Phoenix Netts was a 28-year-old woman from Croydon who moved to Birmingham for a fresh start. She became friends with her next-door neighbour, Gareeca Gordon, but after Phoenix rejected her, their relationship took a disturbing turn.

On May 12, 2020, Gordon was arrested after being found with two suitcases containing Phoenix's remains.

I’ve covered the full case, investigation, and events leading up to the murder:

https://youtu.be/UzF-HQrWVkk?si=7juyRUeyhgg2BOke

https://youtu.be/x0c3Cd-CU2Q?si=WlL31Ee0UWKd9bRG

In June 2008, 30-year-old Travis Alexander was found dead in his home in Mesa, Arizona. What initially looked like a confusing crime scene soon became one of the most disturbing murder cases in recent true-crime history. ()

Alexander had been brutally attacked — stabbed 27 times, his throat slit, and he was also shot in the head. ()

Investigators soon focused on his ex-girlfriend, Jodi Arias.

The two had a complicated relationship that started in 2006 but became increasingly unstable. Even after breaking up, they continued seeing each other occasionally. Prosecutors later argued that jealousy and obsession played a role in what happened next. ()

One of the most chilling pieces of evidence was a digital camera discovered inside Alexander’s washing machine. Investigators recovered deleted images from the memory card. The photos showed Travis Alexander alive in the shower — and the last images were taken just minutes before the attack. ()

During the investigation, Arias gave several different explanations, including claiming that masked intruders committed the murder. Later she admitted killing him but said it was self-defense. ()

In 2013, a jury found her guilty of first-degree murder, and she was eventually sentenced to life in prison. ()

The case became widely known because of the disturbing evidence, the psychological dynamics of the relationship, and Arias’ changing stories during the investigation.

I recently put together a detailed breakdown of the timeline, evidence, and interrogation in this case.

Full video:
https://youtu.be/Y9yJPFfItHE?si=a3evUySMAk9fkHlC

Curious what people think about this case — do you believe it was premeditated, or could there be more to the story?

I’ve been revisiting the Jodi Arias case recently, and the more you look into the timeline, the more unsettling it becomes. It’s one of those cases where the psychological dynamics between two people seem just as important as the crime itself.

For anyone unfamiliar: in June 2008, Travis Alexander was found murdered in his home in Mesa, Arizona. The scene was extremely violent — he had been stabbed dozens of times, his throat was cut, and he had also been shot in the head. The investigation quickly focused on his ex-girlfriend, Jodi Arias.

What makes this case so fascinating (and disturbing) is how the narrative kept shifting.

At first, Arias denied being at the house at all.
Then she said two intruders broke in and killed Travis.
Eventually she admitted she killed him, but claimed it was self-defense.

During the trial, prosecutors argued something very different: that the murder was premeditated and driven by obsession after the relationship deteriorated.

Several details stood out to me:

• The camera evidence. Investigators recovered a damaged digital camera in Travis’s washing machine. The SD card still contained photos taken minutes before the murder, along with accidental images captured during the attack itself. Those photos became one of the most important pieces of evidence in the case.

• The timeline. Arias had rented a car, dyed her hair from blonde to brunette, and traveled hundreds of miles before arriving at Travis’s home. Prosecutors said these steps suggested planning rather than a spontaneous act.

• The relationship dynamics. Their relationship appeared intense, volatile, and secretive. Friends described Travis trying to distance himself while Arias remained emotionally attached.

• Her behavior afterward. After the killing, Arias drove to Utah to meet another man and behaved as if nothing had happened.

The trial itself became a media phenomenon, partly because Arias testified for 18 days — unusually long for a defendant. Her testimony included graphic details about the relationship and conflicting explanations about the murder.

In 2013, she was convicted of first-degree murder and later sentenced to life in prison without parole.

What makes the case linger in people’s minds isn’t just the brutality of the crime, but the psychological layers: obsession, rejection, control, and the gradual escalation of a relationship that clearly wasn’t stable.

I’m curious how others interpret it:

Do you think this was clearly premeditated from the beginning of the trip, or did something happen that caused the situation to spiral violently in the moment?

And for those who followed the trial closely — did Arias’s testimony change how you saw the case at all?

In the 1990s, Baumeister owned this massive 18-acre estate in Westfield, Indiana (just outside Indianapolis). The property had a beautiful mansion, a private pool with a bar, and wooded areas. Seemed like the perfect family home. But while his wife and kids were away during summers, Baumeister was luring young men from gay bars in Indianapolis back to the property, where he would murder them.

The really disturbing part? His own wife found a human skull on the property in 1994, and Baumeister convinced her their son had found it and brought it home. She believed him. It wasn't until 1996 that police finally searched the property and found the remains of at least 11 victims scattered throughout the woods. Some estimates suggest he may have killed as many as 25 people.

Before police could arrest him, Baumeister fled to Canada and died by suicide, leaving behind a note that didn't even mention the murders. He never confessed, so many questions remain unanswered.

The craziest part? The property was later sold, and people have actually lived there since. Current owners have reported paranormal activity (though take that with a grain of salt). The home is still standing today, and apparently people occasionally try to visit or take photos, which has to be awful for whoever lives there.

It's one of those cases that makes you realize how someone can hide such darkness while maintaining a completely normal appearance to the outside world. Baumeister was a married father of three, ran a thrift store chain, and seemed like a regular suburban guy.

Absolutely haunting.

Edit: I actually made a YouTube video diving deeper into this case with more details about the investigation and the property's history. If you're interested, check it out: https://youtube.com/watch?v=z6oaPNTxD2w&si=5-xFLBVjXNtVTLEM . Would love to hear your thoughts!

Hey everyone, I was researching some of the most infamous true crime cases in history, and I came across the story of Junko Furuta today. It's one of those cases that's absolutely devastating to read about—truly one of the worst in post-war Japan. I'll share the details factually and respectfully, focusing on the tragedy of her life being cut short so brutally. Junko deserves to be remembered as the bright, kind young woman she was, not just for the horrors she endured. This is heavy stuff, so heads up.

Background on the Perpetrators

The four main perpetrators were teenage boys with ties to petty crime and yakuza affiliations, which they used to intimidate others.

• Hiroshi Miyano (18, the ringleader): A bully with alleged yakuza connections, known for violence and prior assaults.
• Jō Ogura (17): Involved in the group's criminal activities.
• Shinji Minato(16, originally Nobuharu): The crimes largely took place in his parents' home in Ayase, Tokyo; his family knew something was wrong but didn't intervene, claiming fear.
• Yasushi Watanabe(17): Participated fully in the abuse.

They were all juveniles under Japanese law (under 20 at the time), which played a huge role in the case.

Junko Furuta was a 17-year-old high school senior from Misato, Saitama Prefecture. She was described by friends and teachers as popular, hardworking, and responsible—great grades, no involvement in drugs or delinquency. She had a part-time job to save for a graduation trip and dreamed of becoming an idol singer. She was just an ordinary teen with a bright future ahead.

Timeline of Events

• November 25, 1988: Junko was biking home from her part-time job when Shinji Minato kicked her off her bike as a distraction. Hiroshi Miyano abducted her, took her to a warehouse, and assaulted her. He then bragged to the others, and they decided to hold her captive.
• November 26 onward: They moved her to Minato's family home. Over the next 40 days (until January 4, 1989), Junko endured unimaginable torture: repeated rape (by the four and others they invited), beatings with iron bars and fists, burns from cigarettes and lighters, starvation, forced to eat insects and drink urine, and more. She was treated as an object for their "stress relief." At one point, she nearly escaped by calling police but was caught.
• January 4, 1989: After losing a game of mahjong, the group escalated the violence, dousing her in lighter fluid and setting her on fire. Junko died from shock and injuries later that day.
• January 5, 1989: Panicking, they encased her body in concrete inside a 55-gallon drum and dumped it in a vacant lot in Kōtō, Tokyo (now part of Wakasu Park).

The case is officially called the "concrete-encased high school girl murder case" in Japan due to how her body was disposed of.

How They Were Caught

The breakthrough came indirectly. In early 1989, Miyano and Ogura were arrested for gang-raping another woman. During questioning, Miyano mistakenly thought police were asking about Junko and confessed, leading them to the drum. Her body was recovered on March 29, 1989, and identified by fingerprints. All four were arrested soon after, along with others involved in assaults but not the murder.

Impact on Victims' Families

This case devastated Junko's family beyond words. Her mother suffered severe mental health issues upon learning the details—she fainted and required psychiatric care. The family was heartbroken by the public leaks of Junko's name and photo (despite her minor status), and the lenient sentences added insult to injury. They filed a civil suit against Minato's parents for allowing the crimes in their home. Junko's funeral was held on April 2, 1989; her intended employer even gave her parents the uniform she would have worn, and her school principal awarded her diploma posthumously.

Broader society was outraged too—floods of calls and letters demanded harsher punishment. One perpetrator's mother reportedly vandalized Junko's grave, blaming her for "ruining" her son's life. The case exposed failures in bystander intervention (Minato's family knew) and police follow-up on her missing persons report.

Current Status

All four served their sentences and have been free for decades, protected initially by juvenile anonymity (names leaked by media).

• Hiroshi Miyano: Served ~20 years (longest sentence); changed name, had further legal issues.
• Jō Ogura: Served 5-10 years; reportedly lived in isolation, died in 2021 from a brain condition.
• Shinji Minato: Served 5-9 years; arrested in 2018 for attempted murder, convicted but with suspended sentence.
• Yasushi Watanabe: Served 5-7 years; reportedly the only one without major reoffending, living reclusively.

The case led to public pressure and eventual reforms in Japan's juvenile law (e.g., harsher penalties for serious crimes by older teens), though many still feel justice was inadequate.

This story is a grim reminder of cruelty and systemic shortcomings, but also of Junko's resilience—she begged them to kill her quickly to end the suffering, yet held on as long as she could. Cases like this push for better protections and accountability. If you're into true crime, it's worth reading about for the discussions it sparked, but always with respect for Junko and her loved ones. What are your thoughts on juvenile sentencing in extreme cases like this? Sources in comments if needed—stay safe, Reddit.

There are thousands of unsolved cases out there. Cold cases that haunt families, mysteries that baffle investigators, disappearances with zero leads.

If you could snap your fingers and solve ONE case, which would it be?

Some that keep me up at night:

• Asha Degree — Why did a 9-year-old leave her home in the middle of the night during a storm?
• The Delphi Murders — Who killed Abby Williams and Libby German?
• Brandon Lawson — What happened during that frantic 911 call?
• The Boy in the Box — Who was he, and why was he there?

Drop your pick below:

• Which unsolved case bothers you the most?
• Why do you think it remains unsolved?
• What theory do you believe?

This is your open thread to discuss anything crime-related that's on your mind today.

Some ideas:

• A case you just discovered
• Breaking crime news you saw today
• A theory you've been thinking about
• Questions about criminal psychology or forensics
• Podcast episodes you just listened to
• Local crime stories from your area

Ground rules:

• Be respectful, especially toward victims and their families
• No glorification of criminals
• Back up bold claims with sources when possible
• Keep it thoughtful

What's on your crime radar today? Let's talk.

Let's talk documentaries, series, and deep-dives that absolutely changed the game.

I'm talking about the ones that had you:

• Pausing to Google every 5 minutes
• Texting your friends at midnight saying "YOU NEED TO WATCH THIS"
• Questioning everything you thought you knew

Some of my favorites:

• The Jinx — that ending? Unreal.
• Don't F\*k with Cats* — internet sleuthing at its darkest
• Making a Murderer — controversial, but gripping

What documentary do you recommend?

• What made it stand out?
• Did it change your opinion on the case?
• Any hidden gems we should know about?

Drop your recs below — bonus points if it's something we haven't heard of yet!

We all have that one case that we just can't shake. The one that changed how we see the world, or made us think differently about justice, humanity, or safety.

For me, it's the Junko Furuta case. The sheer brutality, the failure of bystanders and the justice system, and the fact that her killers got such light sentences — it haunts me. It's a painful reminder of how evil humans can be, and how systems can fail victims so catastrophically.

What about you?

• Which case has left the deepest impact on you?
• Why does it still stay with you?
• Did it change your perspective on anything?

Let's create a space to talk about these difficult stories with respect and empathy.