The Vajont Disaster: The Dam Survived. The Town Below It Didn’t
The dam never collapsed. Nearly 2,000 people died anyway. On a clear October night in 1963, an enormous section of mountain suddenly crashed into Italy’s Vajont reservoir,…
They Were Ready to Make Him a Mafia Member. They Didn’t Know He Was FBI
The FBI sent Joe Pistone into the Mafia pretending to be a jewel thief. He was supposed to stay undercover for six months, but the operation lasted…
He Was the Face of France’s Greatest Heist. Another Man Said He Was Only an Informer
For 34 years, Albert Spaggiari was known as the mastermind behind France’s most audacious bank robbery. In 1976, thieves tunneled into a Nice bank vault and escaped…
One Man Studied 20,000-Year-Old Cave Marks—and Found a Hidden Pattern
Some of the oldest cave paintings in Europe may contain more than pictures of animals. They may contain information. Ben Bacon, a furniture conservator from London, noticed…
He Escaped Prison and Hid Inside a Toys “R” Us. The True Story Behind Roofman
A convicted robber escaped prison—and instead of disappearing into a remote hideout, he chose a place where thousands of people came and went every day: a Toys…
Brian Shaffer Entered a Columbus Bar. The Camera Never Showed Him Leave
Brian Shaffer was caught on camera at a Columbus bar in the early hours of April 1, 2006. Then the footage simply stops. The 27-year-old medical student…
He Reached North Sentinel Island. The Next Day, He Was Dead
What would make someone knowingly enter an island that the outside world has been ordered to leave alone? In November 2018, 26-year-old American missionary John Allen Chau…
He Left His Apartment at 9:30 AM. Three Hours Later, He Was Dead
On September 17, 2007, 36-year-old Stephen Spina left his apartment, apparently for a short trip before returning home. By the time his girlfriend arrived around 12:15 p.m.,…
One Woman Runs an Entire Town. She Is Also the Only Resident
A sign on a Nebraska highway points to Monowi, a real incorporated town with a population of just one. That one resident is Elsie Eiler, who stayed…
Two Sisters Were Found Dead in a Thailand Hotel Room. Then the First Autopsy Was Questioned
Two sisters went on vacation expecting sunshine, beaches and a few quiet days in Thailand. Instead, they were found dead in the same hotel room—and the first…