In a twisted turn of events, some of the most heinous criminals in history have sought the limelight, appearing on television shows and game programs before their dark deeds were uncovered. This captivating article delves into the chilling stories of eight such individuals, revealing how their insatiable need for attention and recognition ultimately led to their downfall.

Unmasking the Darkest Desires: Killers Who Craved the Spotlight

The Pembrokeshire Murderer's Televised Downfall

John Cooper, known as both the Pembrokeshire Murderer and the Bullseye Killer, had a penchant for seeking the spotlight. In 1989, he appeared on the game show Bullseye, unaware that the footage would later become a crucial piece of evidence in his eventual arrest and conviction. Despite serving time for burglaries and armed robbery, Cooper's true crimes remained hidden until 2009, when a combination of the game show footage and other evidence led to his arrest for two high-profile murders committed over two decades earlier. The Bullseye Killer's televised appearance, coupled with his altered appearance, ultimately sealed his fate, and he is now serving four life sentences without the possibility of parole.

The Pockmarked Killer's Televised Confession

François Vérove, infamously known as Le Grêlé or the Pockmarked Man, was a member of several French police forces, including the National Gendarmerie, the Republican Guard, and the National Police, while also serving as an elected municipal councilor. From 1986 to 1994, Vérove committed a series of murders and sexual assaults in the Île-de-France region, evading capture for years. In a shocking twist, Vérove appeared on the game show Tout le monde veut prendre sa place in 2019, where he boasted about keeping Parisians safe, unaware that his own crimes were about to be uncovered. In 2021, after his name appeared on a list of officers active in the region during the time of the crimes, Vérove fled his home and was later found dead, likely from an overdose.

The Jeopardy Winner Turned Murderer

Paul Curry's appearance on Jeopardy in 1989, where he walked away with over $24,000, was just the beginning of his twisted story. That same year, he met and married Linda Kinkade, immediately pressuring her to take out a large life insurance policy and put her assets in his name. Kinkade soon began experiencing mysterious symptoms, and two years later, she died. It took over a decade for Curry's crime to be discovered, thanks to an investigator who reexamined the evidence and found that Kinkade had 50 to 100 times more nicotine in her system than a non-smoker. Authorities believe Curry used the substance to poison his wife, and he is now serving a life sentence without parole.

The Murderer Who Appeared on Multiple Game Shows

Edward Wayne Edwards, a notorious criminal who had already been imprisoned and released for a string of robberies, appeared on the game shows To Tell the Truth and What's My Line in 1972. Producers were aware of his past, but they felt his claims of reform made him a compelling contestant. Unfortunately, Edwards' good behavior did not last, and he escalated his crimes in 1977, murdering a young couple in Ohio. Over the next three decades, he is suspected of committing well over fifteen murders, though he was only convicted of five. Edwards died of natural causes in 2011, just four months before he was scheduled for execution.

The Family Feud Killer

In 2019, Timothy W. Bliefnick appeared on Family Feud with members of his family, raising eyebrows when he answered that the biggest mistake of his wedding was saying "I do." Two years later, Bliefnick filed for divorce, and the proceedings became contentious. One week before the trial was set to begin, Becky, Bliefnick's wife, was found dead in her home. Police quickly realized she had been murdered, and Bliefnick became the primary suspect. Two months after his arrest, Bliefnick was convicted of murder and sentenced to three life sentences with the possibility of parole.

The Reality TV Murderer

Ryan Jenkins, a Canadian real estate developer, met his wife, Jasmine Fiore, in Las Vegas after he finished filming the reality show Megan Wants a Millionaire. The couple had a whirlwind romance, marrying just two days after they met in March 2009. Jenkins then went on to appear on the reality show I Love Money 3, where fellow contestants and producers noticed his obsessive behavior towards Jasmine. Shortly after filming wrapped, the couple went to San Diego, where Jasmine was last seen alive. Jenkins immediately fled for Canada, where he ended his life six days after murdering his wife.

The Wheel of Fortune Contestant Turned Murderer

Fifteen years before Lori Vallow Daybell was arrested for murdering her two children, she appeared on Wheel of Fortune in 2004, going by her first married name, Lori Ryan. Around the same time, she was also participating in pageants, details that were revealed during her trial as a way of highlighting her need for attention. Vallow Daybell made national headlines after the bizarre circumstances surrounding the deaths of her estranged husband and Chad Daybell's wife, which occurred within months of her two children disappearing. Vallow Daybell was arrested and charged with first-degree murder almost two years later and is currently awaiting her trial, scheduled for February 2025.

The Grindr Killer's Televised Cooking Debut

Before Stephen Port became known as the Grindr killer for luring his victims via the online app, he was a professional chef. Amid his criminal activity, which included murdering at least four men, Port appeared on an episode of BBC's Masterchef, making meatballs with celebrities and serving them to the homeless. Port used more than one dating app to meet his victims, lying about his education and profession before plying them with the date-rape drug GHB and sexually assaulting them. He is currently serving a life sentence for his heinous crimes.