Monday, October 21, 2024

In today’s true-crime History newsletter, we hear echoes of the Menendez Brothers in this sensational double-murder case, explore what tarot cards tell about our past, examine Ozempic and addiction ... and discover why evolution makes us love baby animals. Plus, a new look—and name—for Nat Geo’s museum.

PHOTOGRAPH BY BOB THOMAS/POPPERFOTO/COLABORADOR 

It was the mother of true-crime stories. Imagine the Menendez Brothers trial, circa 1893, with two parents dead and this time, a daughter as defendant. 

Emerging at the trial: Her father, tyrannical—and perhaps, abusive. The proceedings, bedlam. 

This time, the wealthy woman was acquitted in court, like O.J. Simpson—but shunned by society the rest of her life. A schoolyard ditty paired her with an axe, the murder weapon. Other suspects have been floated over the decades, but we still don’t know: Was Lizzie Borden a double murderer? 

Frightening regional cases: 
Was this suddenly flush Coloradan a Hannibal Lecter?
Was this who New Jersey named its hockey team for?  

PHOTOGRAPH BY M. CARRIERI/DEA/ALBUM  

PHOTOGRAPH BY RONAN O'CONNELL 

Strange autumn rituals: This cave, now sitting amid placid farmland, was one of the ancient 'gates of hell' where Halloween is said to have originated in ceremonies hundreds of years ago. Where is it? 

A. Hungary 
B. Ireland
C. Germany 
D. Senegal 
E. Transylvania

Related: Tracing the blood-curdling origins of vampires, zombies, and werewolves 

Today’s Soundtrack: Zombie, The Cranberries 
Bonus: I Like Jersey Best, John Pizzarelli 

Coming tomorrow: Best of the World 2025 
Related: What we had picked for 2024 

Thanks for reading today’s newsletter, and--if you missed it—here is yesterday’s Photo of the Week. Don’t miss our adventures in the future; sign up here. David Beard edited and curated; Alec Egamov produced this.