Between December, 1884 and December, 1885 ... about 3 years before Jack The Ripper did his thing in London ... 8 girls were attacked, raped and murdered in Austin, Texas.
But as for true crime, in my opinion, I'm sure there's something bizarrely fascinating about seeing the dark depths into which human nature can plunge. Also, perhaps it may be a good way to become more aware of the potential red flags that people with good intentions may be likely to miss.