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‘Bundy Tapes’ Glamorizes Blue Eyed Serial Killer

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Coinciding with the 30 year anniversary of Ted Bundy’s execution at the Florida State Prison is the release of Netflix’s original documentary, Conversations with a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes.  While the docu-series was very enlightening and provided much unknown information to the home audience, it also produced an unanticipated reaction; a glamorization of the serial killer.

While glamorizing such felons is not a new concept, no serial killer lends himself better to this phenomena as Theodore Robert Bundy.

The blue eyed killer used his good looks and natural charm to his benefit as he lured 30+ women to their early grave.  His trusting demeanor and handsome outer shell that cloaked the darkness he hid so well beneath the surface made him the perfect celebrity criminal.

Ted Bundy

During Bundy’s trial young women would fill the bench behind him, not so secretly swooning over the accused.  Many of these women who pined after him fit the profile of his prior victims perfectly; pretty young women in their twenties, dark hair parted in the middle.  Being mere feet from a serial killer who raped, killed, ate, and even preformed necrophilia on his victims appeared to escape them, as it does many of the viewers of this new documentary.

While he sat on death row, one of the most influential pieces of media that contributed to Bundy’s portrayal as well as longevity in the public eye is the 1986 TV movie The Deliberate Stranger.  The Deliberate Stranger starred Mark Harmon, a handsome sex icon in the 80’s with bright blue eyes, just as the convicted. Many women in the audience projected Harmon onto Bundy, and the convict’s incoming mail increased dramatically.

Mark Harmon, 1986 ‘The Deliberate Stranger’

After Bundy’s execution in 1989 his celebrity status continued as he continued to be the focus of documentaries, movies, countless books, and pop culture.  Time and jokes have appeared to desensitized the public from the atrocity of Bundy’s crimes, as well as the focus away from Bundy’s crimes and emphasis on him as a fascinating specimen, even sometimes the portrayal of victim himself.

Now, 30 years later, Ted’s story has re-emerged again in another movie; Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile.  Director Joe Berlinger casted modern day heartthrob Zac Efron as the notorious killer.  As Harmon enforced the media’s fascination and rose tinted portrayal of the serial killer, Efron’s Bundy appears to be doing the same in the newly released trailer.

It’s doubtful a more handsome actor to portray the killer could have been found.  As a result a whole new generation will be introduced to the criminal from the tainted Hollywood view where he will be glamorized once again.

Zac Efron in 2019 ‘Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile’

It was said in the Netflix documentary, Ted Bundy acted as if he was sitting down for his own celebrity biography while journalist Stephen Michaud recorded him.  Three decades following Bundy’s execution it appears even in death he has achieved the fame he always sought after in life.

To read more about the Netflix documentary check out iHorror writer Piper Minear’s review here.

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Strange and Unusual

Man Arrested for Allegedly Taking a Severed Leg From Crash Site And Eating It

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A local California news station reported late last month that a man was being held in custody for allegedly taking the severed leg of a deceased train wreck victim and eating it. Be warned, this is a very disturbing and graphic story.

It happened on March 25 in Wasco, Calif. in a horrible Amtrak train accident a pedestrian was struck and killed and one of his legs was severed. 

According to KUTV a man named Resendo Tellez, 27, stole the body part from the impact site. 

A construction worker named Jose Ibarra who was an eyewitness to the theft revealed to officers one very grim detail. 

“I’m not sure from where, but he walked this way and he was waving a person’s leg. And he started chewing on it over there, he was biting it and he was hitting it against the wall and everything,” said Ibarra.

Caution, the following picture is graphic:

Resendo Tellez

Police found Tellez and he willingly went with them. He had outstanding warrants and now faces charges of stealing evidence from an active investigation.

Ibarra says Tellez walked past him with the detached limb. He describes what he saw in lurid detail, “On the leg, the skin was hanging. You could see the bone.”

The Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) police arrived on the scene to begin their own investigation.

According to a follow-up report by KGET News, Tellez was known throughout the neighborhood as homeless and non-threatening. A liquor store employee said she knew of him because he slept in a doorway near the business and was also a frequent customer.

Court records say that Tellez took the detached lower limb, “because he thought the leg was his.”

There are also reports that a video exists of the incident. It was circulating on social media, but we won’t provide it here.

The Kern County Sherriff’s office had no follow-up report as of this writing.


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News

Woman Brings Corpse Into Bank To Sign Loan Papers

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Warning: This is a disturbing story.

You have to be pretty desperate for money to do what this Brazilian woman did at the bank to get a loan. She wheeled in a fresh corpse to endorse the contract and she seemingly thought the bank employees wouldn’t notice. They did.

This weird and disturbing story comes via ScreenGeek an entertainment digital publication. They write that a woman identified as Erika de Souza Vieira Nunes pushed a man she identified as her uncle into the bank pleading with him to sign loan papers for $3,400. 

If you’re squeamish or easily triggered, be aware that the video captured of the situation is disturbing. 

Latin America’s largest commercial network, TV Globo, reported on the crime, and according to ScreenGeek this is what Nunes says in Portuguese during the attempted transaction. 

“Uncle, are you paying attention? You must sign [the loan contract]. If you don’t sign, there’s no way, as I cannot sign on your behalf!”

She then adds: “Sign so you can spare me further headaches; I can’t bear it any longer.” 

At first we thought this might be a hoax, but according to Brazilian police, the uncle, 68-year-old Paulo Roberto Braga had passed away earlier that day.

 “She attempted to feign his signature for the loan. He entered the bank already deceased,” Police Chief Fábio Luiz said in an interview with TV Globo. “Our priority is to continue investigating to identify other family members and gather more information regarding this loan.”

If convicted Nunes could be facing jail time on charges of fraud, embezzlement, and desecration of a corpse.

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Trailers

HBO’s “The Jinx – Part Two” Unveils Unseen Footage and Insights Into Robert Durst Case [Trailer]

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the jinx

HBO, in collaboration with Max, has just released the trailer for “The Jinx – Part Two,” marking the return of the network’s exploration into the enigmatic and controversial figure, Robert Durst. This six-episode docuseries is set to premiere on Sunday, April 21, at 10 p.m. ET/PT, promising to unveil new information and hidden materials that have emerged in the eight years following Durst’s high-profile arrest.

The Jinx Part Two – Official Trailer

“The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst,” the original series directed by Andrew Jarecki, captivated audiences in 2015 with its deep dive into the life of the real estate heir and the dark cloud of suspicion surrounding him in connection with several murders. The series concluded with a dramatic turn of events as Durst was apprehended for the murder of Susan Berman in Los Angeles, just hours before the final episode was broadcast.

The forthcoming series, “The Jinx – Part Two,” aims to delve deeper into the investigation and trial that unfolded in the years after Durst’s arrest. It will feature never-before-seen interviews with Durst’s associates, recorded phone calls, and interrogation footage, offering an unprecedented look into the case.

Charles Bagli, a journalist for the New York Times, shared in the trailer, “As ‘The Jinx’ aired, Bob and I spoke after every episode. He was very nervous, and I thought to myself, ‘He’s gonna run.’” This sentiment was mirrored by District Attorney John Lewin, who added, “Bob was gonna flee the country, never to return.” However, Durst did not flee, and his arrest marked a significant turning point in the case.

The series promises to showcase the depth of Durst’s expectation for loyalty from his friends while he was behind bars, despite facing serious charges. A snippet from a phone call where Durst advises, “But you don’t tell them s–t,” hints at the complex relationships and dynamics at play.

Andrew Jarecki, reflecting on the nature of Durst’s alleged crimes, stated, “You don’t kill three people over 30 years and get away with it in a vacuum.” This commentary suggests the series will explore not only the crimes themselves but the broader network of influence and complicity that may have enabled Durst’s actions.

Contributors to the series include a wide range of figures involved in the case, such as Deputy District Attorneys of Los Angeles Habib Balian, defense attorneys Dick DeGuerin and David Chesnoff, and journalists who have covered the story extensively. The inclusion of judges Susan Criss and Mark Windham, as well as jury members and friends and associates of both Durst and his victims, promises a comprehensive perspective on the proceedings.

Robert Durst himself has commented on the attention the case and the documentary have garnered, stating he is “getting his own 15 minutes [of fame], and it is gargantuan.”

“The Jinx – Part Two” is anticipated to offer an insightful continuation of Robert Durst’s story, revealing new facets of the investigation and trial that have not been seen before. It stands as a testament to the ongoing intrigue and complexity surrounding Durst’s life and the legal battles that followed his arrest.

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