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5 Hyped Up Cubs Prospects That Didn’t Pan Out

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Baseball franchises are often building toward the future more than any other sport. Players are signed in their teenage years and come up through a club’s farm system hoping they’ll be staples of the Major League roster for at least a decade. As such, there are some prospects that front office members and fans get excited about, but it doesn’t always work.

Every franchise goes through the experience of putting all of its eggs into a prospect’s basket, only to have injuries or skill regression ruin its plans for years. The Cubs are no exception, and there have been plenty of instances in which a prospect just didn’t work out for the franchise. Here are five of those hyped-up Cubs prospects that simply didn’t pan out.

5. Corey Patterson

Corey Patterson was essentially supposed to be what Mike Trout ended up becoming for the Los Angeles Angels. Patterson was considered a gifted five-tool prospect that had speed, power, could hit for contact, and had a cannon for an arm. Patterson was selected third overall by the Cubs in the 1998 MLB Draft, and made his MLB debut two years later.

For a while there, it looked like Patterson was going to be the real deal. As he started to get more comfortable at the MLB level, he had solid performances in 2003 and 2004. However, Patterson fell off hard in 2005 and was demoted to AAA. Patterson then bounced around the league for several years, playing his final game in 2011.

4. Ty Griffin

Second baseman Ty Griffin wasn’t the top prospect in the 1988 MLB Draft, but he quickly impressed as a Minor Leaguer after being taken ninth overall by the Cubs. Griffin became one of the most heralded prospects in the Minors, with high hopes that he could eventually replace Ryne Sandberg.

Instead, Griffin never cracked the Major League roster…for any team. Griffin topped out at AA, spending his entire 20s playing Minor League and independent baseball. He last played in 1997 with Grand Forks in the Prairie League. The Reds and Cardinals tried to salvage what they could with their Minor League systems, but it was too late.

3. Mark Prior

Mark Prior is the ultimate “what might have been” story in Major League Baseball. Drafted second overall in the 2001 MLB Draft behind only Joe Mauer, Prior was considered to be the top pitching prospect in years. He made his debut the following May, and he didn’t disappoint in his first two seasons.

Prior’s numbers as a Major Leaguer are respectable, with a 42-29 record and a 3.51 earned run average. Those numbers would be much better if it weren’t for his injuries that mounted up, especially in the 2006 season that caused him to have his worst season by far. That also happened to be his final season, as those injuries kept him off the mound for good.

2. Felix Pie

A lot of people felt the same way about Felix Pie as they did with Corey Patterson, except Patterson at least showed some signs of being a five-tool player that would stick around forever. Not many wound up getting that impression of Felix Pie, unfortunately. He came from the Dominican Republic with high hopes, and made his MLB debut in 2007.

Pie played in just 130 games for the Cubs over two seasons and batted .223 with just three home runs. The Cubs shipped him off to Baltimore where he played for three seasons before wrapping up with the Pirates in 2013. Pie hit just .246 in his career with 17 home runs.

1. Josh Vitters

The Cubs’ window was open for a World Series run in the late 2000s, but many of the key players were getting on the wrong side of 30. A rebuild was soon to be in order, and third baseman Josh Vitters was supposed to be the cornerstone. Vitters was drafted third overall in 2007 behind David Price and Mike Moustakas but didn’t make any waves at the MLB level.

Vitters played in just 36 Major League games, all with the Cubs in 2012, five years after he had been drafted. Vitters batted just .121 in those games and returned to the Minor Leagues before being released in 2014. Vitters then left the MLB system altogether and played with various semi-pro teams before retiring from the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball in 2021 after batting .157 with zero home runs.

5 Greatest Chicago Bears Linebackers Of All Time

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It seems that every franchise has one position that they’re known for. The Green Bay Packers have quarterbacks, the Dallas Cowboys have offensive linemen, and the Chicago Bears have linebackers. Dating back to even before the “Monsters of the Midway” days, the Bears have always been known for having hardnose linebackers.

Along the way, several linebackers have made the Pro Football Hall of Fame as members of the Bears. But which ones truly stand out as the best of the best? It was tough to narrow it down to just five, but most would agree that these five men are the best linebackers in the storied history of the Chicago Bears franchise.

Honorable Mentions: Lance Briggs, Wilber Marshall, Khalil Mack, Doug Buffone, Otis Wilson, Ron Rivera, Roquan Smith.

5. Joe Fortunato

Joe Fortunato spent his entire NFL career with the Chicago Bears, playing for just over a decade between the 1950s and 1960s. Fortunato was a seventh-round pick that attended both VMI and Mississippi State and ended up playing well above his draft position. Fortunato was a Pro Bowl selection five times, as well as a four-time All-Pro from 1962 to 1965.

Still at the top of his game in 1967, Fortunato suffered an unfortunate knee injury that ended his career early. Somehow, Fortunato was not inducted into the Hall of Fame despite his accolades, which included being named to the 1950s All-Decade Team. He went on to become an assistant coach with the Bears following his playing career before leaving football in 1969. 

4. Bill George

Joe Fortunato wasn’t the only great linebacker for the Bears during the 1950s and 1960s. Bill George was also an all-time great, sharing the same defense. George was a second-round selection out of Wake Forest in 1951 and played almost every one of his 15 seasons with the Bears (he finished in 1966 with the Rams).

During that time, George helped the Bears win the NFL Championship while also being named to the Pro Bowl and First-Team All-Pro squad eight times. He was named with Fortunato to the All-Decade Team of the 1950s, except George was enshrined in Canton as part of the 1974 class and had his number 61 retired by the Bears.

3. Brian Urlacher

There’s only one linebacker on the list that played after 1992, and that’s Brian Urlacher. The modern-era pick of the list, Urlacher was drafted out of New Mexico with the ninth overall selection at the 2000 NFL Draft by the Bears and became the Rookie of the Year. Urlacher went on to be the Defensive Player of the Year five years later and was a five-time All-Pro.

Urlacher was an easy selection for the 2000s All-Decade Team for voters, and he finished his 13-season career (all with the Bears) with 1,361 tackles, 41.5 sacks, and 22 interceptions. 

2. Mike Singletary

Some younger NFL fans might only know “Samurai” from his coaching days, Mike Singletary was a force as a linebacker for the Bears during almost the entirety of the 1980s. Singletary was an early second-round pick from Baylor, hopping from one Bears team to another in 1981. Singletary made the All-Rookie Team and was one of the decade’s top linebackers alongside the likes of Lawrence Taylor.

Singletary won the NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award twice and was named to eight All-Pro Teams thanks to his 1,4899 career tackles and 19 sacks. The 1990 NFL Man of the Year was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1998, three years after he was enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame.

1. Dick Butkus

Of course, nobody embodies Chicago Bears football quite like Dick Butkus, and many consider him to be the greatest linebacker of all time, period. Butkus was the third overall pick, and the Chicago native got to stay home and spend his entire career with the Bears which spanned from 1965 to 1973.

During that time, Butkus was an All-Pro in every season except his final one and made two different All-Decade Teams. The Bears obviously have retired Butkus’ number 51, and he became one of the faces of the league for many years. In 1979, he was rightfully inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

5 Best NHL Venues That Were Shut Down

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There was a time in sports when a stadium would be in use for more than half a century. Now, it seems that these days, sporting venues are demolished or left to rot after just a couple of decades. Hockey is no exception as teams move into billion-dollar complexes in their cities, leaving their old historic barns behind.

Over the years, there have been some amazing venues that closed their doors for the final time, with most of them being demolished in favor of either a new arena or an entirely different project. This has meant that some classic arenas are long gone, but that doesn’t mean we don’t miss them. Here are the five best NHL venues that were shut down, what made them great, and what happened to them.

5. Boston Garden

While New York City has Madison Square Garden, Boston got their own version with what was then known as Boston Madison Square Garden. Not only that but the venue was built with boxing in mind, so it was interesting that it became such a beloved home of the Bruins and Celtics. The Bruins called Boston Garden home from 1928 to 1995, and while it had its flaws with the benches and penalty boxes, it had a lot of character.

The Bruins and Celtics moved to the TD Garden while the old Boston Garden was torn down. The lot was put to good use, though, as it is now a commercial hub that has some of Boston’s tallest buildings. 

4. Chicago Stadium

On West Madison Street in Chicago, you could find the old Chicago Stadium that was truly the original Madhouse on Madison. Opened in 1929, the Chicago Blackhawks moved their operations to the new building after starting off the franchise at the Chicago Coliseum. Chicago Stadium was known for having an analog game clock longer than any other team, switching to digital in 1975.

The Blackhawks and Bulls headed down the street to the new United Center while Chicago Stadium was torn down in March 1995 it now simply serves as a parking lot for the UC with a commemorative plaque. As for the center of the basketball court, Michael Jordan has it in his house.

3. Maple Leaf Gardens

There are only two buildings that didn’t get demolished on the list, and the first one is known as The Church of Hockey for good reason. Maple Leaf Gardens was first opened in 1931 after the Toronto Maple Leafs had been playing at Arena Gardens and needed a new building to house their fans with the NHL surging in popularity. The stadium was home to the Leafs until 1999 and became a Mecca for hockey fans.

After nobody was really sure what to do with MLG for a few years, it was purchased and turned into a multi-purpose facility that includes a shopping center. Much of the hockey history is still preserved in the building, as well, including the center faceoff dot.

2. Detroit Olympia

The Detroit Red Wings used to call one of the most unique-looking buildings in the NHL their home from 1927 until 1979, and at the time of its opening, it was one of the largest indoor venues in all of sports. The Olympia had a capacity of 15,000 Red Wings fans while playing host to the biggest concerts in the Motor City. The neighborhood surrounding it had become rundown, though, prompting the Wings to move.

The Red Wings headed to the Joe Louis Arena downtown next to Cobo Hall before it was demolished, leaving the Olympia on its own. The Olympia would be torn down in 1986, while the Red Wings moved to Little Caesars Arena near midtown in 2017.

1. Montreal Forum

The final arena on the list is the only other one beside Maple Leaf Gardens to not be demolished. The Montreal Forum opened in 1924 and was originally home to the Montreal Maroons of the NHL before the Canadiens also joined in 1926. The Canadiens, obviously, would last longer and play at the Forum until 1996. The Forum was a beloved arena that was expanded and renovated until the Habs looked for a new building.

The Montreal Forum has had a massive interior renovation, while the exterior mostly remains the same. The building remains as a movie theater that’s owned and operated by AMC while the Canadiens moved to the Bell Centre (or still Molson Centre to some) where they continue to play to this day.

5 Most Valuable Football Trading Cards Ever

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While baseball might get most of the love in terms of trading card popularity, the other sports of the world certainly have their fair share of valuable cards, and that includes soccer. Over the years, there have been some cards that are worth hundreds of thousands to collectors at auction. From current players to former legends, there are some cards that are incredibly rare and worth a small fortune.

Which cards are the most expensive, though? There were some cards that have sold for $10,000, $25,000, or even $50,000 that didn’t quite make the cut. Instead, we want to focus on just the cream of the crop and highlight the five most valuable soccer trading cards ever sold. For this list, we used just the top-selling card for a single player.

5. Kylian Mbappe ($161,130)

Kylian Mbappe came up through the French soccer ranks quickly, earning himself a spot on the 2018 World Cup team at just 19 years old. During that World Cup in Russia, there were multiple cards made of Mbappe, with the most rare being the Panini Prizm Gold.

There have been a few of these that made their way to auction, though it was hard to find one that was in perfect condition. One of the near-mint copies of the card sold for $161,130 with an 8.5 grade, showing just how rare the card was upon release.

4. Cristiano Ronaldo ($312,000)

Cristiano Ronaldo may be a mainstream megastar across the world, but one time he was just a kid trying to play soccer. His rookie card released as part of the 2003 Panini Sports Mega Cracks (or Craques) collection featured a much different-looking Ronaldo playing for Sporting Clube de Portugal as a teenager.

The Portuguese forward would end up becoming a star with Manchester United and Real Madrid, boosting the value of his rookie card. Someone was able to keep it in mint condition, and the card was sold at auction for $312,000 while other copies of the card in similar condition have sold for slightly lower.

3. Lionel Messi ($336,000)

Lionel Messi has been named the best player in the world as the Ballon d’Or winner six times, cementing himself as one of the greatest legends in soccer history. In terms of cards that were made for Messi, you have to go back to the 2004 Panini Sports Mega Cracks collection to find his rookie card. In near-mint condition, this card is worth $7,000.

One of the cards, though, was kept in pristine condition and was sold for $336,000. Previous high-graded Messi cards had been evaluated at around $250,000. To see one in the shape that this particular one was in, though, had been extremely rare as he was never expected to become what he was.

2. Pele ($372,000)

If you were to ask the most casual fan of soccer to name a player before the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi came along, there’s a solid chance that they would have said Pele. The Brazilian star helped bring soccer to countries where it wasn’t quite as popular before, and he’s considered the sport’s all-time biggest legend.

His rookie card dates back all the way to 1958 and was created by Alifabolaget. It’s a very unassuming card as it simply has Pele’s photo with a white bar featuring his name in light blue lettering at the bottom. It might be simplistic, but the Pele rookie card was sold for $372,000 at a 2021 auction.

1. Erling Haaland ($432,000)

While the other cards on the list were for players that have either long since retired or were in the back half of their legendary careers when their cards sold, Erling Haaland is a case of someone trying to plan ahead. The Norwegian star made his senior debut in 2019, and he quickly showed why he was one of the fastest-rising players in the sport.

His rookie card in 2019 for Topps was kept by one owner in perfect condition as Haaland played in the German Bundesliga, and it was even autographed by the star. Two years later, the card was placed for auction by Goldin Co. and sold for a whopping $432,000. Time will tell if the card will end up being worth that much, but Haaland made it look like a sound investment for the buyer almost immediately.

Which Superhero Sells The Most Comics?

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One of the most common arguments that you’ll ever hear in public is about who the greatest superhero of all time is. There are plenty of reasons for one person to back a certain superhero, whether it be their powers, their ability to hide their alter ego, their backstory, you name it. Very few things are tangible when talking about a superhero’s overall greatness, but you could bring up how popular their media are.

Of course, the medium that introduced all of these great superheroes is the comic book. Throughout comic book history, there are a handful of superheroes that stand out well above the rest of the field in terms of overall popularity. Let’s take a look at the superheroes and see which one has sold the best on comic book shelves.

X-Men

It might feel like cheating to use the X-Men since there are several main characters instead of just one, but it’s hard to deny that they’re so synonymous with being a team that they’re all one entity in the public eye. 

Stan Lee and Jack Kirby released their first X-Men comic book in 1963, and around 12,000 new issues have been made ever since with total sales of 210 million, or about 21,600 on average. X-Men #1 (1991) is the best-selling comic book of all time with over 8 million copies.

Captain America

Surprisingly, Captain America doesn’t have nearly as many issues as some of the big boys on the list, but there have still been 9,000 issues featuring him as the main character. 

The Joe Simon and Jack Kirby creation first hit shelves in 1941 during World War II, and have sold 210 million copies since its inception. That’s good for more than 23,300 copies sold of each issue. The debut issue had a mint condition copy that has sold for over $3 million multiple times, as well.

Spawn

Spawn is a bit of a surprise entrant since the Todd McFarlane creation has had a tiny number of issues when stacked against the rest of the comic books on the list. First introduced in 1992, Spawn has had just around 600 issues but has been able to sell 150 million copies worldwide. 

The exclusivity has been part of the appeal, which means that around a quarter million copies of each comic featuring Spawn have been sold. King Spawn #1 alone sold nearly half a million copies. Like the others, Spawn also received a movie adaptation, earning around $88 million at the box office.

Batman

Now we get into the “big three” starting with the Dark Knight himself. Batman has been around since 1939 when he was introduced in the 27th issue of the Detective Comics series and has been a mainstay of pop culture ever since. 

There have been over 17,000 issues of Batman, including the best-selling Batman: The 10-Cent Adventure which reached over 700,000 copies sold. On average, Batman comics sell over 28,400 copies to the tune of 484 million.

Spider-Man

The world’s favorite web-slinger might not have as many issues sold as Batman over the years, but he also came onto the scene a quarter-century afterward. Spider-Man was introduced by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko in 1963, and quickly became a massive hit with audiences. 

Over 13,500 issues, Spider-Man comics have sold 387 million copies, which is slightly above Batman’s average. The first edition of Ultimate Spider-Man was a best-seller with over 631,000 copies sold. If you want to give Spider-Man a bump in your ‘popularity’ argument, he is the highest-grossing standalone film superhero.

Superman

Spawn may be an outlier when it comes to average copies sold of each issue, but when it comes to the average sales at a large volume, nobody comes close to Superman. The oldest superhero on the list, Superman was introduced the year prior to Batman (1938) by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, giving DC Comics their first iconic character. 

Since then, there have been around 15,000 issues of Superman comics and sales of over 600 million, meaning that the average Superman comic sells 40,000 copies. The best-selling Superman comic came in 2018 when the landmark Detective Comics #1000 was released with Superman front and center, celebrating his 80th anniversary.

How The Odds On Favorite Performed At Each World Cup

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Every four years, the World Cup captures every nation’s attention whether their team is participating or not. Heading into each World Cup, there are usually one or two teams that are expected to meet up in the finals, but it doesn’t always go that way. Here’s a look at who the favorite to win was for each World Cup and how they ended up finishing since odds were introduced for the first time in 1978:

1978 (Argentina)

There have been six countries that have won the World Cup while hosting, and Argentina did it in their only hosting duty in 1978. The country came in as a 2:1 favorite in the betting odds, taking down the Netherlands in the finals 3-1, with the Dutch having a solid 5:1 odds, as well.

1982 (Brazil): 

Spain hosted the 1982 World Cup, which turned out ot be one of the most exciting tournaments of all time. Brazil had been a runaway favorite to win it all, and made it to the second round before being taken out by Italy, who would go on to win the title over West Germany.

1986 (Brazil):

Once again, Brazil was favored to win the World Cup as it came to Mexico in 1986, but Argentina would end up winning their second title in three World Cups. It wasn’t as if Argentina was a longshot, though, as they were second in odds at 4:1 compared to Brazil’s 11:4.

1990 (Italy): 

There were a few teams that were expected to compete for the title at the 1990 World Cup in Italy, with the home country getting a slight boost to become the favorites due to playing at home. However, they would be knocked out in the semifinals by Argentina. Italy would win the third place game against England while Argentina lost to West Germany in the title game.

1994 (Brazil and Germany): 

The United States played home to the 1994 World Cup, and bettors were torn between Brazil and Germany as the co-7:2 favorites. Italy and Holland weren’t far behind, but the Germany didn’t even make the semifinals. Brazil did, though, and won the World Cup by defeating Italy in the championship.

1998 (Brazil): 

There’s a common theme of Brazil being favored, and 1998 was no exception when the event was held in France. Brazil did indeed end up making to the finals where they took on the host country who had the second best odds. France would prevail as the winner in front of their home crowd.

2002 (France): 

Argentina was favored to win the World Cup in 2002 before the groups were announced, but France became the favorite to repeat prior to the tournament that took place in South Korea and Japan. However, France didn’t even make it to the knockout stage as they went 0-1-2 and had to watch Denmark and Senegal advance.

2006 (Brazil): 

Despite Germany hosting the 2006 World Cup, the Brazilians came into the event as favorites and disappointed with their performance. Brazil made it to the knockout stage, but were ousted by France in the quarterfinals, with Italy defeating the French in the championship via shootout.

2010 (Spain): 

For the first time, Spain was favored to win the World Cup in the first time that South Africa played host. The Spainiards lived up to the hype as they defeated Portugal, Spain, Germany, and the Netherlands in the knockout stage to win the World Cup.

2014 (Brazil): 

Brazil got to host the 2014 World Cup, and thus came into the event as the overwhelming favorites, and their exit from the tournament is one of the most memorable matches in World Cup history. Germany defeated Argentina in the finals, but not before they dismantled Brazil 7-1 in the semis in Belo Horizonte. The Brazilians then turned around and got shutout 3-0 by the Netherlands in the third place game.

2018 (Brazil): 

Surely Brazil would correct the ship and get their redemption in Russia in 2018, right? Not only did they not win the 2018 World Cup, but they didn’t even advance as far as the favorite, getting knocked out in the quarterfinals by Belgium. France, the fourth-highest favorite, would end up beating 33:1 underdog Croatia in the finals.

2022 (Brazil):

The 2022 World Cup proved to be anybody’s to win, but Brazil was considered the favorite at 9:2 to win it all. Brazil coasted into the knockout stage, but was eliminated in the quarterfinals by Croatia when the two squads went to a shootout.

5 Missing People Who Were Mysteriously Found Many Years Later

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When a person goes missing, the search tends to begin immediately as we all want to make sure that they’re found safe before it’s too late. Massive gatherings of people can even occur, looking for those that were reported lost.  

While most are thankfully found within a day or two, there are still many that go missing for long periods of time. The more time that passes, the less likely it is that these people are found. Here are five cases, though, in which a missing person was mysteriously found many years after their disappearance.

The Ariel Castro Kidnappings

Three girls in Cleveland, Ohio were kidnapped in the early 2000s by Ariel Castro and held captive for more than a decade. The three girls (Michelle Knight, Amanda Berry, and Gina DeJesus) ranged from 14 to 21 years old at the time that they went missing, and it wasn’t until 2013 that the three were found, with Knight being the oldest and in her 30s.

Each girl was featured on television as a missing person who had not been confirmed to be dead or alive, and their escape made global headlines. Berry had made her way through one security door that Castro forgot to leave unlocked, and yelled at neighbors through a window to get their attention. The police were called in and rescued the three women and the daughter that Berry had given birth to while being held captive.

Oscar Tulio Lizcano

If a politician were to suddenly go missing in the United States, it would likely be talked about nonstop until that person is found. In Colombia, however, it seemed to be a minor story until the conclusion came about. Oscar Tulio Lizcano was a congressman for the Colombia Conservative Party and an economist that was kidnapped in 2000.

Presumed dead, Lizcano turned up eight years later and suffering from malaria when he was found. It turned out that Lizcano had been kidnapped by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia and was held in several guerrilla camps. The economist was able to celebrate his freedom upon being rescued.

Margie Profet

Sometimes, missing people don’t actually know that they’re considered missing. That was the case for Margie Profet, a biologist that attended Cal and Harvard while writing several successful books in the 1990s. During the early 2000s, though, she had cut off contact from her family and in 2005 she was reported as missing.

Prophet had gone into isolation and was suffering from severe pain in Massachusetts, and it wasn’t until 2012 that a friend of hers told Profet that she was listed as a missing person. Profet was found in Boston and reunited with her family days later in one of the most notable cases of a found person in the 21st century.

John Darwin

In rare cases, a missing person ends up being charged with a criminal case. That was what happened with John Darwin of England. Once a teacher and prison officer, Darwin and his wife Anne faked his death in a canoeing accident so that they could collect his life insurance policy that would be around $250,000.

Darwin wasn’t declared dead, though, and was considered a missing person as his body was never discovered. The couple used the money to pay off their house and go on vacations, Darwin didn’t move to another country to hide out, and instead hid out in his own house and the house next door. Eventually, the scam was discovered and the Darwins were each sentenced to six years in prison.

Harold Wayne Lovell

Serial killer John Wayne Gacy was one of the most notorious killers in American history, and many assumed that his pool cleaner Harold Wayne Lovell was among the victims. After all, Lovell cut off all communication when he was 19 and his family thought Wacy had taken his life.

Instead, Lovell only worked for Gacy for a couple of days and didn’t have much interaction with the killer. He moved down to Florida after getting into an argument with his family, and they were reunited in 2011. Lovell worked odd jobs in landscaping and construction during those years, too, but was just living off the grid.

5 Murder Cases That Were Solved By Citizens

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Whenever a murder case arises, we leave it to law enforcement to crack the case and find out who was responsible. However, there are some cases that stump even the most trained professionals, and cases can go cold for years and decades. However, some interested parties have done some sleuthing on their own time to solve some of the hardest murder cases over the years, leading to answered questions and peace of mind. Here are five murder cases that were solve by citizens instead of law enforcement.

Dana Lynn Dodd

On the night of October 29th, 2006 in Kilgore Texas, a pair of strangers walking down the street discovered the fiery remains of Dana Lynn Dodd. She had been recently murdered and her body set ablaze in the woods. At first, investigators had no leads and no clue who this Jane Doe could be. 

She was affectionately named Lavender Doe due to the color of her shirt when found. It took twelve years and extensive digging online for three civilian sleuths Lori Gaff, Kevin Lord, and Missy Koski to uncover her true identity. Eventually, the murderer, Joseph Wayne’s Burnette, confessed to the killing as well as the murder of another woman who was living with him at the time. He was charged and convicted, set to serve three consecutive 50-year sentences. Through this tragedy, the DNA Doe Project was founded. 

Gregory May

In 2001 a man named Gregory May suddenly vanished from his Iowa apartment he shared with his friend Douglas DeBruin and DeBruin’s girlfriend Julie. After May went missing, his beloved artifacts and rare antique collector’s items had been popping up at different locations with May nowhere to be found. 

That same year a man’s skull was found decapitated and buried in a solidified bucket of concrete at a truck stop in Missouri. In 2005 an internet sleuth named Ellen Leach, who made it a hobby to crack cold cases, matched a picture of the still-missing May with the reconstructed head model of the severed head found by the truck stop. The break in the case led to DeBruin being apprehended by police after he fled to Arizona. 

Jessica Currin

Jessica Currin’s body was found dead near a middle school in Mayfield Kentucky in the summer of 2000. She had been sexually assaulted, bludgeoned to death, and set on fire. She left behind an infant son. Her murder was first pinned on the baby’s father but never gained traction due to the irresponsible handling of the case by the police. 

The true killer was revealed by Susan Galbreath, an amateur sleuth who spends her time attempting to solve cases just like Currin’s. After years of research, talking to people in the town, and even speaking to the victim’s suspected killer, someone finally came forward and gave a statement pinning the murder on the man Galbreath had suspected, Quincy Cross. Cross was sentenced to life in prison. 

Joseph James DeAngelo 

Joseph James DeAngelo, coined The Golden State Killer by author and sleuth Michelle McNamara, is responsible for the murders of 13, sexual assaults of 51, and burglary of 120. He was active between 1974 and 1986, not being apprehended until 2018. 

Michelle McNamara was a writer who took an extreme interest in the slurry of unsolved cases. Before her untimely death, she wrote a book dedicated to the crimes and her views on it. Detailing the kind of person she thought committed the crimes and bringing awareness to the cold cases. That all led to DeAngelo being apprehended after police connected the dots via familial DNA. DeAngelo is currently serving 12 life sentences. 

Tara Grinstead 

Tara Grinstead was a high school teacher in Georgia, where she went missing in October of 2005. She was declared dead in 2010, though she had not been found by that time. In later years, Payne Lindsey’s true crime podcast Up and Vanished featured Grinstead’s case. 

With the podcast bringing awareness to the case, tips began coming in and police finally arrested and charged Ryan Duke with Grinstead’s murder. It has been discovered that he had burglarized her home and strangled her to death when she caught him in the act. In 2022 Duke was convicted and sentenced to a measly 10 years in prison for this heinous crime. 

5 Hacks to Take The Scenic Route More Often

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When a lot of people take a road trip, they want to get there as fast possible with stops only for gas, food, and sleep. Then, there are those that want to make sure that their road trip turns into a full-on journey that’s filled with sights, sounds, and plenty of great memories. Those that haven’t done it before should try making their trip a bit more scenic, but might not be sure how to do it.

For everyone that’s trying to make their road trip better and take the scenic route more often, there are a few hacks that you should know about. These little tips will make sure that you get the trip that most people can only dream about, creating memories that will last a lifetime.

Take The Road Less Traveled

If you would like to experience more breathtaking scenery on your trips, try taking the less traveled route, or even planning out your own specific route. Of course, it’s great to take the popular route and see all the touristy areas have to offer. 

Some things are worth jumping on the bandwagon for. Though, if you want to experience something new and unseen by the general public you should definitely stray from the path, safely of course. 

Go To Tourist Destinations

Although you could go where most travelers don’t, there’s a reason must-see destinations are so popular. There’s nothing wrong with flocking to the coolest places. If you want a low-key experience, try going to these destinations during the time of year that isn’t bombarded by tourists. 

Usually, states, cities, and countries advertise specific landmarks to visit or scenic trips they encourage people to take. You can plan your trip around the must-see destinations and travel the scenic route while you make your way through them. 

Travel a Certain Time of Year

Traveling is a fantastic way to see and take in all the world has to offer. Make it an even better experience by traveling at different periods throughout the year. Even if you travel to the same place, the changing seasons and atmosphere will make you feel like you’re taking an entirely new trip. 

Much like how leaf peepers love traveling to the New England area, or Midwest area to see the changing color of the leaves and gorgeous autumn scenery, visiting a place during a particularly beautiful time of year makes all the difference. So plan your trips around the time of year you’ll get the most stunning scenery if you can. 

Take Different Methods of Travel

One tip that you may have overlooked is taking different modes of transportation to get a different view of scenic areas. Traveling by train, bus, car, plane, boat, bicycle, or even walking will all give you differing views of the most scenic places. 

Traveling by air will give you an amazing, often unseen view of beautiful places you’ve probably only seen on ground level. Ground travel will give you a much more personal and up-close look, as well as the ability to pause, explore, and take in the views. 

Take the Long Way Home

Oftentimes when traveling we have a sense of urgency to get to our destination as quickly and efficiently as possible. Taking the time to slow down and take the route that’s seen as “out of the way” is a great way to make a scenic drive out of the most mundane driving tasks. 

Sure it takes some time, but that’s okay and not everything has to be rushed. If you’re able to take the time to leave for a trip early or take the time to travel the backroads on your way home, it’ll give you time to unwind and enjoy taking in sights you don’t often get the chance to see when you take the fastest, hurried route. 

5 Best Places to Live in the USA

Posted on by scatty

No matter where you’re from or where you live now, there is always going to be a debate throughout the United States as to where the best place is to live. People from every city will boast about their local restaurants, natural beauty, work environment, and anything else that will make their city more appealing to those that are thinking about moving there.

When it comes to the general consensus as to which places in the United States are the best to live, though, there are some that most experts agree upon. Whether it’s because they offer low housing prices and even lower crime rates or have a plethora of good-paying jobs and dozens of hiking trails, these towns and cities are the best that America has to offer. If you’re planning on relocating you and your family, here are the five best places to live in the USA.

Savannah, Georgia

Savannah Georgia has a lot to offer and is certainly one of the best destinations to call home in the USA. As of now, there are over 330,000 residents enjoying life in Savannah. If the allure of southern charm and great food isn’t enough to sway your decision, the charming southern city has a low cost of living, beautiful structures, a refreshing coastal scene, and a plethora of fun activities that might make the decision to relocate to the diverse city all that much easier. 

Rochester, Minnesota 

Rochester Minnesota might seem like an unassuming destination when you’re deciding where to call home. Still, the densely suburban city offers a quiet and homely place to make you feel comfortable and secure. Most of the residents own their homes, so you won’t feel cramped or necessarily have to share living space. Of course, another one of the perks of living in Rochester would be the natural scenery of the Midwest seasons. Rochester is full of beautiful parks you and your family can enjoy. Higher standards of living make the healthcare and education systems some of the best as well. 

Sioux Falls, South Dakota 

Like the previously mentioned midwest location, Sioux Falls South Dakota offers a comfortable and spacious suburban feel. With an affordable cost of living, it won’t be tough to find the perfect home in this quiet Midwest city. Low crime rates assure those who live there that the area is moderately safe and secure, which is especially important if you have little ones at home. Feeling safe and comfortable are arguably the most crucial factors when deciding on where to settle down. Along with safety, Sioux Falls is known for its excellent healthcare and education systems as well. 

Spokane, Washington

Spokane Washington delivers on providing a bustling city environment, while also having options to live a more quiet and serene life close to all the nature the northwest USA has to offer. It’s an ideal location for those who don’t want to settle on one lifestyle, or another and wants the best of both worlds. Although the city is big, residents don’t have to suffer the downside of big city life. If that’s not appealing enough, the state of Washington is incredibly beautiful with access to the rocky coast and excellent weather that changes depending on where you go. It’s the best US city for those who like variety and the power of choice. 

Tucson, Arizona 

Arizona is a popular destination for retirees and those seeking a thrilling, active lifestyle away from the inconvenience of summer humidity and winter snow. The dry, snow-free climate is unbeatable if you’re not a fan of the cold and snowy winter months or the sticky humid summer months elsewhere. Tucson has a growing food scene, full of authentic and homemade dishes served at culture-rich restaurants. There’s an abundance of parks, mountainous landscapes to hike, and a fabulous art scene. To top it all off, affordable housing makes it easy to find the place that best suits your needs without jumping through hoops.