Mother's Day


Book Description

The true story of Theresa Knorr, the twisted child abuser who murdered her daughters—with the help of her sons—told by a former New York Times reporter. In June 1985, Theresa Cross Knorr dumped her daughter Sheila’s body in California’s desolate High Sierra. She had beaten Sheila unconscious in their Sacramento apartment days earlier, then locked her in a closet to die. But this wasn’t the first horrific crime she’d committed against her own children. The previous summer, Knorr had shot Sheila’s sister Suesan, then ordered her son to dig the bullet out of the girl’s back with a knife to hide the evidence. The infection that resulted led to delirium—at which point Knorr and her two sons drove Suesan into the mountains, doused her with gasoline, and set her on fire. It would be almost a decade before her youngest daughter, Terry Knorr Graves, revealed her mother’s history of unfathomable violence. At first, she was met with disbelief by law enforcement and even her own therapist. But eventually, the truth about her monstrous abuse emerged—and here, an award-winning journalist details the jealousy, rage, and domineering behavior that escalated into homicide and shattered a family. A former reporter for the New York Times and Los AngelesTimes and the author of true-crime classics including Angel of Darkness, about serial killer Randy Kroft, and Blood Cold, about Robert Blake and Bonny Lee Bakley, Dennis McDougal reveals the shocking depths of depravity behind a case that made headlines across the nation.




Waynesville, Indiana


Book Description

Waynesville, Indiana, a small suburb of Columbus, Indiana, was the scene of four gruesome murders on May 11, 2013. The 911 call came in a little after 10:30 p.m. "There's blood everywhere," Daniel told the 911 operator. "I just walked in and there's two, I have two bodies here, and I think they have both been shot. There's blood everywhere." Daniel gave the 911 operator his location. He explained to him, "There might be three, because I can't find my mom either." He told the operator that the house looked like it had been ransacked. "There was a fight here." Daniel said. Katheryn Burton was shot and stabbed four times. Each of the other victims: Aaron Cross, Tommy Smith and Shawn Burton were shot at least twice. Samuel Sallee has been convicted and sentenced to 4 consecutive life sentences for the brutal murders that changed one young man's life forever. The next day was Mother's Day! "That guy killed my whole family," said Daniel Burton, the son of Katheryn Burton. "I think I've earned a front-row seat to watch him die. I'd lump him together with Hitler, because I can't think of anyone else who is that evil." Daniel Burton: "The Trial was my family's story. This is mine."




Mother's Day Murder


Book Description

New York Times-Bestselling Author: A feud between two competitive moms may have turned fatal in the “engaging cozy series” set in small-town Maine (Publishers Weekly). Two of her four kids may be out of the nest, but Lucy Stone knows only too well that mothering is a lifetime commitment. At least she gets to kick back and enjoy a fancy Mother's Day brunch with her brood—that is, before the festivities are interrupted by a nasty scene courtesy of Barbara Hume and Tina Nowak. Opposites in every way, these mean moms have only one thing in common: the need to best each other at every turn, using their teenage daughters as pawns in elaborate games of one-upmanship. But even after witnessing the women’s claw-sharpening rituals, Lucy never expects to see actual blood spilled—until Tina is shot dead on the public tennis court… “As charming and enjoyable as ever.”—Romantic Times “Lucy Stone is an endearing sleuth.”—Dorothy Cannell




Bones in the Desert


Book Description

Loretta Bowersock and her daughter, Terri, ran a multimillion-dollar furniture store based in Tempe, Arizona, where they were well-known and admired by many. Together, these two women seemed to be living the American Dream...until one man decided to take it all away. Over the course of two decades, Taw Benderly worked his way into Loretta's heart, home, and business. Though the couple appeared to be happy, their lives behind closed doors told another story. Terri had always known that the handsome, charming, and usually unemployed Taw was manipulating her mother—but she did not know the extent of the abuse or how far he would go to defraud her. Then, just before Christmas in 2004, Loretta went missing. It would be more than a year before Terri learned the shocking truth: That, before killing himself, Taw murdered the 69-year-old Loretta and left her. Bones in the Desert is the shocking story of a devoted mother and daughter, a successful business, and the man who would do everything to destroy it all ...




The Mother's Day Murder


Book Description

The Black Widow They met while working together at a Taco Bell in Augusta, Georgia: seventeen-year-old Larry Kelley and thirty-one-year-old wife and mother Gina Spann. Their unusual friendship soon blossomed into something much more when Gina invited Larry to live with her, her husband Kevin, and their teenage son. While Kevin slept in a back room of the house, Larry and Gina shared the master bedroom, flaunting their love in front of Kevin. The Humiliated Husband But it didn't stop there. Gina enlisted Larry and three of his friend to murder her husband and cash in on his $300,000 life insurance policy. So on Mother's Day of 1997, two teenagers knocked on the Spanns' door, and when Kevin opened it, shot him point-blank. As Kevin Spann's lifeless body hit the ground, his two assassins sauntered away casually. The Lovesick Teenager Police zeroed in on the motley crew soon enough -- and each would pay heavily for their crime. Gina, Larry, and two of his friend would each receive life sentences for the ruthless murder of Kevin Spann. In a case as twisted and shocking as fiction, bestselling author Wensley Clarkson explores this volatile web of sex, greed, and murder that ended in deadly disaster.




A Mother's Day Murder


Book Description

Mt. Abrams was the kind of small, quiet town where, as any of its residents would tell you, nothing ever happened. That was why Ellie Rocca loved living there, even if her ex-husband did not. But even small towns had secrets, as Ellie discovered when Lacey Mitchell suddenly disappeared. Ellie caught Lacey’s husband in a lie, and one small discovery led to another until it became apparent that nothing about the Mitchell’s was quite what it seemed. Mother’s Day was just around the corner. With a sexy detective on the case, and Ellie and her friends getting closer to the truth, can Lacey Mitchell be found in time to enjoy the day with her sons? Or was something more deadly going on? This novella is 35K words, the first in the Mt. Abrams Mystery Series




The Mother's Day Murder


Book Description

TRUE CONFESSION--OR FALSE? Investigator (and former nun) Christine Bennett is appalled when a young woman claims to be the natural daughter of Sister Joseph, beloved Superior at St. Stephen's and Chris's dearest friend. But after the girl is murdered, all the evidence leads the police to believe she was telling the truth--and that Sister Joseph is the prime suspect. Can evidence ever lie? Chris prays that it can. But as she frantically searches for the link between the anonymous woman who gave away her newborn two decades ago and a brutal murder this Mother's Day, it seems only a miracle can save Sister Joseph from a life behind bars.




The Accidental Truth


Book Description

Lauri Taylor was just your average suburban PTA mom and marketing exec. Then tragedy struck. When her mother is found dead in Mexico, Lauri finds herself embarking on a journey to uncover the identity of her mother’s murderer—but what she finds isn’t what she was expecting. With the help of famed FBI profiler Candice DeLong, Lauri works to unearth the secrets buried in her mother’s death. Key evidence comes to light—and a shocking revelation unfolds. Lauri Taylor’s memoir The Accidental Truth: What My Mother’s Murder Investigation Taught Me About Life is a profound narrative of true crime, family bonds, and the grief of sudden death. Achingly intimate, The Accidental Truth chronicles Lauri’s personal journey as she empowers herself with truth, finds the courage and compassion to forgive herself and her mother, and eventually learns to let go.




Death by Windmill


Book Description

A Mother's Day trip to the Netherlands turns deadly when a guest plummets from a windmill. Was it an accident or a murder? For Lana Hansen, the answer will mean freedom or imprisonment for someone close to her... Wanderlust Tours guide Lana Hansen and her mother, Gillian, haven't seen eye to eye in over a decade, ever since Lana was wrongly fired from her job as an investigative reporter. So when Lana's boss invites Gillian to join her upcoming Mother's Day tour to the Netherlands, Lana is less than pleased. What could be worse than spending ten days with her estranged mother? Lana is about to find out... The tour begins on a high note when the majority of guests bond during their visit to the Keukenhof flower gardens and a cruise around the picturesque canals of Amsterdam. Despite her initial reservations, Lana thinks this might be the best group she had ever led. Until she discovers one of her guests - a recent retiree named Priscilla - is the person who destroyed her career in journalism. All Lana can see is red. But circumstances dictate that she figure out a way to lead the tour, make peace with her mother, and not murder her guest. She doesn't know whether she can handle the pressure. Lana needn't worry. Shortly after their fight, Priscilla falls off the balcony of a historic windmill at Zaanse Schans. Was she pushed or simply careless? The investigating officers suspect murder - and topping their suspect list is Lana's mom! Can Lana save Gillian? Or will her mother end up spending the rest of her days in a Dutch prison?




Mother's Day, Muffins, and Murder


Book Description

A small-town Georgia PTA mom teams up with her rival to take down a killer in this cozy mystery by a USA Today–bestselling author. As a regular volunteer at North Dawkins Elementary, Ellie would never miss the annual Mother’s Day breakfast—even if she has to tolerate the likes of Gabrielle Matheson. The rivals aren’t exactly sworn enemies, though Ellie still thinks there’s only room for one professional organizer in their small Georgia town. But when Gabrielle reports finding a dead body inside the supply closet, the two women form an alliance to teach a killer a lesson in justice . . . Ellie will leave no desk unturned to protect her kids and expose the cunning criminal’s identity. Because if she doesn’t, the killer may chalk up another textbook case of murder . . . Praise for Sara Rosett’s Ellie Avery Mysteries “Rosett’s latest Ellie Avery mystery is about a woman trying to protect her family, and that’s a message most of us can relate to.” —RT Book Reviews “Sparkling . . . Rosett skillfully interweaves a subplot and provides practical tips.” —Publishers Weekly Don’t miss Ellie Avery’s great tips for PTA moms!