How to Research True Crime Cases Effectively

Researching true crime cases requires an attention to detail, sensitivity to the family members of the deceased, and respecting that police cannot reveal all with ongoing investigations.

We'll discuss how to research true crime case effectively by defining true crime, the responsibilities of the research and writer, and discussing some of the common considerations when researching criminal cases.

Get ready to learn how to start researching what happened and communicate the evidence about specific cases.

Understanding True Crime

Definition and scope of true crime

True crime is a nonfiction genre of entertainment that focuses on real-life crimes. The writer focuses on telling the story of a single case or the collective acts of the perpetrator.

The true crime genre has gained popularity in recent years. People, especially young women seek out information about criminals to understand how they think, satisfy a morbid curiosity, or attempt to solve mysteries.

True crime series are presented in true crime books, true crime podcasts, TV shows, and even Netflix movies exploring notorious crimes.

True crime stories are both fascinating and disturbing, which means anyone self-publishing needs to be aware of how they communicate about the life and murder of the victims and about how they immortalize the criminals.

Importance of responsible research and writing

Responsible research and writing in true crime are crucial to avoid sensationalism and respect the victims and their families. It’s essential to prioritize accuracy, fairness, and compassion when exploring real-life crimes.

When you document the life and death of a serial killer, murderer, or their victims you should attempt to use the same standards an academic or detective would use when investigating the crimes.

Read the police reports, submit freedom of information act (FOIA) requests, document your research, and talk to people who are involved in the investigation and court cases.

True crime writers and researchers should then present the history of the case in a way that is respectful of the impact on the families and communities affected by the crimes. This is especially important when the cases involve murder and sexual assault.

Brief overview of popular true crime cases

Famous true crime cases, such as the Jeffrey Dahmer murders, Ed Gein murders and gravedigging, and unsolved mysteries tend to capture peoples imaginations most because the brutal crimes are both fascinating and disturbing.

These cases can provide valuable insights into the psychology and motivations behind true crimes and help criminal justice professionals with insights that help in other cases.

Prepare to Research

You'll need to identify subjects to research before you get started. This process will include deciding what case to research, gathering information, and creating a timeline of the case.

Identifying a case to research

Some true crime cases are easier to research than others. Research is impacted by how much free access to legal documents are available, media coverage, complexity of the case, and how recent the crime was.

Current events like the murder of the UHC CEO are extensively covered in the media but many people will not have access to court documents, police reports, and witness statements because it is an ongoing case.

I prefer to use search engine optimization tools like SurferSEO and ahrefs to establish which criminals to discuss on our true crime website.

Gathering initial information and resources

You'll want to gather news articles, police reports, and court documents. Be aware that everyone involved is human so there may be mistakes, manipulation of information, and censored materials depending on the sensitivity of the case.

You can use criminal databases like the following sites to get information:

• PACER: Provides access to nearly all federal court documents, including criminal cases, through a nationwide index. PACER allows free access but requires paid searches.

• State Court Websites: Most states have online court systems where you can search for criminal records within that jurisdiction. These will often charge you for the information as well.

• FBI Crime Data Explorer: Offers a broader overview of crime statistics and trends across the United States. Access is available here.

• Private Background Check Sites: Companies like TruthFinder, BeenVerified, and Instant Checkmate aggregate data from various sources, including criminal records, but may require a subscription to access information.

There are other federal agencies that may be involved if the crime is financial, overseas, or involves military or terrorism charges.

You should also attempt to reach out to experts like the police who worked the case, forensic scientists, and psychologists to get more clarity on the case.

Creating a research plan and timeline

Establish the timeline of the case. Personally I like to start with understanding events from their birth, childhood, development, first crime, then key events, the police investigation, court case, sentencing, and then incarceration, and death.

Use Research Methods and Tools

The best place to start your research is a search engine. Find out the relevant information, who the defining sources on the materials are, and then dig deeper. You can use databases like the FBI's Vault, or National Archive and Records Administration (NORA).

Then you can obtain official reports to get greater insights, but these will normally charge per page and may have highly disturbing information in them. You may have to request access to sensitive or restricted documents.

Evaluate Sources and Information

When you first start putting together a story, you can use unofficial sources like Wikipedia to get a broad overview. You shouldn't use it as a primary resource, but it provides many citations which are considered credible sources. You'll want to identify reliable sources, verify information, and avoid misinformation.

Assessing credibility and reliability of sources

Every source should be reviewed to establish how reliable it is. Sources without citations are typically not credible. Citations may be in the form of an academic bibliography or as simple as a hyperlink.

Be aware every source may have bias and conflicts of interest. For instance, any for profit company is focused on telling the story that makes them the most money. When multiple sources are in agreement, it's either true or a cover up.

Verifying facts and evidence

Verify facts and evidence through multiple sources. You should consider the following documents most accurate:

1. Official documents from the agencies involved in the investigation.

2. Secondary sources.

3. Information citing secondary sources. This is especially true given many writers are using AI as a shortcut to rank on search engines faster.

   
   

Avoiding misinformation and bias

Misinformation is getting harder to spot for many people so always be aware of any possible bias or intentional misinformation. Sensationalism and speculation need to be clear when you're telling a story otherwise they could be mistaken for facts and evidence.

Organize and Analyze Research

To organize and analyze information you'll want to create a case file, take notes, identify patterns, develop a theory, then prepare to present the evidence.

Create a case file and organize notes

You'll want to create a file to hod all your information for your story. Make sure to store it in a manner where it is easy to find the information you are looking for.

You might want to use a spreadsheet or database if your true crime series will include large amounts of information. Make sure to use consistent labelling and citations to make it easier when you begin documenting everything.

Identify patterns and connections

Every case need the ability to commit the crime, a way to commit the crime, and a motive. Look for these and if someone lacks any of them, there is probably more to the story.

You'll also want to find patterns, conflicting information, and anything else that can provide a good angle for the story.

Developing a theory or conclusion

Your theory needs to help tie all the evidence together. When it doesn't that means it's either missing information or wrong. Give murder can come with a life sentence or death penalty, you should aim to be as diligent with your theories as the people prosecuting cases.

Investigate Serial Killers

Serial killers are some of the most fascinating stories about true crime. Decades of data have been collected about the characteristics of serial killers, history of some of the most prolific murderers, and psychological research.

Characteristics and behaviors of serial killers

Federal agencies have spent thousands of hours trying to understand the behaviors and characteristics of some of the most prolific killers. They have found childhood trauma, socia isolation, and other factors to play a role in the behaviors.

Take time to understand what might have driven someone to take the lives of others. Sometimes it can lead interesting places.

Examining famous cases

Famous serial killers like Ted Bundy give interviews that help shine light on what they believed, the feelings they get, and how they felt connected to their victims after they are caught.

These interviews can help you understand some of the reasons people murder others.

Understanding the psychology and motivations behind serial killers

Serial Killers often have mental health issues like narcissism, schizophrenia, and other untreated conditions that play a part in the act of murder. Search for the psychological and societal issues that play a role in the crimes.

Work with Police Officers and Forensic Science

True crime writers benefit from understanding police procedures, forensic science, and court proceedings. So go get arrested. I'm just kidding. Just do research.

Understanding police procedures and protocols

Police procedures and protocols like investigative techniques and evidence collection play huge roles in whether a criminal is caught and the evidence is admitted in court.

For instance, did you know many of the most infamous criminals during the golden age of serial killers were around before DNA analysis and fingerprinting became more sophisticated?

The role of forensic science in solving crimes

You'll want to understand how forensic science processes like DNA analysis, fingerprinting, and ballistics work to help law enforcement identify suspects and solve crimes.

Write Your True Crime Content

You've done everything you need related to research, but now it's time to put it all together in relatable content. You'll want to create a compelling story about what happened, use clear language, and present it in a respectful manner.

Consider Ethics and Legal Considerations

There are some ethics and legal considerations that you need to consider when creating crime-related media. Make sure to:

• Cite everything

• Respect intellectual property.

• Respect people's right to privacy.

• Protect your sources.

Stay Safe and Focused

While you search for information be careful. You may be interacting with law enforcement, people with mental illnesses, and people whose loved one has been killed.

Maintain boundaries, don't share your personal information with a suspect, and be aware that exposure to traumatic materials may be a first step to developing your own trauma.

Share and Publish True Crime Research

Your true crime research can be published in books, videos, podcasts, even academic journals. Each option has different benefits and reach. Many content creators today use repurposing software to turn one piece of content into dozens.

Conclusion

At this point you should have a good idea of how to generate ideas, gather data, create a detailed timeline, analyze evidence, and create a true crime series that will fascinate readers.

Read some of the related content below to learn more about how MRDR Meme Coin approaches researching true crime cases.