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Killer Kids: Shocking True Stories Of Children Who Murdered Their Parents
Innocent children turned ruthless murderers...Hate-filled and deeply disturbed...They kill with cold-blooded savagery...
Nothing was too good for precious Katy-- sports cars, jewelry, designer clothes. Her father, a successful South Florida businessman, could not resist any of her whims. But when he tried to curb her fast-lane lifestyle, she had him shot through the head while he slept.
Behind closed doors of her suburban Chicago home, Nancy Knuckles was a sadistic disciplinarian who, for years, terrorised her four children with religious fanaticism, beatings, and psychological torture, until they finally rebelled with a vengeance. After the oldest daughter strangled mom and stuffed her in a trunk, the kids partied hard, inviting their friends over for booze and rock 'n' roll.
Susan Cabot was a beautiful B-movie queen and obsessive mother. Her son Tim-- born a dwarf-- was pumped full of experimental drugs extracted from cadavers to increase his height. When the ex-film star's badly beaten body was discovered in her Hollywood home, little Timmy claimed she had been killed by men using Ninja methods-- before confessing.
Nothing was too good for precious Katy-- sports cars, jewelry, designer clothes. Her father, a successful South Florida businessman, could not resist any of her whims. But when he tried to curb her fast-lane lifestyle, she had him shot through the head while he slept.
Behind closed doors of her suburban Chicago home, Nancy Knuckles was a sadistic disciplinarian who, for years, terrorised her four children with religious fanaticism, beatings, and psychological torture, until they finally rebelled with a vengeance. After the oldest daughter strangled mom and stuffed her in a trunk, the kids partied hard, inviting their friends over for booze and rock 'n' roll.
Susan Cabot was a beautiful B-movie queen and obsessive mother. Her son Tim-- born a dwarf-- was pumped full of experimental drugs extracted from cadavers to increase his height. When the ex-film star's badly beaten body was discovered in her Hollywood home, little Timmy claimed she had been killed by men using Ninja methods-- before confessing.
304 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published June 15, 1993
58 people are currently reading
332 people want to read
About the author
Clifford L. Linedecker
55 books30 followersClifford L. Linedecker is a former daily newspaper journalist with eighteen years experience on the Philadelphia Inquirer, Rochester (N.Y.) Times-Union, Fort Wayne News-Sentinel, and several other Indiana newspapers. He is an experienced investigative reporter who has covered police and the courts on each of the papers where he was employed. He is a former articles editor for National Features Syndicate in Chicago, and for "County Rambler" magazine. He is the author of numerous true crime titles, including The Man Who Killed Boys, Night Stalker, Killer Kids, Blood in the Sand, and Deadly White Female.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
September 26, 2021
You lose one star for saying “ blood SPLATTER” ugh just no I DO KNOW FOR A FACT THAT IT IS NOT SPLATTER by the way
Got a question: this author just said a victim’s “right and left carotid arteries were slashed” and ok I googled there are four carotid. I honestly have never taken a medical course and that's never been mentioned in ANY of my hundreds of crime books I've read. This WAS NOT A PURPOSEFUL INACCURACY. I honestly did not know and that is why I asked. Is that something I should be ashamed of? I'm sorry but I come from the background of there are no stupid questions.
Lesson one-do not be a parent and live in Colorado. Just don’t live in Colorado or Washington or California. Or Australia I swear either those places just have the funkiest crimes or all da murdey just happens there
Got a question: this author just said a victim’s “right and left carotid arteries were slashed” and ok I googled there are four carotid. I honestly have never taken a medical course and that's never been mentioned in ANY of my hundreds of crime books I've read. This WAS NOT A PURPOSEFUL INACCURACY. I honestly did not know and that is why I asked. Is that something I should be ashamed of? I'm sorry but I come from the background of there are no stupid questions.
Lesson one-do not be a parent and live in Colorado. Just don’t live in Colorado or Washington or California. Or Australia I swear either those places just have the funkiest crimes or all da murdey just happens there
June 15, 2025
I knew I was in for some good times when, in the prologue, devil worship, satanic influences and D&D type games were presented as one of five reasons kids might kill. Oh, yessssssss! Bring me some of THAT!
Sadly, though, none of those crimes were covered in the book, much to my dismay. Seems like the book was published in the early 1990s so the crimes were older and a fair amount of the information was a bit dated. However, if you have ever heard of the Cheryl Pierson killing (she killed her father, claimed incest) there’s apparently a documentary out about her life now. She’s still with her high boyfriend!
Sadly, though, none of those crimes were covered in the book, much to my dismay. Seems like the book was published in the early 1990s so the crimes were older and a fair amount of the information was a bit dated. However, if you have ever heard of the Cheryl Pierson killing (she killed her father, claimed incest) there’s apparently a documentary out about her life now. She’s still with her high boyfriend!
April 7, 2021
I loved this book. Quick short chapters straight to the point, didnt dwell on the court case. Lots of cases I hadnt heard of.
August 10, 2024
Overblown, exploitative but still compelling.
May 1, 2025
A collection of stories about kids and teens who have murdered their parents. The writing is a little dated, with errors in editing and comprehension but the bones of the book are good if you find the subject interesting. Not the best book I’ve read on the topic but worth a cursory glance at the very least.
July 6, 2017
Although the reading material itself was fascinating, the presentation itself was rather bland. What you really want to know about these crimes and what may have led to them was left out as well as the fact that with some of them the reader should have been able to discover what happened to the "child" who was said to be eligible for parole in no time flat.
The writing was less than average while there were actually a few spots that had mistakes such as the using of the wrong name of a person mentioned. These mostly trivial things helped contributed to a book that was long in the reading if you read from cover-to-cover.
What made these stories a tragedy all in all is the fact that many were said to have come from abusive homes. With the exception of a few we don't know if that was the case or that was the defense trying to either win the jury's pity or the defendant trying to put the accusation elsewhere for as the author continually reminds us only the defendant and the parent actually know but guess what the parent is dead.
For those who may be interested in this genre I would suggest reading one or two stories a bit of the ways and not stories following back-to-back to see if it will pique your interest. Otherwise it will you a beginning step into the world of parricide.
The writing was less than average while there were actually a few spots that had mistakes such as the using of the wrong name of a person mentioned. These mostly trivial things helped contributed to a book that was long in the reading if you read from cover-to-cover.
What made these stories a tragedy all in all is the fact that many were said to have come from abusive homes. With the exception of a few we don't know if that was the case or that was the defense trying to either win the jury's pity or the defendant trying to put the accusation elsewhere for as the author continually reminds us only the defendant and the parent actually know but guess what the parent is dead.
For those who may be interested in this genre I would suggest reading one or two stories a bit of the ways and not stories following back-to-back to see if it will pique your interest. Otherwise it will you a beginning step into the world of parricide.
May 7, 2014
I am a fan of true crime, and yes..this is a true crime book. The problem is that the author is a very poor writer. I don't like the fact that he interjects with his opinions in ways that make the book seemingly more fiction than not.
The subject matter doesn't freak me out, sad and terrible things happen..but the name of this book would have been better named 'Lousy Author Who Sensationalizes and Makes a Profit Off Abused Kids." Almost every child talked about in this book came from a horribly abusive background. Does this give them a valid excuse for murdering their parents? I guess that's a subject that is debatable.
I'm glad I paid .50 cents at a book sale for this..it isn't worth any more than that.
The subject matter doesn't freak me out, sad and terrible things happen..but the name of this book would have been better named 'Lousy Author Who Sensationalizes and Makes a Profit Off Abused Kids." Almost every child talked about in this book came from a horribly abusive background. Does this give them a valid excuse for murdering their parents? I guess that's a subject that is debatable.
I'm glad I paid .50 cents at a book sale for this..it isn't worth any more than that.
September 8, 2023
A book of quick summaries of cases, some of which could’ve gone much more in depth. It was quick but the presentation of the stories was pretty boring and repetitive as each chapter is laid out identically. Writing also not particularly special, a few terminology errors and could’ve been much more detailed. Good stories that I didn’t know before though!
August 7, 2022
This book came out a while ago and so the cases are all from the 70's and 80's, but it was still an interesting read for a true crime lover.
August 14, 2023
Nancy Knuckles ruled her kiddies with an iron fist. The woman had left her Catholic faith for the more stringent Seventh Day Adventist flock. She beat the "Devil" out of her children with a garden hose and spoke of a demonic presence in their home. The two teen daughters and brother strangled mom to death with a rope. Prison sentences followed the murder.
Larry Swartz was adopted along with another boy and girl. The troubled youth grew tired of their strict rules and stabbed the happy couple to death.
Susan Cabot was born Harriet Shapiro in Boston in 1927 and was known as a b-movie actress. Her son was rumored to be born of a relationship with King Hussein of Jordan. The boy suffered from dwarfism and was treated with experimental human growth hormones. He beat her to death with a barbell and blamed a ninja. No ninja was found but the boy escaped any real punishment for the murder.
Katy Telemachos was the spoiled daughter of a Romanian immigrant who spent his life giving his kid everything she wished for. Payback was a bullet through his skull.
Oliver Petrovich made the mistake of falling for a homeless Black girl and sneaking her into his father's home on Long Island. His mother was not bothered by the interracial romance but his father Peter screamed racial epithets at the girl when he uncovered the couple in his house. The immigrant from Yugoslavia had some strong prejudicial views on race. Oliver blasted mom and dad to Kingdom Come with shotgun blasts and he was sentenced to fifty-to-life.
Teresa Bickerstaff was already working as a hooker at the tender age of fourteen. She hitched her way across the USA with truck stops being the major source of her income.
Along with her boyfriend, the teen shot her mother and two brothers and then set the house on fire. The lovebirds are deservedly in prison.
Richard Jahnke pumped a few rounds from one of his father's thirty-three guns into dear old dad. His namesake had a history of beating his son, daughter and wife on a regular basis. The sentences were unusual and I just love Catholic funerals for bastards.
Cheryl Pierson suffered at the hands of her father until, at the age of sixteen, she hired a boy to shoot the monster. The trial proved through witness testimony, that she was telling the truth about the molestations. As with the previous story, another RC sendoff.
Ross Carlson killed mom and dad and his lawyers used multiple personalities as his defense. After years of legal procedures, it ended abruptly.
Patty Columbo provides the best material in the book. At sixteen, the girl started an affair with a married man of forty-six. He left his wife and children and her mother, father and brother were murdered. Several witnesses testified to Patty attempting to hire hit men. She gave cash and sexual favors to two of them. A very strange case.
Larry Swartz was adopted along with another boy and girl. The troubled youth grew tired of their strict rules and stabbed the happy couple to death.
Susan Cabot was born Harriet Shapiro in Boston in 1927 and was known as a b-movie actress. Her son was rumored to be born of a relationship with King Hussein of Jordan. The boy suffered from dwarfism and was treated with experimental human growth hormones. He beat her to death with a barbell and blamed a ninja. No ninja was found but the boy escaped any real punishment for the murder.
Katy Telemachos was the spoiled daughter of a Romanian immigrant who spent his life giving his kid everything she wished for. Payback was a bullet through his skull.
Oliver Petrovich made the mistake of falling for a homeless Black girl and sneaking her into his father's home on Long Island. His mother was not bothered by the interracial romance but his father Peter screamed racial epithets at the girl when he uncovered the couple in his house. The immigrant from Yugoslavia had some strong prejudicial views on race. Oliver blasted mom and dad to Kingdom Come with shotgun blasts and he was sentenced to fifty-to-life.
Teresa Bickerstaff was already working as a hooker at the tender age of fourteen. She hitched her way across the USA with truck stops being the major source of her income.
Along with her boyfriend, the teen shot her mother and two brothers and then set the house on fire. The lovebirds are deservedly in prison.
Richard Jahnke pumped a few rounds from one of his father's thirty-three guns into dear old dad. His namesake had a history of beating his son, daughter and wife on a regular basis. The sentences were unusual and I just love Catholic funerals for bastards.
Cheryl Pierson suffered at the hands of her father until, at the age of sixteen, she hired a boy to shoot the monster. The trial proved through witness testimony, that she was telling the truth about the molestations. As with the previous story, another RC sendoff.
Ross Carlson killed mom and dad and his lawyers used multiple personalities as his defense. After years of legal procedures, it ended abruptly.
Patty Columbo provides the best material in the book. At sixteen, the girl started an affair with a married man of forty-six. He left his wife and children and her mother, father and brother were murdered. Several witnesses testified to Patty attempting to hire hit men. She gave cash and sexual favors to two of them. A very strange case.
February 1, 2019
Unremarkable title, remarkable book
This anthology of true crime cases involves children who kill their parents with most cases taking place in the late seventies to early eighties. They are long chapters and deal with fairly obscure stories and I had only ever read about one of them, the Patty Columbo case. (There are two really good full length books about her out there if you're interested, "Love's Blood" is one). This book itself is well written and compelling. Each case is very different from the next. I believe there are ten chapters/stories in all.
This anthology of true crime cases involves children who kill their parents with most cases taking place in the late seventies to early eighties. They are long chapters and deal with fairly obscure stories and I had only ever read about one of them, the Patty Columbo case. (There are two really good full length books about her out there if you're interested, "Love's Blood" is one). This book itself is well written and compelling. Each case is very different from the next. I believe there are ten chapters/stories in all.
May 3, 2021
Wow
This is a great book for anyone to read. When I think about a killer the child has never been on my list of suspects. This has changed my way of thinking. 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼
🤓❤️📚❣️❣️
This is a great book for anyone to read. When I think about a killer the child has never been on my list of suspects. This has changed my way of thinking. 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼
🤓❤️📚❣️❣️
April 22, 2024
My parents are in this book which is craaaazy
September 24, 2024
Another gut wrenching tale of crimes committed by what should be the most innocent of people. Heart breaking stories. Some of them actually made me cry because they were so devastating to read.
April 5, 2011
Now don’t anyone panic & call the FBI. I picked this book b/c I like true crime. I think some ppl have no regard for the life, safety and/or well being of others and seem to have no moral development or sense of right and wrong, while others dont care. Wonder what gets inside the heads of violent offenders, other than in my opinion of a complete lack of regard and/or no moral development or maybe a lack of it, which still does not excuse violent acts; I’ve been angry & hurt too, yet I haven’t committed a violent act. I. This book provides details of three or four real life stories in which a child or teen murdered his/her parents. It’s a scary world we live in, it seems there are more & more angry, violent people. Is there a way we can alter their future before such violent acts occur? Are some people bad by choice or are they just simply born bad? Different specialists, profilers, etc have different views. What’s yours?
Want to read
April 11, 2016#
NC
Own in paperback.
FS: "Parricide, the murder of a parent - or the more specific patricide for the murder of one's father, and matricide for the murder of one's mother - are ugly words for ugly acts."
LS: "But as prisoner C77200, Patty was still insisting that she didn't engineer or participate in the murder of her family."
NC
Own in paperback.
FS: "Parricide, the murder of a parent - or the more specific patricide for the murder of one's father, and matricide for the murder of one's mother - are ugly words for ugly acts."
LS: "But as prisoner C77200, Patty was still insisting that she didn't engineer or participate in the murder of her family."
August 30, 2016
It was very similar to a vast number of books like this. I read in an earlier review that this is a bland book. I totally agree with this assessment. The material alone got my attention, but it could have been written much better.
December 12, 2007
Just read the chapter on the Hollywood recluse bludgeoned by her growth-hormone-addled son. Better than Sunset Boulevard!
February 23, 2008
If you love true crime, this is a MUST read.
September 12, 2013
Brilliantly written. I think parents (community) still have a long way to protect children from self-harm and hurting others. Let's all say NO to all kinds of human abuse.
February 3, 2015
stories of kids that kill there parents or family to gain money or escape abuse.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews