Infamous America

While the world dealt with the Great War and a pandemic that killed millions, New Orleans was gripped by the fear of a single spectre: a killer who became known as The Axeman. He attacked at night and...

After a merciful but brief hiatus, the Axeman returned to New Orleans. In a move that would be repeated by serial killers for years to come, he sent a letter to the newspaper that announced his presen...

There was no place like New Orleans in the Roaring 20s. The money, the booze, and the passions flowed freely. But all was not well in an apartment near the French Quarter. Two couples had serious mari...

The terrorist attacks on September 11th, 2001 took a large toll on America’s sense of security. In the dawn of this new era, Congress moved to take swift action by creating the Patriot Act. The stated...

The history of Alcatraz Island is written by the escape attempts. In the earliest days of American occupation, it was a fort. And from the very beginning, military prisoners tried to escape. As the fo...

In the 1940s, the situation on Alcatraz took a dark turn. A brutal escape attempt claims two lives, but also turns a guard into a hero. And then “Doc” Barker, of the infamous Barker Gang, leads a brea...

The most violent escape attempt in the history of Alcatraz, and possibly the American prison system, rocks the island in May of 1946. Six inmates take over D Block and end up in a siege against prison...

Alcatraz cools down for a few years after the battle, but eventually the escape attempts resume. Some inmates are desperate to flee the harsh conditions on the island. Some seem like they are simply w...

In the waning days of the prison, three inmates perform arguably the greatest prison break in American history. It’s immortalized by Hollywood in the 1979 film, “Escape From Alcatraz,” starring Clint ...

In the 1990s, Los Angeles was the reigning bank robbery capital of the world. As two young men from Pasadena became increasingly disgruntled, they gravitated toward armed robbery. One wanted wealth an...