After three years in Europe, former journalist Carla Conti just wanted to settle her family into the suburbs of Philadelphia. But her high school friend Scott Powell, a lawyer handling a brutal prison stabbing case, needed a favor. Before she knew it, Carla became part of the defense team and mired in the terrifying world of federal prison gangs, penal abuse, and corruption.

Then, when she agreed to write a tell-all book on the violent machinations behind the court case — with Scott’s client as an inside source — the stakes turned deadly. Two different prison gangs issued “hit orders” against the prisoner she and Scott now considered a friend, and the journalist and defense attorney were imperiled by association.

CHAINED BIRDS is a true crime memoir of Carla’s 10-year journey to advocate for federal inmate Kevin Sanders and help him re-enter society after prison. But the mission came at a cost as Carla struggled to balance her own, Scott’s, and Kevin’s safety while writing an exposé on the horrific conditions that led to the shutdown of an experimental prison program in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. CHAINED BIRDS: A True Crime Memoir-Carla Conti

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He was unassuming, sweet, and friendly. “Saved” in church as a teen, he never caused trouble. In the Navy, they called him Opie. Though he was a big guy, he had a soft, boyish demeanor. “The boy next door,” said those who worked with and knew him.

But John Eric Armstrong had a dark secret—hidden even from those closest to him.

Prowling Detroit's well-known pocket of prostitution on historic Michigan Ave, this young husband and father picked up unsuspecting women who thought they were simply meeting a john. He seemed innocent, even driving a Jeep with a front plate reading "Baby Doll." But they soon discovered, he could turn on a dime and fly into a rage. Some of his victims survived to tell the tale of their near death encounter, and when police finally elicited the serial killer's confession —details emerged regarding necrophilia.

In THE 'BABY DOLL’ SERIAL KILLER: The John Eric Armstrong Homicides, journalist B.R. Bates lays out the gripping story of this chameleon of a serial killer—through his horrific crimes, with a compassionate look at the life of each one of his victims – and the heroic efforts of law enforcement to catch him. THE 'BABY DOLL’ SERIAL KILLER: The John Eric Armstrong Homicides-B.R. Bates and Jerry Cliff. 

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Including never-before-seen photos and handwritten letters from Ted Bundy, Dark Tide’s message is as gut-wrenching as it is clear, asking the question: how well do we know those we trust most?
Edna’s world turned upside down when her close cousin, Ted Bundy, was linked to the gruesome murders that had plagued her hometown of Seattle. Both devastating and dangerous, she reveals her journey of discovering the truth about her cousin who was more like a sibling, a man she loved, admired, and thought she knew so well. Edna delves into the unbelievable and chilling episodes she experienced, from confronting Ted and discovering a side of him she never suspected to waking to the FBI at her door after he escaped jail.
Whether searching memories for signs she’d missed or detailing scenes of life under the radar in a world still fixated on her cousin, Edna’s account tells the Ted Bundy story from a critical, new perspective: someone who called him family. DARK TIDE: Growing Up With Ted Bundy-Edna Cowell Martin and Megan Atkinson

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Murder! Molly And The Mob: A (1950's) Shocking True Crime Story  by Rod Kackley delves into one of the most chilling unsolved mysteries from the heart of 1950s America.

Set against the gritty backdrop of Joliet, Illinois—a suburban outpost of Chicago’s criminal underworld—this true crime narrative follows the life and sudden disappearance of Molly Zelko, a fearless journalist whose scathing pen became her weapon against corruption, organized crime, and the rampant gambling that threatened to poison her community.

Molly Zelko was no ordinary woman. As the editor and publisher of The Spectator, a small but fiercely independent weekly newspaper, she made it her mission to expose the sinister ties between local politicians and the Chicago mobsters who were bringing gambling dens and criminal enterprises into Joliet.

Her editorials were hard-hitting, unflinching, and deeply personal—so much so that they earned her powerful enemies. In an era when women were expected to remain silent, Molly’s boldness stood out, and her voice became a rallying cry for those who shared her vision of a safer, more just community.

But crusading against the mob came with a price.

On the night of September 25, 1957, Molly Zelko left the offices of The Spectator, telling her colleagues, “I’ll see you tomorrow.” 

But that tomorrow never came. Molly vanished without a trace.
At its core, this is a story about courage in the face of overwhelming odds. Molly Zelko knew the risks of standing up to the mob, but she never wavered in her commitment to her community and her principles.
Murder! Molly And The Mob  is a gripping, suspenseful journey through one of America’s most enduring unsolved mysteries, shining a spotlight on a woman whose legacy remains as powerful as the questions surrounding her disappearance. Was she a victim of her own relentless pursuit of justice? Or did she know too much, becoming a target in a game she couldn’t win? MURDER! MOLLY AND THE MOB: A (1950's) Shocking True Crime Story-Rod Kackley

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After retiring from twenty-five years on the bench, former chief judge, Belvin Perry Jr., reveals a rare and disturbingly vivid first-hand perspective of the most gruesome death penalty cases in which he played a key role, including the infamous Casey Marie Anthony, who was dubbed “America’s Most Hated Mom” after her shocking acquittal.
The Velvet Hammer is the gripping, true crime memoir of former Chief Judge Belvin Perry Jr., who sentenced some of Florida’s most evil and notorious murderers to death, fulfilling his oath to uphold justice. Perry provides a clear, accurate description of America’s criminal justice system and explains why the death penalty can, and should, work and how it was applied to certain capital murder cases he either prosecuted or presided over.
Perry discusses his journey as an African American growing up in the segregated South, his life as a prosecutor and chief judge, and how he ended up presiding over one of the world’s most intriguing capital murder trials of the century: State of Florida v. Casey Marie Anthony.
From the widow who slowly poisoned her lovers; to the lust murderer who mutilated his victim while she was still alive; to the serial killer who slayed a family of four, including his own child; as well as several other violent and frightening murders, Perry spares none of the gory details when bringing each case back to life in his debut, true crime memoir. THE VELVET HAMMER: Judge Belvin Perry Jr,'s Capital Murder Cases-Amy Mitchell and Judge Belvin Perry Jr.

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In the depths of the dark net, tech journalist Carl Miller makes a disturbing discovery: a secret Kill List targeting hundreds of innocent people on a murder for hire website. When the police decide not to investigate, Carl is thrown into a race against time to warn those in danger and uncover the truth about the people who want them dead. From Wondery and Novel, comes a true story about obsession, control and the price of life and death. 

Listen to Kill List on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts: Wondery.fmKillList_TM

You can listen to Kill List and more Exhibit C true crime shows like Morbid early and ad-free right now by joining Wondery+. Check out Exhibit C in the Wondery App for all your true crime listening.

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Listen to Robert Rand, the investigative journalist and author of the definitive book on the Menendez case—and the disquieting true story behind Netflix’s  Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story.
A successful entertainment executive making $2 million a year. His former beauty queen wife. Their two sons on the fast track to success. But it was all a façade.
The Menendez saga has captivated the American public since 1989. The killing of José and Kitty Menendez on a quiet Sunday evening in Beverly Hills didn’t make the cover of People magazine until the arrest of their sons seven months later, when the case developed an intense cult following. By the time the first Menendez trial began in July 1993, the public was convinced that Lyle and Erik were a pair of greedy rich kids who had killed loving, devoted parents.
The real story remained buried beneath years of dark secrets.
A culmination of more than 30 years of journalist Robert Rand’s relentless reporting, this updated edition of The Menendez Murders shares these intimate, breakthrough findings, including a deeply disturbing history of child abuse and sexual molestation in the Menendez family going back generations, as well as exclusive new revelations linking the 1980s boy band Menudo and the Menendez family, a first-hand account of the emotional reunion between Erik and Lyle Menendez, and surprising insights into how the Menendez brothers remain resilient and live with purpose despite a life sentence without parole.
Journalist and author Robert Rand has followed the Menendez murders from the beginning and is the only reporter who covered the original investigation as well as both trials. With a unique vantage and unparalleled access to the Menendez family and their history, including interviews with both brothers before and after their arrest, and to this day.

In 2023, Rand uncovered extraordinary material evidence that would certainly have changed the fate of the brothers’ first-degree murder conviction in 1996. He and the Menendez family hoped his discoveries would give the brothers new hope for reopening the case.
The Netflix film series MONSTERS was released September 19th-with over 20 million viewers, and much controversy-with Netflix also releasing their documentary The Menendez Brothers, featuring Robert Rand, to be released October 7. 

On October 3rd, Los Angeles D.A. George Gascon made an announcement that his office is reviewing the convictions of the Menendez brothers to determine whether they should be resentenced and potentially released. A hearing has been scheduled for November 26th. Robert Rand joins me to discuss The Menendez Murders Updated Edition, Netflix's Monster and The Menendez Brothers documentary—and his incredible role in the latest developments in the  historic Menendez murder case. THE MENENDEZ MURDERS UPDATED EDITION-Robert Rand. 

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At the height of the Great Depression, Los Angeles oil mogul George Allan Hancock and his crew of Smithsonian scientists came upon a gruesome scene: two bodies, mummified by the searing heat, on the shore of a remote Galápagos island. For the past four years Hancock and other American elites had traveled the South Seas to collect specimens for scientific research. On one trip to the Galápagos, Hancock was surprised to discover an equally exotic group of humans: European exiles who had fled political and economic unrest, hoping to create a utopian paradise. One was so devoted to a life of isolation that he’d had his teeth extracted and replaced with a set of steel dentures.
As Hancock and his fellow American explorers would witness, paradise had turned into chaos. The three sets of exiles—a Berlin doctor and his lover, a traumatized World War I veteran and his young family, and an Austrian baroness with two adoring paramours—were riven by conflict. Petty slights led to angry confrontations. The baroness, wielding a riding crop and pearl-handled revolver, staged physical fights between her two lovers and unabashedly seduced American tourists. The conclusion was deadly: with two exiles missing and two others dead, the survivors hurled accusations of murder.
Using never-before-published archives, Abbott Kahler weaves a chilling, stranger-than-fiction tale worthy of Agatha Christie. Set against the backdrop of the Great Depression and the march to World War II, with a mystery as alluring and curious as the Galápagos itself, Eden Undone explores the universal and timeless desire to seek utopia—and lays bare the human fallibility that, inevitably, renders such a quest doomed. EDEN UNDONE: A True Story of Sex, Murder, and Utopia at the Dawn of Word War ll-Abbott Kahler

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In Obsessed: My Relentless Pursuit of the Zodiac Killer, Dr. Mark Hewitt invites readers into his gripping journey of unraveling one of America's most enduring mysteries. Dr. Hewitt, an expert on the Zodiac case, and author of the acclaimed Zodiac Serial Killer Trilogy, shares his transformation from a pastor to a dedicated true crime investigator.
This memoir details Dr. Hewitt's meticulous research, personal encounters, and the profound impact of the Zodiac case on his life. Moving to California reignited his passion, leading him to explore crime scenes and connect with other enthusiasts. His relentless pursuit is not only about the Zodiac but also about understanding the complexities of human nature and the quest for truth.
Obsessed: My Relentless Pursuit of the Zodiac Killer provides a unique blend of personal narrative and investigative insight, offering readers a compelling look at the determination and challenges faced by those who seek to solve cold cases. Join Dr. Hewitt as he navigates the twists and turns of this enigmatic case, shedding light on his life's work and his unwavering commitment to uncovering the truth. OBSESSED: My Relentless Pursuit of the Zodiac Killer-Mark Hewitt

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Examining murder from an insider’s perspective, Matt Murphy—a former senior deputy district attorney and current ABC News Legal Analyst—discusses cases from his career, how they strained his personal life, and how he found peace seeking justice for victims and their families.
Part taxonomy of murder, part prosecutor’s handbook, and part personal memoir, The Book of Murder goes through a dozen cases and his recollections of his twenty-six years in the Orange County DA’s office (seventeen in the Homicide Unit). Refreshingly honest about the toll such work takes on one’s private life, Murphy weaves his personal narrative throughout his casework in a way that humanizes the people entrusted with the duty of seeking justice on behalf of the public. As he does so, he lays bare the decision-making a prosecutor goes through in building a case to ensure justice is met while telling captivating tale after captivating tale of the world’s worst crime.
See how a prosecutor looks at—and lives with—the very worst crime. The insider’s perspective that Murphy gives on the notorious cases of Skylar Deleon, Rodney Alcala, “Dirty John” Meehan, and many others is a vital read for true-crime fans everywhere. THE BOOK OF MURDER-A Prosecutor's Journey Through Love and Death-Matt Murphy
 

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October 25, 2023 was just an ordinary night in Lewiston, a small, working class city of 37,000 in central Maine. Friends and families had gathered to do what they loved to do with the people they wanted to be with at a bowling alley called Just-in-Time Recreation Center and Schemengees, a popular sports bar and restaurant. They felt immune from the violent crime that seemed to wrack the rest of the country in a state that the FBI had just named the safest in America.

Then Robert Card II, a deeply paranoid Army Reserve soldier, walked into both places with a high-powered rifle and opened fire, killing 18 people and wounding 13 more. He then fled to a third location, where according to the evidence and the testimony of his best friend, he likely planned to lay in wait and kill his ex-co-workers when they came to work the next morning.

The tragedy is that the numerous red flags he had raised in the months before weren't enough to stop him before he carried out his terrible plan. A combination of watered-down gun control laws and law enforcement and military negligence made sure of that.

In THE LEWISTON SHOOTINGS - An All-American Tragedy, author and award-winning journalist Robert Conlin traces the shootings that deeply scarred a community that thought it was the last place on earth where a mass shooting would take place. THE LEWISTON SHOOTINGS: An All American Tragedy-Robert Conlin.

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