Carnival of the True Crime Blogs No. 108

I just finished watching The Positively True Adventures of the Alleged Texas Cheerleader-Murdering Mom. I highly recommend it. And now, on with the blogs!

Special edition: oldies but goodies

An older post on Parents Behaving Badly is about a father who takes punishment a little to far. The story, Dad arrested for beating son for bad grades, tells how Kevin Randy Legendre was taken into custody after finding out that his 7 year old son had gotten a bad grade in school and allegedly threw him against a table and beat him with a belt. The boy told his mother about the abuse and she immediately went to the police. Good to know that only one parent was behaving badly.

Back in February Today's Atrocities posted a story about a father murdering his 14 year old daughter... over a text message. Cops: dad killed daughter after she text-messaged a boy, states that the father burned her body and stuff it into a boiler tank. The father then called the police and told them what happened.

Attention Christina Szele: Here's your sign is an older post on Crime, Interrupted is about a woman who was finally baned from flying. Her outburst on a JetBlue airplane caused the plane to be diverted to Denver International. She claim that it was the stewardess' fault because they served her alcohol. She had incidences of this nature previous to the flight. I wonder if this is where Naomi Campbell got the idea.

Star's pick of the week

Meanwhile, Crime Rant *Sob!* I still haven't gotten over the news that they're closing the site, features a post entitled Paging Dr. Phil: you're in trouble, big guy. Dr. Phil, being the smug publicity whore that he is, decided to go visit Britney Spears when she was hospitalized despite the fact that he didn't have a license to practice psychology in California. The state's board of psychology filed a complaint. Can someone tell me, why does anyone listen to Dr. Phil?

Carnival of the True Crime Blogs No. 107

True crime news: one way to make sure that you'll have nothing to say during polite dinner conversations.

When a child goes missing features a new article, entitled Missing Orange County FL child, about Casey Anthony's missing child, Caylee. The two year old girl had been missing for five weeks before Anthony alerted the authorities. Since then, Anthony's story is said to have changed several times. Caylee's grandmother has stated "I feel the more media exposure we have, the quicker we can bring Caylee home-"

This week Michelle from the Michelle Says So blog questions what is causing the rise of physical violence between teens and why these teens are posting their abhorrent activities on the internet. Her post, More teen beatings on YouTube! an epidemic?, references several cases where videos have surfaced where young women beat up their peers. Is it society? Bad parenting? Attention seeking children? Or something else?

Blood of the Scribe's latest post is a petition. Petition to move forward with the execution of Joseph Medellin calls for concerned citizens to add their names to the list of people who are against Joseph Medellin receiving clemency for the kidnapping, gang rape and murder of two teenage girls in 1993. This case is the subject of Corey Mitchell's new book Pure Murder. Corey encourages everyone to add their names to the petition.

Laura James' new post on In Cold Blog wonders Is true crime blogging faddish? Laura writes about the demise of two excellent true crime sites that are proudly listed on the Blogroll, Crime Rant and True Crime Weblog (Seriously, two in one month? Losing Crime Rant was traumatic enough). She cites the time it takes to gather information, write the articles and also to monitor and moderate comments might be one of the reasons that the costs has outweighed the benefits.

Tami Tator from Crime, Interrupted guest blogs on David Lohr's Discovery Investigation this week. Her post Don't blame me, I'm just the criminal ponders why some people are still blaming the victim. She cites a recent case where Rickey Russel allegedly slashed two teenage girls with a machete before fleeing the scene and allegedly carjacking and robbing two more people. Towards the end of the blog she writes ;"-we live in a world where people criticize victims and their families"

Star's pick of the week

My favorite post this week is from CLEWS. Blogger Laura James writes a short blog entitled JonBenet in Fiction about Joyce Carol Oates' new book, a fictionalized account of JoBenet Ramsey's murder. The book, My Sister, My Love: The Intimate Story of Skyler Rampike, has garnered some cautious reviews from media sources who were quick to condemn the Ramsey's for the murder of their daughter.

Carnival of the True Crime Blogs No. 106

It's been a long hot summer and it's 95 degrees in the shade. At least where I live it is.

This week, CLEWS features a post entitled Father Robinson: Affirmed. Laura James writes about the Ohio Court of Appeals made two strange decisions regarding the murder trial of Father Robinson. First, the DNA evidence found under the fingernails and on the underwear of the victim were deemed to be contaminated. Also, the court has decided to let an "occult" expert testify in the trial. This is the first time that a modern US court has allowed this type of testimony.

An older post on Today's Atrocities, Parents of baby left alone in car seat for 8 days face murder charges, details a case where a 5 month old child was left in his parent's car for 8 days before the police discovered him. The parents were held without bond.

The True Crime Weblog features a post regarding Holley Lynn Wimunc. The post, Missing from Frot Bragg: Second lieutenant Holley Lynn Wimunc, adds another layer to the mysterious circumstances surrounding the death of Megan Touma. Steve Huff remarks on the similarities between the two women in age, appearance and occupation.

Meanwhile on Crime, Interrupted, blogger Tami reports that there has finally been a break in the JonBenet Ramsey case. Breaking news: New DNA evidence clears JonBenet Ramsey's family states that DNA from an unknown male has been found on the waistband of the leggings that JonBenet was wearing. After 12 years of suspicion surrounding the death of the Ramsey's beauty queen daughter both John and Patsy Ramesy have been cleared.

Star's pick of the week

Over at Crimerant the bloggers discuss the possibility that Crimerant might be saying Good-bye. Gregg Olsen and M. William Phelps write that blogging is a time consuming investment. Also, state that it might not be helping them reach their career goals as much as they first believe. Although, they note, with a glimmer of hope that this might be a break from the old and the start of a new direction.

Now, if I may plead my case. *Ahem* I always love reading Crimerant posts. They're well written, interesting, sometimes controversial and entertaining. Also, because of reading the blog and becoming familiar with the bloggers I purchased a copy of M. William Phelps' I'll be watching you last Thursday (I'm completely serious about this. I can take a photo of the receipt).

Change is always good, so taking Crimerant to a new level would be exciting and definitely a treat to the huge fan base that the blog has amassed. Please don't shut down Crimerant. It will be dearly missed. And it will make my job more difficult.

Carnival of the True Crime Blogs No. 105

Happy 4th of July! I hope you got a chance to cook out, watch fireworks, and stay out of trouble. And now, back to business.

This week Blood of the Scribe features an interesting article about true crime writers who take their work home with them. In the post, True Crime Writers as Killers, Corey Mitchell references the suicide of Vlado Taneski. Taneski was charged with murdering two women whom he had written an article about before he ended his life.

Blog TalkRadio's Independence Day post Hulk Hogan Wants You - to honor and remember describes a radio broadcast to honor (and remember) all of the fallen soldiers from the Revolutionary War to the current war in Iraq. Becky Davis hosted a special edition of her show, Military Families Voice of Victory. The feature of the show was to George Lutz who is petitioning congress to adopt the "Honor and Remember" flag as the official flag of fallen soldiers.

A new post on When a Child Goes Missing is an update to the Madeline McCann case. Sadly, their article, Case closed?, reveals that the while the girl's parents and another man are all persons of interest, they are closing the case due to lack of evidence. Madeline disappeared over a year ago.

July 5th -- 3 dead including father of 4 in hit & run on The Murder Book 2008 lists the three crimes. Paul LaRosa describes; the first is the father of four mentioned above who was struck by a car while crossing the street in the Bronx. The second is 3 year old girl who died after two weeks on life support. Her mother's boyfriend allegedly abused her. In the final murder, a man was shot through the chest and later died at the hospital. No arrests have been made so far.

A new post on Parents Behaving Badly, Mom stuffs newborn in backpack in the trunk of her car, advocates the Safe Haven Law. Sharena Bess, 23, did not use this law and as a result is being charged with felony child abuse. The baby was taken to the hospital, but no word was released regarding his or her condition.

Star's Pick of the Week

Denis Leary's advice to 18 year olds was to pull up their pants. Unfortunately, some men in Flint, Michigan weren't listening. Over on Crime Rant, Doug "The Intern" Sacrison's new post Pants down? Hands up! recaps an episode of COPS where the officers featured are busy fighting the war on boxers. All I can think is that it's a good thing my boyfriend doesn't live there...