Cellar of Horror: The Story of Gary Heidnik

A sickening fiend who imprisoned women a basement whole, ala Buffalo Bill, what really made this book fascinating for me was the legal wrangling. Heidnik's defense lawyer thought he was insane legally and this could not be sentenced on the first degree murder charges, for which he was ultimately executed. This book goes through sentencing, but not any appeals or the 1999 execution.) I can't go that far; there too much history of what I felt was malingering and manipulation of the system for me to be convinced he was too crazy to be guilty. However, I don't think murder one was even the appropriate charge as meant for imprisonment and rape, etc. and two deaths were incidental to these evil deeds, meaning it was second degree murder IMO. show more The feeling from the book is that the judge and jury got carried away with the heinous nature of the deeds and set such legal niceties aside choosing vengeance over justice. Oh well, the planet is better off without him. show less

For someone so completely diabolical and disgusting, you would think that this book would be something that is a must read / listen. I found it to be poorly written and boring at times. It slogged and really didn't get to where it should have been. It’s really a disappointment, because this guy should have had his story told with the rest of the big names in the serial killer world. What a freak show.

I've read this book twice. Last night I finished it for the second time. It is such a weird crazy story that when I was reading Slave Girls by Wensley Clarkson and he had a chapter omitted to this story I had to go downstairs and find this book again.

How he set those women against each other. He made Rivera kill the other girl but thanks to her they were also saved.
Have to see if Gary heidnik is still alive.

This book was a lot more about the trial and the lawyers arguing he was whether he was insane or mentally ill, than the actual crime. The killer was put to death in 1999. The last person to be electrocuted in Pennsylvania.