The Acid Test of Evil John Haigh’s case defies conventional criminal profiles. Dr. Scott Bonn, a criminology expert, labeled Haigh as, “A manifestation of sadistic pleasure and financial greed.” Expanding on this assessment, Dr. Jane Carter Woodrow elaborates in her book “The Acid Bath Murders,” that “Haigh had a pathological need to kill and dissolve; … Read more
From Restaurant Owner to Notorious Criminal Anjette Donovan Lyles, a restaurant owner in Macon, Georgia, became infamous in the late 1950s for her involvement in a series of suspicious deaths. Claimed to be a practitioner of voodoo, Lyles was eventually convicted of multiple murders, including those of her husbands and a daughter. “It’s a case … Read more
The Sinister Groom George Joseph Smith was not just a serial killer but a master manipulator whose charm won over vulnerable women. Dr. Katherine Ramsland, an expert in forensic psychology, has described him as, “A man whose charm was his greatest weapon. His victims were manipulated, not just murdered.” Additional insight comes from the book … Read more
A River of Rebellion: The Volga Pirates In the early 19th century, the Volga River in Russia became a turbulent expanse controlled by bands of pirates. Among these lawless figures, the most notorious was a man known as Kuznetsov. He led a cadre of pirates in disrupting trade, ambushing merchant ships, and defying the Russian … Read more
The Allure of a Troubled Youth Charles Schmid, born in 1942 in Tucson, Arizona, was an enigmatic figure from an early age. The way he stuffed his boots with crushed beer cans to appear taller, wore pancake makeup, and spoke in a high-pitched voice drew a peculiar kind of attention. “Schmid had a strange way … Read more
Dark Star Alignments: The Killings Begin In the late 1980s, California was gripped by a series of murders that seemed to be linked by a peculiar pattern: all victims were killed under astrological alignments that their killer believed to be significant. Dubbed the “Astrological Murders,” the case captivated and horrified the public and stymied investigators. … Read more
Background and Early Life Born in 1869 in Beaufort, France, Joseph Vacher grew up in a home beset by poverty and instability. Biographer Jean-Pierre Pont observed, “The roots of Vacher’s violent tendencies can be traced back to his turbulent childhood,” in his comprehensive book “Vacher the Killer.” Local records indicate multiple instances of Vacher’s erratic … Read more
Unimaginable Horror: The Crime Scene On February 18, 1983, in Seattle’s International District, the Wah Mee gambling club became the stage for one of the deadliest mass shootings in Washington state’s history. Thirteen people were killed and one seriously injured in an armed robbery turned massacre. The crime shocked the community and prompted an immediate … Read more
Wayne Bertram Williams was born on May 27, 1958, in Atlanta, Georgia. Son of schoolteachers, Williams displayed a fascination for radio and electronics from an early age. Despite being an academically promising student, Williams dropped out of college. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution in a 1981 profile described Williams as an “entrepreneur with dreams of breaking into … Read more
Beginnings and Doctrinal Foundations The Alchemy Center for Transmutation gained prominence in Argentina during the late 1990s. It purported to combine elements of alchemical philosophy with self-help techniques, promising spiritual enlightenment and physical transformation. The organization was led by a charismatic figure known as “Maestro Ignacio,” whose teachings attracted a dedicated following. “In an eclectic … Read more