24 posts tagged “true crime”
This compelling compendium of stranger than fiction cases from the files of Fred Wolfson, PI, take
Whether Wolfson is tracking down missing money for Caesars Palace, outfoxing an international swindler, or breaking up a black market of stolen children, all the action is one-hundred percent true. The real bonus is that Wolfson doesn’t simply recount his adventures, but he shares the methods, both legal and otherwise, that made him the most in-demand and respected private detective of our time.
The famous names drop like quarters in a Vegas slot machine – The Rolling Stones, Roseanne Barr, Groucho Marx , Zsa Zsa Gabor, Michael Jackson, Rodney King, and the list goes on.
Wolfson’s fascinating reminiscences detail exactly how to tell when someone is lying, cheating or stealing from you. You’ll learn the tragic consequence of failing to conduct a simple background check, and how to find out the truth about anyone.
A compelling read from the first paragraph!
Fred Wolfson is not only the most famous private eye in America, he is also a frequent guest on Outlaw Radio, both on True Crimes and on Matt Alan's Outlaw Radio show. He also took many of the incredible photographs you find on the Outlaw Radio site.
Now, for the first time, cases culled from his files are available for instant download for your Kindle!
Price? $1.99
If you don't have Kindle, get it. Then download....
“Secrets of a Hollywood Private Eye”
with Burl Barer
Secrets of a Hollywood Private Eye is a white-hot, page turner expose of cheating spouses, greedy conmen, easily duped superstars, jealous directors, kidnapped children, and every type of civil and criminal caper imaginable in a town known for tinsel and glitter.
This compelling compendium of stranger than fiction cases from the files of Fred Wolfson, PI, take him not only to the exclusive Bel Air and Beverly Hills haunts of the rich and famous, but also to the hooker strewn street corners of seedy Hollywood Blvd, criminal hideouts in South America, and terrorist investigations in Saudi Arabia.
Whether Wolfson is tracking down missing money for Caesars Palace, outfoxing an international swindler, or breaking up a black market of stolen children, all the action is one-hundred percent true. The real bonus is that Wolfson doesn’t simply recount his adventures, but he shares the methods, both legal and otherwise, that made him the most in-demand and respected private detective of our time.
The famous names drop like quarters in a Vegas slot machine – The Rolling Stones, Roseanne Barr, Groucho Marx , Zsa Zsa Gabor, Michael Jackson, Rodney King, and the list goes on.
Wolfson’s fascinating reminiscences detail exactly how to tell when someone is lying, cheating or stealing from you. You’ll learn the tragic consequence of failing to conduct a simple background check, how to find out the truth about anyone, and most intriguing of all, how Fred Wolfson “hired himself” to get back millions of dollars that was stolen from him by someone he loved and trusted; someone who thought they had the perfect plan, but they didn’t plan on Fred Wolfson living long enough to bring them to justice.
Although the gender of the new human is as yet unknown, Emma Mitchell has selected a name for this new model in the Mitchell line of exemplary human life forms. The advertising campaign for the 2010 Mitchell Hummingbird is not yet developed, but we anticipate a formal announcement the moment the Hummingbird leaves the factory.
Mom Said Kill... and unfortunately the kids obeyed
Written: Mar 02 '09 (Updated Mar 04 '09)
Product Rating:
Pros: Well written, well researched, photos...
Cons: Made me feel uneasy. Incredibly tragic case.
The Bottom Line: Parenthood is a powerful thing. I just wish every parent had their children's best interests at heart.
knotheadusc's Full Review: Burl Barer - Mom Said Kill
In 2001, Barbara Opel and her kids, 13 year old Heather, 11 year old Derek, and 7 year old Tiffany, were living with Jerry Heimann, a generous, kind-hearted man who had needed help taking care of his 89 year old mother, Evelyn. Jerry Heimann was managing the pain of his terminal cancer and his wheelchair-bound mother was suffering from Alzheimer's disease.
Barbara Opel's weapons: her kids and her temper
Heather Opel was an attractive girl. Naturally athletic and a good student, she seemed to have a good future ahead of her, even though her mother had a reputation for being "mean". Heather and her brother, Derek, had been denied access to their father, William Opel, ever since their parents divorced in 1991. Their sister, Tiffany, was the product of another relationship.
Heather was involved in sports, which her mother always attended. She was widely known among the other parents, kids, and the coach as having a "hell of a temper". Evidently, Heather Opel had learned at an early age never to question her mother under any circumstances, lest she suffer dire consequences. And yet, despite her allegedly fearsome temper, Barbara Opel had more teenaged friends than adult friends.
Building up to murder
On April 7, 2001, Marriam Oliver, one of Heather's friends, approached 17 year old Jeff Grote at a skating rink and told him that Heather thought he was cute. The next day, Heather Opel and Jeff Grote had sex in Derek Opel's bedroom. When they were finished, Barbara Opel gave Jeff permission to spend the night with Heather. A couple of days later, Barbara finally sat down with Jeff to have a serious chat, but she didn't want to talk about the consequences of having unprotected sex. Instead, Barbara Opel proposed murder. She wanted Jeff's help in killing her employer, Jerry Heimann, claiming that he had been cruel to Heather.
At first, Jeff Grote refused any part of Barbara Opel's plan, but the ever persistant woman kept nagging him, demanding that he find someone to carry out the deed. She offered him cash and a new car, and told him that after they killed Heimann, they could get their hands on the $40,000 in his bank account. For Heather's help in the murder, Barbara Opel promised a new bike.
Jeff Grote came through with a few friends and on April 13, 2001, Barbara Opel's gang of teens and pre-teens savagely attacked Jerry Heimann with knives and baseball bats. Once Heimann was dead, they doused his body with corrosive acid and dumped it. Seven year old Tiffany helped her mother in her unsuccessful attempt to clean up the mess. They took Heimann's furniture and helped themselves to his checkbook. They left Heimann's mother in her wheelchair, where she sat alone without food, water, or heat. Evelyn Heimann's grandson, Gregory Heimann, found her eight days later, starving and dehydrated. He had shown up at the house looking for his father, who was supposed to meet him at the airport. It was to have been their first visit in five years.
My thoughts
Mom Said Kill is a very well written and researched account of a shockingly brutal murder. Of course, what makes this case more shocking than most is that it was perpetrated by children. Besides her daughter, Heather, and Jeff Grote, Barbara Opel managed to get several other young teenagers involved in the crime. Most of the teens, including Heather, ended up being tried as adults for the murder and will now spend many years in prison for following Barbara's orders. Thankfully, Barbara Opel is also now forever behind bars.
Burl Barer does a good job explaining the case. He also adds in some interesting commentary about brain development in adolescents and teenagers, pointing out that teenagers are not able to think as adults do and see the consequences of their behavior. For example, Barer explains that a fourteen year old may not have the capacity to understand what it means to spend twenty-five years in prison, nor may they understand what "the right to remain silent" actually means. Aside from his account of this case, Barer also explains how traumatic brain injuries and alcohol abuse during pregnancy and before adulthood can affect brain development. Sixteen pages of black and white photos are included.
Barbara Opel was, by Barer's account, also a victim of child abuse. Besides having been raised in an abusive environment, Barbara's mother apparently drank a lot of alcohol during her pregnancy and had worked in a dry cleaning store, which exposed her to chemicals that may have affected Barbara's brain development before she was born. Even as Barer demonstrates how horrible Barbara Opel's crimes are, he also shows how she, too, was a product of the cycle of abuse. Nevertheless, while I could understand feeling some slight empathy toward Barbara Opel, my overwhelming reaction to this story was disgust and sorrow, for the senseless way Jerry Heimann died, for the grief his survivors have been forced to endure, and for the children, most of whom had no criminal record before the murder took place.
One additional personal note...
I have to admit that reading Mom Said Kill made me very uncomfortable. My husband was once married to a woman who, in many ways, reminds me of Barbara Opel. Reading this book made me feel some compassion toward my husband's two daughters, neither of whom have spoken to him in years after disowning him at their mother's behest. This book reminded me that many teenagers, particularly younger ones, just aren't capable of thinking as rationally as adults are. Part of being a teen is making stupid mistakes, which may include challenging authority when it's unwise to do so or not knowing when to question authority. On the other hand, this book also shows what can happen when the cycle of child abuse and neglect isn't broken. And that's why, besides compassion toward my husband's kids, I also feel uneasy about their futures.
Anyway... I wholeheartedly recommend this book to true crime fans.
Listen live Saturday 2pm PST by clicking this link!
Stephanie Angelo, SPHR
Stephanie Angelo, SPHR is an award winning specialist in working with companies to resolve domestic violence's hidden costs to employers. She consults with executives and managers to improve performance, productivity and profitability by implementing a total solution package.
Stephanie's expertise lies in addressing employee issues as a financial line item and creating positive organizational change.
Her
process is an in-depth, comprehensive workplace initiative with long
term results. It includes on-going consulting and interaction for
sustainable change.
Stephanie has presented on a national level to organizations, associations and conferences, primarily to Executive and Human Resource audiences. Previous conferences include Colorado Association for Victims Assistance, Society for Human Resource Manangement (several states), International Facilities Management Association, and Employee Assistance Program Providers Association.
Stephanie has written, or been interviewed for, numerous articles and makes frequent television appearances. Her book, Bringing the Darkness into the Light
is filled with stories, safety information, and valuable resources.
This book is frequently purchased in bulk by client organizations to
provide an added resource for employees and conference attendees.
Stephanie has a bachelor’s degree in business management from the University of Phoenix. She’s a Development Dimensions International certified instructor, and holds the Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) designation from the Human Resources Certification Institute. Two of her programs are preapproved for recertification units for HR professionals.
Stephanie is a member of the National Speakers Association, a past Board Member of National Speaker’s Association- Arizona, is a member of the editorial committee for Speaker magazine and is a member of Society for Human Resource Management. She recently chaired two Phoenix-area domestic violence commissions. Her company, Human Resource Essential, LLC, is listed on the Family Violence Prevention Fund’s web site as a National Workplace Resource.
Nominated for the local NAFE affiliate Impact for Enterprising
Women's 2004 Celebration of Success Award, the 2004 Chandler Chamber of
Commerce Community Award, the 2007 Arizona Woman Golden Heart of
Business Award and the 2008 Phoenix Chamber of Commerce IMPACT award.
In 2008 Human Resource Essential Received the Best of Tempe Award by the U.S. Local Business Association (USBLA).
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Listen live Saturday 2pm PST by clicking this link!
Stephanie Angelo, SPHR
Stephanie Angelo, SPHR is an award winning specialist in working with companies to resolve domestic violence's hidden costs to employers. She consults with executives and managers to improve performance, productivity and profitability by implementing a total solution package.
Stephanie's expertise lies in addressing employee issues as a financial line item and creating positive organizational change.
Her
process is an in-depth, comprehensive workplace initiative with long
term results. It includes on-going consulting and interaction for
sustainable change.
Stephanie has presented on a national level to organizations, associations and conferences, primarily to Executive and Human Resource audiences. Previous conferences include Colorado Association for Victims Assistance, Society for Human Resource Manangement (several states), International Facilities Management Association, and Employee Assistance Program Providers Association.
Stephanie has written, or been interviewed for, numerous articles and makes frequent television appearances. Her book, Bringing the Darkness into the Light
is filled with stories, safety information, and valuable resources.
This book is frequently purchased in bulk by client organizations to
provide an added resource for employees and conference attendees.
Stephanie has a bachelor’s degree in business management from the University of Phoenix. She’s a Development Dimensions International certified instructor, and holds the Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) designation from the Human Resources Certification Institute. Two of her programs are preapproved for recertification units for HR professionals.
Stephanie is a member of the National Speakers Association, a past Board Member of National Speaker’s Association- Arizona, is a member of the editorial committee for Speaker magazine and is a member of Society for Human Resource Management. She recently chaired two Phoenix-area domestic violence commissions. Her company, Human Resource Essential, LLC, is listed on the Family Violence Prevention Fund’s web site as a National Workplace Resource.
Nominated for the local NAFE affiliate Impact for Enterprising
Women's 2004 Celebration of Success Award, the 2004 Chandler Chamber of
Commerce Community Award, the 2007 Arizona Woman Golden Heart of
Business Award and the 2008 Phoenix Chamber of Commerce IMPACT award.
In 2008 Human Resource Essential Received the Best of Tempe Award by the U.S. Local Business Association (USBLA).
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