Bøger af David Pietras

New York City is the place of origin for organized crime in the United States. Currently, there are five families in the New York City outfit of La Cosa Nostra. This book will give background information on each of the five families. First of all, the five families are Gambino, Genovese, Colombo, Bonanno, and Lucchese. These names come from Joe Valachi. He was a low ranking soldier who was the first man to break the omerta, or code of silence. The family names come from him, because he testified as to who the bosses were of the five families at the time of his arrest in 1959. The only difference is the Colombo family. It was under the control of Joe Profaci in 1959, but Joe Colombo became famous in the 1960's and therefore, his name has been used to identify the family since then. From the "old country" of Sicily, to the streets of New York City we will see what it truly means to be "Made in New York City".

Many people associate the term paranormal as only dealing with hauntings and ghosts. However, the paranormal also includes subjects considered to be outside the scope of parapsychology including UFOs, cryptozoology, telepathy, ESP, faith healing, clairvoyance, and many other subjects. We will look at all aspects of the paranormal world. From the Loch Ness monster and Bigfoot to the ghosts that still walk the battlefields of Gettysburg. We will travel through the records of some of the most famous UFO sightings and look at the strange phenomenon of Spontaneous Human Combustion, Strange animals and even the Shroud of Turin. But we will not stop there. We will journey into the parts of the unexplained that still make the most experienced paranormal investigator only stare in amazement.

For some it is the sight of death and carnage that draws a person to crime scenes. And others prefer to visit famous crime scenes from the past. The morbid curiosity of the human race is a force that is so strong that even scientists cannot explain it. But what causes the dead to return to the scene of their demise? Some believe that they are searching for something while others claim that these spirits do not know that they are dead. No matter what causes the dead to return to their crime scenes it is a known fact that most crime scenes today have some kind of residual hauntings. We will look at some of the more famous crime scenes and explore the reports of hauntings and unexplainable events that each one holds.

Whether you think they are evil, disturbed, or just crazy you are part of a society that exhibits both a repulsion and fascination with the lives and minds of serial killers. When we look back at these crimes we see pure evil. It is amazing what one human being could do to another. For some of the people in this book the victims were their very own loved ones, and others they were total strangers.. We may never know what makes people like Ted Bundy or The Son of Sam do the things that they did. And we can only hope that we don't ever come face to face with the next monster who as taking their place. We will look at each one and try to figure out who are they and what motivates them? These are the most evil killers of the 20th Century. We will journey through the crime scenes and look at some of the most heinous murderers of our time. And we will look at the horrifying crime scene photos and the evidence that was left behind. We will follow the trail from the crime scene to the courtroom and for some right up to the execution chamber. We will look at some of the centuries most infamous killers like Charles Manson, The Son of Sam, Jeffery Dahmer, Aileen Wuornos, Ted Bundy and "The Night Stalker" Richard Ramirez.

Born on October 27, 1940, in the South Bronx, New York, John Gotti would face run-ins with the law several times, including a four-year prison term for manslaughter, before becoming head of the Gambino crime family. Nicknamed "Teflon Don" for his ability to remain free, Gotti was eventually convicted on multiple criminal counts and sentenced to life in prison. He died on June 10, 2002. We will journey through the life, crimes and jail time of "The Last Don of New York City".

When you hear the name Charles Manson, depending on your age will determine on what you remember of him. For those who were alive during the famous murder spree you will remember the face that was plastered all over the local news. You will remember the followers, also known as "The Manson Family" that did his bidding for him. You may have sat back and wondered how one man could have so much control over so many people. If you were born after 1970 then Charles Manson is just a figment of the past. A fading news story about a maniac who led a group of people to kill. There are so many stories about Charles Manson and his followers that sometimes the facts get lost in the mix of fantasy. Over 45 years later we will revisit the gruesome crime scene and the carnage of that deadly night. And then we will visit each one of the "Family members" to see where they are today. Warning: THIS BOOK DESCRIBES THE MURDERS IN GRAPHIC DETAIL, AND SHOWS VERY GRAPHIC CRIME SCENE PHOTOS. IF YOU THINK THIS WILL UPSET YOU DO NOT READ.

We are often asked, "What exactly does paranormal mean?" The term paranormal is used to describe a wide variety of activity and phenomena. According to the Journal of Parapsychology (a quarterly publication devoted primarily to the original publication of experimental results and other research findings as published by the Parapsychological Association), the term paranormal describes "any phenomenon that in one or more respects exceeds the limits of what is deemed physically possible according to current scientific assumptions." The actual word is derived from the Latin use of the prefix Para meaning "outside or beyond" what is considered normal. In this book we will study the Paranormal and the unexplained from all four corners of the globe. We will explore the stories and myths of Bigfoot in the Pacific northwest of the United States to The Great Pyramids of Egypt. We will look at UFO sightings and crop circles. We will investigate the ghost sightings from around the world and try to understand The Unexplained World That We Live In.

We will explore the cases of 8 parents who decided to kill their own children. We will look deep inside the lives of the killers. We will find out what caused them to commit such a horrific crime against the very people that they were supposed to protect. We hope that this book will alert others to keep a vigilant eye on the children and parents in their communities and hopefully prevent the next killing from happening.

To countless millions the movie Shawshank redemption, was just that "a movie". It is actually one of my favorites so writing this story was more fun than a project. A lot of people don't know is that the prison that was used for the movie was also used in a couple other movies also. Such films as Harry and Walter Go to New York, Tango & Cash, and Air Force One have all had scenes filmed within the walls of The Ohio State Reformatory, better known as Stephen King's Shawshank prison. Let's look at some of the interesting history of the prison and journey through time to experience the paranormal activities and learn about "The Ghosts of Shawshank".

The nation was first introduced to Casey Anthony in July 2008. The country fell in love with her precious daughter, Caylee, who had gone missing over a month before her mother ever told anyone. A massive missing persons search for the little girl in Orlando, Florida ensued...... Casey Anthony told detectives during a 2008 investigation that a woman named Zenaida Fernandez Gonzalez, her nanny for 2 years, kidnapped her 2-year-old daughter. Investigators determined that there was no nanny and most of Casey's story regarding the previous month were nothing but lies. The State of Florida charged Casey Anthony with murder. Caylee Anthony's remains were found less than one mile from the Anthony's home. After 35 long days, people across the nation and around the world held their breath, the jury in the Casey Anthony murder trial announced they had arrived at a verdict. Casey Anthony was found not guilty of first-degree murder and the other most serious charges against her in the death of her 2-year-old daughter. We will look at the clues and listen to Casey's never ending string of lies. We will go into the courtroom and relive every day and every bit of testimony in the 35 day long trial. We will try to figure out the "Secrets and Lies" behind the Casey Anthony case.

When you hear the names Charles Manson and John Gotti, depending on your age will determine on what you remember of them. For those who were alive during the famous murder spree of 1969, you will remember the man that was plastered all over the local news. You will remember the followers, also known as "The Manson Family" that did his bidding for him. You may have sat back and wondered how one man could have so much control over so many people. If you were born after 1970 then Charles Manson is just a figment of the past. A fading news story about a maniac who led a group of people to kill. There are so many stories about Charles Manson and his followers that sometimes the facts get lost in the mix of fantasy. So, our question now is... "Just who was this Charlie anyway?" In the early 70's as Charles Manson was locked up in the California prison system a new leader emerged. His Name was John Gotti. And at the time of Manson's imprisonment he was a New York crime family associate. Through the years, John Gotti worked his way up the ranks of the Gambino Mafia family. Men respected him, his enemies feared him and the United States government hunted him. To some, these two men had nothing in common. One was a crazy mad man, the other a criminal genius. One represents horror and destruction, the other honor and respect.

Twenty one years after the brutal murders of three eight year old Cub Scouts in West Memphis, Arkansas, there seem to still be more questions than there are answers. We have gone all the way back to the beginning and looked through years worth of evidence. What we have found may truly shock you. Sifting between truth and lies, rumors and reality, and taking quite an emotional roller coaster ride, we have put together a book that strives to present nothing but the cold hard facts of what truly took place on the night of May 5, 1993 in Robin Hood Hills to Steven Branch, Michael Moore and Christopher Byers. Everything you think you know about this case is about to be turned upside down. The time has come to find out who truly is "The West Memphis Boogeyman".

Most people based their opinions of this case on the information that they learned from watching the "pro- WM3" documentaries. The sad part is that these documentaries went above and beyond to paint these killers as innocent school boys wrongly accused of murdering three innocent eight year old boys. The documentaries conveniently left out a lot of key evidence and statements that point fingers in the direction of these three monsters. And the supporters of the WM3 make it a mantra to spread lies like, "Misskelley was interrogated for 12 hours" when in fact that is a lie. And they fail to acknowledge that their main suspect had no alibi for his whereabouts on the night of the murders. They also have a tendency to "create evidence" to point to someone else. Beyond their legion of admissions of involvement in the murders-before, during, and after their convictions-Echols, Baldwin, and Misskelley pled guilty to the murders. They chose to flee the courtroom with their guilty pleas rather than stand and fight for the innocence they had maintained. Of course, after the guilty plea hearing and while the cameras were rolling, the WM3 and their supporters vowed to keep the "search" going for the real killers. When in fact the "real killers" were found eighteen years earlier.

"What makes a mother kill her own children"? This question has been asked too often. And unfortunately the answers are unknown. We will look at three mothers who went from "Mommy to Maniac" and killed the very children that they should have been protecting. We will look at the stories of Andrea Yates, Susan Smith and Diane Downs. In search of the answer to the question "What makes a mother kill her own children"?

During my years serving in the United States Army I have heard my share of good jokes. I put them all together (at least the ones I remembered) here for the rest of the world to enjoy. These jokes will make you laugh so hard that you will be telling them to your friends and coworkers tomorrow.

Visit even the smallest of towns in the U.S. and you're likely to hear some local ghost stories and discover a few haunted houses. But some American cities have gained the reputation for being particularly ghost-ridden thanks to their rich and often bizarre historical backgrounds. Though only a few centuries old, America has amassed an impressive number of eerie residences, each deemed haunted due to paranormal activity or a frightful past. From spooky hotels in the north east to murder mansions in the south. From haunted cemeteries and historic military spots to grisly tales of suffering and death, we've collected the country's most chilling real ghost stories. These ghostly dwellings span from coast to coast. Haunted buildings and ghost sightings prove difficult to substantiate but whether you believe or remain skeptical, these encounters will certainly send a chill up your spine. The following 100 locations have the paranormal community buzzing. Whether you're a believer or not, America's towns are filled with true ghost stories passed down through time. Read on to see the list of America's 100 Most Haunted Locations . . . if you dare.

Charles Manson and other members of his so-called family were convicted of killing actress Sharon Tate and six other people during a bloody rampage in the Los Angeles area during two August nights in 1969. Since that night "Charles Manson" has become a household name. Over 40 years later we will revisit the gruesome crime scene and the carnage of that deadly night. And then we will visit each one of the "Family members" to see where they are today. Warning: THIS BOOK DESCRIBES THE MURDERS IN GRAPHIC DETAIL, AND SHOWS VERY GRAPHIC CRIME SCENE PHOTOS. IF YOU THINK THIS WILL UPSET YOU DO NOT READ.

Sandy beaches, beautiful sunsets and of course amusement parks are what comes to mind when you think of Florida. The allure of paradise has drawn millions to this wonderful state better known as "The Sunshine State". But for some, the sunshine has turned into a nightmare. We will look at five of the most notorious serial killers in the history of Florida. We will look at their upbringing and the path that lead them to Florida and ultimately to the courtrooms were each one was eventually sentenced to death. We will go inside the crime scenes and the court rooms to dissect the case piece by piece and blood drop by blood drop. We will warn you now that this book contains actual crime scene photos and extremely graphic details about the killings that will haunt the history of Florida. So if you a squeamish and the sight of death bothers you I recommend that you do not read this book.

On Jan. 12, 1996, 9 year old Amber Hagerman was abducted riding her bike in her Grandmother small Texas town. Amber is just a faded news story in most parts of this country; the Amber alert program was named after her. Jessica Lunsford was 9 years old when she was abducted from her own home in central Florida. The authorities found her body in a neighbor's yard. She was held captive in a closet raped and buried alive. When they unearthed her body she was clutching a stuffed purple dolphin her daddy won for her just days earlier at the county fair. 12 year old Polly Klaas was having a sleep over at her house with her 3 best friends. The girls were giggling and playing a board game called Perfect Match when Polly decided it was time to fetch her friends' sleeping bags from the living room. She opened the bedroom door and saw a heavily muscled middle-aged man who was a complete stranger. He was holding a knife and he immediately ordered, "Don't scream or I'll cut your throats!" That was the last that anyone ever saw Polly alive again. 3 little girls whose lives where cut short by the monsters of this world. We will look at each case and examine the facts to get a better understanding on how these monsters operate. We will also learn about ways to protect your own children and those children around you from the monsters of our society. If you never read one book for yourself in your entire life, then read this one for your children's life.

The tan, dark haired young man sat and watched the made-for-TV miniseries. The miniseries, based on real life events, told the story of a group of young men from Beverly Hills who planned and carried out two murders, including the killing of the father of one of the members of the group. As the young man watched the movie, he called to his older brother who joined him and together they watched the "Billionaire Boys Club." Later, they began to discuss killing their father. Each brother complained to the other about how domineering and controlling their father was, how impossible it was for either brother to please him, how he planned to disinherit both brothers from his will and how poorly he treated their mother. The brothers rationalized that if they killed their father, they would have to kill their mother because she could not survive emotionally without their father. She could also be a living witness to the crime they were about to commit. The older brother wanted to plan the murders so that they would be as "perfect as could be," but the younger brother could not wait and insisted that the murders take place as soon as possible. The miniseries was shown over two nights, July 30 and 31, 1989, and the murders occurred on the night of August 20, 1989.