Dudes like Ronald here are why men and women both would choose the bear!
Should go without saying but this is incredibly gruesome so TW for rape and mDudes like Ronald here are why men and women both would choose the bear!
Should go without saying but this is incredibly gruesome so TW for rape and murder!
This was a good, short narrative non-fiction true crime book on KU about human sludge monster, Ronald here and the I believe 23 men and boys he murdered across southern Louisiana. Insane that I’ve never heard of them, he has one of the highest body counts of any American serial killer I know of at least.
This book reads quickly and had a tone of levity to it that I don’t really love in a true crime book, we definitely could’ve taken more time to learn about the victims here, at the same time this book is 200 pages so I understand not being able to go super in depth.
And the author does take the time to point out frequently that the main reason Ronald here was able to get away with this as long as he did was because of the victims he choose- which were mostly poor, gay, Black and “hustlers” that he lured into his car or trailer with the promise of money for sex, but instead he’d rape and strangle them. So of course, media and communities don’t care.
This is a really gross reality that we see with murder cases constantly, sex workers, drug addicts, unhoused or transient people are targeted by dudes like these because they are “less dead”. ...more
A well written, frustrating story that gets bogged down a little bit at certain parts, but overall was a good listen, I always like it when the authorA well written, frustrating story that gets bogged down a little bit at certain parts, but overall was a good listen, I always like it when the author narrates the story (I listened to this book). Maybe not the most “riveting” of true crime, but I think it’s an incredibly important story of how the police will create more victims through shit investigation techniques.
Cops who get tunnel vision and bulldoze (literally) their way through a case and cause harm need to held accountable. Remember kids, if you think “oh, the government wouldn’t do that”, yes, they absolutely would. Cops are not your friends.
Spoilers (? Idk if that’s appropriate for a true crime story?) ahead.
This case reminded me a bit of the West Memphis Three, granted no one ended up being murdered, just a tragic car accident, where the police were SO focused on their preferred perp they got tunnel vision and completely ignored any other leads. It’s beyond frustrating. Although with west Memphis three the three boys convicted weren’t guilty do anything besides minor dumb teen boy things, where as this david fella was an absolute piece of shit, but not a murderer.
I felt the story got bogged down during the Likken family case stuff, but at the same time, that was family was wronged deeply by the cops in their tunnel vision, and deserve to have their story told.
Just again such a bad investigation from the beginning, fuck that pedo sheriff and fuck police who say “oh they just ran away” when the loved ones of the missing person are telling you that they wouldn’t do that. I know it was the 70s but Jesus. They were so close the whole time, and I hate that their parents died not knowing what happens to them, not being able at least bury them.
Still can’t believe Pam and Sherri were just trying to find a party for the first time, and they met such a freak accident and tragic end. I don’t believe there was any foul play, though I didn’t quite understand how the car lost control.
I wonder what would’ve happened if Sherri’s grandpa had let her take the other car....more
Absolutely wild. This has like every horrible fucking thing humans can do to each other except cannibalism, which amazes me. I cannot believe I’ve nevAbsolutely wild. This has like every horrible fucking thing humans can do to each other except cannibalism, which amazes me. I cannot believe I’ve never heard of it. The ocean is scary and we should not go in it lmao!
If you haven’t heard of this, I highly recommend checking this out.
I really wish someone would’ve thought “huh, maybe we should interview the female survivors” so we can hear their perspectives after surviving this absolute nightmare. But alas, that’s the pain with historical events, women are sidelined and not paid attention to. ...more
There’s a quote I saw on tiktok that cannot find for the life of me online, but basically it’s like this: “I’d rather be killed by a wolf than a man, There’s a quote I saw on tiktok that cannot find for the life of me online, but basically it’s like this: “I’d rather be killed by a wolf than a man, at least the wolf would be kind”.
Out of all the dangers that can come from hiking, I have to agree with this quote - an animal may kill and eat you, but at least they won’t rape you, torture you, degrade you, and then kill you and leave your body out in the most insulting way possible.
Literally why do men ruin everything? I want to be able to walk at night, go hiking, go about life without fear of being bothered purely because I am a young woman.
I feel so sad for Lollie and Julie that they were murdered doing what they loved most, in a place they loved, after going through the struggles of being gay women in the 90s, and other family traumas. I’m so angry that this happened, and how the subsequent investigation got fucked up.
Gender violence is a goddamn epidemic in this country, that impacts all women, especially women in minority groups....more
The Devil is not gay marriage or women working outside the home or fucking COFFEE. The Devil is church leaders marFundamentalism is a fucking disease.
The Devil is not gay marriage or women working outside the home or fucking COFFEE. The Devil is church leaders marrying and raping teenage girls and saying it’s “divine”, the devil is murdering a young mother and her BABY because you had a “revelation”, the devil is knowing you could’ve prevented these murders by fucking saying something to someone, but choosing not to.
Teaching children, especially young girls, to always obey and never question church doctrine and elders, is dangerous and cruel. ...more
So I had the immense privilege of going to Salem this past fall (2022) with my mom and sisters for my golden bCan’t believe I forgot to review this!!
So I had the immense privilege of going to Salem this past fall (2022) with my mom and sisters for my golden birthday, oct. 27th. It was fucking dope, to say the least. Through all the tourist traps, kitschy, sometimes offensive witchy things in that town, being there and getting to see where this horrible history took place was incredible. And part of why this experience was so cool, was because of this book.
This book was long and took me a while to get through, but I didn’t find it particularly difficult to read - it was just, you know, 600 pages haha.
This book is non fiction, but I like how the author will switch to the subjects POV throughout the book, to kind of give a look into these women’s heads.
There are so many misconceptions and misinformation about the witch trials, and this book gives a clear, comprehensive idea of the trials and the people, and why people fell into hysteria. It even helped me to empathize with the Putnams, who I’ve always regarded as villains in this saga. But how can you be a villain when you genuinely believe your actions will protect yourself and your children from the devil? But I think the biggest and most important take away, and what we can learn from this part of history is:
Witch hunts still happen and continue to happen, to this day.
Not about witches specifically, but fear mongering about a minority group has always been peoples go to throughout history. Spreading moral panic that results in innocent people losing their livelihoods and lives. We’ve seen this famously with the McCarthy trials, but also with the HIV/AIDS crisis, the satanic panic of the 80s and 90s, the list is fucking endless. In my living memory, with Muslim people after 9/11. Trans people. This nonsense that I see people like JK Rowling spreading about how trans women are dangerous. Again the list is endless.
So we must remember that we are NOT above or better than the puritans of the 17th century. We can sit and mock them all we want for believing in witches, but at the end of the day, we as modern people are just as capable of this cruel behavior and giving into moral panics and fear. These were some of the best educated people of their day, and they were still susceptible to this mob mentality that resulted in the deaths of dozens....more
Well, that was fucking terrifying, and I am so glad to be out of this human jock strap’s world.
I don’t want to give this human dumpster shit stain anWell, that was fucking terrifying, and I am so glad to be out of this human jock strap’s world.
I don’t want to give this human dumpster shit stain any credit, but boy was this scary. The scariest thing of it was his randomness of choosing a victim, and how he would go into peoples homes or place of work and just take them. Having someone enter what is supposed to be your safe space, your home, is one of my worst fears.
I wish this fucker had lived a long, healthy life trapped in prison, I wish he had told the FBI who his other victims were so the families could lay them to rest, and I wish he had never been born in the first place, or at lease had been born in a different home environment, as I’d like to thing that could’ve prevented some of this.
Also just because it’s been a topic of conversation on TikTok, stop glorifying and romanticizing serial killers, you fucking weirdos. It’s one thing to learn about these human aberrations from a case study POV and have interest in the dark and macabre, but when you glorify and “simp” for monsters who murdered innocent people for the pure pleasure of it, you are disrespecting the victims and their families, and you’re doing the same thing that monsters like Key’s do, which is look up to fuckers like Ted Bundy. Stop it. When I say I’m into “true crime”, I mean I am interested in victim advocacy, restorative justice, Sarah Turney, not in a watch a Netflix series that recreates real-life horror that the families don’t need to re-live, get fucking tattoos of murders on my body type a way. These are not fake, fictional murderers like Jason or Freddy, these are real life dickholes who murdered real life people. ...more
This story always wows me with everything that goes down, also makes me so thankful I am with my partner and will hopefully never have to date again iThis story always wows me with everything that goes down, also makes me so thankful I am with my partner and will hopefully never have to date again in my life, because a lot of men are horrifying monsters who will manipulate you, abuse you and ruin your life.
Ultimately, Debra is a victim. Yes it’s frustrating at times to hear her make the same mistakes, seemingly ignore red flags, and above all, not listen to the warnings of her children. I definitely think there are areas in this story where she could have taken more responsibility. But again, she is a victim, and judging is not helpful to her or anyone else in her position. My biggest thing was hoping she’d realize that life is not a fairy tale, you do not need another person to complete you, and to stop marrying someone after only knowing them a few months. The examples she grew up with, how her parents especially her mother were, is very telling as to why she is the way she is.
Even if you don’t agree, you think she deserves shit for it, ultimately the true villains of this story and the people who most deserve anger and criticism are dirty John, and Billy vickers, and the other abusive men that pop up throughout this book, and then the law, the police, the judges who don’t believe victims, give abusers the benefit of doubt ALL THE TIME, and do fucking nothing to help anyone. Debra was a wealthy white woman with text and email evidence of John being a fucking psyco, and even she couldn’t get him arrested or get help. Ladies and non-binary friends, please be so careful with who you allow into your life, all it takes is one crazy mother fucker. ...more
So this is another book on another old timey case. I first heard about this case through some true crime podcasts, and it is super interesting. I enjoSo this is another book on another old timey case. I first heard about this case through some true crime podcasts, and it is super interesting. I enjoyed the history that was a big part of this book (even if I did skim some of it) and I also appreciated the fact that this author continually reminded the reader of the Indigenous people and Black people who were pushed out, segregated, lynched, and kept in poverty for white settlers to be able to live “peacefully” in Kansas, land that was never theirs to take in the first placed.
What is frustrating with this case, as with all old timey cases, is that we just don’t have enough information. Obviously they didn’t have the technology that we have today for crime scenes, or the ability to track a family across the western United States, so what we know is pretty limited, especially about what happens to the Benders after they escape. This author does her best to try and recreate what might have happened to them, based on the most solid evidence she could find, but throughout the last 3rd of the book, was kind of like “meh” because we just don’t know. What I did like and appreciate however is the detail and care given to the victims and their families throughout this book.
As with true crime today, people are often insensitive assholes who treat true crime like a 24/7 Halloween party with no respect for the victims or their families. I barely knew anything about the victims families from this case. Especially with older cases, because they feel so far removed, I feel like even less respect is given to the victims, one of which in this case was a 18 month old baby girl who was thrown into the same grave as her father to die of exposure and suffocation. I felt better learning about the victims and their families, what happened to their loved ones after they figured out what had happened to their loved one. I think this book is important because it gives back some dignity and respect to these people who have been lost in the drama and made up stories and mythos surrounding this case. It also discuses the people who were falsely accused of being benders or being a part of the bender crimes, and how those people (generally poor people who were different in some way) suffered because of these accusations.
To the benders, I would say, was it worth it? Was it worth murdering people for the very little they carried with them, and then having to run off into the west and live out the rest of your days on the run and impoverished? Like, what was even the point, especially after running away they would have had to use up all the money and stuff they had saved up? We don’t know for sure what happened to them, but i believe in my humble opinion that however their miserable lives ended, I’m sure it was in poverty and discomfort. ...more
One thing I struggle with as Ive been educating myself on prison and police issues like abolition, reform, etc. is what should we as a society do withOne thing I struggle with as Ive been educating myself on prison and police issues like abolition, reform, etc. is what should we as a society do with the Brian McCarthy’s of the world.
Human rights are human rights, then cannot be taken away regardless of the crimes a person commits, even if that person violates another person’s human right to life. And while yes I agree that almost anyone with the correct help and resources can be rehabbed and given a second-chance, I also believe that some people, like this fucker, need their asses beat.
This fucking toad of a human being made the CHOICE to seek out, viciously beat, rape, and strangle an innocent young woman as she was walking on her college campus home from the bars. And not only did he make the CHOICE to do this, but he to this day has never fully admitted everything he did, and still can’t fully remember the victims name, and even goes as far as to try and blame Katy for what HE did. That, to me, is simply unforgivable. It would be one thing if he had simply been honest from the start, did his time, and made serious efforts to change his behavior. But he clearly had done none of that.
But regardless of how I or anyone else feels, the victim and their families ALWAYS need to be put first. I absolutely loved how the book completely focused on the family, and what they’ve gone through. I would highly recommend this to anyone with a true crime interest. If you do or want to write about true crime professionally, this is a must read on how to do it in a way that is respectful to the family and the victim. This and “On the Farm” are some of the best TC books I’ve read over the past two years.
Katy could’ve been me, any of my friends, or my sisters. She could’ve been my own mom, who is around Katy’s age, and was in college at the same time. I remember all the time staying out late either going to bars or studying all over campus, and I would walk home at 1, 2 in the morning because it was a small private college campus and I felt safe. Just like Katy felt safe because she was on campus.
Everyday, it seems like a woman dies at the hands of male violence. Sometimes it’s a stranger, but most of the time, it is someone they know- domestic partner, father, brother, uncle, cousin, friend of a friend. It’s a terrifying reality for us, and even more scary because how do we fix it? There are many moving parts to blame, mainly patriarchy and male entitlement, but what do we do to stop these kinds of attacks? How do we stop other McCarthy’s from doing this again? I don’t have an answer. Again, I know I have a long way to go, and I might reread this review in a few years and find it to be ignorant, but what I know for sure is that the rage I felt while reading this book and knowing that Katy died in a way that is every woman’s biggest fear, will always be there. ...more
This is one of the best celebrity memoirs I’ve read. Decided to give it a listen because of the podcast CI’m never watching a Tom cruise movie again.
This is one of the best celebrity memoirs I’ve read. Decided to give it a listen because of the podcast Celebrity Memoir Bookclub. Leah names names and does not hold back in her discussion of Scientology, it’s impact on her life, and the impact of leaving the church. Even if you don’t really care about celebrity gossip, this book was super interesting, and quick to get through. I would 100% recommend listening to the audio book of this, as Leah narrates it, and it’s absolutely hilarious listening to it in her voice. She is self-deprecating and self-aware, and it’s fun listening to her Brooklyn accent.
The most interesting part was the Tom Cruise/Katy Holmes wedding. This is where Leah truly starts to see the abuse of power within the church, calls it out, and is punished for it. I’ve always known Scientology was messed up, my mom wouldn’t let me watch movies or shows growing up if it had a Scientologist actor in it, but hearing Leah’s experiences, even though she was somewhat more protected because of her celebrity status, was harrowing and makes me feel for those who find themselves trapped within this “religion”.
I’ve watched a little bit of her Netflix show, but I’d recommend reading this first, as it gives context to what she discusses in the show, as the show is not in order of her life experiences. ALSO fuck face himself, L. Ron Hubbard wrote a science fiction book series (it’s as bad as it sounds) and an ALBUM to go with it. Todd in the shadows on YT has a video about it, it’s hilarious.
Anyways, fuck Scientology, fuck all the big names out there defending it and protecting it, and in general just think critically and be wary of any large organizations such as religion, especially people who are asking for your credit card information! ...more
To Lauria and Ashley, I hope you are at peace, wherever you are.
In the vein of In Cold Blood, Miller takes us through her very hands on investigationTo Lauria and Ashley, I hope you are at peace, wherever you are.
In the vein of In Cold Blood, Miller takes us through her very hands on investigation into this double murder, arson, kidnapping, probably rape and then another double murder. The way Miller describes Oklahoma and the people she interacts with with top notch, and I am optimistic that they will find the girls someday.
It is absolutely heartbreaking how if the lead of the insurance card being found had been taken seriously, MAYBE the girls could’ve been found, alive. With most cases, I’ve found the simplest explanation is often the truth, and I firmly believe that with this case. One mystery I kept thinking about was how involved with meth was Danny Freeman, to bring this kind of crime into his families life?
I do think that miller could’ve stream-lined this a bit more, but in her defense, this is not at all a straightforward case, and with all the research she did and the amount of people she spoke with, it’s still only 305 pages, which I think is pretty tight for the amount of info that’s in here.
This is an absolute must read for anyone interested in true crime, or this case, or a look at small town rural life in Oklahoma, ...more
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