Please Don't Kill Mommy!: The True Story of a Man Who Killed His Wife, Got Away With It, Then Killed Again

by Fannie Weinstein, Ruth Schumann

On November 4, 1990 Tim Boczkowski phoned 911 in Greensboro, North Carolina to report his wife Elaine lying motionless in the bathtub. In the days that followed the paramedics' failed efforts to revive Elaine, detectives began to suspect that Tim had murdered his wife after a quarrel. But with no eyewitnesses to the crime--the couple's three children were in bed asleep- -Tim went free to pick up the pieces of his life...
Four years later Tim's second wife-a woman who had devoted herself to his children-died under similar circumstances. Immediately, his past was tightened around him like a noose, and some of those who knew him best began to believe that the mild mannered, religiously devout Boczkowski was really a madman who killed his wives with his bare hands. But Tim Boczkowski's worst crime of all may have been committed against his own children: taking away their mother not once but twice...

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction

305 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published April 15, 2001

Reviews

[J.H. Moncrieff · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

This true crime tale was surprisingly well done, although I wish the publishers would stop claiming there are "Eight Dramatic Photos" or other nonsense in these books, as what's dramatic about shots of houses and a wedding? Nothing.

The authors managed to make the first trial interesting, which is an impressive feat, but including testimony from the second was overkill for me, and dropped this from four stars to 3.5. I would have preferred the second trial summarized.

Still, this is one of the better books I've read in the genre.

[Jenn · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was so obvious from the get go that Tim did it. And that he just didn’t care. How could he take his wives away from their children? Especially when they were in the house when he did it. This guy is despicable. I know it says he got the death penalty but looks like that may have been reversed when I googled him. Parole in PA and a life sentence in NC? Thank God for that second guilty finding. But this man should have been put to death for what he did and showing no remorse or emotion. I would have rated this more than 3 stars if it spent less time on Elaine’s case, more on Maryann’s case and more about their lives in general.

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well written true crime book. This story has aired on A&E and, to me, it seems as though from the beginning I had a hard time understanding how Timothy kept his stories straight. Luckily the police saw through his ruse and they were able to charge him. Timothy was married to his first wife (Elaine) when she was found in the bathroom from what looked like an accidental drowning. Fast forward a few years and Timothy remarried a lookalike only for her to meet a somewhat similar demise but this time in the family bathtub. Did Timothy really kill both of his wives in the same manner? You'll have to judge for yourself, but he prepared to ask yourself a lot of questions about this seemingly emotionless, cold man.

[Sue Lauzon · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was an interesting read. I can't believe one man would kill his first wife and when he wasn't charged with murder he kills his second wife in a similar manner four years later. What are you??? Stupid??? Anyway I thought the authors went into a lot of depth covering the trial of his first wife (after MaryAnn's death the authorities open the investigation into his first wife Elaine's case and decide to try him for that murder). When it came to the second trial, they covered that in like 20 pages or less (really??). Anyway the book was quite the read if you like true crime stories.

[Koren · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first half of the book was interesting. Amazing that this guy got away with murdering one wife, but when the second one died 17 months into the marriage under similar circumstances, it wasnt too hard to figure out who did it. The second half of the book is the first trial and then the second one, which was mostly taken from transcripts and not anything we didnt already know from reading the first half.

[Brittney · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a horrible man. For me, this book was hard for me to get into, but knowing the outcome is enough for me to at least pass it on for someone else to enjoy. Not a disappointment, just not my favorite.

[Jennifer S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well-told true crime story which happened nearby my home.

[Vickie Ransbottom · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actually knew this guy and his wife!! His first wife ... Met them at a newcomers club in Greensboro, NC.... Did some social things with them in a group and a few things together as couples. I'm usually a good judge of people, but I sure missed the boat on this one ... Elaine was a good person ... Sad ... Unnessary .. Haunts me

[Tom Mueller · Rating 3 out of 5]

In 1990, Tim Boczkowski killed his wife. He remarried, and killed his second wife in 1994. First sentenced to death for one of the killings, that sentence was overturned on a technicality. He is currently serving two life sentences.

[Amy Rumrill · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love true crime books and this one was good! I can’t believe how much was done wrong in this case, it baffles me. It was written well and it was an easy read. A great pick if your into true crime books and cases.

[Mahabir · Rating 5 out of 5]

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[Brandi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good true crime novel ... what a loser this defendant is/was!

[Louise · Rating 3 out of 5]

From front of book:

"The true story of a man who killed his wife, got away with it, then killed again".

Great read.

[Samar Zarzour · Rating 3 out of 5]

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