Premiering in 1992, A Killer Among Friends dramatized the tragic death of a teen who is savagely beaten and drowned by her friends in a remote location. Tiffani Amber Thiessen and Patty Duke starred in the TV film. In real life, the teen was Michelle Yvette "Missy" Avila of Arleta, California.   TV producers changed the names of the people involved and altered some of the locations in the true story film.  Her story touched the hearts of many people back in the day, and it has stayed with those of us who watched it when it aired for the first time on CBS as a movie of the week. A Killer Among Friends was the first true crime movie I ever watched. I stopped trusting females after that.  A similar situation almost happened to me in the 1990s after I was accused of liking another girl's boyfriend at the local skating rink and later approached by a female holding a barbell during a party I was invited to.  I decided not to go back to the rink that night and turned on the...

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...

Originally Published: August 1, 2014   Original Publication: Examiner.com | Birmingham Examiner Byline: Author/Traciy Curry-Reyes;  Section: Movies "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...

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...

Originally Published: August 1, 2014   Original Publication: Examiner.com | Birmingham Examiner Byline: Author/Traciy Curry-Reyes;  Section: Crime & Courts It's a tale of obsession, stalking, and murder Yamisha Thomas with her stalker and killer Sylvester Davis Yamisha Thomas Fatal Attraction-Stalker Case Yamisha Thomas, aka Yamisha Brown Thomas, is an African American woman who was murdered by her live-in boyfriend, Sylvester Davis, in 2011. Thomas had been missing for a month prior to the discovery of her body, as stated in a report by WLTZ. Police say Sylvester strangled Thomas, covered her in cement, and buried her in a shallow grave in Phenix City, Alabama. Yamisha Thomas was originally from Columbus, Georgia. Authorities say Davis murdered his girlfriend because he was jealous that she was seeing another man. Police records show that Yamisha "Toot" Thomas had tried to distance herself from her boyfriend but feared for her life, according to the Ledger-Enquirer. ...

I've tried not to edit Ivy's photography. She called it "moody photography," and while I'm tempted to restore some of these images, I hope I'm not taking away from her original artistic vision. I think she loved the darkness, the shadows, and the atmosphere they created. These photos were taken in 2016.  (All photographs in this collection by Ivy Brook Walker) Ivy Brook Walker during one of her night drives through Birmingham, Alabama and Five Points South (2016) Driving at night helped her unwind. What inspired the night drives, she told me, was the many trips we had taken at night when she was little. From the time she was just two-years old  until she was about six or seven years old, night drives were our tradition. Every Friday and Saturday night, usually around 7 p.m., we’d get in the car and go out to eat or to the movies. At the time, I was attending Jeff State and UAB, so I spent a lot of time in the Five Points South area. I loved it there. During th...