The Poison Tree: A True Story Of Family Terror

by Alan Prendergast

Prendergast, who for Rolling Stone covered the trials of teenagers Richard and Deborah Jahnke in Wyoming for the 1982 murder of their father, has produced an objective, affecting account of the case. A borderline psychotic, Jahnke senior subjected his wife and children to abuse both physical and psychological and, for a time, made sexual advances toward his daughter. Their residence became a house of terror, with the mother the most terrified of all, according to Prendergast. The children's feeble and intermittent attempts to acquaint outsiders with their situation were of no avail. Finally, with his sister's semiconnivance, Richard shot his father. The trials of the two, held separately, showed American justice at its worst: a prosecutor more interested in convictions than in finding the truth, and two inept and hidebound judges, one of whom would not admit evidence of child abuse. Deborah's sentence has now been commuted to one year of probation and Richard has been released on parole. A searing, convincing indictment. Literary Guild alternate.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc.
(Description taken from Amazon.com)

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction, Audiobook, Crime

Paperback

First published June 1, 1986

Reviews

[Fishface · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent read! One system after another fails this family until, finally, someone takes the law into his own hands to straighten things out once and for all. Grippingly written -- really gives you a clear sense of what these people went through on a daily basis. The author paces the story according to what was going on, and unfortunately, that meant things slowed down drastically after we got into the court proceedings, and the suspense builds in a very different way as they try to decide what to do with the killer and everyone attempts to carry on a normal life. But ultimately that was as realistic as the earlier part of the story. A solid 5-star read. If you liked Richie and Sudden Fury, or even Runaway Devil: How Forbidden Love Drove a 12-Year-Old to Murder Her Family, you'll love this one.

[Petra · Rating 2 out of 5]

This story of family abuse over years was, surprisingly, rather dull to read. The author spent too much time in minute details and repeated them again and again. As a reader, one has to look behind the lines to imagine the full story.

The father abused his wife and kids for the entire marriage. He was controlling and could fly off the handle at any time, which lead to verbal and physical abuse. Incest was also in play.
At the time of these happenings, there weren't places for the family to turn for help. The mother, in this case, became a silent victim; the kids felt trapped. When the son did reach out for help, he wasn't believed and life at home got worse.

It was a horrible situation, in a time where help was not around.

Yet, the author manages to make this all read rather dull. I had to push myself to finish and was not impressed with the ending. By then, though, I didn't care.

[Doreen Petersen · Rating 5 out of 5]

No one was innocent in the story. What bothers me to my very core was how the abuse was allowed to happen and no one did anything about it. Perhaps if they had Richard Chester Jahnke might not have died. To be sure he was most definitely guilty of the abuse and should have paid for it but what about the others who knew about it and did nothing. Something has to be done to stop this vicious cycle of violence once and for all!

[Tyla · Rating 2 out of 5]

I normally hate leaving books unfinished but I pushed myself as far as I could with this one. I got so close to the end but I couldn’t keep myself focused enough to keep going. The story is an important one to tell, but the author spends so much time dragging out unimportant moments and not enough time on the important ones, so it’s really hard to feel anything but boredom while reading this one.

I’m so sorry, I tried.

[Patricia Mayne-Schlachtun · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book. Sad, unfortunate story. A true psychopath and IMHO he finally got what he deserved. Too bad the rest of the family had to further suffer for justice to be done.

[LDavis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read.

If you grew up in a dysfunctional family there is no help. That is why the prisons are full of those who endured and suffered. I survived and made a better life.

[Lynda Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was sure I recognised the Jahnke name when I picked this up and assumed I'd read this before or a true-crime podcast mentioned it but I can't find one in my list at all !! I don't even remember the case itself ! It's a fascinating one, though.
The author's certainly done his homework and it's impressive the family members did actually interview with him as so many don't do this. I have located the film online and will watch soon, and I am glad I read this first as he helpfully points out near the end that much is gussied up for dramatic retelling and some stuff is omitted in it.
I found it interesting that Detective Bomar knew right away who'd shot Richard.....he'd remembered the dynamics of THIS particular family from one encounter 6 months prior to this event !
I truly felt for Deborah upon reading the diaries of this teenager at the time. Life was pretty bloody awful for her both at home and at school. And their "mommy dearest" Maria didn't seem to be very effective in the least at ever siding with the kids or trying to get Richard to pack it in. Considering the armoury that doubled up as a family home it's a wonder nobody was ever injured or killed before November 1982 !! I did have to smile at brother Robert's description of Richard in court where everything to him about his brother and his family was "normal".......yeah, nothing to see here aside from the fact your brother was shot dead by his own son !!
I was furious with the child protection chap that visited their home who never spoke to the kids away from their parents. That was a hell of an oversight !!
Something Richie said to his dad hit home with me...."You know, you really blew it. It could have been great. But it's too late now. We're enemies." Says it all, really. What a shame. Something else really made me think as well. The law dictates you're tried by a jury of your peers whereas neither Richie nor Deborah really was-their juries were adults and it was an adult court ! I was surprised the death was put down to exsanguination when they said he basically choked on his own blood....I always thought that term meant bleeding to death (and Google even agrees with me).
I looked about online but could only find one picture of both Richie and Deborah and no more. I hope they went on to be happy. There isn't a photo insert in my Kindle version.
He didn't capitalise Magnum, dropped the odd question mark and hehavior not behavior snuck into my copy but that was it for any mistakes. I'll be looking the author up to see what, if any, else he's covered as he did a masterful job in this case.
Oh, if you're of a delicate constitution and need bloody trigger warnings then this is NOT the book for you !!

[Schuyler Wallace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alan Prendergast has written a thoughtful and riveting account of a horrendous act of patricide. “The Poison Tree,” first published in 1986, tells of a battered wife, two horribly abused teenagers, and a brutal bully, the father who could not control his temper. This is the story of the two children who, having survived years of abuse, finally kill him.

The Richard Jahnke family lived in many places because of the father’s army service and subsequent job as an IRS special agent. His wife, Maria, slightly older, was the early focus of his anger that he later focused on the children, beating them over the slightest breach of his orders. He sexually abused Deborah, the daughter, when she was very young, the frequency seeming to abate as she got older, but the beatings continued. Richard Jr., her younger brother, was beaten almost continually since he was an infant.

Their family life was secretive and secluded. Almost no one knew much about them. They were the true embodiment of the poison tree. In general, the poison tree (also known as the poisonwood tree) just wants to left alone. To accomplish that, it excretes a substance that stings and causes discomfort. People that intruded on the Richard Jahnke family would feel the sting and uneasiness.

On a cold November evening Richard and Maria were returning home from an evening out. As they walked up their driveway, a fusillade of gunfire through the garage door met them, killing Jahnke almost immediately. There was no doubt the shooter was Richard Jr., with sister Deborah inside the house holding her own weapon in case of a miss and as protection from her father should he survive the initial shooting. So begins the long trials and search for appropriate justice for the two juveniles.

Writers often have trouble portraying the vocal drama of the courtroom. The reader usually cannot detect the crusty judge’s impatience with dithering attorneys, the outrageous bellow of a defense attorney who detects some slight towards his client, or the sarcastic aside of the prosecution over a witness fumbling for an answer. These verbal moments are about all that bring life to an otherwise staid environment. This author, with his journalistic background, is masterful in his depiction of the trial proceedings and search for appropriate punishment.

Prendergast is never judgmental or biased in his presentation. He leaves it up to the reader to absorb his facts as determined by his immense research and interviews and then render their own opinion. It is masterful and immensely readable.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was interesting to read 37 years after the events in this book happened. Especially in light of how society and the criminal justice system now defines and deals with child abuse in all its forms.

In 1982 when this all took place, child abuse was considered rare and only involved broken bones in young children. Father-daughter incest was considered impossible (the rate was considered 1 in 1,000,000 (million), if that). Corporal punishment was the norm and disciplining children without the use of force or violence was considered permissive or hippy. Wives could be beaten by their husbands and were expected to put up with, even to consider it their fault for being abused. The criminal justice was more black and white. Children accused of crimes had few rights. The concept and reality of psychological abuse wasn't even on the radar.

Richard and Deborah Jahnke were very much the victims of an abuser. And yes, Richard killed his father but his father would have likely killed a family member at some point. Killing is wrong but vicious, continuous psychological, verbal, physical, emotional, and sexual abuse over years is pure torture. Richard was still wrong for killing his father but the environment he was in left him little choice.

Thankfully today we recognize child abuse as a serious crime. Yet there are children in the same/similar situations Richard and Deborah were in and believe they can do nothing about them. Or they've asked for help and haven't received it or been told that their lying. We've improved but we as society as a whole can do better when it comes to child abuse.

[carolintallahassee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a difficult book to read, I too grew up in a violent home, it is hell on earth, that you never outgrow. The difference between Richard and Deborah and me is, I had a Mother who took us to church! That alone was enough to stop any retaliation against my Dad, yes, sometimes my Mother was cold toward it all too. Should she have left? Yes! As should have the Mother in this horrible situation, I feel so badly for the kids, they were in a no win situation, they were very afraid for their lives. My problem of course is, Should he have spent real time in a real prison? I have thought about this for days before doing this review, after all, the system let him down, the adults let him down, he felt desperate! Yet, the part of me, that is the little girl, all the way until I left home, says No, he should have left, both of them should have left! There is no justification for murder, unless it was self - defense, which this isn't! It is a good case of pre meditated murder as there is, during all the time they were putting the dogs away, getting the guns ready, they could have left the house!
However, this is worth reading, every school that teaches about abuse, should have this story in required reading and discussion!
I highly recommend! GOD BLESS The Children!
carolintallahassee. com

[Elisabeth Brookshire · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really, 3.5 stars

I'd give this book four stars for the quality of the writing and research but only three based on how much or how well I actually enjoyed reading it. There's just not a lot to go on here. I inferred that Maria was essentially a battered woman with no self esteem beginning at birth after living with a selfish and neglectful single mother. But unlike most battered women I've read about, she seemed incapable or unwilling to do much of anything to help her kids get out of the situation. The children were certainly mistreated by a real a**hole but could they have made it a few more years and left home? Or even have been removed by the state before the murder and placed in care? There was just a general inertia surrounding the entire situation. I don't know if the wife and kids faced a much worse reality than was presented in this book or what. I really didn't get into this true crime story and it's definitely not one I'd highly recommend or read again. I did read a little online to see how the family fared afterwards and that was interesting.

[Jan · Rating 3 out of 5]

For me, the ending of a book greatly influences my judgement of its merit. Unless the rest of the book has been outstanding (I am looking at you The Stand) a long drawn-out ending undermines the impact of that book. Prendergast went on too long. His ending made Richard and Deborah into "fake" people - people obsessed with their notoriety rather than people who were enormously damaged by their parents' abuse.

The saddest part of the whole book was how the system failed them - how the adults who were part of that system (school teachers, counselors, police, social services) all privileged the assertions and "normal" behavior of the parents.

I know... I should not judge because I was not there. I must admit that if a fellow student was the "most spectacularly screwed up girl I ever knew" I would probably run far far away and avoid her at all costs. But knowing that as an adult? And a teacher? Hmmmm.

[Karen Bullock · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars for this literary intense true crime retelling.
Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde was mentioned in the story by Maria, the wife who was both victim & instigator of all ugly things in the Jahnke household.
Early on in the book, the reader is able to discern the familiar pattern/cycle of abuse forced upon her with Richard Sr.( stalking, persuasion, & control followed by verbal & physical abuse & gifted apologies) isolation of friendships & any relationships so that no one could aid her if she chose to run.
I was very surprised as I continued on that this was possibly the first true crime where there was no mention of the abusers past, how & where he grew up, the reader just gets glimpses of his unusual behavior in the retelling of how he & Maria met.
I don't believe, that Richard Sr.'s problems started after his tour to South Korea, they were already present--instead they amplified in volume & continued to do so.
Very interesting & at times, long winded ending.(hence the 4 star rating only)

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little long but important to my childhood and adolescence. My family had a single nylon .22 rifle in the house. The Father here was much like my own. I remember the firing pin being removed from ours in 1984 or 1985 and then the rifle seemingly disappearing overnight. I think it’s removal from my room was linked to the Jahnke story happening in America (Wyoming). I remember my abusive Father being upset about the story (I was Jahnke Jr.’s age) and ranting about it, perhaps seeing it play out on TV, and at least seeing the ads for the made for TV movie. “THAT KID SHOULD GET THE CHAIR!” Is what I think I remember my Dad ranting. I was in high school so the story is poignant. I think my Dad was taking preventive action out of an abundance of caution by removing the rifle. This trial was like the shot heard round the world. No longer were your kids items to vent the frustrations of life both verbally and physically. Kids were fighting back.

[Lynn Perry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beware: Reprinted Story From 1986 - Has No Updated Info; Also Lacks Photos

Fairly comprensive depiction of a true crime story in which a teenage son, with some complicity on the part of his sister, killed "their" abusive father - up through the dispositions of the cases brought against the siblings. Narrative includes historical familial details, including the mother's contributions to an obviously dysfunctional family unit. Although I have assigned this book a 3-star rating, as indicated in my "Review/Rating Title", this edition is a reprint of a 1986 book which has not been updated in any way. The facts provided represent only those known as of 1986 - 30 yrs ago. Also, no photos, outdated or otherwise, are included.

[Connie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book makes one angry that so many things slipped through the system. A family is verbally and physically abused for years and it became normal. The two kids tried feebly to tell people, but when confronted, the abusive father was always able to explain things away and blame it on the family. It was hard to see how stupid and needy the mother was to allow this to go on for years. The only thing I wished had been investigated more was the history of the perpetrator. I would have been so interested in the how’s and why’s this man became whom he was and could not change. Otherwise,it was a good read.

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been haunted by this story since I first saw the movie in 1985 when I was 17. The book provided detailed information about how the system failed these two teens as well as providing detailed information about their subsequent trials. I only wish that the updated book had also provided a more recent update about the family. I am aware that the mother died this year. Her obituary only mentions her daughter and not her son. I wonder if this means there was a further estrangement between them or if he has also passed. I hope that both Deborah and Richard have been able to find peace and fulfillment in their lives.

[Denise Meister · Rating 4 out of 5]

Consequences of Abuse

No one escapes the tragedy in this true story. The price paid of child abuse and domestic violence forever changed lives. When the desperation and terror took.hold, a family crumbled. Juveniles who commit crimes is an issue society must address and how courts respond must be looked at. But far more reaching is how abuse of children and spouses must be recognized. The abuser needs to be removed from continuing .....but not in a body bag. It should never come to the total helplessness and fear that precipitated this crime.

[R M · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars
Laboriously detailed. This is not sensational like the news reports of that time. I mostly listened to the book. Read the final chapters.
It’s hard today, in 2024, to understand the sensibilities of the key players in law enforcement , the lawyers, the court, or the educational system.
I guess cases like this one (sadly there were plenty), led to changes in public perception and official response.
Delusional mother. Battered son. Abused daughter. Was the father evil? Mentally ill?
The book is way too long. I did hang in for the conclusion though.
Thought provoking.

[Lauren C ♥ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This takes you through the event, the lives, and the trials of these teens and their family. Clearly it’s been decades since the events took place, but unfortunately the same things continue to happen within our systems.

I find it frustrating how they label children in these situations as crazy, mentally disturbed, etc. when in reality, the trauma caused by their parents is likely the reason for these personalities. The fact that those factors weren’t explored, and often continue to be looked over today, blow my mind.

[Vada Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Abuse has consequences

Richard Chester Jahnke abused his family. He abused his children to the point that they were not normal. Finally the children decide it must stop. The prosecutor seems to disregard the human factor and thinks the kids are evil and deserve punishment. This true case helped change child abuse cases in Wyoming and U.S. Hard to read, but important to realize that just because there are laws, it doesn't mean they may be applied in all cases.

[Krista · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seemed historically accurate, but just a bit lengthy

The Poison Tree tells the story of the Jahnke family and of patricide in the 1980s. While the murder appeared to be in cold blood, the events leading up to a son killing his father were very provoked. This chilling story kept me turning the pages. I just wish the story had been condensed a bit (for this, I gave a four star rating).

[Lorie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I couldn't put

this book down...read straight through. I'd never heard of this case, the made for TV movie, etc., however, it read as though it had just happened, and did not seem like it was a 30 plus years old account. Great writing and allowed the reader to draw their own conclusions as to right, wrong and everything in between.

[Jeanie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was curious about the book when I started reading it, but then I had to make myself keep reading so that I could finish the book. It is a true story, which usually makes it more interesting to me, but it didn't turn out to be the case in this book. I don't really think it was well written and there were times that I felt I needed a law degree to understand what I was reading.

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

My second venture into true crime and a local crime I vaguely remember hearing about when I was little. It is interesting to read about things that happened in our town and the horrors that these kids went through. My only wish was that there was an update on what happened to the Jhankes years after the fact.

[Gail Stebbins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very sad and chilling story.

Very Well told account of events. This books gives you a good insight of how mental and physical abuse can change and alter a child or even adults, self image, reality and logical reason, while creating a feeling of being all alone and hopeless for change.

[Lky · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very well written true story about what may cause children to murder their parents due to ongoing psychological abuse. It takes place in Cheyenne, Wyoming; where you wouldn't expect such an outrageous incident. I lived in Wyoming when I read it so I had a deep sense of place, as well as empathy for the kids.

[Elliemay Ride · Rating 4 out of 5]

A rather interesting book. I quite like as well that it talks about what happens after the trial and how the children progress been if this section was a little bit long winded. But the book overall gives great context to the tragedy that occurred and the shortfalls of society that contributed to it

[Bonnie Kernene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good true crime book about a teenager who kills his father after years of abuse. It is well written and interesting. It is a sad story all around. I recommend this book, especially to those who read true crime.

I received an ARC from Net Galley for an honest review.

[Jane Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

True Crime

This is a particularly good book. In it the author relates a case of parricide as it was carried out by two abused children. The writer turns it into a psychological study, explaining what would cause children to become so desperate.