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The Good Son: A True Story of Greed, Manipulation, and Cold-Blooded Murder
Rick and Suzanna Wamsley were well-loved in their Mansfield, Texas, community. Former high-school sweethearts, they provided their two children with every comfort. But their twenty-year-old son, Andrew, had a bitter, rebellious streak...and resented his parents for making him go to college, for not giving him the title to the sports car he wanted, and for their disapproval of his teenage girlfriend, Chelsea Richardson. She was from the other side of the tracks―and she had a deadly plan in store for the Wamsleys...
On the night of December 11, 2003, Chelsea and two accomplices entered the Wamsley home. Carrying guns and knives, they killed Suzanna instantly. Rick fought his attackers tooth and nail…but couldn't save himself. Later, DNA evidence would link Chelsea's best friend, Susana Toledano, to the crime scene. Then authorities learned that a fourth suspect provided the murder weapon. It was only a matter of time before investigators closed in on the last perpetrator―the one person who stood to inherit almost two million dollars in the event of the Wamsleys' Andrew, The good SON .
On the night of December 11, 2003, Chelsea and two accomplices entered the Wamsley home. Carrying guns and knives, they killed Suzanna instantly. Rick fought his attackers tooth and nail…but couldn't save himself. Later, DNA evidence would link Chelsea's best friend, Susana Toledano, to the crime scene. Then authorities learned that a fourth suspect provided the murder weapon. It was only a matter of time before investigators closed in on the last perpetrator―the one person who stood to inherit almost two million dollars in the event of the Wamsleys' Andrew, The good SON .
272 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 22, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
May 2, 2018
A fascinating story but it’s missing some very important details. We are left with a motive of greed and insurance money but almost nothing of the murderer’s background. There are hints that the parents may have been arguably poor guardians and perhaps used their money to control their children’s lives. But these hints are not followed up in detail which leaves the reader hanging on why the son resorted to murder.
August 9, 2026
“His parents gave him everything he ever wanted. He paid them back—with murder. The true crime case of conspiracy killer Andrew Wamsley.”
Popular Mansfield, Texas residents Rick and Suzanna Wamsley were murdered in cold blood by their son Andrew, his wrong-side-of-the-tracks girlfriend, Chelsea Richardson, and two accomplices. According to Andrew, they were “abusive”. According to others, he was angry because they wouldn’t give him a nice car, they made him go to school, and they didn’t like Chelsea.
This true crime story follows the cops as they work to find out whodunnit, and provides a comprehensive summary of the various trials. It was a case I was unfamiliar with, and I like the author, so I gave it a go. It helped to pass time on the recumbent bike and treadmill at the gym. It was decently written (the author relied on court transcripts and direct contact with three of the four perpetrators, so it’s factually sound). Didn’t make it onto my Read It Again list, but it held my interest while reading, which is mostly what I ask from books like this. I would read more by this author.
Popular Mansfield, Texas residents Rick and Suzanna Wamsley were murdered in cold blood by their son Andrew, his wrong-side-of-the-tracks girlfriend, Chelsea Richardson, and two accomplices. According to Andrew, they were “abusive”. According to others, he was angry because they wouldn’t give him a nice car, they made him go to school, and they didn’t like Chelsea.
This true crime story follows the cops as they work to find out whodunnit, and provides a comprehensive summary of the various trials. It was a case I was unfamiliar with, and I like the author, so I gave it a go. It helped to pass time on the recumbent bike and treadmill at the gym. It was decently written (the author relied on court transcripts and direct contact with three of the four perpetrators, so it’s factually sound). Didn’t make it onto my Read It Again list, but it held my interest while reading, which is mostly what I ask from books like this. I would read more by this author.
October 24, 2020
A true crime about a son that was involved in killing his parents. A sad reason-wanting the money from insurance and house. That is not really a spoiler, because it's talked about through the book. Well written with a neutral narrative this story does tell at the end the lack of reasoning behind this kind of mentality.
September 7, 2021
Excellent!
Stella Sands is an incredible true crime writer and this book is further proof that she knows what she is doing ! She is so thorough with the crimes she writes about, it is hard to find anything negative to say about this book! Excellent and a must read for all true crime buffs!
Stella Sands is an incredible true crime writer and this book is further proof that she knows what she is doing ! She is so thorough with the crimes she writes about, it is hard to find anything negative to say about this book! Excellent and a must read for all true crime buffs!
March 23, 2025
I have always been interested in non-fiction crime books. Although I did like parts of the book, I found some of the court proceedings to be repetitive and on the boring side. I did like seeing the pictures of the accused and of the detectives and lawyers. 4.6/5
August 23, 2018
A son and his friends kill his parents. Greed . Horrendous.
January 17, 2019
Morale of this story...
Don't do anything illegal for anyone....family or friends.
Don't lie for anyone...family or friends.
Don't do anything illegal for anyone....family or friends.
Don't lie for anyone...family or friends.
August 30, 2026
A well researched book that held my attention for a quick read. I had forgotten this murder happened next door to a friend of mine. There was a lot of duplication because of the 2 trials.
July 31, 2011
This book is about Andrew Wamsley, a spoiled rich kid from Texas that had his parents killed to inherit their 1 million dollar insurance policy. This book, like the last I read, had a lot of court room detail, but this one wasn't as boring. Great read! = )
February 21, 2011
EWWWW creepy. This family was incredibly screwed up. Oh yeah and from TExas. That seems to happen a lot!!!!
February 27, 2015
It was a good book that spoiled brat got what he deserved for killing his own parents.
September 21, 2015
Wow. A book that you cannot put Down. True story of a son who wanted all the money his parents had. I live not far from where this happened and remember seeing it on the news. Smh.
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March 5, 2016paperback
December 31, 2021
Ok
Have read many many true crime books over the years. This one was alright but not that interesting. Well written.
Have read many many true crime books over the years. This one was alright but not that interesting. Well written.
April 15, 2017
A little tedious but worth the read.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews