Two early cases hooked me—the MacDonald murders and Sean Sellers' murders—but my dive into true crime came later through paranormal work. Most “hauntings” trace to real tragedies, and the history pulled me in. I left field work to research crimes, starting with a forgotten 1939 deputy-constable murder. Three years later I published Moonshine & Murder. Since then I’ve written more, including From Indiana to Jonestown, and I bring that record-first ethos to this Lab.

The 5 Tools I Use for Every Investigation: 1️⃣ Notebook & pen – document details as they unfold. 2️⃣ Recorder – capture exact quotes. 3️⃣ Camera – scenes, evidence, body language. 4️⃣ Research access – court files, archives, databases. 5️⃣ Timeline tracker – organize facts. These tools turn chaos into a credible true crime narrative.

Choose one real-life case that fascinates you—solved or unsolved. Ask: What draws me to it? Who are the key players? What facts are known vs. rumored? What sources can I access? Your choice defines your focus, research depth, and storytelling angle. Pick a case that speaks to you—you’ll live with it for months.