Murder in The South

Maybe it's the culture, maybe it's the water, but whatever - unsolved murders in the South have sort of a spooky quality don't they? Corrupt Sheriff stories compete with corrupt lawyer stories in Dixie. The victims range from "suicides" at the jail to so-called "hunting" accidents. In my new website, The Dixie Bugle(which is still in development)I wish to devote at least one column a month to a whodunit in Dixie. If you are from Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, Mississippi, Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana,Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, or Maryland and know of a story of an unsolved murder that has baffled the experts. Let me know about it and I will highlight it in The Dixie Bugle. In the meantime send me an email with a synopsis of the story and possibly the newspaper's name that originally wrote about it. I look forward to your input. Don't try this for a few days, but next week you can start visiting The Dixie Bugle

See the preview of Mike Thomson's book about the murder and rape of a 16 year old girl in south Alabama. See THE PUBLISHER




Massachussetts,Michigan,Minnesota,Mississippi

Mob Hit

I'm going to generalize here. If you go into a club that has strippers or you use the services of a bookie for sports betting on a football, basketball, or in some cases a hometown sporting event - you are doing business with the mob. Maybe not Don Corleone of Godfather fame, but some aspect of organized crime either directly or indirectly.

A few years ago in Maryville, Tennessee, an up and coming entrepreneur and his brother thought they would go into the arcade machine business. You know - pinball machines and other machines that gave the possibility of betting on the outcome of a session. A building was constructed and the machines were moved in. A short time later in the early hours of the morning - BOOM! - the building was blown up - and never reconstructed. Somebody had sent a warning. You don't buy pinball machines or other gaming machines unless you go through the right channels!

Turf wars are not uncommon in the murky world of organized crime. Sometimes these wars become violent. People are found dead.

Next week at my website ThomsonTalks I will tell a story of two bookies too many in a small Southern town. The story is fiction of course but it follows a pattern that has occurred in many small cities across the U.S. Be watching for it.




Missouri,Montana,Nebraska,Nevada

Motive for Murder - Ethnic Custom?

This is a weird one for most citizens of the U.S. However with so many new immigrants this motive becomes increasingly common. Here is a scenario: Two missionaries go to the Riff Valley in Central Africa to serve their church. They have children - two sons - who assimilate very quickly into the pagan culture that surrounds them i.e. even though their parents are white Americans, the two boys playmates are young men of a tribal culture that has a set of very strict rules of retribution for things like infidelity etc.

Years later, one of the boys moves to Illinois and marries. The marriage turns rocky. A divorce takes place and the husband suspects marital infidelity. Suddenly the couples 10 year old son is found murdered. Even though there is no evidence linking her to the crime, the mother is convicted. The father goes free. A question lingers - Did the father follow a tribal custom of killing the first born as retribution for infidelity? It's weird, but how much can we assimilate into the customs of another country - especially when we are young? Does your police department ever consider ethnic tribal customs as possible motives for murder?






New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York

Murder for Enjoyment

The FBI estimates there are 20-50 serial killers at large at the present time in the U.S. Our country has the largest number of serial killers in the world.






South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah

Murder to cover-up a crime

Murky waters here, but it happens a lot.




Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia

Murder for Power

Saddam Hussein stayed in power quite effectively for years by murdering his rivals. Can you think of any cases where this has happened in the United States?





Wisconsin, Wyoming, Puerto Rico

Murder for Revenge

Very high on the list of motives. Post your comments.

Murder for Money

This ranks up at the top of motives for murder. If you know of any recent, old, or unsolved murders where the motive was money, please post your comments.

Statistics on rape in the United States

These statistics are startling. The first link is the actual statistics - The second link is preventative measures. Startling Statistics Some good tips for protecting your daughter: Helping your daughter have fun and stay safe

Visit Mike Thomson's website and see the preview of his book, "The Publisher"

Criminal Conspiracy

Many times a prosecutor will tack the above charge onto an already loaded list of indictments. Let's say several people get together to deny another person their civil rights. Is this a crime? No it's a jury! Got you! No more jokes. There is a great website called "Find Law" that gives a definition of "Criminal Conspiracy." The link I have provided also lists a hold host of other crimes - if you are interested. You have to give them your zip code so they can direct you to the correct legal jurisdiction. Criminal Conspiracy.

Visit Mike Thomson's website and see the preview of his book, "The Publisher"

Credentials of the Medical Examiner

For a defense attorney to do a proper defense of his/her client - in a capital murder case, one of the first things they should do is check out the medical examiner.

What are the ME's credentials? Can the ME legally practice medicine in the community?

Who is the lab tech? Where did they grow up? Did they ever have any friends or relatives murdered? Were they ever bullied? Do they have relatives in law enforcement? Who visited them or the M.E.?

Finally, Is there a list of everyone who visited the M.E. or lab tech at their facility? Does the defense attorney have the list?

Visit Mike Thomson's website and see the preview of his book, "The Publisher"

Will police manipulate evidence?

Read this interesting article about a state trooper who manipulated evidence. Trooper Details Manipulating Evidence.

Visit Mike Thomson's website and see the preview of his book, "The Publisher"

Drug Corruption among Police and Sheriff Departments - how prevalent is it?

Read this interesting article about arrests and convictions of corrupt law enforcement agents. This Week's Corrupt Cop Stories

Visit Mike Thomson's website and see the preview of his book, "The Publisher"

Is plea bargaining unconstitutional?

Suppose there is more than one person involved in a crime - the state knows it, but claim the evidence is weak to prosecute any others except the suspect they feel like they can expedite the quickest. That suspect makes a plea. The state accepts. Voila! The case is concluded. The suspect goes to jail, but there are others now walking free. Others who will never testify and will never be charged for their culpability in the crime.

There are some who say that plea bargaining is unconstitutional. Read the following:

Is plea bargaining unconstitutional?

Visit Mike Thomson's website and see the preview of his book, "The Publisher"