"Utilizing the tools of forensic science and Christian theological ethics, this book resituates prominent criminal cases within their social and forensic contexts"--
The ultimate penalty of the death sentence was created for horrific crimes. However, it is becoming more commonplace for these sentences to be overturned. The authors argue for the death penalty to remain in place, to have a justice that is not so blinded by leniency that it lets monsters continue to dwell among us.
In some states by law, in others by tradition, judges imposing a sentence of death complete the grim ritual with the words "May God have mercy on your soul." In 1982, in Grundy, Virginia, a young miner named Roger Coleman was sentenced to death for the murder of his sister-in-law. Ten years later, the sentence was carried out, despite the extraordinary efforts of Kitty Behan, a brilliant and dedicated young lawyer who devoted two years of her life to gathering evidence of Coleman's innocence, evidence so compelling that media around the world came to question the verdict. The courts, ruling on technicalities, refused to hear the new evidence and witnesses. Finally, the governor of Virginia ordered a lie-detector test to be administered on the morning of Coleman's scheduled execution, and in a chair that to Coleman surely looked like nothing so much as an electric chair. In John Tucker's telling, this story is an emotional and unforgettable roller-coaster ride from the awful night of the crime to the equally awful night of the execution. Perhaps it was not Roger Coleman whose soul was in need of God's mercy, but the judges, prosecutors, and politicians who procured his death.
*A New York Times Bestseller* An important overview of the way our justice system works, and why the rule of law is essential to our survival as a society—from the one-time federal prosecutor for the Southern District of New York, and host of the Doing Justice podcast. Preet Bharara has spent much of his life examining our legal system, pushing to make it better, and prosecuting those looking to subvert it. Bharara believes in our system and knows it must be protected, but to do so, he argues, we must also acknowledge and allow for flaws both in our justice system and in human nature. Bharara uses the many illustrative anecdotes and case histories from his storied, formidable career—the successes as well as the failures—to shed light on the realities of the legal system and the consequences of taking action. Inspiring and inspiringly written, Doing Justice gives us hope that rational and objective fact-based thinking, combined with compassion, can help us achieve truth and justice in our daily lives. Sometimes poignant and sometimes controversial, Bharara's expose is a thought-provoking, entertaining book about the need to find the humanity in our legal system as well as in our society.
Explore fifteen life-truths gleaned from both contemporary murder investigations and ancient biblical wisdom. "Every murder investigation teaches two lessons: a death lesson and a life lesson." For decades, cold-case homicide detective J. Warner Wallace investigated the causes behind deaths and murders, chasing one lead after another as he attempted to solve the case. Several of these cases remain open, unsolved mysteries. . . But even those that haven't yet revealed the identity of the killer do expose the truths of human nature: what's important to us, what threatens our well-being, and what causes us to flourish. Join Wallace as he investigates life lessons he learned as a detective, so that you can: Better understand your own identity and the identity of your Creator. Rethink the nature of death so you can live a better life. Uncover life-truths gleaned from both contemporary murder investigations and ancient biblical wisdom. Discover profound attributes of human beings that will guide you down the path of true self-discovery. Each chapter introduces you to an investigation of a death as Wallace and his partner Rick chase down leads and along the way learn guiding principles to help you thrive and flourish as a human being created in the image of God.
"He Raped. . . Altemio Sanchez was a modern-day Jekyll and Hyde—a family man who resided in Buffalo, New York, with a wife and two sons, worked nights as a machinist, and concealed a terrible secret. Once a year, after his shift, he'd make a side trip to a secluded spot where women would ride bikes and jog. He was called ""The Bike Path Rapist""—until he crossed the line from rape to murder. He Killed. . . For fourteen years, the Bike Path Killer mercilessly raped and murdered his prey, eluding police every step of the way. Then, the killings stopped. People wondered whether he'd left town, had been locked up in prison for another crime, or maybe even died. But when another woman's corpse with the same lethal signature surfaced, authorities knew the Bike Path Killer was back. And He Almost Got Away With It. Now, for the first time, two award-winning reporters follow a depraved killer's bloody trail of terror to the bitter end: his horrifying confession. . . Includes 16 pages of shocking photos. "
Why is it so much fun to read about death and dismemberment? In Murder Book, lifelong true-crime obsessive and New Yorker cartoonist Hilary Fitzgerald Campbell tries to puzzle out the answer. An unconventional graphic exploration of a lifetime of Ann Rule super-fandom, amateur armchair sleuthing, and a deep dive into the high-profile murders that have fascinated the author for decades, this is a funny, thoughtful, and highly personal blend of memoir, cultural criticism, and true crime with a focus on the often-overlooked victims of notorious killers.
America's cold-case detective explores 15 surprising rules for life. Streaming video access included. This video study and study guide includes access to fifteen streaming video sessions (plus a bonus session), thoughtful introductions to each session that build from the book and videos, questions for personal reflection and application to embed these important principles into your life, and discussion questions that are perfect for leading a group or team through the material. In The Truth in True Crime Investigator's Guide, detective J. Warner Wallace explores the clues lying behind our human nature as he uncovers fifteen life truths gleaned from both contemporary murder investigations and ancient biblical wisdom. Every lesson introduces you to an investigation of a death as Wallace and his partner Rick chase down leads and along the way learn guiding principles to help us thrive and flourish as human beings created in the image of God. These fifteen attributes of human beings have been confirmed by modern sociological studies but were first described on the pages of Scripture. Even if you don't believe in God, these are valuable insights into our human condition, helping you better understand your own identity and the identity of your Creator. This study guide has everything you need for a full personal or group experience. The study guide itself--with thoughtful introductions, questions for personal reflection and application, and discussion questions for leading a group or team. An individual access code to stream all video sessions online. (You don't need to buy a DVD!) Sessions and video run times: 1. A Pool of Blood (Under My Feet) 2. Fake IDs and a Stolen Identity 3. A Target, a Bull's-Eye, and a Circle of Concern 4. Trajectory Decisions (for Better or Worse) 5. Santa Claus and Misplaced Devotion 6. Legends, Liars, and Liabilities 7. Felons, Fugitives, and Financial Freedom 8. Sense and Suffering 9. Prejudice, Injustice, and the Father of All "Isms" 10. Tough Love and a Tale of Two Brothers 11. The Killer Inside 12. A Good Guilt Trip 13. What Gangsters Have in Common 14. Death Sentences and Life without Parole 15. Every Kind of Stupid (Bonus Session) The Bible Describes You the Way You Really Are Streaming video access code included.?Access code subject to expiration after 12/31/2029. Code may be redeemed only by the recipient of this package. Code may not be transferred or sold separately from this package. Internet connection required. Void where prohibited, taxed, or restricted by law. Additional offer details inside.
In the heat of the city, a man is out of time: speeding in a beat-up Ford Tempo, blasting easy-listening music. Reporter Steve Everett drinks too much, makes love to his boss's wife, and has just stumbled upon a shocking truth: a convicted killer is about to be executed for a crime he didn't commit. In the cold confines of Death Row, Frank Beachum is also out of time. Ready to say good-bye to the wife and child he loves and hello to the God he still believes in, Beachum knows he did not kill a convenience store clerk six years ago. But in a few hours—if Steve Everett can't find the evidence to stop it—a needle is going to pierce Frank Beachum's skin. The killing machine is primed. The executioner is waiting. And so is the priest. Now the clock is ticking down and the race is on—between the reporter and his demons, between the system and its lethal flaws, between the last innocent man and society's ultimate crime. . . .