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You'll Never Find My Body
The author of Meet Me for Murder shares the true crime story of a LA prosecutor working to prove a man guilty of murder—without a body.
No evidence . . .
On April 22, 1991, three young children waited for their mother, Ann Racz, to return with a takeout dinner. Instead, their father showed up with a small bag of cold French fries and said their mother had gone away. Ann’s children didn't believe it. Neither did her friends. And neither did the police. But there was zero evidence that anything had happened to Ann.
No body . . .
Los Angeles detectives dug furiously into the case, grilling John Racz and searching for clues. But without a body, the investigation stalled, and three children grew up wondering what had happened to their loving mother—and if their father had killed her.
And a killer in plain sight . . .
Fourteen years later, a brilliant female prosecutor defied the legal establishment and delved into the cold case, uncovering shocking information about Ann and her relationship with John. Suddenly, a crusading prosecutor was up against the most difficult kind of murder case of to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that John Racz had murdered his wife—even though her body was never found . . .
With sixteen pages of photos
No evidence . . .
On April 22, 1991, three young children waited for their mother, Ann Racz, to return with a takeout dinner. Instead, their father showed up with a small bag of cold French fries and said their mother had gone away. Ann’s children didn't believe it. Neither did her friends. And neither did the police. But there was zero evidence that anything had happened to Ann.
No body . . .
Los Angeles detectives dug furiously into the case, grilling John Racz and searching for clues. But without a body, the investigation stalled, and three children grew up wondering what had happened to their loving mother—and if their father had killed her.
And a killer in plain sight . . .
Fourteen years later, a brilliant female prosecutor defied the legal establishment and delved into the cold case, uncovering shocking information about Ann and her relationship with John. Suddenly, a crusading prosecutor was up against the most difficult kind of murder case of to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that John Racz had murdered his wife—even though her body was never found . . .
With sixteen pages of photos
404 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2009
88 people are currently reading
221 people want to read
About the author
Don Lasseter
31 books37 followersDon Lasseter has written five true crime books for Pinnacle plus 16 magazine articles that were reprinted in Pinnacle's anthology books about murders. In addition to being a crime writer, Mr. Lasseter is a WWII historian who frequently lectures on the subject in schools, at service clubs, and for veteran's groups. He accompanies his talks with slide packages titled "WWII, Then and Now", consisting of photos he took while actually retracing most major battles in Western Europe and in the South Pacific. Taking black and white combat photos with him, Mr. Lasseter laboriously searched for the exact spots on which the photographers stood and shot the same scenes as they look today. He accumulated over 1500 such pictures associated with various battles including the Normandy invasion, Battle of the Bulge, crossing the Rhine, taking Berlin, and other major engagements.
A native Californian, Mr. Lasseter resides in Orange County. He has served as guest lecturer in criminology classes at California State University, Fullerton. Hollywood history is Mr. Lasseter's third major interest. His personal library includes an extensive collection of movie books, and he takes pride in being able to name hundreds of old character actors whose faces are often seen in classic films. One day, Lasseter says, he will write books, both fiction and non-fiction, about the golden era of film production and the people involved.
A native Californian, Mr. Lasseter resides in Orange County. He has served as guest lecturer in criminology classes at California State University, Fullerton. Hollywood history is Mr. Lasseter's third major interest. His personal library includes an extensive collection of movie books, and he takes pride in being able to name hundreds of old character actors whose faces are often seen in classic films. One day, Lasseter says, he will write books, both fiction and non-fiction, about the golden era of film production and the people involved.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
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January 29, 2022You know what I just realized like I’m today years old realizing this? True crime authors always seem to describe the female officers as graceful, attractive, intuitive etc before stating anything about their mad investigative skills and the male detectives are stereotypically built like a brick wall, tough and no nonsense. Just to bring up a few adjectives. I have no idea why it’s taken me hundreds of true crime books for this to have suddenly clicked right now. AND the female victims regardless of current lifestyles either are or were beautiful, helpful, caring, blah blah blah. As the meme says “if I go down it’ll be because I shot my mouth off one too many times”. I’ve told all of my coworkers to tell the truth about me if I die because of a serial killer. Also I think if I’m ever approached violently I’m just going to be like”go ahead dude. Whatever. I’m tired so just get it over with will ya? My job has sucked my will to live .”
October 21, 2011
This Book is about a husband who is put on trial for Murder after she disappears in 1991. The main character in this story being John Racz seemed to me at the beginning of the book that he could have been innocent. Yes, he did have humanly flaws however his demeanor and temper didn’t strike me as a murder from the get go like I usually sense in other convicted murderers. However my opinion of his guilt did change with time in reading the book and especially after seeing the 16 year gap between from when his wife Ann went missing to when he went to trial for her murder….. It was obvious to me she was dead all these years by this point and that she didn’t disappear on her own recognizance due to her characteristics of her daily activities and her motherly ways with her children. Defense strategies throughout the Racz trial were despicable however I understand why they had to do it. I didn’t like that they brought out to light the letters that were written between Ann and her lover. Some of the things in the letters had nothing to do with the case. It just made 2 of her 3 children have a different opinion of their mom and they became biased on seeing their dad as guilty or not. Overall I did enjoy reading this book as I do most true crime stories. I did find it very interesting what the verdict was considering they never found Ann’s body. I believe since there was a lot of construction going on at that time surrounding the area where she went missing, that she is somewhere buried beneath the industrial or residential buildings in that area today.
May 7, 2021
I found this a rather strange way of telling a true crime tale. There are chapters written by a guy who specializes in trial presentations (like PowerPoint presentations) and a few chapters on no body cases that seemed to have very little bearing on the Racz case. I had to read through it though as I was truly interested on whether they found John Racz guilty. It’s a true shame that never found her body though. Her children, family and friends really could have used the closure.
January 31, 2022
A Bitter Twisted, Sick Individual.
Don Lasseter has written another excellent book with exceptional details of both the crime and the victims of this senseless murder.
John Racz told his wife Ann if she ever left him, he would kill her, and John followed through on April 22, 1991. Ann had driven over to her ex-husbands house to drop the children of to see their father. Ann then offered to go and get some chips from McDonalds as the kids where hungry and she knew she had Pizza waiting at home to make that night. Not long after John said he was going to go to McDonalds to buy chips for them as well and left. When John got back the chips where cold, and John said your mum has gone away for a while to think. It took two weeks before Ann was reported missing by her friend after family and friends realised the evasive answers from John where out of character for Ann who would not leave her children or family without a word as to where she had gone.
The police brought John in but without a body, the investigation stalled, and Ann’s three children grew up wondering what had happened to their loving mother also whilst wondering if their dad had anything to do with the murder of their mum.
Fourteen years later a brilliant female prosecutor named Beth Silverman uncovering shocking information about Ann and her relationship with John. Beth goes on to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that John Racz had murdered his wife even though her body has never been found. John Racz memories were so badly tarnished and trashed, that John never considered the horrible things he told his three children about their mum over the years as they grew older. Johns’ lawyers also let the three children read letters written from Ann to her boyfriend which shockingly revealed Ann’s most intermit secrets and thoughts which were revealed during the trial as the children get up to testify.
Sadly, as with this murder John has never disclosed where their mother is buried which is a real tragedy to their 3 children. Another excellent book from Don Lasseter, with plenty of photos at the end of the book. I highly recommended this true crime book and promise you will not be disappointed.
I am part of the ARC group for Wildblue Press and BookSirens and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Don Lasseter has written another excellent book with exceptional details of both the crime and the victims of this senseless murder.
John Racz told his wife Ann if she ever left him, he would kill her, and John followed through on April 22, 1991. Ann had driven over to her ex-husbands house to drop the children of to see their father. Ann then offered to go and get some chips from McDonalds as the kids where hungry and she knew she had Pizza waiting at home to make that night. Not long after John said he was going to go to McDonalds to buy chips for them as well and left. When John got back the chips where cold, and John said your mum has gone away for a while to think. It took two weeks before Ann was reported missing by her friend after family and friends realised the evasive answers from John where out of character for Ann who would not leave her children or family without a word as to where she had gone.
The police brought John in but without a body, the investigation stalled, and Ann’s three children grew up wondering what had happened to their loving mother also whilst wondering if their dad had anything to do with the murder of their mum.
Fourteen years later a brilliant female prosecutor named Beth Silverman uncovering shocking information about Ann and her relationship with John. Beth goes on to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that John Racz had murdered his wife even though her body has never been found. John Racz memories were so badly tarnished and trashed, that John never considered the horrible things he told his three children about their mum over the years as they grew older. Johns’ lawyers also let the three children read letters written from Ann to her boyfriend which shockingly revealed Ann’s most intermit secrets and thoughts which were revealed during the trial as the children get up to testify.
Sadly, as with this murder John has never disclosed where their mother is buried which is a real tragedy to their 3 children. Another excellent book from Don Lasseter, with plenty of photos at the end of the book. I highly recommended this true crime book and promise you will not be disappointed.
I am part of the ARC group for Wildblue Press and BookSirens and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
December 5, 2018
Why do you enjoy true crime ? Possible minor SPOILERS
I think anyone who reads true crime books has been asked why or how they can enjoy books on such a morbid subject, and I have to admit I’ve asked myself the same thing at times. But it’s books like this one, that answer my own question, a really good true crime book has you following an investigation as it moves along, it makes you feel for and get to know the victim, and want to see justice done for whomever was behind the crime, and this is a really good true crime story.
Not every book affects me like this one did, it wasn’t that the murder was any worse than any other, but I think that when I read one of the daughters was ‘embarrassed for her dad’ when he was arrested in public, my heart broke just a little bit for her poor mother, who was cruelly taken from her children, and if that wasn’t bad enough, their memories were so badly tarnished and trashed by their father, the very man who murdered her, that the love, trust and faith they should of had for her, was murdered just as much as she was.
One juror Barbara Kaplan, stated it best when she said that in the future when they are a little older, she hopes that they come to an understanding that parents are not just Mum and Dad, but are also just people with dreams and desires of their own which do not and should not diminish the core of who they are.
I highly recommend this book and the author.
I think anyone who reads true crime books has been asked why or how they can enjoy books on such a morbid subject, and I have to admit I’ve asked myself the same thing at times. But it’s books like this one, that answer my own question, a really good true crime book has you following an investigation as it moves along, it makes you feel for and get to know the victim, and want to see justice done for whomever was behind the crime, and this is a really good true crime story.
Not every book affects me like this one did, it wasn’t that the murder was any worse than any other, but I think that when I read one of the daughters was ‘embarrassed for her dad’ when he was arrested in public, my heart broke just a little bit for her poor mother, who was cruelly taken from her children, and if that wasn’t bad enough, their memories were so badly tarnished and trashed by their father, the very man who murdered her, that the love, trust and faith they should of had for her, was murdered just as much as she was.
One juror Barbara Kaplan, stated it best when she said that in the future when they are a little older, she hopes that they come to an understanding that parents are not just Mum and Dad, but are also just people with dreams and desires of their own which do not and should not diminish the core of who they are.
I highly recommend this book and the author.
November 25, 2022
Ok book but....
I did really enjoy this book, but at times I did really find that it seemed to go on and on whereas a paragraph would have explained the whole situation at that moment. After saying that, it really was a good book and at times I found it hard to put down because I just had to know how that particular situation/instance ended. You wouldn't be disappointed to read this book.
I did really enjoy this book, but at times I did really find that it seemed to go on and on whereas a paragraph would have explained the whole situation at that moment. After saying that, it really was a good book and at times I found it hard to put down because I just had to know how that particular situation/instance ended. You wouldn't be disappointed to read this book.
March 1, 2023
Well written true crime book
Excellent true crime book with good coverage by the author. He provides exceptional details, background information and full investigation details by very determined detectives. Very sad that this narcissistic man couldn't just let his wife go. Instead he took away his children's mother because of his selfishness. I highly recommend this book to true crime readers.
Excellent true crime book with good coverage by the author. He provides exceptional details, background information and full investigation details by very determined detectives. Very sad that this narcissistic man couldn't just let his wife go. Instead he took away his children's mother because of his selfishness. I highly recommend this book to true crime readers.
August 21, 2023
This was a good book. I don’t usually read true crime, but my mom served on the jury for this case. It was fascinating to hear about first hand. I wanted to read it. Sad but interesting. My mom is also interviewed in the book. If you like true crime you should like this.
March 23, 2017
I felt that it had too much detail, about things and people in the case. The beginning was ok. The middle really dragged, but the trial part was good. It was a bit wordy, as I like my true crime with as litttle extra information as possible. Get to the point. Felt that basic information on some of the people would have been enough. Chapters on the detectives lives and some of the other people was tmi. Took me 4 evenings to read. I can usually read a tc in a night.
November 22, 2017
Sad & tragic story!
June 3, 2019
As always
Don Lasseter tells a story so compelling, one cannot put it down. Where is her body? Is it in that lake he took his youngest daughter to, when he sat and stared?
Don Lasseter tells a story so compelling, one cannot put it down. Where is her body? Is it in that lake he took his youngest daughter to, when he sat and stared?
June 5, 2022
Ann Racz
Very interesting book. So tragic for the children and family. Did John relinquish his assets to his children? I would hope so.
Very interesting book. So tragic for the children and family. Did John relinquish his assets to his children? I would hope so.
June 30, 2022
This was a long book. Some of the information I didn't understand why it was included. I feel so sorry for Ann's family never finding out what happened to her.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 24, 2024
Great true crime book
A very good read. What a tragedy, especially for those left behind. So sad, but these always are I guess.
No images in the kindle version.
A very good read. What a tragedy, especially for those left behind. So sad, but these always are I guess.
No images in the kindle version.
July 5, 2022
Love this true story.
June 22, 2013
This was a case I'd never heard or read about before and was fascinating in that the victim was sadly never found.......a real tragedy to her family, especially her 3 children. I'm pleased justice of sorts finally came for them. I hated to read about how John's defence team tried to turn her kids against the memory of their mum and seemed to succeed with two of them. That was a mean ploy and also tells you a lot about the sort of selfish arse their father is. Anything to save his own skin, clearly and it was a spiteful thing to have done. Because he lied and lied about Ann's disappearance it was weeks before she was reported missing which was terrible.
It was pretty staggering how tight he was and had no need to be that way at all !!
I have a lot of respect for her sister Emiko and her impact statement was an upsetting read.
There were some apostrophe mistakes and Nintendo was spelt as Nitendo, there were a couple of needless hyphens thrown in too. However, it was very imformative indeed and I enjoyed it. I just wish it had a happier resolution...
It was pretty staggering how tight he was and had no need to be that way at all !!
I have a lot of respect for her sister Emiko and her impact statement was an upsetting read.
There were some apostrophe mistakes and Nintendo was spelt as Nitendo, there were a couple of needless hyphens thrown in too. However, it was very imformative indeed and I enjoyed it. I just wish it had a happier resolution...
December 19, 2011
Sad story that I first found on television. Though the case was interesting the book was dry and without passion by the author.
December 1, 2013
loved this book, John Racz is a bastard... just let them know where the body is... it was more about the case not the trial... that's why I liked it so much
January 26, 2016
A little long-winded.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews