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Feb 10 2014

Interview: Dr. H. H. Holmes and Jack the Ripper

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The Interview

The following is a recent interview of Dane Ladwig, author of Dr. H. H. Holmes and The Whitechapel Ripper (released February 7, 2014), which offers evidence linking American serial killer Dr. H. H. Holmes to London’s infamous Jack the Ripper.

Q) What is it about Jack the Ripper that you were compelled to write a book about the murders?

I have been following the Jack the Ripper case for decades.  The Ripper has held a certain mystical fascination with me and with many other people; we have always wanted to know who the enigma behind the Boogeyman is… the man who has captured our imaginations for over a century.  I have always wanted to know what it is about this particular killer that has gripped the world and held it spellbound.

Q) What is it about this “mystical fascination” that intrigued you?

On one hand, you have the Ripper.  He is a name without a face.  Go anywhere in the world and the Ripper has visited the nightmares and campfire tales of tale-tellers, spooksters, adults, and children everywhere; however, the Ripper is nothing more than a faceless name who killed five people.  Then you have the perfect dichotomy in Dr. H. H. Holmes.  Holmes killed upwards of 200 people, and nearly no one has heard of him.

Q) What surprised you the most as you researched the case?

When I first decided to really dig into the case and study the evidence as it related to various suspects over the years, many discrepancies did not seem to unite.  Not one suspect from the long list of suspects corresponded with the hardened evidence.  But when you look the Ripper evidence, it leads directly to Holmes.  He was in London at the time of the murders, and he had a residence in Whitechapel.  Holmes, a doctor skilled in articulation of skeletons, had the medical knowledge necessary to carry out the murders according to the coroner’s reports.  Holmes was also known to sell his specimens to the London Infirmary and the London Medical University, as well as the Whitechapel Medical School.

Q) What was the most surprising aspect of the case you came across?

With other suspect’s the investigation always ended shortly after it began.  With Dr. H. H. Holmes every time I located a new piece of evidence or a lead, there were numerous other leads to follow.  Every lead directed me to another, which sent me from Holmes right back to London.

Q) Do you feel your research is conclusive and prove Holmes is Jack the Ripper?

There is so much more about Holmes that I was not able to put in the book, I feel another book about Holmes could be written without repeating any of the information in this book.  The man was a remarkable swindler and fraud.  He was very business savvy.  Any cliché that categorizes high-pressure auto salesmen, could have definitely been created as a result of Holmes business dealings.

Q) What do you hope the reader gets out of your book?

If readers take from my book that Jack the Ripper, the Boogeyman who terrorized London and held the world at bay in 1888 and beyond, could finally be connected to an actual suspect – a criminal whom was never considered in the past; Holmes – then every cold case file throughout history offers victims, family and friends the hope that killers can be caught.

Q) What has been the most rewarding about this book?

This might sound corny, but the book trailer video broke records and I never expected it to get the views it received in its first six months (over 400,000).  It kind of set new standards for book trailers.  In addition, receiving a commendation from the General Assembly for my literary achievements, that was cool too.

Q) What is next for you?

I have entered a contract to ghostwrite several memoirs for legendary music icons.  That goes well into 2016.  In the meanwhile, I do have a serial killer anthology in December of this year (’14) and I am sure there will be something else thrown in just for fun.  I have entertained the idea of a fiction at some point; I received great reviews on a short piece of fiction I wrote in my first publication.

Q) What was the most difficult part of writing the book?

Sifting through the newspaper articles and statements and deciphering which were sensationalized and genuine.  Out of the hundreds of articles, I examined, only a small handful appeared to demonstrate accuracy and support truth integrity.  However, those sources led to more sources that had to go through rigorous scrutiny.

Q) Will you write a follow up book to Dr. H. H. Holmes and The Whitechapel Ripper?

I have given it some consideration.  However, I am not sure when or how I would want to do it.  I may write a novel about the exploits of Holmes, or I may just dig deeper into the nature of the crimes of both Holmes and the Ripper.  That is something to consider down the road.

Q) If there were one thing you could express to your readers about the book, what would that be?

To remember that these crimes took place over twelve decades ago.  The technology back then was not as advanced as we know it to be now.  Back then, really was the dawn of investigation.  The evidence we have to go on now is minimal at best, and as such, we are at a gross disadvantage.  Lifestyle and society was very different too.  What we accept as appropriate and suitable was not the case in the late 1800’s.

Q) What advice would you give to anyone taking on a project such as this?

I found out the hard way when researching cases of this magnitude, time works against you.  Researching the Ripper, the case has been worked to death. However, when investigating Dr. Holmes, he has slipped through the cracks of time, relatively all evidence and data has never been examined or explored extensively.  My advice, do yourself a favor; if you are investigating crimes, do not back yourself into corners by setting deadlines, you will net make them.

The End

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Dr. H. H. Holmes and the Whitechapel Ripper ~ Website
 
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By Writer and Author • Posted in Amazon Reviews, Amazon.com, ARTICLE, Articles, author, Author RJ Parker, blog, Blog, Blogging, Articles, Entertainment, News, Opinion, Thoughts, Random, Social, Entertainment, Musings, Fiction, Short Stories, Nonfiction, Life, Personal, Journal, Memoir, Reflections, Essay, Misce, Blogging, Bloodstains, Bloodstains the book, bloodstainsthebook.com, Book Reviews, book trailer, Books, Breaking News, Crime, Dane Ladwig, Devil in the White City, Dr. H. H. Holmes, Dr. H. H. Holmes and the Whitechapel Ripper, Dr. Henry Howard Holmes, ebooks, Entertainment, H.H. Holmes, Herman Webster Mudgett, hh holmes, Holmes exhumed, Holy Cross Cemetery, Independent Authors, Independent Publishing, Jack the Ripper, Jill the Ripper, London 1888, Mary Pearcey, miscellaneous, New Books, Nonfiction, self-publishing, Serial Killers, The Murder Castle, true crime books, True Crime Serial Killers Anthology, true-crime, unsolved crime, Unsolved Serial Killings, Whitechapel murders, wordpress, Writing, www.daneladwig.com, www.holmestheripper.com • Tagged Amazon Books, Amazon.com, articles, Author RJ Parker, Blog, Blogging, Bloodstains, bloodstainsthebook.com, book reviews, book trailer, books, Breaking News, crime, crime books, culture, Dane Ladwig, Devil in the White City, Dr. H. H. Holmes, Dr. H. H. Holmes and the Whitechapel Ripper, Dr. Henry Howard Holmes, Dr. Holmes, ebook market, eBooks, H.H. Holmes, Herman Webster Mudgett, hh holmes, Independent Authors, Independent Publishing, Indie, Jack the Ripper, London, London 1888, Miscellaneous, new books, nonfiction, serial killers, Society, The Devil in the White City, The Murder Castle, the Whitechapel murders, true crime books, True Crime Serial Killers Anthology, true-crime, unsolved crime, unsolved murder cases, Unsolved Serial Killings, wordpress, Writing, www.daneladwig.com, www.holmestheripper.com
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Jan 10 2014

2014 Revolution!

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Who does not laugh with the AT&T commercials that have the kids interacting with an adult in a children’s setting? I bust a gut. The one during the holidays that showed the innocence of a child commenting on his “New Year’s Revolution,” was outrageous. Honesty, I do not know how the actor sitting across from these children manages to keep a straight face.

That brings me to my “Revolution.” What would I revolt against in 2014? I take a stand and revolt against 2013!

Twenty-thirteen was not such a great year for me. I lost many family, friends, and my K-9 mini-me, to the Angel of Death. A close friend was diagnosed with cancer. To top it off, I was inflicted with an intrusive hostile assault of recurring kidney stones. For me, 2013 represented all that sucked in life.

Well, it’s 2014, and with the coming of a new year, I have adopted a new perspective.

The future:

In addition to the Serial Killers True Crime Anthology Vol. I (released Dec ‘13), I have three books scheduled for release in 2014, Dr. H. H. Holmes and the Whitechapel Ripper (Jan), Serial Killers Abridged (May), and Serial Killers True Crime Anthology Vol. II (Dec).

To top off those literary accomplishments, I have been contracted to ghost write a biography for a legendary Pop group who rose to international fame in the 60’s and 70’s. Since I come from a background in music, I am totally in awe over this project.

Life as a writer is expanding rapidly. I have had to create a legitimate business because of the growing interest in my books and my skills as a ghostwriter. “Ink Slinger Enterprises, LLC,” is officially incorporated in the State of Illinois and the U.S. government, and I am on the record as the CEO.

As I enter this new chapter in my life, I am reminded of my roots. Just a few years ago, I was a struggling middle-aged college student who was freaking out over mid-terms and finals. A few years before that, I was a rebellious maverick trying to “find” myself.

I have never expected what has come, but I have learned a very valuable lesson along the way; when a door opens, another door slams shut. You’d better step through the open door otherwise you will be forced back through the door that’s slamming shut, and it will hit you in the backside and then again in the kisser on the way back if you don’t move swiftly.

Perhaps my greatest ally along the way, and leading me into 2014, is that same blind innocence the children in the AT&T commercials display. No sense in fighting it or questioning it, but roll with it, and you would be surprised what could actually happen to transform your life into a new and vibrant being.

Here’s to you and your New Revolution!

Dane Ladwig

Dane Ladwig’s books can be found at: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Dane%20Ladwig

 

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By Writer and Author • Posted in ARTICLE, Articles, author, Author RJ Parker, Blog, Blogging, Articles, Entertainment, News, Opinion, Thoughts, Random, Social, Entertainment, Musings, Fiction, Short Stories, Nonfiction, Life, Personal, Journal, Memoir, Reflections, Essay, Misce, Blogging, Book Reviews, book trailer, Books, Crime, Dane Ladwig, Dr. H. H. Holmes, Dr. H. H. Holmes and the Whitechapel Ripper, Dr. Henry Howard Holmes, ebooks, General, H.H. Holmes, Henry Howard Holmes, Herman Webster Mudgett, hh holmes, inspiration, Jack the Ripper, Memoir, miscellaneous, New Year's Resolutions, Nonfiction, Opinion, self-publishing, Serial Killers, Short Stories, The First Annual Serial Killers Anthology, True Crime Serial Killers Anthology, true-crime, UNCATEGORIZED, www.daneladwig.com, www.holmestheripper.com • Tagged articles, author, Blog, Blogging, books, crime, culture, Dane Ladwig, Dr. H. H. Holmes, freelance, inspiration, memoir, Miscellaneous, nonfiction, Opinion, Random, serial killers, Serial Killers True Crime Anthology Vol, Writing, www.daneladwig.com
2
Aug 29 2013

Beings Being Gruesomely Evil!

Serial Killers

As I probed the diabolic nature of Herman Webster Mudgett, who later adopted the moniker of Dr. Henry Howard Holmes a.k.a. Dr. H. H. Holmes®, it became apparent that in some cases the human mind functions on a very different level than what humanity and society considers “acceptable.”

In the case of Dr. Holmes, the research in my upcoming book, Dr. H. H. Holmes and the Whitechapel Ripper, you will be introduced to a physician who took the child [Herman] under his wing and helped transform the innocent child into the heinous fiend the Chicago Daily Tribune casted with the headlines byname “Blue Beard of 63rd Street.”

Dr. Holmes methods of surgical experimentation and torture were unmatched at the time. They were the things nightmares were made of. Following Dr. Holmes murderous rampage the residents in the Englewood neighborhood of Chicago where the doctor is suspected of killing more than 200 people in the cruelest an inhumane fashion, began looking at life in the peaceful community much differently.

Whereas Jack the Ripper rocked London with grotesque public displays of disfiguring and disemboweling those who were unlucky enough to be at the wrong place and time the Whitechapel district was an oppressed area, complete with streetwalkers, gangs, and plenty of drink and gambling to be had.

Recently, a friend, Craig McCue, posted a very interesting excerpt on a female serial killer on Facebook. I was immediately intrigued. Delphine LaLaurie resided in New Orleans. I adore New Orleans, and I am an author of true crime, hence the intrigue.

During a pre-Katrina visit to New Orleans, I visited many historic sites associated with Haitian and West African rites of religion e.g. voodoo, hoodoo, and the dark arts.

Craig’s post revealed somewhat disturbing details of a highly respected member of society, who threw some of the most memorable black-tie affairs and partied with the cream of New Orleans social elite. This social butterfly, Madame Delphine LaLaurie, was also someone we would normally consider a nurturer by nature, not a twisted psychopath.

I would like to share Craig’s original post…

Delphine LaLaurie was a sadistic socialite who lived in New Orleans. Her home was a chamber of horrors. On April 10, 1834, a fire broke out in the mansion’s kitchen, and firefighters found two slaves chained to the stove. They appeared to have started the fire themselves, in order to attract attention. The firefighters were led by other slaves to the attic, where the real surprise was. Over a dozen disfigured and maimed slaves were manacled to the walls or floors. Several had been the subjects of gruesome medical experiments. One man appeared to be part of some bizarre sex change, a woman was trapped in a small cage with her limbs broken and reset to look like a crab, and another woman with arms and legs removed, and patches of her flesh sliced off in a circular motion to resemble a caterpillar. Some had had their mouths sewn shut, and had subsequently starved to death, whilst others had their hands sewn to different parts of their bodies. Most were found dead, but some were alive and begging to be killed, to release them from the pain. LaLaurie fled before she could be brought to justice – she was never caught.

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As you can see, Madame Delphine LaLaurie was quite the monster. I dug a little deeper (surprise!) and learned that Madame LaLaurie was a wealthy plantation owner, and she lived a mere two blocks from the famed Voodoo Queen Marie Laveau. I have no doubt Madame LaLaurie and Marie Laveau were acquainted with one another. That begs the question. What role, if any, does Marie Laveau or the black arts play in the role of the atrocities found on the property of Madame LaLaurie’s plantation?

Coincidentally, Madame LaLaurie was described in such a manner as to possess physical beauty to match Helen of Troy. Her outward character appearance in society was that of a woman of refinement, cheerful and jovial.

As her crimes were against her slave of an African origin, Madam LaLaurie evaded the authorities as she fled the scene when the commotion of extinguishing her plantation mansion offered a diversion. She was never caught. Nor is there any proof that she was pursued, as slaves in 1834 were physical property of their owners.

Prior to 1811, the largest slave revolt in history took place just outside of New Orleans. As Madame LaLaurie was born in 1775, she would have been 36 years-old at the time of the revolt. What ensued in 1811 was truly horrific. As slaves revolted against the conditions of sugar plantation working conditions, a group of about 125 Caucasian men went up and down the east bank of the Mississippi river searching for African slaves of the revolt. When the slaves were apprehended, the slaves were hung or decapitated and their heads were placed on display atop spikes from the ground. Madame LaLaurie would have most certainly witnessed this spectacle of inhumane barbarous treatment against the African slaves.

The human condition and the brains psyche as it relates to serial killing and specifically those murderers who throughout history have crossed the lines of sanity to unimaginable realms of a diabolical nature are indeed fascinating. What causes an individual’s brain, conscience, and heart to hybridize or short-circuit into a savage beast?

As for Madame LaLaurie, by the very core of her role in society, that of a nurturer, to me, it is that much more beguiling and at the same time intimidating. I intend to investigate her case further as there are so many layers, which deserve researching these strange and inexplicable events.

And as for Dr. H. H. Holmes and Jack the Ripper, I delve further into their shocking crimes in Dr. H. H. Holmes and the Whitechapel Ripper, scheduled for release in November ’13.

I will say, on the surface, these serial killers do appear to share a theme. At the nucleus of their criminal acts, they target a specific group, motivated by subconscious or deep-rooted, albeit quite disturbed, maniacal emotional traumas. Dr. Holmes focused on women, specifically if they would benefit him financially. The Ripper directed his evil at prostitutes. Madame LaLaurie’s victims were men and women African slaves.

What triggers the alteration in the serial killers brain? This is the billion-dollar question. Greed, bigotry, prejudice, intolerance, and sex are just a few motivators behind hate-inspired crimes of all class. Although humans are (supposedly) at the top of the evolutionary chain, we are the only members of the food chain that turn on our own kind and murder them without provocation.

I do hope you have enjoyed this blog. Feel free to visit my site desiccated to Dr. H. H. Holmes and the Whitechapel Ripper http://www.holmestheripper.com/. The YouTube book video trailer has gone viral in its two short months http://youtu.be/BagndVCPZM8. Please visit, follow (“Like”) the Facebook Fan Page https://www.facebook.com/holmestheripper.

 

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By Writer and Author • Posted in Blog, Blogging, Articles, Entertainment, News, Opinion, Thoughts, Random, Social, Entertainment, Musings, Fiction, Short Stories, Nonfiction, Life, Personal, Journal, Memoir, Reflections, Essay, Misce, Dane Ladwig, Dr. H. H. Holmes, Dr. H. H. Holmes and the Whitechapel Ripper, Dr. Henry Howard Holmes, H.H. Holmes, Henry Howard Holmes, Herman Webster Mudgett, hh holmes, Jack the Ripper, London 1888, Madame Delphine LaLaurie, The First Annual Serial Killers Anthology, true crime books, True Crime Serial Killers Anthology, true-crime, unsolved crime, Unsolved Serial Killings, Whitechapel murders, www.daneladwig.com, www.holmestheripper.com • Tagged articles, author, Blog, Blogging, Dane Ladwig, Dr. H. H. Holmes, Dr. H. H. Holmes and the Whitechapel Ripper, H. H. Holmes Murder Castle, Henry Howard Holmes, holmes, Jack the Ripper, nonfiction, Random, The Murder Castle, www.daneladwig.com, www.holmestheripper.com
4
Jul 28 2013

Book Trailer Makes History! How?

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There are millions of people logging on to their computers at this very moment. To get a fraction of them directed to a book trailer video is not difficult, it’s nearly impossible. An estimated 2000 views means your trailer is doing very well, more views means it is better than the “norm” (http://rockyourwriting.com/2011/08/do-book-trailers-work/). There have been many bestseller’s not even break the double digits when it comes to book trailers. Others probably would have done much better had they took the time to market their book with a trailer.

Number one New York Times Best-Selling Mystery and Thriller novelist Harlan Coben’s newest book released in March of 2013, generated (to date) 9, 493 YouTube views for the book trailer. Why is it not a higher number of views? Is it because dedicated readers do not follow Mr. Coben? No. We’ll get to that in a few minutes.

When I began thinking of promoting my latest book with a video trailer, I thought, “Gee, who will even want to look at a trailer for a book. We’re not talking the next blockbuster movie starring Johnny Depp.”

Low and behold, after getting past my reservations I listened to my publicist and agent and decided to go forward with the video trailer, with two stipulations. It was not to be a cheesy B-rated production, and we were not to invest a great deal of money into the project.

They called my bluff. The video costs less than what I spend on my cellular phone bill in a month, and it turned out to be a decent depiction of what my book encompasses. Now came the big test, posting it to YouTube and seeing if anyone really gave a care about the video.

In one month’s time, the video trailer accomplished the unimaginable. It was Viral and no end in sight. In its first month, it generated just over a mind-boggling 157,000 views (in only one month) making this book video a historic one-of-a-kind.

What was the key? You got me! It could have been the fact that I have a remarkable team working behind me. It could be the subject matter or the fact that I have such wonderful friends who all shared the video.

Honestly, my agent and my editor tell me it’s because my book is making history and I am a delight to read (I surely hope so). One of the keys to creating a successful viral video was that I released the video “before” the book was released. Mr. Coben released the book trailer the same day his book was released; perhaps he could have drove the numbers up had he released it sooner.

Well, I don’t believe Mr. Coben is too worried about his YouTube count, he has other more important accounts to concern himself with, and I am not at that stage in my career as of yet.

The only other thing I would add is, cross-promote your work, and your video; it drives up the numbers and the curiosity of potential readers and viewers.

I just hope the frenzy continues after my book releases. If you haven’t yet checked out the video please do so, the YouTube link is at the end of this blog. Also, If you are considering creating a video (book or otherwise) and you would like to chat about it please email me and I would be more than happy to offer what I know.

Dane Ladwig

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“Dr. H. H. Holmes and the Whitechapel Ripper” Website

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http://www.holmestheripper.com/

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YouTube Book Trailer

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BagndVCPZM8

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Website of True Crime Author Dane Ladwig

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http://www.daneladwig.com/

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Author Dane Ladwig’s Agent

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RJParkerPublishing

http://rjparkerpublishing.com/dane-ladwig.html

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SKAEBOOKFINAL1

First Annual Serial Killers Anthology

http://www.rjparker.net/search?q=True+Crime+Serial+Killers+Anthology

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By Writer and Author • Posted in author, Blog, Blogging, Articles, Entertainment, News, Opinion, Thoughts, Random, Social, Entertainment, Musings, Fiction, Short Stories, Nonfiction, Life, Personal, Journal, Memoir, Reflections, Essay, Misce, Blogging, Book Reviews, book trailer, Books, conventional publishing, Crime, Dane Ladwig, Dr. H. H. Holmes, Dr. H. H. Holmes and the Whitechapel Ripper, ebooks, freelance, General, H.H. Holmes, Herman Webster Mudgett, hh holmes, Holmes exhumed, Independent Authors, Independent Publishing, indiegogo.com, London 1888, miscellaneous, New Books, Nonfiction, Opinion, publishing, R.J Parker, Random, self-publishing, The First Annual Serial Killers Anthology, The Murder Castle, true crime books, True Crime Serial Killers Anthology, true-crime, UNCATEGORIZED, unsolved crime, Unsolved Serial Killings, View From My Loft, Whitechapel murders, wordpress, www.daneladwig.com, www.holmestheripper.com, YouTube, YouTube videos • Tagged articles, author, Author RJ Parker, Blog, Blogging, books, crime, Dane Ladwig, Dr. H. H. Holmes, eBooks, entertainment, freelance, harlan coben, Herman Webster Mudgett, hh holmes, inspiration, Miscellaneous, mystery and thriller, new books, nonfiction, Opinion, RJ Parker, self-publishing, The Murder Castle, the Whitechapel murders, thoughts, true crime books, True Crime Serial Killers Anthology, true-crime, Writing, www.daneladwig.com, www.holmestheripper.com, YouTube, YouTube videos
4
Jul 9 2013

Why True-Crime? Why Write About Serial Killers?

httpfc09.deviantart.netfs21f200725052Serial_Killers_3_by_serialkiller07

I have been asked repeatedly, “Why do you choose to write about serial killers, why not something else, something a bit less gruesome and more eclectic?” Well, they don’t all say that. Most say, “Aren’t you afraid?” And some say, “Of all the things you could write about, why whacko’s?”

Societies rejects and the underbelly of humanity is what intrigues me. Why shouldn’t it, I have a family history acquainted with these type of monsters… sort of.

When I was a young lad, I recall stories of the boogeyman of London, Jack the Ripper. I have cousins living in London and I always wondered… How could they live somewhere a fiendish murderer, the most twisted of all, has lurked the streets and might come back to seek revenge? I was a child then. I had no concept that the Ripper was dead, or an enigma. I figured he could shape-shift, and come and go as he pleased, sort of the Grim Reaper of the UK.

I began a lifelong journey of researching Jack. Then I moved on to the next twisted psychopath. In the mid-1960s, Richard Speck captured the attention of the world with his proclivity toward torturing, committing rape, then murdering eight female students at South Chicago Community Hospital. I lived a mere 24 minute car ride from the scene of the murders. When I was a child, the thought of living so close to the scene was scary.

It was in the late 1960s when, like the rest of America, I was suspended in a state of catatonic shock when Charles Manson and the Manson Family brutally committed acts of murder in California’s elite neighborhoods where only the rich and famous, the “untouchables” of society, met their fateful ends.

In the late ‘70s, David Berkowitz, the “Son of Sam”, killed eight innocent victim claiming his dog instructed him to kill and the dog was, “possessed by demons.” Not to mention growing up in the era with Ted Kaczynski the “Uni-Bomber” whose rampage lasted 3 decades, ‘70s-‘90’s. Ed Gein’s trial in 1968. The Zodiac Killer. Ted Bundy in the 1970s who confessed to over 30 murders. Gary Ridgeway “The Green River Killer” who confessed to murdering 49 women in Washington between 1982 and 1998. The cannibalistic nature of Jeffrey Dahmer. John Wayne Gacy, the “Killer Clown” again, lived less than three miles from where I resided, and the list could go on forever.

These demented serial killers all played a significant role in my life when I was growing up. I can tell you where I was, and what I was doing, when the verdict came in on Ed Gein, on Jeffery Dahmer, Gacy and the rest of the killer crew. But the ones closest to me, the killers and incidents that influenced my life the most, where those closest to my family.

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My Uncle, Frank Smith, worked for Hughes Aircraft Corporation in the 1960s. He lived in Los Angeles and Hollywood, and was close friends to many Hollywood celebrities. One day he vanished. He was an amateur photographer. He dropped off his roll of film at the neighborhood photo shop and that was the last he was ever heard from. His car was parked in front of the store. His film was on the sidewalk. His keys were even lying beside the car, but he vanished and was never heard from or seen again. His paycheck from Hughes Aircraft Corporation dated the prior week was never cashed.

Then there was the day my coworker, my brother-in-laws nephew (not sure how he would be related to me, but we always referred to him as my nephew, and family none the less), noticed a book I was reading, the memoirs of “Bambi” Bembenek, who was a Milwaukee, WI, police officer. Bambi was convicted of killing her husband and taking the authorities on a chase across America and into Canada. It turns out, “Bambi” is my nephew’s cousin, again not sure how that translates to my relationship, but too close for comfort!

The most recent is the connection, in 2012, is to the killer cop, Drew Peterson. Peterson a Police Sergeant in Bolingbrook, IL, was found guilty of murdering his third wife Kathleen “Kitty” Savio. He is also a suspect in the disappearance of his fourth wife Stacy Cales Peterson. My wife is Kathleen Savio’s first cousin.

As you can certainly see, I have always been… shall we say, “encompassed” or “encircled” by killers, serial killers, mass murders, and the most deviate of society. To be an author and not to write about them would be a waste. My nature is to promote awareness and safety from these aberrations and miscreants. If my writing brings about a single turned head at the precise moment to avoid a possible disaster, and saves one person if only by chance… the “why” in what I do is no longer in question!

True Crime Author Dane Ladwig

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Look for both books coming this fall 2013!

Sites:

“Dr. H. H. Holmes and the Whitchapel Ripper”

http://www.holmestheripper.com/

YouTube Video Trailer ~ “Dr. H. H. Holmes and the Whitechapel Ripper”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BagndVCPZM8

“First Annual True Crime Serial Killers Anthology”

 http://www.rjparker.net/search?q=True+Crime+Serial+Killers+Anthology

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Jul 1 2013

Interviewing a Serial Killer…Timothy Wayne Krajcir

timothykrajcir

Recently, I concluded interviews with convicted rapist and serial killer Timothy Wayne Krajcir. The revealing and shocking dialogue between Krajcir and myself, along with a composite of his psyche evaluation and a historic account of his case, which kept investigators at bay for over several years, will be published in the first annual True Crime Serial Killers Anthology, due out later this year (’13). You can follow the developments of the Anthology by subscribing to http://www.rjparker.net/  or the Anthology Facebook fan page at https://www.facebook.com/TCSKAnthology?ref=hl .

SKAEBOOKFINAL1

I have been acquainted with the criminal acts and the minds of serial killers as I have been researching my current book, Dr. H. H. Holmes and the Whitechapel Ripper, but in those cases, the murderer(s) have been deceased for well over a century. It takes on a different twist when you actually sit across from someone who has murdered people and you can recall the media frenzy surrounding the case from your adolescence years.

To be presenting a first-person perspective in the Anthology regarding a demented serial killer Hell bent on destruction and carnage is both an honor and a curse. Since the interviews, I have experienced sort of a “connection” with the dark side of humanity and the diabolic acts some people are capable of committing. I would love to go into this further, but I cannot it is reserved for the Anthology. Sorry!

However, I will share this… The interview convinced me Timothy Krajcir experiences no more remorse for killing the nine women (spanning from 1977 – 1982) than he did when he committed the crimes. In fact, there are certain areas of the case he is quite proud of and takes pleasure in bragging about.

I sure do hope you follow the links I mention in this article and stay up to date on the current developments in the True Crime Serial Killers Anthology and Dr. H. H. Holmes and the Whitechapel Ripper. The most “cutting-edge authors in contemporary true crime” are collaborating on the Anthology and it shall prove to be monumental. Likewise, the intensive research in Dr. H. H. Holmes and the Whitechapel Ripper will forever change history and establish the Ripper and Holmes to be one in the same.

I look forward to meeting you on my journeys through the underground abyss of these shocking accounts of serial killers who have empowered themselves as deputies of torment and death. Though some live to tell their tales like Krajcir, many take the truths of their deeds with them to their graves like Dr. H. H. Holmes. While the unfortunate innocent victims have paid with their lives, there is a certain comfort in knowing the murderers have paid with their eternal souls!

daneebookfinal

Visit the website of “Dr. H. H. Holmes and the Whitechapel Ripper”…

http://www.holmestheripper.com/

***

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By Writer and Author • Posted in Amazon.com, Author RJ Parker, Blog, Blogging, Articles, Entertainment, News, Opinion, Thoughts, Random, Social, Entertainment, Musings, Fiction, Short Stories, Nonfiction, Life, Personal, Journal, Memoir, Reflections, Essay, Misce, Blogging, Book Reviews, Books, Crime, culture, Dane Ladwig, Dr. H. H. Holmes, Dr. H. H. Holmes and the Whitechapel Ripper, ebooks, General, H.H. Holmes, Henry Howard Holmes, Herman Webster Mudgett, hh holmes, Independent Authors, Independent Publishing, indiegogo.com, interview, Jack the Ripper, New Books, Nonfiction, publishing, Random, self-publishing, Serial Killers, The First Annual Serial Killers Anthology, The Murder Castle, Timothy Wayne Krajcir, true crime books, True Crime Serial Killers Anthology, true-crime, unsolved crime, Unsolved Serial Killings, Whitechapel murders, www.daneladwig.com, www.holmestheripper.com • Tagged Author RJ Parker, Blogging, blogs, books, crime, crime books, criminal acts, Dane Ladwig, Dr. H. H. Holmes, Dr. H. H. Holmes and the Whitechapel Ripper, eBooks, hell bent on destruction, Henry Howard Holmes, Herman Webster Mudgett, hh holmes, Independent Authors, Independent Publishing, interview, minds of serial killers, new books, nonfiction, nook reviews, self-publishing, serial killers, The First Annual Serial Killers Anthology, The Murder Castle, the Whitechapel murders, timothy krajcir, Timothy Wayne Krajcir, true crime books, True Crime Serial Killers Anthology, true-crime, unsolved crime, www.daneladwig.com, www.holmestheripper.com
8
Jun 1 2013

Cover Art Release ~ Dr. H. H. Holmes and the Whitechapel Ripper

Announcing the presentation of the cover art for my upcoming release, Dr. H. H. Holmes and the Whitechapel Ripper.  The graphic artwork was created by http://bloodsoakedgraphics.tumblr.com/ .

Dr. H. H. Holmes and the Whitechapel Ripper

I am pleased to report part one of the four-part manuscript is currently with my editor. As this project has been a lifelong journey and the exploration of Jack the Ripper has taken me, time and again, to the arteries of the Whitechapel district in London and ultimately consummated on the streets of Chicago’s south side neighborhood in the Englewood neighborhood where Dr. H. H. Holmes built his infamous “Murder Castle.”

In my book, I ask one thing of the reader… consider the possibilities!  In London, we have a serial killer who is nothing more than an enigma – a faceless name.  History has preserved documents, which not only indicate the Ripper is likely to be a person with medical knowledge – a skilled physician, and the Metropolitan Police and Scotland Yard propose the culprit is likely an American.  Dr. H. H. Holmes, a con man, a skilled physician, and a frequent visitor of London, attempts to sell articulated skeletons to colleges and universities in the London area during the time of the murders.  Is this coincidence?

In Dr. H. H. Holmes and the Whitechapel Ripper, case file evidence will demonstrate, Dr. H. H. Holmes was the prime suspect who committed the Whitechapel crimes and has evaded suspicion (and the criminal justice system) for more than a century.

Below is the write-up on the back cover of the book.  It exemplifies and represents the very foundation and heart of Dr. H. H. Holmes and the Whitechapel Ripper.

“Dr. H. H. Holmes and the Whitechapel Ripper”

By Dane Ladwig

In 1888 in the East End of London, the heart of the Whitechapel district was crippled by the crimes of a fiendish murderer known as Jack the Ripper. Across the Ocean, in America, another monster was on the loose – Dr. H. H. Holmes…

The mystery of the unsolved Jack the Ripper murders would puzzle the world for the next century and the years ahead. Scotland Yard Detectives, Stockholm’s finest minds, criminologists and experts (or “Ripperologists”) from around the globe, all endeavored and failed to unravel the mysterious identity of the world’s most notorious serial killer.

After more than a century of conjecture and inconclusive theories, The Ripper’s identity is no less a mystery than it was at the time of the murders. Is it possible Scotland Yard investigators were correct after all? Could the notorious Ripper have been an American visiting London? Furthermore, is it possible the visiting Ripper was an American physician and a convicted serial killer?

In Dr. H. H. Holmes and the Whitechapel Ripper, the unproven propositions regarding the possible identity of Jack the Ripper are considered and weighed against the facts. Theory and literature based on opinion and imagination are left aside as only the facts and reason are considered. The historian, student, Ripperologist, or simply those intrigued with perhaps the greatest of all unsolved mysteries, should add to their knowledge with what is revealed in this compelling account of Dr. H. H. Holmes and the Whitechapel Ripper.

***

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6

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~ Author Dane Ladwig ~

~ About Your Blog Author ~

Dane Ladwig is a native of Chicago, Illinois. Dane's book, "Piercing the Veils of Death," received critical acclaim from the General Assembly. Dane is a graduate of Moody Bible Institute with a degree in Theology, and a graduate of Elmhurst College with degrees in English and Philosophy. Dane has also released, "The First Annual Serial Killers Anthology," which was a collaborative effort with some of the world's leading true crime authors. Also, his newest release, "Dr. H. H. Holmes and The Whitechapel Ripper," has been met with superior results. Dane has been featured in the Chicago Tribune, in Shaw Media, and has been a guest featured speaker on several radio broadcasts.

Dane Ladwig's books can be found on AMAZON.COM

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