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Unfinished Murder: The Capture of a Serial Rapist
From 1983 to 1988, he made Cleveland's West Side his hunting ground and its women his prey. He spied on them, silently invading their most intimate moments, then entered their homes. For the victims of serial rapist Ronnie Shelton, the ordeal began with his terrifying whisper: "Don't look at me. Do what I say and you won't get hurt...."
Each woman had been attacked by a stranger who in a moment devastated her life and left her to face "unfinished murder" - the emotional and psychological devastation that is the aftermath of rape. At the end of a five-year manhunt, Shelton would be convicted of raping twenty-nine women - probably less than a third of those he actually raped.
Unfinished Murder is the incredible story of a group of survivors who found the courage to speak out, to testify against Shelton and see justice served. During his reign of terror, they lived in fear and silence, warned by him that if they talked he would come back and kill them. After his arrest, they bonded together and found understanding and healing....
Among his victims were Karen Holztrager, a wife and mother who was haunted later by recurring nightmares... Becky Roth, a teacher of the handicapped, who after the rape suffered depression, suicidal feelings, and, subsequently, a shattered marriage... Betty Ocilka, a postal worker and policeman's widow, who forced herself not to cry during the attack because the sound would frighten her young son sleeping upstairs.
Detective Bob Matuszny, who knew Betty Ocilka and had known her late husband, made Shelton's arrest his personal mission. Matuszny was outraged that a serial rapist was marauding through his city - and furious that the police were being outwitted by a criminal who brazenly struck the moment their lookouts were down. Despite bureaucratic red tape and paralyzing city budget cuts, Matuszny persevered. But it would take years to make the connection that the low-level criminal brought in by police over a dozen times - for assault, probation violations, bar brawls, and disturbing the peace - was guilty of so much more.
Based on author James Neff's interviews with the survivors, police, psychiatrists, and with Ronnie Shelton, Unfinished Murder probes the contradictory mind of a sex offender to determine what went wrong - and why the warning signs of his disturbing behavior went unnoticed for so long. Shelton's distorted sexual fantasies and propensity for violence during his teenage years made a lethal mix; yet he slipped through every one of society's safety nets to become a calculating and seemingly unstoppable adult offender. Unfinished Murder is an astounding expose of police work hampered by an overtaxed urban criminal justice system; it is also an indictment of society's failure to address the issue of rape and its brutal aftermath. Most of all, it is the uplifting story of women who found a unified voice with which to demand justice. Their silent fear turned to triumph on the day Ronnie Shelton was sentenced to 3,198 years in prison. Their healing process continues.
Each woman had been attacked by a stranger who in a moment devastated her life and left her to face "unfinished murder" - the emotional and psychological devastation that is the aftermath of rape. At the end of a five-year manhunt, Shelton would be convicted of raping twenty-nine women - probably less than a third of those he actually raped.
Unfinished Murder is the incredible story of a group of survivors who found the courage to speak out, to testify against Shelton and see justice served. During his reign of terror, they lived in fear and silence, warned by him that if they talked he would come back and kill them. After his arrest, they bonded together and found understanding and healing....
Among his victims were Karen Holztrager, a wife and mother who was haunted later by recurring nightmares... Becky Roth, a teacher of the handicapped, who after the rape suffered depression, suicidal feelings, and, subsequently, a shattered marriage... Betty Ocilka, a postal worker and policeman's widow, who forced herself not to cry during the attack because the sound would frighten her young son sleeping upstairs.
Detective Bob Matuszny, who knew Betty Ocilka and had known her late husband, made Shelton's arrest his personal mission. Matuszny was outraged that a serial rapist was marauding through his city - and furious that the police were being outwitted by a criminal who brazenly struck the moment their lookouts were down. Despite bureaucratic red tape and paralyzing city budget cuts, Matuszny persevered. But it would take years to make the connection that the low-level criminal brought in by police over a dozen times - for assault, probation violations, bar brawls, and disturbing the peace - was guilty of so much more.
Based on author James Neff's interviews with the survivors, police, psychiatrists, and with Ronnie Shelton, Unfinished Murder probes the contradictory mind of a sex offender to determine what went wrong - and why the warning signs of his disturbing behavior went unnoticed for so long. Shelton's distorted sexual fantasies and propensity for violence during his teenage years made a lethal mix; yet he slipped through every one of society's safety nets to become a calculating and seemingly unstoppable adult offender. Unfinished Murder is an astounding expose of police work hampered by an overtaxed urban criminal justice system; it is also an indictment of society's failure to address the issue of rape and its brutal aftermath. Most of all, it is the uplifting story of women who found a unified voice with which to demand justice. Their silent fear turned to triumph on the day Ronnie Shelton was sentenced to 3,198 years in prison. Their healing process continues.
368 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 1995
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
December 7, 2013
After reading this book I can honestly say you truly never know a person or what goes on behind closed doors. I grew up in this neighborhood being friends with his sister and never knew this was him. Another friend who was part of our circle recently told me to read this book. It is so disturbing that I'm not sure sleep will come easily. So many victims who found the courage to testify and relieve their horrible ordeal once he was caught. We can never understand the nightmare they lived through but maybe this book will make women be more alert and careful especially when we are in the one place we should always feel safe...our homes! A shout out to the prosecutor who pushed and everyone involved in locking this individual up. And a very special blessing for those strong women and the men who stood by them despite that a part of them died with the violation the endured.
April 17, 2018
I found this to read more like a factual account rather than a retelling of historical crimes against women. It lacked grit and details seemed "skimmed" over as if it was more important to list all the women's names and their brief & scary encounters with Ronnie Shelton.
Ronnie comes across as a contradictory fellow who worries about young pure women being abused or taken advantage of while he's doing the exact same thing while out stalking clubs & easy access apartments for the very same type of women.
Ronnie was: confusing, manipulative, paranoid, involved with heavy drugs; a bitter young man who thought he could get away with his ridiculous behavior.
Ronnie comes across as a contradictory fellow who worries about young pure women being abused or taken advantage of while he's doing the exact same thing while out stalking clubs & easy access apartments for the very same type of women.
Ronnie was: confusing, manipulative, paranoid, involved with heavy drugs; a bitter young man who thought he could get away with his ridiculous behavior.
May 21, 2020
Another intriguing true crime novel that includes insight into the perpetrator, the justice system, and our broken society. To imagine I was in this area soon after he was caught and never heard the tale is frightening, but not as frightening and disheartening as his capture by police multiple times for petty crimes just to be released or slapped on the wrist. The system was broken and the pain it caused the community is exposed.
August 26, 2022
Unfinished Murder, the capture of a serial rapist by James Neff. I read this book several years ago and lent it out. I just got it back. I read this book at the time because I was a young married women at this time living in this area. Was even warned by a neighbor that he raped someone at the quiet end of our street. I worked nights at the time. After he was convicted, I found out a new friend was this man’s sister. She never mentioned it and I never brought it up to her. So when the book came out I was compelled to read it. I found it to be very informative.
It had been so long since I read, I decided to read it again. Book was way better than I remembered. Also scary when you realize how close this was to my every day life. Could easily been me or any of my friends. His sister I meet much latter and lost track of her after she divorced our friends son. There were things in here I was a little surprised at about her. This book just proves how easy your life can be turned on its head. Definitely a must read! Very informative!
It had been so long since I read, I decided to read it again. Book was way better than I remembered. Also scary when you realize how close this was to my every day life. Could easily been me or any of my friends. His sister I meet much latter and lost track of her after she divorced our friends son. There were things in here I was a little surprised at about her. This book just proves how easy your life can be turned on its head. Definitely a must read! Very informative!
May 19, 2017
The story of a 1980s Cleveland rapist and his many victims. Well-researched, but not exactly a joy to read.
March 20, 2018
An interesting look into the thoughts of a serial rapist and the police officers who wouldn't stop looking for him.
July 25, 2015
I'm not really into the true crime genre, but as a native Clevelander, I had a personal interest/curiosity to this story. I thought the author did a very good job in telling the victims' stories and humanizing them for the reader. I believe the same can be said for his portrayal of the rapist. As the reader, you get more insight into his thoughts, beliefs and intentions as he was committing each crime and while you may be sickened by each horrific act (I know I was) you are also fascinated by what is going through his mind. It's also a mind trip that the victims that you are reading about are real people who are likely still around today.
It's hard to encapsulate how I feel after reading this book as it reads more like a case study than anything else.
It's hard to encapsulate how I feel after reading this book as it reads more like a case study than anything else.
March 1, 2021
This book was about the serial rapist Ronnie Shelton, who was active in the mid to late 1980s. He stalked these women, broke into their homes, and assaulted them. He managed to elude police for quite some time before he was finally nailed. It is terrifying to think someone that lives in your community is out doing these kinds of things. I saw another review of someone who knew this guy and his family. I can't imagine what that must be like to know someone who carried out these kinds of attacks. You really never know what people get up to in secret. I think it was very courageous of the women to come forward. So many rapes have gone unreported, and that is sad to think about.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews