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Most recently published stories in Criminal.
The Ephrata Man Who Collected Death: A Profile of Jonathan Gerlach
This article is Chapter 6 of the complete Jonathan Gerlach investigation. The Mask of Normalcy To the residents of Ephrata Borough, Jonathan Christ Gerlach was just the guy at 100 Washington Avenue. He was 34 years old. He drove a silver Toyota RAV4. He paid his taxes. There were no red flags on the exterior of his property. The lawn was cut. The siding was clean. In a town obsessed with "curb appeal," Gerlach was a model citizen.
By Sunshine Firecrackerabout a month ago in Criminal
Flames of Deception: Boston’s Arson Epidemic. Content Warning.
Welcome to The True Crime Reader, the podcast that goes deep into the world of true crime literature, bringing you the stories behind today’s most gripping investigative works and in this episode, we take you to a city under siege—not by an outside force, but from within.
By Kristen Barenthalerabout a month ago in Criminal
"The Burlap Sack" Evidence: How Yeadon Police Caught the Ephrata Bone Collector
This article is Chapter 5 of the complete Jonathan Gerlach investigation. The Trap is Sprung On January 6, 2026, Jonathan Gerlach got into his 2008 Toyota RAV4 and drove to Delaware County. He likely believed it was just another "shopping trip" to his favorite supply store: Mount Moriah Cemetery.
By Sunshine Firecrackerabout a month ago in Criminal
Two Teens, One Bus, and a Nation Watching. Content Warning.
Hello, and welcome to “The True Crime Reader,” where we dig beneath the headlines to unravel the stories that shape our understanding of crime, justice, and society. Today’s episode takes us to Oakland, California, for the story behind Dashka Slater’s powerful nonfiction book, “The 57 Bus”—a case that stunned the Bay Area and reverberated across the country.
By Kristen Barenthalerabout a month ago in Criminal
In Cold Blood: Anatomy of a True Crime Classic. Content Warning.
The True Crime Reader: Truman Capote’s 'In Cold Blood' Welcome to The True Crime Reader, the podcast where literature meets real life—and the line between truth and narrative blurs. I’m your host, and today we’re journeying into the heart of rural 1950s America to examine Truman Capote’s genre-defining work, In Cold Blood. This episode, we’ll peel back the layers of a book that didn’t just recount a murder—it transformed journalism, challenged the ethics of true crime, and left a profound mark on how we tell stories about violence, psychology, and the American Dream.
By Kristen Barenthalerabout a month ago in Criminal
A Horror Movie Come to Life: Inside the Nightmare at 100 Washington Avenue
This article is Chapter 4 of the complete Jonathan Gerlach investigation. The Raid on Washington Avenue On the morning of January 6, 2026, the residents of Washington Avenue woke up to a swarm of law enforcement vehicles. But this wasn't a standard drug bust. The officers entering 100 Washington Avenue were wearing hazmat gear and respirators.
By Sunshine Firecrackerabout a month ago in Criminal
The Murder Sheet Podcast links TX killing To KY Cold Case
At a time when violent crimes are at historical lows (despite what the current administration claims), there are more true-crime podcasts, books, TV shows, and general interest in the genre. True-crime podcasts are extremely expensive to make because of research costs, public records requests, potential investigator fees, out-of-studio recording costs, and production expenses.
By Frank Racioppiabout a month ago in Criminal
A Real Story: The Day Ameneh Bahrami Lost Her Sight. AI-Generated.
In 2005, Tehran woke up to what seemed like an ordinary morning. Buses were running, offices were opening, and students were heading to their universities. The city was moving through its usual routine. No one knew that, in one small part of the city, a tragedy was about to occur—one that would later shock the entire world.
By shakir hamidabout a month ago in Criminal
Study reveals Louisiana State Police uses force disproportionately against Black people
It’s not the NYPD or LAPD that’s the news for using excessive force but the Louisiana State Police Department. In cases where women have been dragged on the pavement by a cop with a chip in his shoulder to the fact that cops chase after whomever is speeding, only the numbers tell the tale.
By Skyler Saundersabout a month ago in Criminal
Crime Chronicles: Darya Nikolaevna Saltykova
A little while ago, we covered the story of Delphine LaLaurie (1787 - 1849), the New Orleans socialite who tortured and murdered her slaves. We also covered Erzsebet Bathory (1560 - 1614), who did the same thing in Hungary around 200 years before that; I didn't think I'd find another one, but I did - in Russia.
By Greg Seebregtsabout a month ago in Criminal
The Monster in the Details: How a can found in Yeadon solved a crime Ephrata missed.
This article is Chapter 3 of the complete Jonathan Gerlach investigation. The Million-Dollar Mistake Jonathan Gerlach stole over 100 human skulls. He transported bodies across county lines. He maintained a "museum" in a rowhome and a "warehouse" in a storage unit. For months, he operated with impunity right under the nose of the Ephrata Police Department.
By Sunshine Firecrackerabout a month ago in Criminal
