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Title: Lousia Collins, born Scone NSW 1849, Darlinghurst Gaol
Dated: 28/07/1888
Digital ID: 2138_a006_a00603_6050000084r
Series: NRS 2138 Photographic Description Books Darlinghurst Gaol
Rights: No known copyright restrictions www.records.nsw.gov.au/about-us/rights-and-permissions
We'd love to hear from you if you use our photos/documents.
Many other photos in our collection are available to view and browse on our website using Photo Investigator.
This is a collaborative art collection where writers use my portraits to explore individual characters. As a long term project, I am hoping to publish a book containing the photographs and accompanying stories. Art, in both forms, has wonderfully varied interpretations and these are (hopefully) paired examples of how artists can work together to form more complex pieces.
As with my photographs, all stories published here are copyrighted.
Hope you enjoy and, as always, email me if you have questions, feedback, or wish to contribute.
Below is the first combined effort.
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Photography by, Cassandra M. Kammerer
Short story written by, S.J.L.
You will never learn my real name. Some of your predecessors have asked, one even pleaded, but boundaries exist and I am quite particular. You lost all freedom when you told me your name Douglas, even if the loss was not immediately perceptible, and only by extension of my own gracious nature are you able to make these self-indulgent inquiries now. Your struggling questions are amusing, but as fruitless as the group counseling sessions to overcome your substance addiction. My confidence in your ability to fail is complete, but I offer one last recommendation: accept the vast weakness within yourself before I finish my latte and our time is up. Already shaking with confusion? Lamentable, but thankfully this is not really about you.
Hollow. That is the description I first wrote on my notepad about you. I see your skepticism, but here is where I circled it. Right at the top, what does it read? Page One. It took less than one minute to fully diagnose you and I have, on several occasions, encapsulated you to my colleagues as such: hollow. We are professionals and the sharing of such information was done under strict ethical code, of course. They had similar men as patients, celebrities like yourself, and needed comparative data. It is what we do, you see, we aggregate data from the weak to bolster our understanding of how not to be. Then we publish articles and books, creating our canon of behavioral norms and expectations. I choose the word canon carefully, Douglas. Your mother, who was also a patient of mine before she took her own life, was deeply fixated on a canon of her own, the Catholic worldview of her youth: heaven and hell – or, perhaps more simplified, good and evil. It was the great pendulum swinging through the landscape of her mind. Have you ever glimpsed away from yourself to ponder what it might take for a Catholic to commit suicide? How fractured she needed to be?
Are you actually displaying emotions for her suddenly? Where were you when she took the hatchet to her arm? Incidentally, I have always respected her choice in tools. If the magazines are to be believed, you were in Monaco, halfway through a month-long binge. You denied the veracity of those photographs, even to me; but, looking at you now, I think you are ready to admit you left the country knowing she was crumbling before your eyes. You were too weak even to try.
As I was saying, my colleagues and I do not see the evil or good of men. We identify weakness and prescribe strength. People like your mother, taught to worship a collapsed god, cannot be helped because their foundation is based on the archaic treatises of goatherds. Centuries of reinterpretation cannot change the simple fact her savior committed suicide, paving the way for her own. Taught to emulate weakness, and unable to locate conviction, she crawls to me, expecting her terrors and self-hate to disappear – which is not how therapy works, as you now fully appreciate.
How long did you wait after learning of her death before seeking my guidance? Three weeks? I remember you wore a disguise when you came through my office door. Yes, of course it was a disguise. Even in your deepest alcoholic engorgement, you never allowed yourself to be unshaven, let alone wear an Orioles ball cap. Please don’t insult my intelligence by claiming it was grief. Your girlfriend, who you may not realize has been on my weekly itinerary for over a year, told me what you said enroute to the funeral. Do you remember? No? You said, “Mom was a deranged lunatic. I am leaving this sideshow early because La Traviata opens tonight.” And you did.
Why am I saying these things? This is our last session, Douglas, and soon you will have found the cure to your hate-filled anxieties and the logical conclusion to your addiction. No, this is not tough love, for at least two reasons: first, a doctor cannot love her patient and remain objective; second, as previously stated, you are merely the thin shell of a human being and unworthy of anyone’s love. Hollow, remember? I am not passing judgment; I am treating you for an illness, one you have carried since you were eight years old. We have discussed the incident several times, so it should come as no shock the genesis was with the wagon, your friend Christine, and those two boys. She begged for your help when they were chasing her, but the boys threatened to take your wagon. She had even kissed you at the roller rink three weeks prior and you had exchanged valentine’s cards. For such a young age, the two of you had shared much. But you did not get out of your wagon for Christine, and those two boys brutalized her. Her parents moved to Florida shortly thereafter and you never saw her after that day. Your mother told me once she prayed desperately for that girl to pull through her surgeries, but what help did you offer?
You understood the ramifications of sticks and stones, right? Did their yells of victory or her screams of pain hurt you? Did you cry for her or only for yourself? You did not become feeble that day, for all children are; rather, it was the day you learned about the connection between cowardice and survival. Your addiction is the outward manifestation of the fear and weakness permeating your mind – it is the gaseous cloud filling the empty space normal people lack.
No, I don’t mind if you have a drink. I anticipated you might and had my secretary ensure the mini-bar was properly stocked. We are celebrating, after all – me with my latte and you with your bourbon. There is no need to bark obscenities, Douglas. You cannot visit a surgeon and become agitated when her delicate scalpel technique causes tissue to swell. The pain is natural and expected and the disease you have coruscating through your system has had twenty-nine years to fester.
Yes, I am a surgeon. I carve apart the minds and experiences of my patients and remove desiccation when I am allowed. Therapy is artfully complex in this way – regulatory and behavioral obstacles at every turn. Your girlfriend, Evelyn, understands this, but your mother did not. She needed me to cut her, wept for me to do so, but never once gave me permission. You are miserably similar to her in this way, refusing to sign the necessary paperwork. I am, in a sense, your five hundred dollar an hour barfly; or was, since our relationship is now over.
Time, nipping at your ankles, has caught hold finally. You have run dry on individuals to blame and the fiasco of your life will be reprinted for the slathering masses to devour. I know it can be heartbreaking to learn the thoughts you labeled as hope in your mind are false; however, you simply must appreciate those thoughts were never true. You would never consent to hope, not Douglas Clarion. Yes, you may have another drink; in fact, consider all three of those bottles a gift.
Now why would you ask me such a question? Vain until your last breath, Douglas. I grasp why women adore you, but it would be inappropriate for me to officially comment on your attractiveness. No, you may not kiss me, but it was sweet of you to ask. It lets me know you recognize I am in control. Control is the bedrock of civilized life, be it social or technological. Let’s examine your own civility: even now, knowing you will die soon if you continue, you are unable to prevent your own hand from raising that glass to your mouth; your life is chronicled for you by a professional mob armed with telescoping lenses and legally sanctioned deceit; food, clothing, and transportation is handled by servants, much like a toddler; and Evelyn counts herself fortunate if you can manage an erection more than once a month. Has there ever been anything more pathetic than a sagging philanderer?
No need to scowl, Douglas – it makes you seem ill-tempered and foul. I am explaining something critical, if you would pay attention. For all your wealth and luxury, you are remarkably uncivilized. By extension, I cannot in good conscience grant you the rights and privileges I do normal human beings. It is one of the fundamental reasons you are no longer my patient – I am not a veterinarian, after all.
There are tissues on the end-table if you wish to dry up your face, but it is time to stand up from the couch. No, I do not find you contemptible because you are crying. Everyone cries, Douglas, even me. No, I will never cry over you because you are a disgrace, filled with purposeless and unguided shame.
Which brings our session to its inevitable close. My latte is finished and you have managed, amazingly, to consume the entire bottle of bourbon. Be sure to try my other gifts after you arrive home tonight. I pronounce you cured. Yes, just like that. Please, Douglas, do not ruin the moment with more obscenities. I want to remember you exactly as you are right now. My secretary will collect the final payment on your way out.
* * * *
Good Morning, Jenny. Who is my nine o’clock? Mrs. Garnier? Are her files on my desk already? Very well. No, I was running late today and did not read the newspaper, what happened? Mr. Clarion was found dead in his penthouse? Was it an overdose? My my, the paparazzi will have a field day with this tragic story. Call Evelyn Wilson and schedule her tomorrow morning and cancel Garnier and my other morning appointments. I am feeling exultant today, Jenny, and will be at Linney’s having a spa facial – care to join me? My treat… Excellent. I have wanted to pick your brain for ages and this is the perfect opportunity.
"We've got you now, you jagoff."
Five police detectives pulled over John Wayne Gacy, Jr. and arrested him in front of this McDonald's on December 21, 1978 at fifteen minutes after noon. Although they only had him on a minor drug charge, they were afraid Gacy might try to kill someone else and himself before they had enough evidence to get a search warrant.
The police eventually discovered 29 bodies on his property--26 in his crawlspace and three buried elsewhere. Four other victims were dumped in the Des Plaines River.
Gacy was executed in 1994.
Located at 7969 N. Milwaukee Avenue, Niles
Jeffrey Rignall was one of the few victims of John Wayne Gacy, Jr. who lived to tell the tale.
Rignall was a 26-year-old bisexual who lived with his girlfriend and male lover in this apartment building in Chicago. On March 21, 1978 while walking to a gay bar in the nearby suburb of Rosemont, he met Gacy who lured him into his car to smoke a joint. Gacy overpowered him with a chloroform rag and he later woke up in Gacy's home chained to a homemade stockade where he was raped, assaulted with dildos, whipped and otherwise tortured. After the ordeal he woke up under a statue in Lincoln Park where Gacy had dumped him.
Somehow he made his way home and was taken to hospital. He told police what happened but they were skeptical because of his drugged condition and took no action. After recovering, Rignall retraced his steps and found Gacy. The State's Attorney finally charged Gacy with battery in July 1978 but in December Robert Piest, Gacy's final victim, disappeared which led to the discovery of murdered bodies in his house.
Rignall later wrote a book about his kidnapping and rape. He moved to Kentucky and died of AIDS in 2000 at the age of 49.
Located at 543-45 W. Wellington
The Edinburgh Vaults or South Bridge Vaults are a series of chambers formed in the nineteen arches of the South Bridge in Edinburgh, Scotland, which was completed in 1788. For around 30 years, the vaults were used to house taverns, cobblers and other tradesmen, and as storage space for illicit material, reportedly including the bodies of people killed by serial killers Burke and Hare for medical experiments.
As the conditions in the vaults deteriorated, mainly because of damp and poor air quality, the businesses left and the very poorest of Edinburgh's citizens moved in, though by around 1820, even they are believed to have left too. That people had lived there was only discovered in 1985 during an excavation, when middens were found containing toys, medicine bottles, plates, and other signs of human habitation
The frequent reports of paranormal activity and ghost sightings resulted on Living TV's "Most Haunted" going to investigate the vaults in both a 24 hour investigation and for a Most Haunted Live show on Halloween 2006, in which Scottish Investigator Ryan O'Neill took part in due to his paranormal knowledge of this location. The television show Ghost Adventures investigated the vaults and claimed to have numerous encounters with spirits there.
This Witches Coven is actually a meeting place for pagan white witches, and nothing to do with Satanic Rites or trying to raise the dead! The vaults visit is well worth doing if you're in Edinburgh - the guide was very informative and the whole place has quite a spooky atmosphere!
Milano - Via Bagnera / Stretta Bagnera
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Questa è la via più stretta di Milano, e qui Antonio Boggia, il Mostro della Bagnera (il primo serial killer italiano) uccideva le sue vittime nella seconda metà del XIX secolo.
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This is the narrowest street (once called "Stretta Bagnera") in Milan and this is where Antonio Boggia, the Monster of Bagnera (the first italian serial killer) used to kill his victims during the second half of the XIX century.
35/365
You must View here
I know what this looks like. I promise I didn't even set out to do anything close to this today. I just shot a bunch and got home and started processing and it just happened. lol
I did another shot. ( you'll see how random my shooting was) I'll upload it tomorrow or later. This one gets to be the main one because it took more time to edit and it's two pics in one!
Had I known I was going to do this the "dead me?" would have been better. haha
I almost just uploaded the original but decided why not throw in a corpse!!!!! :D right?
Anyways...I hope you guys like it. If not...oh well.
The Anatome Helena is a snail who feeds him with other snails. It is a real killer lol.
Nikon d3100 + Sigma 105 mm mAcro
This imposing warehouse is used for the storage of evidence from Chicago & Cook County crimes, including those of serial killer John Wayne Gacy, Jr.
Among the grisly artifacts stored here are the door to Gacy's crawlspace where he buried nearly 30 young men and boys, personal items of his victims, a ligature Gacy used for strangulation, and samples of Gacy's blood.
Located at 2323 S. Rockwell St.
One of the classics... Alfred Hitchcock made "taking a shower" a completely different experience. The paranoia factor was brilliant. Genius like that lives on forever....
DOG + PONEY
GUNNESS FARM
Date: 1908
Source Type: Postcard
Publisher, Printer, Photographer: Stansbury
Postmark: July 20, 1908, North Liberty, Indiana
Collection: Steven R. Shook
Remark: Belle Gunness, often referred to as the Lady Bluebeard, is considered to be the first American female serial killer. Soon after the discovery of numerous bodies buried on Gunness' property, a number items of her personal property were auctioned. The auction, which took place on May 29, 1908, on the Gunness farm, attracted nearly 5,000 attendees. More than 500 carriages were tied about the farm. Most items sold at five to ten times beyond their ordinary sale value. The three items attracting the greatest attention at the sale were Gunness' pony, the pony cart, and a shepherd dog. The dog sold for $107 ($2,940 in 2019 dollars).
Born in 1858 in Selbu, Norway, Belle Gunness emigrated to America in the mid 1880s. Belle married Mads Sorenson in 1893, and together they operated a store in Chicago. The store burned down, and Mads and Belle collected insurance on the property. Mads Sorenson died in 1900, with Belle collecting approximately $8,000 through his life insurance policy.
On April 1, 1902, Belle married Peter Gunness in LaPorte, Indiana. Together, Peter and Belle owned and operated a small farm on McClung Road in LaPorte County. Belle again collected insurance on a husband when Peter died after a coffee grinder allegedly fell from a shelf hitting him on the head. Following Peter's death, Belle began advertising in Norwegian language newspapers in America for a husband.
Several suitors answered Belle's advertisements. However, many of these potential bridegrooms would suddenly leave in the night, leading Belle's 18 year old niece, Jenny Olson, to be suspicious as to their welfare. Jenny then mysteriously disappeared, though Belle told friends and neighbors that she had left for schooling in California.
The final man to respond to Belle's advertisement was Andrew Helgelein. Belle requested that Andrew sell his property and bring his money (about $3,000) to LaPorte, which he did in 1908. Andrew's brother, Asa Helgelein became suspicious when letters from Andrew ceased to arrive. Asa therefore traveled to LaPorte County to inquire about the welfare of his brother.
In the early morning of April 28, 1908, the Gunness farmhouse burned to the ground. The Gunness children were found in the ashes of the home, as well as the body of a headless woman. This headless body, however, was much smaller in size than the rotund stature of Belle's body. After sluicing through the ashes of the home, dental work reportedly to be Belle's was found. Asa Helgelein arrived several days after the fire, and at his urging, the LaPorte County Sheriff began to further investigate the fire and Belle's relations with out-of-town men. The investigation turned into a national sensation, as numerous bodies were soon found to be buried on Belle's farm..
The remains of Andrew Helgelein were the first to be found, buried in a shallow grave in the garden. Jenny Olson's body was soon discovered nearby. In all, at least twelve other bodies were recovered from the property. It has been estimated that Belle may have buried forty men on the farm.
Enormous crowds, numbering in the thousands, visited the farm during the investigation. Special trains from Chicago and Indianapolis, as well as from other towns and cities, brought curious onlookers to the farm. Picnics were common. A farm building was used as a temporary morgue, where onlookers could view the remains as they were recovered and put on display. Numerous postcards were produced and sold during and after the investigation.
Ray Lamphere, a farm hand of Belle's, was eventually charged with murder and arson. Though not convicted of murder, Lamphere was found guilty of arson and incarcerated in the nearby Indiana State Prison in Michigan City, where he died a few years later. While in prison, Lamphere maintained that Belle had escaped and insisted that her body was not found in the debris of the burnt house. Lamphere's statement led to numerous reported sightings of Belle Gunness across the United States for many years, none of which were ever confirmed.
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The following news item appeared in the July 9, 1908, issue of The Chesterton Tribune:
Gunness Relics on Exhibition.
The Gunness relics are this week on exhibition at Riverview park, Chicago. A Place to represent the Gunness yard, with its private graveyard, has been paid out and in this place are exhibited the horse Mrs. Gunness drove, the pony and cart used by the children, the watch dog, a couple of chickens from the Gunness farm, the old house cat, with her kittens, and several other relics from the farm. Even Joe Maxon, the hired man, who escaped from the burning house, is with the exhibition.
Source:
The Chesterton Tribune, Chesterton, Porter County, Indiana; July 9, 1908; Volume 25, Number 15, Page 7, Column 6. Column titled "Gunness Relics on Exhibition.
Copyright 2017. Some rights reserved. The associated text may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without prior written permission of Steven R. Shook.
This is our 4th annual celebration of Halloween pictures! 31 spooky pictures to celebrate 31 Days of October! Enjoy!
GRAVES WHERE FOUR BODIES TAKEN OUT, GUNNESS' FARM, LAPORTE, IND.
Date: 1908
Source Type: Postcard
Publisher, Printer, Photographer: F. Stansbury
Postmark: August 11, 1908, Rolling Prairie, Indiana
Collection: Steven R. Shook
Remark: Belle Gunness, often referred to as the Lady Bluebeard, is considered to be the first American female serial killer.
Born in 1858 in Selbu, Norway, Belle Gunness emigrated to America in the mid 1880s. Belle married Mads Sorenson in 1893, and together they operated a store in Chicago. The store burned down, and Mads and Belle collected insurance on the property. Mads Sorenson died in 1900, with Belle collecting approximately $8,000 through his life insurance policy.
On April 1, 1902, Belle married Peter Gunness in LaPorte, Indiana. Together, Peter and Belle owned and operated a small farm on McClung Road in LaPorte County. Belle again collected insurance on a husband when Peter died after a coffee grinder allegedly fell from a shelf hitting him on the head. Following Peter's death, Belle began advertising in Norwegian language newspapers in America for a husband.
Several suitors answered Belle's advertisements. However, many of these potential bridegrooms would suddenly leave in the night, leading Belle's 18 year old niece, Jenny Olson, to be suspicious as to their welfare. Jenny then mysteriously disappeared, though Belle told friends and neighbors that she had left for schooling in California.
The final man to respond to Belle's advertisement was Andrew Helgelein. Belle requested that Andrew sell his property and bring his money (about $3,000) to LaPorte, which he did in 1908. Andrew's brother, Asa Helgelein became suspicious when letters from Andrew ceased to arrive. Asa therefore traveled to LaPorte County to inquire about the welfare of his brother.
In the early morning of April 28, 1908, the Gunness farmhouse burned to the ground. The Gunness children were found in the ashes of the home, as well as the body of a headless woman. This headless body, however, was much smaller in size than the rotund stature of Belle's body. After sluicing through the ashes of the home, dental work reportedly to be Belle's was found. Asa Helgelein arrived several days after the fire, and at his urging, the LaPorte County Sheriff began to further investigate the fire and Belle's relations with out-of-town men. The investigation turned into a national sensation, as numerous bodies were soon found to be buried on Belle's farm..
The remains of Andrew Helgelein were the first to be found, buried in a shallow grave in the garden. Jenny Olson's body was soon discovered nearby. In all, at least twelve other bodies were recovered from the property. It has been estimated that Belle may have buried forty men on the farm.
Enormous crowds, numbering in the thousands, visited the farm during the investigation. Special trains from Chicago and Indianapolis, as well as from other towns and cities, brought curious onlookers to the farm. Picnics were common. A farm building was used as a temporary morgue, where onlookers could view the remains as they were recovered and put on display. Numerous postcards were produced and sold during and after the investigation.
Ray Lamphere, a farm hand of Belle's, was eventually charged with murder and arson. Though not convicted of murder, Lamphere was found guilty of arson and incarcerated in the nearby Indiana State Prison in Michigan City, where he died a few years later. While in prison, Lamphere maintained that Belle had escaped and insisted that her body was not found in the debris of the burnt house. Lamphere's statement led to numerous reported sightings of Belle Gunness across the United States for many years, none of which were ever confirmed.
Copyright 2017. Some rights reserved. The associated text may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without prior written permission of Steven R. Shook.
John Wayne Gacy, Jr. was a maintenence man here and his mother once lived in a ground floor apartment.
Retired CPD detective Bill Dorsch lived a few doors away at the time. He remembers Gacy holding a shovel during winter. The neighbors to this day will tell about how they saw him digging trenches--not holes--and dragging heavy bags across Miami Ave. in the night.
In 1998 Dorch hired US Radar to scan the site. They found 20 anomalies. Under the duress of a petition by the Better Government Association, the police dug under a single tent on the Elston Ave. side (pictured here) and found nothing. Neighbors, though, insist Gacy had dug in the driveway on the Miami Ave. side.
Dorcsh wrote an angry letter to Cook County sheriff Tom Dart. In 2013 the sheriff hired Infared Diagnostics to scan the site. They also found nothing, although US Radar scoffed at the idea that a meaningful search could be conducted in cold weather or by using infrared.
"If you really want to know what’s underground," said Ron LaBarca of US Radar, "you gotta dig."
Located at 6114 W. Miami Ave.
This poor unfortunate was found murdered by John Wayne Gacy, Jr. when his house was raided late in 1978. A total of 33 young men and boys are known to have perished. Gacy was executed for his crimes in 1994.
On June 12, 1981, nine unidentified victims of Gacy were buried in separate cemeteries. This one is at Irving Park Cemetery.
In recent years there has been a push to positively ID Gacy's victims through DNA and other advanced testing. At the time of Gacy's arrest many of the victims had parts mixed in body bags and identification depended on clothing, personal items found in Gacy's possession and the like.
Given that there were 850 homicides in Chicago in 2021 there is some conflict over how much time and effort should be spent identifying 40-year old cold cases and how much should be put into current murders.
Located in Irving Park Cemetery, West Boulevard section, 7777 W Irving Park Rd.
This is a still from a 1 minute promo video I made (filmed and edited) for my new #efringe show. Have a look at it here:
VICTIMS
Date: 1908
Source Type: Postcard
Publisher, Printer, Photographer: Cyko, Stansbury
Postmark: None
Collection: Steven R. Shook
Remark: Belle Gunness, often referred to as the Lady Bluebeard, is considered to be the first American female serial killer.
Born in 1858 in Selbu, Norway, Belle Gunness emigrated to America in the mid 1880s. Belle married Mads Sorenson in 1893, and together they operated a store in Chicago. The store burned down, and Mads and Belle collected insurance on the property. Mads Sorenson died in 1900, with Belle collecting approximately $8,000 through his life insurance policy.
On April 1, 1902, Belle married Peter Gunness in LaPorte, Indiana. Together, Peter and Belle owned and operated a small farm on McClung Road in LaPorte County. Belle again collected insurance on a husband when Peter died after a coffee grinder allegedly fell from a shelf hitting him on the head. Following Peter's death, Belle began advertising in Norwegian language newspapers in America for a husband.
Several suitors answered Belle's advertisements. However, many of these potential bridegrooms would suddenly leave in the night, leading Belle's 18 year old niece, Jenny Olson, to be suspicious as to their welfare. Jenny then mysteriously disappeared, though Belle told friends and neighbors that she had left for schooling in California.
The final man to respond to Belle's advertisement was Andrew Helgelein. Belle requested that Andrew sell his property and bring his money (about $3,000) to LaPorte, which he did in 1908. Andrew's brother, Asa Helgelein became suspicious when letters from Andrew ceased to arrive. Asa therefore traveled to LaPorte County to inquire about the welfare of his brother.
In the early morning of April 28, 1908, the Gunness farmhouse burned to the ground. The Gunness children were found in the ashes of the home, as well as the body of a headless woman. This headless body, however, was much smaller in size than the rotund stature of Belle's body. After sluicing through the ashes of the home, dental work reportedly to be Belle's was found. Asa Helgelein arrived several days after the fire, and at his urging, the LaPorte County Sheriff began to further investigate the fire and Belle's relations with out-of-town men. The investigation turned into a national sensation, as numerous bodies were soon found to be buried on Belle's farm.
The remains of Andrew Helgelein were the first to be found, buried in a shallow grave in the garden. Jenny Olson's body was soon discovered nearby. In all, at least twelve other bodies were recovered from the property. It has been estimated that Belle may have buried forty men on the farm.
Enormous crowds, numbering in the thousands, visited the farm during the investigation. Special trains from Chicago and Indianapolis, as well as from other towns and cities, brought curious onlookers to the farm. Picnics were common. A farm building was used as a temporary morgue, where onlookers could view the remains as they were recovered and put on display. Numerous postcards were produced and sold during and after the investigation.
Ray Lamphere, a farm hand of Belle's, was eventually charged with murder and arson. Though not convicted of murder, Lamphere was found guilty of arson and incarcerated in the nearby Indiana State Prison in Michigan City, where he died a few years later. While in prison, Lamphere maintained that Belle had escaped and insisted that her body was not found in the debris of the burnt house. Lamphere's statement led to numerous reported sightings of Belle Gunness across the United States for many years, none of which were ever confirmed.
Copyright 2018. Some rights reserved. The associated text may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without prior written permission of Steven R. Shook.
CORNER OF BASEMENT, WHERE FOUR CHARRED BODIED FOUND, GUNNESS' FARM, LAPORTE, IND.
Date: 1908
Source Type: Photograph
Publisher, Printer, Photographer: F. Stansbury
Postmark: August 12, 1908, New Carlisle, Indiana
Collection: Steven R. Shook
Remark: Belle Gunness, often referred to as the Lady Bluebeard, is considered to be the first American female serial killer.
Born in 1858 in Selbu, Norway, Belle Gunness emigrated to America in the mid 1880s. Belle married Mads Sorenson in 1893, and together they operated a store in Chicago. The store burned down, and Mads and Belle collected insurance on the property. Mads Sorenson died in 1900, with Belle collecting approximately $8,000 through his life insurance policy.
On April 1, 1902, Belle married Peter Gunness in LaPorte, Indiana. Together, Peter and Belle owned and operated a small farm on McClung Road in LaPorte County. Belle again collected insurance on a husband when Peter died after a coffee grinder allegedly fell from a shelf hitting him on the head. Following Peter's death, Belle began advertising in Norwegian language newspapers in America for a husband.
Several suitors answered Belle's advertisements. However, many of these potential bridegrooms would suddenly leave in the night, leading Belle's 18 year old niece, Jenny Olson, to be suspicious as to their welfare. Jenny then mysteriously disappeared, though Belle told friends and neighbors that she had left for schooling in California.
The final man to respond to Belle's advertisement was Andrew Helgelein. Belle requested that Andrew sell his property and bring his money (about $3,000) to LaPorte, which he did in 1908. Andrew's brother, Asa Helgelein became suspicious when letters from Andrew ceased to arrive. Asa therefore traveled to LaPorte County to inquire about the welfare of his brother.
In the early morning of April 28, 1908, the Gunness farmhouse burned to the ground. The Gunness children were found in the ashes of the home, as well as the body of a headless woman. This headless body, however, was much smaller in size than the rotund stature of Belle's body. After sluicing through the ashes of the home, dental work reportedly to be Belle's was found. Asa Helgelein arrived several days after the fire, and at his urging, the LaPorte County Sheriff began to further investigate the fire and Belle's relations with out-of-town men. The investigation turned into a national sensation, as numerous bodies were soon found to be buried on Belle's farm..
The remains of Andrew Helgelein were the first to be found, buried in a shallow grave in the garden. Jenny Olson's body was soon discovered nearby. In all, at least twelve other bodies were recovered from the property. It has been estimated that Belle may have buried forty men on the farm.
Enormous crowds, numbering in the thousands, visited the farm during the investigation. Special trains from Chicago and Indianapolis, as well as from other towns and cities, brought curious onlookers to the farm. Picnics were common. A farm building was used as a temporary morgue, where onlookers could view the remains as they were recovered and put on display. Numerous postcards were produced and sold during and after the investigation.
Ray Lamphere, a farm hand of Belle's, was eventually charged with murder and arson. Though not convicted of murder, Lamphere was found guilty of arson and incarcerated in the nearby Indiana State Prison in Michigan City, where he died a few years later. While in prison, Lamphere maintained that Belle had escaped and insisted that her body was not found in the debris of the burnt house. Lamphere's statement led to numerous reported sightings of Belle Gunness across the United States for many years, none of which were ever confirmed.
Copyright 2022. Some rights reserved. The associated text may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without prior written permission of Steven R. Shook.
George W. Rae - Confessions of the Boston Strangler
Pyramid Books X-1538, 1967
Cover design by Lembit Rauk
1939, 320, 6 litre Mercedes shown here from Prag Gestapo file, virtually undamaged except for rear flat tire, back seat rip in upholstery and damage to door hinge
I'm not sure how I feel about posting this image or even the fact that I took this picture. This is where the house of serial killer Ed Gein once stood in Plainfield, Wisconsin. The house was burned down years ago, but the site still remains.
Ed Gein is perhaps Wisconsin's most famous resident. Back in the 50s he murdered at least two people. Upon arresting Gein for the murder of one woman, authorities discovered dozens of stolen corpses from the local cemetery that he "fashioned trophies and keepsakes from their bones and skin." Best known, perhaps, for making lampshades out of human skin, to read the crimes he actually did to these bodies and what the authorities found is beyond disgusting and unimaginable. These crimes influenced the creation of many fictional killers in modern movies, such as Psycho, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and Silence of the Lambs. This is some dark, nasty, horrible stuff.
My buddy and I made a road trip a few weeks ago to the Stevens Point/Plover area to photograph some alleged haunted locations. We had looked up the Ed Gein location prior to this and realized it was relatively close. We weren't sure if we wanted to go to this location. To be honest, I had an awful feeling in the pit of my stomach as we drove there.
When you look at these things, it's easy to forget the actual crimes that happened to the victims; these places become fascinating landmarks from a historical, or at the very least, a pop culture perspective. In the end, we pulled up to the spot, just kind of quietly looked at it for a few minutes, then eventually snapped a few pictures from the road.
As we did this, another car pulled up behind us and started doing the same thing. The other dude taking the photos told us that his grandma was friends with him as a child and that he used to come over to her house for dinner all the time. "He was such a nice boy," his grandma said. Meeting this random stranger and his story was perhaps the creepiest part of all of this for me. It felt like something out of one of those horror movies. We drove around the town to see the cemetery where he's buried (his gravestone is no longer there but he's buried between his parents) -- this is also one of the cemeteries that he robbed the graves from. We didn't get out of my car for that location.
In the end, I'm glad we went to this place and yet not totally proud of myself that we did either, if that makes any sense. Something about being at a site of such true madness and evil is quite unsettling.
What are you thoughts on me taking this photos?
Here's a link to the Ed Gein Wikipedia page to see just how disturbing this all is:
The crumpled remains of Spongebob Balloonpants were found on the floor of the Spongebob Bathroom. The victim had large gashes on his side, which looked to be made by several sharp blades. Suspect was found near the scene, but was released on bond.
John Wayne Gacy, Jr. was a maintenence man here and his mother once lived in a ground floor apartment.
Retired CPD detective Bill Dorsch lived a few doors away at the time. He remembers Gacy holding a shovel during winter. The neighbors to this day will tell about how they saw him digging trenches--not holes--and dragging heavy bags across Miami Ave. in the night.
In 1998 Dorch hired US Radar to scan the site. They found 20 anomalies. Under the duress of a petition by the Better Government Association, the police dug under a single tent on the Elston Ave. side (pictured here) and found nothing. Neighbors, though, insist Gacy had dug in the driveway on the Miami Ave. side.
Dorcsh wrote an angry letter to Cook County sheriff Tom Dart. In 2013 the sheriff hired Infared Diagnostics to scan the site. They also found nothing, although US Radar scoffed at the idea that a meaningful search could be conducted in cold weather or by using infrared.
"If you really want to know what’s underground," said Ron LaBarca of US Radar, "you gotta dig."
Located at 6114 W. Miami Ave.
Modelo: Nu Luján
Maquilladoras: Cristina Asensi y Laura Calero
Estudi AFES. Barcelona.
Textures from smoko-stock
Amber Meeks in “Something Wicked: The Revelation”
There is a new girl in town.
She lives at the end of the street in the old house.
The house where some one died
The house that is possessed by strange spirits.
The House that soon will be empty again.
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Models:
Princess: Amber Meeks
www.instagram.com/amber_jmeeks
@amber_jmeeks
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#truecrime #crime #horror #comedy #serialkiller #creepy #halloween #scary #ghost #paranormal #spooky #ghosts #scarystories #scaryfacts #gothic #creepyfact #theory #things #conspiracy #horrorstory #horrorstories #supernatural #horrorfacts #strangerthings #hauntedhouse #instagood #creepypasta #pumpkin #stephenking #unknownfact
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** Warning ** These are shots used for giving starting actors and models a look to get roles in many genres.
** Disclaimer ** No Children ( Or Parents ) was harmed in this photoshoot, all prop use, Outfits, and poses was done with strict parental supervision.
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Drivers Photography
We create Character looks for Actors and Actresses to develop a diverse portfolio.
These Characters are then brought to life thru photo and video and tested in short films and demo reels.
The perfect place to dissmember a body
ADCUZ helped in the taking of these photos with his handy torchwork
I have noticed a recent trend of making an individual reacurring item to aid the photos that are taken, to this i have made a mask!
I welded myself a mask out of 18 gauge steel just for these photos. The mask was left outside to rust in the rain with regular seasoning with salt. i also welded a hook, i am slightly worried that i am going to get pulled over by the police and arrested for my costume steelwork!
Maneless Man-eaters
A century ago, two male lions terrorized railway crews near Tsavo, Kenya, killing and eating at least 28 workers and dozens of local residents before they were shot by railway engineer J.H. Patterson. The lion skins lay as trophy rugs until 1924, when Patterson came to lecture at The Field Museum, and sold the lions’ hides and skeletons to the institution for display. The man-eaters story was dramatically retold in the 1996 film The Ghost and the Darkness, titled after the names given to the two lions.
Today, biologist Bruce Patterson (no relation to J.H. Patterson) and his colleagues study the Tsavo lions (Panthera leo) to find out why adult males in Tsavo often lack manes.
The skins came to the museum severely damaged, so these models are far smaller than the what was their real size.
In 1997 Andrew Cunanan went on a multi-state killing spree, claiming at least five murder victims.
On May 4 of that year Cunanan entered the Gold Coast home of Chicago real estate mogul Lee Miglin and took him to a garage a block away. Cunanan tortured Miglin in several ways inspired by the S&M film "Target For Torture" before killing him with a hack saw to the throat.
On July 23 he killed himself in a Miami houseboat with a gunshot to the mouth.
Located at 24 East Scott Street (formerly 22 East Scott Street.)
This looks like a serial killer's basement to me. I'm happy to report it's a scene from a coal mine (under filtration).
John Wayne Gacy, Jr. was the object of a police tail on Dec. 21, 1978 when he went with Chris Gray to Di Leo's Restaurant to meet with one of his lawyers, Leroy Stevens.
While Gacy chatted with his lawyer under the canopy of the restaurant, Gray approached the cops who were tailing them and begged them not to lose them.
"I guess he was up all night," Gray told them, "and he told his lawyers he'd killed over thirty people."
Gacy was convicted of killing 33 teenagers and young men. He was executed in 1994.
Located at 5700 N. Central Avenue
The second victim of the still unidentified killer was found significantly closer to civilisation at the back of a university campus building. As with the previous victim, he was strangled and left by the killer who then once again alerted the authorities to his whereabouts and made another promise of more murders to come.
Gianfranco Di Nuzzo © All Rights Reserved (2010)
Photographer : Francesca
Post Production : Gianfranco
John Wayne Gacy, Jr. frequented this concert venue for victims to rape and murder. One such victim was Rick Johnston, a 17-year old high school student, who had just attended a concert here one August in 1976.
Gacy murdered at least 33 boys between 1972 and 1978. He was executed in 1994.
Located at 1106 W. Lawrence Avenue.