A Rip in Heaven
by Jeanine Cummins
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The acclaimed author of American Dirt reveals the devastating effects of a shocking tragedy in this landmark true crime book—the first ever to look intimately at the experiences of both the victims and their families. A Rip in Heaven is Jeanine Cummins’ story of a night in April, 1991, when her two cousins Julie and Robin Kerry, and her brother, Tom, were assaulted on the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge, which spans the Mississippi River just outside of St. Louis. When, after a harrowing show more ordeal, Tom managed to escape the attackers and flag down help, he thought the nightmare would soon be over. He couldn’t have been more wrong. Tom, his sister Jeanine, and their entire family were just at the beginning of a horrific odyssey through the aftermath of a violent crime, a world of shocking betrayal, endless heartbreak, and utter disillusionment. It was a trial by fire from which no family member would emerge unscathed. show lessTags
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A Rip In Heaven is the true-life story of the brutal rape and murders of Julie and Robin Kerry that took place in 1991 in St. Louis, MO. Considering this is a memoir about her own family, I believe the author did a fantastic job bringing the true story to life. I was riveted to the book from the first page and experienced many intense emotions as I read. The crime itself is horrendous and heartbreaking, but the staggering injustice Tom Cummins suffered at the hands of the Missouri Police Department was almost more challenging to comprehend than the atrocious crime. I have researched the status of the four men who were convicted. Only one has been executed of the three sentenced to die by lethal injection. Another has had his sentence show more reversed to life in prison, and a third had his sentence thrown out by the Supreme Court. I believe he was released in 2015. The fourth, the youngest, got released in 2011 but is now in prison for other crimes. I do not include their names in this review because they do not deserve to be remembered. Jeanine Cummins’s message in the book that the victims—silenced by death—are unfairly forgotten while, at the same time, their murderers are portrayed as victims by media and activist groups is entirely accurate and so unjust. RIP Julie and Robin. show less
Considering that this book is about the brutal gang rape and murder of the author's two cousins, it is an extremely balanced and thoughtful account, much like Ann Rule's work. Julie and Robin Kerry were thrown off a bridge in Missouri in 1991; Robin's body was never found. Their cousin, Jeanine Cummins's brother Tom, was with them and was also shoved off the bridge, but survived and later testified against the killers. There are detailed word portraits of each of the main characters in the story—the book was much more about Robin, Kerry and Tom than it was about the killers, and pictures of the killers were not even included in the photo centerfold. Tom was initially suspected of killing his cousins and was actually charged with their show more murders, but was quickly released. Cummins is able to convincingly explain how a combination of trauma, sleep deprivation and inappropriate police interrogation tactics caused Tom to fail a lie detector test and make an incriminating statement (I would hardly call it a confession). It is unfortunate that to this day, some people believe he was responsible for the girls' deaths.
I really have to give Cummins credit for not trying to demonize the murderers. They are/were violent and dangerous men; the sheer brutality of their crimes showed this and needed no further embellishment. The only complaint I have about this book is that it sort of ended in the thick of things, with one of the killers being granted yet another stay of execution, without any explanation as to what eventually happened. This is a very good memoir, well-written and researched and as objective as we have any right to expect it to be. show less
I really have to give Cummins credit for not trying to demonize the murderers. They are/were violent and dangerous men; the sheer brutality of their crimes showed this and needed no further embellishment. The only complaint I have about this book is that it sort of ended in the thick of things, with one of the killers being granted yet another stay of execution, without any explanation as to what eventually happened. This is a very good memoir, well-written and researched and as objective as we have any right to expect it to be. show less
This book tells a very compelling story of a horrific crime that devastated the author's family. Not only were her two older cousins murdered, but her older brother was wrongly arrested for the crime and coerced by overzealous police into falsely confessing. Fortunately for him, the actual perpetrators were found, tried and sentenced. Some of them received the death penalty, and at least one has since been executed.
This story touches on a number of timely issues: the effects of violent crime on the survivors, false confessions, the death penalty. It is interesting reading a personal narrative concerning these topics rather than the usual scholarly roundup of evidence. I know that it must have been very difficult for the author to write show more a book chronicling such a painful event. However, some of the choices she made worked against her. She chose to refer to herself in the third person using a childhood nickname, which I thought added a layer of removal from the story she was telling. She also did not discuss a lot of the emotional reactions of other family members, particularly her cousins' parents. It seemed like she was trying to simultaneously write about their personal lives but also shield them, and it left her with little to say about their reactions other than cliches. I felt she did best in eulogizing her cousins and describing how their passionate belief in equality and justice inspired and guided the rest of the family in dealing with the aftermath of their murders. show less
This story touches on a number of timely issues: the effects of violent crime on the survivors, false confessions, the death penalty. It is interesting reading a personal narrative concerning these topics rather than the usual scholarly roundup of evidence. I know that it must have been very difficult for the author to write show more a book chronicling such a painful event. However, some of the choices she made worked against her. She chose to refer to herself in the third person using a childhood nickname, which I thought added a layer of removal from the story she was telling. She also did not discuss a lot of the emotional reactions of other family members, particularly her cousins' parents. It seemed like she was trying to simultaneously write about their personal lives but also shield them, and it left her with little to say about their reactions other than cliches. I felt she did best in eulogizing her cousins and describing how their passionate belief in equality and justice inspired and guided the rest of the family in dealing with the aftermath of their murders. show less
Jeanine Cummins and her brother and sister had always believed themselves to be invincible; tough street-wise teenagers who were entirely capable of taking care of themselves. The truth was that these supposedly 'street-smart' city kids could not have been living a more sheltered childhood. Truly, life in the big city could never have prepared Tom, Jeanine, and Kathy Cummins for anything. Indeed, nothing could have ever prepared the Cummins family for the type of brutality that they were about to encounter; or for the tragedy that would ultimately destroy life as they knew it.
When their parents packed nineteen-year-old Tom, sixteen-year-old Jeanine and fifteen-year-old Kathy into the family van for the trip to Missouri, the teenagers show more were absolutely delighted. They would be spending spring break with their cousins, and they couldn't possibly have been more excited at the prospect of seeing their family again - most especially the Kerry sisters; Julie and Robin. As a matter of fact, the Cummins siblings were extremely close to twenty-year-old Julie and nineteen-year-old Robin, and thoroughly enjoyed spending time with them. Although nobody could possibly have anticipated the horror that they would experience on the night of April 4th, 1991.
A Rip in Heaven is Jeanine Cummins' story of that night, the horrifying night when her cousins Julie and Robin Kerry and her brother Tom were brutally assaulted. What started out as a simple walk to the Chain of Rocks Bridge - which spans the Mississippi River just outside of St. Louis - to read a poem written by Julie, turned into a harrowing ordeal for the three innocent young people. When Tom finally managed to escape their attackers and flag down help, he believed that the nightmare would soon be over.
However, he could not have been more wrong in his assumption. Tom, his sister Jeanine, and their entire family were only at the beginning of a horrifying odyssey through the aftermath of a violent crime; about to enter a world of shocking betrayal, endless heartbreak, and utter disillusionment. Ultimately, this was a trial by fire from which no family member would emerge unscathed.
I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It was a heartbreakingly sad and shattering account of a brutal crime, but I was utterly shocked by the treatment of the victims by the very people who were charged with their protection. I found that the perseverance of the Cummins family was truly admirable and I applaud their dedication to Julie's and Robin's memories. I would certainly give this book an A+! show less
When their parents packed nineteen-year-old Tom, sixteen-year-old Jeanine and fifteen-year-old Kathy into the family van for the trip to Missouri, the teenagers show more were absolutely delighted. They would be spending spring break with their cousins, and they couldn't possibly have been more excited at the prospect of seeing their family again - most especially the Kerry sisters; Julie and Robin. As a matter of fact, the Cummins siblings were extremely close to twenty-year-old Julie and nineteen-year-old Robin, and thoroughly enjoyed spending time with them. Although nobody could possibly have anticipated the horror that they would experience on the night of April 4th, 1991.
A Rip in Heaven is Jeanine Cummins' story of that night, the horrifying night when her cousins Julie and Robin Kerry and her brother Tom were brutally assaulted. What started out as a simple walk to the Chain of Rocks Bridge - which spans the Mississippi River just outside of St. Louis - to read a poem written by Julie, turned into a harrowing ordeal for the three innocent young people. When Tom finally managed to escape their attackers and flag down help, he believed that the nightmare would soon be over.
However, he could not have been more wrong in his assumption. Tom, his sister Jeanine, and their entire family were only at the beginning of a horrifying odyssey through the aftermath of a violent crime; about to enter a world of shocking betrayal, endless heartbreak, and utter disillusionment. Ultimately, this was a trial by fire from which no family member would emerge unscathed.
I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It was a heartbreakingly sad and shattering account of a brutal crime, but I was utterly shocked by the treatment of the victims by the very people who were charged with their protection. I found that the perseverance of the Cummins family was truly admirable and I applaud their dedication to Julie's and Robin's memories. I would certainly give this book an A+! show less
Well written Memoire of a devasting family tragedy. The author shares her experience from the heart, soul and eyes of a teenager whose life changes by a single evening of evil acts commited on her brother & cousins. She shares the unfolding events of the horrific crime and the unbelievable aftermath that the family is put through. After meeting the author, at an event regarding her other book "Crooked Branch". I was introduced to this book and decided to give it a read. It was a sad, heart breaking read. I am glad she shared her memoire with us. I am somewhat amazed that police tactics haven't changed much as far as interrogation of witnesses or suspects & the media has only gotten worse on intrusion and reporting in your face of show more victims and families. I hope the young men responsible for the deaths of Julie & Robin never get released. Tom is my "hero" too! Kisses & Revolution!!!! show less
I had a really hard time putting this book down. This is the story of Jeanine's brother and two female cousins - - all in their late teens/early twenties who have a horrible crime perpetrated against them. Unfortunately, one of the three is subsequently blamed for the crime, and this book relates the story of this injustice and the family's reaction to it.
It really is a gripping, if horrific, story on so many levels - - the crime, the senselessness and viscousness of the attack, the completely unfair accusations against one of the victims, and finally the resolution of the case. I had a very hard time putting the book down.
It really is a gripping, if horrific, story on so many levels - - the crime, the senselessness and viscousness of the attack, the completely unfair accusations against one of the victims, and finally the resolution of the case. I had a very hard time putting the book down.
The story is not particularly well written but it's very compelling and tragic recount of true crime. I am from the area so I was interested in the story; however for people who wonder how easy it is to confess to a crime you did not commit - read this book!
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Author Information
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- Canonical title
- A Rip in Heaven
- Original title
- A Rip in Heaven
- Alternate titles
- A Rip in Heaven: A Memoir of Murder and Its Aftermath
- Original publication date
- 2004
- People/Characters
- Julie Kerry; Robin Kerry; Tom Cummins; Gene Cummins; Tink Cummins; Kathy Cummins (show all 25); Grandpa Gene & Grandma Maria; Ginna Kerry; Grandpa Art Matthews; Jamie Kerry; St Louis Police Department; Marlin Gray; Daniel Winfrey; Reginald Clemons; Antonio Richardson; Frank Fabbri; Kay Cummins; Grandma Polly Matthews; Gary Stittum; Raymond Ghrist; Richard Trevor; Michael Guzy; Steven Jacobsmeyer; Frank Fabbri; Nels Moss
- Important places
- Old Chain of Rocks Bridge, Illinois-Missouri, USA; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; Mississippi River, USA
- Epigraph
- The river moans and sighs, Swallows my memoiries, And spits back currents of regret, To drown careless swimmers, 'Neath onion's shield, She sheds saltless tears, Howling at the moon.
The bridge has long since collapsed... (show all) and now the river boasts her danger for fear of drowning.
I no longer cross to meet you, I stand on muddy banks waving, but can't you see clearly, My dreams take me down, To rocks and the cold current below, And I have lost myself, In the water's wailing drone, That lulls me to sleep
-Julie Kerry - Dedication
- For Robin: my true friend, my blood, my laugh-maker
And for Julie: my sunshine, my awe-inspirer, my soul-waker.
May God grant us the strength and wisdom to do your lives a sliver of justice in the telling. We l... (show all)ove you always and miss you every day. Kisses and Revolution. - First words
- In 1991, I was a sixteen-year-old high-school kid living on the outskirts of the nation's capital and I thought I was invincible, I thought I was tough.
- Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)Kisses and Revolution.
Classifications
- Genres
- Nonfiction, Biography & Memoir
- DDC/MDS
- 364.15230977866 — Social sciences Social problems and social services Criminology Criminal offenses Offenses against the person Homicide Murder History, geographic treatment, biography North America Midwestern U.S.
- LCC
- HV6533 .M45 .C86 — Social sciences Social pathology. Social and public welfare. Criminology Social pathology. Social and public welfare. Criminology Crimes and offenses
- BISAC
Statistics
- Members
- 430
- Popularity
- 71,227
- Reviews
- 19
- Rating
- (3.78)
- Languages
- English, French
- Media
- Paper, Audiobook, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 11
- UPCs
- 1
- ASINs
- 2
