Alex Hortis

Author of The Witch of New York: The Trials of Polly Bodine and the Cursed Birth of Tabloid Justice (Pegasus, 2024).

[Alex Hortis @Alex_Hortis]

Honored that the Damn History newsletter (from my home state of Minnesota!) has selected The Witch of New York for its book of the month! Thank you @Jack_ElHai !

[Jack El-Hai @Jack_ElHai]

Today's book pick from the free monthly Damn History newsletter for readers and writers of #popularhistory. Congrats to author @Alex_Hortis and @Pegasus_Books!

Damn History subscriptions: https://t.co/ewk7IOSQAD

[Matt DeLisi @CrimeMusica]

Highly recommended book which covers true crime, its interplay with the media, tabloid culture, as well as some excellent NYC history. Lots of parallels between then and today. Interesting, informative, and quick paced. @Alex_Hortis

[Alex Hortis @Alex_Hortis]

@emmagrant522 @misskeirstin No, that's not accurate. A guilty plea does mean you are admitting to the charges of murder against you. This is not an Alford plea. Moreover, there was a mountain of DNA and other evidence against him. This isn't a questionable confession.

[Alex Hortis @Alex_Hortis]

@mattyglesias To those questioning Matt's factual claim, journalistic truth isn't the point. Most people understand intuitively that zoning affects the way the world works in a bad way, especially when it comes to housing. @devintoshea and YIMBY's unite!

[Alex Hortis @Alex_Hortis]

So thrilled to be on Phoebe Judge's top podcast CRIMINAL. Her production was superb.

[Criminal @CriminalShow]

An apothecary named George Waite was taken in for questioning after the murder of Emeline Houseman. “They find a very suspicious note on him, written from Polly, which says ‘Hide the things.’” New episode with @alex_hortis: https://t.co/0BfN2KnuCI

[Alex Hortis @Alex_Hortis]

@devintoshea Imagine looking outside at all the houses and apartment buildings, and thinking 1 of 3 were owned by one company. That's Twilight Zone weird. It'd make the thousands of Starbucks look like unique co-op shops.

[FOX News Radio @foxnewsradio]

Who was The Witch of New York? And why was Polly Bodine tied to the infamous 'Christmas murders'?

Author @Alex_Hortis joins the FOX #TrueCrime Podcast to share the scandalous story of Polly Bodine as detailed in his book, 'The Witch of New York.'

FULL EPISODE: https://t.co/z9gUYdTKsh

[Alex Hortis @Alex_Hortis]

@alegalnerd We've seen no indication the accused "lacked substantial capacity to know or appreciate either: 1. The nature and consequences of such conduct; or 2. That such conduct was wrong." He seemed to have an escape plan, and his "manifesto" apologized for the "trauma" he'd inflict.

[Alex Hortis @Alex_Hortis]

@SleuthieGoosie That's real top notch journalism

[Alex Hortis @Alex_Hortis]

@StewartCha16443 Do you have a license or other right to sell this book?

[Alex Hortis @Alex_Hortis]

Honored The Witch of New York made @john_winterbauer's list of favorite books for 2024! See this Instagram post by @john_winterbauer https://t.co/LCvD9sbK9c

[Alex Hortis @Alex_Hortis]

@thecrimediva2 @markgeragos @thathollybaird You're an imbecile

[Ritchie Torres @RitchieTorres]

We should expunge from our vocabulary the words: we have a “messaging problem.”

When over 70% percent of Americans think we are on the wrong track or headed in the wrong direction, that is not a messaging problem. That is reality problem. Inflation and immigration are not “messaging problems.” These are realities that produced discontent widespread enough to hand Donald Trump the presidency.

We ignore the real-world messages that these realities send at our own peril.

[Alex Hortis @Alex_Hortis]

@ddayen How can you say this so boldly, yet wrongly? In India, France, and Mexico, the incumbent president or party has won reelection since 2022.

[Alex Hortis @Alex_Hortis]

@alegalnerd Oddly enough, the Democrats will probably win back the House tonight. They're ahead in the called races, with the California races still to count.

[Alex Hortis @Alex_Hortis]

@MAL5144 It's not weird. It'd be malpractice not to move for a stay of the civil trial. It does put to the lie the notion that somehow the civil case was going to "help" Karen Read use civil discovery against others.

[Alex Hortis @Alex_Hortis]

This Thursday, Oct. 17, at 6:30 pm, join us for a lively discussion about the Polly Bodine murder trial in the original courtroom where she was tried in 1844, at Historic Richmond Town, 441 Clark Ave., Staten Island. FREE and open to the public!

[Alex Hortis @Alex_Hortis]

"A fascinating look at the crime, and what came after," NY Times book review of The Witch of New York. Hardcover on sale now 50% off through Sept. 2! Perfect gift for fans of historical true crime.

[Alex Hortis @Alex_Hortis]

@Subdue86 @aburkhartlaw @LawSelfDefense It wasn't "after many years." The victim was killed in Jan. 2022, and during the investigation that same year, 4 witnesses said KR said "I hit him." In fact, KR responded to the firefighter in her Nightline interview in April 2023. She just spun it as "Did I hit him?"

[Alex Hortis @Alex_Hortis]

@aburkhartlaw @NUMTyDumpty Wow, you shouldn't be doing this. No lawyer waits until the eve of limitations to expire. It's less than 3 months away. And no, they don't expect to take her civil deposition before the criminal trial. KR will almost certainly move to stay it and plead the 5th.