In 1991, flight attendant Nancy Ludwig checked in to an airport hotel near Detroit. The next morning she was found gagged, raped, and tortured-her throat slit with such rage that she was nearly decapitated. Her husband Arthur never gave up hope that the future would bring enough evidence to close the case. But it was the past that held the clue.
In 1985, fifty-five-year old Margarette Eby, a music professor, met the same grisly death at her cottage in Flint, Michigan. The case went cold-until six years later when the victim's son Mark came upon the story of Nancy Ludwig's slaying. With nothing to go on but intuition, he called authorities, certain that the same fiend committed both crimes.
A cunning sting operation yielded irrefutable DNA evidence, and authorities were led to the home of respected navy veteran Jeffrey Gorton living quietly with his wife and two children. But his cold-blooded secrets were only beginning to come to light leaving fears that there were more victims yet to be found in a killing spree that had finally come to an end.
True story of two murders, 5 years apart. The 1986 case went cold until the victims son saw a story of a recent murder (1991)that was identical to that of his mother. The authorities ignored him until DNA evidence began to convice them there was one monster who had committed both murders.
Margie L. (Quiltingmargie) from ANGLETON, TX wrote on 3/19/2005...
2 member(s) found this review helpful.
A good read for 'true crime' buffs. The fact that a 'loving husband and father' could be a cold-blooded killer as well is fascinating.
This is a good study in the effectiveness of cold-case crime solving.
Brenda R. (nurse) from PEKIN, IL wrote on 1/2/2009...
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
The author skips around so much it was difficult to stay interested. He starts out talking about how they obtained DNA to get the killer arrested then about one of the detectives.The story goes into one of the killer's assualts and then on to the family history of one of his murder victums. At times you would be reading and think what does this have to do with the case. The book is so disorganized and drawn out I can't help thinking I wish someone would write about this case and and leave out all the nonesense. The pictures are very dull as well. I wouldn't read another book by Tom Henderson.
Barb S. (BDS) from ORION, IL wrote on 2/13/2006...
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
This was a good book. I had heard about this case on the news so that is why I decided to read it. It is hard to believe that someone can appear normal after committing such horrendous crimes. His wife and family never suspected he was a murderer. The bogeyman does not look like a monster. In this case he looked like the guy next door.
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Ann W. from BRANDON, FL wrote on 5/28/2007...
TOM HENDERSON'S BOOKS ARE GREAT MICHIGAN TRUE CRIME STORIES. THIS BOOK DOES NOT INCLUDE ANY PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTIMONY, WHICH WOULD OF BEEN INTERESTING.
PERHAPS, THOUGH IT IS NOT NEEDED...
Millie M. from LOUISVILLE, KY wrote on 9/17/2006...
Gets a little tedious at times. You learn way more about the cops then you need to know but otherwise a good real crime book.
Christine R. from WELLINGTON, OH wrote on 5/29/2006...
Good read. Guy was a sicko. I found I kept wanting to read just "one more chapter" before going to bed and that turned into another 3 instead!