Bad Boy: The True Story of Kenneth Allen McDuff, the Most Notorious Serial Killer in Texas History
by Gary M. Lavergne
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Description
In October of 1989, the State of Texas set Kenneth Allen McDuff, the Broomstick Murderer, free. It was not a trial error, or a ruling by some judge. McDuff was paroled. All of a sudden fear returned. Calls came in from housewives afraid to leave their kids by themselves during broad daylight. Schools took precautions, and bus drivers were warned to be on the alert for the Bad Boy from Rosebud. Thirty years after he had dropped out of school, Kenneth McDuff was still scaring school children show more and giving principals trouble. By choosing to murder again while on parole, McDuff became the architect of an extraordinarily intolerant atmosphere in Texas. He brought about the restructuring of the third largest criminal justice system in the United States. The spasm of prison construction and parole reforms collectively called the "McDuff Rules," resulted from an enormous display of anger vented towards the system that allowed McDuff to kill, and kill again. Bad Boy from Rosebud is a chilling account of the life of one of the most heartless and brutal serial killers in American history. Drawing from dozens of interviews, a careful review of primary documents, and recounting his personal involvement with law enforcement officers in efforts to recover victims, Gary M. Lavergne goes beyond horror into an analysis of the unbelievable subculture in which McDuff lived. Equally compelling are the lives of remarkable law enforcement officers determined to bring McDuff to justice, and their seven-year search for his victims. "Texas still feels the pain inflicted by Kenneth Allen McDuff, despite the relentless efforts of law enforcement officials to solve his crimes and bind up its wounds. Bad Boy from Rosebud is an impeccably researched, compellingly detailed account of the crimes and the long search for justice. Gary Lavergne takes us directly to the scenes of the crimes, deep inside the mind of a killer, and in the process learns not only whom McDuff killed and how-but why. This is classic crime reporting."-Dan Rather, CBS Anchor and Managing Editor and reporter of Kenneth Allen McDuff on 48 Hours. show lessTags
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Member Reviews
Finished reading last night. (January 4th) This was the second time i read this book. It is such a shocking story. This time i read it together with another book about this serial killer: No Remorse by Bob Stewart.
The 2 books were very much alike.
The difference this book was bigger, had a chapter with notes but most important it was published later (3 Years?) which meant the author could tell us the aftermath.
McDuff did tell where 3 of his victims were buried so I am so glad that they were able to bring Regina, Colleen and Melanie home.
Plus the author also told us that McDuff died. He was executed on November 17, 1998 at Huntsville Unit. According to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice death row section McDuff's final words were: show more "I’m ready to be released. Release me".[3] McDuff's body was never claimed by his family. He is buried in the cemetery of the prison where he was executed. His grave marker is adorned only with his death row number: X999055.
It is very interesting to learn that what he did, being paroled twice and kill again, launched a massive overhaul of its prison system to prevent violent criminals from winning early parole in Texas.
The parole rules were tightened and I can imagine he must have been on of the most hated prisoners by his fellow prisoners. show less
The 2 books were very much alike.
The difference this book was bigger, had a chapter with notes but most important it was published later (3 Years?) which meant the author could tell us the aftermath.
McDuff did tell where 3 of his victims were buried so I am so glad that they were able to bring Regina, Colleen and Melanie home.
Plus the author also told us that McDuff died. He was executed on November 17, 1998 at Huntsville Unit. According to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice death row section McDuff's final words were: show more "I’m ready to be released. Release me".[3] McDuff's body was never claimed by his family. He is buried in the cemetery of the prison where he was executed. His grave marker is adorned only with his death row number: X999055.
It is very interesting to learn that what he did, being paroled twice and kill again, launched a massive overhaul of its prison system to prevent violent criminals from winning early parole in Texas.
The parole rules were tightened and I can imagine he must have been on of the most hated prisoners by his fellow prisoners. show less
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Author Information
5 Works 162 Members
Gary M. Lavergne is Director of Admissions Research at the University of Texas at Austin.
Common Knowledge
- People/Characters
- Kenneth Allen McDuff
- Important places
- USA; Texas, USA
- Original language
- English
Classifications
- Genres
- Nonfiction, Politics and Government, General Nonfiction, History, Biography & Memoir
- DDC/MDS
- 364.15 — Society, Government, and Culture Social problems and social services Crime Criminal offenses Offenses against the person
- LCC
- HV6248 .M4652 .L38 — Social sciences Social pathology. Social and public welfare. Criminology Social pathology. Social and public welfare. Criminology Criminal classes
- BISAC
Statistics
- Members
- 47
- Popularity
- 635,007
- Reviews
- 1
- Rating
- (3.63)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 5
