The Haunted Twilight of Richard Simmons
Two years ago, the fitness guru abruptly disappeared from public life. His friends worry that he’s being held against his will inside his Hollywood Hills mansion, or something even worse.
Longform Best of 2016
We recommended 1,399 articles articles this year, from 1,088 writers and 307 publications.
These were our favorites.
Most Clicked
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The Gruesome November Night in One of Washington’s Wealthiest Suburbs
The story of a home invasion, a torture session, and one lawyer who nearly killed another.
3
Bellagio Bandit
He stole over $1 million in chips — then checked himself into casino’s hotel to live like a king.
4
The Last Unknown Man
He appeared out of nowhere. No name, no memory, no past. He was the only person the FBI ever listed as missing even though they knew where he was. And he couldn’t be found.
5
Welcome to the Dark Net
Exploring the crime-ridden depths of the internet with Opsec, a former professional hacker.
6
How My Hoarder Landlady Ruined My Life
Two floors of a building in prime Brooklyn for $1000 a month seemed too good to be true. It was.
7
The White Flight of Derek Black
He was white nationalism’s heir apparent. Then he went to college.
8
Blindsided
At first, Don Huckstep was perplexed that his fiancée would abruptly cut off contact before a long-awaited trip to Italy. Then a bizarre and grisly set of discoveries unfolded.
9
From Pickup Artist to Pariah
A small-town coffeeshop owner led a double life as a blogger and podcaster on the topic of “pickup artistry.” Then his identity, and his intimate writings about his experiences with 46 local women, was made public.
10
The Voyeur's Motel
Fifty years ago, Geraldo Foos bought the Manor House Motel. While his customers had sex, he watched from above and took scrupulous notes. Only three people in the world knew what he was doing: Foos, his wife, and the author.
