Small towns are interesting places. Everybody acts like they’re the “real” America—simple, safe places where life moves at a slower pace and everybody can trust everybody else. As true crime shows never tire of telling us, small town folks don’t even lock their doors. Crime just doesn’t happen there. Except of course, when it does. And then everybody talks about how the town has lost its innocence, and things will never be the same again. Not that some of that doesn’t have a basis in truth. But if you grew up in a small town, you know that’s not the whole story. See, people are people, no matter where they call home. And in a small town, where everybody tends to keep a close eye on everybody else’s business, and gossip can ruin a reputation faster than a summer storm can wreck a cookout, people can have an awful lot of incentive to keep their secrets…well, good and secret. And when something threatens to dredge up an inconvenient truth that they want to keep hidden, people can get desperate. And a desperate person is one of the most dangerous creatures on earth.

Sources: Investigation Discovery's "Hometown Homicide," Episode "Hold the Line" Discovery's "FBI Files," Episode "Fatal Friendship" https://www.leagle.com/decision/19941206894sw2d31211197 https://unsolvedmysteries.fandom.com/wiki/Martha_Doe_Roberts

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