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You are here: Home / John Cole Presents "This Fucking Old House" / Two Quick Things

Two Quick Things

by John Cole|  July 14, 20235:27 pm| 107 Comments

This post is in: John Cole Presents "This Fucking Old House"

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1.) I don’t know how many of you are true crime fanatics, but I listen to all the podcasts and watch hundreds of youtube videos, and fall asleep every night to someone being murdered- a running joke for me has been that someone has to die for me to be able to fall asleep. At any rate, some pretty big news in a case that I have watched and heard umpteen shows about:

The burlap-wrapped bodies were unearthed near remote Gilgo Beach on Long Island’s South Shore more than a decade ago, terrifying residents and leaving the victims’ families bereft. In all, the remains of nine women, a man and a toddler were discovered.

Since then, investigators have tried to determine whether the killings had been committed by one person or by multiple killers. But for more than a decade the case went nowhere.

Then, on Thursday, Rex Heuermann, an architect who had lived most of his life in Nassau County and worked in Manhattan, was taken into custody, and a bail application said he had been charged in three killings and was the prime suspect in a fourth. Before his arrest, investigators had sifted through clues as simple as a monogrammed belt and as sophisticated as the electronic signals of disposable mobile phones.

By Friday morning, police officers had cordoned off Mr. Heuermann’s home, a small, one-story house with faded red paint, on a block of First Avenue in Massapequa Park, where vehicles and officers converged on the scene.

Obviously this is great news in general, but also great news for true crime nerds like me.

2.) I have been hit with a string of unexpected bills and am also concomitantly dealing with similarly unexpected loss of income. If you ever you were inclined to have the thought “hey, I think I will send John Cole millions so he can spend it on hookers and blow,” now would be an awesome time to do so. I regret to inform you that I have aged out of hookers and blow, but should you want to shower me with filthy lucre, here is the link.

Also, while posting this, it appears we do not have a true crime tag, which is interesting. Think over 20 years we would have accrued one.

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Reader Interactions

107Comments

  1. 1.

    OzarkHillbilly

    July 14, 2023 at 5:34 pm

    Gotta watch out for them architects ( a ;-) for Suzanne)

  2. 2.

    trollhattan

    July 14, 2023 at 5:34 pm

    “How can there be ‘true crimes’ when I’m always being accused of fake crimes?”

    –Donald The Truth Trump

  3. 3.

    NotMax

    July 14, 2023 at 5:40 pm

    Can see disclosing the village but IMHO the street ought to have been omitted from the reporting.

  4. 4.

    schrodingers_cat

    July 14, 2023 at 5:45 pm

    @OzarkHillbilly: Actually I think doctors are the professionals I would be afraid of. Forget James Bond, they literally have a license to kill. That’s what my friend who has an MD joked when she got her license.

  5. 5.

    Gin & Tonic

    July 14, 2023 at 5:47 pm

    Under the right circumstances I might confess to a lot of time spent getting high at Gilgo Beach.

  6. 6.

    trollhattan

    July 14, 2023 at 5:49 pm

    Those who recall the Dixie Fire that consumed a million acres of California along with Chez Levenson West, it began two years ago on July 13 and was officially extinguished October 25. There’s still a lot of snow in the mountains ATM and that’s the difference between a wet year and a deep drought year. No fire.

    Also, this being Bastille Day, sing La Marseillaise and toast France with a glass of something bubbly.

  7. 7.

    Kay

    July 14, 2023 at 5:51 pm

    @Gin & Tonic:

    Ha! I wouldn’t have guessed.

  8. 8.

    NotMax

    July 14, 2023 at 5:59 pm

    @trollhattan

    Lyrics are decidedly sanguinary.
    ;)

  9. 9.

    EthylEster

    July 14, 2023 at 5:59 pm

    I thought Cole wrote: if you want to shower with me….

  10. 10.

    CaseyL

    July 14, 2023 at 6:06 pm

    Never got into true crime myself, but I do like seeing cold cases get solved.

  11. 11.

    trollhattan

    July 14, 2023 at 6:07 pm

    @NotMax: ​
    To think our rockets merely glare red. :0

  12. 12.

    Almost Retired

    July 14, 2023 at 6:10 pm

    @Gin & Tonic:   My goodness we are learning a lot today about your mid-spent youth.  In the last thread you mentioned spending time in Pahrump, which is famous only for its legal brothels…

  13. 13.

    Pennsylvanian

    July 14, 2023 at 6:13 pm

    I think the true crime is that you were a Republican for so long! And naked mopping.

  14. 14.

    Kay

    July 14, 2023 at 6:14 pm

    I like true white collar crime, so cases like Theranos and Alex Jones/Sandy Hook and Enron- that sort of thing. The True Crime industry should do more of it.

  15. 15.

    Dangerman

    July 14, 2023 at 6:16 pm

    Anyone into True Crime probably would already know about it …

    … but “Your Own Backyard” is an amazing listen. It’s about the disappearance of Kristin Smart from Cal Poly, SLO, and it was in the news about a year ago because the bastard finally got convicted.

    In a strange twist given I live in one of most peaceful spots around, I used to visit “The Shack” when it was owned by Scott and Laci Peterson. Great place. I kinda remember her a little bit; I remember him a little bit more for some odd reason.

    It was around for a while after them but it, like most eating places in SLO not named the Madonna Inn or McDonalds (which, curiously, is a short iron from the Madonna Inn) or similar, is no longer.

  16. 16.

    Brachiator

    July 14, 2023 at 6:18 pm

    @trollhattan:

    To think our rockets merely glare red

    I always thought that the references were to the British rockets and bombs.

  17. 17.

    Hoosierspud

    July 14, 2023 at 6:21 pm

    I love that true crime stuff, too. (I watch the Muder Channel as my husband calls it; Investigation Discovery). I blame my grandma and her detective magazines. I read about this particular case in Vanity Fair quite a while ago. They focused a lot on the escort who escaped in the middle of the night and pounded on neighbors’ doors screaming that someone was trying to kill her.

  18. 18.

    Roger Moore

    July 14, 2023 at 6:23 pm

    @Kay:

    The thing about White Collar Crime is that there’s rarely a lot of mystery about whodunit.  It’s all about whether anyone will bother to bring a case and if they’ll be able to convince a jury and appeals courts.  That’s not to say it isn’t worth following, but it’s not as exciting, at least to most True Crime fans.

  19. 19.

    JPL

    July 14, 2023 at 6:23 pm

    Although I like gritty mysteries, I’ve only read a few true crime novels.   The one that I remember the most is the story about Candy Montgomery killing her friend Betty Gore with an ax.   She pled self-defense due to some childhood trauma.   When I moved to GA, I volunteered with a person who knew her from church.   Candy had originaly moved to Marietta GA from Texas after the verdict.

  20. 20.

    trollhattan

    July 14, 2023 at 6:23 pm

    @Dangerman: ​One of those cases I presumed would never be solved, good on the investigators who finally ran it to ground (and it’s not as though the only true suspect didn’t sound really, well, suspect).

    Did not know the Scott Peterson angle, Sheesh.

  21. 21.

    OGLiberal

    July 14, 2023 at 6:23 pm

    I’m with Cole…I fall asleep to true crime podcasts.  I’m also in the NY Metro area, went to school on Long Island and worked at Jones Beach Theater for 2 Summers during my college time – just a quick ride away from where all these bodies were found.  (The Oak Beach Inn was still open when I was there – I never went but “OBI” was locally famous)  The LISK case has always been one I’ve followed.  I’ve always suspected law enforcement.  This guy isn’t law enforcement.  But I think so many folks involved in the investigation early on and in the years that followed were so corrupt – including stuff with prostitutes – that they didn’t push too far with this stuff for fear of them gettting caught for their stuff by happenstance.  And they were just prositutes so, whatever…right?  Lots of dead bodies out there – my guess is that this guy is just responsible for the ones in burlap.  He might be responsible for others but would have changed dumping location after the Gilgo four were found.  His DNA was with at least one body, his wife’s DNA was with three of them, his car – which they just confiscated – was seen by a witness with one of the victims.  Seems like lots of balls dropped here and for selfish, self-preserving reasons.  Could be wrong.  Anyway, new LE guy came in about 2-years ago – from NYC – and re-ignited the investigation.  This guy:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rodney_K._Harrison

    Almost 100% certain he was not involved in anything to do with Shannan Gilbert, whose tragic death kick off the search that led to many, many other bodies but was likely not a victim of any serial killer.  He’s also probably not responsible for some of the others found, either.

  22. 22.

    Gin & Tonic

    July 14, 2023 at 6:26 pm

    @Almost Retired: My time at Gilgo was approximately a million years ago. I lived nearby, and it was/is a beach for locals. Pahrump was in this millennium; IIRC, it was pretty much the only place you can get something to eat within an hour’s drive of Badwater. I was there with my son, who was, I think, 19 at the time, so the other “pleasures” of that place were not savored.

  23. 23.

    Renie

    July 14, 2023 at 6:27 pm

    @OGLiberal: I’m from LI too and I remember going to OBI West and East.  I still think Burke had something to do with Shannon Gilbert.

  24. 24.

    Kay

    July 14, 2023 at 6:28 pm

    @Roger Moore:

    Agree. I like boring, dogged true crime. Paper crimes. Theranos was fun because there were (nerdy) “celebrities” in it – George Schultz!  That old coot, making a fool of himself.

  25. 25.

    mrmoshpotato

    July 14, 2023 at 6:30 pm

    @Pennsylvanian: And what happened to the mustard?  (I’m just assuming crime was involved.)

  26. 26.

    schrodingers_cat

    July 14, 2023 at 6:31 pm

    @Kay: Anyone with a few chemistry credits under their belt could have told you that what she was promising was impossible. But our TPTB are innumerate and science illiterate

    Warrior monk also got taken in by a pretty (?) babe.

  27. 27.

    OGLiberal

    July 14, 2023 at 6:31 pm

    @trollhattan: That was the thing about the Smart case.  You had one dude you know did it but you didn’t have the evidence.  When you have family helping you hide the body and whatever else (suspect that the help extended beyond dad, who was also convicted), killing somebody gets a bit easier.  Plus, LE and campus officials being like, “oh, she’s not missing…she’s a college kid…she just went on Spring break/broke up with boyfriend and is upset/on her period”, sense of urgency didn’t help.  Dude’s dorm room was sanitized before any LE did anything with it.

    Yes, I am a true crime junky.

  28. 28.

    Roger Moore

    July 14, 2023 at 6:32 pm

    @Dangerman:

    Anyone who’s really interested in True Crime should give the LA Times Homicide Report a quick spin.  It’s a fairly bare bones site, but it lists every homicide in LA County dating back to 2000 (though it seems to be a few months late in reporting recent homicides) with a map and some search tools.  If you live in the LA area, it’s fascinating to see how many killings there have been in your neighborhood.  While it wasn’t my main purpose in moving, I seem to have moved into safer neighborhoods over the past 20 years.  It’s a great public service by the paper, and it seems like the kind of thing every big city newspaper should do.

  29. 29.

    Martin

    July 14, 2023 at 6:35 pm

    I can’t help but notice that true crime as a genre is typically ‘look what happened to these normal white people, wasn’t it weird?’ as told by a white director.  It tends to try to establish a sense of understanding for a particular category of crime while completely ignoring all other crime and the reasons why most of that other crime happens, because, well, the audience tends to be at least a little bit complicit in it.

    I find the whole category as it exists to be a bit unsettling. 

  30. 30.

    dmsilev

    July 14, 2023 at 6:38 pm

    @schrodingers_cat: There’s a reason that pretty much every single biotech-oriented VC firm took one look at Theranos and said “nah, we’ll pass”.

  31. 31.

    JPL

    July 14, 2023 at 6:42 pm

    @Martin: OMG that is so right.   The only book that I read on True Crime was about Candy Montgomery.   I watched the first Mendendez brothers trial, and realized that there was something addictive about but not in a good way.

    During the trump years I developed a habit of reading terror books in order to sleep.  It was less horifying than what was happening all around us.

  32. 32.

    trollhattan

    July 14, 2023 at 6:43 pm

    @dmsilev: ​
    But George Schultz was impressed!

  33. 33.

    evap

    July 14, 2023 at 6:43 pm

    I threw some scratch your way, John.  This site keeps me sane!

  34. 34.

    Roger Moore

    July 14, 2023 at 6:44 pm

    @schrodingers_cat:

    TBF, it was more biology than chemistry that was the big problem with Theranos.  My understanding from talking to people who know more about this than I do is that the biggest problem is that finger sticks just aren’t a good choice for a lot of diagnostic procedures.  It turns out you get wildly varying results from stick to stick because it matters exactly where in the finger you sample blood from.  Everyone who knew anything about blood tests knew this, which is why Theranos didn’t have anyone who knew anything about blood tests on its board.  This seems like a good cautionary message anyone should get from the Theranos case: stay away from companies that avoid having subject matter experts on their board.

  35. 35.

    Dangerman

    July 14, 2023 at 6:54 pm

    @trollhattan: One of those cases I presumed would never be solved, good on the investigators who finally ran it to ground …

    Yup. A weird case from the jump. Not every psychopath has parents similarly afflicted.

    Everyone thought KS was buried at the Moms place (and I think some of her stuff WAS; her watch, an earring, I won’t share the story on either) …

    … and, instead, she was almost surely buried at the Dad’s place.

    Weird thing over the past couple of weeks is there is some evidence that something or someone is buried at the Mom’s place. Mom might end up in the slammer before this thing is done. Dad is home free literally.

    As you might guess, the Dad was a serious POS for years, ruined them all.

  36. 36.

    schrodingers_cat

    July 14, 2023 at 6:54 pm

    @Roger Moore: For me the big red flag was the diagnostics that Theranos was promising to do with an absolutely miniscule quantity of blood.

  37. 37.

    Alison Rose

    July 14, 2023 at 6:55 pm

    Okay, I don’t want to sound like a shallow bitch, and also I’m the furthest thing from a supermodel so I don’t mean to throw stones here, but…the NYT article has a photo of the dude captioned “Prosecutors said Rex Heuermann took selfies that he sent to help arrange sexual assignations” and I’m like…and that photo worked? He looks like a semi-sentient potato in a toupee who is mentally undressing whomever might be viewing the photo. But I suppose if the women were escorts, that doesn’t matter as much.

    (This is not me putting any negativity or victim-blaming on them for their work. I am pro-sex-worker.)

  38. 38.

    stinger

    July 14, 2023 at 6:56 pm

    Chipped in. Or, as perhaps I should look at it, renewed my BJ subscription!

  39. 39.

    Kathleen

    July 14, 2023 at 6:57 pm

    @CaseyL: I have a T shirt emblazoned with “Crime Shows And Comfy Clothes”. Actually it’s my preferred lifestyle. My daughter insisted that I buy it! We also have matching pink t shirts that say “Snacks!”. I’m all about The Priorities! I

  40. 40.

    phdesmond

    July 14, 2023 at 6:58 pm

    on Paypal, one can specify that it’s a gift.  there’s no tax on gifts.

  41. 41.

    Martin

    July 14, 2023 at 7:02 pm

    @JPL: there is something normalizing (I think not in a good way) about a form of entertainment that is contextualized on actual people being killed. That they were killed is not the entertainment, I don’t mean to suggest that, but the entertainment doesn’t exist *unless* they are killed.

    I mean, Ms Martin fucking LOVES these shows, so I’m not trying to look down on folks, but I decided I don’t want to be part of that economy.

  42. 42.

    Brachiator

    July 14, 2023 at 7:03 pm

    @Roger Moore:

    If you live in the LA area, it’s fascinating to see how many killings there have been in your neighborhood.

    I recall one study of auto break-ins. One area where there were a lot was not a function of where people lived, but where they worked or often parked.

    Similarly, in one city, there were a lot of cheap hotels and prostitution in one stretch of the city. There was a freeway on-ramp nearby. The area was the last stop before upper class guys got on the freeway to head for their homes in the suburbs.

  43. 43.

    Kathleen

    July 14, 2023 at 7:03 pm

    @JPL: For some reasons I found Criminal Minds to be soothing during the Trump years, which for some reason disturbed my friends. I think “you get me”!

  44. 44.

    OGLiberal

    July 14, 2023 at 7:03 pm

    @Renie: I remain mum on Jimmy Burke for fear of being beaten up.

  45. 45.

    Kay

    July 14, 2023 at 7:04 pm

    @schrodingers_cat:

    It’s a nice story too because in the book (less so in the HBO series) these health systems bureaucrats are the heroes. It’s people like the Medicaid/Medicare administrator in San Francisco and another in NY or a lowly army doctor who isn’t afraid to tell Mattis that Holmes is completely full of shit and dangerous to soldiers. It’s the “red tape” people that everyone wants to portray as getting in the way of innovation and disruption who ride to the rescue. Holmes herself actually does this – she does this thing where she insists the only reason they’re coming after her is they’re “incumbents” protecting the “status quo”. More bullshit that people like Schultz and Mattis swallow whole.

  46. 46.

    Kay

    July 14, 2023 at 7:06 pm

    @phdesmond:

    I also sent him the free Paypal “congrats to my favorite graduate card” just to be an idiot because it came up with “gift”. I think it’s Wonder Woman. Fitting!

    You’re welcome, John!

  47. 47.

    Brachiator

    July 14, 2023 at 7:12 pm

    @Alison Rose:

    He looks like a semi-sentient potato in a toupee who is mentally undressing whomever might be viewing the photo.

    Maybe he looked harmless or like a typical John.

    I didn’t know about this case before, but did a quick read of a CBS News article.

    I see that a number of women were sex workers. Maybe they thought that the photo would help them weed out bad types.

    Some of the cases were 10 years old. The families of those harmed had to live with pain for years.

  48. 48.

    JPL

    July 14, 2023 at 7:16 pm

    @Kathleen: I’ll be 74 on Tuesday and trump was such a shock to my system, that it was a way to escape.

  49. 49.

    Skepticat

    July 14, 2023 at 7:18 pm

    One of my aunts and and an uncle lived in Gilgo Beach, which is a lovely place. I’d never heard about this case (and yes, I am very into true and fictional crime). Their next-door neighbor was Robert Moses (urban planner, commissioner of NYC Parks and Recreation, and chair of NY State Council of Parks); he and my aunt shared a cat that went back and forth between the two houses, ruling both.

  50. 50.

    CaseyL

    July 14, 2023 at 7:19 pm

    Damn!  I didn’t think to mark mine as a gift.  No matter: it can indeed be considered a subscription fee.  I’ve been hanging out here long enough, more than long enough.

  51. 51.

    satby

    July 14, 2023 at 7:20 pm

    Sorry about the drop in income coming on the heels of unexpected expenses, John. We’ve all been there. In memory of all the times I visited that vacation spot, and to thank you for this blog, kicking in a bit.

  52. 52.

    mrmoshpotato

    July 14, 2023 at 7:21 pm

    @Alison Rose:

    He looks like a semi-sentient potato in a toupee who is mentally undressing whomever might be viewing the photo. 

    What did potatoes ever do to you? :)

  53. 53.

    Brachiator

    July 14, 2023 at 7:25 pm

    @Roger Moore:

    The thing about White Collar Crime is that there’s rarely a lot of mystery about whodunit.

    It’s more about how they almost got away with things. I don’t read books about white crime, but will sometimes follow news stories about cases.

    Many corporate criminals, like grifters and con artists, think that what they are doing is all right.

    @JPL:

    I would read some true crime stuff as a pre-teen. I think part of it was that I wanted to try to understand how people could be so cruel and hateful.

    I have never been much into true crime TV shows. But sometimes I get drawn in. I find the process of investigation interesting.

    I don’t like the shows that have cheesey reenactments.

    I also find fictional shows that make serial killers the protagonist or anti hero to be baffling. There’s nothing about these people in real life that is remotely appealing.

    But I guess that people like to tame the monster through fiction.

  54. 54.

    OGLiberal

    July 14, 2023 at 7:28 pm

    1. @Skepticat: Gilgo Beach was the dumping ground (among others, although maybe not this guy).  Pretty certain none of the murders occurred there.  The dumping grounds were nowhere near houses.  But most bodies were found right off Ocean Parkway.
  55. 55.

    stinger

    July 14, 2023 at 7:29 pm

    @Kay: I told PayPal it was a birthday gift to a friend. I have no idea when JG’s birthday is–maybe the same day as his graduation!  ;-)

  56. 56.

    laura

    July 14, 2023 at 7:29 pm

    My childhood neighbor grew up to be a serial killer (wayne ford). My classmate was one of many who were kidnapped from our bowling alley and then our Charles Schulz Ice Arena and who’s nude and partially decomposed bodies were found along the roadways near the petrified forest, and we had the Zodiak killer, and spouse had armed guards on his school bus that 4an through folsom prison after the Chowchilla kidnapping and underground school busing, and we were horrified to find out that one of our acquaintances was an early victim of the east area rapist. And yet, I too, find it easier to get back to sleep after watching a murder mystery. I think it’s the restoration of order that soothes.

  57. 57.

    OGLiberal

    July 14, 2023 at 7:30 pm

    @Skepticat: Bob Moses was their neighbor?  Fascinating.  Also, he was terrible.

  58. 58.

    Kay

    July 14, 2023 at 7:37 pm

    @stinger:

    Good! We’re creating a digital defense trail for his (upcoming?) audit :)

    One step ahead of The Man

  59. 59.

    Gin & Tonic

    July 14, 2023 at 7:38 pm

    @OGLiberal: His primary residence, as far as I’m aware, was in Babylon Village, on the “mainland” (i.e. Long Island.) Gilgo is on Captree Island, and I suspect that was just a summer place.

  60. 60.

    Brachiator

    July 14, 2023 at 7:40 pm

    @laura:

    And yet, I too, find it easier to get back to sleep after watching a murder mystery. I think it’s the restoration of order that soothes.

    Yep. Many murder mysteries are about the disruption in society restored by the detective solving the crime.

    Some mysteries like to uncover a rot that has festered for a long time, finally erupting into murder.

  61. 61.

    NotMax

    July 14, 2023 at 7:47 pm

    Speaking of true crime, quote of the week?

    “I’m an idiot, I realize that,” [he told the judge]. “I was stupid. I don’t know what came over me. … I apologize to you, the country and my family.”
    – convicted January 6th participant Kevin Lyons (Source)
    .

  62. 62.

    JPL

    July 14, 2023 at 7:50 pm

    @NotMax: HA HA   I don’t really care, do you.   Hope he enjoys his time behind bars.

  63. 63.

    Manyakitty

    July 14, 2023 at 7:57 pm

    John, what’s up with the Patreon? I scheduled a recurring donation there and the receipt now says Patreon user instead of your name. Should I redirect? Please let me know. Maybe email?

    Thanks!

  64. 64.

    Another Scott

    July 14, 2023 at 7:58 pm

    Hang in there, JC.

    Sent you something via PayPal (making sure to check that it was indicated as a gift).

    Thanks for keeping the lights on here.

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  65. 65.

    JPL

    July 14, 2023 at 7:58 pm

    @Manyakitty:  I didn’t notice a change.  I’m anxious to find out though.

  66. 66.

    MazeDancer

    July 14, 2023 at 8:08 pm

    No nice cards were offered at PayPal. Even though I typed in “gift”. They just offered to check the ‘Friends and Family” box.

    It has been my universal experience, observing myself and others, that all professional reversals result in great things happening.

    Time for a change it seems. You know a gazillion people, John, and two gazillion know you. The world is definitely your oyster right now.

  67. 67.

    sab

    July 14, 2023 at 8:12 pm

    Oh dear. My impression was that Adam hates true crime stuff because it ain’t true. That was always my excuse for telling my spouse ” Could you please turn that crap off? It is all bullshit”.

  68. 68.

    Manyakitty

    July 14, 2023 at 8:13 pm

    @JPL: yeah, it always came up as John Cole before. 😬

  69. 69.

    John Cole

    July 14, 2023 at 8:19 pm

    Thanks everyone!

  70. 70.

    Miss Bianca

    July 14, 2023 at 8:32 pm

    @Martin: It’s funny – I enjoy reading murder mysteries, but I have been known to question the morality of using even fictional murder for entertainment purposes. “Cozy” mysteries, oddly, are the ones that bother me the most on that regard – what’s “cozy” about murder?

    In my dreams (literally) there’s an afterlife for all these fictional murder victims where they catch each other up on how they were killed.

  71. 71.

    SiubhanDuinne

    July 14, 2023 at 8:34 pm

    @John Cole:

    Just sent a little bit via Zelle. Or is that a verb, now? (“I just Zelled you some money.”)

  72. 72.

    Suzanne

    July 14, 2023 at 8:44 pm

    @OzarkHillbilly:

    Gotta watch out for them architects ( a ;-) for Suzanne) 

    I already sent this story to some of my colleagues, and noted, “An architect?! That tracks.”.

  73. 73.

    geg6

    July 14, 2023 at 8:44 pm

    I am a Murderino.  Loud and proud.  I saw a little blurb about this online earlier today, but no details.  This is a big one.  Damn, but they’re getting good at this cold case stuff.

    Sorry to hear of your troubles, Cole.  I am having a bit of a rough patch, too.  I think I’m dealing with some pretty worrisome memory issues with my John.  We’re finally getting him checked, but I found out we have some outstanding bills on major things and I don’t have access to his bank account, so it’s coming from my funds until I can get a feel for where we stand.  Meanwhile, he doesn’t know where his insurance card is and isn’t sure who his current insurer is.  I found two cards from different providers today, but still don’t know which is the right one.  It’s been a bad month.  I don’t know if this is possibly due to his stroke a few years ago and/or perhaps he’s having mini-strokes.  Maybe he has a brain tumor or Altzheimers.  It’s been a lot of stress, so I can relate.

  74. 74.

    satby

    July 14, 2023 at 8:49 pm

    @geg6: that sounds so tough geg6. I hope you can get it sorted out. Keep us posted, your pictures of John with Lovey were always so sweet. I’m hoping the best for you.

  75. 75.

    geg6

    July 14, 2023 at 8:58 pm

    @Martin:

    In general, that’s true but there are those in the genre who are trying to diversify the cases they present.  Dateline has done good work on cases concerning Native American communities.  There are podcasters out there who concentrate on cases in African American communities.  I haven’t come across any specific to Latinx or API communities, but I’m sure they’re out there.

    The thing is, serial killers are a huge draw in true crime and the sad truth is that they are usually white men.  Their victims can be anything at all, but these fascinating sickos are white men.

  76. 76.

    Brachiator

    July 14, 2023 at 9:10 pm

    @geg6:

    Not sure if this thread is still alive…

    I am a Murderino.  Loud and proud.  I saw a little blurb about this online earlier today, but no details.  This is a big one.  Damn, but they’re getting good at this cold case stuff.

    And some aspects of the case was solved with new technology, or improved methods and techniques.

    So, a murderer may think they are getting away with a crime because they have accounted for current investigatory techniques, only to be undone by innovation.

    The key is preserving evidence, even stuff that may not be currently important.

    Sorry to hear about your troubles. I hope things get better.

  77. 77.

    BeautifulPlumage

    July 14, 2023 at 9:11 pm

    I read a lot of Ann Rule’s books, many of which were cases in the PNW. Ted Bundy was active in one of the parks we went to a lot, and my older sisters would have been his type. I didn’t otherwise follow true crime until the early Murdaugh murders podcast by Mandy Many. I was intrigued because it was current and involve a lot of issues with the judiciary in SC. I sometimes also listen to My Favorite Murder.

    I stopped all my donations/subscriptions in May when I quit my full-time position. I will, in celebration of certain accomplishments, send in a bit. I hope to go back to a monthly “subscription” in a couple of months.

  78. 78.

    Leto

    July 14, 2023 at 9:17 pm

    Watch Mike Pence get smacked in the head by a water balloon! That little girl has a cannon!

  79. 79.

    Geminid

    July 14, 2023 at 9:18 pm

    @Suzanne: Charles Bronson’s character in Death Wish was an architect. Do you guys ever get together for Death Wish watch parties?

    Asking for a friend.

  80. 80.

    frosty

    July 14, 2023 at 9:22 pm

    I’ve been thinking about donating to B-J for a little while now, after reading TPM’s fundraising posts. I’m a member so they get something from me every year and i thought I should do the same here since this is the place I spend most of my time, and the commenters (no, really!!) help keep me sane.

    Heading over to the link now.

  81. 81.

    raven

    July 14, 2023 at 9:24 pm

    @Leto: Aw shit!

     

    Presidential candidate Mike Pence, despite what video on Twitter might otherwise suggest, did not get hit in the back of the head by a water balloon, and definitely not by a young girl sporting a howitzer for an arm.
    On Friday, the former Vice President sat down for an interview with Tucker Carlson at the 2023 Family Leadership Summit in Des Moines, Iowa. Pence and Carlson sparred over subjects that included voting machines, the Jan. 6 insurrection and military aid to Ukraine — in which the crowd booed him at one point.

  82. 82.

    MazeDancer

    July 14, 2023 at 9:27 pm

    @geg6: So very sorry.

    May I suggest you have a Durable Power of Attorney drawn up that John can sign now. Plus a medical one as well.

    With it you can go to his bank an have access to his account You can make his business and medical decisions.

    It also puts you in control no matter what the future brings

    While an actual lawyer may need to be involved, here is an online form. Probably need to get it notarized, but as his wife, it might be good enough for the bank, at least.

  83. 83.

    Leto

    July 14, 2023 at 9:39 pm

    @raven:

    hahaha, I need to dig up his refutation of the fly :P

  84. 84.

    The Moar You Know

    July 14, 2023 at 9:43 pm

    The “true crime” genre turns violence, death and tragedy into entertainment.  You guys do you but at least think about what you’re giving free rent to in your brains.  I find it beyond vile.

  85. 85.

    Brachiator

    July 14, 2023 at 9:47 pm

    @The Moar You Know:

    The “true crime” genre turns violence, death and tragedy into entertainment.

    Do you play violent video games?

  86. 86.

    raven

    July 14, 2023 at 9:48 pm

    @Leto: I ws wanting to find a YouTube so I could post it!

  87. 87.

    geg6

    July 14, 2023 at 9:53 pm

    @MazeDancer:

    We aren’t married, but I’m looking into those.  Thanks.

  88. 88.

    Suzanne

    July 14, 2023 at 9:54 pm

    @Geminid:

    Charles Bronson’s character in Death Wish was an architect. Do you guys ever get together for Death Wish watch parties? 

    Who’s Charles Bronson?

    I kid. Slightly.

    No, architect fun is pretty limited to happy hours, and other hipster stuff. Some of the younger staff on my team occasionally take workout classes together. I have found a lot of architects to be runners…. whenever there’s a running event, every firm I’ve worked for has had a team participate.

  89. 89.

    Suzanne

    July 14, 2023 at 9:55 pm

    @geg6: That sounds rough. Hugs, and best wishes for John.

  90. 90.

    geg6

    July 14, 2023 at 10:00 pm

    @The Moar You Know:

    There is an argument to be made that true crime podcasts and docs have either helped solve some cases, helped innocent people get out of prison or brought attention to cases that could possibly be solved or a victim identified by wider public recognition.  It’s almost always less about the murder or murderer but in how the case is solved or presenting evidence in the hope of getting information and evidence in order to get it solved.

  91. 91.

    RedDirtGirl

    July 14, 2023 at 10:02 pm

    @raven: Yeah, he looked too young and “not wooden” and there were no SS agents around.

  92. 92.

    SiubhanDuinne

    July 14, 2023 at 10:20 pm

     

    @geg6:

    Ah, jeez, geg6, that is sucky and scary. I hope you can get the paperwork (insurance, etc.) sorted quickly, and then find out what’s going on with your John. With luck, it will be identifiable and manageable. Thinking of you. Big, big hugs.

  93. 93.

    Odie Hugh Manatee

    July 14, 2023 at 10:40 pm

    Paypal, via gift, John. I even included a card!

  94. 94.

    Warblewarble

    July 14, 2023 at 10:57 pm

    Tfg. gets mentioned often enough, is that not “True Crime”?

  95. 95.

    Another Scott

    July 14, 2023 at 11:04 pm

    @geg6: I recommend a Justice of the Peace.  Ours was in front of his family Christmas tree.  :-)

    Strength and comfort and peace to you and John.  Hang in there.

    Best wishes,
    Scott.

  96. 96.

    catbirdman

    July 14, 2023 at 11:16 pm

    Just sent you a little bump via Venmo. I hope it helps you get through the rough patch!

  97. 97.

    UncleEbeneezer

    July 14, 2023 at 11:25 pm

    @JPL: Have you watched HBO’s Love & Death?  It’s really superb and Elizabeth Olsen really should’ve gotten an Emmy nomination for it.

  98. 98.

    Jackie

    July 14, 2023 at 11:43 pm

    @geg6: Sadly, this is one of the situations when married vs not can be a sucky situation depending on what state you live in. Hope you can get legalities sorted out to help you help your John.

  99. 99.

    thruppence

    July 15, 2023 at 12:05 am

    I’m on the Patreon thing, but I’ll kick in some more when I get home tonight. Let us know how much it helps.

  100. 100.

    phdesmond

    July 15, 2023 at 12:39 am

    @Kay:

    what a thoughtful gift!

  101. 101.

    Maxim

    July 15, 2023 at 1:04 am

    I worked for a while in the same office as a woman who listened to true crime podcasts all day. I hated it. Fortunately, I was able to switch to a different location and then to remote work.

    I love watching fictional mystery shows; as others have said, solving the puzzle and the restoration of order are soothing. And I read mystery novels for years, too. But I don’t enjoy learning about real people’s suffering at all.

  102. 102.

    thruppence

    July 15, 2023 at 1:52 am

    Okay, home now, sent you some via Zelle. Hope it helps. Hope we all help.

  103. 103.

    lowtechcyclist

    July 15, 2023 at 9:16 am

    @phdesmond:

    on Paypal, one can specify that it’s a gift.  there’s no tax on gifts.

    I recently signed up for Zelle.  The one previous time I sent money via Zelle, I didn’t specify anything, but all the money got there.

  104. 104.

    Soprano2

    July 15, 2023 at 12:12 pm

    @MazeDancer: I second, third and fourth this suggestion. When we had our first visit with my John at the gerontologist and he had taken the memory test, the doctor started asking us about durable power of attorney and living will, because my John scored low enough to indicate memory problems. It was kind of jarring. Lucky for us, we did that in 2014, so it’s already taken care of. I guess they want to shock people because they need to do the stuff while the person with memory problems can still make decisions. I’m not on his checking account (paranoia from a huge suit when he was married to his second wife re: his first wife and his kids), but with us that’s not a problem because I have plenty of money to pay bills. We sit down and pay bills together, plus I get the mail so I always know what’s coming in, so that helps.

    I have a friend whose father died quite suddenly. He paid all the bills online from their credit union checking account; her mother had no idea what bills they even had (other than the normal ones everyone has), and no idea how much they were. They spent a few hours at the credit union getting it so her mother could pay the bills. People don’t think about this kind of stuff when they’re paying everything online; maybe they should.

  105. 105.

    Soprano2

    July 15, 2023 at 12:13 pm

    Wanted to add, I finally got a chance to sign onto my home computer and sent some money, because I don’t want to do that from my phone. Hope it helps.

  106. 106.

    Gammyjill

    July 15, 2023 at 9:49 pm

    I haven’t been a consistent reader of Balloon Juice for a few years, but I kicked $250.00 your way through PayPal. I appreciate your good work in the past and we have an interesting year coming forward, so keep it up.

  107. 107.

    hilzoy

    August 9, 2023 at 1:32 pm

    @Martin: The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation has a number of really good true crime podcasts about indigenous women.

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