Mortal Evidence: The Forensics Behind Nine Shocking Crimes
- Book Review,
by Cyril Wecht
From Publishers Weekly
In this review of nine of his cases, pathologist Wecht gives readers a glimpse into the dark secrets that only the police, lawyers and criminals know about some of America's most intriguing murder cases in recent memory. The prose is crisp, and Wecht, writing with crime reporter Saitz and legal writer Curriden, does an admirable job of explaining technical procedures and scientific evidence in layman's terms. While Wecht's forensic expertise helps shed some light on what really happened in this collection of solved and unsolved cases, the book as a whole points out that forensics is not an infallible method for determining who committed a certain crime. For instance, Wecht's review of the Grossberg and Peterson case (two college freshmen accused of murdering their baby in 1996), on which he consulted for Grossberg's defense, demonstrates the different conclusions that doctors can reach from studying the same autopsies. Furthermore, in two of the high-profile stories mentioned in the book, the O.J. Simpson and JonBenet Ramsey cases, the limitations of forensic science are exposed. Having viewed autopsy records in both cases, Wecht does have compelling theories about who committed these headline-making crimes, but his educated guesses are not proof enough to put anyone behind bars. Still, while some of the cases in this volume are still unsolved, the inherent life-and-death dramatics in each of Wecht's reviews will certainly catch the eye of those who like a good murder mystery or fancy themselves armchair detectives. Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Book News, Inc.
Pathologist Wecht and collaborators explores the forensic evidence of a number of sensationalized criminal cases, including the JonBenet Ramsey case and the O.J. Simpson trial. Seven other cases are profiled. Wecht was often peripherally involved in the cases, serving, for example, as a media consultant during the OJ trial.Copyright © 2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR
N.A.M.E. News, Official newsletter of the Nat'l Assoc. of Medical Examiners, Vol.11, No.5, Oct./Dec. 2003
"...enjoyable reading for both the forensic practitioner and the lay reader alike..."
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, March 21, 2004
"...a fascinating catalogue of nine cases, even-handed in tone, gory but never wallowing or stomach-turning...surprisingly informative."
Forensic Science Communications, April 2004
"...can shed light on various techniques provided by forensic pathologists and scientists...pointing out blunders that should be avoided."
The Bookwatch, August 2004
"An intriguing set of scholarly discourses..."
Book Description
A lifeless newborn baby is found discarded in a motel dumpster. Authorities quickly arrest the infant's teenage parents, charging them with murder. Did Amy Grossberg and Brian Peterson, in fact, murder their own baby? When Tammy Wynette died suddenly at a relatively young age, why was no autopsy performed? Was someone trying to hide the real cause of death? Did Sam Sheppard (who later served as the basis for the television series "The Fugutive") really kill his wife? And if not, who committed the murder? Things are not always as they appear, as world-renowned forensic pathologist Dr. Cyril Wecht shows in this riveting behind-the-scenes look at nine famous cases. Drawing on police reports, depositions, trial testimony, and autopsy reports--as well as his four decades of experience--in MORTAL EVIDENCE Dr. Wecht, with the assistance of coauthors Greg Saitz and Mark Curriden, raises important issues and offers fresh perspectives on each case. In the nationally known baby case involving Amy Grossberg and Brian Peterson, Dr. Wecht reviews the evidence and comes to a startling conclusion. In fascinating detail, he demonstrates how the tools of forensic pathology often uncover murky, long-hidden secrets that track seemingly unsolvable crimes. Writing in the first-person, Dr. Wecht leads readers into the heart of the investigation, focusing each chapter on a single engrossing drama. He reveals the most startling evidence that shows why, in his professional judgment, JonBenet Ramsey's killer most likely came from within her home. Dr. Wecht also offers insight into the O.J. Simpson trial and the murder of Nicole Simpson and Ron Goldman, and shocking revelations about Robert Berdella's conviction for grisly torture and sex-abuse crimes against young men. Other cases covered include the drug-related death of casino magnate Ted Binion; the 1982 showdown between religious sect members and police in Miracle Valley, Arizona; and Robert Curley's death by long-term, methodical thallium poisoning. Whether you find the fictional plots of such dramas as "C.S.I." and crime scene documentaries exciting or you are just fascinated by true crime investigation, you'll be amazed by the true stories Dr. Wecht has to tell in this amazing real-life thriller. As this intriguing page-turner proves, the science of forensic pathology has changed the face of detective work forever.
About the Author
Cyril H. Wecht, M.D., J.D., one of the world's leading pathologists, is the author of WHO KILLED JONBENET RAMSEY?, GRAVE SECRETS, CAUSE OF DEATH, and hundreds of professional publications. He has served as president of both the American College of Legal Medicine and the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, and has appeared on numerous nationally syndicated television programs including "Dateline," "Larry King Live," "20/20." "Burden of Proof," and many others. Greg Saitz is a reporter for the "Star-Ledger" in New Jersey, where he has written about crime and the courts for several years. He has won numerous awards and currently is working on a true crime book. Mark Curriden, Esq. is the lawyer-media strategist for Vinson & Elkins, LLP, and the former legal writer for the "Dallas Morning News" and the "Atlanta Constitution." He is coauthor with Leroy Philips Jr. of CONTEMPT OF COURT: THE TURN-OF-THE-CENTURY LYNCHING THAT LAUNCHED 100 YEARS OF FEDERALISM as well as coauthor with Dr. Wecht of CAUSE OF DEATH and GRAVE SECRETS.
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