The Guilty Innocent

by Shannon Adamcik

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The United States is the only country in the world that will charge a juvenile as an adult and sentence them to life without parole. As the mother of one such child, I know exactly what happens when a juvenile is placed in adult court where they cannot defend themselves. They are immediately cut off from all human contact, locked in isolation, and railroaded through a justice system they simply cannot comprehend. Consequently, many of these juveniles are sentenced too much longer and harsher terms than their adult counterparts. I've personally lived through this, and I was compelled to write about it.

The Guilty Innocent is narrated by Shannon Adamcik, mother of Torey, one of the accused boys. It takes readers behind the scenes of a trial where prosecutors cared more about public opinion than truth, defense attorneys, who had never argued a murder case, were in over their heads, and a young boy’s life hung in the balance.

This is a true story and no one can tell it better than the people who lived it. A crime reporter can look at the details of a case, but they cannot tell you how it feels to live through it. I can and I did. I used the pre-trial and trial transcripts, copies of the police reports, the autopsy and DNA reports, and DVD recordings of all of the evidence in the case. I've done copious research. But more importantly, I take readers step-by-step through what it feels like when your 16-year-old son is accused of first-degree murder; all the odds are stacked against him; and his defense is in the hands of attorneys you can’t fully trust to come through for you.

Sixteen-year-old Cassie Jo Stoddard agreed to house sit for relatives on the weekend of September 22, 2006. It was something the teenager had done before…but this time something went terribly wrong. When the family returned home at the end of the weekend they found Cassie lying on their living room floor brutally stabbed to death.

Detectives focused on two of Cassie’s classmates who had briefly visited her on the night that she was murdered: Torey Adamcik and Brian Draper. Initially both boys denied any knowledge of the crime, but after two separate interrogations, Brian Draper told detectives a chilling story of murder straight out of a horror movie. The two boys were immediately arrested, and a shocking videotape was discovered that seemed to depict the two teens not only planning the cold-blooded murder, but celebrating it.

Community outrage was strong and immediate. The public demanded justice. But was the video actually what it appeared to be: a cold-blooded documentary that detailed the plotting of Cassie’s murder; or something else entirely? Could anyone uncover the truth in time and convince a jury that sometimes things aren't always what they appear to be?

I began for the simple reason that I had lived through this horrendous ordeal and I ached for someone to confide in. But reliving the most painful part of my life was extraordinarily difficult. Ultimately the only reason that I was able to persevere was my deep belief that the story was important and needed to be told. That is still true.

Genres: True Crime

371 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 10, 2012

Reviews

[Mariana · Rating 1 out of 5]

fuck you

[CS · Rating 1 out of 5]

A horrible book that should never have been written. This mother is in denial. Trial transcripts and objective evidence show her delusions to be just that: delusions. There is a reason the Goodreads accounts providing positive reviews have often only provided a single review (on this book alone) and take the time to go through and like any other 4-5 star review of this book.

This book is a travesty that attempts to create a false dichotomy between a family losing their precious innocent teenage daughter in a brutal stabbing to the incarceration of one of the boys who was convicted of stabbing her 27 times and recording a video bragging about it right afterwards. Shame on this mother.

[Becky J. · Rating 1 out of 5]

I respect that the author is a mother struggling to cope with a measure of tragedy after her son's conviction, however the content of the book is subjective to the point of misinformation.

[Melissa · Rating 1 out of 5]

Murderers and their parents should never be allowed to profit from their/ children’s crimes. I don’t care that her son lost his life to prison. He should have thought about that before he committed the murder on Cassie.

[Jade Marks]

Unfortunately all this is is an attempt by a mother in severe denial to free her guilty son. I didn't know any of the people involved but I do know how to read trial transcripts. No matter who's idea it was both boys were there. They both did it. They are both guilty and they are where they need to be. No matter what this mother does or how ever many appeals they file at the end of the day these boys will both die in prison.

[Olivia · Rating 1 out of 5]

How dare you profit off what happened to that poor girl. Your son is a monster who is where he deserves to be.

[Emily Damon · Rating 1 out of 5]

This author is making money off this brutal murder that her son commited. There is so much denial in this book. Watch the videos on youtube or the documentary.

[Brianna]

Have you even watched the video? Or read the convos he had in class? Anyone who tries to even condone this woman’s behavior is just as sick. They bought costumes. They brought toreys KNIVES. Torrey had child pornography on his computer. No effective council? Yea alright. You think Brian used two knives at once? Torrey was driving the car? Torey lied to the police about what he was doing that night. I see people in these reviews saying this is so sad for her kid. NO. The 13 years old cousin who found her body tried to commit suicide bc of the trauma. The aunt lost her job and couldn’t sell her home. They are so fucked up that the whole family has had to deal with a death that shouldn’t have happened. I see someone said “she died once and torey is dying everyday” good. He fucking should. And if you disagree then you are enabling murderers and are humanizing people who clearly aren’t human. They are twisted sick people. Or as they said “sick psychos” that they joked about they were. They deserve to be in jail. Plain and simple. And the fact the accused mother is trying to make money. I’m gonna file a complaint and put this on a couple podcasts that cover these stories bc this is fucked up. You don’t need 7.11$ or are you gonna give that to your son for concession. Because your bitch of a son had to kill a 16 year old girl. What he is. Is a little bitch and I wish it was me that he tried this on bc he would’ve had the ass kicking of his life.

[Mary · Rating 1 out of 5]

One of the worst books written. I do not recommend reading this book unless you want a murderer of a child to profit by proxy. Disgusting

[Tatiana · Rating 1 out of 5]

A mother trying to make money off guilty son. He murdered someone and you're trying to make money off of it. An innocent girl was killed.

[Alitza · Rating 1 out of 5]

She might as well have murdered the girl herself, the way she defends her sons murder makes me wonder if the mother herself was in on the planning of it.

[Julio · Rating 1 out of 5]

This woman should be locked up in a mental hospital for life like her murderer son. No way she could write so much CRAP about the trial and the evidence! Her son got convicted beyond all doubt (not only reasonable).
This is what you get by not raising your kids properly.
Do not recommend this book because it misinforms the reader about the TRUTH: Torey killed Cassie in cold blood along with Brian.

[Lauren Doucette · Rating 1 out of 5]

It's like spitting on poor Cassie's grave. This mother's level of delusion and denial is sick.

[Themis Papaioannou · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recommend this book to everybody who is interested in how juveniles are treated by the USA legal system. The book is very detailed, it explains in detail the famous videotape which was the only thing used to convict 16 year old Torey Adamcik to life in prison without the possibility of parole. It shows how police, prosecutors, etc. twist things [something known to me by many other stories]. I am convinced 100% that Torey Adamcik is innocent but even if you disagreed with my opinion it is still worth reading because it also looks into the soul of a mother loosing her son to prison. Because every coin has two sides, in a crime there is never only one victim...

[Sandra Kendall · Rating 1 out of 5]

I cannot believe this woman has written this book.!!!! Shes in total denial no empathy for the victim Cassie or her family.She thinks her murderous son and her family are victims, even if Torey didnt stab Cassie which i highly doubt he didnt get her any help live calling an ambulance tell his parents or the Police then he LIED about everything. She blames everything onto Brian and everybody else i suspect shes a narcissist as its plain to see she has to be in control of everything and cannot allow her son or herself to take any blame she has no thought for the victims family and how they are feeling she just goes on about how her son has been taken from her.In fact the whole of Toreys family seem to be in denial.She should donate every dollar she made from this book to either Cassies family or a charity.I only read it as i was curious to see her perspective and its shocking

[Zay · Rating 1 out of 5]

what a fucking coward piece of shit.

[Neha Urdad's · Rating 1 out of 5]

Pathetic. The writing is laughable like a 2yr trying to defend herself.

[Kay · Rating 1 out of 5]

So sad that she wrote a book A BOOK over this he was ON camera admitting to the murder. Does she think that this makes the grieving family feel any better ?

[Taylor Ward · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was absolutely ridiculous. It ironic that this woman wrote many times how she couldn’t believe no one saw the signs that Brian was dangerous but refused to see that her own son was also dangerous. The amount of victim blaming is absolutely disgusting. She compared her son going to jail to the innocent girl being murdered as the same type of loss. She blames literally everyone else but her son and her family. She also seems to be able to read minds because she constantly talks about how she knew exactly what both boys were thinking.
She also writes about the same interviews and situations over and over and over again.
This book is absolutely awful and this woman (and the boys who committed the atrocious crime) and horrible, terrible people.

[Dennis Pacholec · Rating 1 out of 5]

unbelievable

I feel for this family but I cannot believe the degree of denial. While reading I felt the finger was constantly pointed at someone else except her son. The author goes as far as to blame the victim, the victim’s family and even the victim’s boyfriend’s family. Just unbelievable.

[Kristian Koivisto · Rating 1 out of 5]

Absolute drizzling shit 😀 There is literally 20 minutes of videofootage were these two douchebags Torey and Brian explain their plan of becoming serial killers. You as a responsible parent shouldnt be making any money with this book.

[Jaimee Morris · Rating 1 out of 5]

Yuck. DNF. This woman is delusional in thinking her baby boy isn’t as disturbed or messed up as the evidence says he is.

I watched the EWU documentary about the interrogations and it’s like she really just chose not to see those same tapes. He deserves to be in jail forever. Rest in love, Cassie

[... ..... · Rating 1 out of 5]

disgusting

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book, because I am interested in the case. While it does raise some disturbing questions, I was distracted by the grammatical errors (and spellcheck issues? armature for amateur, grizzly for grisly, that sort of thing). A good editor and proofreader would make this book far more effective.

[Peter Davis · Rating 3 out of 5]

I gave this book three stars not for the content, but for the writing which was often redundant and could have been tightened up with a good editor. As the book is written by the accused's mom, much of the story is written (understandably) from an emotional and biased perspective. However, she was successful in articulating the lack of DNA evidence, Miranda rights not being followed and a general lack of procedure in crime scene investigation, minor's rights, judicial procedure and questioning techniques. That being said, was Torey involved in the crime? Yes, I have no doubt that he was. Did he receive a fair and just trial, I don't think he did.

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

This may be the saddest, most heart-wrenching, makes-you-sick-to-your-stomach true stories I have ever read. The story is so horribly tragic, and I feel just awful for everyone involved in this murder case. Cassie was killed in September 2006, but for all intents and purposes, so was Torey. What's even worse is that Cassie died all in one day, but Torey has to re-experience death every day. I can only hope that one day Torey and the Adamcik family find justice, peace, and happiness. I am so terribly sorry for your loss.

[Lisa Elkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, just wow!!! While it was a good read, I have never listened to a more delusional, manipulative & hypocrites mother in my life. No wonder her son thought he could get away with heinous crime. He is not the poor, innocent, child she portrays him to be. Even the cover photo shows a pompous, arrogant, entitled punk whose mother has told him he can do no wrong. Thank God the jury saw through his rouse. Cassie may you rest in peace, Shannon may you get the help you need, Torey & Brian may you burn in hell!!! Or at least rot in prison, you are exactly where you belong.

[Natalia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I personally know Adamcik family - and what a nightmare for any family to go through something like this. Great book, on so many levels: Shannon's description of our judicial system is one, perception of her son's innocence in the murder case - is another.

[Josie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Terrible book. Son committed murder so accept it. Disgusting to paint him a victim when he literally said he was getting horny over the thought of killing the REAL victim. And let’s not forget the evidence found on his computer, he is just as guilty as the other killer. Too bad your book doesn’t do jack since his appeals have been rejected… so sad :)

[Kcastro · Rating 4 out of 5]

This crime took place in Pocatello, Idaho, where I live. It was very interesting to read from the mother of one of the boys who committed the crime.