Deadly Goals: The True Story of an All-American Football Hero Who Stalked and Murdered FROM THE PUBLISHER
The twisted life of an all-American football hero and the woman he stalked and murdered. When Jeannie Butkowski vanished, her family had no doubt about who was responsible for her disappearance. Eight months later, the woman's charred remains were found in a dry creek bed in rural Virginia--a bullet lodged in the skull. Police never even questioned Pernell Jefferson, star player for the Cleveland Browns. It would take the determination of a savvy sheriff to bring him to justice. Photo insert.
SYNOPSIS
Beautiful women flocked to Pernell Jefferson, the handsome college football star with the confident charm, great body, and athletic abilities that got him picked by the Cleveland Browns.
But beneath the facade of the golden boy lurked a violent predator who got his thrills beating, raping, and molesting the woman who loved him, pretty blond Jeannie Butkowski.
When Jeannie suddenly vanished, the front door of her house found kicked off its hinges, her family had no doubt about who was responsible for her disappearance. Eight months later, the young woman's charred remains were found in a dry creek bed in rural Virginia—a bullet lodged in the skull.
Police never even questioned Pernell; it would take the deteremination of a savvy county sheriff to bring this monster to justice.
FROM THE CRITICS
Publishers Weekly
During the early 1980s, Pernell Jefferson was a sports star in his North Carolina high school and an even more noted athlete when he played football at Guilford College, becoming the leading kick returner in the country and receiving pro offers. He signed with the Cleveland Browns. But his feelings of inadequacy surfaced and he quit the Browns' training camp, certain he would be cut. He had begun using steroids as a sophomore in college and, as he increased his dosages, he began to show the violent rage that characterizes abusers of that drug; it was usually directed toward the women he dated, who were too in love with or afraid of him to press charges. Matters climaxed in 1989 when he beat, kidnapped and murdered Jeannie Butkowski in Virginia, for which he was sentenced to life in 1991. Browning, sports columnist for the Greensboro, N.C., News & Record, shows a novelist's skill in depicting Butkowski's terror as she was stalked, harassed and finally hunted down in this fine true-crime tale. Photos not seen by PW. (Apr.)
BookList - Wes Lukowsky
In a world seemingly gone mad, one of the more frightening manifestations of our collective fear is the stalker. And though celebrity stalkers exist--see Madonna--most of the victims are anonymous women, and their tormentors are former lovers. Such was the case with newly divorced Jeannie Butkowski, who began a relationship with onetime college football star and NFL hopeful Pernell Jefferson. He was insecure, very fearful of rejection, and had a history of abusing his sexual partners, all unknown to Jeannie. Soon, much to the dismay of her friends and family, Jeannie was past the point of safety in her tryst with Pernell. When she tried to end the relationship, he kidnapped her and raped her. Two months later, her front door was broken down, she was abducted and never seen alive again. Despite an ineffective, seemingly uncaring law-enforcement network, Jefferson was eventually sentenced to life in prison for her murder. Browning, a former "Atlanta Journal" editor, mesmerizes readers with a tale of ever-escalating horror, and like all the best true-crime accounts, it makes for fascinating if uncomfortable reading.
Home
