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Dismembered
Includes Killer's Gruesome Confession!
"She had beautiful legs. I wanted to keep those legs."
One by one, investigators found the women's bodies. Each one carefully posed. Each one brutally mutilated. An arm here. A leg there. A breast, nipples, a tattoo. The killer was cutting his victims to pieces. . .
"At that point, I pretty much went for the head."
For ten years in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, the killings went on. Women of slight stature were hunted down, bludgeoned and strangled. And what the killer did with their bodies in the privacy of his car, his home, his kitchen, and his shower was beyond anything police could imagine.
"I was pure evil."
When investigators finally caught mild-mannered, Star Trek fan Sean Vincent Gillis, he couldn't wait to tell his story. In the presence of shocked veteran detectives, Sean told them every detail of his killings, everything he did with the bodies. . . And he smiled the whole time. . .
Includes 16 pages of shocking photographs. Warning: Contains graphic details.
"She had beautiful legs. I wanted to keep those legs."
One by one, investigators found the women's bodies. Each one carefully posed. Each one brutally mutilated. An arm here. A leg there. A breast, nipples, a tattoo. The killer was cutting his victims to pieces. . .
"At that point, I pretty much went for the head."
For ten years in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, the killings went on. Women of slight stature were hunted down, bludgeoned and strangled. And what the killer did with their bodies in the privacy of his car, his home, his kitchen, and his shower was beyond anything police could imagine.
"I was pure evil."
When investigators finally caught mild-mannered, Star Trek fan Sean Vincent Gillis, he couldn't wait to tell his story. In the presence of shocked veteran detectives, Sean told them every detail of his killings, everything he did with the bodies. . . And he smiled the whole time. . .
Includes 16 pages of shocking photographs. Warning: Contains graphic details.
352 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2011
67 people are currently reading
734 people want to read
About the author
Susan D. Mustafa
9 books32 followersSusan D. Mustafa is the executive editor of Southeast News in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She is the award-winning co-author of No Such Thing as Impossible: From Adversity to Triumph, written with Jairo Álvarez Botero, and a freelance journalist for a variety of magazines throughout the South.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
January 31, 2012
I am still reading it and it is good so far. Well written but I am so shocked. A woman's body is found. She died and is one of the few that was not dismembered by this serial killer but then she's got dismembered by the Lousiana coroner! When they cannot identify bodies they just cut of the head and sent it of to LFU for research purpose. WTF!!! Not that long later (a few months) her family was told she was murdered and had to bury her headless corpse. Crazy!
Update January 31 2011.
Finished it during the night. This is how a true crime book should be written. No spoilers. It starts when they find a body then we go back to the beginning of the killers upbringing. In a very well detailed way Susan Mustafa go's through Sean Gillis his life,the manner in how he murdered and then slaughtered his victims. He did have a relationship with a girl called Terri. I realize that the author needed this woman cause she had lived with hum for many years but what a horrible woman she is. Even though she knew what he had done she still stands by him. Ok fair enough but she is also still calling him a sweetheart and a nice guy!!!. One week after her boyfriend was caught she called her ex (she had not spoken with him for years, largely because he too was in jail) and told him she needed him and she had changed. If she wanted something she had to get it now! So he jumped to her and I think they immediately got it on and he moved in with her. What disgusts me most is that she and him are still living in that house were women were slaughtered and in the book a photo was shown where they proudly showed a place in the house where sometimes a lot of blood comes up to the surface. Crazy!!
Anyway.Sean gets caught after about half of the book, 200 pages but I did think the trial was interesting too.
I am a bit disgusted with the outcome but that is American justice for you. (one name. Casey Anthony)
I also liked how Susan really tried to give life to the women that he murdered and their families. She did a very good job.
Only negative thing I can say about this book is some of the photos were unnecessary. Pictures of the kitchen, the place where someone was murdered does nothing for me. Now what to give this book. I am hesitating between 4 and 5 stars. 4.5 for me.Oh well I am going to give it a 5 cause alas it does not happen as much that a new true crime book is so good. I hope she will write more interesting books. I will keep a look out.
Update January 31 2011.
Finished it during the night. This is how a true crime book should be written. No spoilers. It starts when they find a body then we go back to the beginning of the killers upbringing. In a very well detailed way Susan Mustafa go's through Sean Gillis his life,the manner in how he murdered and then slaughtered his victims. He did have a relationship with a girl called Terri. I realize that the author needed this woman cause she had lived with hum for many years but what a horrible woman she is. Even though she knew what he had done she still stands by him. Ok fair enough but she is also still calling him a sweetheart and a nice guy!!!. One week after her boyfriend was caught she called her ex (she had not spoken with him for years, largely because he too was in jail) and told him she needed him and she had changed. If she wanted something she had to get it now! So he jumped to her and I think they immediately got it on and he moved in with her. What disgusts me most is that she and him are still living in that house were women were slaughtered and in the book a photo was shown where they proudly showed a place in the house where sometimes a lot of blood comes up to the surface. Crazy!!
Anyway.Sean gets caught after about half of the book, 200 pages but I did think the trial was interesting too.
I am a bit disgusted with the outcome but that is American justice for you. (one name. Casey Anthony)
I also liked how Susan really tried to give life to the women that he murdered and their families. She did a very good job.
Only negative thing I can say about this book is some of the photos were unnecessary. Pictures of the kitchen, the place where someone was murdered does nothing for me. Now what to give this book. I am hesitating between 4 and 5 stars. 4.5 for me.Oh well I am going to give it a 5 cause alas it does not happen as much that a new true crime book is so good. I hope she will write more interesting books. I will keep a look out.
February 17, 2016
For ten years in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, the killings went on. Women of slight stature were hunted down, bludgeoned and strangled. And what the killer did with their bodies in the privacy of his car, his home, his kitchen, and his shower-was beyond anything police could imagine.
In 1992 Hurricane Andrew devastated southern Florida and the Gulf Coast area of Louisiana. About the same time, women in Baton Rouge and the surrounding area were being stalked by a killer as vicious as Andrew. What many didn't know at the time was there were actually 3 serial killers, each acting independently of each other. This book is about one of them.
When Sean Vincent Gillis was arrested for multiple murders his live-in girlfriend couldn't believe it. Sean was never violent, of course, there were those websites of naked dead women bookmarked on his computer, that he showed her. One would think, that after his arrest she would think back on that and go "Hmmm, well maybe ....." While Terri was saying he was a nice guy and would never hurt anyone, the officers who listened to his confession came away with a completely different opinion.
This book is well researched and contains excerpts from his confession which could be considered, explicit, not for the faint of heart. Trail coverage is extensive. After reading this book you will know all you ever wanted to know (and some things you might have preferred not knowing) about Sean Vincent Gillis.
A fascinating, well-researched and written account. I recommend this book.
October 20, 2018
Took me a while to get through this without throwing it at certain points. All in all great writing that told the details without glorifying the serial killer.
September 18, 2011
I couldn't decide between 4 and 5 stars for this book, but ultimately, I decided it is worth 5. It's well written and extremely detailed in Sean Vincent Gillis's life, crimes, and his trial. The book also tells about the lives of his victims. Anyone that lives in south Louisiana will be thoroughly terrified after reading this book and realizing how many serial killers were operating in Baton Rouge at the same time. The authors also touch on details of those killers as well as other well-known crimes. All in all, this was a great read, even if reading the gruesome details of this cold-blooded monster's crimes did make my stomach turn more than once when the author described them.
January 24, 2016
Absolutely chilling, not only because of the grisly nature of the crimes but because of the stone-cold idiocy of the expert testimony. I truly hope the court proceedings were misreported; even the prosecutors were making like Yogi Berra up there, if this book can be believed. Be sure to read the author's note at the end, people -- it's almost as chilling as the whole rest of the book put together.
November 17, 2017
It's incredibly disturbing how a fellow Star Trek fan who blended in at conventions was a serial killer capable of such horrible mutilation on females in the Baton Rouge area. It goes to show you that you never can tell who could harm you and it's best to always be careful. It is wonderful that he was caught through forensic science, but seriously creepy that he was so willing to talk about his crimes to the Baton Rouge Police.
May 28, 2024
Well-written True Crime book, about Sean Gillis, one of the 3 serial killers operating in Baton Rouge, LA at the same time (the others being Derrick Todd Lee & Jeffrey Lee Guillory). We were living in Louisiana during the time when these monsters were doing their killing, although we really only saw media coverage of Lee since he was murdering beautiful, talented, women who were not prostitutes and drug addicts.
This book is very well-researched, thorough and detailed. Though it was hard to read the descriptions of the murders, it seemed that the authors were successful in making the reader realize that all of these victims mattered. They weren’t just drug addicts, prostitutes, or throwaways —they were human beings who did not do anything to deserve their horrendous deaths. The two victims that were not “throwaways”, did not really get their day in court since there wasn’t enough evidence to try the suspect for their murders. I pray for the survivors of the victims of this evil monster. I can’t imagine having to live with the fact that one of your loved ones died so brutally.
This book is very well-researched, thorough and detailed. Though it was hard to read the descriptions of the murders, it seemed that the authors were successful in making the reader realize that all of these victims mattered. They weren’t just drug addicts, prostitutes, or throwaways —they were human beings who did not do anything to deserve their horrendous deaths. The two victims that were not “throwaways”, did not really get their day in court since there wasn’t enough evidence to try the suspect for their murders. I pray for the survivors of the victims of this evil monster. I can’t imagine having to live with the fact that one of your loved ones died so brutally.
October 15, 2019
This is really more of a 3.5 stars review. Excellent book and very well written - you get a true feel of the crimes, how they were committed and the man who committed them. Very detailed information throughout the entire court process. Only problem I had was because of the focus on detail there are times it becomes redundant. Theres the description of how the crime went down ( with all the gory details), then the interview with Gillis where he describes the crime again in detail, then the officers talking about the crime in detail, then again 3 or 4 times during the courtroom drama. It got to be a bit much for me ( the constant replaying of same situation over and over not the book or the crimes) but still a very enjoyable book just 100 pages too long.
January 8, 2024
WOW.
I have spent 30 years reading about serial murder and had never heard of this guy! Susan Mustafa and Sue Israel hold no punches as they tell us of this killer, his childhood and family life, which deepens the mystery of why people grow into monsters. The raw truth of how these crimes were committed is not for the squeamish, and at time, took my breath away. Of crucial importance, the authors also focus on the victims, who can often be overlooked in true crime. They do not do this, giving voice to them via interviews with family and friends. Bittersweet, you feel the loss of these individuals from their lives. I highly recommend reading Dismembered. I covered this book on my podcast, the Murder Shelf Book Club in 2023.
I have spent 30 years reading about serial murder and had never heard of this guy! Susan Mustafa and Sue Israel hold no punches as they tell us of this killer, his childhood and family life, which deepens the mystery of why people grow into monsters. The raw truth of how these crimes were committed is not for the squeamish, and at time, took my breath away. Of crucial importance, the authors also focus on the victims, who can often be overlooked in true crime. They do not do this, giving voice to them via interviews with family and friends. Bittersweet, you feel the loss of these individuals from their lives. I highly recommend reading Dismembered. I covered this book on my podcast, the Murder Shelf Book Club in 2023.
July 5, 2021
4 stars for this compelling and yet, stomach churning true crime about serial killer, Sean Gillis.
Necrophiliac homicide, cannibalism and just pure evil cloaked in human skin.
What really set Sean off on the path to inhuman torture? To stalk, capture, kill, mutilate, have sex with and then pose his victims?
Was it genetic mental illness? Coupled with the disturbing photos found in his father’s possession?
Mind boggling for sure and kudos to the two authors for this brilliant yet dark retelling.
Necrophiliac homicide, cannibalism and just pure evil cloaked in human skin.
What really set Sean off on the path to inhuman torture? To stalk, capture, kill, mutilate, have sex with and then pose his victims?
Was it genetic mental illness? Coupled with the disturbing photos found in his father’s possession?
Mind boggling for sure and kudos to the two authors for this brilliant yet dark retelling.
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April 19, 2022honestly some of the pictures and descriptions at the end of the book were distasteful.....also the actual trial part of the book drags on so long , seems like the authors just reworded the transcripts directly ! idk, i never knew of this guy or the like 3 other serial killers she mentioned in louisiana but not sure ... didn’t enjoy the writing style
June 7, 2018
SCARRY
June 11, 2018
I wanted to give it 3.5 stars. It started of really good for me. But then at the end it waffled on too much about the court case. Otherwise I still enjoyed it.
August 17, 2021
A fascinating book
The depravity of humans is staggering. I agree he was insane but the jury still should have sentenced him to death.
The depravity of humans is staggering. I agree he was insane but the jury still should have sentenced him to death.
May 20, 2024
Reading this a second time for a book I'm writing, and it is THOROUGH. Mustafa is a master researcher.
June 26, 2025
it's a good book. can't believe he got life instead of death
July 31, 2011
A gruesome account of one man's double life and sick crime spree. This book is not for the faint of heart, it is graphic. If it were a fiction book I would not have liked it as I would have thought the author mad, but unfortunately it is a true account of a horrific series of events. It is well written and tells an interesting story and removes judgement. the court accounts take up most of the second half of the book and can get bogged down and boring for a bit of time, but overall a very good book.
January 22, 2012
Very interesting...the life of one of many serial killers. I have not really read a lot about any one in particular but this book really opened up my eyes to what is out there. One really disturbing factor about the book is that these murders happened within an hour drive of where I live. The author really went in to great detail about the killings of each woman and how the killer thought and acted. Great, easy read!
October 17, 2016
A pretty thorough treatment of a really yucky serial killer, not the best I've read but far from the worst. The courtroom coverage is a bit long, but well worth the read. The author does give a lot of insights that a layperson would probably miss and treats the families, lawyers, and judge fairly in this account. Taken as a whole, it's a compassionate look at people who were affected by this murderer, the victims, their families, and his own family.
December 13, 2012
Very disturbing book. Can't believe it took so long to find him. The first half of the book was about what he did and the second half of the book was his trial. I could have done without the whole trial, maybe just highlights of it would have been better. I skimmed the last half of the book because I was a little bored of it.
January 20, 2014
Wow, this is a true story of a pure killer who just liked doing it. Pretty scary stuff. Even more frightening is all the serial killers operating in the Baton Rouge area. This guy describes it all too... so there is very little left to the imagination other than how he could possibly do all that horrifying stuff.
January 13, 2012
The first half was interesting. The last half covered the entire trial. Felt like I was reading transcripts. I don't think Justice was served in this case since the Jury was not shown the entire picture.
November 4, 2012
The story about him and his crimes was good but the trial was the last half of the book which is quite boring to read. The pictures claim to be "SHOCKING" but they r just portraits of victims. Sooooo misleading.
September 5, 2012
Really sick guy. One true crime book that makes me feel uneasy. I believe in death penalty, its a shame that this sick fellow didnt get it. The whole religious streak he has during the trial is just an act. The whole insanity whatnot, is just a ruse.
February 19, 2015
A thorough and well-researched account of the Gillis murders and trial, helping me to understand why he was not given the death penalty. The legal aspects were fascinating as were the details of the murders, far more disturbing than was reported in the local press at the time.
November 11, 2011
This book is pretty graphic. It was an interesting read! I would put this in my top ten of seriel killer reads.
February 10, 2012
graphic
February 20, 2012
Definitely not for the faint of heart. One of the best true crimes books that I've read recently.
August 26, 2012
Didn't finish it...to gruesome...UGH
October 18, 2012
Scary as hell because it happened here.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews