CRIME

Tim Daly stars in 'In the Line of Duty: Ambush In Waco'

‘In the Line of Duty’: The Waco Movie Made Before The Siege Ended

In 1993, just 34 days after the Waco siege ended, NBC premiered 'In the Line of Duty: Ambush in Waco'—a TV movie greenlit, scripted, and largely shot while the tragedy was still unfolding.

The Salem witch trials were a troubling time in colonial America.

11 Facts About the Salem Witch Trials

The 1692 Salem witch trials caused so much turmoil that the Massachusetts town is still synonymous with them.

Lily Gladstone and Leonardo DiCaprio in 'Killers of the Flower Moon.'

‘Killers of the Flower Moon’: The Grim True Story of the Osage Murders

'Killers of the Flower Moon' tells the story of the Osage murders, an especially bleak chapter of American history.

“Hank the Tank,” bear blamed for string of Tahoe break-ins, captured along with her cubs

'Hank the Tank' Caught: Burglar Bear's Crime Spree Comes to an End—But With a Twist

The felonious ursine has been linked to 21 break-ins in Lake Tahoe, California.

A National Monument Has Just Been Established to Honor Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley

Emmett Till’s murder—and his mother's fight for justice—will be recognized across three sites in two states.

Boarding passes can provide access to more of your personal information.

Why 'Travel Braggers' Should Think Twice Before Sharing Their Boarding Pass on Social Media

Planning to travel? Better keep some of those details to yourself.

More than a century later, the murders at the Hinterkaifeck farm remain unsolved.

The Chilling Story of the Hinterkaifeck Killings, Germany’s Most Famous Unsolved Crime

Did someone hide at the Hinterkaifeck farm in the days before its six residents were found murdered?

Somebody Keeps Stealing Props From the Set of the 'Beetlejuice' Sequel

Behind the scenes, the Michael Keaton-led sequel is turning into a heist drama.

How Are Speed Limits Enforced by Aircraft?

Speeders on targeted stretches of road are monitored from the ground and from the sky.

The mob has been busy throughout history.

7 Businesses You Probably Didn’t Know Were Controlled By the Mob

To create inroads into other industries without drawing much attention to themselves, crime families found creative ways to launder money and rule where one might least expect.

Faking your own death isn't illegal, but it sure is controversial.

8 People Who Faked—or Might Have Faked—Their Own Deaths

Pseudocide only works if no one figures out your secret.

Photo illustration by Mental Floss. Images: iStock/Customdesigner (TV), iStock/D-Keine (crime scene)

14 Reasons We Love True Crime, According to the Experts

Everywhere you turn these days, it seems like there’s a new—and wildly successful—book, podcast, or show devoted to a crime. Which raises the question: Why are we so obsessed with true crime? Here’s what the experts have to say.

Cults are a popular topic for true-crime TV.

6 Misconceptions About Cults

Not every cult is a commune-based religious organization run by a charismatic man.

Why You Shouldn’t Charge Your Phone in Public Charging Ports, According to the FBI

Public charging stations are a nice idea, but hackers have found ways to hijack them for identity theft.

Robert Shaw, Robert Redford, and Paul Newman in The Sting (1973).

The 25 Greatest Revenge Movies of All Time

As Khan Noonien Singh once said, “revenge is a dish best served cold,” and cinema is filled with stories where vengeance and retribution gets served with chilling brutality and precision. Here are 25 of the best of those tales.

The Wild and Totally True Story Behind 'Cocaine Bear'

In 1985, authorities in Georgia found the decomposing body of a black bear next to 40 ripped-open packages of cocaine. No substantial quantities of the drug remained. How it happened is a story for the ages.

The Reason Police Officers Tap Your Taillight When They Pull You Over

The practice dates back decades.

What’s the Difference Between Prison and Jail?

Many people use the terms interchangeably, but there’s a substantial difference between the two methods of incarceration.

The Real-Life Murder That Inspired 'The Sopranos' Theme Song

The show's title track was based on a woman who got herself a knife.

15 Killer True Crime Documentaries to Stream on Netflix Right Now

Terrorist attacks, serial killers, unsolved murders—Netflix has everything to feed your true crime obsession.

Strangers with Candy: Delaware‘s Chocolate Box Murders of 1898

Mary Elizabeth Dunning thought a friend had sent her chocolates as a treat. Instead, they were a death sentence.

Illinois Police Are Examining New DNA Evidence in the Infamous Tylenol Murders of 1982

In 1982, someone laced bottles of Tylenol with cyanide, killing seven people. Decades later, police could be a step closer to finding out who did it.

Oil fields like the one above were at the center of the Teapot Dome Scandal in the 1920s.

10 Facts About the Teapot Dome Scandal

A century ago, the Teapot Dome scandal was the Watergate of its time.

Real night court inspired fake night court.

Yes, 'Night Court' Fans—Night Court Actually Exists

Harried judges in Manhattan and elsewhere hear cases into the early morning hours, including allegations of cleaver attacks.

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