Natural Disasters and Crime

by Gina Simmons, Ph.D. While the east coast recovers from the deluge of hurricane Irene, many communities in the U.S. and the world still struggle to rebuild after suffering tsunamies, fires, earthquakes and floods. Disasters bring out both the best and the worst in human nature. After hurricane Katrina, stories of criminal violence, looting and the slaughter of animals flooded the news cycle. Many feel infuriated by images of frenzied...

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Detroit Breakdown, Motor City Shakedown

by Donna PendergastLast week Detroit Mayor Dave Bing issued a "call to action." Joining other local, state and federal officials Bing urged Detroit residents to take a place on the front lines of crime fighting efforts by acting as the eyes and ears of police to combat murder and gun crimes. "We've had enough," Bing said. "We as a community have to be upset. Everyone is tired of what has been happening in the city and it's time for it to stop."In...

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The Gay Panic Defense... Here We Go Again

by Holly Hughes As jurors begin their deliberations in the case of Brandon McInerney (photo left), a fourteen year old boy charged with first degree murder, my mind returns to the first case that introduced us all to the term gay panic defense.” For those unfamiliar with this case, a little background.On February 12, 2008, fifteen year old Larry King was working in the computer lab of his middle school. At approximately 8:15 a.m. the defendant,...

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Failure to Test is a Failure of Justice

by Diane DimondThe evidence had been there all along. It had been sitting on a shelf inside a cold storage facility at the Houston Police Department for 12 years. After a determined detective tracked it down and sent it off to the lab for testing the state of Texas realized it had a found a serial rapist. The criminal’s name is Roland Ali Westbrooks and his story highlights why every state in the union should make testing of backlogged rape kits...

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Casey, Michael, and Nancy

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Gabrielle Giffords Continues Her Valiant Fight

by Cathy ScottFor more than six months, U.S. Representative Gabrielle Giffords was kept in the dark, for her own protection and state of mind, about the deadly fate of six victims shot in the January shooting spree that nearly took her own life.Now, in one of the most poignant moments in the tragic case comes the revelation that Giffords has learned the names of those who died at the hands of a crazed gunman. Prior to that, the senator was told that...

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Pursue Justice, Not Rumors

by Anne BremnerA prominent world figure is arrested for the brutal rape of a hotel maid after he has boarded an Air France flight, perhaps hoping he can flee to a country without an extradition treaty. Soon after, the accused appears before cameras handcuffed like any common criminal. The news spreads shock and outrage around the world."The force of public opinion cannot be resisted," Jefferson said. Except by judges and juries.Democracy in America...

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From Page to Script to Screen: The Long Way Around

 By Chuck HustmyreLast month I saw something really unique: the premier of my movie on the big screen in Los Angeles. Granted, it wasn’t at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard, and it was only in Los Angeles to the extent that the premier was in Los Angeles County. At the Regency Academy 6 Theater on East Colorado Street in Pasadena to be exact, as part of the Action on Film International Festival.But still... It was pretty cool.How...

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Chuck Hustmyre to Guest Post Tomorrow on WCI

We're excited to introduce another unique guest blogger on Women in Crime Ink. Crime writer, journalist, screenwriter and former ATF Agent Chuck Hustmyre will be joining us tomorrow. Chuck Hustmyre spent 22 years in law enforcement and retired as a special agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF). During his career he specialized in violent crime, narcotics, and fugitive investigations. Chuck wrote the screenplay for the LIONSGATE...

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'Not Guilty'

by Katherine ScardinoI have read about all I care to read about Casey Anthony. But, it appears that the news media and every other American citizen have opinions about this woman.The bottom line is this: Twelve members of a jury listened to every single word of the testimony and examined every single piece of evidence presented by the state of Florida in an attempt to convince each of them to render a verdict of guilty to capital murder. Each of...

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Forensic Sculptor Helped Bring Many to Justice

by Diane DimondA man died recently who I want you to know about. He operated in the shadow of law enforcement and you probably never heard his name. In his own very unique way he developed an expertise that helped bring justice to those who would otherwise never get it.His name was Frank Bender, and when he died recently at the age of 70 at his home in Philadelphia, he was the best known in a rare breed of forensic sculptors.Frank Bender somehow...

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