead guilty on two lesser counts and was sentenced to 18 months in jail, and he was eventually released from jail after serving just 13 months of his sentence. Five Little-Known But History-Changing Medieval Crime Stories. Famous Murders: The Boy In The Box . Crime Story is an American crime drama television series, created by Chuck Adamson and Gustave Reininger, that aired on NBC, where it ran for two seasons from September 18, 1986, to May 10, 1988.. This is the little-known story of the “Cornbread Cosa Nostra.”. allthatsinteresting.com - Natasha Ishak • 1h. In 2019, plenty of criminal cases rocked the news, and we compiled a list of some of the most outrageous examples here. 2 shares. In this Oct. 16, 2006 file photo, Joseph Edward Duncan III, right, is shown during a hearing at the Kootenai County Sheriff's Department Justice building in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. The Little-Known Story Of The Dixie Mafia, The 'Cornbread Cosa Nostra' Of The South. Attorneys on Call: Call 919-891-9779 for free answers to your legal questions — WRAL is once again teaming up with the North Carolina Bar Foundation for their annual Day of Service. But years later, it became a … Read more on allthatsinteresting.com. True crime isn’t just for podcasts. I enjoyed the book but was confused by the title. He was not charged with murder, but his arrest warrant stated police “believed” Fotis was “lying in wait” at Jennifer’s home and investigators “believe” he later drove away in her car, which was carrying her body, Radar Online reported. On November 25, her remains were discovered in Alabama, NBC News reported. From his prison cell in the Louisiana State Penitentiary, Nix created a “lonely hearts scam” that targeted innocent gay men. She and her husband, Fotis Dulos, were going through a divorce when she disappeared, NBC Connecticut reported. Huffman pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud in connection with the scandal, which involved bribing college entrance exam administrators, and was sentenced to 14 days in prison. For decades, this gang operated lawlessly and targeted anyone who stood in their way. A Look Inside True Crime Magazine • Historical Photo Archive. Ultimately, Sunderland’s DNA sample matched the baby. Police arrested a 13-year-old male and charged him with murder and robbery. Wikimedia Commons The boy in the box, depicted on a flyer sent out to residents of surrounding towns. Recommended on Daily News In the past fifty or so years, crime drama has been a very popular genre' for television programming. 3 months ago. He was later shot and killed by deputies. Check out our roundup of several intense true crime stories from 2019 in the gallery below. 10 Crime Stories With Strange Coincidences. Medieval scholar Eric Jager, whose new book is Blood Royal, about a true story … Mary Morris Murder of 2. Whenever a mysterious crime takes place, investigators will attempt to solve it by piecing together the events and circumstances surrounding the case. Free to read short stories: crime, mystery, science fiction, romance, horror, fantasy and more.