True Crime

Have you ever heard of the website Websleuths? It is a forum-based (think: reddit) internet community which uses swarm intelligence to crowd source true crime detective work. While many of (if not all of) the sleuthing is armchair sleuthing, the contributors to the forums are dedicated internet detectives and sometimes successful internet detectives!

One of the cases that the Websleuths website discusses at length is the case (or cases, depending on who you talk to) of the Long Island Serial Killer (sometimes referred to as LISK). In fact, A&E broadcasted a multi-part documentary about the murders called The Killing Season which discusses the Websleuths website.

Because of how popular true crime podcasts are, one may conclude that it is a new and trendy phenomenon. However, it seems to have been of interest pretty much throughout U.S. history. For example, we have a book in our collection called United States Criminal History: Being a True Account of the Most Horrid Murders, Piracies, High-way Robberies, &c.,: Together With the Lives, Trials, Confessions and Executions of the Criminals: Compiled From the Criminal Records of the Counties from 1836. Another interesting true crime gem from our collection is a document on the trial of Dr. John W. Hughes. Dr. Hughes, also a bigamist, murdered 17 year old Tamzen Parsons in 1865. He was later hanged for his crime.

If you are interested in historical or modern day true crime, the librarians are a great resource for finding books, news, documentary, and podcast recommendations. Stop by the reference desk or chat with us online!