A Deadly Silence: The Cold-Blooded Massacre of Three Vibrant Young Girls and the Devastating Effects on Their Survivors

by Adele Sweetman

A Deadly Silence tells a true story set in Annandale, an exclusive Pasadena neighborhood overlooking the Rose Bowl-an unlikely backdrop for a triple homicide. David Adkins and his girlfriend, Kathy Macaulay, had been dating for four years, but it hadn't been good lately. He could feel her pulling away, and he wasn't going to allow that to happen. Kathy and two of her friends, Heather Goodwin and Danae Palermo, were having a sleepover when David and two of his friends visited them. Things turned ugly quickly, and David Adkins and one of his friends blasted them with a Mossberg 12-gauge shotgun, brutally killing all three of the girls. A telephone call prompted Heather's parents, Darrell and Mimi Goodwin, to get there quickly. When the police arrived, Darrel entered the blood-spattered room and identified the bodies of his daughter and her friends. Detectives Mike Korpal and Tim Sweetman-husband of author Adele Sweetman-were assigned to the intense investigation. A Deadly Silence reveals their investigative reasoning and privileged findings. At a highly publicized double-jury trial, jurors heard gripping taped confessions. No motive was given. Convicted, Hebrock told his story to Adele Sweetman from his cell in Pelican Bay Prison. This gripping, true-crime account also examines victims' rights and parents' torment when personal tragedy is converted into melodrama as front page news.

Genres: True Crime

318 pages, Hardcover

First published April 10, 2013

Reviews

[♥ Marlene♥ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yay. Treated myself to this book. Arrived today . I know about the case because I have a Dutch translation of Leon Bing´s book called The Pasadena Murders. Read that long ago but now discovered there was a (apparently better) book written about it. That is not that hard to do because the Leon Bing book us bad. Very bad.
This one definitely better so far.

This author is much more caring of the victims families and how they were suffering,unlike Leon Bing's book . She was very supportive of Dave Adkins making him out to be the victim of Vinny aka Burton Hebrock.

This book was miles better although I did not like that we immediately got to know what happened and by whom.No suspense building. Too many true crime authors think that because it is a true story they do not have to care about suspense building. Well the authors who do have written the best books. 3.5 ***

[Jeanette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written but sad...

I read true crime books , not for the gory matter but to try and understand what makes people committ murder.
Most people would say environment and lack of parental guidance. I believe we make ourselves what we are . It has to be within each one of us to guide our own destiny.
These three young ladies lost their lives before life had even begun. So much potential gone forever.
To the parents of these young ladies my deepest sympathy. To the author of this book, job well done.

[Suzanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good quick read from a different perspective. Looking for more true crime from this author