The similarity between Edgar Allen Poe's "first mystery story," The Case of Marie Roget, and the Scott and Lacy case is pretty amazing.
In this key story of 1842, Poe describes the drowning death of a young woman; and the search for her killer.
Curiously, Poe notes that the interest of the public and the public press was unheard of, noting as well, that usual "political affairs" were temporarily off the front pages! This is in the 1840's remeber!
Poe goes on to describe, IN GREAT DETAIL, the exact way a person drowns, and what happens to the body in the day's after the drowning!
Shades of CSI, the network crime drama!
Poe also, after reviewing the "newspaper" reports, concludes that the killer "used a boat" to despose of the body.
And, finally, concludes that the boat was tampered with AFTER THE MURDER, ergo, find the person who tampered with the boat and you have found the killer!
Poe's Marie Roget story and his Murder in the Rue Morgue are considered to be the first "mystery/detective stories" ever written.
Poe is universally given credit for "inventing" the mystery genre.
IT'S RATHER AMAZING THE WAY THE SCOTT AND LACY PETERSON CASE PLAYED OUT; AND IT'S AMAZING SIMILARITY TO POE'S 1840'S "FIRST MYSTERY STORY!"
POSTSCRIPT: Poe used an actual murder case in New York state as the basis for his "fictionalization."
So, maybe Truman Capote's, In Cold Blood, was NOT the first TRUE CRIME made into fiction! Of course Poe, being the consumate editor, literary critic, journalist and all round "magazine guy," never wrote any novels....... Anyway, art imitating life imitating art?
