Blood Frenzy

by Robert Scott

Frankie Cochran knew her boyfriend, David Gerard, was possessive, controlling, and prone to violent rages. When she tried to break up with him, Gerard threatened her with a hammer. One week later, he used it to club her in the head. Again. And again. Then he stabbed her in the throat - and left her for dead...Miraculously, Frankie survived - but cops began to suspect Gerard of other vicious crimes. One of his previous girlfriends had died in a house fire, along with her children and her mother. A local prostitute's brutalized body was found in a pool of blood. But it was the unsolved murder of another woman - repeatedly run over on a country road - that finally exposed Gerard as a rage-driven monster out of control...Justice finally caught up with Gerard. Hounded by the tireless efforts of detectives and incriminated by DNA evidence as well as up-to-date forensics that matched the tire marks at a crime scene to Gerard's car, one of the Pacific Northwest's most dangerous killers was finally locked behind bars.

Genres: True Crime, Crime

320 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

Robert Scott was an investigative journalist and crime expert.

Reviews

[BAM doesn’t answer to her real name]

It’s absolutely disgusting how this author exploited Kurt Cobain and his childhood to create a sensationalized connection between him and the murderer. I’m striking stars no matter what rating I choose at the end for this fact alone. I honestly do not know if I can get passed this chapter because I find it so offensive, and I’m really not a Nirvana fan. I was a late bloomer to grunge. It was more my brother’s thing although I pulled off the look lol but it’s just a big WRONG. I’m not going to finish for now.

[Ronnie Cramer · Rating 1 out of 5]

An unsatisfying book to say the least. The author describes numerous crimes in the Aberdeen, Washington area and speculates that the subject of the book (David Gerard) *might* be responsible for them. More annoying still is the repetitive nature of the text; you seem to get every piece of information two, three or more times. For example, the following passages describe the same event: "...could have occurred from a blast of superheated air," (page 63), "...overcome by a blast of superheated air," (page 67), "...a blast of superheated air could have ended the lives...," (page 175), "...the fire created a blast of superheated air...," (page 185), "they inhaled super-heated air, which caused their deaths," (page 186), "...being exposed to super-heated gasses" (page 187).

[Violet · Rating 1 out of 5]

The worst book I NEVER read ....

I’ve read a ton of True Crime books, great ones, good ones and even just ok ones, and taken what enjoyment I could out of them, but this book, and this authors writing style made it impossible for me to get past the first few pages, and I cannot recall the last time I gave up on a book like I have on this one. The writer seems to feel the need to keep repeating words over and over and over, one page right at the beginning had the words Aberdeen written 5 times, 7 Eleven written 6 times, Ford Escort written 4 times and the killers name - Gerard written an astonishingly TEN times !

It goes something like this ... “Gerard got into his Ford Escort in Aberdeen to go to the 7 Eleven, when Gerard got to the 7 Eleven he got out of his Ford Escort...”

If you think I’m exaggerating or joking, I’m not. It goes on like that in a terrible monologue page after page explaining every single thing every single person does just like above. I’m astounded this author sells so many books, I’d suggest those who read his, try something a little bit better by the likes of Anne Rule or M. William Phelps and I don’t think they would be going back and buying this authors books again.

As for me I’ll take it as a lesson and thank god I only bought one book and didn’t buy his whole back catalogue as I’ve done in the past with other, and thankfully better, authors.

[Lorie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Amazing details

on the "frenzy" Gerard committed against so many women. If it hadn't been for Lane Youman's determination in connecting these murders to the killer, I believe he wouldn't have ever been convicted for the few he was held accountable for, especially Frankie (who thankfully survived). And yet, shame on that prosecutor for not having the same dogged determination as Lane and allowing that monster to get away with so many other murders.
Is it simply politics that caused his lack of initiative? He certainly had enough circumstantial evidence, and the dead bodies to prove it!
The only drawback to this account is the many unsolved cases, which I believe causes the reader to feel it wasn't concluded but maybe that was Scott's purpose, to force the county prosecutor to act on the evidence provided by detective Lane Youmans. I can't recall the name of the District Attorney in this case, but Mr. D.A., the proverbial ball is in your court, do something! Do your job!

[Mrs. Read · Rating 3 out of 5]

David Gerard’s murders are already familiar to PacNW true crime readers, and unfortunately Robert Scott’s Blood Frenzy adds little to what has already been related. There’s no point criticizing Scott’s failure to address meaningfully the roots of Gerard’s deviance; explanation of such processes continues to elude better minds than his (or mine). What would reward a good investigative reporter, I believe, is a detailed examination of what attracted these victims to men like Gerard - guys who have already been convicted of brutal crimes against women and children, men without jobs or prospects or any perceptible sense of responsibility - in the first place. A well-written book on that subject would certainly merit a sky’s worth of stars. This is not that book. A run-of-the-mill true crime account.

[Ruth Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I live in Oakville and was a young mother when this was all going down. I remember all of it well. Even reading the book I always wondered why the police never talked to one of David’s friends that knew him for years. I don’t think he knows anything but he was never talked to. Frankie lived just down the street from my brothers house. It’s a great book more on the determination of the detective and the care and time he put into all this. If it wasn’t for him David wouldn’t be sitting in prison still today.

[Jane Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

True Crime Story

An interesting theory. This book tells the story of a cop in Washington who believed that a certain man was a serial
killer and attempted to gather evidence on him. He got the man to plead guilty to one charge and take an Alford plea on another. The main ended up serving 37 years for his crimes.q

[john d chontos · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most detailed investigations I have ever read.

Thank God for the tenacity of detective Youmans. What is it about Washington state that they seem to breed serial killers, or is it they have more dedicated police and investigators? Anyway, this was a very riveting book.

[Theresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

True murder

The persistence of the cold case officer is this case is to be commended.He kept a known violent criminal off the streets.

[Catherine Guneson-Dyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Book

This book from beginning to end was straight forward and detailed. Enjoyed really this book from the detectives findings and deductions on how they solve a crime.

[Darcy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall a good book but what you would expect; a fat dumb loser who goes around abusing women but there is one of his victims who survives and is more inspiring than anyone that I know.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blood frenzy

Basically a good read. Sometimes repetitive but a good story and read. So sad for these girls to be taken advantage of that way. Scary..

[Patricia Miller · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting story

Lots of detail, some of it repeated too often, but overall quite an interesting picture of Grays Harbor, its people, and its murderers.

[Jamie Lindemulder · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good storyline....just was a slow read.