When CBS aired A Killer Among Friends, the character names were changed to Jenny, Jean, Ellen, and Carla. Over 24 years ago, I revealed the true story behind A Killer Among Friends, which was based on the Missy Avila murder case. Some of the information was lost when the original sites went down, but this post contains rare details I have never published on social media---including some of my original archived interview notes with Victor Amaya, information from former classmates, and historical court timelines. When I first researched the movie between 1998 and 2000, there was no digital record connecting it to the Missy Avila murder. While local California print journalists, like the Los Angeles Times , covered the original crime and murder trial, those newspaper articles were not accessible to most people across the U.S., and news outlets were not publishing them online back then. The Birmingham Public Library was my go-to place. After many hours of sifting through archived printed n...

Loved to Death is a TV One true-story movie that is inspired by the Nathan Burris, Debbie Ross toll booth shootings in California. All the names and the locations were changed in the film. Loved to Death is directed by Lee Davis and written by Chad Quinn. It stars rapper MC Lyte, Chrystee Pharris, McKinley Freeman, and Malinda Williams.  Nathan Burris shot and killed Deborah ‘Debbie’ Ross, 51, and her lover, bus driver Ersie Everette III, 58, on August 11, 2009.  Nathaniel Burris is referred to as “ The Laughing Killer ." Today, Nathaniel ‘Nathan’ Burris sits on death row. Loved To Death: True Story Movie Based On Debbie Ross--Nathan Burris Richmond-San Rafael Bridge Shooting  Loved to Death TV One Movie Synopsis When a toll booth worker finds love again after a bitter breakup with her violent ex, she becomes the victim of a man who decided no one could have her if he couldn’t. The True Story Behind the Film  Deborah Ross broke free of Nathan Burris’ abuse and began ...

I cried like a baby at the end of Fried Green Tomatoes. Without a doubt, Ninny was Idgie! She had to be. Now, the movie’s ending deviates from the book, and people say Ninny couldn’t have been Idgie, but she was. In the movie version, she was Idgie.  The writers probably altered the ending because it’s a great twist. Fannie Flagg, the author of the book, had already written an amazing story, but that adaptation…that tiny twist at the end was just perfect. Sometimes our grandmothers tell stories just like that---in a circular way while holding back information until they are ready to reveal it, so it would make sense that the sweet little old lady telling this story was Idgie the whole time. What a surprise…what an unforgettable story and ending. It was 2000 when I went to the Irondale library to research the movie and the true story. I remember there was an archive of old newspaper clippings, local magazine articles, and a scattering of black and white pictures of the real people ...

William Charles Lewis was convicted and sentenced to life in prison for the 2001 murders of Cynthia Floyd Rolle and Antonio Stephney in East Point, Georgia. During the series of shootings, Lewis also shot Roger Orr and Rosa Lewis, both of whom survived. At first, detectives thought the shootings were unrelated until they discovered similar notes signed "Jack" at the crime scenes. Investigators later developed lip prints from the notes, helping link William Charles Lewis to the attacks. All clues led detectives to William Charles Lewis. They determined that Lewis wanted revenge after his wife, Rosa Lewis, left him. To instill fear and cause emotional distress, he killed her best friend and co-worker, Cynthia Floyd Rolle. Cynthia and Rosa were both probation officers. William Charles Lewis was a charismatic man who often portrayed himself as a Christian. In reality, he had multiple affairs and, behind the scenes, was abusive to his wife. Cynthia Floyd Rolle became a target beca...

Originally Published: April 10, 2014 | Birmingham Examiner (AL) Author/Byline: Traciy Curry-Reyes; Birmingham Movie Examiner | Section: Movies Complex of Fear is a movie based on the true story of Norcross, Georgia, rapist John Charles Whipple.  Complex of Fear originally aired as a CBS Tuesday Night Movie. In recent years, it has aired on Lifetime Television . The film was directed by Brian Grant and is based on a teleplay by Dyanne Asimow.  The cast includes Hart Bochner , Chelsea Field , and Joe Don Baker .  The rapist's name was changed for the film. "Complex Of Fear" Synopsis/Plot When a rash of rapes terrorizes an upstanding apartment community, the women depend on one local police officer who lives in the building to save them from the unknown rapist. The movie took its story from the case of John Whipple, also known as John Charles Whipple. According to police, Whipple terrorized an apartment complex in Norcross, Georgia, during the late 1980s. He was eventual...

"Highway Heartbreaker," aka "Highway Casanova," is a true-story movie based on the case of Orange County con man Joseph Duffy, aka Joe "Mac" Duffy. The movie debuted in 1992 on CBS before airing on Lifetime Television. It is directed by Paul Schneider and written by Deborah Serra. The cast stars Linda Gray, Heather Locklear, and John Schneider. The real names of the people involved were changed for the telefilm. "Highway Heartbreaker" Synopsis/Plot When three women meet Mickey, a handsome con man who entices them to invest their life savings in a money-making venture, their lives are turned upside down as they watch their money go down the drain. But these women have revenge in mind and band together to make Mickey pay for his con games. According to Traciy Curry-Reyes , "Highway Heartbreaker" is most likely based on Joe "Mac" Duffy, a con man who duped women into investing their money in what turned out to be a fraudulent sc...

I've had some very strange and hard-to-believe experiences. But for those who know me in real life... that's just my life. I was just this small-town Alabama girl with an organic following who was able to sort of claw my way up and carve out my own path, even if it was just a tiny bit compared to the giants of the true crime world. Recently, I shared my story in a casual four-part series about how I got into true crime. Though I can come across as a bit gruff at times, it wasn't meant to be a résumé of my career or a chance to brag. It was simply my way of being more transparent after a five-year absence and sharing the experiences that shaped me, why I care about these stories, and the opportunities I had to research cases , write professionally, and help tell some of those stories on television. Along the way, there were accomplishments, setbacks, and bitter disappointments. I never tried to be a celebrity, but I have always appreciated having my work acknowledged and see...