Tabla de contenidos para Issue 59 en Crime Monthly

A female prison officer has been sentenced to 16 months behind bars after having a sexual relationship with an inmate. Shania Begum, 25, had been working at the Category-B HMP Birmingham since 2018, and began having sex with prisoner Joshua Mullings in 2022. An anti-corruption probe was launched after suspicions were raised about what was happening between the pair, and after bosses installed a security camera in a store cupboard, Begum was “observed engaging in sexual activity” between 22-29 September that year. She was arrested on 3 October 2022. At trial, her defence team said she had expressed remorse at her actions, calling them out of character, but sentencing her for misconduct in a public office, Judge John Butterfield said her actions had a “corrosive effect” on the prison system.…

In the news Shocking footage captured on a resident’s doorbell camera was the crucial evidence required to seal the fate of a cheating wife who murdered her husband. Cocina Penn, 42, was convicted in December 2023 of the brutal killing of 56-year-old Robert Penn. She was due to be sentenced as this magazine went to press, and it was recommended that the Kentucky native spend the rest of her life behind bars for a crime the prosecution said was wholly premeditated. FATEFUL NIGHT It was on 4 October 2022 that Penn’s elaborate scheme to kill her spouse was put into action. During her trial, investigators told the court, “Police were called at around 4.45am to a reported stabbing at Seitz and Mississippi. Officers found Robert lying in the road with…

When the mummified body of a woman was found in ahouse in April 2021, it Sent I ripples of shock through the small community of Moffat in Colorado. Wrapped in a sleepingbag with Christmas lights around her. the eyeless remains were identified ashelongingto Amy C arlson, who had led a cult-like group called Love Has Won for over 15 years. Better known to her followers as “Mother God”. Carlson. 45. was aself-appointed spiritual guru who claimed to he the physical embodiment ofthe mother of all creation, among other bizarre claims. Buthowhad she met such a grisly end? CULT ORIGINS Born in 1975, Carlson was seven when her parents divorced. She and her sister Tara lived with their dad and his new wife until allegations of abuse against their stepmother surfaced.…

COSY CAPERS The sunshine-filled cosy crime drama is back for an impressive 13th series to cheer up these dark winter nights. Ralf Little returns as everyone’s favourite fussy detective DI Neville Parker, leading Saint Marie’s intrepid crime fighters as they solve yet more compelling whodunnits and perplexing puzzles. With the usual cast reuniting, expect to see Neville try to repair his broken heart after girlfriend Sophie was revealed to be a killer, and Naomi and Marlon dealing with the aftermath of that Christmas kiss. At time of writing, the upcoming guest stars were being kept under wraps, but we bet there are plenty who fancied that sunshine break.…

He enjoyed a successful Hollywood career that took off in 1998 with That ’70s Show, playing moody joker Steven Hyde. But Danny Masterson’s high-flying career began to crash down in 2017, when disturbing allegations of sexual assault against multiple women surfaced, leading to a police investigation. By 2019, four women – who were all members of the Church of Scientology, of which Masterson was a prominent member – had filed civil suits against the actor, now 47. Following the investigation, a criminal case was launched, and in 2020, Masterson was charged with raping three women, aged 21, 23 and 28, in the early 2000s. He denied all charges. During the hearing, the jury heard how the women had allegedly been harassed by associates of the actor in a bid to…

A mother and her boyfriend have been handed life sentences for the murder of 18-month-old Alfie Phillips in November 2020. Sian Hedges, 27, and Jack Benham, 35, of Hernhill, Kent, were ordered to serve a minimum of 19 years and 23 years respectively. The court heard how Alfie had been subjected to a sustained “campaign of abuse” before the fatal “wicked and torturous attack”. A post-mortem found he had suffered 70 separate injuries, including internal bleeding, bruising, fractures, and bites. There were also signs of smothering, and he had cocaine in his system at time of death. Senior investigating officer Detective Chief Inspector Kathleen Way, said, “Hedges and Benham inflicted unimaginable suffering on Alfie during a night of violence. He should have been protected and loved by his mother, but…

In the news When Jeffrey Epstein died in prison on 10 August 2019, the convicted sex offender was awaiting trial on charges of sex trafficking, accused of recruiting young girls to have sex with him and his network of high-profile friends. The official cause of death was suicide, but many believed Epstein was killed to make sure he never saw the inside of a courtroom, or made a deal that would expose his contacts in return for leniency. But now, over 1,000 pages of court documents have been unsealed, revealing emails, deposition testimonies and more, and everyone from celebrities to politicians to princes have found themselves again embroiled in Epstein's sordid dealings. COURT ORDERED The documents were ordered to be unsealed by Judge Loretta Preska as part of a civil…

In the summer of 1973, John Paul Getty III, the 16-year-old grandson of one of the world’s richest men, was on holiday in Rome with his girlfriend when he was kidnapped, blindfolded and imprisoned in a cave in Calabria. The ’Ndrangheta were behind the audacious abduction, and within days, they issued a ransom demand for their captive, which in today’s money totalled around $115million. Unfortunately, the teenager’s family believed the kidnap was a ruse to extort money from his wealthy grandfather, John Paul Getty Snr, who refused to pay. A second, smaller ransom demand went unanswered, but four months after they had snatched him, the ’Ndrangheta sent an Italian newspaper a lock of Getty’s hair and one of his ears, along with a letter that read, “This is Paul’s first…

GANGSTER THRILLS SEXY BEAST PARAMOUNT+, STREAMING NOW When you think of classic 2000 gangster film Sexy Beast, what most likely comes to mind is an oiled-up Ray Winstone in skimpy yellow trunks. And this new prequel series begins with a sly reference to that iconic image, which we won’t spoil. In the film, Winstone’s character, London mobster Gary “Gal” Dove is living in retirement in Spain with his wife Deedee (Amanda Redman), when his bonkers best mate Don (Ben Kingsley) comes to tempt him into one last job. Now, this prequel – set in the East End in the 1990s – sees Gal negotiating his new-found obsession with porn actress Deedee (Sarah Greene), which puts both of them in danger. Meanwhile, Emun Elliott has to channel Kingsley’s huge original performance…

Trigger Point is back with a bang, both figuratively and literally. After drawing in over nine million viewers for the first series, season two sees Vicky McClure return as hot-headed police bomb disposal officer Lana Washington, forced to jump back into action as her team face bomb-carrying drones for the first time. Speaking about stepping back into Lana’s boots, Vicky says, “She’s still got a big job on her hands, but there’s always going to be that adrenaline for her. There will be failures, too – you can’t get everything right every time.” On top of all the bombs, Lana’s also coming to terms with the fact that ex-boyfriend DI Thom Youngblood (Mark Stanley) is seeing someone new. Honestly, the girl can’t catch a break.…

SLOW HORSES GETS FAST RENEW Season three is just finished, and four has yet to hit our screens, but Apple TV+ has already announced there will be a fifth season of acclaimed espionage drama Slow Horses. Starring Gary Oldman as the brilliant but cantankerous Jackson Lamb, head of a dysfunctional team of British intelligence agents, this outing will focus on resident tech nerd Roddy Ho and his suspiciously glamorous new girlfriend… GYPSY ROSE CONFESSES As convicted killer Gypsy Rose Blanchard enjoys her first taste of freedom in eight years, a new Crime+Investigation show is delving into her life behind bars. The six-episode docuseries, The Prison Confessions Of Gypsy Rose Blanchard, reveals her shocking truth in her own words, and will bring new light to her complex story with exclusive interviews…

Twenty Seven Minutes ASHLEY TATE (HEADLINE, £16.99) Ten years ago, Grant Dean’s sister Phoebe died in a terrible car accident. But what the community of West Wilmer wants to know is, why did it take Grant 27 minutes to call for help – and who else was there? Captivating. The River Man R.B. CROFT (AUDIBLE, £5.99/FREE TO SUBSCRIBERS) The village of Watersmeet is thrown into turmoil when a body is found hanging from a bridge. There’s a killer in their midst and police can’t find the culprit – but could it be down to a dreadful local legend? Truly chilling. Has Anyone Seen Charlotte Salter? NICCI FRENCH (S&S, £18.99) In 1990, Charlotte fails to turn up to her husband’s birthday party, and is never seen again. Now adults, her children…

Murder Murder News (Murder Murder.News) Best friends Angelina and Aurora co-host this podcast, which covers not only multiple murder and missing persons cases, but also all the other true-crime content they happen to bingeing that week. Their overall goal is to examine the most fascinating cases while always keeping their focus on the victims, and the duo manage to achieve the perfect mix of methodical exploration and light-hearted banter. Highlight episodes include “The Texarkana Moonlight Murders”, in which the pair discuss a series of brutal slayings in a small town in Texas. The hosts are clearly fascinated by the subject matter, and as a listener, you can’t help but get caught up in their enthusiasm. Sarah O’Byrne Unrestorable (iHeart Radio) Washington mother-of-three Washington mother-of-three Catherine Hoggle has long been suspected…

A US man already accused of murder has been charged with three more killings, leading police to believe he may be a serial killer. Richard Bradley Jr, 40, was due to stand trial in January over the death of Brandi Blake, 44, in 2021, and was then accused of killing Emilio Maturin, 36, who went missing in July 2019, as well as Michael Goeman, 59, and his son Vance Lakey, 31. It’s believed all the victims had large cash amounts on them when they were approached by Bradley, who asked them to help him dig up gold that he claimed was buried on his 160-acre farm in Washington state. It’s alleged he stole their possessions after the killings, burying their bodies on his property. He now faces fresh charges of…

Police rescued a missing 16-yearold girl from underneath an alleged abductor’s bedroom floor. Zackary Jones, 34, from Kentucky, US, was arrested after his mother dialled 911 to report her son fighting with his “girlfriend”. When officers arrived, Jones denied having a girlfriend, and after arresting him for possession of drugs, they eventually found the teenager hidden in a basement beneath his bedroom, concealed by a rug over a trapdoor. It’s alleged Jones pretended he was 19 when he contacted the girl online, and when she found out his real age, he threatened her. He maintains the girl was there of her own free will, but faces multiple charges, including rape, assault, and false imprisonment. He was yet to enter a plea at time of press.…

Scott Peterson has had his case taken up by the Innocence Project, who believe he did not murder his wife and unborn son. Laci Peterson was eight months pregnant when she disappeared on Christmas Eve 2002. Her body washed up in San Francisco Bay four months later, and son Conner was also recovered from the water. Scott, now 51 – who was having an affair at the time – was convicted of first-degree murder in 2004, and sentenced to death, which was later vacated and he was resentenced to life. In the past, concerns were raised around jury selection errors, but a retrial bid was quashed in 2022. Now, the Los Angeles Innocence Project says Peterson’s rights were violated, and they believe freshly uncovered evidence will exonerate him. A court…

A 17-year-old boy from Suffolk was given a life sentence in December, after being found guilty of murdering 16-year-old Harley Barfield in Haverhill in January 2023. The teenager, who hasn’t been named, was told he would have to serve a minimum of 17 years for stabbing schoolboy Harley in an attack that stemmed from “the defendant’s obsession with Harley’s girlfriend, who he’d dated previously and refused to accept the relationship had ended”. At trial, the jurors were presented with evidence of “unwanted and obsessive contact with his ex”, that included “relentless calls and messages over several weeks”. It was also alleged the defendant had said if he found out she was with someone else, he would kill them. A statement issued by Suffolk Police detailed the events of that day,…

Three people were killed and three more injured when a professor went on a rampage at a university campus in December 2023. The mass shooting at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, may have been a twisted grudge as shooter Anthony Polito had several job applications rejected, including one at the uni where he carried out his appalling spree. Polito, who had money issues, was shot and killed by police at the scene, so his true motive may never be known. EVACUATION: EMERGENCY HOTLINE Hundreds of terrified students were quickly evacuated from the building and ordered to remain on the outskirts of the campus until the all-clear. A family reunification unit was set up in the nearby Las Vegas Convention Center, along with an emergency hotline for worried relatives. GUNMAN…

SURVIVAL STORIES I can’t believe it’s been a year,” I said to my best friend Eileen over dinner one night. We’d been talking about my dad Bill, who had passed away. He’d worked as a miner and didn’t have much, but he’d been careful all his life, and my sister and I had inherited £15,000 each from the sale of his house. It was all I had after a rough few years battling ME, and I wanted to invest the money for me, my son and my two grandchildren. And now, Eileen had given me an idea. “Someone on Facebook was talking about OneCoin,” she said. “It’s cryptocurrency, like Bitcoin, and it’s growing in value quickly.” I’d heard of crypto – it was a type of digital currency that allowed…

The ’Ndrangheta gained a reputation for ruthless brutality in 2007 after six men were murdered outside a restaurant in Duisburg, Germany’s Rhineland. The very public executions were the result of a longstanding blood feud between two rival factions, the Strangio-Nirta and Pelle-Vottari-Romeo clans. The bitter dispute between the two families erupted back in 1991, when two young Strangio-Nirta members were shot dead at a carnival, sparking a series of tit-for-tat killings. Despite attempts by the ’Ndrangheta higher-ups to broker a truce, the feud continued with more killings. The murder of the wife of a senior StrangioNirta member at her home on Christmas Day in 2006 was the apex of the bloodbath. Six of the Pelle-Vottari-Romeo fled to Germany in the wake of the assassination, but their enemies tracked them down…

HEARTSTOPPING SCARES Night Watching TRACY SIERRA (VIKING, £14.99) In the 1979 film When A Stranger Calls, a babysitter picks up the phone to hear someone ask if she has checked on the children, who are asleep upstairs. What seems like a prank gets increasingly frightening, and the police rush to find out who is terrorising her. This leads to what are perhaps the most chilling words ever committed to screen as she’s told, “The call is coming from inside the house”. Well, if you’ve seen it, prepare to relive the terror all over again with this deeply unsettling tale. We won’t give too much away except to say that, during a blizzard, a mother is home alone with her two young children. It’s an old and isolated house, with idiosyncratic…

What was the inspiration behind your new novel? There’s an old quarry in our village, not far from our house, and I’ve always thought it would be the perfect setting for something untoward to happen. In The Guest, Gabriel is out for a run when he finds 18-year old Charlie badly injured at the bottom of a quarry and this sets off a chain of events that leads to mayhem and murder. What attracts you most about writing thrillers? The plotting. I enjoy coming up with a storyline that has enough surprises to keep the most avid thriller reader guessing. Is anything you write based on real life? Not in the sense that I’ve gone through any thing my characters have gone through. But my general life experiences help in…

FRESH TAKE This podcast explores crimes committed by people of colour and their victims. It frequently covers little-known cases that rarely get public attention because, to quote one of the hosts, “The news is rrr-acist!” It is rare to find a podcast that can deal with very disturbing subject matter while maintaining a light touch, but “multigenerational and multiracial” presenters Wendy and Beth have a great chemistry, and their fascination with the cases, as well as their genuine friendship, shines through. One episode that perfectly displays both the pair’s natural rapport and their ability to bring a case to life is that of Julian Carlton, a black servant who murdered seven people on the estate of renowned American architect Frank Lloyd Wright in 1914. The pair dive into the personal…