Crime Expert BURL BARER. Edgar Award Winner and NYT Bestselling Author

Conservatives/ GOP rightly reject the Laredo Ranch Takeover Hoax.

I was reading my pal Matt Alan's Facebook page, when Nathan Wilson posted an urgent link to a shocking story reported by the San Diego Examiner -- not a real newspaper, mind you, but it sounds as if it might be a newspaper. I clicked the link, read the story, and every fiber of my journalistic radar went off the chart.  

The story read as if some sort of debunked urban legend e-mail. 2 ranches in Laredo Texas were supposedly the site of a some sort of invasion, takeover, etc. by evil Mexican drug cartels. It only took a few mouse clicks to confirm that this story was complete BULLSHIT...in fact, recycled bullshit.

When I pointed out that this was complete nonsense, Nathan defended it as FACT NOT FICTION because the story came from someone he trusted.  Guess what, Nathan. Your trust was violated.  

And as for so-called "reporter" Kiberly Dvorak, she pro

mulgated one of the most transparently absurd stories I've seen in my over 

40 years experience.  I assure you that no real reporter would have run that story, nor would any real editor allowed it in print.  

If she and the creator of the hoax thought that this would be picked up by Conservative/GOP websites and/or news outlets, they forgot one important point:  spin is one thing, outright lies are another.  

Facts don't have sides. Journalism is the reporting of facts. What those facts mean, or how they are interpreted, is what editorial comment is all about.  No news outlet wants to report a big stupid hoax as fact. They will check out the story to see if it is real -- if it is real, and newsworthy, they will then report and comment.  The Laredo Ranch Takeover story was a complete lie. This is why it wasn't picked up by any real news outlet. Evan a first glance at the initial report reeked of "urban legend" BS -- it smelled like crap from the get go.

It was the a Texas GOP website that first called bullshit on the story, and the only sites to continue treating the story as if real are the ones with swastikas and white power slogans.   True political conservatives are getting fed up with white supremacist, neo-Nazi, and Ku Klux Klan supporters defining the conservative agenda, and can be rightfully proud of debunking this story as fast as they did.

Laredo Police spokesman Joe Baeza confirmed today the basis for the debunked Los Zetas story was a bogus 911 call that was investigated and found to be false by the Webb County Sheriffs Department.

THE SAINT: The Famous Simon Templar Returns to TV and CD!

 Yes, it is true. After years of negotiating and re-negotiating, it appears as if THE SAINT is about to return to TV.  There is a script (again) and a director (again) and a star (again).  The two-hour TV movie kick-off episode will begin production in October.  So, the Saint returns to TV, AND there is a new Saint novel, THE RETURN OF THE SAINT being written right now by Burl Barer, that brilliant and charming author authorized by the Estate of Leslie Charteris to continue the series. CAPTURE THE SAINT, my previous full length Saint novel, is now available as an e-book of KINDLE, or for download to your PC for only $2.99

On September 14, 2010, Radio Spirits will be releasing The Saint is Heard, a 10-CD audio set featuring 20 episodes from the old radio series of The Saint, starring Vincent Price. These episodes, which have been digitally remastered, are a selection from those starring Vincent Price and Barry Sullivan as the Brighter Buccaneer. The set also includes a detailed program guide by Ian Dickerson.

"The Saint--sprung from the pen of Leslie Charteris, his adventures fill thirty books, a dozen motion pictures--and now, by radio, he is yours for the next half hour."

Simon Templar, played by Vincent Price, was wealthy and refined. He was well dressed, well traveled, and well educated. He was also The Saint, the "Robin Hood of modern crime," who was not afraid to break the law if that's what had to be done to ensure that justice was served.

Larry Dobkin, who also stepped in to play The Saint in a single radio epsiode, co-stars in his usual role as Louie the Cabbie in these digitally restored and remastered tales that find Templar sailing, skiing, and delving in to the disparate worlds of mining, baseball, prizefighting, mystery writing, and more. The Saint sets all manner of matters straight, all the while maintaining excellent form.

Includes a Program Guide written by Ian Dickerson, featuring photographs and a series history.

Episodes Include: The Saint Goes Underground 07-31-49, Greed Causes Murder 08-14-49, A Schizophrenic Psychiatrist (a.k.a. The Colorblind Killer) 09-18-49, The Sinister Sneeze 06-11-50, The Problem of the Peculiar Payoff 07-09-50, Follow the Leader 07-16-50, The Frightened Author 07-23-50, The Case of the Previewed Crime 07-30-50, The Corpse Said Ouch 08-06-50, Cupid and the Corpse 08-27-50, Baseball Murder 09-03-50, The Horrible Hamburger 09-10-50, The Ghost That Giggled 09-17-50, Dossier on a Doggone Dog 09-24-50, It's Snow Use 10-29-50, Miss Godby's School for Girls 11-05-50, The Dame on the Doorstep 11-12-50, No Hiding Place 11-19-50, The Terrible Tintype 11-26-50, Martin Hickerson, Private Eye 12-03-50

 
 

"The Road Through Wonderland: Surviving John Holmes" Dawn Schiller in L.A.

 Dawm Schiller met John Holmes (American adult film performer) when she was a traumatized teenager dealing with an abusive and destructive home environment. 

At first Holmes was protective and nurturing...then he too became abusive and violent as his own personal life spun out of control in a frenzy of overindulgence, self destructive excesses, and the shocking "Wonderland" murders.     

She joins Don Woldman and me LIVE on True Crime Uncensored Saturday SEPTEMBER 4th 2pm.

Gary C King's RAGE : True Crime in the post-cooperative age.

RAGE, Gary C. King's latest true crime mass market paperback from Pinnacle True Crime, doesn't suffer from poor story telling or lackluster descriptives -- in fact, the book only suffers from one thing: lack of cooperation and creative problem solving by those who, in terms of good will and positive publicity, have the most to gain by cooperating with a true crime author of Gary's stature and impeccable reputation. 

Despite missing a photo of the victim, or photos of the crime scene, those who buy books to read them,. and not simply look at pictures, will find RAGE an excellent example of Gary C. King's dedication and tenacity in researching and writing some of the best books in the genre.

Gary was our guest this past Saturday on the radio show I do with famed attorney Don Woldman. If you missed it, you can play it anytime you want on the player right over there >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>  

BROKEN DOLL -- A "True Crime Classic" Returns!

My new book, Fatal Beauty, comes out in January. In the meantime, Pinnacle True Crime has re-released BROKEN DOLL, a Burl Barer True Crime Classic.  If you missed this one, it is once again available!

 In May, 1988, in Everett, Washington, four-year-old Feather Rahier disappeared while playing outside after dinner. Her frantic cries drew Feather's mother to the dark garage that was home to Richard Matthew Clark. Clark had stolen the child, bound and gagged her, and begun to undress her. Only at the last instant was the little girl saved by her mother's desperate intervention. The next victim wouldn't be so fortunate.On the night of March 31, 1995, Roxanne Doll, 7, was abducted from the bedroom she shared with her younger sister. It was not until the following day that her mother discovered Roxanne's disappearance. A week later, Roxanne's raped and stabbed body was found. Evidence led investigators to a man the family had trusted as a friend: Richard Clark.Clark was a petty criminal, jailbird, alcohol and drug abuser who couldn't control his paedophilic and homicidal urges. In April, 1997, after his conviction for aggravated murder, he mocked and derided the dead girl's parents in a shocking courtroom display. Here is the brutal, heartbreaking true story of the crimes and punishment of a monster who preyed on the most vulnerable victims of all - and of the determined prosecutor who swore to bring him to justice.

Susan Murphy Milano Gets New Hairstyle!!! The photo that stunned the world!

Susan Murphy Milano, famous crime fighter, human rights activist, defender of the downtrodden and friend of those who have no friends, just got a NEW HAIRSTYLE!  This is big news! Susan, whose new book TIME'S UP is a must-have for any woman, man, or any life form that may be in an abusive relationship, is famed for having hair bigger than all those hot chicks in VIXEN combined. Now, check out her new do!

You gotta admit, that's a lot of hair!

--  
 This photo that stunned the world is courtesy of Delilah Jones of Imagine Publicity. She knows I'm a big fan of Susan Murphy Milano, and Susan has joined Don Woldman and I on TRUE CRIME UNCENSORED more than once.  

The killing of Martin Luther King, Jr. -- historic confession by Ron Tyler

History was made Saturday August 15th live on TRUE CRIME UNCENSORED the radio show I co-host with attorney Don Woldman when Ronnie "Bear" Tyler detailed how his father planned the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr under the direction of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was Ronnie himself who delivered the Remington rifle to the real shooter (not James Earl Ray). Everything is backed up with documentation verified after three years of investigation by famed and respected journalist Steve Jackson. The show is up now on the player, or you can download it direct from http://adoraburl.typepad.com/bear.mp3.

Stealing Elvis and Killing Martin Luther King, Jr -- EXCLUSIVE REPORT!

When Elvis Presley, the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll, died suddenly in his Graceland mansion in August 1977, his father, Vernon Presley, wanted to honor his famous son’s request to be buried on the grounds of his beloved home. However, the Memphis city council wouldn’t make an exception to the law prohibiting burials on private property. So Vernon turned to Ronnie Lee “Bear” Adkins, a big, fun-loving, Vietnam vet and outlaw from a family of “Fixers;” tough men known for “getting things done” when conventional means didn’t work in Memphis and Tennessee. 

This Saturday, 2pm Pacific time, Ronnie Lee Adkins tells the entire incredible story of "STEALING ELVIS" -- an exclusive of TRUE CRIMES UNCENSORED on OUTLAW RADIO, courtesy of our good pal Steve Jackson, award winning journalist and true crime author.

 

Ronnie will be LIVE in the lounge, Steve will be on via phone, and Don, Matt and I will be looking over our shoulders because Ronnie (aka BEAR") is also going to reveal, for the first time, the names of those who participated in the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  Be listening to this exclusive and revelatory broadcast!

 

Ride That Plastic Pony!

Yes, I loved these when I was a kid. It was the real saddle that got me!

They still exist! 

Psych, Monk, Burn Notice. Goldberg, Rabkin, Goldberg Talk Tie-Ins and Success.

SCENE: Mystery Bookstore, Westwood Village.

 Tod Goldberg eyes his brother, Lee, with well deserved suspicion while Bill Rabkin (center) visualizes a disturbing image of rowdy livestock mentioned by Tod. Lee, meanwhile, contemplates the cookies he will devour following this interview/signing.  

These three best-selling authors made rare personal appearances at The Mystery Bookstore in Westwood for a throng of rabid fans -- okay, their uncle, two cousins, a couple of friends, and a fellow who came in to ask directions to Starbucks.

 
 Jordan Barer, Tod Goldberg, and several of Tod's chins re-unite. These two gentlemen thieves hadn't seen each other for several years, and reminisced about the location and individuals who inspired Tod's novel, LIVING DEAD GIRL, a cheerful story of death, deception, and holding your breath underwater. 

Jordan Barer, Tod Goldberg, Bill Rabkin, Burl Barer and Lee Goldberg prior to the raid.

"The authorities were seeking Sara Paretsky who cleverly slipped out the back door with Joel Fox," explained the man who came in to ask directions to Starbucks. He readily admitted that he had no idea on what subject the intruders were supposedly authorities.