True crime was still one of the most popular forms of content in 2022. Fans around the world continued to consume real-life crime content through TV, podcasts, and articles.
2022 was also a landmark year for Crime + Investigation, launching the dedicated streaming service, Crime + Investigation Play, allowing viewers to watch over 1,000 hours of true crime shows on the go.
As the end of the year approaches, let’s take a look back at the articles covering the topics and cases that people couldn’t stop talking about.
6 unbelievable facts about Jeffrey Dahmer
Jeffrey Dahmer is undoubtedly one of the worst serial killers of all time. The extreme nature of some of his crimes would turn the stomach of even the staunchest true crime fans. In the autumn, Dahmer’s story was back in focus, so much so that Google recognised his name as one of the top 10 search terms of the year. Crime + Investigation offered up some little-known facts about Dahmer, his crimes and the case, such as him storing a human head in his work locker. It was also an opportunity to look back on a list of the killer’s scariest quotes.
The execution of Ted Bundy
As perhaps the most infamous killer, Ted Bundy is a name that is seemingly never out of the public sphere. This year, people were more interested in his final moments than his devastating crimes. After a very public trial where he defended himself and turned the whole procedure into a spectacle, it was only once he was strapped into the electric chair that he ever appeared ‘shaken’. Legend stated that his executioner was a woman, but that claim has since been debunked.
What happened to Maxine Carr?
The United Kingdom has seen its share of horrific crimes, for example the devastating Soham murders. When two 10-year-old girls, Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman, disappeared in 2002 the whole country was horrified. Ian Huntley was sentenced to 40 years behind bars for their murder, but his partner, Maxine Carr, was also sent to prison for providing him with a false alibi. 20 years on, British people wanted to learn about what became of Carr after she was granted a new identity and lifelong anonymity.
How the ‘Serial’ podcast led to Adnan Syed’s release
Unfortunately, innocent people, such as the so-called ‘M25 Three’, can sometimes be sent to prison for crimes they didn’t commit. One of the most high-profile miscarriages of justice in recent years came as a result of the murder of Hae Min Lee. Her ex-boyfriend, Adnan Syed, was convicted in 2000. Only this year, over two decades later, Syed was released and acquitted after the Serial podcast became a phenomenon and shone a light on the holes in the case. It was a momentous ruling that showed the power of the true crime community.
Gabby Petito, the travel influencer who vanished
In November, Crime + Investigation released #FindGabby, a one-hour special that documented the murder of Gabby Petito. The 22-year-old travel influencer went missing last year after going on a cross-country adventure with her fiancée Brian Laundrie. When Laundrie returned home from the trip by himself, he refused to say what happened to Gabby. Social media users, especially on TikTok, sprang into action and began to piece together details about the events. The FBI even thanked people around the world for the role they played in helping to find Gabby’s body and bringing the case to a conclusion.
The most dangerous postcodes in the UK
Crime + Investigation has started to provide advice on how you can avoid becoming victims of crime. This includes steps on how to notice holiday scams or to make sure your home is secure at Halloween and Christmas. Through publicly available crime data, this list shows some of the most dangerous areas of the UK, to help readers know where and when they need to take extra precautions. After all, no-one wants to become just another statistic.
What were your favourite Crime + Investigation articles of 2022? Let us know by tweeting @CI.
