Upside Down: Madness, Murder, and the Perfect Marriage

by Jerid M. Fisher

Timothy Wells and Christine Sevilla's love was inspiring. Married for almost twenty years, the husband and wife passionately adored each other. Friends, family, and acquaintances all wished to have a relationship as solid as that of Tim and Christine. There was no sign that their marriage was anything less than ideal-until the day Wells brutally murdered his wife.

This deep, disturbing exploration of the psyche of Timothy Wells is not a whodunit but a "whydunit." Written with Wells's cooperation, this riveting account thoroughly presents the circumstances leading up to Sevilla's murder. It features interviews and letters from the Wells and Sevilla families as well as testimony from friends, neighbors, and ex-spouses. Trapped inside his own mind, Wells' emotional insecurities left him with no escape from his severe depression and swiftly multiplying anxieties. In chilling detail, this true narrative traces the path of a man doomed by his own inner demons.

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction

165 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 30, 2013

Reviews

[Ceeceereads · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the autopsy of a crime. Like taking a newspaper clipping of ‘husband kills wife’ and holding up a magnifying glass. Who was the husband and who was the wife? How could this have happened? What unique set of circumstances could have led to such tragic events? What character traits would be present to commit this crime? Do these factors, even if we begin to grasp the whydunnit- make the crime any less absolute? Any more forgiving?

It was thought-provoking, complex and unique in that it was written by the psychologist who spent time interviewing to see if he was mentally fit to stand trial. The author did an excellent job at presenting the crime in a delicate and professional manner. I found that the author quite rightly compounded the key takeaway that Christine was loved by many and deserved to live her life, not have it snatched away.

This book initially invoked some frustration. I was seeing the crime through the perpetrator’s lens and it wasn’t sitting right. The crime was beginning to seem justified, kind even. Initially I thought that the author had been taken in and was presenting an account sympathetic to the wrong party. As the book continued, so did explorations of past actions, behaviours, pressures, emotions, versions of events. Despite all of the reasonings, the crime/s felt grim and upsetting.

5 stars as I was unable to draw myself away and I read it in one sitting.

[Stacey O'Brien · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most chilling books ever

This story is horrifying because he was so mild mannered, so deeply deluded, he kept his emotions tightly locked inside, and never was able to acknowledge what really happened.

How many of us know someone like that?

This story is a kind of warning that being authentic and allowing others to be authentic is crucial.

The victim really didn't allow him to be authentic either, answering with cheerful platitudes when he tried to share his fears.

Be careful when you tell a man you can't live without him. He might decide it's true.

This book is just a terrifying warning.

[Mike Lutz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually know Tim Wells - he was a colleague in the college of computing at the Rochester Institute of Technology. Indeed, on the day he murdered his wife he was supposed to be in a committee meeting with me, and we all wondered where he was. Later that afternoon we found out as we heard the horrifying story.

Jerid Fisher does a great job of detailing the facts of the crime as well as well as probing Tim's deeply disturbing psychological state. This is a Tim who faced demons none of us knew about; demons that eventually led him to murder Christine. A tragic story all around.

[Amber Phillips · Rating 4 out of 5]

While it’s not the most mind blowing, well written, true crime story I’ve ever read - I really enjoyed this book.

No, the writing isn’t phenomenal. But it’s enough to draw you in and not distract you from the content. This brings an interesting perspective to an otherwise run-of-the-mill domestic violence (ending in homicide) case. The author is the forensic neuropsychologist who was assigned to evaluate the accused, and his perspective adds a very interesting layer to the unfortunately all too common equation of a man’s injured ego ending a beautiful woman’s life.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Insightful

I appreciate how thoroughly the author researched both husband and wife. Better understanding their past relationships and temperaments gave more depth to their story. I was surprised by many of the statistics cited in the book regarding spouse murder. In trying to better understand my own sister's murder at the hand of her husband, I felt like this book helped provide possible explanations. Depression is real. Everyone should seek help who is experiencing chronic depression. Untreated and unacknowledged pain leads to unthinkable consequences.

[Eunice Coorlas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jerid Fisher obviously did his homework when preparing this book. He went deep into the lives of Tim Wells and his wife Christine. His true crime books go this gives the reader insight into the mind of the perpetrator. The psychiatrist who interviewed Tim while he was incarcerated prior to his sentencing developed the probable scenario, even though Tim had no recollection. The autopsy performed on Christine negated the facts that Tim brought forth regarding his wife’s murder. Upside down is brutally honest.

[Willow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tim Wells lived his life without ever knowing himself or his true capabilities. He fell into jobs, marriage, affairs and ultimately divorced his first wife. Christine, his second wife was a force of nature in many ways. The timid Tim Wells catered to her every whim and never crossed her until he murdered her.

[Melissa Nolan · Rating 5 out of 5]

fascinating perspective

This was an interesting deep dive into the complexities of character that defined the two people at the center of this story. Heartbreaking, yet a study in character that is insightful. Hopefully the insights shared in this story can prevent a future tragedy.

[Bonita Braun · Rating 3 out of 5]

it’s OK

I had expected a deeper analysis of Tim Wells. Dr Fisher (Fischer) did a great deal of work on the case but this book was lacking by not including more of the Dr’s analysis. Such a tragedy with a motive that was selfish and narcissistic.

[Nancy Graham · Rating 1 out of 5]

Most boring book I have ever read.