CRIME

Robert Shaw, Robert Redford, and Paul Newman in The Sting (1973).

The 25 Greatest Revenge Movies of All Time

As Khan Noonien Singh once said, “revenge is a dish best served cold,” and cinema is filled with stories where vengeance and retribution gets served with chilling brutality and precision. Here are 25 of the best of those tales.

The Wild and Totally True Story Behind 'Cocaine Bear'

In 1985, authorities in Georgia found the decomposing body of a black bear next to 40 ripped-open packages of cocaine. No substantial quantities of the drug remained. How it happened is a story for the ages.

The Reason Police Officers Tap Your Taillight When They Pull You Over

The practice dates back decades.

What’s the Difference Between Prison and Jail?

Many people use the terms interchangeably, but there’s a substantial difference between the two methods of incarceration.

The Real-Life Murder That Inspired 'The Sopranos' Theme Song

The show's title track was based on a woman who got herself a knife.

15 Killer True Crime Documentaries to Stream on Netflix Right Now

Terrorist attacks, serial killers, unsolved murders—Netflix has everything to feed your true crime obsession.

Strangers with Candy: Delaware‘s Chocolate Box Murders of 1898

Mary Elizabeth Dunning thought a friend had sent her chocolates as a treat. Instead, they were a death sentence.

Illinois Police Are Examining New DNA Evidence in the Infamous Tylenol Murders of 1982

In 1982, someone laced bottles of Tylenol with cyanide, killing seven people. Decades later, police could be a step closer to finding out who did it.

Oil fields like the one above were at the center of the Teapot Dome Scandal in the 1920s.

10 Facts About the Teapot Dome Scandal

A century ago, the Teapot Dome scandal was the Watergate of its time.

Real night court inspired fake night court.

Yes, 'Night Court' Fans—Night Court Actually Exists

Harried judges in Manhattan and elsewhere hear cases into the early morning hours, including allegations of cleaver attacks.

Nell Donnelly was a '30s fashion icon, which made her a target for kidnappers.

How Organized Crime Saved Kidnapping Victim Nell Donnelly

In 1931, fashion designer and millionaire Nell Donnelly was abducted from her Kansas City home. Her kidnappers didn't know that Donnelly harbored a scandalous secret that would eventually seal their doom.

John Lennon and Yoko Ono, photographed in 1980.

The Final Days of John Lennon

Shortly before 11 p.m. on Monday, December 8, 1980, John Lennon was gunned down in front of his New York City apartment building by an obsessed fan. This is the story of the days leading up to that tragedy.

These Are the 50 Most Popular Passwords in America—and That’s Not a Good Thing

‘Password1’ is not going to keep your banking information safe.

Your giftee would die to receive these presents.

15 Killer Gifts for True Crime Fans

Humans have a strange and lasting fascination with the dark and macabre. Lucky for you, we’ve compiled a list of the best gifts for true crime fans that will appeal to any murder mystery lover.

A 2013 photo of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, showing the vacant frame from which Rembrandt's The Storm on the Sea of Galilee was stolen.

10 Puzzling Unsolved Crimes

Unsolved crimes are exhaustively covered in the media, but chances are, there’s at least one crime from history in this list—from unsolved art heists to mysterious crimes committed against (or by?) royals—that you’re not familiar with.

The 25 Safest College Campuses in America

Freshmen (and their parents) want their first home-away-from-home to feel safe, and many institutions excel in that department.

13 True Crime Books to Add to Your Collection

Discover 13 true crime books to add to your collection, including Truman Capote's classic 'In Cold Blood' and 'My Friend Anna: The True Story of a Fake Heiress.'

What You Can (and Can't) Take From Hotel Rooms

That pen? Probably fine. The marble fireplace built into the wall? You're pushing it.

How Super-Recognizers Are Helping Police Solve Crimes

Super-recognizers have a rare and uncanny ability to remember faces—a skill that’s estimated to affect just 1 to 2 percent of the population.

A vicious guard dog prepares to devour a potential intruder.

Paw Abiding Citizens: Walking Your Dog May Lower Your Neighborhood Crime Rate

Even a Labradoodle could take a bite out of crime.

One of Shakespeare's First Folios (not this one) was stolen from a cathedral in England in 1998.

7 Times Literary Works Were Stolen

A number of valuable, important, or rare manuscripts have been swiped from authors or the individuals or institutions tasked with taking care of them. Here’s a sampling of them.

Steve Martin was a curious choice for the role of a mobster.

'My Blue Heaven,' Steve Martin's Comedic, Spiritual Sequel to 'Goodfellas'

In 1990, two movies based on the life of mobster Henry Hill hit theaters. 'Goodfellas' had Martin Scorsese. 'My Blue Heaven' had Steve Martin.

10 Famous Works of Art That Were Attacked

The 2022 vandalization of the 'Mona Lisa' was just the latest incident where famous art was attacked.

9 Fascinating Facts About Delia Owens's 'Where the Crawdads Sing'

Delia Owens's 'Where the Crawdads Sing' is a bildungsroman, a survivalist thriller, a love story, a whodunit, and a meditation on nature all rolled into one.