About Wandering Truths Tuesdays

Shrouded in folklore and fear, Lavinia Fisher has long been called America's first female serial killer-but the truth is far murkier than the myth.

Operating near Charleston in the early 1800s with her husband, John, Lavinia became infamous for whispered tales of poisoned guests and murderous hospitality.

Though historians continue to debate how much of her story is fact or frontier fiction, her sensational trial and dramatic execution cemented herself in American crime lore.

In the lawless shadow of the American Frontier, the Egan Murders exploded into public view as a violent clash of loyalty, rivalry, and vengeance. 

Centered around the killing of landowner John Egan in the late 1800s, the case exposed a tangle of disputes involving property, power, and communal grudges. 

With conflicting testimony and a town divided, the investigation became as turbulent as the crime itself.

In 1935, a gruesome discovery in the quiet Scottish countryside shattered the illusion of rural peace. Two dismembered bodies -painstakingly wrapped and hidden in a ravine- would ignite one of the most groundbreaking forensic investigations in the early 20th century.

Known today as The Ruxton Murders, this case exposed the violent secrets of Dr. Buck Ruxton, a respected physician whose carefully crafted facade began to crack the moment the first parcel of human remains was found.

Using groundbreaking techniques like photographic superimposition and early forensic entomology, detectives pieced together a truth Ruxton fought to conceal.

The Ruxton Murders became one of Britain's most pivotal cases -proof that even the most calculated killers can't outrun the rise of modern forensic science.

Darya Nikolayvena Saltychikha, known as Saltychikha, was an 18th-century Russian noblewoman who tortured and murdered dozens of her own serfs while hiding behind wealth and status.

Protected for years by privilege, her crimes were finally exposed under the reign of Catherine the Great, leading to a rare and public punishment. 

This post examines the facts, the myths, and how unchecked power allowed brutality to flourish.

Long before Lewis Carroll imagined the eccentric tea-table trickster, real hat makers were slipping into madness one tremor, twitch, and hallucination at a time.

In the 18th and 19th centuries, mercury-nitrate was the silent killer behind the felt-making trade -poisoning workers from the inside out while their elegant creations graced society's finest.

"Mad as a hatter" wasn't a joke; it was a death sentence wrapped in fashion.

In 1973, a six-day bank siege in Stockholm, Sweden shocked the world-not just for the crime itself, but for the baffling bond that formed between the hostages and their captor.

Their refusal to condemn him, their distrust of the police, and their unexpected loyalty sparked a psychological mystery that would echo through countless future cases.

Step into the tense vault where fear, survival, and empathy fused into one of the most misunderstood phenomena in criminology: the birth of what we now call Stockholm Syndrome.

In the sweltering summer of 1977, New York City was held hostage -not by a criminal mastermind, but by a quiet, unassuming man who claimed to take orders from a demon-possessed dog.

David Berkowitz the self-styled "Son of Sam," unleashed a string of shootings that left a city paralyzed with fear and detectives scrambling for answers. 

His chilling letters, taunting the police and press, turned a manhunt into a media firestorm.

In the early hours of March 18, 1990, two men disguised as police officers walked into Boston's Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum -and vanished into history with half a billion dollars' worth of art.

In less than 90 minutes, they stole masterpieces by Vermeer, Rembrandt, and Degas, leaving behind empty frames that still hang like wounds on the gallery walls. 

Decades later, the crime still remains unsolved, the artwork missing, and the suspects shadows at the edge of legend.

Step inside the most notorious art heist in American history, where every clue leads to another dead end and the ghosts of stolen beauty linger.

Long before the time of Jesus Christ, crucifixion was one of the ancient world's harshest forms of execution -designed to not only kill, but to humiliate, terrorize, and control.

Used by the Persian Empire, adopted by Carthage, and perfected by Rome, crucifixion served as a public warning about the consequences of rebellion.

In this post, I trace the origins, methods, and political motives behind this infamous punishment, exploring how it shaped empires, enforced authority, and ultimately became a pivotal symbol in world history.

Long before Christianity reshaped the Roman world, its earliest believers lived under the constant tension of misunderstanding, suspicion, and political danger.

While persecution varied across emperors and provinces, moments of intense crackdown -most famously under Nero- left lasting scars on the fledgling movement.

This post explores how Roman law, culture, and imperial power viewed this new faith, and why its followers were treated as enemies of the state.

In this deep dive, it also lays the groundwork for one of the most prominent figures of Christianity: the life, ministry, and martyrdom of the Apostle Paul, a man who once hunted Christians and ultimately died as one.

Far from the glamorous legends of Hollywood's creation, the gladiators of ancient Rome lived lives defined by violence, discipline, and the constant nearness of death.

Whether enslaved prisoners of war, condemned criminals, or rare volunteers seeking fame, these fighters became the empire's most brutal form of entertainment -symbols of Roman power and public appetite.

In this post, I uncover the realities behind the arena: the training schools, the politics of the games, and the men whose fate was decided by the roar of a crowd.

On the Ides of March in 44 BCE, Rome's most powerful leader walked into the Senate expecting politics as usual. Instead, he met the knives of men he once called allies.

The assassination of Julius Caesar was not only a turning point in Roman history -it was a moment shaped by fear, ambition, and the desperate struggle to save a dying republic.

In this post, I unravel the motives of the conspirators, the escalating tensions that led to the attack, and the aftermath that plunged Rome into chaos, revealing how one act of betrayal altered the course of the ancient world.

Jesse James carved his name into American folklore as the most notorious outlaw of the Old West. 

A Confederate guerrilla turned bank and train robber, James walked the blurred line between folk hero and feared criminal, inspiring both fascination and fear across the frontier.

His life of rebellion, violence, and myth making ended not in a gunfight, but with a quiet betrayal in his own home - sealing his legacy as one of the Wild West's most enduring, controversial icons.

Belle Starr forged her own legend in the lawless corners of the Old West, where outcasts and renegades found their own kind of kingdom.

Known as the "Bandit Queen," she rode alongside thieves, harboring fugitives and crafting an outlaw persona wrapped in mystery, grit, and undeniable charisma.

Whether she was a criminal mastermind or simply a woman surviving on the edge of civilization, her life -and her unsolved murder- secured her place as one of the Wild West's most enigmatic and iconic figures.

Wild Bill Hickok strode through the Old West with the swagger of a born Gunslinger and the instincts of a lawman who never backed down.

Scout, soldier, marshal, and gambler, Hickok lived in a life steeped in danger and driven by reputation - a figure both feared and admired for his deadly accuracy and unshakable poise. 

His dramatic death during a poker game cemented his myth forever, turning Wild Bill into the quintessential Western icon whose legend still casts a long shadow across frontier history.

Sam Bass earned his place in the Old West lore as a daring outlaw whose charm and cleverness set him apart from the violent gangs of his era.

From train robberies to bank heists, Bass operated with a calculated audacity that earned him both enemies and reluctant admiration.

His short, dramatic life ended in a violent shootout, but his legend as the "Gentleman Bandit" lives on - a reminder of the thin line between lawlessness and folklore of the American Frontier.

On March 5, 1770, a confrontation between Boston colonists and British soldiers turned deadly, leaving five men dead and inflaming colonial resentment toward imperial authority.

What began as a chaotic street dispute escalated into a pivotal event that would fuel the Revolutionary movement.

The Boston Massacre highlights how fear, miscommunication, and oppressive power can erupt into violence, showing that the road to freedom is often marked by tragic and unforeseen consequences.

On the night of December 16, 1773, a group of Boston colonists disguised as Mohawk warriors boarded British ships and dumped an entire shipment of tea into the harbor.

What would become an iconic act of defiance was, in its moment, a criminal act of property destruction and political rebellion.

The Boston Tea Party illustrates the tension between law, authority, and the pursuit of Liberty -showing that the struggle for freedom often comes with deliberate, risky choices that challenge both power and precedent.

The Battle of Bunker Hill, fought on June 17, 1775, was one of the earliest and bloodiest clashes of the American Revolution. 

Though technically a British victory, the heavy losses inflicted by colonial forces proved that the Patriots could stand against the empire.

The fight highlighted both bravery and tragedy -foggy orders, miscommunication, and sheer determination led to a deadly confrontation that cost hundreds of lives.

This pivotal battle reminds us that the path to freedom is paved with sacrifice, courage, and the stark realities of war.

The Cherry Valley Massacre, which struck upstate New York in 1778, remains one of the most brutal episodes of the Revolutionary War's frontier conflicts.

Loyalists, Native allies, and the Continental settlers collided in a deadly mix of revenge, survival, and political tension. Homes were burned, families were slaughtered, and the line between military action and atrocity blurred.

This tragic event underscores the harsh realities of war on the frontier, revealing the devastating consequences of loyalty, fear, and unchecked violets in the fight for independence.

Mary Stuart's life was defined by political intrigue, religious tension, and a relentless struggle to survive in a world where her crown made her a target.

Imprisoned for years by her cousin Elizabeth I, Mary navigated alliances, plots, and betrayals that ultimately led to her execution. 

Her story is a tragic tale of Ambition, loyalty, and the deadly consequences of power, cementing her as one of history's most fascinating ill-fated monarchs.

Queen Victoria is often remembered for her long reign, strict morals, and emblem of stability, but behind the pomp and protocol of the Victorian era lay court scandals, family drama, and political tensions that shaped her rule. 

From her relationships with ministers and advisors to the personal tragedies that touched her family, Victoria's life reveals that even the most revered monarchs navigated a world of Intrigue, manipulation, and power struggles- showing that history's "good queen" was not immune to the chaos that surrounds authority.

Mary I of England ascended the Throne with a mission to restore Catholicism to a Kingdom divided by faith. 

Her reign became infamous for the persecution and execution of hundreds of Protestants, earning her the grim nickname "Bloody Mary."

Beyond the religious zeal, her story is one of Ambition, familial pressure, and the dangerous intersection of power and conviction. 

Mary's legacy endures as a cautionary tale of how determination, belief, and authority can collide with devastating consequences.

The tragic end of the Romanov dynasty in 1918 marked the violent close of centuries of imperial rule in Russia.

Nicholas II, Alexandra, and their children were executed by Bolshevik revolutionaries, victims of political upheaval, fear, and revolutionary zeal.

Their deaths were not just the removal of a royal family but a symbolic act that reshaped an entire nation.

The Romanov Assassinations stand as a stark reminder of how power, revolution, and human ambition can collide with catastrophic consequences.

Few names strike fear into the heart like Blackbeard. With his towering frame, wild eyes, and smoke curling from the slow-burning fuses in his beard, Edward Teach (or Thatch, depending on the tale) became the very image of a pirate king. 

He commanded not only ships but also legends, weaving terror with theater to keep enemies trembling in the mere sight of his black flag. 

But, who was the man behind the myth-the cunning strategist or the bloodthirsty monster? In this post, we dive into the life, battles, and ultimate downfall of one of history's most infamous sea rogues.

Long before pirates were romanticized in novels and films, one woman commanded the most powerful pirate fleet the world had ever seen. 

Ching Shih, a former courtesan turned commander, rose to power after her husband's death and ruled with a code so strict that even the mightiest sailors bowed to her authority.

At her height, she controlled over 300 junks and tens of thousands of pirates-outmatched entire navies sent out to stop her. 

But what set Ching Shih apart was not just her ferocity at sea, but her cunning ability to negotiate a retirement few pirates dream of

Not all pirates were born from hardship or hunger for blood—some chose the life of the sea out of pure whimsy.

Stede Bonnet, once a wealthy landowner and family man, abandoned his comfortable life in Barbados to pursue piracy, earning him the curious nickname “The Gentleman Pirate.” 

Unlike the hardened sailors he commanded, Bonnet had little experience with ships or battle, yet somehow found himself entangled with legends like Blackbeard. His tale is one of eccentric ambition, comedic blunders, and an ending as dramatic as any pirate ballad.

Among the most chilling legends to drift across the waves is that of The Flying Dutchman.

Said to be cursed for defying a storm and swearing against heaven, the phantom ship is doomed to sail the seas for eternity, never able to make port. 

Sailors whispered of its glowing masts cutting through fog, a harbinger of disaster to any who crossed its path. 

In this post, I’ll be exploring not only the legend itself but also the origins of the tale—where these ghostly stories began, and how they spread across the world’s oceans to become one of seafaring’s most enduring myths.

In the 1970s, London's Highgate Cemetery became the center of a bizarre and chilling series of events that sparked rumors of a vampire stalking the dead and the living alike.

While sensationalized by media and folklore, the story highlights the power of fear, superstition, and human imagination in shaping perceived threats.

The Vampire of Highgate Cemetary blends history, myth, and psychological fascination, showing how even modern societies can be gripped by legends that blur the line between fact and the supernatural.

In the late 18th century, Italian scientist Luigi Galvani shocked the world -literally- when his experiments with frog legs and electricity revealed how nerves and muscles respond to electric currents.

His work, which explored the mysterious boundary between life and death, sparked both scientific curiosity and public fascination with the unnatural.

Galvani's discoveries inspired legends, fear, and eventually Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, showing how the pursuit of knowledge can blur into the eerie and uncanny.

His story sits at the crossroads of science, superstition, and the human obsession of what lies beyond the grave.

In 1896, a catastrophic accident at the Paris Opera sent one of its enormous chandeliers crashing into the audience during a performance, killing a woman and leaving the city in shock.

The tragedy quickly became entwined with long-standing rumors of a phantom haunting the Opera house, blurring the line between reality and legend.

This post explores what truly happened that night, how the incident was reported at the time, and how it helped inspire one of the most iconic scenes in The Phantom of the Opera.

Between 1764 and 1767, the rural region of Gevaudan in France was terrorized by a creature said to be a monstrous wolf -or perhaps something far stranger.

Over a hundred people, mostly women and children, were killed or injured in the attacks, sending the community into a panic.

While some accounts lean into superstition and legend, at the core it is a grim true crime: innocent lives lost, fear running rampant, and authorities struggling to protect the populace.

The Beast of Gevaudan remains a haunting story of tragedy, myth, and the terrifying power of human fear.

Olaf II, later canonized as St. Olaf, was a warrior-king whose fierce determination to unite Norway under Christianity changed the course of Nordic history.

His reign was marked by battles, political upheaval, and uncompromising reforms that won him both loyalty and bitter enemies. Though celebrated as a national hero, Olaf's legacy is steeped in conflict -an era where faith, power, and the sword collided. 

His story stands at the crossroads of legend and reality, revealing the turbulent birth of a nation and the man who fought to define it.

Thyra of Denmark, often remembered as the "Pride of Denmark," stands as one of the most influential women of the Viking Age.

Renowned for her intelligence, political insight, and commanding presence, she helped fortify Denmark's defenses and shifting alliances. 

Though surrounded by sagas and legend, the real Thyra was a strategist whose choices shaped the future of a nation. 

Her story blends power, resilience, and quiet strength -proof that not all Viking legends wielded swords; some ruled with wisdom.

Erik the Red, one of the most formidable figures of the Viking Age, carved his legacy through exile, defiance, and relentless ambition.

Banished from Norway and later from Iceland for violent disputes, Erik turned misfortune into destiny by leading sellers into the icy shores of Greenland -a land he named with cunning optimism. 

His story is one of temper and tenacity, a reminder of how danger and opportunity often walked hand in hand in the Norse world. 

Half legend half formidable pioneer, Erik the Red remains a symbol of the fierce spirit that shaped the edge of the known world.

Lagertha, the fierce shieldmaiden said to be Ragnar Lothbrok's first wife, stands as one of the most captivating figures in Norse legend.

Celebrated for her courage in battle and her unwavering resolve, her story blends the thin line between myth and history.

Chronicles describe her fighting beside Ragnar, leading armies, and commanding respect in a world shaped by strength and honor. 

Whether historical or partially born of saga, Lagertha embodies the spirit of the Viking Age- a woman whose courage carved her place into the heart of Nordic lore.