Killer Story: The Truth Behind True Crime Television

by Claire St. Amant

“You are going to die, and our family will be there to watch it happen. And long after your corpse has been disposed of, and your name forgotten, this county and state will remember the good people—Mark Hasse, Mike McLelland, Cynthia McLelland—who gave their lives putting scum like you in prison.”

I’ve heard from other creative types that the combination of physical activity, being outdoors, and getting away from the actual problem is the right recipe for a breakthrough.

There was nothing I could say to defend myself. They had already made up their minds that I was guilty.

“If they sleep, they’re guilty,” Derek told me. “I’ve seen it loads of times.”

“How did you find a one-legged man to interview in under an hour?” another producer asked me. The truth was, I didn’t go looking for an amputee in the Big Apple. I just stood at the corner and let the story unfold in front of me.

There were police everywhere, and I couldn’t imagine what it must feel like to be protecting a city while mourning the death of your colleagues who died doing the same thing.

Because of the length of negotiations, an annual contract meant you were fighting for your position every nine months, which is a pretty exhausting way to earn a living.