Hey, All.
Just a quick note to let y'all know that the SCIU (Serial Crimes Investigation Unit) series books are on sale this week. 99c here in the US and .99p in the UK.
There'll be an ENT ad going out today for Dying Embers. If you already have DE, now's the time to grab the others.
If you're not familiar with the SCIU series, each book stands alone and centers on a different main character within the same law enforcement agency. They all have the same general theme - an agent dealing with a case that is personally difficult for them (even though Ned in Early Grave doesn't really realize it until near the end) and a villain with a psychotic reason for their actions.
And, yes, the bad guys always get what's coming to them in the end. I don't write books where the bad guys win. Ever.
So, anyway, thank you to everyone who's already bought and read the books. Super special thanks to those that also left a review.
Now, back to your regularly scheduled lives. ;o)
-B.E.
Showing posts with label serial killer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label serial killer. Show all posts
Monday, July 23, 2018
Wednesday, April 1, 2015
Wicked Wednesday - Fred & Rosemary West
The Gloucester House of Horrors...
Once upon a time in England, there was a warped family called the Wests. Little Fred was the second in the line of children, but from the sounds of it, he wasn't the only twisted one. His father and mother sound pretty sick, too. (Then again, maybe Fred made it all up.) Whatever the circumstances of his youth, though, Fred West became a serial killer and eventually found himself the perfect bride to participate in his madness.
They say the killings started in 1967 - I mean, if you don't count the little boy Fred ran over with an ice cream truck in 1965. I tried to follow along in the path of killings, but the bastard's proclivity for violence and his inability to keep it in his pants led me to a great deal of confusion. Let's just say he spent a lot of time raping and murdering, even before he met his wife.
Now, Rosemary (Rose) wasn't one of those women who marry a serial killer and then are all like "I had no idea". Not only did she know, she participated. In fact, she murdered Fred's step-daughter while he was away in jail for another crime. I won't go into great detail about their demented relationship. Suffice it to say, Rose enjoyed a steady income from her prostitution, and Fred enjoyed watching.
When they were finally caught, it was because the police were looking into accusations Fred had raped one of his daughters. That's when the authorities noticed one of his other daughters was missing. According to reports, the other children had been told on numerous occasions that they'd better behave or they'd end up under the patio like Heather. This prompted them to dig up the patio area. Expecting to find only Heather, they discovered several other bodies as well.
After they'd excavated that home and a previous dwelling the family had called home, they had 11 bodies total. Later, they found one more and added that to Fred's charge. Rose was charged with 10 murders.
Fred, the bastard that he was, hung himself while he was awaiting trial. Rose stood alone and was convicted of those ten murders.
The authorities aren't really sure, though, if those are the only ones. They say the Wests committed murder from 1967-1987, but since they weren't apprehended until 1994, I'm betting there are other bodies the police don't know about or that haven't been attributed to this sick couple.
Once upon a time in England, there was a warped family called the Wests. Little Fred was the second in the line of children, but from the sounds of it, he wasn't the only twisted one. His father and mother sound pretty sick, too. (Then again, maybe Fred made it all up.) Whatever the circumstances of his youth, though, Fred West became a serial killer and eventually found himself the perfect bride to participate in his madness.
They say the killings started in 1967 - I mean, if you don't count the little boy Fred ran over with an ice cream truck in 1965. I tried to follow along in the path of killings, but the bastard's proclivity for violence and his inability to keep it in his pants led me to a great deal of confusion. Let's just say he spent a lot of time raping and murdering, even before he met his wife.
Now, Rosemary (Rose) wasn't one of those women who marry a serial killer and then are all like "I had no idea". Not only did she know, she participated. In fact, she murdered Fred's step-daughter while he was away in jail for another crime. I won't go into great detail about their demented relationship. Suffice it to say, Rose enjoyed a steady income from her prostitution, and Fred enjoyed watching.
When they were finally caught, it was because the police were looking into accusations Fred had raped one of his daughters. That's when the authorities noticed one of his other daughters was missing. According to reports, the other children had been told on numerous occasions that they'd better behave or they'd end up under the patio like Heather. This prompted them to dig up the patio area. Expecting to find only Heather, they discovered several other bodies as well.
After they'd excavated that home and a previous dwelling the family had called home, they had 11 bodies total. Later, they found one more and added that to Fred's charge. Rose was charged with 10 murders.
Fred, the bastard that he was, hung himself while he was awaiting trial. Rose stood alone and was convicted of those ten murders.
The authorities aren't really sure, though, if those are the only ones. They say the Wests committed murder from 1967-1987, but since they weren't apprehended until 1994, I'm betting there are other bodies the police don't know about or that haven't been attributed to this sick couple.
Wednesday, March 11, 2015
Wicked Wednesday - Lavinia Fisher
According to legends and rumors, Lavinia Fisher was the first female serial killer in America. I don't know if that's true. I don't even know if the legends have any basis in reality. If they're true, she was one sick lady, and if not, they make for one hell of a campfire story.
You see, Lavinia and her husband were innkeepers just outside Charleston, SC, and like so many sickos before them, they saw an opportunity to make some extra money beyond the fees for staying at their place. It's said that they killed upwards of a hundred travelers - mostly men, I think - in order to keep their money and belongings.
From the accounts I read, John Fisher didn't seem like any criminal mastermind. One report had him begging and crying and praying as he was led to the gallows. No, I think if any of this is true, Lavinia was the driving force. Supposedly very lovely with a charm about her, she would draw the men in and then John and his gang (maybe two other guys) would do the killings.
Several of the rumors say that Lavinia went to the gallows in her wedding dress. That part's been refuted, but what a story! Some say she had plans to marry the devil after her death. Others say she wore her wedding dress to entice the onlookers at her hanging. Now, that's pretty wicked.
Whether her story is true or not, she was certainly somehow who inspired fear and loathing - even long after her death. There have been books written about her, movies made, episodes of crime shows based on her.
Definitely an interesting story. And with that I'll leave you with her supposed last words: "If any of you have a message for the devil, say it now for I shall see him in a moment."
How's that for creepy?
You see, Lavinia and her husband were innkeepers just outside Charleston, SC, and like so many sickos before them, they saw an opportunity to make some extra money beyond the fees for staying at their place. It's said that they killed upwards of a hundred travelers - mostly men, I think - in order to keep their money and belongings.
From the accounts I read, John Fisher didn't seem like any criminal mastermind. One report had him begging and crying and praying as he was led to the gallows. No, I think if any of this is true, Lavinia was the driving force. Supposedly very lovely with a charm about her, she would draw the men in and then John and his gang (maybe two other guys) would do the killings.
Several of the rumors say that Lavinia went to the gallows in her wedding dress. That part's been refuted, but what a story! Some say she had plans to marry the devil after her death. Others say she wore her wedding dress to entice the onlookers at her hanging. Now, that's pretty wicked.
Whether her story is true or not, she was certainly somehow who inspired fear and loathing - even long after her death. There have been books written about her, movies made, episodes of crime shows based on her.
Definitely an interesting story. And with that I'll leave you with her supposed last words: "If any of you have a message for the devil, say it now for I shall see him in a moment."
How's that for creepy?
Wednesday, February 25, 2015
Wicked Wednesday - The Cleveland Strangler
I found today's Wicked Wednesday candidate when doing a search for serial rapists. Sadly, it's harder to find info about serial rapists than serial murderers - not because there are fewer of them, but because not enough work is being done to track these sick bastards down. But enough about that...
Today I'm going to talk about Anthony Sowell - a.k.a. The Cleveland Strangler. Sowell was a serial rapist who turned to murder and other nastiness. From 2007-2009, he terrorized an untold number of women and murdered at least 11 of them. (Some of whom were found inside his home during the investigation.)
In 2009, he was arrested and charged with 85 counts of murder, rape, and kidnapping. He tried the old 'insanity plea' thing at first, but once he realized no one was buying it, he changed his plea to guilty. In 2011, he was convicted and received the death penalty as his sentence. (Whether he's languishing on death row, or his sentence was carried out yet, I don't know.)
Unfortunately, the justice system already had this guy behind bars once - for a rape in 1989 - but they released him after 15 years and he took advantage of his freedom to continuing raping and progress to killing.
The authorities are still trying to link him to other rapes through DNA evidence - dating back to 2005 when he was released from his previous incarceration.
To borrow a family euphemism, they should've cut his ippy-pippy off.
Today I'm going to talk about Anthony Sowell - a.k.a. The Cleveland Strangler. Sowell was a serial rapist who turned to murder and other nastiness. From 2007-2009, he terrorized an untold number of women and murdered at least 11 of them. (Some of whom were found inside his home during the investigation.)
In 2009, he was arrested and charged with 85 counts of murder, rape, and kidnapping. He tried the old 'insanity plea' thing at first, but once he realized no one was buying it, he changed his plea to guilty. In 2011, he was convicted and received the death penalty as his sentence. (Whether he's languishing on death row, or his sentence was carried out yet, I don't know.)
Unfortunately, the justice system already had this guy behind bars once - for a rape in 1989 - but they released him after 15 years and he took advantage of his freedom to continuing raping and progress to killing.
The authorities are still trying to link him to other rapes through DNA evidence - dating back to 2005 when he was released from his previous incarceration.
To borrow a family euphemism, they should've cut his ippy-pippy off.
Monday, February 16, 2015
What's Next?
Dying Embers released on Friday - for Kindle and in paperback on Amazon or Createspace. Huge 'Thank You' to everyone who bought a copy. Even huger thanks to JB Lynn and Fran K who each took the time to review my book on Amazon and Goodreads. It really means a lot to me. :hugs: The paperback went live on Amazon last night, and it should populate to other retailers eventually. Hell, with something called 'Extended Distribution' it might even be available to libraries and junk. I hope you all get a chance to read it, if you're so inclined. It was tons of fun to write.
Anyway, enough about that. I spent the past week totally absorbed in DE and I want to talk about something else. Like what's next.
I know I mentioned this a week or so back. (Seems like eons ago. Time is wonky here in my world.) I do have options.
First off, I have a mystery set in a small town on the plains of eastern Colorado. Write what you know, eh? When a big-city detective finds a dead woman at his brother-in-law's funeral, he's sure it's foul play, but the local police think otherwise. The more he digs, the more 'accidental deaths' he finds and the more the locals want him to butt the hell out.
And then there's the suspense that borders on both techno and political thriller. After a senator's wife dies in an accident, the husband cries 'murder' and the case is shunted over to an agent who's fallen from grace. She's told to make it go away, except she finds the husband may be right. Especially when the coroner finds a heart attack with no underlying cause and suspects a microchip may be to blame.
Both of those are already written to THE END. They just need editing.
Of course, I could finish the half-written novel set in the Dying Embers universe - with a different agent of the Serial Crimes Investigation Unit in a different city chasing a different serial criminal. It would dovetail nicely with DE, but like I said, it's half-finished. I would still need to write the end and send it through edits before the end of March - when I've got a space set aside with my editor for my next book.
Or I could write this new book that's dancing around in the back of my head that would also be set with the S.C.I.U.
Arrgghh.
The easiest route would be the mystery, but since when have I ever done things the easy way? :shrug: In the interest of keeping myself occupied, I started entering the edits I already have on the mystery on Friday morning. It's going well, but with everything I've learned from this publication experience, I already know I'll have to start over on the edits and polish harder.
Ah, the writing life. Gotta love it.
Anyway, enough about that. I spent the past week totally absorbed in DE and I want to talk about something else. Like what's next.
I know I mentioned this a week or so back. (Seems like eons ago. Time is wonky here in my world.) I do have options.
First off, I have a mystery set in a small town on the plains of eastern Colorado. Write what you know, eh? When a big-city detective finds a dead woman at his brother-in-law's funeral, he's sure it's foul play, but the local police think otherwise. The more he digs, the more 'accidental deaths' he finds and the more the locals want him to butt the hell out.
And then there's the suspense that borders on both techno and political thriller. After a senator's wife dies in an accident, the husband cries 'murder' and the case is shunted over to an agent who's fallen from grace. She's told to make it go away, except she finds the husband may be right. Especially when the coroner finds a heart attack with no underlying cause and suspects a microchip may be to blame.
Both of those are already written to THE END. They just need editing.
Of course, I could finish the half-written novel set in the Dying Embers universe - with a different agent of the Serial Crimes Investigation Unit in a different city chasing a different serial criminal. It would dovetail nicely with DE, but like I said, it's half-finished. I would still need to write the end and send it through edits before the end of March - when I've got a space set aside with my editor for my next book.
Or I could write this new book that's dancing around in the back of my head that would also be set with the S.C.I.U.
Arrgghh.
The easiest route would be the mystery, but since when have I ever done things the easy way? :shrug: In the interest of keeping myself occupied, I started entering the edits I already have on the mystery on Friday morning. It's going well, but with everything I've learned from this publication experience, I already know I'll have to start over on the edits and polish harder.
Ah, the writing life. Gotta love it.
Wednesday, January 28, 2015
Wicked Wednesday - The Green River Killer
Today's Wicked is a particularly nasty SOB, who managed to elude police for almost twenty years after his first known murder. Gary Ridgway - better known as The Green River Killer - was convicted of 49 murders, but confessed to over 70 and is suspected of more than 90 murders. The first in his long line of killings dates back to 1982.
But that's not where his evil started. When he was 16, he lured a 6 year old boy into the woods and stabbed him. The boy lived to tell the tale of Ridgway laughing afterwards and talking about how he had always wondered what it felt like to kill someone.
From what I could research, Gary left little boys alone and chose the remainder of his victims from a wide pool of woman and girls employed in the oldest profession. Despite his religious fervor and apparent distaste for these women, he spent a great deal of money spending time with them before and during the years he killed them.
Thanks to the advances in technology, authorities were finally able to connect DNA evidence to Gary Ridgway. He was arrested in 2001. After a plea deal for information leading to the whereabouts of some of his victims' bodies, he is spending his life in prison without the possibility of parole.
The deaths attributed to Gary Ridgway span the years of 1982 to 1998. But there still remains suspicion that his last murder may have actually been in 2001. Whether or not that is true is something we may never know.
The unfortunate thing is that Ridgway was actually investigated as The Green River Killer back in 1983, but there didn't seem to be insufficient evidence to actually arrest the dude. The sick thing he passed a lie detector test - which is probably why they're still not admissable in court. After all, if a sicko like Ridgway can pass one, who know how many other criminals would escape justice?
In this case, DNA put the right man away - probably almost 20 years too late, but he'll never kill another woman. Personally, I'd be happier if he was extra-crispy, but I understand the plea bargain in this case. The families of those missing women deserved to know where their loved ones went.
What do you think about lie detector tests? Do you think you could pass one? Personally, I think I'd fail them all - even telling the perfect truth - because I totally spazz in confrontational situations.
But that's not where his evil started. When he was 16, he lured a 6 year old boy into the woods and stabbed him. The boy lived to tell the tale of Ridgway laughing afterwards and talking about how he had always wondered what it felt like to kill someone.
From what I could research, Gary left little boys alone and chose the remainder of his victims from a wide pool of woman and girls employed in the oldest profession. Despite his religious fervor and apparent distaste for these women, he spent a great deal of money spending time with them before and during the years he killed them.
Thanks to the advances in technology, authorities were finally able to connect DNA evidence to Gary Ridgway. He was arrested in 2001. After a plea deal for information leading to the whereabouts of some of his victims' bodies, he is spending his life in prison without the possibility of parole.
The deaths attributed to Gary Ridgway span the years of 1982 to 1998. But there still remains suspicion that his last murder may have actually been in 2001. Whether or not that is true is something we may never know.
The unfortunate thing is that Ridgway was actually investigated as The Green River Killer back in 1983, but there didn't seem to be insufficient evidence to actually arrest the dude. The sick thing he passed a lie detector test - which is probably why they're still not admissable in court. After all, if a sicko like Ridgway can pass one, who know how many other criminals would escape justice?
In this case, DNA put the right man away - probably almost 20 years too late, but he'll never kill another woman. Personally, I'd be happier if he was extra-crispy, but I understand the plea bargain in this case. The families of those missing women deserved to know where their loved ones went.
What do you think about lie detector tests? Do you think you could pass one? Personally, I think I'd fail them all - even telling the perfect truth - because I totally spazz in confrontational situations.
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