10 Times Pop Culture Affected Real Life Criminal Cases

10 Times Pop Culture Affected Real-Life Criminal Cases

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’ll be looking at the most notable instances where elements of pop culture affected either the motives for a true crime or influenced the outcome and aftermath of a case.

Murder of John Brian Altinger

The Showtime series “Dexter” follows a forensic technician who, by night, becomes a vigilante serial killer, targeting murderers who have somehow evaded justice. The show gained immense popularity and seemingly inspired several real-life killers, most notably Mark Twitchell. In 2008, Twitchell, a Canadian filmmaker, pretended to be a woman on dating sites and lured men to a rented garage in Edmonton, Alberta. One of those men was John Brian Altinger, whom Twitchell fatally stabbed. During his trial, prosecutors presented Twitchell’s writings, which revealed his obsession with the show’s protagonist, Dexter Morgan. Due to this connection, he was referred to in the media as the “Dexter Killer.” Twitchell was ultimately convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison.

The Crimes of Richard Ramirez

In the mid-80s, Richard Ramirez terrorized Los Angeles and San Francisco, breaking into homes, typically at night, and murdering the occupants. This method earned him the moniker “the Night Stalker.” Ramirez harbored a deep fascination with Satanism and the occult, which contributed to the widespread “satanic panic” of the ‘80s. He was an avid fan of heavy metal music, particularly bands with Satanic themes, like AC/DC. Among their songs, “Night Prowler” was reportedly his favorite. Ramirez was supposedly spotted wearing the band’s merch and even dropped an AC/DC hat at a crime scene. This association brought negative publicity to the band, but Ramirez apparently made no effort to dispel the connection between AC/DC’s songs and his actions.

Murder of Robert W. Wood

On November 28th 1976, Dallas police officer Robert W. Wood was fatally shot after pulling over a car which had been stolen by an individual named David Harris. When questioned by authorities, Harris falsely accused Randall Adams, a man he had given a ride to the previous day, of the murder. Adams was subsequently convicted and sentenced to death, though this was later commuted to life imprisonment. The 1988 documentary film “The Thin Blue Line,” shed light on multiple inconsistencies and falsehoods in the prosecution’s case. Notably, it secured an admission from Harris of Adams’ innocence. Due to the film’s publicity, Adams’ conviction was overturned, and he was released from prison after prosecutors declined to retry the case.

Murder of John Lennon

On December 8th 1980, Beatles singer and songwriter John Lennon was murdered just outside his New York City residence. The perpetrator was Mark David Chapman, who had initially been Lennon’s fan. However, Chapman’s admiration for the singer soured over time, stemming from his controversial statement about the Beatles being more popular than Jesus, and what he perceived as Lennon’s hypocrisy. When police arrived at the scene, they found Chapman casually reading “The Catcher in the Rye.” Chapman had been heavily inspired by the novel’s protagonist Holden Caulfield, who had a strong dislike for phonies and adult hypocrisy, traits he attributed to Lennon. Chapman ultimately pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and received a sentence of 20 years to life.

Murder of Marisol Gonzalez

On March 25th 1997, Marisol Gonzalez, a pregnant lady, was shot and killed near her Cottonwood, Arizona home on the same day she was scheduled to deliver. Sadly, her unborn, full-term baby also died. Suspicion quickly fell on Cecilio Cruz, Gonzalez’s boyfriend and the baby’s father. But with little evidence, authorities couldn’t link him to the murder. More than a decade later, Cottonwood police enlisted the help of the true crime series “Cold Justice.” The show’s investigators combed through the evidence and interviewed several witnesses. Based on new findings, Cruz was charged with second-degree murder and manslaughter. However, the jury failed to reach a unanimous verdict, resulting in the charges being dismissed without prejudice, which allows for possible refiling in the future.

Watergate

The Watergate scandal involved the break-in of the Democratic National Committee headquarters by individuals associated with Richard Nixon’s 1972 re-election campaign. Journalists Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward played a pivotal role in exposing the true scale of the scandal, through articles in The Washington Post and their best-selling book “All The President’s Men.” Their meticulous reporting exposed the involvement of high-ranking officials in the Nixon administration, and traced the entire scheme to the president himself. These revelations were documented in “All The President’s Men,” which was later adapted into an Oscar-nominated film. About two months after the book’s release, Nixon, now facing almost certain impeachment, resigned from office, becoming the first U.S. president to do so.

The Manson Family Murders

When the Beatles recorded their 1968 “White Album,” little did they know that it would set off a chain of tragic events. After listening to the album, cult leader Charles Manson interpreted the lyrics, particularly on the track “Helter Skelter,” as a call to incite a race war. He then manipulated his followers into committing a series of crimes to bring about the chaos he envisioned. Between August 9th and 10th 1969, members of the Manson family murdered actress Sharon Tate and six others in Los Angeles. During his trial, Manson’s fixation with “Helter Skelter” and his imagined scenario served as compelling evidence to convict him. He was initially sentenced to death, though this was later commuted to life in prison.

Murder of Martha Puebla

What are the odds that a TV show about the fictionalized life of a comedian could prevent a man from landing on death row? Slim, but as it turns out, definitely possible. In May 2003, Martha Puebla was killed shortly after testifying in a murder case. Days later, a man named Juan Catalan, whose brother was a suspect in the case, was arrested for her murder. However, Catalan insisted he was innocent, as he was watching a baseball game at Dodger Stadium at the time of the murder. Fortunately, an episode of “Curb Your Enthusiasm” was being filmed on that day and cameras captured Catalan in the stadium. This crucial footage ultimately contributed to the charges against him being dismissed.

Murder of Susan Berman

Robert Durst, the man at the center of HBO’s docuseries “The Jinx” was a mystifying figure. An heir to a real estate fortune, Durst was linked to the disappearance of his wife Kathleen McCormack, as well as the murders of his friend, Susan Berman, and neighbor, Morris Black. The show unearthed new evidence in Berman’s case, including an incriminating letter shown to have been penned by Durst. Just one day before the finale aired, Durst was arrested and charged with first-degree murder for Berman’s death. He was ultimately convicted and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Durst was set to stand trial for McCormack’s disappearance, but he died of cardiac arrest before proceedings could commence.

Attempted Assassination of Ronald Reagan

The 1976 film “Taxi Driver” follows Travis Bickle, a troubled cabby who plots to assassinate a presidential candidate and tries to help a sex worker, played by Jodie Foster. John Hinckley Jr. became obsessed with Foster and tried unsuccessfully to gain her attention. Hinckley developed a distorted belief that assassinating a public figure, like Bickle attempted to do in the film, would finally get Foster to notice him. On March 30th 1981, fueled by his delusions, Hinckley fired six shots at President Ronald Reagan outside the Washington Hilton Hotel. Reagan was seriously injured, but he survived the attack. Hinckley was ultimately found not guilty of the crime by reason of insanity, and was confined to a psychiatric hospital for over three decades.


In what other ways has pop culture played a significant role in real-life crimes? Let us know in the comments below.