Cathy Scott is a tour de force in true crime as a Los Angeles Times bestselling author and an award-winning investigative journalist. She attracted international acclaim for her classic true-crime biographies, THE KILLING OF TUPAC SHAKUR and THE MURDER OF BIGGIE SMALLS. Ann Rule has described Scott as "a star writer in the crowded field of true crime."
Cathy Scott's seventh book, THE MILLIONAIRE'S WIFE, was released March 27, 2012. by St. Martin's Press about the 1990 contract murder of George Kogan on an Upper East Side Manhattan street in broad daylight. Fast-forward nearly 20 years, and Barbara Kogan, George's estranged wife, admitted to hiring a hit man to have her husband gunned down.
Her eighth book - the re-release and update of MURDER OF A MAFIA DAUGHTER - was published in March 2014 about the unsolved murder of writer Susan Berman at the hands of accused killer Robert Durst. The book includes exclusive information from investigators and new information about the prime suspect. It was named Best True Crime Book (2nd place) by ForeWord Reviews.
A memoir of a former drug kingpin, FREEWAY RICK ROSS: THE UNTOLD AUTOBIOGRAPHY, which Cathy co-wrote with Ross, was released in June 2014 to a standing-room audience at its Los Angeles launch and was a finalist in ForeWord Reviews' Best True Crime Books of 2014.
Her latest book, UNCONDITIONAL HONOR: WOUNDED WARRIORS AND THEIR DOGS, released in March 2015, is about the amazing relationships between wounded veterans and their service dogs and the organizations the provide the dogs at no cost.
Her latest fact-based true crime proposed book is about two teenage girls murdered six years apart on Torrey Pines Beach State Beach in southern California, murdered under eerily similar circumstances. Fifteen-year-old Barbara Nantais was strangled and her body partially mutilated in 1978, and 14-year-old Claire Hough in 1984. Police and the FBI for two decades said the murders were most probably committed by the same killer. But after DNA turned up matching blood and semen samples for Claire Hough’s murder, police in October 2014 announced they’d solved the Hough murder and pointed to two men as the assailants, former police employee Kevin Brown and a sometimes homeless Nebraska man named Ronald Tatro, both of whom had since died. But an initial suspect in the case who, because of personnel changes at the police department, was never pursued. Meanwhile, the Barbara Nantais case remains open. Scott pursues the evidence and interviews police, neighbors, friends and family and profiles all three suspects.
A second project is the Dawn Viens case. Dawn, 37, disappeared on Oct. 18, 2010, after leaving Thyme Contemporary Cafe, in Lomita, California, that she and her husband ran. David Viens told police that he and his wife had argued. She didn't take her cell phone or stash of cash, and her car was later towed as evidence when she did not return. The husband, after throwing himself off a cliff -- and surviving -- admitted to killing his wife but has not told police where Dawn's body is.
You can find out more about this author by visiting her Web site at cathyscott dot com and her "Crime She Writes" blog for PsychologyToday dot com.
Yes, Kevin M. Sullivan returns Saturday 2pm pt. Listen live by clicking THIS LINK
A writer of history and true crime, Kevin M. Sullivan is the author of sixteen books, a former investigative journalist for both print and online media, and is a recognized authority on serial sex killer, Ted Bundy. Indeed, his "break out" book, The Bundy Murders: A Comprehensive History, published by McFarland in 2009, was the catalyst that brought him much attention in the true crime world, leading to appearances on numerous radio programs and contacts from documentarians both here in the United States and the United Kingdom. Portions of his biography of Ted Bundy also appear in the college textbook, Abnormal Psychology: Clinical Perspectives on Psychological Disorders, published by McGraw-Hill in November 2012. And while Sullivan has authored crime books on others killers, both the well-known and the obscure, his interest in Ted Bundy and this voluminous multi-state murder case, has continued and produced five additional works on Bundy, each featuring new and never before published information on the killer and the case; including new interviews from those who knew Bundy, or hunted him, or escaped his clutches as he was attempting to abduct and murder them.
Now the six-volume set is about to become a seven-volume set, without question, the most substantial work ever produced on Theodore Robert Bundy.
In the biography, The Last Jewish Gangster, follow the life of Michael J. Hardy, a chubby Jewish boy from the Brownsville streets in Brooklyn to the world's most dangerous prison in Mexico. Michael wants nothing more than to prove to his "Queen of NYC crime" mother that he deserves her love and is tougher than the famous gangsters she dates (Bugsy Siegel is Michael's godfather). Coming from a mixed heritage of Southern Baptists and Ashkenazic Ukrainian Jews, without a father, and rejected by his mother at birth, Michael becomes a fearless and lawless gangster over the next five decades.
When he finally reaches his goal, his mother is on her death bed, he's been shot 11 times, robbed hundreds of people, spent 16 years in prisons and jails (with more to come), committed multiple kidnappings, and killed 19 times. Now he struggles with forgiveness, within himself, those he harmed, and those who harmed him.
What's unique about this mob/gangster/true crime biography is the first-person look inside the psyche of a fearless gangster as he tells his life's story to his lawyer in 1990 and his therapist in 2014. Sometimes humorous, often times you have to look away – but you'll find yourself rooting for Michael J. Hardy, The Last Jewish Gangster.
CYBERCRIMINALS AND CRYPTO CONS.. Our show last week started late and ran short -- this week hopefully we will start at 2pm pt
High Tech Security Expert and Reformed Gem Heist Mastermind Pavle (aka Punch) and Burl Barer reveal the crooks taking bites out of your Bitcoin and scamming Instagram and Facebook users with lies and deceit similar to Nigerian scams. WE WILL EVEN REVEAL THEIR SCREEN NAMES AND PROVIDE ACTUAL QUOTES FROM THEIR RECORDED PACK OF LIES.
PLUS...
Learn how newbies are making millions with NFT -- whatever that is! Punch knows all, the good the bad, and the current cryptocurrencies.
Pavle Stanimirovic (born May 10, 1972), a.k.a. Paul Montana, is a Serbian-American media personality, writer, and reformed criminal. The son of Vojislav Stanimirović, Pavle retired from a life of crime and incarceration and became a Miami-based writer and criminal authority,
David Lohr returns to the show Saturday 2pm Pacific Time, CLICK THIS LINK to listen live.
What an incredible true crime career! There is even a song about him!
1999–2007
David Lohr investigated and reported on breaking crime news and wrote feature crime stories for Court TV’s Crime Library. David Lohr received national media attention in 2003 when Dennis Rader modified a story he had written about the BTK serial killer case and sent it to the media along with proof that he was BTK. In 2005, Rader confessed to killing 10 people between 1974 and 1991.
2007-2010
On-air Talent, interactive producer, online publisher, photographer and investigative journalist. Filmed and reported on both searches for Caylee Anthony in Orlando, Florida.
2010-2019
As the senior crime reporter, investigated and reported on wrongful convictions, missing persons, cold cases and other crimes for HuffPost and its partners, Yahoo News and AOL News. Covered several high profile criminal trials, including Jodi Arias, Jerry Sandusky, and Casey Anthony
"David Lohr upholds the highest standards of integrity and professionalism necessary for top-notch investigative journalism. He is a solid writer, strong researcher, excellent promoter, and a fighter for victims' rights." - Corey Mitchell, crime author
"David is a skilled and dedicated writer who provides a thoughtful and insightful perspective to his investigative work. There are too few online journalists with any credibility however, David distinguishes himself from them by his legitimate coverage and writing." - Mark NeJame, senior partner, NeJame Law
"David is an engaging, precise reporter who knows how to get a story done right and on time. With a wide range of online publishing skills, he's got a powerful set of tools in the field of online journalism." - Lori Cuthbert, news director, Discovery Communications
"David is one of the best advocates for missing people and victims of crime. He is a true gift in this tragic arena, and has helped so many families, both in his work and in his personal endeavors to see justice done." - Barbie Tarr, executive assistant, Texas EquuSearch.
"David Lohr has been one of the best producers I have hired. He engaged with the audience and grew the site with his excellent reporting. We were lucky to have him on our team at Discovery." - Allison Rand, director of emerging nets, Discovery Communications
"I found David to be a persistent and motivated reporter." - Seamus McGraw, investigative reporter, Court TV
"David Lohr is a skilled investigative crime writer with many years of experience. I have worked with David for nearly a decade. His work is precise, detailed, and well researched." - Deborah Schurman-Kauflin, Ph.D., president, Violent Crimes Institute
"David is an amazingly talented investigative journalist [and] a tireless reporter." - Robert Lepore, Discovery Communications
"Working with David was a pleasure. He is an engaging reporter and was a true value to the Investigation Discovery Team." - Karen Varga-Sinka, digital publicity manager, Discovery Networks
"I worked alongside David as a writer, and am proud to call him a colleague, as well as a friend, in the business. He knows his stuff, and is a fine writer who not only has developed an entertaining and readable style in his writing and reporting, but he pays meticulous attention to detail as well." - Gary C. King, author, Gary C. King Enterprises
“David Lohr is a master crime writer who breaks down the gritty crimes.” - Investigation Discovery
“David Lohr is a champion for the missing.” - Kelly Jolkowski, founder, Project Jason
Renee Fehr knew that Gregory Houser killed her sister Sheryl. There was not a single doubt in her mind. Yet for 27 years Houser walked free.
But Renee wouldn’t rest until he was convicted for murder.
THE WHEELS OF JUSTICE is equal parts the story of a monstrous killer, a harrowing look at domestic violence, and an inspirational story of a family that wouldn’t quit until justice prevailed.
RENEE FEHR is our guest Saturday 2pm pt on True Crime Uncensored. Listen live by clicking this link
THE REAL MR. BIG: How A Refugee Became The UK’s Most Notorious Cocaine Kingpin
Born in 1960, Jesus Ruiz Henao grew up poor, but wanted to be rich like the drug dealers he saw growing up in the cocaine-producing region of Colombia’s Valle of the Cauca. To realize his ambition, Ruiz Henao moved to London, United Kingdom, in 1985. There he and his wife settled in the quiet suburb of Hendon, where he held down mundane but respectable cleaning and bus driving jobs. At least to outward appearances …
Actually, Ruiz Henao kept a low profile while he built a wide-ranging drug distribution network that extended from Colombia to Spain and Europe to the United Kingdom. For years, he stayed one step ahead of law enforcement, making more than a billion pounds over a ten-year period.
However, it was a riskybusiness with law enforcement on one side and ruthless competitors on the other. By the summer of 2003, Ruiz Henao decided to get out of the drug business. But he finally made the one mistake that would get him caught. It cost him a 17-year prison sentence, with more tacked on when he tried to make one last deal from behind prison walls.
THE REAL MR. BIG, co-written by Ruiz Henao with bestselling author Ron Chepesiuk, is the story of how an ambitious Colombian immigrant set up a sophisticated drug trafficking enterprise that earned him law enforcement’s description as “the Pablo Escobar of British drug trafficking.”
From the Book:
Ruiz Henao: “After reflecting a long time, I decided to get out of the business. The police were on to me. I spoke to my boss Sergio in Colombia and my friends there, telling them that I was getting out because of the heat that was on me.”
He paid off his closest associates and thanked them for working for him. He took a nice holiday in the Caribbean, and when he returned, he hoped to relax and enjoy his retirement.
“I made millions of pounds in the drug trade, but money had become less important to me. I had worked hard to make the money, but now the most important thing in my life was to spend time with my wife, son, and daughter. My pursuit of money cost me a good part of my life. Money can make you crazy and do stupid things. When I first started in the drug business, my goal was to make a million pounds, and I did. So l said to myself: ‘I am going to carry on until I make ten million pounds.’ I made that amount. At that point, I could buy a mansion, a yacht, pretty well anything, but I said to myself: ‘Why stop now?’ I then made fifty million pounds.
“At that point, I wanted to say to myself: ‘Enough.’ I had more money than I could ever possibly spend, and it was becoming a headache handling it. I could get out of the drug trade easily. I didn’t have real enemies, so I could leave the drug trade and not be an easy target for anybody.
“I had no idea that Fernando Carranza Reyes had become a police informant, but I kept noticing that I was being followed by different cars. The next day, I called my brother-in-law Mario to meet me in a park near Baker Street. As we normally did when we traveled to a meeting point, we used public transportation.
”As Mario got off at the bus stop, a female brushed him and planted a microphone in his jacket. When we met, we started to walk around the park and talk about many things, unaware that the British police were watching and listening to everything we were doing. I said to Mario: ‘Listen, Mario, at the end of the day, I don’t worry about the millions of pounds we have lost. That’s easy to recover. But the last thing I want to do is to go to prison.’ Information from that conversation became one of the strongest pieces of evidence against me in court.
“After we were done talking, we went to a car dealership to buy a car. That’s when we noticed a van with a lot of antennas following us. We immediately knew it was the police, so we went back to our homes.
“My boss and friends accepted my leaving the drug business, but some of my contacts in Spain started to put pressure on me, telling me that it was an excuse because I didn’t want to work with them anymore. Some of them started threatening me, saying that they would do whatever necessary to get me killed. They warned me never to change telephone numbers or to leave them without any contact. They called me every day. The police managed to identify my numbers and intercept and record all the calls they made to me.
“I told Beto, Wilmar, and Tito that I was out of the business and to lose all contact with me because I was under police radar. Beto and Wilmar listened to me and stayed out of the cocaine business, but Tito continued in the business with a Spanish contact. One day, while he was meeting the Spaniard and unloading fifty kilos of cocaine from a lorry into his car, Tito was arrested. He was sentenced to fourteen years in prison. I was totally unaware of Tito’s drug business at the time, but later it was all linked and used as evidence in my court case.”
Jesus had stopped drug dealing. He felt he had exited at the right time. But then he made a stupid mistake.
What Others Are Saying About THE REAL MR. BIG:
“Crime writer Ron Chepesiuk delivers a thrilling page-turner in this incredible first-person account of Jesus Ruiz Henao, his co-author. Ruiz Henao, dubbed the “Pablo Escobar of British drug trafficking” by Scotland Yard, takes the reader along for a front row seat for his wild ride from his poor Colombian family to his rise to become England’s first billion pound cocaine kingpin. “The Real Mr. Big” is a high speed train trip through the modern cocaine trade and is ultimately the story of redemption in a man who discovers that money and power fades in comparison to the importance of family and love.” –Gerald Posner, Pulitzer Prize finalist and Author of Pharma: Greed, Lies and the Poisoning of America
“Ron Chepesiuk in the crime underworld is what Stephen King is to horror novels. Mr Big is a must read filled with twists and turns.” –Markuann Smith, The Creator and Executive Producer of the Emmy Award winning show, GODFATHER OF HARLEM
“A compelling, hypnotic story, full of twists and surprises, told from inside a world few of us are exposed to outside crime fiction. A good part of the book’s pleasure is in how the engaging Mr. Big subverts stereotypes and expectations of what an international drug lord might be like.” — Jerome Clark, author of Hidden Realms
Ron Chepesiuk (left) and Jesus Ruiz Henao (right)
“Reading this telling, well-written account about the menacing cancer of illicit drug manufacture and soliciting has had and continues to have a major impact on crippling world economies and their population. I can tell you; it is a real eye-opener and vividly scares me to no end. Jesus Ruiz Henao easily manipulated the desire for cocaine and those that joined him for a lifestyle of excessive riches gained at the expense and ruination of so many people and families. I highly recommend that everyone read this true story, and I am sure that you will view this arcane business just like me. It’s an amazing, must read.” –Ron Fino, former mob associate, noted FBI and CIA undercover operative and author of the Triangle Exit
“Ron Chepsiuk and Jesus Anibal Ruiz-Henao tell the amazing story of the first billion pound cocaine pipeline from Colombia to the United Kingdom. The beginnings to the new beginning in Jesus Anibal Ruiz-Henao’s life start’s with a phone call by Jesus’ daughter to Ron, that would change both of their lives. So get the book sit back with a double expresso and enjoy the ride without worrying about snitches and sicarios (contract killers).” –Dan Pearson, Author of “Last Don Standing, The Secret Life Of Mob Boss Ralph Natale”
“The Real Mr. Big by Ron Chepesiuk and Jesus Ruiz Henao is an epic tale. One of the largest drug kingpins in modern history, Henao tells his story in vibrant detail, revealing the deep secrets of the billion dollar drug empire he built. Fast-paced and highly engaging, The Real Mr. Big will delight readers who want to know the inner workings of the criminal underworld.” –Bob Batchelor, historian and author of The Bourbon King: The Life and Crimes of George Remus, Prohibition’s Evil Genius
“Over the last ten 10 years I’ve always been one of the first people to read Ron’s latest book. Whether it Sergeant Smack, Gangsters of Harlem or Black Caesar. His books always deliver a great story and move at a swift pace. With his latest, “Mr. Big” delivers a cinematic story about a kingpin I’ve never heard about. Once you start reading, you won’t put it down until you reach the last page. Great job, Ron.” — Jason Brooks, Crime Producer/Podcaster , CrooksnCrimes.com
“What a fun read!!!! The story of Jesus Henao is mind blowing, and the way Ron and Jesus were able to capture the event in this book makes you dive in and be part of all the intricacies and dangers of this complex trade.” –Rodrigo Galavis, Executive Producer, With Sugar, Please LLC
LISTEN LIVE SATURDAY 2pm PT by clicking this link!
During the early morning hours of July 17, 1983, fatigue became a factor for the young couple from central Illinois who spent their day under the hot sun at Marriott’s Great America amusement park north of Chicago. On their drive home, the tired teenagers pulled to the shoulder of Interstate 55 to get a restful sleep.
As the teens slept inside their car under the moon and the stars, a dangerous force of evil lurked in the shadows, parking directly behind them.
The summer of 1983 was like no other for Joliet, Ill., a hard-working, rough-and-tough blue-collar industrial city an hour’s drive southwest of Chicago. This was one of the hottest summers on record for Joliet, and an elusive serial-killing madman kept piling up the body count as he showed no signs of being caught.
One overnight killing spree claimed five victims, including members of the Will County Sheriff’s Office. The following month brought more bloodshed: a quadruple murder inside a small Joliet shop best known for its pottery classes.
The plague of senseless violence sparked the controversial New York City-based Guardian Angels to mobilize foot patrols in Joliet, generating more unwanted news media attention for the community. Even the National Enquirer produced its own sensational piece, labeling Joliet “Terror Town, U.S.A.”
Residents shuddered with horror. Determined detectives worked in overdrive, trying to find an overlooked clue or two. Finally, when an arrest seemed to come out of nowhere, area citizens breathed a sigh of relief.
Authorities linked the so-called stone-cold killing machine to a chilling count of 14 homicides, plus three women who miraculously survived their agonizing encounters.
But with multiple murder trials on the horizon, it remained anyone’s guess whether Milton Johnson, whose family nicknamed him “Big’un,” short for “Big One,” was guilty of mass murder and if so, would he die by means of lethal injection at the Illinois Department of Corrections?
It has been many years since Gregg Olsen joined us on True Crime Uncensored, and we are thrilled that he's taken time from his busy schedule of being one of the world's best true crime authors, novelists, and media commentators to join us this Saturday 2pm Pacific Time/5pm Eastern Time.
Glamorous messiah or charlatan? A mask of beauty hides deadly secrets in #1 New York Times and Amazon Charts bestselling author Gregg Olsen’s mesmerizing novel of suspense.
In the Pacific Northwest, detective Lindsay Jackman is investigating the murder of a young journalist found at the bottom of a ravine. Lindsay soon learns that the victim was writing an exposé. Her subject: a charismatic wellness guru who’s pulled millions into her euphoric orbit…
To hear Marnie Spellman tell it, when she was a child, a swarm of bees lifted her off the ground and toward the sunlight, illuming her spiritual connection with nature—an uncanny event on which Marnie built a cosmetics empire and became a legend, a healer, and the queen of holistic health and eternal beauty. In her inner circle is an intimate band of devotees called the Hive. They share Marnie’s secrets of success—including one cloaked in darkness for twenty years.
Determined to uncover the possibly deadly mysteries of the group, Lindsay focuses her investigation on Marnie and the former members of the Hive, who are just as determined to keep Lindsay from their secrets as they are to maintain their status.
LISTEN LIVE SATURDAY 2pm Pacific Time, 5pm Eastern Time by clicking this link
Jeff McArthur is an amazingly versatile and prolific author who is an absolute delight to have on our show.
His latest book, Dirty Old War is in the classification of True State Crime -- crime committed by the government of a state or nation.
The Pentagon Papers revealed the mass deception of the American people regarding America's role, behavior, and intentions regarding the country of Vietnam and the war that is regarded as a true crime.
Jeff Says: I have a tendency to overwhelm myself with projects. The problem is that I have too many things that I want to create before I die. In fact, I have currently more ideas in me than I likely have life left. So I try to get as many of them out as possible. I’m like a sinking ship with passengers who I’m trying to put onto lifeboats before I sink into the waters of mortality.
DEATH ON OCEAN BOULEVARD: Inside the Coronado Mansion Case (trade paperback, Kensington/Citadel Press)
"You’ll be convinced first one way then the other as you race through the pages of this disturbing mystery. DEATH ON OCEAN BOULEVARD is so meticulous, so organized... Caitlin Rother is the journalist we all want to be when we grow up."
--True crime author Camille Kimball
Many locals call the death case of Rebecca Zahau "the Coronado mansion murder," despite the sheriff's department's findings that Rebecca committed suicide at the Spreckels Mansion. A jury in civil court agreed, finding Adam Shacknai, her boyfriend's brother, responsible for her "wrongful death." The Zahau family believes Rebecca was murdered, but Shacknai contends he is wrongly accused. As he fights to clear his name, the Zahau family continues to push for the Medical Examiner's Office to change the cause and manner of death to homicide by manual strangulation, and for the criminal case to be re-opened and re-investigated as a murder. Caitlin, whose husband committed suicide by hanging, gives readers an objective, but uniquely personal look at the evidence and theories in this case.
