Author: Dastan-e Raz
The Incident and Initial Response On February 23, 2020, Ahmaud Arbery, a 25-year-old Black man, was jogging in Satilla Shores, a suburban neighborhood near Brunswick, Georgia. Arbery, who regularly jogged in the area, was spotted by Gregory McMichael, a former police officer and investigator. McMichael, along with his son Travis, wrongly suspected Arbery of being involved in recent burglaries and decided to pursue him. Armed with a shotgun and a handgun, the McMichaels chased Arbery in a truck, joined by their neighbor William “Roddie” Bryan, who filmed the pursuit. As the McMichaels caught up to Arbery, they confronted him. In…
The Emergence of Nxivm and its Facade of Self-Help Keith Raniere founded Nxivm in 1998, marketing it as a personal development organization designed to help individuals unlock their potential and achieve success. Promoted through a series of courses called “Executive Success Programs” (ESP), Nxivm attracted thousands of members, including prominent celebrities, business leaders, and socialites. The organization operated on the principles of personal growth, promising followers they could reach their full potential through Raniere’s teachings. At its core, Nxivm claimed to empower individuals with the tools to gain mastery over their emotions and success in life. Raniere, who presented himself…
The Fateful Evening of May 3, 2007 Madeleine McCann, a three-year-old British girl, was on holiday with her family at the Ocean Club Resort in Praia da Luz, Portugal. On the evening of May 3, 2007, Madeleine was put to bed along with her two-year-old twin siblings, Sean and Amelie, in the family’s ground-floor vacation apartment. The McCanns, Madeleine’s parents—Kate and Gerry—then joined their friends for dinner at the resort’s nearby tapas restaurant, a few minutes’ walk from the apartment. Throughout the evening, the adults in the group, who would later be dubbed the “Tapas Seven,” took turns checking on…
The Unlikely Beginnings of Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell Lori Vallow’s life prior to 2018 was marked by significant personal challenges but gave little indication of the horrifying events that were to unfold. Born in 1973, she had already been married five times and was the mother of three children: Colby, Tylee, and J.J. Despite personal struggles, Lori was described by friends and family as a devoted mother who deeply loved her children. This changed dramatically in 2018 when Lori’s path crossed with Chad Daybell, a self-published author of doomsday-themed books based on radical interpretations of the teachings of The…
The Rise of Aum Shinrikyo and Shoko Asahara’s Vision The story of the Tokyo subway sarin gas attack begins with the rise of Shoko Asahara, a man who would later lead one of the most notorious cults in Japan’s history. Born as Chizuo Matsumoto in 1955 to a poor family in Kumamoto Prefecture, Asahara was partially blind from birth, which influenced much of his early life. As a child, he was enrolled in a school for the blind, where he exhibited aggressive and controlling behavior, bullying other students. However, Asahara’s ambition and charismatic nature set him apart from his peers.…
The Disappearance of Tylee Ryan and JJ Vallow In September 2019, Tylee Ryan, 16, and Joshua “JJ” Vallow, 7, disappeared under mysterious circumstances in Idaho. At the time, their mother, Lori Vallow Daybell, had recently moved to Rexburg, Idaho, following the death of her fourth husband, Charles Vallow, who had been shot and killed by Lori’s brother, Alex Cox, earlier that year. While Charles’ death was ruled self-defense, it raised concerns among family members, especially after Lori’s strange behavior and her radical religious beliefs began surfacing. JJ, who was adopted and had special needs, had been attending school in Idaho.…
The Murdaugh Family and Their Legacy The Murdaugh family, a prominent legal dynasty in South Carolina, had wielded immense influence for nearly a century. Three generations of Murdaughs served as solicitors (prosecutors) in the Lowcountry, cementing their legacy in the region. Alex Murdaugh, a high-powered attorney, was the latest to carry the family’s legal torch, working at his family’s law firm, Peters, Murdaugh, Parker, Eltzroth & Detrick (PMPED). The Murdaughs were known for their wealth, connections, and control over the justice system in the area, making them a seemingly untouchable force. They lived on a sprawling estate in Hampton County,…
The Perfect Family Image: Behind the Facade From the outside, the Watts family appeared to be living the American dream. Chris Watts, his wife Shanann, and their two daughters, Bella and Celeste, embodied the image of a young, happy family in Frederick, Colorado. On social media, Shanann frequently posted updates about their life, sharing photos of family outings, milestones, and heartwarming moments with her children. She also showcased her success as a health product salesperson, exuding confidence and positivity. However, behind the perfectly curated social media posts, the Watts household harbored growing tensions. Shanann, who was 15 weeks pregnant with…
The Making of a Mastermind Carl Gugasian, known as one of the most prolific bank robbers in U.S. history, wasn’t an ordinary criminal. Born in 1947, Gugasian’s journey into the world of crime began early. At just 15, he was caught trying to rob a candy store, an event that would set the tone for his later obsession with perfecting the art of robbery. However, it wasn’t reckless behavior that defined him—it was his calculated intelligence and academic achievements. After being released from juvenile detention, Gugasian seemed to turn his life around. He earned degrees in statistics, electrical engineering, and…
A Life of Secrets and Shadows The story of Lee Ki-young begins like many other criminals—hidden behind the mask of an ordinary life. Born in South Korea, Lee Ki-young’s background revealed little about the darkness that would later emerge. His life was unremarkable to those who knew him. But beneath the surface, Lee harbored the capacity for violence, manipulation, and cruelty, which would erupt in a series of brutal murders that shocked the nation. In the summer of 2022, Lee’s secret life began to unravel. Living in Paju, a suburban city in Gyeonggi Province, he was involved in a relationship…