McHenry High School's student-written and -edited newspaper

The McHenry Messenger

McHenry High School's student-written and -edited newspaper

The McHenry Messenger

McHenry High School's student-written and -edited newspaper

The McHenry Messenger

Shortly after her release from prison, Munchhausen syndrome by proxy victim Gypsy Rose Blanchard tells her story in The Prison Confessions of Gypsy Rose Blanchard docuseries.

In her own words

Gabe Santos, Arts and Entertainment Editor January 16, 2024

In the summer of 2015, a young woman and her boyfriend orchestrated the brutal murder of her mother. Eight years after the crime, the daughter is the one gaining the sympathy and support from the people.  The...

Philadelphia Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw exits a news conference Thursday, Dec. 8, 2022, after identifying the 4-year-old child referred to as the Boy in the Box as Joseph Augustus Zarelli.

Who was the boy in the box?

Paulina Borowski, Contributing Writer February 14, 2023

On Feb. 25, 1957, the body of a boy was found in a box at an illegal dumping ground near Susquehanna Road in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  The boy was estimated around 4-7 years old, 30 pounds (malnourished)...

Bryan Kohberger, facing first-degree murder charges in the slayings of four University of Idaho students last fall, is taken by Sheriff Deputies from the Monroe County Courthouse on Jan. 3, 2023, in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania.

Bryan Kohberger set to be on trial for Idaho murders

Ella Trimingham, Staff Writer February 3, 2023

On Nov. 13, four University of Idaho students were stabbed to death. It was not until January of this year that the suspect was put on trial and convicted.  Bryan Christopher Kohberger was proven guilty...

True crime can make for good TV, and it’s no wonder shows like Netflix’s “Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story” attracts viewers with its gruesome tale. Put defending these killers and idolizing their murders misses the point of these shows.

Opinion: Idolizing serial killers is wrong

Alayna Majkrzak, Features Editor November 10, 2022

Tweet after tweet, TikTok after TikTok, images of serial killers circle the internet. Captions range from how attractive Ted Bundy was to claiming Jeffery Dahmer was just misunderstood. All have one thing...

Last month, a jury in Wisconsin found 66 year old Linda La Roche guilty of first-degree intentional homicide after killing her housekeeper/nanny. The hours story takes place 23 years ago in McHenry.

Murder in McHenry

Paulina Borowski, Staff Writer April 26, 2022

A 23-year-old missing persons case was closed in March after Linda Sue La Roche, a 63 year old nurse from McHenry, was convicted for the homicide of Peggy Lynn Johnson back in 1999. 23-year-old Peggy...

Giulia Tofana was executed in July of 1633 for murdering her abusive husband, but is infamous for helping other women murder their abusive husbands.

Crime Scenes: The line between justice and murder

Alayna Trimingham, Copy Editor May 14, 2021

Giulia Tofana was the daughter of Thofania d’Adamo. Thofania was executed in July of 1633 for murdering her husband. Giulia spent a lot of time with apothecaries and learned how to make her own poison...

Was America’s first female serial killer, Aileen Wuornos, a cold-blooded killer or a victim of circumstance? Undoubtedly, she deserved prison time, but may not have deserved the death penalty.

Crime Scenes: Murderer, or misunderstood?

Alayna Trimingham, Copy Editor March 19, 2021

America’s first female serial killer, Aileen Wuornos, on October 9, 2002 was "taken away to meet God and Jesus and the angels and whatever is beyond the beyond.”  Wournos was born in Rochester,...

Victim Cindy James knew that her attacker was her ex-husband, but feared the consequences of telling anyone. Some claim her death was a suicide, the facts tell a different story.

Crime Scenes: Blaming the victim

Alayna Trimingham, Copy Editor March 12, 2021

Agnes goes on a visit to her best friend Cindy James at her house. She knocks on the door. When there’s no answer, she lets herself in. Anges assumes Cindy is just taking a bath and can't hear her, until...

The story of Gypsy Rose is a disturbing reminder of how people use and abuse their power over others for their own selfish reasons.

Crime Scenes: When murder is inevitable

Alayna Trimingham, Copy Editor March 5, 2021

Gypsy Rose was as a young sick girl with big glasses and a shaved head in a wheelchair. Her mother, Dee Dee Blanchard, was seen as a loving mother who gave everything to help her sick child. The twist,...

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