The half-empty arrival lounge began to fill with people. Reporters and news crews quickly gathered around the information desk…

As night fell on July 1 2002, Owingen’s quiet streets were disrupted by a deep rumbling from above, prompting locals to assume an unforecast storm was fast approaching…

During recess and lunchtime at Hackham West Primary School in 1982, teachers patrolled the schoolyard to oversee the young children as they ran around and played together between lessons…

First responders rushed into the alley after receiving reports of a stabbing. Towards the dead-end of the narrow passageway, they found a teenage boy…

In mid-2004, Australian real estate group LJ Hooker posted a for sale sign on the front lawn of a vacant address in North Ryde, a cosmopolitan suburb in north-western Sydney…

As her twenty-first birthday approached in 2008, Britt Kathryn May Lapthorne asked her parents for just one present – the biggest travel backpack she could carry…

As the midweek workday was wrapping up on Wednesday, November 11 1987, staff were closing stores and filtering out of offices throughout Ipswich…

The Beaumont’s were the quintessential Aussie family. By 1966, 41-year-old Jim Beaumont had traded driving taxis for a new career in sales…

Major violent crimes are rare in Bristol, providing residents with the peace of mind that their community is safe and protected…

California is ranked as the US state most prone to wildfire, with over two million households at extreme risk at any time. The state has seen some of the most devastating fires in American history…

In 1986, young actress Rebecca Schaeffer landed her dream job. Beating out thousands of Hollywood hopefuls, Rebecca was offered the second lead…

The final part of the Toy Box series…

Part two of the three-part Toy Box series…

It was 3:22 pm on March 22 1999, when Sierra County’s 9-1-1 Emergency Central Dispatch received a call from a local residential number…

Tales of vampires have been found in nearly every culture around the world, dating back centuries. In 17th and 18th century Poland, belief in such…

Vivian drove to her sister Millie’s house on the leafy, suburban North Gate Drive in Silver Spring, Maryland. As Millie would have already left for work…

At 6:43 am, an emergency call came through to 9-1-1. Hayley Snow struggled to get the words out: “I think my mother fell while I was in the shower…

In December 2008, veteran journalist Caitlin Moran was surfing the web when she came across a link on a chat board. The link was accompanied with the message…

This is a fable about trust, love, and independence. The story features three characters: a mother, her daughter, and the daughter’s suitor…

He was always saying he wished a war would start in Australia. Well, he started his own war. The thing is, he fought a coward’s war, didn’t he?

On October 3 2014, Paige Rolland was working her regular shift at Asda supermarket, in Glenrothes, Scotland. She was in the breakfast aisle…

Accidents are to be expected in skydiving. It is, after all, an extreme sport. Over 99% of people who jump out of an aeroplane will do it just once, attached to an instructor…

Sheila stood vigil; eyes transfixed on Elaine’s apartment. She waited for Elaine’s car to pull up, light to flicker on, her shadow to move past a window…

The 31st of May 2016 was much like any other day. Until the monotony was broken up by a visit from the FBI. Although not an everyday occurrence…

Midnight approached on Thanksgiving Eve, November 23rd, 2016. Penny Meek was up waiting for her son Tom Brown, who was due home any moment…

The Molseed family were satisfied justice was served for child-killer Stefan Kiszko. Yet, his capture and conviction did not bring April Molseed any sense of joy…

On Sunday, October 5, 1975, April Molseed was making her way through a list of chores in her home on Delamere Road in Rochdale, a town at the foothills of the moor countryside in Northern England…

Teenager Chantelle McDougall fully embraced and absorbed Simon Kadwell’s teachings. He often told her she was not from this world, that she was different…

Maria prioritised her role as a mother above all else. She’d drop whatever she was doing, no matter how important, to ensure she reached her son on time…

On August 28th, 2003, the Great Lakes city of Erie, Pennsylvania was in the height of summer. 46-year old Brian Wells did what he had done most mornings for the previous ten years – he went to his lunchtime shift as a pizza delivery man at Mama Mia’s Pizza.

The sun rose over Phillip Island at 6:09 am on the morning of September 23rd, 1986, a perfect spring day. By all accounts, as Fergus Cameron lay on his sister Marnie’s sofa, he didn’t stir when she got up for work at 7 am OR when Ian—Marnie’s husband—got up to start his day…

In 1993, breaking news in the small Northern Indiana city of LaPorte always seemed to be from Chicago or South Bend. Nothing shocking ever happened in LaPorte…

Sergeant Yribe was notably stern, straight-faced, and focused when approaching the building. He commanded his squad quickly and efficiently as they swept through the farmhouse performing a building clearance…

Born on August 25, 1965, Mia Zapata lived with her brother, sister and parents in Louisville, Kentucky. The family lived a comfortable life in Douglass Hills where the children had a free-spirited and carefree upbringing…

As the two agents walked towards the front door of 2260 Fifteenth Avenue, one of them pulled out the fake IDs to have another look before asking questions…

Nob and the Dread Pirate Roberts started to communicate regularly. The Dread Pirate Roberts had no idea he was really speaking to a DEA agent. And the DEA agent had no idea about the true identity of the Dread Pirate Roberts…

The Silk Road was an ancient network of trade routes that started in China in the 2nd century B.C. Via a combination of roads, and sea routes, goods like silk, paper and spices were transported from the producers in Asia to markets in Europe…

Bazil Thorne picked up the phone and listened as the reporter told him he had just won the lottery. At first, Bazil didn’t believe it – but when the man on the other end read out the number of the winning ticket…

In 1987, nine-year-old Eric Coy was living with his parents and older brother in a central neighbourhood of Martinez, Northern California. Most Saturdays Eric played with his cousin Eddrick, who was also his best friend…

September 15th, 1878 was a cooler than average day for Staten Island, New York. A cold north-westerly breeze blew as three young teenage boys tended cattle in the woods near Silver Lake…

Wilhelmina was especially anxious. In the preceding weeks, she had developed a funny feeling that someone was watching her. It was the reason why her partner Stanley was driving her to work…

…meanwhile, almost 20 kilometres away, the telephone at the Aigues-Mortes police station rang. The answering officer listened as a panicked male caller warned, “A guy who just left my place is about to kidnap a girl. He’s armed, and I think he’s about to do something horrific.”

The Kimberley is one of the most remote areas in Australia. Tourists are advised not to leave the main roads and to avoid driving at dawn or during the night – mainly because of the dangers of wildlife and the road trains which dominate the night hours…

On the morning of Saturday, May 3rd, 1997; 33-year-old, single father Gary Patterson woke up before dawn in his home in Waco, Texas…

Although Alcatraz Prison had since been repaired to a workable condition, the battle scars of Bernie Coy’s 1946 violent failed escape remained visible…

Alcatraz Prison was the solution to America’s overwhelming crime problem. It didn’t aim to rehabilitate like other prisons. It aimed to punish…

“Even the judge will tell you that good character, a good name that’s built by good character traits, is to be considered by you because the law allows that a person with good traits and a good name is less likely to engage in criminal conduct…”

Gerard woke up around 6 am. Allison wasn’t in bed. Their three daughters, then aged ten, eight and five weren’t awake yet. Gerard got out of bed and walked through the house to see if Allison was already up…

“Attention. I’m sorry this had to happen but I am in bad need of money and couldn’t get it any other way. Don’t tell anyone or go to the police about this because I am watching you closely…”

In the early hours of Wednesday, April 15th, 1987, the simple, peaceful country town of Cowra was faced with a crime so violent and so shocking, it would be forever changed…