Tabla de contenidos para Issue 64 en Crime Monthly

Welcome to the July issue. This month, the tragic cases of two mothers who allegedly killed their own children, and how a TikTok star committed a double murder. We also look at the scandals hitting the family-friendly K-pop phenomenon, the horror child abduction linked to human trafficking, and the serial killer who wanted to be famous. Plus, we talk to Gypsy Rose Blanchard about life now she's free, and Claudia Lawrence's mum issues a new plea. There's also our usual round-up of all the latest crime TV, books and podcasts. As usual, email us at Crimemonthly@bauermedia.co.uk. See you next month.…

Two 12 year olds have been found guilty of murdering 19-year-old Shawn Seesahai, making them the youngest knife murderers ever convicted in the UK. The pair are also the youngest defendants to be convicted of murder since Robert Thompson and Jon Venables, both 11, murdered James Bulger in 1993. Shawn was stabbed to death in a Wolverhampton park just before 8pm on 13 November last year. The teenager, who had hoped to become an engineer, was set upon by the pre-teens in a random attack that saw one hacking at him with a machete as he lay on the ground, while the other punched and stamped on his head. The defendants claimed in court that Shawn had told them to move off a bench, before putting one of them in…

When investigators were seen conducting a new search at the home of Long Island Serial Killer suspect Rex Heuermann in May, many wondered if there might have been developments in the case. Their questions were answered last month when Heuermann was charged with a further two murders, taking the total to six. And as he appeared at an emergency court hearing, disturbing details emerged of what was seized from the property, including an alleged “murder blueprint” document. RECENT SEARCH Father-of-two Heuermann, 60, was arrested back in July 2023, and is currently awaiting trial over the murders of the so-called Gilgo Four: Megan Waterman, Melissa Barthelemy, Amber Costello and Maureen Brainard-Barnes. Their remains were all found wrapped in burlap and buried along a stretch of Gilgo Beach in 2010. But on…

A huge number of podcast creators will be at the show for guests to mingle with, including the teams behind Conning The Con, Seeing Red, British Murders, True Crime Garage, Generation Why, I Could Murder A Podcast and A Bit Of A Stretch. There will also be immersive experiences running across the weekend, live recordings, book signings and much more. WIN 2 GUEST WEEKEND TICKETS, WORTH £500 CrimeCon 2024 takes place on 21-22 September at 133 Houndsditch, London. There are a number of ticket options available with different benefits. Treat yourself to the ultimate weekend with a Platinum ticket, which includes an extra-special dinner with the experts, or go VIP for a dedicated concierge service and priority seating. There are discounts for blue light workers, students and carers, plus instalment…

SUMMER STRIFE Our Holiday LOUISE CANDLISH (HQ, £9.99) Our House was one of the standout successes of 2019, winning a British Book Award before being adapted into a major ITV drama starring Martin Compston. Now comes another ripe-for-adaptation thriller in Our Holiday, which once again takes a real-life issue and uses it as the basis for a twisty psychological roller coaster. The coastal town of Pine Ridge has been swamped by second-home owners down from London, nabbing all the stunning clifftop residences and creating a shortage of houses for the locals. Couples Charlotte and Perry and A my and Linus, plus their assorted surly teen offspring, are looking forward to a carefree month of barbecues and rosé, but the locals have other ideas. Headed by the charismatic Robbie, they are…

What was the inspiration behind your new novel? My editor tweeted that he would love to publish a meta crime novel, and it set me thinking about how I could play with the conventions of the genre. One day, I had this image of a Miss Marple village being descended upon by a SWAT team, a gun battle taking place in St Mary Mead, and the ideas started building from there. What attracts you most about writing crime? If I was to get all Aristotelian, I would say it's about examining your characters in extremis, seeing who they really are when they're faced with the worst of outcomes, the greatest of dangers. But I also believe that crime fiction is the best vehicle to examine society, because crime is always…

CBC TRUE CRIME According to research, nearly one third of Brits have been caught up in a romance scam, costing us £31.3million. As a result, such schemes have become the topic of numerous TV shows and podcasts, including this new one from CBC True Crime. Over seven episodes, journalist Hannah Ajala seeks to uncover the world of online love scams and reveal the true identity of “Janessa Brazil” – the woman whose face is at the centre of thousands of catfishing schemes, and who's thought to be the most impersonated woman in the world. As her investigation takes her all over the world, Hannah encounters victims who have fallen for Janessa, discovers the world of the Sakawa boys – individuals in Ghana who make a living by scamming foreigners out…

True crime has continued to grow over the past few years, with ever more real-life stories of triumph and tragedy, heartbreak and heroism coming to our TV screens, podcasts and books. Advocates of the genre champion putting survivors and victims first in everything they do, treating the topic with respect and dignity. And that's the ethos at the heart of CrimeCon UK – the country's biggest true-crime event, which returns to London this September. Covering everything from the criminal mind to the criminal justice system, here are just some of the experts who'll be there over the weekend.…

On 29 May 2024, a San Diego court delivered a verdict that everyone, except seemingly the accused, was expecting. Ali Abulaban broke down in tears as he was found guilty of first-degree murder for the double shooting of his wife Ana and her friend Rayburn Barron. The killings, which took place in 2021, were the result of a jealous drug-fuelled rage brought on by 32-year-old Abulaban's cocaine addiction, something he had spoken about on more than one occasion. Watching CourtTV's tearful jailhouse inter view with the former YouTube star, one thing was abundantly clear – Abulaban believed his own hype. Having acquired a taste for the kind of life social media fame can afford a person, Abulaban believed he was destined for fame, fortune and the American dream. A week…

In the news Five years after he was arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree murder, grand theft, burglary and battery, Wade Wilson, 30, from Cape Coral in Florida has been convicted – and all with the help of damning evidence from his own father. CHILLING CALL Steve Testasecca was just a teenager when Wilson was born, and the baby was adopted. But Steve was pleased when his son reached 18 and sought him out, wanting to connect with his biological parents. Although contact was sporadic, there was still a connection between the father and son, until on 7 October 2019, Steve received a chilling call that would alter his life forever. Wilson was calling to ask for his help. “I'm a killer,” he told him. “I've done something…

On 2007, British exchange student Meredith Kercher was found dead in the apartment in Perugia, Italy, she shared with American student Amanda Knox, then 20. The horrifying incident led to a string of court cases that saw three people jailed, although two were later exonerated. Now, 17 years later, the case has been back in the headlines amid new legal action. THE ACCUSED When investigators examined the crime scene, a bloodied handprint was found on Meredith's pillow. It belonged to Rudy Guede (far left), then 20, a drifter who had befriended the men in the flat below hers. Guede was arrested, but when he claimed he'd heard Amanda arguing with Meredith, she was also arrested, along with then-boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito (left). In a 53-hour interrogation – during which Amanda says…

In March 2009, 35-year-old Claudia Lawrence failed to turn up to the University of York, where she worked as a chef. Police believe Claudia, who lived in Heworth, York, was murdered, although no body has ever been discovered. Her heartbroken mother Joan Lawrence, now 80, still lights a candle for her daughter every day, and prays that she'll eventually have some form of closure. Joan, from Malton, North Yorkshire, says, “The 15th anniversary hit me hard. It was a milestone that was weighing heavily on my shoulders for months. W hen Claudia initially vanished, I never for a second thought that we'd still be looking for her all these years on. It's beyond my comprehension. It doesn't feel real. No parent should ever have to endure the level of pain…

PROFESSOR DAVID WILSON The criminologist will be appearing for the first time. A former prison governor, he's the host of numerous TV docus and podcasts, and will be bringing his wealth of talent to the stage. DONAL MACINTYRE The famed investigative journalist made his career as an intrepid undercover reporter, before working with an array of international broadcasters as a reporter, presenter and producer. STEVEN KEOGH A former DI, Steven spent 30 years in the Met Police, including 12 years catching killers and bringing them to justice. The author of two books, he fronts TV show Secrets Of A Murder Detective. KATHERINE SCHWEIT Lawyer Katherine spent 20 years as a Special Agent with the FBI. After the Sandy Hook massacre, she created the FBI's active shooter program. She provides expertise…

DAN AND DAVID JOIN THURSDAY MURDER CLUB David Tennant (Broadchurch) and Daniel Mays (Line Of Duty) have joined the cast of Netflix's Thursday Murder Club film. Based on Richard Osman's bestselling 2020 cosy crime novel of the same name, they will join Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan and Sir Ben Kingsley. Johnathan Pryce (The Two Popes) and Naomi Ackie (who played Whitney Houston in the recent biopic) have also joined the ensemble cast. Production is currently ongoing. KAREN PIRIE 2 IS GO Filming has commenced on the second run of acclaimed ITV crime series Karen Pirie. Lauren Lyle (who won an award for her work in series one) again takes the lead as the titular Scottish detective from the novels by Val McDermid. Also reprising their roles are Chris Jenks as…

One Wrong Turn C.M. EWAN (MACMILLAN, £16.99) Driving home one foggy night, Abi and Ben swerve to avoid a man on the road. They're reluctant to pick him up, but when they see a woman and a baby in a broken-down car, they have to help. But just who is now with them? Terrifying. The Family MANDASUE HELLER (ORION, £16.99) Cheryl has been looking out for herself since her mother died, but then Dale enters her life. She falls for him hard, but when she meets his mysterious family, she starts to wonder exactly what she might have gotten involved in. Gripping. Bad Tourists CARO CARVER (BANTAM, £14.99) When pals Darcy, Camilla and Kate arrive in the Maldives, they each have something to put behind them or look forward to.…

Consumed (iHeart Radio & Grim & Mild) This crime fiction podcast is created by Carlos Foglia and inspired by the novel by Aaron Mahnke. It follows journalist Sarah Simmons (voiced by Silicon Valley‘s Rachel Rosenbloom), who finds herself stranded in a small New Hampshire town just as a series of bodies begin turning up. Down on her luck, she decides it's time to finally make a name for herself by solving the mysterious murders. Also featuring the vocal talents of Arturo Castro and Supernatural‘s Misha Collins, this pod is one for fans of the award-winning Bridgewater, which is set in the same universe. The phenomenal voice acting and production values make this well worth the listen. Sarah O'Byrne True Crimes With John & Deanna (iHeartPodcasts) If the names Deanna Thompson…

Her rebellious punk persona saw her become an icon during the grunge movement of the 1990s – graduating to rock royalty during her infamous romance with Nirvana's Kurt Cobain, before his death in 1994. However, off-stage, Courtney Love's battle with drug addiction led to several brushes with the law. Her first arrest came in 1995, when she got into an argument and abused a Qantas air stewardess, receiving a “good behaviour bond” from an Australian court. Later that year, Love threw a lit cigarette at a female musician at the Lollapalooza Festival before punching her in the face. She admitted a charge of assault and was ordered to attend anger management classes. After another fracas on a plane, Love was arrested at Heathrow Airport in 2003, and banned from Virgin…