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From Crime Scene to Courtroom: Examining the Mysteries Behind Famous Cases
From crime scene to morgue to courtroom, and finally the court of public opinion, this riveting narrative is essential reading for true-crime enthusiasts.
If you think the media has told you everything there is to know about Michael Jackson and Casey Anthony, think again! This engrossing, almost cinematic page-turner, offers never-before-published information on the mysterious deaths of Michael Jackson and Caylee Anthony, plus five other ripped-from-the-headlines criminal cases. Based on the authors' long investigative experience, these two insiders offer revealing insights into the following high-profile cases:
-Casey Anthony: An assessment of the Trial of this Century, during which a Florida mother stood accused of killing her young daughter, Caylee. At stake were issues that included accuracy of air sampling and cadaver dogs, post-mortem hair banding, chloroform, duct tape identification, computer clues, and deep family secrets.
-Michael Jackson: The authors provide never-disclosed data on the autopsies of Jackson’s body and a microscopic view of the singer’s life and career, plus analysis of the cardiologist charged with his death: Was Dr. Conrad Murphy recklessly negligent or a fall guy for a hopelessly addicted celebrity?
-Drew Peterson: Heroic Illinois SWAT team cop or wife killer? Did his third wife slip and fall in the bathtub, or was she beaten and drowned? The controversy over her death led to an exhumation and the filing of homicide charges against him, but can prosecutors prove their case? And what happened to his fourth wife, who remains missing?
-Rolling Stone Brian Jones: Was the rock musician’s death an accident or something more sinister? And was he impaired by drugs or alcohol when he died? After more than forty years, there is finally an answer.
In addition, the authors examine the tragic death of twelve-year-old Gabrielle Bechen, whose rape-murder changed her community; Col. Philip Shue, whose demise was a battle of suicide versus homicide until Dr. Wecht solved the case; and Carol Ann Gotbaum, a respected Manhattan mother who died in police custody in Phoenix.
If you think the media has told you everything there is to know about Michael Jackson and Casey Anthony, think again! This engrossing, almost cinematic page-turner, offers never-before-published information on the mysterious deaths of Michael Jackson and Caylee Anthony, plus five other ripped-from-the-headlines criminal cases. Based on the authors' long investigative experience, these two insiders offer revealing insights into the following high-profile cases:
-Casey Anthony: An assessment of the Trial of this Century, during which a Florida mother stood accused of killing her young daughter, Caylee. At stake were issues that included accuracy of air sampling and cadaver dogs, post-mortem hair banding, chloroform, duct tape identification, computer clues, and deep family secrets.
-Michael Jackson: The authors provide never-disclosed data on the autopsies of Jackson’s body and a microscopic view of the singer’s life and career, plus analysis of the cardiologist charged with his death: Was Dr. Conrad Murphy recklessly negligent or a fall guy for a hopelessly addicted celebrity?
-Drew Peterson: Heroic Illinois SWAT team cop or wife killer? Did his third wife slip and fall in the bathtub, or was she beaten and drowned? The controversy over her death led to an exhumation and the filing of homicide charges against him, but can prosecutors prove their case? And what happened to his fourth wife, who remains missing?
-Rolling Stone Brian Jones: Was the rock musician’s death an accident or something more sinister? And was he impaired by drugs or alcohol when he died? After more than forty years, there is finally an answer.
In addition, the authors examine the tragic death of twelve-year-old Gabrielle Bechen, whose rape-murder changed her community; Col. Philip Shue, whose demise was a battle of suicide versus homicide until Dr. Wecht solved the case; and Carol Ann Gotbaum, a respected Manhattan mother who died in police custody in Phoenix.
315 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2011
73 people are currently reading
287 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
June 8, 2022
Dr Wecht has always been one of my idols. I very much wanted to be a forensic pathologist but unfortunately life lead me in a different direction. It's always good to read anything by him (or Dr Baden) because you know you are getting facts and not fluff. He won't sugarcoat anything and will tell it like it is. Take it or leave it. He's not there to make your life better. He's there to provide you with the truth of his findings.
The amount of reviews saying that this book reads like a textbook.. what else did you expect? It's high profile cases with the scientific findings. It's forensic science so unless you have fascination with forensic science and scientific analysis, this book isn't for you.
And also, Dr Wecht can and should speak very highly of himself because he's at the top of his field.
The amount of reviews saying that this book reads like a textbook.. what else did you expect? It's high profile cases with the scientific findings. It's forensic science so unless you have fascination with forensic science and scientific analysis, this book isn't for you.
And also, Dr Wecht can and should speak very highly of himself because he's at the top of his field.
December 9, 2017
Very dry and scientific. This reads more like a textbook than a true crime novel. And this guy's ego needs to be taken back a few notches. He thinks very highly of himself. It is interesting because it focuses on investigations that garnered tons of media attention, but also made me angry all over again that Casey Anthony got away with murdering her precious baby.
November 20, 2022
Decent read
I must admit, I didn't read the entire book. I read the cases of Casey Anderson, Gabby, & Michael Jackson. All 3 were interesting reads, with tidbits I didn't know. The death of Caylee is disturbing.
I must admit, I didn't read the entire book. I read the cases of Casey Anderson, Gabby, & Michael Jackson. All 3 were interesting reads, with tidbits I didn't know. The death of Caylee is disturbing.
June 24, 2017
Really fascinating book for true crime buffs
September 19, 2025
The forward was my favorite part of this book. If you have ever read any of my other reviews, you will know that I have been a long-time fan of Geraldo Rivera. The rest was good, but not great.
December 1, 2016
It was interesting but not as detailed if description as I had thought. I still enjoyed reading this book. It was interesting to learn of the loopholes and how in certain cases human psychology (jurors) could allow certain criminals to get away and how their deep sympathies can help provide closure to some as was the case in Gabby's case.
I do wish there was more explanation and or analysis of how forensic science can help or have an effect on revisiting some of the laws and closing some of the loopholes in the system.
It is obvious that human error is playing a major role in the world of crime and forensics.... how could he and other professionals in this area address this issue. It is probably a subject for another book but overall it is a fast good read.
I do wish there was more explanation and or analysis of how forensic science can help or have an effect on revisiting some of the laws and closing some of the loopholes in the system.
It is obvious that human error is playing a major role in the world of crime and forensics.... how could he and other professionals in this area address this issue. It is probably a subject for another book but overall it is a fast good read.
November 3, 2017
even with help from a supposed author, Wecht cannot produce a book that is not dry like a textbook or coroner's report. The cases that are fascinating are so despite the telling. This includes USAF colonel Shue which includes an apparent error early in the career of TV's Dr. G, Gabrielle Miranda BechenZ, and "terminal tragedy" Carol Anne Gotbaum. There are interesting details on the autopsy interpretation done by Wecht on Michael Jackson, Brian Jones, and in the Case of Casey Anthony and serial uxoricide Drew Peterson.
January 21, 2012
I usually like crime investigation type books. I like hearing about the investigation, the forensics, the million little ways criminals give themselves away, but this one..meh.
Each case was just a rehash of everything you could have seen on an episode of Dateline. I've read a similar book by Dr. Henry Lee and it was much better than this one which was written by Dr. Cyril Wecht who didn't break any new ground, didn't even really offer his interpretation of the evidence.
Meh.
Each case was just a rehash of everything you could have seen on an episode of Dateline. I've read a similar book by Dr. Henry Lee and it was much better than this one which was written by Dr. Cyril Wecht who didn't break any new ground, didn't even really offer his interpretation of the evidence.
Meh.
January 25, 2012
Pretty interesting book. Some cases I had heard about and some I had not. The author is a forensic psychologist and gives the background and his opinion on the cases of Casey Anthony, Drew Petersen, Michael Jackson, Colonel Philip Shue, Gabrielle Bechen, Carol Anne Gotbaum, and Brian Jones.
June 16, 2012
This was soooo disappointing. One of my favorite genres is true crime. This well respected pathologist has sunk low with this one. He and his co-author have done little more than re-hash and re-write already over-reported new stories and all in the name of making money. Shame on them.
February 7, 2014
Really fascinating cases, by someone who actually was involved in the cases. Not so good if you are squeamish however.
September 9, 2015
I really enjoy DR Cyril H Wecht's writing style and professional opinions on cases he has been apart of. What happened to Michael Jackson is especially interesting.
October 14, 2016
Best research and explanations of crime scene happenings I've ever encountered.
June 19, 2017
Read it in the papers
Thought I was going to learn new facts. Everything I read could be gleaned from news reports. Waste of time.
Thought I was going to learn new facts. Everything I read could be gleaned from news reports. Waste of time.
Read
July 21, 2018I actually liked this book and thought it was very readable, despite what other reviewers said. I’m not a true-crime fan, and only read this book because it fit a category I needed to fill for “Bookclub Bingo,” so maybe I’m just not use to what true-crime writing should be like.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews