The Case of the Fake SherlockRichard Walter was hailed as a genius criminal profiler at murder trials, at forensic conferences, and on true-crime TV. In reality, he was a fraud.
The First Case Against Trump Is … This?The first-ever criminal prosecution of a former president may be over secret payments to an adult-film star. It follows missed opportunities, too.
How Lori Lightfoot Lost ChicagoThe city threw out a Democratic mayor for the first time in decades. Yet it may not be a loss for the left.
ByRoss Barkan
the system
Why Young Thug?How prosecutors made one of the hottest rap stars the face of urban crime.
ByZak Cheney-Rice
crime
The Tragedy of the Spice KingWhen a promising entrepreneur was seized by mental illness, his neighbors became victims and he became trapped in a broken system.
Crime of the CenturiesTomb raiders, crooked art dealers, and museum curators fed billionaire Michael Steinhardt’s addiction to antiquities. Many also happened to be stolen.
Kelly Harnett Had to Get FreeShe was a jailhouse lawyer helping women get out of prison, but she couldn’t work the system for herself. Then the system changed.
ByJustine van der Leun
power
Life After ParklandA shooting at their high school turned X González into an activist, a celebrity, a “survivor” — and the pressure almost killed them.
How Michael Goguen Got ConnedHow one billionaire with a savior complex and a voracious sexual appetite got conned by his best friend, who saw him as the perfect mark.
The Horror That Continues to Haunt Our CityTreating New Yorkers with serious mental illness is one of the only ways we can prevent tragedies like the murder of FDNY Lt. Alison Russo-Elling.
ByErrol Louis
crime
Collision CourseThe car wrecks were staged. The injuries were real. Led by a charismatic rogue, one family bloodied itself to pocket $6 million.