The Man in the Woods
The hunt for a mentally ill man hiding in California’s redwoods leaves his family wondering if there were any way he could have been helped earlier.
The Vegas Plot
“How do you predict what evil someone is capable of?” The story of right-wing extremists, and the undercover cops who busted them.
Longreads Best of 2014: Crime Reporting
We asked a few writers and editors to choose some of their favorite stories of the year in specific categories. Here, the best in crime reporting.
Their Town
A border town controlled by Warren Jeffs, a leader of a polygamous sect of Mormons who is currently serving a life sentence in prison for sexually assaulting underage girls, has treated outsiders poorly and made life difficult for a former sect member and his family.
A Priest’s Confession, A Man’s Relief
A court orders the release of church files revealing a history of sex abuse by clergy members. The documents back up the allegations of victims, who are finally finding justice:
“In recent years, a key part of clergy abuse cases has involved getting confidential files released. The Catholic Church is a meticulous record-keeper. When a letter accuses a priest of molestation, it’s supposed to go into his file. So are reports from therapists — no matter how graphic.
“The documents have repeatedly backed up the allegations of victims whom the church initially tarred as liars. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange made public 10,000 pages. The L.A. archdiocese is expected to release its own trove in the coming weeks.”
Hostages of Child Prostitution
Maria had nothing of her own besides socks and a blouse, potentially giving a pimp an opening to woo her with niceties. So Quintero pawed through V-necks, corduroys and bags of underwear at an on-site donation center. She packed a bag: hair spray, razors, lavender shampoo-conditioner, “Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul,” and a flowered journal because Maria liked to write poems. Quintero tried to shake off her misgivings: With a bag of stuff, was it easier for Maria to run? A week later, in Voy’s courtroom, the judge was grim. The night after Maria’s hearing, she ran off. Quintero never found out if she took the bag.
