Sex Cults · Brooklyn Mirage · Martin Sheen
August's budget sweep is a real barn-burner, so buckle in
the true crime that's worth your time
Who thought a mountain of crime coverage would feel like a cool and pleasant relief? Friends, if I get another “excessive heat”-related headline, newsletter, or message from my public utility this week, I just might scream. Yes, I agree, we broke the earth. No, I don’t think we should ignore what we have done, nor do I think it’s too late to save ourselves. And, yet, it’s hard not to feel a “Dirty Laundry”-ish relish for some of this weather-related media that we used to see only in tales of murder, larceny, and scandal.
It’s interesting, right? We have grown a conscience when it comes to crime, but all that salaciousness needs to go somewhere, I guess. And that place is the climate crisis! All this to say that some months, I feel like I’m getting down in the dirt a bit as I round up the headlines Sarah and I considered but didn’t get to. But this month I feel like I’m delivering a thoughtful, reasonable, worth-considering break from the tide of HOT DOG! No Seriously It’s So Hot Your Dog Is On Fire news.
Welcome to the August budget sweep, and stay cool, cats. — EB
Is a San Francisco 'Sex Cult' Subjecting People to Abuse? [KQED]
A female-founded cult? Guess women really can have it all! Forgive my glibness, because this is still allegedly nasty stuff: OneTaste, a sexual wellness startup meets commune, has generated headlines in its hometown of San Francisco, but other than a blink-and-you-missed-it 2022 Netflix doc (see trailer above) it hasn’t gained much traction. The claims against the “orgasmic meditation” company include forced labor and psychological and sexual abuse at the hands of the founder of partner company Welcomed Consensus…and its male leader. So much for equality.
How a Man in Prison Stole Millions from Billionaires [New Yorker]
This one is too delicious to tease, so I’ll just give you the logline: “With smuggled cell phones and a handful of accomplices, Arthur Lee Cofield, Jr., took money from large bank accounts and bought houses, cars, clothes, and gold.” This has got to be adapted, stat.
B.T.K. Killer Named as Prime Suspect in Two Unsolved Cases [New York Times]
I’m always skeptical at these later-in-the-game case clearances; they often feel like desk-clearing for officials who want a bow on a legacy. This story doesn’t offer an abundance of insight into why Dennis Rader was named the suspect in the deaths of “Cynthia Kinney, a 16-year-old girl who worked at a laundromat and disappeared in 1976 from Pawhuska, Okla., in Osage County; and Shawna Beth Garber, a 22-year-old woman whose body was discovered in 1990 in Lanagan, Mo.” Employment records and some items in some Polaroids seem like the primary sources, with an excavation at Rader’s house (which wasn’t done before???) offering up objects that might be relevant. Waiting for more info on this one before I make a decision; how about you?
‘Killers of the Flower Moon’ Scraps Limited Release, Will Roll Out Globally in Theaters Oct. 20 [Variety]
As you might recall, the hotly-anticipated Apple/Scorsese adaptation of David Grann book was going to get a big-city release on Oct. 6, then would roll out to theaters nationwide on the 20th. Why the switcheroo? Variety has a theory:
Should SAG-AFTRA and the AMPTP be unable to reach an agreement, Scorsese’s all-star cast will not be able to promote the big-budget crime thriller. A splashy wide release could benefit “Killers” at a time when movies of all scopes and budget ranges have struggled to pop in limited release, the only notable winner since the pandemic being Oscar winner “Everything Everywhere All at Once.” Apple and Paramount will likely gain more momentum with a strong global push.
Remember, this is a movie that runs over three hours, so many of us are likely to wait for the (as yet unannounced) Apple+ release.
The Weird, Big-Money World of Cybercrime Writing Contests [Wired]
I was watching Hackers at the gym today, so I know all about this…jk jk but wow, has that movie aged oddly. ANYWAY, here’s the deal: “Russian-language cybercrime forums—which largely exist for trading stolen data, touting new security vulnerabilities, and connecting criminals—have run contests allowing their members to make some extra cash and gain some kudos in the process.” Give me a U.S. one where I explain how to knock over the Bank of America up my block and I’ll split that prize with everyone here.
The Case for and Against Ed Sheeran [New Yorker]
I’ve been sort of peripherally aware of the copyright infringement lawsuit against Ed Sheeran, which alleges the song above borrowed way too much from the song below. This piece from June, which Sarah surfaced this month, lays the dispute out so clearly, I don’t know why I didn’t see it when it first moved — it’s that good, and tackles not just courtroom nuts and bolts but squishier questions of creativity, art, and how our brains reuse and recycle.
Is There a Serial Killer Stalking the Brooklyn Mirage? Or maybe this EDM club is just too big and messy. [Curbed]
Once a blog about real estate, even Curbed (now under the umbrella of Vox-media-owned New York magazine, of all things) is into the crime game, and this piece on a Stefon-ish East Williamsburg dance party is quite respectable. Sarah notes that the Brooklyn Mirage has been a Brooklyn Trending Topic this month, with Gothamist also on the case of the venue, which appears to have links to New York mayor Eric Adams (aka The Chicagoest Mayor In Recent NY History).
Is this story of a bar where bad things happen any different than the bar in your town that also seems to be the site of many bad things (I mean, look at this rundown from a bar in the tony Bay Area enclave of Walnut Creek?), and it just feels like a bigger deal because it’s New York? Or is something legitimately sinister going on at the Mirage?
Louis Theroux announces brand new true crime documentary project [Digital Spy]
Tell Them You Love Me is a “100-minute feature documentary” about New Jersey prof Anna Stubblefield, whose relationship with a severely disabled man was believed by many to be a case of sexual assault. The NYT had a deep dive into the case in 2015, and more happened since. The doc will debut on Sky in the UK, and will run on one of NBCUniversal’s channels when it lands in the U.S.
What People Misunderstand About Rape [New York Times]
Well that sure is a headline! This is more specific than you’d think, as it deals specifically with the science of “freezing” when attacked or under similar trauma. “Tonic immobility is a survival strategy that has been identified across many classes of animals — insects, fish, reptiles, birds, mammals — and draws its evolutionary power from the fact that many predators seem hard-wired to lose interest in dead prey,” and its likely that biological response that assault victims are describing in court — often to be derided with remarks like “and you didn’t fight back?” from defense attorneys.
The beheading of tech CEO Fahim Saleh, and the tiny clue that may clinch the case against his personal assistant [Insider]
I don’t blame you if you missed the high-profile slaying of 33-year-old tech founder and VC Fahim Saleh in a luxury Manhattan high-rise: The slaying happened a few months into the pandemic, when we were all overwhelmed. His 21-year-old assistant, Tyrese Haspil, was accused of the crime in fall of 2020 but continues to maintain his innocence; a trial date has yet to be scheduled. Insider gained access to the prosecution’s case file (hmmm) and wrote it up in a way that suggests there’s no way out for Haspil. Given how recently Haspil was encouraged to accept a plea deal, one certainly wonders about the timing here! But if the info here is accurate, that plea might not a a terrible idea.
Press rights groups back journalist being sued by L.A. to claw back public records [SF Chronicle]
In response to a public records request, the LAPD sent journalist Ben Camacho a flash drive with information on all 9,310 of its officers, including those working undercover. That’s a big mistake, compounded when Camacho refused to return the info. Now they’re suing him, and his attorney says “the city was redefining ‘undercover’ expansively to include officers who worked on any drug or vice cases, and was arguing that the public was entitled to photos of only about 100 officers who worked in management positions.”
“Serial” podcast’s Adnan Syed might go back to prison because of toxic Maryland politics [Intercept]
The headline here is a bit more doom-y than seems reasonable or realistic, but this breakdown of alleged interpersonal disputes that appear to flavor how the case is managed is interesting — I know we’ve heard rumors of some of these here and there, but this is a comprehensive accounting that makes you wonder how many other, less famous cases also languish because of workplace shittiness.
Wow, look at all those links — and we’re not done yet! If you want to support our work at Best Evidence, which includes accumulating gems like these for your perusal, you can reward yourself with a paid subscription. Perks include all five issues a week, a monthly bonus review, and access to our full, four-plus years (!) of archived content. Thanks for considering!
Psycho: The Lost Tapes of Ed Gein, MGM+ Docuseries, Gets Unsettling Trailer [CBR]
Sarah and I talked on a recent Docket episode about the enduring “appeal” (hate using that word, but it fits!) of Gein, whose crimes were fairly small potatoes compared to others’. The logline for this series, ostensibly an explanation for why the show should exist, reads “with new reveals and never-before-heard recordings, viewers will be transported to late-1950s Middle America and submerged in Gein’s perverse mind.” If that’s something you need, god bless, I suppose!
How Should the Media Cover Venice’s Problematic Men? [The Hollywood Reporter]
There’s a convicted rapist, an alleged child molester, and a credibly accused sexual harasser on the screening list at the film fest, and that’s just the guys we know about. THR asks, “But is it fair and balanced to make abuse allegations the frame of every story about these directors? Is it fair and balanced to even group this trio — Polanski, Allen and Besson — together under the same headline, given the differences in the allegations and the legal evidence against them?” What do you think?
‘Dahmer’ Editor Explains Cutting Scenes to Avoid Creating Sympathy for Serial Killer [Variety]
Though Dahmer is the headline, it’s not until the end that we get a bit on how editor Stephanie Filo approached the Ryan Murphy series. I would have liked to hear more from her, but what we have makes me consider (just consider, I’m probably not going to do it) rewatching the Christmas dinner, which she said “used to play as one full scene, but it felt too heavy on their family dynamic.”
Leah Remini sues the Church of Scientology and its leader, alleging harassment, stalking and defamation [CNN]
This story broke on Aug. 2 via Substack announcement, and I kept the link simmering in the budget doc under the assumption that there’d be a follow-up story to flesh things out: maybe an exclusive interview with Remini from broadcast, or a vocal response from the church, or (if I’m really dreaming big) Tom Cruise coming out with a statement on this since the SAG-AFTRA strike means he can’t directly promo Mission Impossible but he needs to get headlines somehow.
None of that stuff happened (though, Leah, if you want to do that interview the number is 919-75-CRIME); Remini hasn’t even responded to CNN’s request for comment, nor has she issued any subsequent Substack missives. Wish I had more for y’all, but I don’t!
Billy Jensen to Publish Latest True Crime Book, Killers Amidst Killers [press release]
True crime author/podcaster Billy Jensen was, as you know, the focus of multiple sexual harassment and coercion allegations last year; that’s one of the reasons publication of his latest book was delayed and his public profile lost visibility. (Rolling Stone has a solid report on the claims against him, and if you really want to get in the weeds there’s always reddit.)
Best Evidence reader Maggie Serota wrote in to say that other than some appearances on NewsNation (a network that has acted as a bit of a haven for those facing unseemly allegations), Jensen has remained under the radar, but with the news that Post Hill Press — an independent publishing house with an extremely dubious roster — has picked Jensen’s book up, folks with claims against him are speaking up again.
Martin Sheen Backs U.S. Labor Trafficking Feature Documentary ‘To Be Free’: “It’s Happening Under Our Eyes” [The Hollywood Reporter]
When writing about the success of the film Sound of Freedom, one thing kept coming up: that child sex trafficking is an extremely small part of the global human-trafficking problem, with labor trafficking making up the majority of such cases. Will a movie like this one, about the larger problem, draw the eyes — and political support (albeit dubious) — that SoF did? It sure would be nice, but you’ll forgive my cynicism when I say I’m doubtful.
Bryan Kohberger’s Alibi in the University of Idaho Killings Is a Late-Night Drive [Rolling Stone]
In court docs filed earlier this month, defense attorney Anne Taylor words the claim carefully: “Mr. Kohberger has long had a habit of going for drives alone. Often he would go for drives at night.” and then “Mr. Kohberger is not claiming to be at a specific location at a specific time; at this time there is not a specific witness to say precisely where Mr. Kohberger was at each moment of the hours between late night November 12, 2022, and early morning November 13, 2022. He was out, driving during the late night and early morning hours of November 12-13, 2022.”
News since then in the case includes a reschedule of the defense’s motion to dismiss, but a hearing set for Friday to discuss the defense’s request to ban cameras from the courtroom is expected to move forward. The reason for the latter hearing, per CBS:
The judge had ordered that camera shots not be focused exclusively on Kohberger, or on any paper or notes on the defense table, however, the defense attorneys said that's not being followed.
They said photos, paired with what it called "blatantly sensationalistic and prejudicial headlines and content," can gradually poison the potential jury pool before the trial starts.
Thursday on Best Evidence: It’s The Docket with fictitious disorder stories — why are they so grabby?
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