True Crime Recaps

A fatal crash divided public opinion and raised difficult questions about intent. What did the case reveal? In 2022, 17-year-old Mackenzie Shirilla drove nearly 100 mph into a wall, killing her boyfriend and his friend. Prosecutors cited zero braking and a recorded threat; the defense cited a medical blackout. A judge convicted her of murder; she's serving life with parole eligibility in 2037.

A Netflix-linked case brings attention back to the person too often left out of the story. Who was forgotten? In 2017, Tony Parsons, a 63-year-old cyclist, was struck by a drunk driver in the Scottish Highlands; instead of calling for help, the driver and his brother hid the body in a peat bog. The case went cold for three years until the driver's fiancee secretly recorded his confession.

After a guilty verdict, Michael Marin's courtroom reaction became part of a case remembered for its final turn. In 2009, the businessman escaped his burning Phoenix mansion by rope ladder in scuba gear, days after a plan to sell the house fell through. Investigators found the fire set in four spots and his savings nearly gone. Convicted of arson in 2012, Marin died within minutes of the verdict.

A young Boy Scout took one final photo on the trail before vanishing. What clues were left behind? In 1991, 12-year-old Jared Negretti fell behind on a mountain hike and was never seen again. A massive search found fading footprints and, eight days in, his camera: eleven ordinary photos, then a close-up night selfie of his eyes. The search was called off after 16 days with nothing else found.

A mother's hidden truth led to a devastating case that exposed years of secrecy. What was she trying to protect? Sarah Barrass had secretly had all six children with her half-brother, Brandon Machin. In 2019, facing a probe threatening to expose the truth, the two killed two of the children and tried to kill the rest. One fought back and survived; both were sentenced to life, minimum 35 years.

Years of denials, new evidence, and major developments reshaped the Long Island investigation. What changed? In 2026, architect Rex Heuermann pleaded guilty to murdering seven women and admitted an eighth, killings spanning three decades near Gilgo Beach. DNA on a pizza crust, a rare paper towel, and traced burner calls built the case. He now cooperates with the FBI and will spend life in prison.