AMERICAN CRIME: Horrific Crimes that Shocked the CountryPassion, insanity, and greed: these motives create crime. Many crimes are quickly forgotten, but there are some crimes from America's past that cannot be so easily shaken. Their stain on the country proves stubborn to this day..These crimes are still obsessed over and, at times, feel just as horrific as they did when they first happened. Murder, extortion, mystery, gruesome torture, shock, and awe. These are some of the most horrific and prolific crimes in American History.