In August 2021, Moab police separated Gabby Petito and Brian Laundrie after a reported assault and identified Gabby as the aggressor. An independent review later found she was likely a long-term victim. Part four of Behind Closed Doors examines what one incident can and cannot reveal.
Jessica Lenahan had a protection order and repeatedly asked police to enforce it when her three daughters disappeared in June 1999. After Rebecca, Katheryn, and Leslie were found dead, her fight for accountability reached the U.S. Supreme Court and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. Their contrasting decisions exposed the gap between legal protection on…
For months, Tracey Thurman reported threats and violence from her estranged husband while police repeatedly failed to intervene. After a brutal 1983 attack, her lawsuit challenged the idea that domestic violence could be treated as a private family matter. Her case helped reshape police response in Connecticut—but the reforms that followed also revealed the limits…
Have a case, issue, or criminal justice topic you would like to see covered on Crime Centrals? Submit your suggestion below for future posts, case analyses, legal explainers, or broader systemic discussions.
Crime Centrals prioritizes research-driven, victim-centered coverage. Submissions are reviewed based on available evidence, ethical considerations, and alignment with the site’s focus.
Not every request will be selected for publication. Topics involving active investigations, unverified allegations, or private individuals may not be considered.
Submissions are reviewed with an emphasis on accuracy, available sourcing, and respect for victims and affected communities.
Crime is never just a story — it’s someone’s lived experience.
Crime Central was created by Mikaylin, a researcher, writer, and victim advocate who believes understanding crime requires more than surface-level storytelling. With academic training and professional experience supporting survivors of domestic violence, she approaches every case with both analytical depth and empathy.
Here, you’ll find carefully researched deep dives, case breakdowns, historical analyses, and discussions about crime in books, film, and television — all centered around one core question: Why did this happen?
Meet Mikaylin →
