True Crime ABC

On September 11, 2001, WABC-TV journalists documented the attacks in real-time, reporting from streets, air, and the newsroom. A 2021 documentary features their footage and interviews, capturing the unfolding tragedy and their critical role in conveying the events to the world.

On March 31, 2011, Bryan Stow, a 42-year-old paramedic, was attacked in the parking lot after a Dodgers-Giants game. Prosecutors stated he was struck with a punch to the side of his head by an unidentified assailant, leading to his hospitalization. The incident occurred amid intense fan rivalry between the teams.

Army Specialist Vanessa Guillen vanished from Fort Hood, Texas, on April 22, 2020. Her family searched for 69 days before her remains were found dismembered and burned on June 30, 2020. The incident, involving a Mexican immigrant family, prompted military reforms following her death.

In 1979, John, Diana, and their son Kevin Wanstrath were found dead in their Houston home. The medical examiner concluded it was a double murder-suicide, though no gun was recovered. Family and friends disputed the ruling, prompting a detective to challenge the official narrative.

In 1997, four young women—Laura Smither, Kelli Cox, Tiffany Johnston, and Jessica Cain—vanished under mysterious circumstances. Laura, 12, was last seen jogging in her neighborhood; Kelli, 20, disappeared after a field trip to a jail; Tiffany, 19, was last seen at a car wash; and Jessica, 17, left a restaurant but never returned. Their families sought answers for nearly two decades.

On April 28, 1997, two armed men disguised as construction workers robbed the Western Financial Bank in Thousand Oaks, California. The unsecured bank lacked security guards, locked doors, and plexiglass barriers, leaving tellers vulnerable. The robbers used nylon stockings to conceal their faces, drawing attention with reflective vests and hard hats.