A rare imitation of a Carolingian gold coin worn as a pendant likely by a soldier in the Viking Great Army that invaded England in 865 A.D. has been discovered in Norfolk. This type of coin was made in workshops in Frisia (today part of the Netherlands) and all 22 of these imitation solidi found in Britain have been found along the route of the Great Army. The one found in Norfolk is a relatively high quality example.The coin is an imitation of a gold solidus of Louis the Pious (r. 814-840), son of Charlemagne, minted around 816 when he was crowned Holy Roman Empire. It is considered one of the finest of all Carolingian coins and one of the rarest, with only four confirmed examples recorded. The draped and laureate bust of Louis on the obverse is inspired by ancient Roman issues, like this 335 A.D. solidus of Constantine I. The inscription of the obverse is DN HLVDOVVICVS IMP VG (meaning Our Lord Louis August Emperor an imperial Roman style); the reverse inscription is MVNVS DIVINVM (Divine Gift), referring to the wreath/crown or to the cross inside of it.The Frisian imitations were made much later than the originals. Most of the examples have been found in coin hoards dating to the 870s-880s, and they are very rough with crude outline portrait busts and chicken scratch inscriptions that barely have discernible letters. The earliest examples found in hoards deposited in the 840s and 850s are of notably higher quality. The Norfolk find falls into the latter category.It is worn, but you can see that the portrait bust captures Louis straight, long nose, laurel wreath, moustache and prominent chin. The inscription is also close to the original, reading DNI HVVD [O] VS H IM AVG. The reverse get even closer to the inscription: C MVNVS DIVINVM IS. The superfluous C and S are misinterpretations of the ties on the original coins wreath.The coin has a double piercing above the head on the obverse, one larger perforation with a smaller one below it and slightly to the side. Those holes are at the four oclock position on the reverse, which shows it was worn with the obverse side facing the viewer.The coin pendant is currently going through the Treasure process but its a foregone conclusion because of its age and precious metal content. Once it is declared Treasure, the Norwich Castle Museum is hoping to acquire it.

Historical Events1925 - US Men's Figure Skating championship won by Nathaniel Niles1961 - Paul Bikle in glider climbs from 1,208 m at release to record altitude of 1,410m1961 - Niagara ends St Bonaventura's 99-game home college basketball win streak1968 - 10th Daytona 500: Cale Yarborough driving for Wood Brothers Racing wins by less than a second from LeeRoy Yarbrough; grid set exclusively by qualifying times1995 - PBA National Championship Won by Scott AlexanderMore Historical Events Famous Birthdays1735 - Ernst Wilhelm Wolf, German composer, born in Grossen Behringen, Thuringia, Electorate of Saxony (d. 1792)1902 - Max Kommerell, German literary critic (Die Gefangenen), born in Mnsingen, Germany (d. 1944)1966 - Nancy O'Dell, American reporter and television personality (Entertainment Tonight), born in Sumter, South Carolina1980 - Christy Knowings, American actress and member of the "All That" sketch comedy show (1997-2000), born in the Bronx, New York1985 - Benji Marshall, New Zealand rugby league halfback-five eighth (31 Tests; Wests Tigers, St. George, South Sydney) and coach (Wests Tigers), born in Whakatane, New ZealandMore Famous Birthdays Famous Deaths1655 - Daniel Heinsius, Flemish scholar and poet (Poetics), dies at 741860 - Chauncey Allen Goodrich, American clergyman, educator and lexicographer (edited Webster's Dictionary), dies at 691953 - Jesus Garcia Leoz, Spanish orchestral and film composer (The Sun Comes Out Every Day), dies at 491996 - Marion Farouk Political scientist-Sluglett, dies at 592009 - Ian Carr, Scottish jazz musician (Nucleus), dies after suffering Alzheimer's disease at 75More Famous Deaths

Bring Michele Hundley Smith Home/FacebookMichele Hundley Smith was 38 years old when she vanished in December 2001.On the evening of December 9, 2001, Michele Hundley Smith left her home in North Carolina to go Christmas shopping and she never returned. Her husband reported her missing, but despite an extensive investigation, the police were never able to determine what had happened to this vanished mother of three.Then, just last week, the Rockingham County Sheriffs Office received a tip that cracked this cold case wide open. On February 20, 2026 more than 24 years after Michele Hundley Smith vanished detectives found her alive and well. But her story isnt over yet.The Sudden Disappearance Of Michele Hundley Smith In 2001When Michele Hundley Smith set out to go shopping at a Kmart in Martinsville, Virginia, in December 2001, there was every reason to believe that shed simply be home in a few hours. But around midnight, her husband woke up their teenage daughter, Amanda. He was worried that Michele hadnt returned.The family reported Smith missing on December 31, 2001, and the police launched a search for the 38-year-old woman and the green 1995 Pontiac Trans Sport minivan shed been driving. A missing poster that was released at the time noted that Smith was endangered, noting, Michele is a mom of three children, she would not leave her kids by choice.Rockingham County Crime StoppersThe missing poster that was released shortly after Michele Hundley Smiths disappearance.But as the weeks passed, no clues emerged. In fact, it seemed as if Michele Hundley Smith had simply vanished into thin air.Amanda Smith appeared on an episode of The Vanished podcast in 2018 to speak about the theories surrounding the case. She claimed that her mother was an alcoholic who had been fired from her job shortly before she vanished. Amanda also stated that her parents had a rocky relationship and that her father believed her mother had been stashing away money in the months leading up to her disappearance.Still, Micheles family was concerned that something more sinister may have happened.In a statement, the Rockingham County Sheriffs Office explained, Over the years, the case drew the attention and collaboration of multiple agencies, including the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Despite countless hours of investigative work and the pursuit of numerous leads, Michele Hundley Smiths whereabouts remained unknown.Then, on February 19, 2026, detectives received new information about Micheles case. The following day, they made contact with her, finding that she was alive and well after 24 years. However, Michele asked that her location remain undisclosed. Micheles family was then notified of these unforeseen developments to mixed emotions.Mixed Reactions To Michele Hundley Smith Being Found After 24 YearsIn a post on the Facebook page Bring Michele Hundley Smith Home, Amanda Smith wrote, I am ecstatic, I am pissed, I am heartbroken.She explained that her father spent decades facing rumors and accusations about his involvement in Micheles disappearance. My father has been through so much, Amanda wrote, and I want it made clear that while their marriage had issues (just as many marriages go through) that my mom did not leave simply [because] of a bad marriage My dad is a great man.WFMY News 2/YouTubeAmanda Smith, Micheles daughter, speaking to a local news station in December 2021.Rockingham County Sheriff Samuel Scott Page noted that Michele made no accusations of foul play, stating only that she left due to ongoing domestic issues. Page also confirmed that there were no records of abuse or other allegations on file prior to Micheles disappearance. The District Attorneys office is now reviewing the case to determine if any charges for abandonment may apply.Despite Amandas anger, she still hopes that she will one day be able to forgive or even reunite with her mother, who is now 62. When my mom was a part of my daily life, she showed me a love and bond that will never ever be forgotten, Amanda said.Micheles cousin, Barbara Byrd, is experiencing a similar roller coaster of emotions. She told local station WFMY that she promised Micheles brother, who died several years ago, that they would find her someday.And now, against all odds, Michele Hundley Smith has indeed been found.After learning about Michele Hundley Smith, go inside 11 famous unsolved disappearances. Then, go inside the strange story of Vasile Gorgos, the Romanian farmer who returned home 30 years after he vanished with no memory of where hed been.The post A North Carolina Mother Of Three Who Mysteriously Vanished In 2001 Was Just Found Alive And Well appeared first on All That's Interesting.

Northwest Rankin High SchoolAshley Smylie was a math teacher at Northwest Rankin High School in Mississippi.On March 19, 2024, math teacher Ashley Smylie drove home from her job at Northwest Rankin High School with her 14-year-old daughter, Carly Madison Gregg, who attended the same school. At one point, Ashley texted her husband, Heath Smylie, about plans to go grocery shopping later. Nothing in her messages hinted at the horror that awaited. That same day, Ashley Smylie would be shot to death in her Brandon, Mississippi home. And shockingly, the killer was her own teenage daughter.Inside Ashley Smylies Tragically Short LifePersonal PhotoCarly Madison Gregg, pictured with her mother Ashley Smylie and her stepfather Heath Smylie.Ashley Nicole Smylie was born on April 11, 1983, in Stuart, Florida. She would eventually make her home in Mississippi with her husband Heath, a physical therapist, and she built a life centered on family and community.Ashleys life was not without challenges her first husband, Kevin Gregg, suffered from mental illness and used drugs, and the pair divorced amidst the strife. And one of Ashleys daughters had died tragically young due to health issues. Still, Ashley found love again with Heath, who seemed to be a better influence on her surviving daughter, Carly Madison Gregg.Work was also incredibly important to Ashley Smylie. Teaching wasnt just a job for her it was a calling. She spent her days guiding teenagers through the challenges of high school mathematics, patient and steady, earning the respect of students and her fellow colleagues alike.At home, she was said to be a devoted wife and mother. Ashley loved reading, playing video games, and walking the familys Golden Retrievers. But tension in the family had been building. Carly was smoking marijuana, vaping, and using burner phones, all while trying to hide these activities from her mother and stepfather. At one point, she was briefly sent to an alternative school after bringing a Swiss Army Knife to class. As Carlys behavior became more concerning, fights at home became more frequent.Meanwhile, Carly kept a private journal that was filled with troubling entries, including statements like, Its okay to be evil, and You dont need family. Carlys legal team later claimed that she was struggling with dissociation, periods of blacking out, and voices in her head.One of Carlys friends became concerned about her drug use and burner phones, leading him to tell her mother. Then, after Ashley Smylie reportedly confronted her daughter about her vape pens, the situation turned deadly. The Horrific Murder Of Ashley SmylieAround 4 p.m. on March 19, 2024, Carly Madison Gregg entered her parents bedroom and retrieved a .357 Magnum pistol from underneath the bed. Concealing it as she moved through the house, she eventually confronted her mother and fatally shot her three times in the head.Haunting surveillance video footage from inside the home captured Carlys movements before and after the shooting. The video footage also captured the sound of gunshots and Ashley Smylies screams as she was shot.Following the shooting, Carly texted her stepfather from her mothers phone, saying, Are you almost home, honey? She also invited a friend over to the house, claiming that there was an emergency. Law & Crime Trials/YouTubeCarly Madison Gregg was captured on surveillance video footage before and after killing her mother Ashley Smylie.The friend later testified that after she arrived at the house, Carly said, Have you ever seen a dead body? My mom is in there. According to the friend, Carly added that she had three more gunshots waiting for her stepfather.At 5:03 p.m., Heath Smylie arrived home, unaware of the trap that had been set. As he walked in the front door, Carly opened fire. NBC15 reports that one bullet struck his shoulder. Despite his injury, he wrestled the gun away from Carly. At this point, Carlys friend was outside in the backyard.Heath later testified that he initially believed that there was an intruder in his home and recalled that Carly was screaming out of her mind, scared. It was like she had seen a demon or something. Carly soon fled the scene, and Heath searched the house for the intruder. Instead, Heath only found his wife, dead. Emergency services were called, and police arrived shortly afterward. As for Carly, she was later found about a half mile away from her house and was quickly taken into custody.Why Did Carly Madison Gregg Kill Her Mother?Personal Photo/TwitterAshley Smylie was 40 years old when her daughter murdered her.Carly Madison Gregg was initially taken to the Rankin County Juvenile Detention Center, charged with the murder of her mother and the attempted murder of her stepfather. Given the severity of the crimes, the case raised immediate questions about whether she would be tried as an adult.A judge in juvenile court did later approve a request to charge her as an adult, leading to her being transferred to the Rankin County Adult Detention Center ahead of her trial. Carly pleaded not guilty.During the trial, which took place in September 2024, prosecutors argued that Carly killed Ashley Smylie and tried to kill Heath Smylie because she was about to be punished for having a vape pen, using marijuana, and possessing a burner phone. They believed that the evidence showed planning and intent. State Attorney Michael Smith also argued that Carly knew the difference between right and wrong during the shooting.Meanwhile, Carlys attorneys insisted that she was having a mental health crisis, and a psychiatrist claimed that Carly didnt remember committing the murder at all. Her defense team pointed to her history of mental illness, including depression, and her behavioral issues. The teen had also allegedly been prescribed a medication that made her feel numb. They asked the jury to find her not guilty by reason of insanity.At one point, Heath Smylie took the stand and also claimed his stepdaughter did not remember the shooting. She was not herself and I do not believe she even recognized me, he testified. Despite everything, he also said that he remained in contact with her after the shooting.The jury deliberated for two hours before finding Carly guilty of murder and attempted murder. She was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, marking a rare occasion that a young teenager would face a lifetime behind bars. Rankin County District Attorney Bubba Bramlett said, Carly Gregg is evil and thats not easy to say, but the truth of the matter is that sometimes evil comes in young packages.While Carlys team has attempted to reverse the conviction, Ashley Smylies friends and colleagues have been mourning her deeply. After her death, Northwest Rankin High School grappled with the loss of a beloved educator and the unsettling reality that the person responsible had been one of their own students. And Ashley had gone home one day, not knowing she was about to die at the hands of her own child. The motive for her murder may never be fully understood, but what she left behind is the memory of a teacher, a wife, and a mother whose life touched everyone around her and who was gone too soon.After reading about the murder of Ashley Smylie, go inside the disturbing case of Isabella Guzman, the teen who stabbed her mom 79 times and later went viral on TikTok. Then, learn about the horrific story of Zachary Davis, the 15-year-old who bludgeoned his mother and tried to burn his brother alive.The post Inside The Tragic Death Of Ashley Smylie, The Mississippi Teacher Murdered By Her 14-Year-Old Daughter appeared first on All That's Interesting.

The Gilded Age marked the rise of modern America through rapid industrialization, urbanization, and uneven economic growth. The term, coined from Mark Twains satirical novel The Gilded Age: A Tale of Today, highlights the eras duality: wealth alongside deep social inequality. Corrupt industrialists, bankers, and politicians acquired fortunes, creating powerful dynasties like Vanderbilt, Morgan, Carnegie, and Rockefeller. These families shaped American economic, cultural, and political life for generations. As historian Robert Kelley observed, the Gilded Age was a paradoxical picture of booming growth streaked with crisis and ruined hopes.When & What Was the Gilded AgeNew York during the Gilded Age. Source: Williams LibraryThe Gilded Age spanned from the late 1870s until the early 1900s, and it is considered the result of two waves of the Industrial Revolution. During the first wave of industrialization in the late 1700s and early 1800s, new factories with mechanized production were built. This period saw the development of production equipmentsteam-powered spinning and weaving machines, steamboats, locomotives, and the telegraphmarking the shift from an agricultural to an industrial society. These factories were primarily built in bigger cities and towns in eastern and western America.The process accelerated after the American Civil War (1861-1865), coinciding with the rapid development of railroad construction, technological advancements, and is often referred to as the second wave of Industrialization in the United States. During this period, several key innovations emerged, including assembly-line production and new technologies, such as the telephone, automobile, and the electrification of homes and businesses.A Gilded Age-era political cartoon captioned History Repeats Itself, criticizing late-19th-century economic policies for reproducing the social inequalities of the Middle Ages. Source: Canadian DimensionIn 1869, the Union Pacific and Central Pacific railroad companies built the First Transcontinental Railroad, successfully linking the East and West. Increased accessibility to the railroad and connectivity made formerly isolated areas available to new markets. Meanwhile, commercial farming, ranching, mining, and steel production experienced rapid growth. This rapid industrialization required an increasingly skilled labor force, further accelerating Westward immigration and urbanization.Throughout the 1870s, many farmers, who struggled to sustain their families, immigrated, forming new settlements in the cities of New York, Boston, Philadelphia, and Chicago. By 1890, 28 percent of the American population lived in urban areas, and by 1920, more Americans lived in towns and cities than in rural areas.Robber Barons & Origin of the Gilded DynastiesA scene from a Gilded Age X-ray laboratory, the Record-Union (Sacramento, CA), October 25, 1896. Source: Library of Congress, Washington DCTo manage the emerging markets and productions, large corporations, commonly referred to as trusts, were born. They encompassed almost all production areas, including sugar, meat, and farm machinery.One typical feature of these trusts during the Gilded Age was the business strategy of vertical integration. According to this strategy, a company was in control of almost all the stages of production and supply chain within the specific industry, from raw materials to the final sale of the product.This allowed the trusts to cut costs, reduce wages, increase production efficiency, reduce dependence on outside markets, and undercut smaller competitors by keeping prices low, ultimately becoming a monopoly in their fields. In this way, enormously powerful dynasties of the Gilded Age were born.To some, they were the captains of industry and Americas greatest philanthropists. However, many saw them as robber barons who made personal profit from social and economic inequality.The Most Influential Dynasties of Americas Gilded Age1. The Vanderbilt FamilyPortrait of Cornelius Vanderbilt, by Mathew B. Brady. Source: Library of Congress, Washington DCThe Vanderbilt familys story represents a perfect example of the Gilded Age eras ambitious character. The dynasty was built by Cornelius Vanderbilt (1794-1877), nicknamed the Commodore, who was a self-made businessman. He started building his business by selling steamboats, but soon founded the railway industry, which became the driving force of the Gilded Age.He established the New York Central Railroad and managed to accumulate a fortune worth approximately $100 million (about $2.5 billion in 2025) at the time of his death, controlling almost five percent of the American economy.The Vanderbilt Family was also renowned for their support of culture, literature, and the arts, frequently hosting artists, musicians, and writers. Nevertheless, with money came the love for a lavish lifestyle and luxury, which became the subject of criticism.2. The Rockefeller FamilyPortrait of the Rockefeller family. Source: Historic Hudson ValleyThe Rockefeller familys extraordinary journey also began during the Gilded Age. John Davison Rockefeller Sr. (1839-1937) rose from humble beginnings to become one of the most influential people in the United States.During the second wave of industrialization, John successfully utilized the increased demand for oil and launched an oil refinery near Pittsburgh in 1863. Just two years later, he co-founded StandardOil by adopting aggressive strategies like rebates, mergers, and cost-cutting that eliminated competitors.To this day, the history of the company remains one of the most exemplary cases of the vertical integration adopted during the Gilded Age.The Rockefeller family owned and operated pipelines, terminals, and secured favorable railroad rates and exclusive land deals. For these controversial business methods, the family was highly criticized and accused of holding a monopoly. The backlash resulted in the Sherman Antitrust Act (1890), which broke up StandardOil in 1892, though the companys hierarchy remained intact.By 1913, Rockefellers fortune reached $900 million (about $29 billion in 2025), nearly 3% of Americas GDP.Portrait of John Davison Rockefeller, by E. Johnson, 1895. Source: National Academy of Design/Rockefeller Archive Center, Sleepy Hollow, New YorkDespite its reputation, the Rockefeller family pursued philanthropy, founding the General Education Board in 1902 and the Rockefeller Foundation in 1913 to support the development of education, public health, scientific research, and social welfare.According to a 2017 article published in World Finance, Few names carry as much weight and intrigue as Rockefeller, a family synonymous with the birth of modern capitalism, the expansion of philanthropy, and the shaping of 20th-century America.3. The Carnegie FamilyPortrait of Andrew Carnegie, by Marceau, Theodore C, 1913. Source: Library of Congress, Washington DCAndrew Carnegie (1835-1919), among the wealthiest and influential businessmen in the world, was born in poverty. In 1848, he immigrated to Pennsylvania with his family. Initially, he worked in a cotton factory in Pittsburgh and managed to rise to dominate the American rail and steel industry.By the age of 30, he expanded his activity to include iron and steel industries, steamers, as well as oil refineries and wells, establishing the Carnegie Steel Corporationthe largest steel manufacturing company in the world. The corporation was sold to another Gilded Age businessman, J.P. Morgan, in 1901 for $480 million (about $13 billion in 2025).The Gilded Age transformed the Carnegie family by providing a suitable environment. In Andrew Carnegies own words, Labor, capital, and ability are a three-legged stool They are equal members of the great triple alliance, which moves the industrial world.Aside from seeking financial gain, Carnegie was a true philanthropist, believing in the Gospel of Wealth, the idea that the rich had a moral obligation to give back. In 1911, the Carnegie Corporation of New York was founded, shaping industries worldwide. It touched almost all the fields, from the discovery of insulin and the dismantling of nuclear weapons, to the creation of Pell Grants and Sesame Street, and the lives of many.4. The Morgan FamilyPortrait of John Pierpont Morgan, by Carlos Baca-Flor, 1915. Source: Harvard Arts Museum/ President and Fellows of Harvard CollegeThe Morgan family was one of the wealthiest and elite families of the Gilded Age. John Pierpont (J.P.) Morgan (1837-1913) built the dynasty. Born in Connecticut, J.P. Morgan received his education in Europe and became a formidable financier.He began a career in international banking and railroads alongside his father, Junius Spencer Morgan. He would play a leading role in stabilizing American markets during the financial crises of the Gilded Age.His power increased during the Panic of 1893, when Morgan emerged as a stabilizer of the American economy. He lobbied the government officials to reorganize bankrupt railroads by incorporating smaller or struggling lines into the bigger system to reduce inefficiencies, control output, and establish cooperative agreements to stabilize prices and profits.Often, these measures translated into reduced competition, increased monopoly, and concentrated economic power in the hands of leading financiers, a phenomenon/ referred to as morganization.Nevertheless, the Morgan family created an industry worth$800 billion, and J.P. Morgan is now worth more than three of its largest competitorsBank of America, Citigroup, and Wells Fargo.5. The Astor FamilyPortrait of John Jacob Astor, by John Wesley Jarvis, ca. 1825. Source: National Portrait Gallery, LondonThe Astors stand as one of the earliest examples of American families who acquired wealth and maintained their status and influence beyond the Gilded Age. They achieved dominance through the fur and real estate trade, particularly in New York. In contrast to the newly established wealthy industrial businessmen, the Astor family was considered part of the old money aristocracy.German immigrant John Jacob Astor (1763-1848) laid the foundation of the familys wealth by founding the American Fur Company in 1808. With high-level connections and aggressive politics, he established a monopoly on the fur trading industry.With the onset of the Gilded Age, Astor sensed the shifting dynamics in economics and heavily invested in New York City real estate, owning vast tracts of land there.After his death, his son, William Backhouse Astor Sr. and Jr., continued the legacy in the real estate business.Portrait of Mrs. Caroline Astor. Carolus-Duran. 1890. Source: The Met Museum, New York CityThe name of the Astor family became associated with high society, mainly thanks to Caroline Schermerhorn Astor (1830-1908), known as The Mrs. Astor, who curated a list of the 400 most prominent individuals in New York society, known as the Four Hundred.The history of the Astor family, while quieter than that of others, shaped American society as well as the urban development of New York City. As Astors biographer Axel Madsen, who quoted a friend describing the elder John Jacob Astor, remarked: All he touched turned to gold, and it seemed as if fortune delighted in erecting him a monument of her unerring potency.Legacy of the Gilded DynastiesA Standard Oil storage tank as an octopus with many tentacles wrapped around the steel, copper, and shipping industries, and one tentacle reaching for the White House, by Keppler Udo, 1912. Source: Library of Congress, Washington DCThe United States Gilded Age dynasties played a remarkable role in shaping American economy, politics, and society. They supported the rapid technological advances, built industrial empires, and laid the foundation of modern American capitalism.Beyond this, these dynasties left enduring marks on American arts, culture, education, and public infrastructure. Yet, the history of these families tells the story of how unchecked wealth, elite connections, and rapid industrial expansion focused on personal profit widen income inequality and social division.

On April 1, 1990, a state trooper of the Arizona Highway Patrol Division spotted a tractor-trailer on the shoulder of the highway. He approached the vehicle to see if the driver needed any assistance.What the trooper stumbled upon was a scene out of a horror movie.Chained up inside the truck was a nude young woman with a gag over her mouth and a terrified look on her face. The trucks driver, Robert Ben Rhoades, tried to explain that it was a private, consensual matter.Public DomainBetween 1975 and 1990, Robert Ben Rhoades, a.k.a. the Truck Stop Killer, may have killed as many as 50 victims.But the trooper wasnt convinced and soon placed Rhoades under arrest. While waiting for backup, he discovered a .25 caliber automatic pistol in Rhoades possession.At the time, Rhoades faced only kidnapping and assault charges. But as authorities would soon learn, Robert Ben Rhoades was actually one of the most dangerous sex offenders and serial killers in American history.The Brutal Murders Of The Truck Stop KillerPinal County JailRobert Ben Rhoades mugshot from his 1990 arrest in Arizona.Born November 22, 1945 in Council Bluffs, Iowa, Robert Ben Rhoades was in trouble with the law almost from the start. While in high school, he was arrested for tampering with a vehicle and then again for fighting in public before he joined the Marines.Soon after, in 1964, his father was arrested for molesting a 12-year-old girl and committed suicide before the trial. A few years later, Rhoades himself was back in trouble with the law for a robbery that saw him dishonorably discharged from the Marines.By the 1970s, Rhoades had found work as a truck driver. What the authorities learned much later is that, while out on the road, the Truck Stop Killer tortured, raped, and killed as many as 50 women. He even took photos of some of his victims before murdering them.Its presumed that his actual first murder happened long before, but Robert Ben Rhoades first confirmed murders happened in January of 1990. After he was arrested in Arizona in April of that year, he confessed to the murders of newlyweds Patricia Walsh and Douglas Zyskowski. The couple had left Seattle in November of 1989 and were hitchhiking to Georgia, preaching the Christian gospel.The Truck Stop Killer picked them up in Texas and killed Zyskowski immediately. However, he held Walsh prisoner for more than a week, during which time he tortured and raped her repeatedly before shooting her to death.Authorities found Zyskowskis body near Interstate 10 east of Ozona, Texas later in January, though it wasnt identified until 1992. However, it took almost 13 years for the authorities to identify Walshs remains after deer hunters found her body near the mouth of a canyon in Millard Country, Utah.Committed soon after he dispatched the newlyweds, the crime that ultimately earned the Truck Stop Killer a life sentence was the rape and murder of Regina Kay Walters. The 14-year-old from Pasadena, Texas was hitchhiking with her boyfriend, Ricky Jones, when Rhoades picked them up in February of 1990.Regina Kay Walters before Robert Rhoades cut off her hair while holding her captive.Rhoades promptly killed Jones (whose remains were later found in Mississippi), but he kept Walters hostage for several weeks or more in whats been called his traveling torture chamber. Meanwhile, he took several photos of her as he held her captive. Photographic evidence seized during a search of Rhoades home revealed photos showing different lengths of Walters hair growth and various bruising, indicating that he held her for a substantial amount of time. During Regina Kay Walters imprisonment, Rhoades would even call her father from payphones. On one call, he told Walters father that he cut her hair.Robert Ben RhoadesOne of the last photos Robert Ben Rhoades took of Regina Kay Walters before killing the 14-year-old.After torturing her with fishing hooks and other assorted instruments, Rhoades took one final set of photos of Walters just before killing her with a baling wire garrote. Afterward, he threw her body in a barn off of Interstate 70 in Illinois, where it was found in September. By then, the Truck Stop Killer had been in custody for about five months, but the book on his reign of terror was hardly closed.Once Behind Bars, Robert Ben Rhoades Confessed To Even More KillingsRobert Ben Rhoades was convicted for Regina Kay Walters murder in 1994 and sentenced to life behind bars in Illinois, but authorities couldnt get him for anything else for a long time. After he began serving his sentence, however, he started confessing to other murders committed during his long life on the road.For one, he only faced consequences for the murders of Walsh and Zyskowski in 2012, more than 20 years after the crimes were committed. After a years-long pre-trial period, the Truck Stop Killer pleaded guilty to both murders and received another life sentence as part of a deal with prosecutors to avoid the death penalty.According to District Attorney Steve Smith, Ive been a prosecutor since 1979 and it was one of the rare occasions when I was in the court where the defendant walked in and you felt the evil. The hairs on my arm stand up right now talking about it.Other prosecutors and cops who worked the Truck Stop Killer case over the years likewise felt Rhoades evil. Though such allegations have never been confirmed, the authorities widely suspect that Rhoades actually killed dozens of women.Law enforcement cross-referenced his trucking logs with records of young women that went missing over a 15-year span when he was believed to be active, ultimately suggesting that he was responsible for some 50 murders, or as many as one to three women a month during his peak.His truck was certainly equipped for the job. Authorities found a dungeon-like compartment between the seats as well as handcuffs on the ceiling so that victims could be chained and tortured. They likewise found a so-called murder kit containing chains, cords, whips, and leashes, as well as dildos and clips, pins, and fishhooks that he used on the genitals of his victims.But without confessions or hard evidence, we may never know many people the Truck Stop Killer actually murdered during his bloody spree.The Woman Who Got Away From The Truck Stop KillerFacebookA photo of Pamela Milliken posted on Facebook by law enforcement.While authorities suspect that there are dozens of unsolved murders hiding within Robert Ben Rhoades tale, one recently-surfaced story from his past had something of a happy ending.In 2015, several law enforcement agencies shared a photo of a young woman taken by Rhoades inside his truck in 1985 on Facebook. It was on the same roll as the shots of Regina Kay Walters. The authorities figured the woman was another victim of the Truck Stop Killer and were looking to identify her.But then, a woman from Saskatchewan named Pamela Milliken recognized the young woman as herself.Milliken said that she was hitchhiking to go find her brother in Winnipeg when she ended up in Rhoades truck. When he snapped a photo of her just after she got in, she asked why and he told her that he kept photos of his passengers so that he could show them to the cops in case anyone ever robbed him and fled.He told me he was going to Florida, and he wanted me to come with him, Milliken said. At one point, he pointed to a sign on his dashboard that said CASH, GRASS or ASS No one rides for free, she recalled. I didnt have any money. I didnt smoke pot, so I knew which one it would be. They had what Milliken described as a consensual sexual encounter and he dropped her off at a bus depot in Winnipeg.Public DomainNow more than 80 years old, Robert Ben Rhoades remains bars in Illinois today.Of course, many were not as lucky as Milliken. And while the Truck Stop Killer will never see the light of day, we may never know how many lives he took.Robert Ben Rhoades, now in his eighties, is currently serving his two life sentences without the possibility of parole at the Menard Correctional Center in Chester, Illinois. If there are more murder confessions to make, there may be time yet for other families to find some semblance of closure and justice.Now that youve read about Robert Ben Rhoades, the Truck Stop Killer, learn about Olga Hepnarova, the truck-driving mass murderess. Then, discover the most notorious serial killers in history.The post Inside The Brutal Murders Of Robert Ben Rhoades, The Truck Stop Killer appeared first on All That's Interesting.

Fotos International/Courtesy of Getty ImagesThe rumors about Mr. Rogers tattoos first began circulating before the 1990s.If urban legend is to be believed, Mr. Rogers had a bunch of secret tattoos on his arms and he hid them extremely well with his signature long-sleeve cardigan sweaters.This story often goes hand-in-hand with the rumor that the host of the childrens TV show Mister Rogers Neighborhood was once a feared military sniper. Many people assume that if Mr. Rogers was indeed tattooed, he surely must have gotten his ink while he was a soldier. Some have even suggested these tattoos commemorated his kills in battle.But did Mr. Rogers have tattoos in the first place? Did he really serve in the military? And how did these outlandish stories emerge?Did Mr. Rogers Have Tattoos?Getty ImagesMr. Rogers was known for wearing long-sleeve sweaters on his show.To put it simply, the rumors about Mr. Rogers tattoos are not true at all. The man had zero ink on his arms or anywhere else on his body.Its difficult to pinpoint when people started whispering about Mr. Rogers supposed tattoos and his alleged military background but the rumors trace back to sometime before the mid-1990s.While the myth seemed to fizzle out in the decade before Mr. Rogers death in 2003, the rumor mill began turning again shortly after he passed away.This fake chain email, which circulated in 2003, has been linked to the revival of the tall tale:There was this wimpy little man (who just passed away) on PBS, gentle and quiet. Mr. Rogers is another of those you would least suspect of being anything but what he portrayed. But Mr. Rogers was a U.S. Navy Seal, combat-proven in Vietnam with over twenty-five confirmed kills to his name. He wore a long-sleeve sweater to cover the many tattoos on his forearm and biceps. (He was) a master in small arms and hand-to-hand combat, able to disarm or kill in a heartbeat. He hid that away and won our hearts with his quiet wit and charm.While this email offered no proof of its jaw-dropping claims, the false story took on such a life of its own that the U.S. Navy issued a formal correction:Firstly, Mr. Rogers was born in 1928 and thus at the time of the U.S. involvement in the Vietnam conflict was too old to enlist in the U.S. Navy.Secondly, he had no time to do so. Right after finishing high school, Mr. Rogers went straight into college, and after graduating college directly into TV work.Interestingly enough, the U.S. Navy even addressed the tattoo rumor: He was purposely choosing long-sleeve clothes to keep his formality as well as authority not only to children but to their parents as well.While other false rumors have circulated that Mr. Rogers served in other branches of the military such as the Marine Corps the icon did not serve in the military at all.He had no kills to commemorate and thus no kill record to ink on his skin or anywhere else.How Did The Myth Of Mr. Rogers Tattoos Start?Essentially, rumors about Mr. Rogers tattoos stem from the fact that he always wore long-sleeve sweaters on his show. Based on that alone, people started claiming that he did so in order to cover up secret tattoos.But the real reasons why he swore by his sweaters are just as wholesome as the songs he sang on Mister Rogers Neighborhood.First of all, his beloved mother Nancy knitted all his famous cardigans by hand. He thought very highly of his mother, so he wore the sweaters in honor of her.Getty ImagesOne of Mr. Rogers sweaters on display at the Smithsonians American History Museum in 2012.Secondly, the sweaters were part of the persona that Mr. Rogers created for his program. This stylistic choice allowed him to maintain formality with children. Although he was friendly with them, he also wanted to establish a relationship with them as an authority figure, similar to a teacher.And finally, the sweaters were simply comfortable. While Mr. Rogers formal persona was important, he certainly didnt want to feel uncomfortable in a stiff jacket while interacting with kids. Who would?Why Do The Rumors Persist?Getty ImagesMr. Rogers with his puppets.The untrue rumors about Mr. Rogers tattoos and military service do not fit with the mans gentle, peaceful personality at all. Some experts think thats precisely the reason why hes always been a target for these urban legends.Mr. Rogers, by all accounts, seems like a very mild-mannered, Puritan-esque character, said folklore expert Trevor J. Blank, in an interview with The History Channel. Him having a very macho back story or being a ruthless killer is kind of titillating; it runs counter to what youre presented as true in your day-to-day experience.According to Blank, the very definition of an urban legend is a fictional story that has some type of believable component. Typically, these stories seem somewhat credible because they supposedly happen to a person we know or are familiar with. But these people like Mr. Rogers in this case are also far enough away from us that we cant immediately verify the truth. Another thing about urban legends is that they tend to focus on issues of morality and decency. And who was more associated with morality and decency than Mr. Rogers?Hes an individual to whom we trust our children, said Blank. He taught kids how take care of their bodies, associate with their community, how to relate to neighbors and strangers.When you think about it, Mr. Rogers is truly the perfect target for urban legends especially ones that challenge his squeaky-clean image like tattoos of a kill record.For what its worth, Neighborhood stage manager Nick Tallo had quite a chuckle over these rumors. As Tallo put it: He didnt know how to use a screwdriver, let alone kill a bunch of people.The Truth About Mr. RogersMr. Rogers, born March 20, 1928 in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, eschewed an Ivy League education to graduate magna cum laude from Floridas Rollins College with a degree in music in 1951. He learned to compose music and play the piano, talents that he put to good use in writing more than 200 songs that hed later perform for children throughout his lifetime.After graduation, he immediately embarked on a broadcasting career. And from 1968 to 2001, he was able to fulfill his mission of educating and enlightening children on Mister Rogers Neighborhood.The worst curse word hes said to have used was mercy. He would say it whenever he felt overwhelmed like when he saw the stacks of fan mail he received every week. Undeterred, however, Rogers personally responded to every piece of fan mail he received over the course of his career.Rogers never smoked, drank, or ate the flesh of animals. He was an ordained Presbyterian minister who always preached inclusion and tolerance by saying, God loves you just the way you are.Its no wonder why he was and still is admired by millions of Americans who grew up with him and his timeless words of wisdom.Sadly, Fred Rogers died on February 27, 2003 of stomach cancer. A few months before his death, Mr. Rogers recorded a message for his adult fans who watched his show every day:I would like to tell you what I often told you when you were much younger. I like you just the way you are. And whats more, Im so grateful to you for helping the children in your life to know that youll do everything you can to keep them safe. And to help them express their feelings in ways that will bring healing in many different neighborhoods. Its such a good feeling to know that were lifelong friends.Now thats the Mr. Rogers we all know and love.After this look at the myth of Mr. Rogers tattoos, read more about Mr. Rogers incredible life. Then discover the full story of Bob Ross, the man behind the happy little trees.The post The Truth Behind The Rumors About Mr. Rogers Tattoos appeared first on All That's Interesting.

Its no wonder why Ridley Scott made American Gangster, a movie based on the life of New York kingpin Frank Superfly Lucas. The details of his ascent to the upper echelon of the 1970s drug trade are as wildly cinematic as they are likely exaggerated. What better medium to tell such a trumped-up tale than a Hollywood blockbuster?Though the 2007 movie is supposedly based on a true story starring Denzel Washington as Frank Lucas many in Lucass orbit have said that the film is largely fabricated. But piecing together the truth of his life and his many misdeeds is a daunting task.YouTubeDuring the late 1960s and early 1970s, Frank Lucas built a heroin empire in Harlem.The most well-known profile of the man, Mark Jacobsons The Return of Superfly (which the film is largely based on), relies primarily on Frank Lucass own firsthand account that is full of boasts and braggadocio from a notorious braggart, trickster, and fibber.If youre unfamiliar with Lucas or with the film, here are some of the wildest details about his life (have a few grains of salt handy).Who Was Frank Lucas?Born on September 9, 1930, in La Grange, North Carolina, Frank Lucas had a rough start to life. He grew up poor and spent a lot of time looking after his siblings. And living in the Jim Crow South took a toll on him.According to Lucas, he was first inspired to enter a life of crime after he witnessed Ku Klux Klan members murder his 12-year-old cousin Obadiah when he was just six years old. The Klan claimed that Obadiah had engaged in some reckless eyeballing of a white woman, so they fatally shot him.Lucas reportedly fled to New York in 1946 after beating up his former boss at a pipe company and robbing him of $400. And he quickly realized there was much more money to be made in the Big Apple. From robbing local bars at gunpoint to swiping diamonds from jewelry stores, he slowly became bolder and bolder with his crimes. He eventually caught the eye of drug trafficker Ellsworth Bumpy Johnson who acted as a mentor of sorts to Lucas and taught him everything he knew.While Lucas took Johnsons teachings to the next level with his crime organization, there was a sad and ironic twist to Lucass desire to get back at the KKK members who murdered his cousin. Thanks to his deadly brand of imported heroin, known as Blue Magic, he ended up wreaking havoc in Harlem one of Americas most iconic Black neighborhoods. Frank Lucas has probably destroyed more Black lives than the KKK could ever dream of, prosecutor Richie Roberts told The New York Times in 2007. (Roberts was later portrayed by Russell Crowe in the movie.)David Howells/Corbis/Getty ImagesRichie Roberts, who is portrayed by Russell Crowe in the American Gangster.How Frank Lucas supposedly got his hands on this Blue Magic is perhaps the wildest detail of all: He allegedly smuggled the 98-percent-pure heroin into the United States by using the coffins of dead soldiers being returned from the Vietnam War. Jacobson calls it his most culturally pungent claim to fame:Of all the dreadful iconography of Vietnam the napalmed girl running down the road, Calley at My Lai, etc., etc. dope in the body bag, death begetting death, most hideously conveys Nams spreading pestilence. The metaphor is almost too rich.To his credit, Lucas said that he didnt put the smack next to the bodies or inside the bodies as some legends have suggested. (No way Im touching a dead anything, he told Jacobson. Bet your life on that.) He instead said that he had a carpenter buddy flown in to make 28 copies of government coffins rigged up with false bottoms.With help from former U.S. Army sergeant Leslie Ike Atkinson, who just so happened to be married to one of his cousins, Lucas claimed to have smuggled more than $50 million worth of heroin into the U.S. He said $100,000 of that was on a plane carrying Henry Kissinger, and that he at one point dressed up as a lieutenant colonel to aide in the operation. (You should have seen me I could really salute.)If this so-called Cadaver Connection story sounds like an impossible operation, it just might have been.It is a total lie thats fueled by Frank Lucas for personal gain, Atkinson told the Toronto Star in 2008. I never had anything to do with transporting heroin in coffins or cadavers. Though Atkinson fessed up to smuggling, he said it was inside furniture, and that Lucas wasnt involved with making the connection.From Low-Ranking Drug Dealer To American GangsterWikimedia Commons/YouTubeFrank Lucass federal mugshot and Denzel Washington as Lucas in American Gangster.How Frank Lucas managed to get his hands on Blue Magic mightve been a fabrication, but theres no denying that it made him a rich man. I wanted to be rich, he told Jacobson. I wanted to be Donald Trump rich, and so help me God, I made it. He claimed to be making $1 million per day at one point, but that, too, was later discovered to be an exaggeration.In any case, he was still determined to show off his newly acquired wealth. So in 1971, he decided to wear a $100,000 full-length chinchilla coat bought by his wife Julianna Farrait at a Muhammad Ali boxing match. But as he later wrote, this was a massive mistake. Apparently, Lucass coat caught the eye of law enforcement who were surprised that he had better seats than Diana Ross and Frank Sinatra. As Lucas put it: I left that fight a marked man.So regardless of how much money he was actually making, Lucas didnt get to enjoy the fruits of his labor for very long. After supposedly hobnobbing with some of New Yorks wealthiest and most famous folks in the early 1970s, the famously fur-clad Frank Lucas was arrested in 1975, thanks in part to Roberts efforts (and some Mafia snitching).The drug lords assets were seized, including $584,683 in cash, and he was sentenced to 70 years in prison. Lucas later bristled at such a low count of cash money, and accused the DEA of stealing from him, according to Superfly: The True Untold Story of Frank Lucas, American Gangster:Five hundred and eighty-four thousand. Whats that? Superfly boasted. In Las Vegas I lost 500 Gs in half an hour playing baccarat with a green haired whore. Later, Superfly would tell a television interviewer that the figure was actually $20 million. With time, the story has kept getting longer like Pinocchios nose.Lucas likely wouldve been in prison for the rest of his life if he didnt become a government informant, enter the witness protection program, and ultimately help the DEA nab more than 100 drug-related convictions. One relatively minor setback aside a seven-year sentence for an attempted drug deal in his post-informant life he went on parole in 1991.Overall, Lucas managed to get through everything relatively unscathed and reportedly enriched. According to the New York Post, Lucas received $300,000 from Universal Pictures and another $500,000 from the studio and [Denzel] Washington to buy a house and a new car.But at the end of the day, beyond the ravages of his famous Blue Magic, Lucas was an admitted killer (I killed the baddest motherfker. Not just in Harlem but in the world.) and an admitted liar, on a grand scale. Robin Hood, he was not.In some of his last interviews, Frank Lucas walked back a bit of the braggadocio, admitting, for instance, that he only had one false-bottom coffin made. And for what its worth, Lucas also admitted that only 20 percent of American Gangster is true, but the guys that busted him said thats also an exaggeration. DEA agent Joseph Sullivan, who raided Lucass home back in 1975, said its closer to the single digits.His name is Frank Lucas and he was a drug dealer thats where the truth in this movie ends.The Death Of Frank LucasDavid Howells/Corbis/Getty ImagesFrank Lucas in his later years. The former gangster died of natural causes in 2019.Unlike other famous gangsters, Frank Lucas didnt go out in a blaze of glory. He died in 2019 at the age of 88 in New Jersey. His nephew, who confirmed his death to the press, said that he died of natural causes.By the time Lucas died, he had become pretty good friends with Richie Roberts the man who helped bust him. And ironically enough, Roberts eventually ended up getting in some trouble with the law himself pleading guilty to tax crimes in 2017.I am not one to condemn anyone for anything that they do, Roberts said after Frank Lucass death. Everyone gets a second a chance in my world. Frank did the right thing [by cooperating].Did he cause a lot of pain and hardship? Yeah. But that is all business. On a personal level, he was very charismatic. He could be very likable, but I wouldnt want to, well, I was on the wrong end of him. There was a contract on me at one time.Roberts had the chance to talk to Lucas just a few weeks before he died and was able to tell him goodbye. Although he was aware that the former drug kingpin was in poor health, he still found it hard to believe that Frank Lucas was really gone.He said, You expected him to live forever.After learning about Frank Lucas and the real story of American Gangster, take a look at the history of 1970s Harlem in pictures. Then, explore the rest of the city in 41 horrifying photos of life in 1970s New York.The post The True Story Of Frank Lucas, The Harlem Drug Lord Who Built A Heroin Empire appeared first on All That's Interesting.

Left: Public Domain; Right: Chris Walter/WireImage/Getty ImagesPamela Courson became Jim Morrisons girlfriend after they met at a Hollywood club in 1965.Pamela Courson embodied the free spirit of the hippie generation. An art school dropout, she was determined to pursue art on her own terms and make a name for herself. But ultimately, shes mostly remembered for being Jim Morrisons girlfriend.The beautiful Californian had already embraced the counterculture movement by the time she met The Doors frontman in 1965. So its little wonder why she was attracted to the wild rock star. The pair quickly became a couple, with Morrison describing her as his cosmic partner.But the relationship of Pamela Courson and Jim Morrison was far from a fairytale. From drug abuse to repeated infidelities to explosive arguments, their relationship was the definition of tumultuous and sometimes even escalated into violence. Yet Morrison and Courson always seemed to find a way to reconcile.By 1971, the couple had decided to move to Paris together. But tragically, they were only there for a few months before Jim Morrisons death at 27. And nearly three years later, Pamela Courson would meet an eerily similar fate.How Pamela Courson Met Jim MorrisonEstate of Edmund Teske/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty ImagesPamela Courson and her cosmic partner at a 1969 photo shoot in Hollywood.Pamela Courson was born on December 22, 1946, in Weed, California. Though her interior designer mother and junior high school principal father were kind and caring, Courson wanted more than a white picket fence.As a young adult in the mid-1960s, Courson studied art at Los Angeles City College. But the rigors of academia felt constraining to her and she soon dropped out. It was around that same time that she met Jim Morrison.As the story goes, Pamela Courson found herself at a Hollywood nightclub called London Fog, attending one of the earliest shows that The Doors played in the city. Courson and Morrison were instantly drawn to each other.By the time Light My Fire hit the scene in 1967, the couple had already moved in together in Los Angeles. Meanwhile, The Doors keyboardist Ray Manzarek confessed that he never knew another person who could so complement [Morrisons] bizarreness.Life As Jim Morrisons GirlfriendEstate of Edmund Teske/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty ImagesPamela Courson and Jim Morrison were known for their volatile relationship.After just a year of living together, the couple made plans to marry. In December 1967, Pamela Courson obtained a marriage license in Denver, Colorado while she was on the road with The Doors. But Courson failed to have the license filed or notarized causing her plans to fall through. Instead of trying elsewhere at another time, Morrison surprised his cosmic partner with full access to his money. He also agreed to finance Themis, the fashion boutique that Courson had dreamt of opening.With a high-profile clientele that included Sharon Tate and Miles Davis, Coursons career had taken off in tandem with her boyfriends. Sadly, the couple was fighting constantly, often fueled by alcohol and drug abuse.One former neighbor of the couple said, One night, Pam came over late, claiming Jim had tried to kill her. She said he had pushed her into the closet and set it on fire when he found out she had been sleeping with this phony prince who had supplied her with heroin. Meanwhile, Morrison became increasingly dependent on alcohol, and it showed in his performances. In 1969, he was even accused of exposing himself on stage in Miami. Though Morrison avoided convictions for serious legal charges like a felony count of lewd and lascivious behavior and public drunkenness he was found guilty of indecent exposure and open profanity. He was ultimately released on a $50,000 bond.While its still debated whether Morrison actually exposed himself that night, there was no question that his addictions were getting the better of him. So Morrison moved to Paris with Courson hoping for a change of scenery.The Tragic Scene Of Pamela Coursons Death Just Three Years After Morrisons DemiseBarbara Alper/Getty ImagesThe grave of Jim Morrison. Sadly, Pamela Courson died just three years after the Lizard King.In Paris, Morrison seemed to find peace and take better care of himself. So it came as a shock when he died just months after arriving. But not everyone was surprised. While in the city, Morrison and Courson had indulged in old habits and frequented many notorious nightclubs. On July 3, 1971, Pamela Courson found Jim Morrison immobile and unresponsive in the bathtub of their Paris apartment. When the police arrived, she said that he had woken up in the middle of the night feeling sick and started a hot bath. Morrison was soon declared dead of heart failure, thought to be brought on by a heroin overdose.But not everyone buys the official story. From whispers that he died in the bathroom of a nightclub to rumors that he faked his own death, Morrisons demise has been the subject of numerous conspiracy theories. But perhaps most ominously, some people have accused his girlfriend of playing a role in his death, especially since Courson was the sole heir in his will. While Courson was interviewed by the police, they apparently took her story at face value and no autopsy was ever performed. Still, Courson was never officially suspected of anything related to her boyfriends death. After he was buried, she simply returned to Los Angeles alone. And due to legal battles, she never saw a dime of Morrisons fortune.In the years after Morrisons death, Pam Coursons own addictions grew rapidly worse. She often described herself as Jim Morrisons wife despite the fact that they had never married and sometimes even delusionally claimed that he was about to call her.Nearly three years later, on April 25, 1974, she suffered the same fate as The Doors frontman and died at age 27 of a heroin overdose just like him.After learning about Pamela Courson and Jim Morrison, read the tragic story of Janis Joplins demise. Then, uncover the chilling mystery of Natalie Woods death.The post The Story Of Pamela Courson And Her Turbulent Relationship With Jim Morrison appeared first on All That's Interesting.

Throughout the centuries since her death, Anne Boleyn has become a subject of fascination to a huge variety of people. Historians, writers, academics, and even television audiences have become obsessed with King Henry VIIIs second queen. It seems that her tragic fate only adds to her appeal as an enchanting figure.In this article, we will step back into the 16th century and venture straight into the Tower of London. In order to relive the last days of Anne Boleyn, we will attempt to answer one integral question. How did her shocking downfall and untimely death unfold?A Brief Timeline of Anne Boleyns Last DaysThe Arrest of Anne Boleyn, by David Wynfield, 19th century. Source: VictorianWebAnne Boleyns luck began to decline noticeably in January of 1536, almost exactly three years after her wedding to King Henry. There are several significant events that acted as markers for the beginning of her downfall. These include the death of Catherine of Aragon on January 7th, King Henrys jousting accident on the 24th, and most notably, Anne Boleyns miscarriage on the 29thcontemporaries claimed that she had Miscarried her savior. By this point, it is likely that Jane Seymour was beginning to replace Anne Boleyn in King Henrys affections. From this day onward, throughout the next three months, her story spiralled out of control.One of the most surprising elements of the story of Anne Boleyns downfall is the speed of its progression. The swiftness with which her arrest, trial, and execution were carried out is shocking to behold, even five centuries after their completion. Between her arrest (the first step of her downfall, which would have been obvious to her) to her death (the end of her enduring story), there were only 17 days.It all began on May 1, when King Henry VIII mysteriously vanished from the annual May Day joust, apparently without so much as waving goodbye to his wife. This was the last time Anne Boleyn would have had any sight of her husband. Less than 24 hours later, on May 2, she was arrested and taken to the Tower of London. After twelve days imprisoned in her lodgings at the Tower, Anne Boleyn and her brother George were both found guilty and sentenced to death.Portrait of Anne Boleyn, c. 1550. Source: Wikimedia CommonsImmediately following these events, the marriage between King Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn was declared null and void by Archbishop Thomas Cranmer. This left their only child, Princess Elizabeth, as unwanted and illegitimate.Anne Boleyns execution was originally scheduled for May 18, but was postponed due to the executioner being delayed on his way from France. On May 19, Anne Boleyns story came to an end with her execution inside the walls of the Tower of London.The following day, King Henry VIII and his third wife, Jane Seymour, were formally betrothed. Ten days later, without a thought to spare for the woman he used to love, King Henry married Jane at Whitehall Palace, and shortly after, she was declared the new Queen of England.The Arrest of Anne BoleynAnne Boleyn in the Tower of London, by Edouard Cibot, 1835. Source: French Ministry of CultureTradition tells us that Anne Boleyn was watching a game of tennis at Greenwich Palace at the time of her arrest. A messenger arrived at her side and informed her that the King desired her presence before the Privy Council. Doing as she was bid, Anne Boleyn immediately left the game and made her way to the council chamber.What came next must have been an incredible shock. The council informed her that she was being arrested on charges of adultery with numerous men. After exchanging a selection of heated words with the Duke of Norfolk, Sir William Fitzwilliam, Sir William Paulet, and a few others, she was escorted back to her apartments. She remained there for a few hours, but at around two oclock in the afternoon, she was placed in a barge, taken down the Thames, through the Tower Gate (rather than Traitors Gate), and delivered to the Tower of London.There, she was met by the constable of the Tower, Sir William Kingston, who was prepared for her arrival. It was Kingston who would be responsible for Anne Boleyns safety and well-being for however long she was required to remain at the Tower. This would have been a difficult job. On the one hand, Anne Boleyn was a prisoner awaiting trial. On the other hand, she was still technically Queen of England. The level of her treatment would have been extremely hard to assess, especially with the likes of Thomas Cromwell demanding regular updates on her behavior, her words, or anything else that might incriminate her.Thomas Cromwell, by Hans Holbein the Younger, 1532-3. Source: The Frick CollectionsOn May 3, William Kingston wrote to Thomas Cromwell to tell him of Anne Boleyns reaction to her imprisonment. I went before the Queen into her lodging, Kingston explained. She said unto me, Mr. Kingston, shall I go into a dungeon? I said, No, Madam. You shall go into the lodging you lay in at your coronation. The fact that Anne Boleyn stayed in the queens lodgings rather than a dungeon is significant. Kingston continued, It is too good for me, she said, Jesus have mercy on me. And kneeled down, weeping a good pace, and in the same sorrow fell into a great laughing, as she has done many times since. Anne Boleyn was not alone in her imprisonment, but had many ladies to attend to her. However, it is important to remember that these ladies were not her usual companions but had been handpicked by Thomas Cromwell. They were Mistress Coffin (the wife of Anne Boleyns Master of the Horse), Lady Boleyn (whose identity has not been confirmed, but who is likely to have been an aunt on her fathers side), and Baroness Elizabeth Stonor (the wife of Walter Stonor). Mary Scrope, the wife of William Kingston, was also present at Anne Boleyns side.A Letter From the Lady in the TowerDepiction of the Tower of London, 15th century. Source: British LibraryAlthough Anne Boleyn spent only 17 days imprisoned in her lodgings at the Tower of London, it seems likely that it felt to her an eternity. Throughout this time, it was reported that she grew gradually more anxious and increasingly fretful. Her greatest desire was to meet with the King and to speak with him face-to-face.There was a good reason Anne Boleyn desperately sought to convene with King Henry. She believed that if they saw each other in the flesh, she would be able to convince him to change his mind; if not about their marriage, then at least about her current situation. Anne Boleyn was well aware of King Henrys weakness when it came to desperate situations such as these. Some seven years earlier, she herself had forbidden King Henry from having any close contact with Cardinal Wolsey, for fear that he would relent in his presence and forgive him.The requests to meet King Henry were met with firm and definite replies. The answer was no, without room for negotiation. However, there was an alternative offered. On May 6, Anne Boleyn was finally granted permission by William Kingston to write a letter to the King. This small mercy was not exactly what she had in mind, but it allowed her one last chance to make some form of contact with her husband, insist on her innocence, and even make a plea for forgiveness.Henry VIII, by Joos van Cleve, 1530-35. Source: Wikimedia CommonsIf and when he opened his letter, King Henry would have been greeted with the words To the King from the Lady in the Tower. Anne Boleyn began the content of her letter by professing her confusion over her arrest; Your Graces displeasure, and my imprisonment are things so strange to me, as what to write, or what to excuse, I am altogether ignorant.Anne Boleyn finished her letter with one final appeal. She implored King Henry that the other men who had been imprisoned should not die for her sake. Her plea is so filled with genuine compassion and desperation that it may bring an air of sadness to any modern-day reader. If I have ever found favour in your sight, she began, if ever the name of Anne Boleyn hath been pleasing to your ears, then let me obtain this request.She signed her letter with the words, Your most loyal and ever faithful wife, Anne Boleyn. Her final words to the King were, From my doleful prison, the tower, this sixth of May.The letter consisted of nearly 700 words. It also included a plea for a fair trial, reminders that their daughter Elizabeth was innocent of all wrongdoing, assurance of acceptance and obedience if she should be sentenced to death, and prayers that God would forgive him for all his sins against her.The letter received no reply, and obviously, her requests were wholly ignored.The Last Night of Anne Boleyns LifeAnne Boleyn as portrayed by Claire Foy in Wolf Hall. Source: YouTube/Luh573There are a few cases in which a person can predict the exact moment of their death. Upcoming execution is one of the exceptions. On the night of May 18, Anne Boleyn knew that she would die at eight oclock the following morning. The thought of her final night in the Tower of London is chilling, perhaps even haunting.Anne Boleyns final evening is undocumented, and so her actions, behaviors, and emotions remain unknown. We assume that she would not have slept, but would have spent hours before God in prayer. It is likely that she prayed for her soul, her painless death, her safe entry into heaven, and the safety of her daughter.The Last Moments of Anne BoleynHenry VIII Meets Anne Boleyn for the First Time, by Daniel Maclise, 1835. Source: LNEIt was May 19, during the year of 1536, that Anne Boleyn was executed at the Tower of London. When she appeared at eight oclock in the morning, she was said to have been calm, composed, and dignified. One eyewitness account tells us that she went to her death with an untroubled countenance.Anne Boleyn had spent the morning with her confessor, John Skip, who had administered to her the last rites. During confession, she supposedly once again confirmed her innocence. Then, less than an hour before her death, she took communion for the last time. The rest of the time, she is likely to have spent standing still, contemplating her former life and her upcoming afterlife, whilst her ladies dressed and readied her.Anne Boleyn had been carefully prepared by her ladies for her death, and it is unlikely that any of the details on her clothing were placed there by accident. Her ermine trim represented her position as queen. Her kirtle was red, the traditional color of martyrdom. She wore an English hood, rather than the more fashionable French hood, so that she might cover her hair entirely.The execution of Anne Boleyn by beheading, 17th-18th century. Source: PicrylGeorge Boleyn, Sir Henry Norris, Sir Francis Weston, Sir William Brereton, and Mark Smeaton had all been executed on Tower Hill two days previously. They were originally supposed to have been hanged, drawn, and quartered, but in his mercy, King Henry commuted their sentences to beheading. Anne Boleyn received similar merciful treatment; instead of being burned as initially intended, she was killed by the sword. An executioner from Calais, well known for his skill at delivering quick and painless deaths, was specifically selected by the King and Cromwell to perform the task.Many notable figures gathered to watch the spectacle. Some of the most significant names include Thomas Cromwell, Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk, Henry Fitzroy, Sir Ralph Warren, and even the Lord Mayor of London. Also present were aldermen, sheriffs, and representatives from various guilds. Most of King Henrys Privy Council also had the pleasure of observing the beheading.It was on the scaffold that Anne Boleyn addressed the crowd gathered before her.The Last Words of Anne BoleynGrave of Anne Boleyn. Source: Wikimedia CommonsPeople always want to know the last words of their hero. Whether they be witty and amusing or deep and meaningful, the sentence a person chooses to say with their last breath can reveal so much about their life, their character, and even the nature of their death.Unfortunately, the truth is that Anne Boleyns final words are not overwhelmingly exciting. They have been well documented and are well known to many historians, but have not been carried through history in the same way as many other final declarations. Even Catherine Howards famous jibeI die a Queen, but I would rather die the wife of Thomas Culpepperis significantly better known than anything uttered by Anne Boleyn on the scaffold.Arrest of Anne Boleyn, 1865. Source: PicrylIt is Edward Hall, a chronicler of the 15th and 16th centuries, that we have to thank for the longevity of Annes final words. It is he who recorded Anne Boleyns address to the crowd, which she delivered just moments before her beheading. The last speech of Anne Boleyn, as recorded in full, can be found belowGood Christian people, I am come hither to die, for according to the law, and by the law I am judged to die, and therefore I will speak nothing against it. I am come hither to accuse no man, nor to speak anything of that, whereof I am accused and condemned to die, but I pray God save the King and send him long to reign over you, for a gentler nor a more merciful prince was there never: and to me he was ever a good, a gentle and sovereign lord. And if any person will meddle of my cause, I require them to judge the best. And thus I take my leave of the world and of you all, and I heartily desire you all to pray for me.That may have been an end to her public address, but it was not an end to her private prayer. After completing this speech, Anne Boleyn knelt on the scaffold in preparation for her death. While on her knees, she continued to speak quietly, to herself and to God. To Jesus Christ I commend my soul, she repeated, Lord Jesus receive my soul.The Tower of London, photo by Juhi Sewchurran. Source: UnsplashThis short prayer highlights two things: firstly, her devotion to God, and secondly, her acceptance of her fate.As Anne Boleyn was repeating her final prayer, she was swiftly and effortlessly dispatched by the French swordsman. The executioner was renowned for his expertise, and so as she knelt and prayed, he was already equipped with his sword. According to many eye-witness accounts, he shouted across the crowds for an imaginary assistant to bring him the sword. As Anne Boleyn instinctively turned her head in the direction of his calls, he caught her off guard and fulfilled his duty.Anne Boleyn was dead. Her life had come to an end at the age of around 28 to 35 years.Anne Boleyn: Discovering What RemainsPortrait of Frederic Mouat, 1894. Source: Wikimedia CommonsTo say that the body of Anne Boleyn was treated poorly after her death would be something of an understatement. Her burial could hardly have been less dignified. Anne Boleyns body and head were collected by her attendants, wrapped in linen, and placed in a chest made of elm. That chest was later laid beneath the chancel pavement in the Tower of Londons famous Chapel, that of Saint Peter ad Vincula.Anne Boleyns grave was communal, which meant that a former Queen of England now lay with a selection of criminals who had also been executed at the Tower. There was nothing more to the process of her burial. Her body was concealed without so much as a funeral to commemorate her life.For three centuries, it appeared as if Anne Boleyn had been lost to history. That was, until the year of 1876, when some major renovations were carried out and as a result, equally major discoveries were made. With Queen Victorias permission, the construction work in the Chapel was undertaken, and a skeleton of great significance was uncovered. It was taken for observation and identified as belonging to Anne Boleyn.Queen Elizabeth I, painted by Levina Teerlinc, 1600-1610. Source: Wikimedia CommonsThe surgeon presiding over the investigation was named Frederic Mouat. His findings were recorded by Donye Bell. Together, they gathered their evidence and determined that the skeleton belonged to Anne Boleyn.Mouat and Bell made and published many comments regarding the skeleton. A female of between twenty-five and thirty years of age, of a delicate frame of body, and who had been of slender and perfect proportions. He also wrote that The forehead and lower jaw were especially well formed, and that the vertebrae were particularly small. Later, he continued to describe his findings by stating that the skeleton had a well formed round skull, an intellectual forehead, straight orbital ridge, large eyes, oval face, and rather square, full chin.Although it was decided that these descriptions matched the appearance of Anne Boleyn as she appears in her authenticated portraits, it is important to remember that this is not a definitive finding. Some historians believe that the identified bones could have belonged to another woman executed at the Tower of London. Some even go as far as to suggest that they could have belonged to Anne Boleyns similarly fated cousin, Catherine Howard.Nonetheless, whether Anne Boleyns or not, the remains were later reinterred in the same location.In the 21st century, the grave of Anne Boleyn is prominently marked on the marble floor. Her monument includes a selection of moving words.Gentle visitor, pause a whileWhere you stand death cut away the light of many daysHere, jeweled names were broken from the vivid thread of life.May they rest in peace while we walk the generations around their strife and courageUnder these restless skies.

Giorces/Wikimedia CommonsThe real sword in the stone was purportedly thrust into this boulder by Galgano Guidotti in the 1180s.Everyone knows the story of the future King Arthur pulling a sword from a stone, proving his worth as the ruler of England. But few are aware that theres a real sword in the stone tucked away inside an Italian chapel.As the legend goes, a medieval knight named Galgano Guidotti thrust his blade into a boulder on a hilltop in Tuscany after having a divine vision in the 12th century. Guidotti was later declared a saint, and Montesiepi Chapel was built around the stone where he performed his feat.It remains on display today, with the knights sword still stuck inside. Other extraordinary stories surrounding the relic have emerged over the centuries, and religious pilgrims and curious visitors alike continue to flock to the chapel to see it for themselves.This is the story of the real sword in the stone that has nothing to do with the mythic King Arthur.Who Was Galgano Guidotti?Galgano Guidotti was reportedly born to a feudal lord in Chiusdino, Italy, around 1148. He went on to become a wealthy knight, but while he was skilled in the art of combat, he was also profoundly arrogant, violent, and concerned only with worldly pleasures. However, when Guidotti was in his early 30s, he had a vision. The Archangel Michael allegedly appeared to him and told him that he had to turn away from his life of sin. The angel led Guidotti to a hill, where the 12 apostles ordered him to give up all of his possessions and live as a hermit.Sailko/Wikimedia CommonsA painting of Saint Galgano Guidotti, the knight who allegedly thrust a sword into a stone in the 12th century.Guidotti told the apostles that it would be easier for him to split a rock with his sword than to adopt such a lifestyle. To prove his point, he thrust his blade into a nearby boulder and it sliced right through.When Guidotti awoke from his dream, he immediately changed his ways. He became a hermit, much to the surprise of his family. His mother didnt believe Guidottis transformation was permanent, and she tried to set him up with a young woman so he could settle down and marry. Guidotti agreed to meet the potential love match, but on his way there, something strange happened. It would change Guidottis life and the landscape of the Tuscan countryside forever.The Legend Behind Italys Real-Life Sword In The StoneAs the story goes, while Galgano Guidotti was heading to meet his potential fiance, his horse suddenly changed direction. It led him to a hilltop that looked vaguely familiar, and Guidotti soon realized that it was the very hill that hed seen in his vision. To acknowledge the circumstances and honor God, he plunged his blade into a rock and just as in his dream, it easily slid in. Only the hilt emerged, forming the shape of a cross.The reformed knight died shortly after this incident, at some point in the early 1180s, but he spent his remaining days praising God as a hermit. Eric VANDEVILLE/Gamma-Rapho/Getty ImagesMontesiepi Chapel was built over the real sword in the stone near Chiusdino, Italy.Then, in 1184, Montesiepi Chapel was built around the real sword in the stone to memorialize Guidotti. Around the same time, he was canonized by Pope Lucius III, as pilgrims visiting the site had reported more than a dozen miracles after praying near the boulder. The church has stood just outside of Chiusdino ever since. The Abbey of San Galgano, a Cistercian monastery, was constructed nearby in the 13th century. It was abandoned centuries ago, but its ruins and the evidence of Saint Galgano Guidottis purported miracle within Montesiepi Chapel can still be seen to this day.Is The Real Sword In The Stone Legitimate?In the centuries since Galgano Guidottis death, Catholic pilgrims have traveled to Montesiepi Chapel to see the saints sword for themselves. The stone that its lodged in sits in the floor in the middle of the church, though its covered in plexiglass to protect it from anyone who may try to pull the weapon from the rock.Good Old Pete/Wikimedia CommonsThe interior of Montesiepi Chapel, with the sword pictured in the center of the floor.Of course, skeptics have long questioned the legitimacy of the sword and the legend surrounding it. So, in 2001, scientists set out to settle the debate once and for all.As reported by The Guardian at the time, researchers analyzed the blade and determined that it did indeed seemingly date back to the 12th century.Dating metal is a very difficult task, said Luigi Garlaschelli, one of the studys researchers, but we can say that the composition of the metal and the style are compatible with the era of the legend. We have succeeded in refuting those who maintain that it is a recent fake. The scientists also used ground-penetrating radar to determine that there is an empty space in the ground beneath the stone, which may be the tomb of Saint Galgano Guidotti himself. Whats more, they looked into an additional myth related to the real sword in the stone and discovered that it may be true, too.Two mummified hands are also on display at Montesiepi Chapel, and there are two versions of the story behind them. One states that they belonged to a man who was torn apart by wolves while trying to pull the sword from the stone. The second claims that the wolves killed a man who was sent by the Devil to murder Guidotti while he was living as a hermit on the hilltop, mauling him so viciously that only his hands were left intact.Bernhard Holub/Wikimedia CommonsThe mummified hands on display at Montesiepi Chapel allegedly belonged to a man who tried pull Galgano Guidottis sword from the stone.Radiocarbon dating confirmed that the mummified hands were from the 12th century, just like the blade, lending some credence to the story of the real sword in the stone.In the end, we will likely never know the true story behind the blade entombed in a boulder in rural Tuscany. But the legend of Saint Galgano Guidotti lives on as Italys very own version of the famed King Arthur.After reading about Italys real sword in the stone, go inside the legend of Excalibur, the famed weapon of King Arthur. Then, learn the stories behind the Knights of the Round Table.The post The Incredible Story Behind Italys Real-Life Sword In The Stone That Has Nothing To Do With King Arthur appeared first on All That's Interesting.

On August 28, 1984, 18-year-old Elisabeth Fritzl went missing.Her mother Rosemarie hastily filed a missing-persons report, frantic over the whereabouts of her daughter. For weeks there was no word from Elisabeth, and her parents were left to assume the worst. Then out of nowhere, a letter arrived from Elisabeth, claiming she had grown tired of life with her family and run away.Elisabeth Fritzl at age 16, two years before her father Josef Fritzl imprisoned her in the family basement.Her father Josef Fritzl told the policeman who came to the house that he had no idea where she would go, but that she likely joined a religious cult, something she had talked previously about doing.But the truth was that Josef Fritzl knew exactly where his daughter was. In fact, Elisabeth Fritzl was about 20 feet below where the police officer was standing.And for the next 24 years, before Elisabeth Fritzl finally gained her freedom in 2008, she was Josefs prisoner, held captive in the family basement and repeatedly raped and abused by her own father.This is the chilling story of Elisabeth Fritzl, the girl in the basement.The Imprisonment Of Elisabeth Fritzl, The Girl In The Basement60 Minutes Australia/YouTubeJosef Fritzl managed to keep his imprisonment of his daughter Elisabeth, the girl in the basement, a secret for 24 years.On August 28, 1984, Josef Fritzl asked his daughter to come into the basement of the familys home. He was re-fitting a door to the newly renovated cellar and needed help carrying it. As Elisabeth held the door, Josef fixed it into place. As soon as it was on the hinges, he swung it open, forcing Elisabeth inside and knocking her unconscious with an ether-soaked towel.For the next 24 years, the inside of the dirt-walled cellar would be the only thing Elisabeth Fritzl, the girl in the basement, would ever see. Her father would lie to her mother and the police, feeding them stories about how she ran away and joined a cult. Eventually, the police investigation into her whereabouts would run cold and before long, the world would forget about the missing Fritzl girl.SID Lower Austria/Getty ImagesThe cellar home that Josef Fritzl built to keep Elisabeth in.But Josef Fritzl wouldnt forget. And over the next 24 years, he would make that very clear to his daughter.As far as the rest of the Fritzl family was concerned, Josef would head down to the basement every morning at 9 a.m. to draw plans for the machines that he sold. Occasionally, he would spend the night, but his wife wouldnt worry her husband was a hard-working man and was thoroughly dedicated to his career.Josef Fritzl Impregnates His Own DaughterAt minimum, Elisabeth Fritzl would be visited by her father in the basement three times a week. Usually, it was every day. For the first two years, he left her alone, keeping her captive. Then, he began to rape her, continuing the nightly visits he had begun when she was just 11 years old.Two years into her captivity, Elisabeth became pregnant, though she miscarried 10 weeks into the pregnancy. Two years later, however, she fell pregnant again, this time carrying to term. In August of 1988, a baby girl named Kerstin was born. Two years later, another baby was born, a boy named Stefan.YouTubeThe layout of the cellar where Elisabeth Fritzl was imprisoned.Kerstin and Stefan remained in the cellar with their mother for the duration of her imprisonment, being brought weekly rations of food and water by Josef. Elisabeth attempted to teach them with the rudimentary education she herself had, and give them the most normal life she could under their horrific circumstances.Over the next 24 years, Elisabeth Fritzl would give birth to five more children. One more was allowed to remain in the basement with her, one died shortly after birth, and the other three were taken upstairs to live with Rosemarie and Josef.Josef didnt just bring the children up to live with him, however.How Elisabeth Fritzls Imprisonment Went Unnoticed For Years60 Minutes Australia/YouTubeFrom age 18 to 42, Elisabeth Fritzl was held prisoner by her father Josef, who raped her so repeatedly that she gave birth to seven of his children.In order to conceal what he was doing from Rosemarie, Josef Fritzl staged elaborate discoveries of the children, often involving placing them on bushes near the home or on the doorstep. Each time, the child would be swaddled neatly and accompanied with a note allegedly written by Elisabeth Fritzl, claiming that she couldnt take care of the baby and was leaving it with her parents for safekeeping.Shockingly, social services never questioned the appearance of the Fritzl children and allowed the family to keep them as their own. Officials were, after all, under the impression that Rosemarie and Josef were the babies grandparents.SID Lower Austria/Getty ImagesThe house at Ybbsstrasse 40 in Amstetten, Austria, where Josef Fritzl imprisoned his daughter Elisabeth Fritzl in a basement prison.It is not known how long Josef Fritzl intended to keep his daughter captive in his basement. He had gotten away with it for 24 years, and for all the police knew he was going to continue for another 24. However, in 2008, one of the children in the cellar fell ill.Elisabeth begged her father to allow her 19-year-old daughter Kerstin to get medical attention. Shed fallen rapidly and critically ill and Elisabeth was beside herself. Grudgingly, Josef agreed to take her to a hospital. He removed Kerstin from the cellar and called an ambulance, claiming that he had a note from Kerstins mother explaining her condition.For a week, police questioned Kerstin and asked the public for any information on her family. Naturally, no one came forward as there was no family to speak of. The police eventually grew suspicious of Josef and reopened the investigation into Elisabeth Fritzls disappearance. They began to read the letters that Elisabeth had supposedly been leaving for the Fritzls and began to see inconsistencies in them.Josef Fritzls Horrifying Crimes Come To Light And Elisabeth Gains Her FreedomWhether Josef Fritzl finally felt the pressure or had a change of heart regarding his daughters captivity, the world may never know, but on April 26, 2008, he released Elisabeth from the cellar for the first time in 24 years. She immediately went to the hospital to see her daughter where hospital staff alerted police to her suspicious arrival.That night, she was taken into custody to be questioned about her daughters illness and her fathers story. After making the police promise she never had to see her father again, Elisabeth Fritzl told the tale of her 24-year imprisonment. The story of the girl in the basement would now finally be revealed.She explained that her father kept her in a basement and that she bore seven children. She explained that Josef was the father of all seven of them and that Josef Fritzl would come down during the night, make her watch pornographic films and then rape her. She explained that hed been abusing her ever since she was 11.Public DomainFor 24 years starting in 1984, Josef Fritzl held his daughter Elisabeth Fritzl captive inside his basement prison at the family home in Amstetten, Austria.The police arrested Josef Fritzl that night.The Aftermath Of The Fritzl Case And The Fate Of Elisabeth Fritzl TodayAfter the arrest, the children in the cellar were also released and Rosemarie Fritzl fled the home. She had allegedly known nothing about the events taking place right under her feet and Josef backed up her story. The tenants who had lived in the apartment on the first floor of the Fritzl home also never knew what was happening right beneath them, as Josef had explained away all sounds by blaming faulty piping and a noisy heater.Today, Elisabeth Fritzl, the girl in the basement, lives under a new identity in a secret Austrian village known only as Village X. The home is under constant CCTV surveillance and police patrol every corner. The family doesnt allow interviews anywhere within their walls and decline to give any themselves. Though she is now in her mid-fifties, the last photo taken of her was when she was just 16 years of age.The efforts to conceal her new identity were made to keep her past hidden from the media and let her live her new life. Many believe, however, that theyve done a better job of ensuring her immortality as the girl held captive for 24 years.After learning about Elisabeth Fritzl and her 24-year imprisonment at the hands of her father Josef that inspired Girl In The Basement, read about the Turpin family in California whose children were found locked in a basement. Then, read about Dolly Oesterreich, who kept her secret lover locked in her attic for years. The post How Elisabeth Fritzl Was Imprisoned For 24 Years By Her Father appeared first on All That's Interesting.