What crime stories have you been obsessed by?

[WomenHour]

I was griped by the James Bulger murder 25 years ago

Sophie Toscan du Plantier. I shared the common opinion on the suspect for years but after listening to the West Cork podcast, I'm now not so sure.

Didn't know about the Claudia Lawrence case until reading this thread. So sad.

@2020iscancelled

Definitely jonbennet- i feel like it was likely the brother.

Please educate yourself.

Not obsessed by any, rather unsolved missing people cases. Claudia Lawrence being one.

I do love Websleuths for this reason.

@BubblyWater, I have zero interest in unsolved crimes in general, but Sophie Toscan du Plantier’s murder touches me, too. I spend a lot of time in the vicinity, see her son and his family on their visits, and of course Ian Bailey around the town.

A few weeks ago, we were having a pootle around the Kent countryside in the sunshine and came across an immaculate country village (amongst many, I must add). Chocolate box cottages, lovely old pub, just so quaint and pretty. Somewhere I'd feel so confident letting my kids go out and play. I was convinced it was historically famous so had to to do a quick google. Turns out it was where Lin and Megan Russell were murdered and Josie survived. Shocked me so much. I just couldn't wrap my head around something so random and horrific happening somewhere so quiet and pretty. Have been doing more research since and am now convinced that it was the doing of Levi Bellfield and not Michael Stone.

Andrew Gosden. The subreddit dedicated to him is fascinating and there are loads of interesting theories and ideas circulating.

I didn’t hear about it at the time, but I watch crime shows now and am haunted by the Amy Bradley disappearance in 1998.

Lyn Dawson. The Teacher's Pet podcast is RIVETING. She seemed like such a lovely mother; it's such a sad mystery.

Brian Shaffer. It is such a tragic case. His poor family. It must be horrendous not knowing. I don't think he disappeared voluntarily.

Kyron Hormon a little boy who disappeared from his school.

Ireland's missing women.Was there a serial killer in Ireland in the 90s.

Jane and John Doe.How can people not be missed.Its heartbreaking

Anita Cobby. I moved from the UK to Sydney in 1988 for a few years and this was still very much talked about, just horrible, feral youths pouncing on an innocent middle class young girl.

The Springfield Three is absolutely maddening. Three women - a mother, her daughter and daughter's friend all disappear from a house overnight. Their handbags are found lined up in a row, they were dressed for bed, the mother was a chain smoker but left her cigarettes. Their dog was calm, when friends turned up at the house the porch light was smashed and the answering machine was blinking. They cleaned up the glass and left. The mother of one of the missing women then turned up, entered the house, listened to the message. She accidentally deleted it and says she can't remember what it said.

This was 1992 and nothing has turned up since.

I've just been down a rabbit hole on Reddit regarding the Andrew Gosden case. Someone had a theory that Andrew might have been going to meet Ian Watkins. It sounds absurd at first, but thinking about it, I wonder if it could be true? IW was in London at the time, he was in a metal band, he abused children the same age as Andrew. And one of the women who offered up her child was from Doncaster.

days
The Springfield three is just baffling. I think that it must have been random because the two girls only returned home on a last minute decision. But they had taken their make up off, so it must have happened after that. I think they were all murdered by someone who forced them to leave the house. Wasn't there some rumour about them being buried under a mall which was being constructed?

@Whylurkwhenicanjoinin

Anita Cobby. I moved from the UK to Sydney in 1988 for a few years and this was still very much talked about, just horrible, feral youths pouncing on an innocent middle class young girl.

Oh yes, that is possibly one of the worst crimes I have heard about.

Claudia Lawrence. I think it has elements of Ian Huntley as we watch the same character(s) interviewed whenever there is an unsolved type documentary. The Police appear to be taking a reactive stance waiting for someone to break ranks. So sad for her family.

One of the Nightmare Neighbour C5 episodes featured that lovely old lady who was found murdered in Ireland on Christmas Day. The most unlikely murderer. Very eerie.

I agree with listening to Criminal.
It’s an amazing podcast.

And yes the episode Money Tree is amazing. Find time today to listen to it.

The Laci Peterson case.

She was 8 months pregnant when she was murdered by her husband on Christmas Eve 2002. He has just had his death sentence reversed on appeal but his conviction still stands and he is still in prison. He terrifies me because he seemed so normal. He is a psychopath for sure

I find the Gypsy Rose Blanchard case so sad. I don't think she should be in prison when her entire childhood was as a prisoner at the hands of her mother.

Obsessed is probably the wrong word l, but the ones that stay with me are Asha Degree, Andrew Gosden and April Fabb.

A few, not obsessed just sadness.
Ana Kriegal I think of her during her last moments and last months on earth, I think if her parents heartbreak too.
Holly and Jessica.
Breck bednar.
All children, all solved, all so very sad.

The disappearance of Maura Murray. Podcast I used to listen to on my commute. That's a mystery.

Teacher's Pet as mentioned upthread is a good listen.

I'd like to know the truth behind the Making a Murderer (Can't remember the names of all of them).

I tend to listen to podcasts and read about unsolved mysteries and missing people in particular
Brian Shaffer
Maura Murray
Amy lynn Bradley