Pure Murder

I was only a few years younger than Jennifer Ertman when this crime occurred, and I remember it being mentioned on the nightly news. I bought the book a few years ago, and since I was on a true crime kick, I decided to finally read it.

The crime detailed in the book is horrible. Six men, three of them technically juveniles (which is totally arbitrary, how you can be 17 years and 364 days old and your culpability is lessened in the eyes of the law, whereas if you are 18 years and 0 days old, you are suddenly an adult), brutally raped and murdered two girls (aged 14 and 16) on their way home from visiting friends.

I found the details in the book to be, at times, overly salacious. I know that true crime, as a genre, is somewhat voyeuristic show more anyway, but I really didn't need to read about the very gruesome details contained in chapter 18 or about the maggots in one of the victim's genital region (which was mentioned more than once).

It's upsetting to read how many chances there were, looking in retrospect, to prevent this crime. If only the men, many of them on probation for various crimes (AND in violation of their parole stipulations), had been been held responsible by their parole officers (who, I acknowledge, are overworked and underpaid). If only those who had been sentenced to counseling had actually gone to the sessions or been held responsible for skipping them. If only they had been caught for prior murders (at least two had been committed, possibly more, before that fateful night in that Houston park).

It's also disturbing to see how some of the defendants' parents and lawyers tried to lay some blame on Jennifer Ertman and Elizabeth Pena for their brutal deaths. It's absolutely disgusting.

The book is a little out of date now. The book shares that Derrick Sean O'Brien had been executed. As of the time of this review, the other two "adult" offenders (Peter Cantu and Joe Medellin) have been executed in Texas for their crimes. Raul Villarreal and Efrain Perez, both being 17 when they raped and helped murder the two girls, had their sentences commuted to life. show less

I read a lot of true crime and the angle on the story always seems to be something exceptional: exceptionally cruel, a large number of victims, an exceptionally famous victim, etc. The remarkable thing about these heinous crimes and their perpetrators is the banality of it all: Act I: teen hoodlums caught at increasingly criminal acts without repercussions and coming wayward from dysfunctional homes; Act II: Teen girls encounter the unruly boys whose unwanted attentions turn to rape and murder; Act III: Despite murder convictions, a largely slow, and perpetrator-focused legal systems leads to delayed or canceled executions.

The descriptions of the actual, homicidal crimes and the crime scene investigation and particularly lurid and detailed.

This is an excellent book written about one of the most horrific crimes ever. The rapes and murders of Jennifer Ertman and Elizabeth Pena is one of the worst I have ever read about. This book was very well researched. Very detailed about the victims, killers, and the murders - enough that you felt you were watching all of it. The group of gang members that raped and murdered these two innocent girls were all sociopaths who enjoyed inflicting pain on others. In fact, some got in trouble while in prison serving their sentences or awaiting execution, attacking guards or other inmates. Thankfully, 3 of them were executed, 2 others have life with no parole and 1 has 40 years. This book is excellent - well-written and well-researched. He gave show more depth to each character, making you love them or hate them. You feel such empathy for the victims' family and the pain they had to endure throughout their journey to justice. Corey Mitchell, the author, makes sure you always know who the victims are and that they are and should be the center of attention. I, personally, will never forget these two young ladies. I recommend this book. It is great! show less

One of the best true crime books I've read in a while and I think it is the best of Corey Mitchell. Loved the way he build up the suspense and not began with the murders. (he told me his next book will have the same concept) I did not know what this book would be about but of course you slowly understand where this is going and it is going far, to hell and back. This is such a sad book.Highly recommend. 4.5 stars