True Crime: Box Set by Lorrence Williams Page B

simple childish prank.
    That
was a very grave mistake.
    Why?
Because on 31 st of July, the same year, Mary and Norma
yet again strangled a 3 year old boy, but this time, with much more
violence. After strangling him, Mary returned to the body to carve an
“M” on his chest using a razor, and then she used
scissors to cut his hair and a part of his genitals.
    When
police officers announced to Mary Bell that they would arrest her for
two counts of murder, she responded eerily with “That’s
fine by me...”
    Bell
was released in 1980 and was granted anonymity (she was given a new
name) so that she would be able to start a new life. The anonymity
was supposed to cease when she turned 18, but when reporters plagued
her and her daughter’s life in 1998, the court granted them
(Bell and her daughter) a lifetime of it.

    2.
Eric Smith
    Another
murder committed by a child that made national headlines because the
perpetrator was merely 13 years old, and the victim was just 4 years
of age.
    Eric
Smith was described by his grandparents as a loner who often wanted
attention. On the summer of August 2, 1993, a recreational camp in
the local park was held and Eric was encouraged to join it because it
would do him good to mingle with others his age.
    At
the same time, the victim Derrick Robbie, who was only 4 years old
then, was also a participant to the recreational event.
    According
to Derrick’s mother, she always accompanied her son when going
to the park, but on that unfortunate day, she was indisposed as she
needed to take care of Derrick’s younger sibling. So when
Derrick insisted that the park was really near and he could walk by
himself, his mother conceded.
    This
lead to a very tragic event, for when Eric saw the vulnerable Derrick
alone, he lured him into the secluded area, and strangled him to near
death. What’s even more terrifying is the fact that Eric
dropped a huge rock on the 4 year old’s head, as if to make
sure that he really would not survive the ordeal.
    Weirdly,
Eric went to the police station not to confess, but to “help”
with the investigation. 2 days later though, he also claimed
responsibility to the killing. Up to now, Eric is still serving his
sentence; his next hearing will be in 2016.

    3.
Josh Phillips
    Another
murder that made the headlines was the supposed disappearance of
Maddie Clifton on November 3, 1998. The police were so hell bent on
finding her, there were flyers given, the FBI became involved, a
$100,000 reward was initiated and 400 community people volunteered to
help in the search.
    Guess
what? Josh Phillips, her murderer, was one of the volunteers.
    A
week after Maddie’s disappearance, Josh’s mom went in her
son’s room to clean, only to see that his water bed was
leaking. Upon further inspection, she saw Maddie’s body. She
then called the police and Josh, who was only 14 at that time, was
arrested in his very school. His victim, Maddie, was only 8 years
old.
    During
the investigation, Josh said that what happened was only an accident
at first. While playing baseball, he accidentally hit Maddie in the
eye, making it bleed. When Maddie started screaming, Josh panicked so
he dragged her to his room and strangled her with a phone cord, hit
her again with his baseball bat, and stabbed her 11 times.
    Police,
however, did not find him convincing.

Chapter
3 - Unsolved Murders and Unclosed Cases

    What
can be more frustrating than having someone you love taken away from
you instantly, and having no one to blame? In this section we will
take a look at some of the world’s most famous murders that up
to this date remain unsolved.

    1.
The Zodiac Murders
    The
Zodiac Killings started with just two victims. 2 unsuspecting lovers
peacefully sitting in their car were shot in the Bay Area. After
that, things started to go downhill for the police authorities, while
the Zodiac seemed to be having a lot of fun.
    There
were a total of 7 attacks, with 4 confirmed victims and 8 more