10 Notorious Crime Stories of 2022
Writer of "How To Murder Your Husband" Arrested for Murder
In May, romance novelist Nancy Crampton-Brophy was convicted for murdering her husband. This story made national news because she’d previously written an online essay titled, “How To Murder Your Husband". Ultimately, the incriminating treatise wasn’t used in the trial. There was plenty of evidence without it. Prosecutors revealed that Crampton-Brophy had purchased an online kit for an untraceable gun. She also bought a Glock 17 at a gun show and a separate slide and barrel online. The novelist claimed these were research for a future book. Her van was seen driving to and from the scene of the murder. The couple was having money problems, and her husband had a significant life insurance policy. Campton-Brophy was sentenced to life in prison.
Rainbow Fentanyl Drug Bust
It was big news in mid-October when the DEA seized 300,000 multi-colored fentanyl pills in the Bronx. This bust came just a few days after another seizure of the same candy colored pills in Manhattan. The increased spread of what has been coined “rainbow fentanyl” was a huge source of concern. Just two milligrams is enough to be a lethal dose. The DEA issued a warning about the dangers of the drug and the possible targeting of young people. Having pills that resemble candy in circulation so close to Halloween had officials and parents very worried.
Art Targeted in Climate Protest
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Museums were hit with a series of art vandalizations in October. Tomato soup was hurled at Vincent van Gogh's painting "Sunflowers" in London. Protesters in Germany threw mashed potatoes at Claude Monet's "Les Meules". A demonstrator in the Netherlands tried to glue his head to Vermeer's iconic painting "Girl with a Pearl Earring''. The art sabotage was a way of bringing attention to the damage caused by the fossil fuel and oil industries. One protestor shared that they wanted people to feel outrage at seeing a brilliant piece of art damaged. They felt this was how everyone should feel about the destruction of the planet. Fortunately, all of the vandalized paintings were behind glass and not damaged by the incidents.
Officers Charged in Breonna Taylor Case
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In March 2020, seven plain clothes police officers battered down the apartment door of 26-year-old Breonna Taylor in Louisville, Kentucky. Thinking they were intruders, Taylor’s boyfriend fired, hitting one officer in the leg; they fired back 32 times, killing Taylor. Initially, Taylor’s boyfriend was charged with attempted murder! Taylor’s death sparked protests against police brutality and racism across the US. A grand jury decided not to indict the officers, but in August 2022, an FBI investigation resulted in charges against four of the officers for violating Taylor’s civil rights. In the first conviction in the case, officer Kelly Goodlett pleaded guilty to falsifying documents to obtain a search warrant, and lying to cover it up. For Taylor’s family and friends, it was the first step on the long road to justice.
Seditious Conspiracy Charges
On January 6th, 2021, Donald Trump’s false claims that the federal election had been ‘stolen’ prompted supporters to storm the U.S. Capitol Building in an attack that left five dead. Their goal was to overturn the election results and reinstall Trump as President. Key organizers and participants included neo-fascist street gang the Proud Boys, and anti-government militias the Oath Keepers and the Three Percenters. In 2022, the Department of Justice charged key members of the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers with seditious conspiracy - the most serious charge brought against those who took part in the riot. Several have been found guilty, including Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes.
Heist of the Century
In July, the driver of a Brinks security truck took a nap inside, while the other driver left to get food. While he was sleeping, someone broke the seal on the truck and cut the lock away. The thieves stole jewelry from a collection that was a part of the International Gem and Jewelry Show. Even though the receipts put the total worth at $8.7 million, the jewelry’s value may have been closer to $100 million. Due to the cost of the insurance premiums, small jewelry owners often undervalue their merchandise. If the higher price tag is true, then this could be one of the largest jewelry heists of this century.
Ghislaine Maxwell Sentenced
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Former socialite Ghislaine Maxwell was sentenced to 20 years in prison for sex trafficking in June of this year. She was part of a scheme that provided underage girls for her boyfriend Jeffrey Epstein. The case against Maxwell was one of the most prominent cases in the media. It reflected the #MeToo movement’s focus on bringing rich and powerful abusers to justice. The judge stated that Maxwell didn’t seem to take any responsibility for her own actions. Instead, she placed the blame on her boyfriend. A prosecutor in the case stated “This sentence sends a strong message that no one is above the law and it is never too late for justice."
Assassination of Shinzo Abe
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The longest serving Prime Minister in Japanese history, Shinzo Abe retired from the position in 2020. In July of 2022, while giving a speech at a political rally, Abe was shot at close range by Tetsuya Yamagami. Yamagami blamed the former prime minister for his mother’s bankruptcy. Abe had ties to the Unification Church, known for pressuring its members to donate large amounts of money. Although the shooting didn’t have much effect on the political campaign in progress, it was a huge media event. There hadn’t been a politically motivated assassination in Japan since 1960.
Paul Pelosi Attacked in Home
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In October, Canadian man David DePape broke into the home of the U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi. He had a history of mental health issues and had embraced far-right conspiracy theories such as Pizzagate, QAnon, and Donald Trump’s Big Lie about the 2020 election. Finding Nancy Pelosi’s husband Paul in bed, he demanded to know where his wife was. Pelosi managed to call 911, but when police arrived, he and DePape were fighting over a hammer. DePape attacked Pelosi before the police could restrain him, resulting in a fractured skull. DePape’s reported intention was to kidnap the House Speaker, interrogate her, and break her kneecaps if he thought she was lying. DePape faces multiple state and federal charges.
Uvalde Tragedy
On May 24, 18 year old Salvador Ramos entered Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, and fatally shot 19 students and 2 teachers. He wounded 17 others. This horrible event continued to dominate the media when it was revealed that officers waited 74 minutes before breaching the classroom. A Texas House committee report detailed multiple failures. The school didn’t follow its safety plan. The police officers abandoned their active shooter training. There was continual miscommunication between first responders. It was a response without clear leadership that resulted in chaos. The head of the Department of Public Safety called the response to the shooting an “abject failure.”
