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Little Lost Angel
The story of a shocking true crime details how four teenage Indiana girls, in a twisted search for popularity and love, kidnapped, tortured, and murdered twelve-year-old Shanda Sharer.
306 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 1995
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews
October 25, 2015
Horrifying, shocking, unbelievable! It's just inconceivable how any person is capable of such cruelty, even more sickening in this case because they were just teens!
The book was well written, informative, and detailed, and I took my time reading it because the story is SO awful, you just have to put it down every few pages because you can't and don't want to imagine what Shanda went through, and her poor family!
The book was well written, informative, and detailed, and I took my time reading it because the story is SO awful, you just have to put it down every few pages because you can't and don't want to imagine what Shanda went through, and her poor family!
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May 10, 2024Thoughts:
Since this book is a dnf then I am not going into too much detail with it except to say that the reason I am giving it a dnf is that most of the book in the first 40% of the book has a lot of notes and messages that were passed between the victim and the killer. The author does tell a story about what happened but I just got tired of reading all the notes and messages that make up a lot of the book.
The core of the story is about a teenage girl that fell in with the wrong crowd and she became entangled in a love affair that ended with her losing her life. Very sad for everyone involved and the first part of the book that I did read was depressing. Maybe my head space wasn't in it I don't know. I do own the book so maybe I will try it again later on down the road sometime. Since this is a dnf there will be no rating as I don't rate books I don't finish.
Since this book is a dnf then I am not going into too much detail with it except to say that the reason I am giving it a dnf is that most of the book in the first 40% of the book has a lot of notes and messages that were passed between the victim and the killer. The author does tell a story about what happened but I just got tired of reading all the notes and messages that make up a lot of the book.
The core of the story is about a teenage girl that fell in with the wrong crowd and she became entangled in a love affair that ended with her losing her life. Very sad for everyone involved and the first part of the book that I did read was depressing. Maybe my head space wasn't in it I don't know. I do own the book so maybe I will try it again later on down the road sometime. Since this is a dnf there will be no rating as I don't rate books I don't finish.
August 18, 2018
Little Lost Angel Review
Book Rating: 5 stars out of 5.
Story Line: This book was a hard read. Michael Quinlan did a very good job writing about this hard case. All four of those girls are horrible individuals. Melinda Loveless is the whole reason that this happened in the first place. She was jealous of a 12 year old girl. Her jealousy led to murder. She beat up Shanda at Witches castle. She kneed her in the face. She put a knife in the child's neck and helped strangle her. Yet, while she was on trial Melinda cried because she knew she was viewed as a murderer. She IS a MURDERER. She tried to appeal to get her sentence shortened. No, she doesn't deserve it. She needs to complete all sixty years of her sentence. She should have to suffer the way that she made Shanda suffer. Plus Melinda laughed at the fact that she killed Shanda. She was happy that she was out of her and her girlfriend's lives. She deserves every year that she has spent in prison.
Laurie Tackett and Hope Rippey helped in this horrible crime. Toni Lawrence may not have got involved, but she could have helped Shanda. She could have contacted the police when they were at the gas station. If she had then Shanda would be alive today. She could have saved Shanda's life. She chose not to say anything because she was afraid of the others. I really wish that Toni stayed in jail until 2002, but she got released early. Same goes with Hope. She shouldn't have been released either. She claims that she didn't spray Windex in Shanda's wounds but, she definitely did. Then she poured gas on the young girl. Laurie lied throughout her whole trial. She's the one that hit Shanda over the head with a tire iron. She helped drag Shanda out of the car with Hope. She helped set Shanda on fire.
None of these girls deserve any respect. They did something so atrocious. I feel for Shanda's family. She did not deserve what happened to her. She seemed like the sweetest little girl.
Also here is an update...Laurie Tackett is now released from prison. She did not complete all sixty years in jail. It sickens me how the justice system in this country works. Why would you let someone who may kill again out on the streets? Laurie didn't even really seem all that remorseful when she was on Dr. Phil. Same goes with Hope Rippey.
Also Melinda is going to be released in September of next year. She and Laurie should have remained in prison for the rest of their lives.
Writing Style: 5 stars out of 5. The vivid details really were heart wrenching...as I read I could see all these events happening to this little girl...my heart hurt.
Book Rating: 5 stars out of 5.
Story Line: This book was a hard read. Michael Quinlan did a very good job writing about this hard case. All four of those girls are horrible individuals. Melinda Loveless is the whole reason that this happened in the first place. She was jealous of a 12 year old girl. Her jealousy led to murder. She beat up Shanda at Witches castle. She kneed her in the face. She put a knife in the child's neck and helped strangle her. Yet, while she was on trial Melinda cried because she knew she was viewed as a murderer. She IS a MURDERER. She tried to appeal to get her sentence shortened. No, she doesn't deserve it. She needs to complete all sixty years of her sentence. She should have to suffer the way that she made Shanda suffer. Plus Melinda laughed at the fact that she killed Shanda. She was happy that she was out of her and her girlfriend's lives. She deserves every year that she has spent in prison.
Laurie Tackett and Hope Rippey helped in this horrible crime. Toni Lawrence may not have got involved, but she could have helped Shanda. She could have contacted the police when they were at the gas station. If she had then Shanda would be alive today. She could have saved Shanda's life. She chose not to say anything because she was afraid of the others. I really wish that Toni stayed in jail until 2002, but she got released early. Same goes with Hope. She shouldn't have been released either. She claims that she didn't spray Windex in Shanda's wounds but, she definitely did. Then she poured gas on the young girl. Laurie lied throughout her whole trial. She's the one that hit Shanda over the head with a tire iron. She helped drag Shanda out of the car with Hope. She helped set Shanda on fire.
None of these girls deserve any respect. They did something so atrocious. I feel for Shanda's family. She did not deserve what happened to her. She seemed like the sweetest little girl.
Also here is an update...Laurie Tackett is now released from prison. She did not complete all sixty years in jail. It sickens me how the justice system in this country works. Why would you let someone who may kill again out on the streets? Laurie didn't even really seem all that remorseful when she was on Dr. Phil. Same goes with Hope Rippey.
Also Melinda is going to be released in September of next year. She and Laurie should have remained in prison for the rest of their lives.
Writing Style: 5 stars out of 5. The vivid details really were heart wrenching...as I read I could see all these events happening to this little girl...my heart hurt.
August 28, 2008
It took me awhile to find this book, I thought it was the one written by Jones but I read this one years ago. This was a sick sick true crime, there is just something so unnatural about children who kill. It's not that adults murdering is natural, but society tends to see children as pure. I was still a teenager when I read this and I honestly felt then, and now, no sympathy for the killers. I know we can examine their backgrounds (as is done in "Cruel Sacrafice" by Aphrodite Jones) but there are many people in the world, countless numbers of victims who do not turn to murdering. It's hard as a human being to even want to understand what drives someone (especially so young) to kill, and worse TORTURE another soul. The human mind is a place we really need to explore but without glorifying the acts. It's scary to know that two were released already and I believe another of the girls will be out soon too. That's justice?
Murder isn't always just murder, there is something so insanely twisted about the way these girls killed Shanda. I am disgusted these girls are now walking free, and one will soon. Our justice system is screwy.
I always get steamed when someone says 'well what about forgiveness' or 'they deserve to make ammends' because you ask that person, 'really, well what if it were your child or family member they commited the atrocity against?' and boy does their tune change. Basically this book really stayed with me for a long time,it's horrific and painful to read.
Murder isn't always just murder, there is something so insanely twisted about the way these girls killed Shanda. I am disgusted these girls are now walking free, and one will soon. Our justice system is screwy.
I always get steamed when someone says 'well what about forgiveness' or 'they deserve to make ammends' because you ask that person, 'really, well what if it were your child or family member they commited the atrocity against?' and boy does their tune change. Basically this book really stayed with me for a long time,it's horrific and painful to read.
January 29, 2021
AUTHOR Quinlan, Michael
TITLE Little Lost Angel
DATE READ 01/28/21
RATING 4.5/B+
FIRST SENTENCE Shanda Sharer's normally neat bedroom was in disarray.
GENRE/ PUB DATE/FORMAT/LENGTH True Crime/1995/pb/306 pages
SERIES/STAND-ALONE SA
CHALLENGE Good Reads 2020 Reading Goal 14/120
GROUP READ Reading Cove
TIME/PLACE 1992/Indiana
CHARACTERS Shanda Sharer -- 12 year old girl
COMMENTS It is rare that I read True Crime but this was chosen for a book group read. It was deeply disturbing, graphic and so tragic. The psychological motivation of these teenaged girls, was fascinating and confounding -- I think the best answer was would any of them have committed such an horrendous crime alone -- NO. But the synergy between the main personalities of Melissa and Laurie created an evil force that went beyond any limits they could imagine solo.
TITLE Little Lost Angel
DATE READ 01/28/21
RATING 4.5/B+
FIRST SENTENCE Shanda Sharer's normally neat bedroom was in disarray.
GENRE/ PUB DATE/FORMAT/LENGTH True Crime/1995/pb/306 pages
SERIES/STAND-ALONE SA
CHALLENGE Good Reads 2020 Reading Goal 14/120
GROUP READ Reading Cove
TIME/PLACE 1992/Indiana
CHARACTERS Shanda Sharer -- 12 year old girl
COMMENTS It is rare that I read True Crime but this was chosen for a book group read. It was deeply disturbing, graphic and so tragic. The psychological motivation of these teenaged girls, was fascinating and confounding -- I think the best answer was would any of them have committed such an horrendous crime alone -- NO. But the synergy between the main personalities of Melissa and Laurie created an evil force that went beyond any limits they could imagine solo.
March 27, 2016
Update March 20 2016.
I was (as I have been for years now) looking for a copy of Cruel Sacrifice the book I had read and given away many years ago and then came on a review where someone was talking about Little Lost Angel.
It rang a bell so I checked my GR shelf to find I still had to read this one.
By the way the Jones book Cruel Sacrifice has suddenly become very expensive. Weird because back in the day i remember it did not have great reviews.
Anyway I have grabbed the book from the bookcase and am planning to read soon!
Update March 24 2016. reading now.
Wow Now I understand why Cruel Sacrifices had such an impact on me (I just ordered another copy through abebooks.co.uk ) and now I must have that book too again.
Even grown serial killers were not that cruel. OMG.
Update March 27.
Finished yesterday.
This is a well written book with some repetitions but that is quite normal given the case and the players in it.
Can't wait to get my copy of Cruel Sacrifice the other book about this case.
Normally I prefer to read just one book about a case although I've had it happen that I read a book (I think it was about a serial killer and his woman who helped him) where one book the author was defending the woman, making her the victim and then later I read another book about the case and this author thought she was just as guilty. Karla Homolka comes to mind. I must look up the other case I was thinking about and which 2 books)
There are some authors who can write a bad book about a very thrilling case ( Suzy cough Spencer cough comes to mind but thankfully this author did write a good book.
I recommend.
January 20, 2020
A Must Read
I remember reading about this terrible murder when it very first happened. It literally broke my heart. Shanda Sharer was a beautiful 12 year old girl that had her whole life ahead of her. She came from a good family and was very much loved. She got involved with the wrong people, like a lot of us do growing up. She was starting to turn her life around again. That was when she was taken away, tortured, beaten and finally set on fire by four of the most evil people that have ever walked this earth. The murderers - Melinda Loveless, Laurie Tackett, Hope Ripley and Toni Lawrence, from what I can gather have all now been released. Amanda Heavrin, who was never charged with anything, I still think was more involved in this case than many believe. She was at the centre, causing jealousy between Shanda and Melinda.In my own personal opinion, they should have all been out on Death Row. They should have been made to suffer every single day of their miserable existence. Now, they are out living their lives. They have been given a second chance. Where is the justice in that? They never have Shanda Sharer a second chance!
This is an extremely well researched book and Shanda's family cooperated fully with the author. Definitely a MUST READ for True Crime Readers. Definitely recommend this book!
I remember reading about this terrible murder when it very first happened. It literally broke my heart. Shanda Sharer was a beautiful 12 year old girl that had her whole life ahead of her. She came from a good family and was very much loved. She got involved with the wrong people, like a lot of us do growing up. She was starting to turn her life around again. That was when she was taken away, tortured, beaten and finally set on fire by four of the most evil people that have ever walked this earth. The murderers - Melinda Loveless, Laurie Tackett, Hope Ripley and Toni Lawrence, from what I can gather have all now been released. Amanda Heavrin, who was never charged with anything, I still think was more involved in this case than many believe. She was at the centre, causing jealousy between Shanda and Melinda.In my own personal opinion, they should have all been out on Death Row. They should have been made to suffer every single day of their miserable existence. Now, they are out living their lives. They have been given a second chance. Where is the justice in that? They never have Shanda Sharer a second chance!
This is an extremely well researched book and Shanda's family cooperated fully with the author. Definitely a MUST READ for True Crime Readers. Definitely recommend this book!
November 26, 2010
This is not a particularly well-written true crime book; nor is it bad. I would classify it as merely average. The only really good part was the last chapter and the epilogue, where the author tries to go into the reasons why these four girls committed such a brutal crime. That part was quite insightful with a lot of different points of view quoted.
There is another book about the Shanda Sharer murder case, Aphrodite Jones's Cruel Sacrifice . If you want to know this case you really should read both books. Cruel Sacrifice goes into great depth in the background of the killers, whereas Little Lost Angel focuses more on the life, family and characteristics of the victim.
There is another book about the Shanda Sharer murder case, Aphrodite Jones's Cruel Sacrifice . If you want to know this case you really should read both books. Cruel Sacrifice goes into great depth in the background of the killers, whereas Little Lost Angel focuses more on the life, family and characteristics of the victim.
November 22, 2016
I waited until now to read this book because I knew people that were professionally involved in this case and I wasn't ready. I was as shocked reading what happened to Shanda Sharer all these years later as I was when the news hit all the shows at the time. Shanda was a 12 year old who made the mistake of walking into a jealous triangle among other teenage girls.
Michael Quinlan did a good job of describing the horrible tortures that were done to Shanda, the background of each teenager involved in this case, and the investigation with a balanced eye, not writing with judgement. He also described in detail the courtroom cases, and how the guilty parties were doing in prison. The author also was able to develop a level of trust with Shanda's family and include their thoughts throughout the book, which gave Shanda a voice.
I know that Aphrodite Jones also wrote a book about Shanda Sharer and I plan to read it very soon, but I don't know how it could cover this horrible murder any better.
Michael Quinlan did a good job of describing the horrible tortures that were done to Shanda, the background of each teenager involved in this case, and the investigation with a balanced eye, not writing with judgement. He also described in detail the courtroom cases, and how the guilty parties were doing in prison. The author also was able to develop a level of trust with Shanda's family and include their thoughts throughout the book, which gave Shanda a voice.
I know that Aphrodite Jones also wrote a book about Shanda Sharer and I plan to read it very soon, but I don't know how it could cover this horrible murder any better.
November 16, 2017
If you didn't already know there were scary people in the world you would after reading this book. The world is filled with evil perverts, both young and old. It is also filled with cowards like Toni Lawrence.
It is in my opinion that Toni deserved as much time as Laurie, Melinda, and Hope. The other girls were depraved, but Toni was not, and yet she still made no attempt to save Shanda's life. She had a number of chances but she decided to stand idly by because she was supposedly scared.
If Toni had confessed to someone in one of the gas stations they went into, the other girls wouldn't have been able to harm her and Shanda could have been rescued from a heinous death. Toni chose to do nothing, which was cruel. I am not convinced that she cared about anyone other than herself.
It is in my opinion that Toni deserved as much time as Laurie, Melinda, and Hope. The other girls were depraved, but Toni was not, and yet she still made no attempt to save Shanda's life. She had a number of chances but she decided to stand idly by because she was supposedly scared.
If Toni had confessed to someone in one of the gas stations they went into, the other girls wouldn't have been able to harm her and Shanda could have been rescued from a heinous death. Toni chose to do nothing, which was cruel. I am not convinced that she cared about anyone other than herself.
January 30, 2021
Deeply disturbing and horrific to read. The fact that it about a murder that really happened is heartbreaking.
June 24, 2022
Ending was just very hard for me to finish but it was very good just very disturbing
July 15, 2023
This book was, as I figured, going to be incredibly disturbing. It turned out to be even more disturbing than I thought.
The graphic detail that described the torture and murder of 12-year-old Shanda Sharer is sickening and makes you not want to believe it- but it's frighteningly true. If you doubt pure evil exists in human beings, read this- and even more terrifying is the fact that this evil lurked in the hearts of innocent-looking young teenagers.
It starts when Shanda Sharer starts at a new junior high school. Desperate to make new friends, she confronts a girl's ex-boyfriend. Another girl, 15-year-old Amanda Heavrin, jumps in to defend the boy,saying it's her cousin, and starts to beat up Shanda. Both girls get hauled in the principal's office and are given detention. (Why Shanda was given detention I don't know-she didn't instigate and couldn't fight back. Her mom also grounded her saying she shouldn't be getting into fights. Blaming the victim if you ask me.)
Amanda starts to be attracted to Shanda during their detention and makes friends with her. Amanda is dating 17-year-old Melinda Loveless at the time. Melinda becomes insanely jealous of Shanda as Amanda can't stop talking about her and their relationship becomes sexualized.
Shanda's mother, Jacque, becomes very concerned about Shanda as her grades are plummeting and she used to be an excellent student. She doesn't want to take part in sports and other extra-curriculars she had previously loved. Shanda had been very into fashion, hair, and makeup, and now is wearing loose, baggy clothes, not caring about her appearance and often refusing to leave her room. Jacque eventually finds out about Amanda's relationship with her daughter becoming sexual and hears that Amanda runs with a bad crowd. She confronts Amanda's father and asks that Shanda not have anything to do with her anymore.
Amanda goes back and forth between Melinda and Shanda, but won't leave Shanda alone. Shanda changes schools and is doing very well again, making new friends, etc. Amanda still pursues her.
To make a long story short, Melinda decides she wants revenge. She wants to kill Shanda and is serious about it. Laurie Tackett, a local troubled teen who has serious issues, wants to kill someone. They decide to kill Shanda. Hope Rippey and Toni Lawrence get involved at some point as well. These girls don't know Shanda.
They lure Shanda out of her father's house one night with the promise that Amanda wants to meet her. Melinda hides in the back seat and strategically jumps out at one point, threatening Shanda with a knife.
Shanda is tortured over the next several hours in wooded areas and eventually lit on fire and left to die. The girls go to McDonald's afterwards and laugh about how the sausage looks like Shanda. Melinda is laughing and saying she's so glad Shanda is dead.
Toni says something to her parents, and the girls end up arrested. Melinda and Hope are grinning in their mugshots.
Again, I'm skimming, but through the trial Melinda and Laurie show little remorse. Melinda puts on a lot of theatrics ,becoming hysterical, but it doesn't seem genuine. Laurie tries to convince psychiatrists she's insane to avoid prosecution, but they call her on her bluff.
Melinda and Laurie plead guilty to avoid the death penalty and each get 60 years.
Toni gets 20 years, Hope a lengthier sentence (can't remember off the top of my head) as she poured gasoline on Shanda and took a more active part in the murder.
Want to know something possibly equally horrible?
All girls are out of jail now. Amanda Heavrin was never prosecuted for anything.
I watched a Dr. Phil special where Jacque and her daughter, Paije (Shanda's sister) confront Hope Rippey, who was freed from jail. Hope's performance was really something else. She keeps stammering that she doesn't know why she did what she did and that it was peer pressure. Dr. Phil points out that she had several chances to save Shanda's life, and that she took an active part in it. She has no real answers. Jacque says that if she was truly sorry, she wouldn't have persistently tried to get out of jail and ultimately have 15 years shaved off her sentence. Bingo. They ask Hope if she honestly feels she should be out of jail now and she says yes. Some remorse.
Dr. Phil interviews Amanda Heaverin and beforehand, Jacque gives some further insight than what was in the book as to the nature of Amanda's relationship with Shanda. Remember, Shanda was 12, Amanda was 15(and already sexually experienced and identifying as a lesbian).Jacque maintains that Amanda molested Shanda and groomed her, and refused to leave her alone even when she knew Melinda was making death threats. She also didn't tell anyone about the death threats. She says Amanda is just as guilty and I'd have to agree.
When Amanda is interviewed, Jacque and Paije watch from another room..I wish they'd confronted her.
Amanda is smug, cocky, and non apologetic. She sounds like a predator, claiming Shandra "came on to her" . She was 15. Shanda was 12. Even if this were true, she should have refused given her age. And left her alone. She complains about how the incident caused her to be kicked off the basketball team and lose a basketball scholarship. Are you f!!!@% serious, Amanda? This little girl was murdered and you're worried about basketball? She callously brings up that Shanda's father drank himself to death after the murder (true) and that he should have done more than prevent her from going out with those girls at night. This woman is a predator and should be behind bars.
Back to the book..
My one problem was it was the homophobia and satanic panic that ran like a river through it. Amanda is described as looking like a boy, and Jacque tells her father that he should spend more time with her so she can act more like a girl (cringe). Lesbianism among the teens is approached as something sinister and dirty that is somehow connected with their deviant behaviour, and that's just plain harmful and wrong. The author mentions the girls live in a homophobic town, but he does little to combat that.
Laurie's occult involvement is touted as another possible reason for her coldblooded murdering actions. She has pentecostal parents who were abusive and she rebelled by getting into the occult. they talk about her "channeling" dead spirits, drinking blood, and playing with "magic stones" (runes). She listens to punk rock and dresses weird, and hangs out with other kids like her.This also was eye-rolling and reminiscent of the satanic panic 80s and fear mongering around kids that were different. Ok, if the drinking blood thing were true, that's a definite red flag, but the rest doesn't lend itself to murder. Lots of kids experiment with the occult. It's not evil or banal on its' own. Laurie was clearly a sociopath and the occult had nothing to do with it.
It's obvious the families are somewhat homophobic, or at least, are painted that way. Shanda's mother is horrified about her relationship with Amanda, and the way the book makes it sound, it's because it's a lesbian relationship and she's adamant that Shanda isn't a lesbian. Whether she was or not is immaterial, the issue was that Amanda was an older predator and that didn't make it into the book (Jacque also said that Shanda failed phys ed because she refused to get changed in the changeroom, a clear sign of abuse with everything else she exhibited). Melinda's mother is at first against her daughter coming out, despite the fact her two older sisters are also lesbians. She eventually accepts it.
So, other than the outdated and harmful attitudes towards the occult and homosexuality, it was a well written book, if a bit sensationalist.
It is very graphic and will turn your stomach, so word of warning to those that are sensitive.
The graphic detail that described the torture and murder of 12-year-old Shanda Sharer is sickening and makes you not want to believe it- but it's frighteningly true. If you doubt pure evil exists in human beings, read this- and even more terrifying is the fact that this evil lurked in the hearts of innocent-looking young teenagers.
It starts when Shanda Sharer starts at a new junior high school. Desperate to make new friends, she confronts a girl's ex-boyfriend. Another girl, 15-year-old Amanda Heavrin, jumps in to defend the boy,saying it's her cousin, and starts to beat up Shanda. Both girls get hauled in the principal's office and are given detention. (Why Shanda was given detention I don't know-she didn't instigate and couldn't fight back. Her mom also grounded her saying she shouldn't be getting into fights. Blaming the victim if you ask me.)
Amanda starts to be attracted to Shanda during their detention and makes friends with her. Amanda is dating 17-year-old Melinda Loveless at the time. Melinda becomes insanely jealous of Shanda as Amanda can't stop talking about her and their relationship becomes sexualized.
Shanda's mother, Jacque, becomes very concerned about Shanda as her grades are plummeting and she used to be an excellent student. She doesn't want to take part in sports and other extra-curriculars she had previously loved. Shanda had been very into fashion, hair, and makeup, and now is wearing loose, baggy clothes, not caring about her appearance and often refusing to leave her room. Jacque eventually finds out about Amanda's relationship with her daughter becoming sexual and hears that Amanda runs with a bad crowd. She confronts Amanda's father and asks that Shanda not have anything to do with her anymore.
Amanda goes back and forth between Melinda and Shanda, but won't leave Shanda alone. Shanda changes schools and is doing very well again, making new friends, etc. Amanda still pursues her.
To make a long story short, Melinda decides she wants revenge. She wants to kill Shanda and is serious about it. Laurie Tackett, a local troubled teen who has serious issues, wants to kill someone. They decide to kill Shanda. Hope Rippey and Toni Lawrence get involved at some point as well. These girls don't know Shanda.
They lure Shanda out of her father's house one night with the promise that Amanda wants to meet her. Melinda hides in the back seat and strategically jumps out at one point, threatening Shanda with a knife.
Shanda is tortured over the next several hours in wooded areas and eventually lit on fire and left to die. The girls go to McDonald's afterwards and laugh about how the sausage looks like Shanda. Melinda is laughing and saying she's so glad Shanda is dead.
Toni says something to her parents, and the girls end up arrested. Melinda and Hope are grinning in their mugshots.
Again, I'm skimming, but through the trial Melinda and Laurie show little remorse. Melinda puts on a lot of theatrics ,becoming hysterical, but it doesn't seem genuine. Laurie tries to convince psychiatrists she's insane to avoid prosecution, but they call her on her bluff.
Melinda and Laurie plead guilty to avoid the death penalty and each get 60 years.
Toni gets 20 years, Hope a lengthier sentence (can't remember off the top of my head) as she poured gasoline on Shanda and took a more active part in the murder.
Want to know something possibly equally horrible?
All girls are out of jail now. Amanda Heavrin was never prosecuted for anything.
I watched a Dr. Phil special where Jacque and her daughter, Paije (Shanda's sister) confront Hope Rippey, who was freed from jail. Hope's performance was really something else. She keeps stammering that she doesn't know why she did what she did and that it was peer pressure. Dr. Phil points out that she had several chances to save Shanda's life, and that she took an active part in it. She has no real answers. Jacque says that if she was truly sorry, she wouldn't have persistently tried to get out of jail and ultimately have 15 years shaved off her sentence. Bingo. They ask Hope if she honestly feels she should be out of jail now and she says yes. Some remorse.
Dr. Phil interviews Amanda Heaverin and beforehand, Jacque gives some further insight than what was in the book as to the nature of Amanda's relationship with Shanda. Remember, Shanda was 12, Amanda was 15(and already sexually experienced and identifying as a lesbian).Jacque maintains that Amanda molested Shanda and groomed her, and refused to leave her alone even when she knew Melinda was making death threats. She also didn't tell anyone about the death threats. She says Amanda is just as guilty and I'd have to agree.
When Amanda is interviewed, Jacque and Paije watch from another room..I wish they'd confronted her.
Amanda is smug, cocky, and non apologetic. She sounds like a predator, claiming Shandra "came on to her" . She was 15. Shanda was 12. Even if this were true, she should have refused given her age. And left her alone. She complains about how the incident caused her to be kicked off the basketball team and lose a basketball scholarship. Are you f!!!@% serious, Amanda? This little girl was murdered and you're worried about basketball? She callously brings up that Shanda's father drank himself to death after the murder (true) and that he should have done more than prevent her from going out with those girls at night. This woman is a predator and should be behind bars.
Back to the book..
My one problem was it was the homophobia and satanic panic that ran like a river through it. Amanda is described as looking like a boy, and Jacque tells her father that he should spend more time with her so she can act more like a girl (cringe). Lesbianism among the teens is approached as something sinister and dirty that is somehow connected with their deviant behaviour, and that's just plain harmful and wrong. The author mentions the girls live in a homophobic town, but he does little to combat that.
Laurie's occult involvement is touted as another possible reason for her coldblooded murdering actions. She has pentecostal parents who were abusive and she rebelled by getting into the occult. they talk about her "channeling" dead spirits, drinking blood, and playing with "magic stones" (runes). She listens to punk rock and dresses weird, and hangs out with other kids like her.This also was eye-rolling and reminiscent of the satanic panic 80s and fear mongering around kids that were different. Ok, if the drinking blood thing were true, that's a definite red flag, but the rest doesn't lend itself to murder. Lots of kids experiment with the occult. It's not evil or banal on its' own. Laurie was clearly a sociopath and the occult had nothing to do with it.
It's obvious the families are somewhat homophobic, or at least, are painted that way. Shanda's mother is horrified about her relationship with Amanda, and the way the book makes it sound, it's because it's a lesbian relationship and she's adamant that Shanda isn't a lesbian. Whether she was or not is immaterial, the issue was that Amanda was an older predator and that didn't make it into the book (Jacque also said that Shanda failed phys ed because she refused to get changed in the changeroom, a clear sign of abuse with everything else she exhibited). Melinda's mother is at first against her daughter coming out, despite the fact her two older sisters are also lesbians. She eventually accepts it.
So, other than the outdated and harmful attitudes towards the occult and homosexuality, it was a well written book, if a bit sensationalist.
It is very graphic and will turn your stomach, so word of warning to those that are sensitive.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 28, 2013
With two major books done on this case, this one by far is the most comprehensive & balanced report of the event and the people involved. It is still an unthinkable crime, but Quinlan takes the reader back to that night, revealing the events that unfolded and the impact it had on so many lives. He also takes readers into the courtroom, something that was not done in the other book by Aphrodite Jones. The only thing readers are not given is a good reason to why this happened, which frankly, there is none. It opens up a larger discussion to bullying, and what happens when it goes too far. What is even more disturbing, this is not an isolated case. Even recent years have had teenagers acting in unison, killing a peer for the most ridiculous of reasons. What we fail to acknowledge as adults are that our children are sexually active, face conflict on a daily basis, and when it goes unchecked, the end result is often tragic. Though it is difficult to know if this tragedy could have been prevented, as Shanda's parents did everything they could to protect their daughter. There wasn't just one monster for Shanda to avoid, but four, five if you feel Amanda Heavrin played a role in the murder of Shanda Sharer. Those are odds that likely no one could survive.
October 27, 2012
This was one of the hardest most gut- wrenching true crime book I have read to date.
It's a story of four teens who brutally murder a twelve year old little girl. There is a lot in this book lesbian love affairs among young girls.Girls from bad homes who picked the wrong crowds to hang around in.
I don't want to give the story away for others who haven't read it ,so I will say no more.
The author does an excellent job of telling the backgrounds of all involved and a great job writing about the trial.I gave it 5 stars for this reason.
This book isn't for the faint of heart.I read a lot of true crime and this is one of those stories that stays etched in your mind.
It makes you worry about our youth growing up more and more violent and uncaring..girls at that. Very,very sad.
It's a story of four teens who brutally murder a twelve year old little girl. There is a lot in this book lesbian love affairs among young girls.Girls from bad homes who picked the wrong crowds to hang around in.
I don't want to give the story away for others who haven't read it ,so I will say no more.
The author does an excellent job of telling the backgrounds of all involved and a great job writing about the trial.I gave it 5 stars for this reason.
This book isn't for the faint of heart.I read a lot of true crime and this is one of those stories that stays etched in your mind.
It makes you worry about our youth growing up more and more violent and uncaring..girls at that. Very,very sad.
February 9, 2011
This story was heartbreaking. Rarely do I come across a true crime book that will bring me to tears, but this one did. The atrocities that were inflicted upon Shanda Sharer by these four girls were horrible. The fact that one girl stood by & watched it all happen without alerting anyone, when she had so many chances was unforgivable. This 12 year old girl was murdered because one girl was jealous. The other three didn't even know her & participated in the crime. It makes you really think about what kids are capable of when in a group setting. I think all parents should read this book.
May 16, 2011
This is a horrific and gruesome book. I can't say whether I enjoyed it or not, I put it down a few times and took a breather before finishing. I cannot imagine how teenage girls can do this to a child, wait yes I can, teenage girls can be extremely cruel especially when dealing with the green eyed monster called jealousy.
I read this book before I had my children, now that I am a parent I am not sure if I could do a re-read. The story brought me to tears and I have never forgotten it.
I can't say this is a good read but it is one that can't be easily forgotten.
I read this book before I had my children, now that I am a parent I am not sure if I could do a re-read. The story brought me to tears and I have never forgotten it.
I can't say this is a good read but it is one that can't be easily forgotten.
November 9, 2018
A true crime that is tragic in so many ways. In 1992 4 girls killed a 12 year old girl who got involved in the wrong crowd. She was tortured and burned to death. Spoiler-there is quite a bit of sexual and homosexuality activity among the half dozen or so teens involved. So sad for all the families.
April 9, 2023
January 2021
242nd Cove Pick: LITTLE LOST ANGEL by Michael Quinlan
Chosen By: Millenia
Trivia Winner - Mary
We discuss the book in the 122nd episode of our Cove Podcast - listen in and share your thoughts!
~COVE OPINION: B, Great book!
242nd Cove Pick: LITTLE LOST ANGEL by Michael Quinlan
Chosen By: Millenia
Trivia Winner - Mary
We discuss the book in the 122nd episode of our Cove Podcast - listen in and share your thoughts!
~COVE OPINION: B, Great book!
November 19, 2021
harrowing and thought provoking
Not an easy read, but it’s a hard story to tell. The author deals with it well. A great read.
Not an easy read, but it’s a hard story to tell. The author deals with it well. A great read.
December 24, 2018
Lacks the clinical impact of Aphrodite Jones' "Cruel Sacrifice" (about the same case) but if you can get past the sentiment and moralizing (present but not overwhelming), it does give a bit more background on many of those involved in the case.
May 18, 2009
This is a very sad book. It gives more detail about Shanda and her family. This story will break your heart.
January 11, 2022
This book was very interesting, and I think the author did a good job of portraying the events. However, I would've liked to have known more about the killers' lives before this happened. It was alluded to but not really gone into detail about. (I've heard I should read the other book on this subject to find out more, and I will.)
I was also appalled at the portrayal of lesbians. The author lets us draw the conclusion that they're lesbians, and therefore they must be crazed killers. That makes lesbians everywhere look bad. That rubbed me the wrong way. I'm straight, but it was offensive. Someone's sexuality has nothing to do with their moral acts. The author could've written with that bent, but he didn't. His attitude seemed to be, "They're lesbians! What's wrong with them?!"
This isn't a criticism of the book, but I read a part where one of the detectives had received a phone call years before the incident from Laurie, who asked him about child abuse, and the detective aparently gave her the run-around. If he'd actually cared enough to help her, it could've made a huge difference. It can be hard to make a second call when the first call gets you nowhere. Regardless of whether it was in his job description to help, he should've helped her anyway. I hope he's thought about that and realized that it's never good to do nothing.
I feel sorry for Shanda's parents, who seemed to be kind and loving parents who were proactive and involved. I can't imagine. I really can't. Someone on Amazon left a review criticizing the mom for being divorced so many times, and I'm just like, no. Just no. Not cool to criticize for that when she was a wonderful and loving mother who provided a stable home.
I was interested because I live in Louisville and was fourteen at the time of Shanda's tragic death. I feel so sad for her.
I was also appalled at the portrayal of lesbians. The author lets us draw the conclusion that they're lesbians, and therefore they must be crazed killers. That makes lesbians everywhere look bad. That rubbed me the wrong way. I'm straight, but it was offensive. Someone's sexuality has nothing to do with their moral acts. The author could've written with that bent, but he didn't. His attitude seemed to be, "They're lesbians! What's wrong with them?!"
This isn't a criticism of the book, but I read a part where one of the detectives had received a phone call years before the incident from Laurie, who asked him about child abuse, and the detective aparently gave her the run-around. If he'd actually cared enough to help her, it could've made a huge difference. It can be hard to make a second call when the first call gets you nowhere. Regardless of whether it was in his job description to help, he should've helped her anyway. I hope he's thought about that and realized that it's never good to do nothing.
I feel sorry for Shanda's parents, who seemed to be kind and loving parents who were proactive and involved. I can't imagine. I really can't. Someone on Amazon left a review criticizing the mom for being divorced so many times, and I'm just like, no. Just no. Not cool to criticize for that when she was a wonderful and loving mother who provided a stable home.
I was interested because I live in Louisville and was fourteen at the time of Shanda's tragic death. I feel so sad for her.
July 14, 2022
So much for sugar and spice and everything nice. A love triangle with Shanda Sharer, age twelve, classmate, Amanda Heavrin, fourteen and Melinda Loveless, fifteen, begin this bloody tale. Amanda and Shanda had a lesbian encounter three weeks after first meeting at a public school. Sharer had transferred from a Catholic school. Melinda and Amanda had been lovers for two years when the third wheel disrupted paradise. Three more teens enter the picture, Laurie, Toni and Hope, and all hell would break loose. The four girls would use a knife and a crowbar to bloody Shanda and drive til the next morning with their moaning victim in the trunk of a car. To cover up the crime, they set her on fire while she was still alive. A hunter discovered the body in a field the same day. The autopsy ruled that the death was caused by the fire.
She had also been sodomized. The killers turned on one another, each denying the murder. The court cases are a bit tedious and the story itself nauseating. I am accustomed to my fellow men committing atrocities but I was shocked at the prevalence of the viciousness of young girls. The book is an eye opener and a difficult but good read.
She had also been sodomized. The killers turned on one another, each denying the murder. The court cases are a bit tedious and the story itself nauseating. I am accustomed to my fellow men committing atrocities but I was shocked at the prevalence of the viciousness of young girls. The book is an eye opener and a difficult but good read.
December 12, 2023
The worst thing about Michael Quinlan’s account of the murder of a twelve-year-old by other children is its corny maudlin title, Little Lost Angel. The second worst thing is a characteristic shared by many other reporters’ books about a case they didn’t have to read about in the papers - they were the ones who wrote those columns - and that’s the size of their oeuvre. These guys (they’ve all been men so far) are not James Patterson or M. William Phelps. They appear to have put everything they had into the one book, and true crime readers are the losers.
But enough whining. The crime is mind-boggling because of the ages of those involved and the cause of the underlying dispute - the victim (aged 12!) was murdered because another girl’s jealousy over a previous lesbian sexual affair. Although that may sound titillating, Quinlan is not writing about sex. He is showing us a group of youngsters who heard the equivalent of the traditional parental challenge, “Well, if your friends jumped off a bridge would you jump too?” and answered Yes.
Little Lost Angel is recommended to true crime fans and maybe to parents as well.
But enough whining. The crime is mind-boggling because of the ages of those involved and the cause of the underlying dispute - the victim (aged 12!) was murdered because another girl’s jealousy over a previous lesbian sexual affair. Although that may sound titillating, Quinlan is not writing about sex. He is showing us a group of youngsters who heard the equivalent of the traditional parental challenge, “Well, if your friends jumped off a bridge would you jump too?” and answered Yes.
Little Lost Angel is recommended to true crime fans and maybe to parents as well.
April 30, 2022
I became familiar with the Shanda Sharer case in college, but had never read this book. I picked it up to use as a research tool for a novel I'm piecing together, and finally sat down to give it a first read through.
This case was so, so effed up, y'all. Like truly. It is unbelievable that this type of violent crime happened not so far from where I live, and in the early 90s at that. I was a kid then, yes, and of course didn't know much about the atrocities of the world yet. Still, it's hard to wrap my mind around the fact that kids were as violent then as they seem to be now (though now it's not so hidden and their cruelty is often just right out there in the open).
What those girls did to Shanda is just absolutely horrific. Even Toni is absolutely despicable, just by standing by as a silent observer and not doing something (and she had ample opportunities) to help.
If you are interested in true crime at all, or in the Sharer case, read this. It really goes in depth without being boring, and really shows just how absolutely nasty and evil those girls were.
This case was so, so effed up, y'all. Like truly. It is unbelievable that this type of violent crime happened not so far from where I live, and in the early 90s at that. I was a kid then, yes, and of course didn't know much about the atrocities of the world yet. Still, it's hard to wrap my mind around the fact that kids were as violent then as they seem to be now (though now it's not so hidden and their cruelty is often just right out there in the open).
What those girls did to Shanda is just absolutely horrific. Even Toni is absolutely despicable, just by standing by as a silent observer and not doing something (and she had ample opportunities) to help.
If you are interested in true crime at all, or in the Sharer case, read this. It really goes in depth without being boring, and really shows just how absolutely nasty and evil those girls were.
December 7, 2023
This book gives a good insight over the events that led up to Shandas murder. However, I will say that if you are looking for an explicit book of the murders this book will not be for you. This book mostly covers the lives of the all the parties and mostly assumptions but not facts. We start the book with the meeting of each parties and they commingled. Middle of the book details how the murder took place, and the end of the book goes through the court events and their sentences. I give this book 4 starts solely based that some details are assumption based and not facts, most of the events are what were being told by each party and not so much of detective work. There was no mention of the evidence left behind and how that creates a solid story of the events that took place. If you are more into knowing the insights of Shanda’s life and the life of the murderers then you will enjoy this book as this is more of a storytelling perspective book versus a raw insight of the crime.
April 16, 2024
Just finished reading Little Lost Angel and I must say it's one story that's very difficult to read , so very sad and disturbing. In a small town Called New Albany in Indiana a twelve year old girl is brutally murdered by three young teenage girls and a fourth who didn't participate but did nothing to help the girl. The girls were caught very quickly and all were jailed, the two who actually did the torture and murder took a deal so there was no trial and the Judge gave them each 60 years which means if they have a clean record they could be out in 30 years.The other two girls , one 10 years and the other got 30 years. This very terrible murder was just over a jealousy of three girls, one who thought her girlfriend was cheating on her with the little twelve year girl who later became the murder victim.
June 13, 2025
I remember this 1992 case of the beating, torturing, burning that led to the death of 12 year-old Shanda Sharer because it happened nearby in Madison, Indiana. I read the book closer to the release date (2012). The author was a Louisville, Kentucky journalist. It is not for the faint hearted. It will make you wonder why and how such torture, violence and cruelty can come from young teens. As of 2019, all four women involved in the killing were released from prison.
January 14, 2018
Shanda Sharer's short life and long drawn out death has haunted me ever since I first read about it. I decided to read this book after learning Laurie Tackett was released earlier this year. The book was well-written but I didn't come away feeling I knew anything more about the motivation behind this horrendous attack. Maybe we will never know.
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