The Penny Dreadfuls

True Crime, Unsolved Murders, Historical Cases, & Pop Culture Oddities.

[truecrimecrystals]

Tiana Notice was only 25 years old when she was brutally murdered by her ex-boyfriend James Carter II on February 14th, 2009. Prior to her death, Tiana lived in Plainville, Connecticut and she met Carter on a dating site. Around six months into their relationship, Carter was sentenced to five months in jail for the domestic abuse of a previous girlfriend. It was at this time that Tiana realized that Carter actually had a long history of many violent crimes, including assault. Additionally, Tiana suspected that Carter was cheating on her. Due to all of these frightening circumstances, Tiana eventually decided to end her relationship with him. Unfortunately, Carter was not ready to let her go. The events that followed Tiana’s breakup with Carter provide yet another tragic example of breakup violence inflicted upon a woman by a man. Furthermore, Tiana made many attempts to get help prior to her tragic event - and she was often brushed off by police.

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[morbidology]

On August 23, 1937, Dorothy Lucas, a new mother, was shopping in Chicago with her three-month-old daughter, Diane. In a momentary lapse of judgment, Dorothy left Diane in her pram outside the grocery store as she hurriedly paid for an item. Upon returning, she found Diane missing. Miraculously, Diane was found unharmed 23 hours later, thanks to an anonymous tip received by authorities revealing her whereabouts.

Days later, the Lucas family received an anonymous letter from a self-described 28-year-old woman. She confessed that her husband and daughter had recently passed away, and upon seeing Diane alone outside the shop, her heart broke. Initially planning to raise Diane as her own, she had a change of heart upon witnessing Dorothy's anguish. She concluded with:

“My only crime, if you can call it such, was too much motherly love.”

[conradscrime]

Florence Sally Horner

October 22, 2023

Florence "Sally" Horner was born on April 18, 1937 in Camden, New Jersey to Russell and Ella Horner. Sally's father took his own life when Sally was only 5 years old, and Ella raised her daughter as a single mother with the help of Sally's older half sister, Susan.

Sally was in the 5th grade at Northeast Elementary School and was an honours student.

In March 1948, Sally, who was 10 years old at the time tried to steal a notebook from a local store as a dare by some of her classmates. However, Sally was caught by a man named Frank La Salle. Frank had told Sally he was an FBI agent, and threatened to send her to a reform school unless she reported to him.

On June 15, 1948, Frank La Salle abducted 11 year old Sally. He told her to tell Ella that he was the father of two of her friends at school and she was invited on a week long vacation to Atlantic City.

Originally, the plan was to have Sally write her mother letters to let her know their vacation was going to last longer than expected, but on July 31, 1948, the last letter was received by Ella. Ella contacted the police, who found out the sender address for the letters was in Atlantic City.

On August 4, 1948, investigators found the home empty, besides two packed suitcases and a studio photo of Sally sitting on a swing. Ella told investigators that Sally and Frank were also travelling with a "Mrs. Robinson" who according to Frank was a 25 year old secretary. She left them after they arrived in Atlantic City supposedly.

Over the next 21 months, Frank and Sally moved through multiple US states under different names, with Frank claiming Sally was his daughter. Throughout this time, Frank would rape Sally repeatedly.

The pair first stayed in Baltimore, Maryland, where Sally went to Catholic grammar school under the name "Madeleine La Plante." Frank would always carry a handgun on him to stop Sally from trying to escape.

In April 1949, Frank and Sally were living in Dallas, Texas, and Sally was going by the name "Florence Planette." It was here that Sally ended up telling a friend her secret. Sally also confided in a neighbour, Ruth Janisch, who was becoming suspicious of Frank.

Ruth thought Frank had an extremely possessive attitude toward his supposed daughter. Ruth did not know that Frank also regularly molested her 5 year old daughter while Sally was at school.

In March 1950, Ruth and her husband moved to San Jose, California, to find work, encouraging Frank. to do the same so she could still have contact with Sally.

Eventually, Ruth was able to get Sally to tell her the truth about Frank, and Ruth got Sally to phone her family from Ruth's house. Sally attempted to call Ella but the line disconnected, as Ella had recently lost her job and was not able to pay her phone bill. Sally then called her sister Susan and was able to get in contact and tell her to get the FBI on it.

On March 22, 1950, Frank was arrested but continued to say Sally was his daughter. Authorities in New Jersey were able to confirm that Sally's real father had died 7 years previously. On April 1, 1950, Sally was reunited with her mother. Frank was sentenced to 30-35 years in Trenton State Prison on April 3.

Frank La Salle was 51 years old. at the time he abducted Sally. He was a known sex offender and went by several aliases. It is unclear where exactly he was born or even his date of birth. Most commonly the names used for his parents were Frank and Nora, and he was most likely from Chicago or Indianapolis. The most frequent date of birth he gave was May 27, between 1890-1901.

He had an extensive criminal record, beginning in June 1938. In 1944, Frank was convicted for the molestation and sexual assault of 5 underage girls in 1943. He was getting illegally married under false names and had many charges against him. He was released on January 15, 1948, only 6 months before he abducted Sally Horner.

Sally's story ends tragically, as on August 18, 1952, she died in a car accident near Woodbine, New Jersey due to breaking her neck in the crash. She was only 15 years old. Frank had actually sent a bouquet of flowers to Sally's funeral from prison, but they were not displayed.

Frank La Salle died on March 22, 1966, exactly 16 years to the date of when he was arrested for the abduction of Sally Horner. He was 69 years old.

[morbidology]

Edward Mordake is the apocryphal subject of an urban legend. He was from the late 19th century, and was born with a second face on the back of his head. Allegedly, this face was perfectly formed, including working eyes and a mouth. The face was said to be capable of smiling, laughing, crying, frowning and whispering. According to legend, the face was malevolent, and would whisper cruel and disturbing things to Edward. 

Edward always tried to conceal the second face from the public. As Edward became older, he became increasingly isolated, and his mental health began to deteriorate. According to legend, Edward was obsessed with the second face, and he spent hours staring at it in the mirror. He begged doctors to remove the face, but the all refused. 

Edward locked himself in his wealthy family’s estate, and at the age of just 23, he took his own life by poisoning. While there is no actual evidence that Edward Mordake was a real person, the case has been passed through generations, and has been reported in numerous medical journals, newspapers, and books. The case has become part of medical folklore.

[yesterdaysprint]

Popular Mechanics, July 1910

[simply-sharon-tate]

Sharon Tate, photographed while on a break from filming The Fearless Vampire Killers in Italy. 1966.

[the-penny-dreadfuls]

These images may appear to be from the scene of a horrific train accident, but they are actually from the biggest publicity stunt of its time. This bizarre and dangerous stunt was the brainchild of William Crush, who worked as a general passenger agent the Missouri-Kansas-Texas (nick naked Katy) Railroad. The plan was to crash two obsolete trains together at high speeds in front of a crowd in Texas. There was no charge for admission; the sole purpose was to advertise for the railway. In addition to the hopes of making a profit by attracting new customers, Katy Railways was offering a roundtrip to the site of the crash for the price of $2.

It was a once in a life time event. The trains assigned to the crash were given new coats of pain in vibrant reds and greens. They spent several touring Texas to drum up every ounce of audience anticipation. Several safety precautions were taken before the big day. An area for the general public was created 200 yards away from the tracks. People of the press were allowed 100 yards within the soon-to-be crash site. On September 14th, the day before the event, a speed test was conducted. Engineers with the Katy Railway assured Crush that all would be well. They claimed that an explosion was unlikely, even at the high speeds the trains would be moving at.

It is believed that a crowd of up to 40,000 spectators showed up on the evening of September 15th, 1896 to witness the great train crash. The trains were set up on opposite sides of the track. They slowly began to work up to a steady pace. It was hoped that, at the moment of impact, both would be moving at 90 mph. As the trains barreled closer together, their crews jumped outside to safety. Everything changed at the moment of impact. There was a deafening roar as both boilers simultaneously exploded. Debris from the trains, as well as the railway track, shot out into the crowd of horrified onlookers. Two people were killed and injuring several others, some with life threatening injuries. A man who was there to photograph the event lost an eye after it was struck by a bolt.

Surprisingly, there was a small amount of negative feedback towards the chaotic publicity stunt. The Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad saw an influx of business. They paid the victims’ families for the damage done, and additionally offered them lifetime rail passes. Following what would be deemed Crash at Crush, other railway companies would copy this gimmick. Crush, who had been fired that day, was quickly rehired. He worked with the Katy Railroad until he decided to retire. A memorial was later created in honor of those who were killed and injured during the Crash at Crush.

[the-penny-dreadfuls]

The Staudte family had been hit by an ongoing storm of tragedy. It began in April of 2012 when patriarch of the family and blues musician,, Mark, passed away at the age of 61. Due to his unhealthy lifestyle, this abrupt passing was heartbreaking to family and friends, but not shocking. Shaun, the eldest of the four Staudte children, passed away at the age of 26. The medical examiner ruled that his death was from natural causes, believing that it had been brought on by his long history of seizures. Both men were cremated. The family was on the brink of tragedy once again when Sarah, aged 24 at the time, began to lose function of her brain and kidneys. Hospital staff became suspicious when her mother, Diane, made crude jokes about her daughters condition. They began testing Sarah to see if she was poisoned.

At this time the police of Springfield, Missouri received an anonymous tip that Diane had played a sinister role in the deaths of her husband and son, as well as her eldest daughter’s current bout of illness. She was apprehended and taken in for questioning. During an interrogation, Diane admitted to murdering Shaun and her husband, Mark. She also told the police she had planned to kill Sarah too. Diane researched different ways to discreetly commit murder. She decided that poisoning with anti-freeze to be her best option, and then shopped around online to find one that would tasteless. Once the poison arrived, Diane began to mix it into her family’s beverages. She began with Mark’s sport drinks. For Shaun and Sarah, she told investigators that she spent a couple of days mixing it into her children’s sodas.

Investigators, of course, wanted to know why someone who appeared to be a loving and grieving wife and mother would want to cause harm to her own family. Diane claimed that Mark was abusive towards her and the children, and she wanted to finally find some peace. Shaun, who had been diagnosed with autism during his childhood, had apparently become too much of a burden for his mother to bear, so she decided he had to go as well. As for the reason behind poisoning Sarah, Diane spoke her deep frustrations with her eldest daughter’s lack of motivation in finding a job or finding any bit of independence. Sarah, too, was considered to be just another needless burden.

The story of the Staudte family did not end there. As investigators combed through the home, they discovered a purple journal inside the bedroom of Rachel Staudte, the third child. Inside they found a disturbing entry that was dated a year before the first murder took place. 21 year old Rachel wrote, “It’s sad when I realized how my father will pass on in the next two months … Shaun, my brother will move on shortly after. … It will be tough getting used to the changes but everything will work out.“

When interviewed by police, Rachel admitted that they planned to kill her 12 year old sister next. Only she, who was considered to be Diane’s golden child, would be the only one deemed worthy to live with her mother.

Both Diane and Rachel Staudte were charged for the murders of Mark and Shaun Staudte. As part of a plea deal, Rachel plead guilty to second degree murder in exchange for testifying against her mother. She was sentenced to life in prison. Diane was also sentenced to life in prison after pleading guilty to first degree murder.

After ingesting the anti-freeze, Sarah Staudte suffered serious neurological damage. She continues to strive her in her recovery.

[the-penny-dreadfuls]

The 1966 trial for the torture and murder of sixteen-year-old Sylvia Likens was a highly emotional event. In the first picture, Jenny Likens is shown being comforted by her older sister, Diane as they walk through the courthouse. Sylvia and Jenny had stayed with the Baniszewski family for three months in 1966. Rather than caring for them, Gertrude Baniszewski, the head of the household, subjected the girls to severe physical, emotional, and sexual torture. Her children also participated in their torment. Sylvia received the brunt of the abuse, and it ultimately claimed her life on October 26th, 1965. She was sixteen years old.

Jenny was set to testify against Gertrude Baniszewski in early May of 1966. William Erbecker, the defense attorney, showed the young girl no mercy when she took the stand. He hammered her with questions, demanding a reason as to why she did not seek help for her sister. Jenny sobbed as she tried to explain that she, too, was being abused and was afraid that speaking out would only make their situation worse. She was defenseless against the fury of the Baniszewski clan. Growing up, Jenny was a sickly child and spent many years going in and out of the hospital. She had suffered from polio in her left leg, leaving her unable to do common physical activities that kids her age were capable of. While on the stand, the teenager spoke of those last months she spent with her sister and how Sylvia knew that she was going to die. According to Jenny, at one point Sylvia said, “I know you don’t want me to die, but I am going to die. I can tell it.”

Before July 1965, life for the Likens girls was far from a nightmare. Sylvia and Jenny, born just one year apart, were as close as sisters could be. Sylvia was the more outgoing one. Her favorite band was the Beatles, and she enjoyed going out to skate with her friends. Always though, Sylvia would slow down for her little sister. They would go wherever their feet led them that day. It didn’t matter where, just as long as they had each other. The second photograph shows Jenny and Sylvia Likens on Easter Day, 1965. They stand surrounded by their best friends, all dressed in their Sunday best, as they smile for the camera. Six months after this photograph was taken, Sylvia would be dead.

[the-penny-dreadfuls]

In 1903 a Brooklyn real estate developer named William H. Reynolds began plans for his most ambitious project yet; an amusement park on Coney Island. Contrary to his competition, Reynolds was hoping to build a more refined park, one that would attract a clientele higher up on the social ladder. He tossed aside the bright paint colors that were traditionally used in amusement parks, and instead chose to paint the buildings a stark white. At night, the park was illuminated by over one million electric lights. Guests would be entertained by a wide variety of attractions. The park had many educational exhibits, as well as Broadway performances in their seven theaters and scenic rides by railway or gondola. There would also be the basic amusement park rides, many of which were knock off of their direct competition, Luna Park. On May 15th, 1904 Reynold’s amusement park officially opened. He suitably named it Dreamland. A mere seven years later Dreamland would be reduced to ashes.

Despite the fantastic setup and attractions within Dreamland, attendance began to drop after the first couple years of being open. This was blamed on poor management. In 1911 Samuel Gumpertz, who would later go on to become the director of the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus, was promoted as top executive. Right away he set to give Dreamland a makeover in hopes of enticing bigger crowds. They painted over the white with much cheerier colors. All of rides were updated and repaired. Over $60,000 was put into the renovations. Opening day was right around the corner, and the staff of Dreamland were feeling optimistic about the summer season.

The fire began in Hell Gate. Hell Gate was boat ride that took guests through dim caverns as rode through rapids until they reached a whirlpool at the end. It was 1:30 A.M. on May 27th, opening day, and staff were still hurrying through some last minute repairs. During a trial run it was discovered that the ride had a leak, and a crew was brought in to seal with hot tar. As the workers were finishing the job, one of the light bulbs inside Hell Gate burst. The workers became confused by the sudden darkness. One man knocked over a bucket of hot tar, which quickly caught fire. Panic ensued. Still bewildered by the darkness, the workers scrambled. Some men ran straight for the exit, and escaped safely. A few that stayed behind managed to find a hose and fire extinguishers, but by that time the fire was already out of their control. They too ran for their lives.

At 1:53 A.M. Dreamland’s night watchman alerted the nearby fire department. By the time help arrived much of Dreamland had been engulfed with flames. The buildings were made out of highly flammable materials, and had little chance of survival. The scene was complete chaos. Fire fighters tried their best to battle the flames, but there were not enough water supplies to adequately gain control. One of Dreamland’s more unique attractions, the Baby Incubator Building, where guests were once able to observe premature babies, had also caught on fire, leaving six babies trapped inside. Early reports of the tragedy claimed that all infants had died. That information was later corrected by witnesses, who saw all six children be carried out.

Captain Jack Bonavita, the park’s famous lion tamer, rushed in to try to save his beloved big cats. He managed to rescue some of the animals, but ultimately 60 would perish in the fire. In the panic, one of the lions, whose mane was set ablaze, escaped into the streets. It was shot dead by the police. Up to twenty-four bullets were found in its skull. A large crowd had gathered to watch the fire, and cheered when the terrified and confused lion was shot down. They dragged the lion’s body through the street to put out for display.

The night was windy, and the flames leapt higher. Residents living near Dreamland were forced to evacuate for their own safety. Luna Park, the neighboring amusement park, did their best to dampened their own buildings to prevent the fire for taking over their park. Some blamed this for the lack of water, but Luna Park employees insisted that they had their own water supply that had no effect on the firefighters’ effort.

Three and a half hours after the fire began the fire department was finally able to gain control. Over 200 buildings were burnt to the ground, leaving 2,000 Dreamland employees without a job. Damages were said to be between $2,000,000 and $3,000,000. Miraculously, no human lives were lost. Dreamland’s owners chose not to rebuild the park after the fire. It closed down for good in May of 1911.

[morbidology]

On 10 August, 1985, 42-year-old Ruth Cooper and her boyfriend, 27-year-old Stephen Harkins, disappeared with their dog while camping in a forest in South Pierce County, Washington.  

Days later, Stephen and their dog were discovered shot dead and placed inside his sleeping bag. It wouldn’t be until two months later that the body of Ruth was discovered on a dead end road, strangled to death with a tube sock and her head decapitated. 

Four months later, Diana Robertson and her boyfriend, Mike Riemer, disappeared while looking for a Christmas tree to chop down with their 3-year-old daughter, Crystal. Crystal was discovered late in the afternoon, wandering around on her own. With her parents nowhere to be found, her photograph was published in a local newspaper and her grandmother came to collect her from the police station. It seemed as though Mike and Diana had disappeared without a trace. All Crystal could say to the police was that “Mommy is in the trees.” 

It wasn’t until two months later that Diana’s mutilated body was discovered in a forest in Elbe, Washington. She had been stabbed a total of seventeen times and then strangled with a tube sock. Her boyfriend, Mike, was nowhere to be found, but authorities discovered his truck nearby - there were bloodstains on the front seat and a note which read, “I love you, Diana” was discovered on the dashboard. 

Authorities linked the murders of Ruth and Stephen to the murder of Diana and for over 25 years, it was believed that Mike was the killer of all three until 2011, when his skull was discovered only one mile from where the body of Diana was discovered. Authorities ruled Mike out as a suspect but believe that an unknown serial killer was responsible. 

The cases still remain unsolved.

[the-penny-dreadfuls]

May 1984: Citizens of Atlanta, Georgia hold the second annual memorial march for missing and murdered children within their community. Evelyn Miller, Willie Mae Mathis, Sheila Baltazar, and Annie Hill, pictured left to right, each lost a son.

Eric Middlebrooks, the foster son of Evelyn Miller (14-years-old) Jeffrey Mathis, the son of Willie Mae Mathis (11-years-old) Patrick Baltazar, the son of Shelia Baltazar (12-years-old) Timothy Hill, the son of Annie Hill (13-years-old)

[the-penny-dreadfuls]

For much of the 19th century, the killing of a beautiful young woman named Maria Marten gripped the country of England. A man named William Corder, her fiance, murdered her in cold blood during the spring of 1827, just before they ran off to elope.

Even before this ugly ending, the young couple’s relationship was far from a fairy tale. Marten had already given birth to children by this time. One child, who Corder’s older brother, Thomas, fathered, died in infancy. The second survived, and although the father was not active in the child’s life, he still sent money. Marten gave birth to her third child in 1827 while she was in a secret relationship with William Corder. Tragically, this baby also died under what some considered mysterious circumstances, and despite this heartbreaking turn of events, Corder promised he’d follow through with their marriage. But the shameful weight of his fiance’s reputation weighed heavily on his mind. He decided he could not keep his promise. Corder announced it was time for them to elope. Before leaving, he asked Marten to meet him at a popular landmark in Polstead, Suffolk called the Red Barn.

The gleeful bride-to-be followed her lover’s request and headed off to the Red Barn, where she believed her happily ever after was about to begin. What Marten didn’t know was that her fiance had no intentions of marrying her. After leading her to inside the barn, Corder attacked Marten until she was dead. He stowed the body in a sack it and then tossed it into a grain storage bin, hoping no one would ever find her.

Now free of his fiance, Corder prepared for a new life. He settled down in London and found another woman to make his wife. To keep the Marten family at bay, he wrote them letters in which he claimed their daughter was alive and enjoying herself. He explained the lack of communication by blaming it on illnesses or hand injuries. 

The Marten family would not let go of their suspicious. Nearly a year after Marten was last seen, her step-mother had a frightful nightmare in which the ghost of her daughter led her to her grave site. After morning rose, she, alongside her husband, went to investigate the Red Barn to see if there was any truth to this dream. There they found their daughter’s body, still left in the sack. The killer fastened a green handkerchief around her neck. Investigators later identified it as belonging to William Corder.

Corder’s trial and following execution were one of the most highly publicized of its time. The ill-fated love story garnered so much attention that it became memorialized in multiple printed stories, poems, plays, and even macabre souvenirs.

Top Photo: a series of three Staffordshire figures depicting Corder’s story: 1. Corder and Marten standing together 2. Corder leading Maren inside the Red Barn before murdering her 3. Corder pleading with the judge during his trial.

Second Photo: An advertisement for a marionette show reenacting the murder.

Third Photo: the cover of an original Victorian penny-dreadful. It was a 30-page booklet cover Marten’s murder, Corder’s life on the run, and his eventual capture and trial. The supernatural aspect of Marten’s step-mother’s dream added another enthralling layer to draw audiences in.

[the-penny-dreadfuls]

Life can change in an instant. Around 5:00 PM on November 19th, 2011 David Grubbs completed his shift at the Shop’n Kart in the small town of Ashland, Oregon. He began the thirty-minute walk home by traveling along the Central Bike Path. It was a popular spot amongst the locals where people often went for a bike ride or to enjoy a quiet jog. Just as he reached the halfway point, Grubbs was savagely attacked by an unknown person, a matter of minutes he was dead. He was 23-years-old.

A man and woman discovered his body at 5:35 PM. Originally, they believed they stumbled across a man who had passed out, but as they drew closer, they understood the situation was far more critical. During the ambush, Grubb’s assailant struck him several times in the head and neck, using a weapon with a medium to a large blade, similar to a machete or a sword. The damage was severe that he’d nearly been decapitated.

The brutality and the random nature of the crime shocked investigators. Friends and family describe David Grubbs as a kind and down to earth young man. He could bring a smile to anyone’s face with ease. He had no enemies and led a low-risk lifestyle. The police quickly ruled out robbery as a motive. Grubbs’ wallet remained untouched in his pocket, with no money missing. His body had no defensive wounds either.

The investigation took off with a strenuous pace. Police painstakingly combed through the area, collecting every bit of evidence they could. Witnesses and those who knew Grubbs took part in extensive interviews. In total, investigators conducted up to 2,000 interviews.

Leads and tips flooded in during the early days of the case. With the help of several local businesses, investigators examined hours’ worth surveillance footage of the area, hoping to catch a visual image of a potential suspect. Several men were brought in for questioning, including one who allegedly threatened Ashland police officers with a pair of pruning shears. He, along with other suspects, were never officially charged.

As of March 2020, the murder of David Grubbs remains unsolved. If anyone has information on the case, please contact Crime Stoppers of Southern Oregon at 1-800-850-0580.

[truecrimecrystals]

Gabrielle ‘Gabby’ Bledsoe was only 16 years-old when she was brutally murdered inside her family’s home in Tulsa, Oklahoma in March 2013.

Gabby’s mother Lacrecia Bledsoe last saw Gabby alive on March 1st, 2013. It was a Friday evening, and Lacrecia decided to spend the night at a friend’s house. Gabby stayed home that night; however Lacrecia was not worried about leaving her daughter home alone. Gabby’s family members described her as a responsible girl—she was straight-A student and was not known to get into trouble. Like many teens her age, Gabby also frequently used Twitter. Around 7pm on that Friday evening, she tweeted, “Have the house to myself everybody gone.” She then continued to tweet a few more times that evening about typical things, such as her love for Justin Timberlake’s music and her plans to make dinner. Gabby posted her final tweet at 9:24pm—it simply read, “I guess i can fix me something to eat.” Nothing in Gabby’s tweets indicated that anything was amiss that night, and it appeared all was calm inside her house.

Unfortunately, things did not remain that way. At some point throughout that night, a person entered Gabby’s home and violently stabbed her to death. Gabby’s mother Lacrecia found her body the following morning upon returning from her friend’s house. Police were called, and the search for Gabby’s killer immediately began. Investigators interviewed other residents in the Bledsoe’s neighborhood, and were reportedly met with resistance by certain individuals. In fact, once news about Gabby’s murder began to circulate, investigators stated that they believed “someone in the neighborhood witnessed something or knows information on the teen’s murder.” Just days later, investigators announced they had a person of interest: 31 year-old James Barber—a man who also happens to be an ex-boyfriend of Lacrecia Bledsoe.

Barber was arrested on March 12th, 2013 on unrelated charges. In June 2013, he pleaded guilty to gun and drug charges and was sentenced to eight years in prison. Barber has not been charged with anything related to Gabby’s death, but both investigators and Gabby’s family members have made it clear that they believe he is responsible. In August 2013, a detective investigating Gabby’s murder stated “some evidence has come back, and it wasn’t what we needed to file charges,” in regards to Barber. The detective continued to explain that they were still investigating other evidence at that time, however years have passed and Barber has still not been charged with anything related to Gabby’s case. He is expected to be released from prison for the unrelated charges in 2021.

Investigators are asking anybody with information that could help solve Gabby’s case to come forward. If you have any information that could help the investigation, please leave an anonymous tip by calling 918-596-2677.

[truecrimecrystals]

Pictured above: 19 year-old Jared Chavis circa 2017.

Jared uploaded the picture on the left to his Facebook page on December 26th, 2017. He was going through an exciting time in his life at this point—he had recently completed ten months in the Air Force and was now pursuing work as a technician. Jared also had recently relocated from his home town in Louisiana to Houston, Texas. He moved in with his father’s niece and began to search for work opportunities in the Houston area. By all accounts, it appeared that Jared’s future was headed in a positive direction. With all of this in mind, Jared’s family and friends were shocked to learn that Jared seemingly vanished into thin air on January 12th, 2018.

On the evening Jared was last seen, he spoke to his mother on the phone around 9pm. Less than two hours later, Jared was last seen getting into vehicle at the 8800 block of Westheimer Road in Houston. The car was driven by a man known only by the nickname ‘Bolt Suave’. According to police, Jared was riding in the back seat of the car, and he got into an argument with ‘Bolt Suave’ at some point during the drive. The verbal argument eventually escalated to shots being fired. Witnesses told police that Jared never exited the vehicle. He has never been seen or heard from again. ‘Bolt Suave’ has allegedly been on the run ever since the incident occurred.

Investigators have not commented on whether or not Jared was wounded or killed by the gunfire that occurred in the car. They are also remaining silent about other details of the case in order to protect the investigation. However, ‘Bolt Suave’ has been named as a person of interest in the case and police are actively looking for both him and Jared.

A $10000 reward is being offered for any information that could help the case. If you have any information that could lead to their whereabouts, please contact the Houston Police Department at 832-394-1840.

[the-penny-dreadfuls]

On January 15th, 1996 Amber Hagerman, the namesake behind the AMBER Alert, was abducted by an unknown man while she was out riding bicycles with her little brother, Ricky. Amber’s kidnapping shook the quiet down of Arlington, Texas to its core. A local station called WFAA-TV played a crucial role in covering the case. They followed the story from start to finish, working side-by-side with the Hagerman family. Donna personally invited them into most private family moments during their fight to bring Amber home. Her hope was that the significant media focus would help bring in vital information regarding her daughter’s whereabouts. Two days after the kidnapping, WFAA-TV sat with Amber’s parents and grandparents in their home as everyone watched news coverage of the body being recovered, waiting for confirmation on whether or not it was their darling Amber. For the staff of WFAA-TV, this story was personal.

In the year prior, WFAA-TV filmed a special about single mothers struggling in poverty. Donna Norris, Amber’s mother, was featured in the story. The camera crew followed the little family around for several months, documenting their joys and their struggles. Amber loved school and received multiple awards for her academic achievements and for being a good, thoughtful student. During an interview, the little girl proudly displayed her album of accomplishments. WFAA-TV was also with the family on November 25th, 1995 for Amber’s ninth birthday. Donna adorned their home with pink balloons and Lisa Frank party decorations. Amber was able to invite a few of her close friends, and together they celebrated her special day alongside her mother, Ricky, and the camera crew. The highlight of the party was when Amber opened up a gift that her mother excitedly saved up for: Pocahontas bedding. It would become Amber’s last birthday.