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Body Parts: A Serial Killer’s Deadly Compulsions
Now updated with shocking details about the identity of Wayne Adam Ford’s first victim – revealed 25 years after her death – the brand new edition of a true crime classic from New York Times bestselling author Caitlin Rother delves into the disturbing mind and brutal crimes of the Humboldt County serial killer now on Death Row.
“I hurt some people.”
With these words, a tearful man hinted at a deadly crime, leading investigators to uncover a horrifying saga of abuse, tragedy, and serial murder . . .
When Wayne Adam Ford walked into the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office in November 1998 with a woman's body part in his jacket pocket, the 36-year-old truck driver wasn’t a suspect in any crime. After a lengthy investigation spanning four California counties and a sensational trial, he was convicted of the torture and murder of four women. His first victim, whom he dismembered, would remain unidentified for 25 years.
While serving honorably in the Marine Corps, Ford had learned life-saving techniques that gave him structure and purpose. But a severe head injury worsened pre-existing emotional problems, rendering him unable to suppress his dark sexual impulses. Knowing he would kill again, he enlisted his brother’s help to turn himself in.
Award-winning investigative journalist Caitlin Rother drew on previously sealed testimony and interviewed key players in the case, including Ford's brother and father, to write this intimate and psychologically resonant narrative. Extensively updated with the inside details of how Ford’s first victim was recently identified through DNA testing and forensic genealogy, this classic true crime story continues to haunt us.
“I hurt some people.”
With these words, a tearful man hinted at a deadly crime, leading investigators to uncover a horrifying saga of abuse, tragedy, and serial murder . . .
When Wayne Adam Ford walked into the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office in November 1998 with a woman's body part in his jacket pocket, the 36-year-old truck driver wasn’t a suspect in any crime. After a lengthy investigation spanning four California counties and a sensational trial, he was convicted of the torture and murder of four women. His first victim, whom he dismembered, would remain unidentified for 25 years.
While serving honorably in the Marine Corps, Ford had learned life-saving techniques that gave him structure and purpose. But a severe head injury worsened pre-existing emotional problems, rendering him unable to suppress his dark sexual impulses. Knowing he would kill again, he enlisted his brother’s help to turn himself in.
Award-winning investigative journalist Caitlin Rother drew on previously sealed testimony and interviewed key players in the case, including Ford's brother and father, to write this intimate and psychologically resonant narrative. Extensively updated with the inside details of how Ford’s first victim was recently identified through DNA testing and forensic genealogy, this classic true crime story continues to haunt us.
384 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2009
222 people are currently reading
5669 people want to read
About the author
Caitlin Rother
25 books318 followersNew York Times bestselling author Caitlin Rother has written or co-authored 14 books, ranging from narrative non-fiction crime to mystery and memoir. Her newest book is DEATH ON OCEAN BOULEVARD: Inside the Coronado Mansion Case (April 27, 2021). Her backlist includes HUNTING CHARLES MANSON; SECRETS, LIES, AND SHOELACES; LOVE GONE WRONG; DEAD RECKONING; THEN NO ONE CAN HAVE HER; I'LL TAKE CARE OF YOU; NAKED ADDICTION; POISONED LOVE; BODY PARTS; TWISTED TRIANGLE; LOST GIRLS; WHERE HOPE BEGINS and MY LIFE, DELETED. A Pulitzer Prize nominee, Rother worked as an investigative reporter at daily newspapers for 19 years before quitting the news biz in 2006 to write books full-time. Her journalism has been published in Cosmopolitan, the Los Angeles Times, The San Diego Union-Tribune, the Chicago Tribune, The Washington Post, The Boston Globe and The Daily Beast. She has done more than 200 appearances as a crime commentator on TV, radio and podcasts, ranging from "20/20," "People Magazine Investigates," "Nancy Grace," and "Crime Watch Daily," to shows on HLN, Oxygen Network, Investigation Discovery, C-SPAN, XM Radio and PBS affiliates. She also works as a writing-research-promotions coach and consultant.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 93 reviews
January 30, 2025
Firstly, this was such a fascinating read. I was both horrified and absorbed completely.
Secondly, despite this claiming to have 'new and updated information' about the first victim, that evidently wasn't present in the copy I read (from NetGalley). I had to look up further information, so I'd be curious as to what this was supposed to include. I'm glad she now has a name.
Overall, though, this was a great true crime novel. It's such a controversial case because it follows a serial killer who did horrendous things but also turned himself in. There were so many elements to this case that really made me think.
The research for this book has clearly been extensive and as a consequence we get a clear narrative, despite the confusion of the perpetrator. There are plenty of transcripts and testimonies included to authenticate what is being told, and the author lays out the facts while allowing us to relate to every person that figures in this story.
On that, it can veer into tedious at times as we get background info on almost all of the sheriffs, detectives and lawyers involved in the case (however briefly) which can make it drag a little. I don't know that these small biographies really added much for me personally, but it did add a fullness to the book I suppose.
Roughly half the book details the trial proceedings, so this may bog down some readers. Personally, I found the grey areas of the case quite fascinating, since the arguments of the lawyers were rather black and white.
At the end of the day, Wayne Adam Ford was a brutal killer and his crimes are not pretty to read about. Yet his apparent remorse over his crimes adds exploration of an element not often considered with serial killers - conscience.
I really enjoyed this read, and I'd love to check out a finished paperback copy to read the extra materials this book claimed to have.
With thanks to NetGalley for an e-ARC
Secondly, despite this claiming to have 'new and updated information' about the first victim, that evidently wasn't present in the copy I read (from NetGalley). I had to look up further information, so I'd be curious as to what this was supposed to include. I'm glad she now has a name.
Overall, though, this was a great true crime novel. It's such a controversial case because it follows a serial killer who did horrendous things but also turned himself in. There were so many elements to this case that really made me think.
The research for this book has clearly been extensive and as a consequence we get a clear narrative, despite the confusion of the perpetrator. There are plenty of transcripts and testimonies included to authenticate what is being told, and the author lays out the facts while allowing us to relate to every person that figures in this story.
On that, it can veer into tedious at times as we get background info on almost all of the sheriffs, detectives and lawyers involved in the case (however briefly) which can make it drag a little. I don't know that these small biographies really added much for me personally, but it did add a fullness to the book I suppose.
Roughly half the book details the trial proceedings, so this may bog down some readers. Personally, I found the grey areas of the case quite fascinating, since the arguments of the lawyers were rather black and white.
At the end of the day, Wayne Adam Ford was a brutal killer and his crimes are not pretty to read about. Yet his apparent remorse over his crimes adds exploration of an element not often considered with serial killers - conscience.
I really enjoyed this read, and I'd love to check out a finished paperback copy to read the extra materials this book claimed to have.
With thanks to NetGalley for an e-ARC
March 1, 2025
This book is very graphic. What Wayne does to his victims is sick.
Wayne comes off as a nice guy but committed these heinous crimes.
A good chunk of the book deals with the trial.
I like Caitlin Rother but she has better books.
Thanks to NetGalley and the author for an arc to review
Wayne comes off as a nice guy but committed these heinous crimes.
A good chunk of the book deals with the trial.
I like Caitlin Rother but she has better books.
Thanks to NetGalley and the author for an arc to review
February 13, 2025
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: Feb. 25, 2025
“Body Parts: A Serial Killer’s Deadly Compulsions” by journalist-turned-author Caitlin Rother, is a compelling look at the twisted mind and crimes of serial killer Wayne Adam Ford. This edition has been released with new details of Wayne Adam Ford’s first victim, details that only came to light twenty-five years later.
Wayne Ford is one of the more underrepresented Pacific Northwest serial killers. At a time when that geographic area was almost inundated with the morose and the gory, Ford likely got lost among killers such as Ted Bundy and Gary Ridgway. However, his story is just as tragic and the damage to his victims just as gruesome.
Rother presents Ford’s life in chronological order, starting with his childhood and family life and ending with his apprehension and trial. In between, of course, Rother provides details on Ford’s victims and their families. Written this way, everything one wants to know about Ford (well, everything that he is willing to share) is depicted through Rother’s careful research using trial notes, police reports and conversations with those in Wayne’s social circle (such as it was).
Why is Ford so remarkable that he warrants his own story? Unlike most serial killers of the time, Ford did not wait to be caught. He walked into the police station, after some coercion from his brother, and admitted to officers that he had done “bad things” and no longer wanted to “hurt people”. Oh, he also had a severed breast in his coat pocket. (“Body Parts” is aptly named as all of Ford’s victims- and presumed victims- were raped, strangled and dismembered, left in or near bodies of water.)
I was particularly interested in Ford’s upbringing, although both of his parents continue to tell different stories about how functional (or dysfunctional)Wayne’s childhood was. It was clear early on, however you look at it, that Ford was a very unstable individual. As the detailed court proceedings reveal, his sanity (or lack thereof) was on trial as well, as his lawyers debated an insanity defense (which was not successful).
After four rapes and murders (and many more supposed ones), Ford was sentenced to death, although he still sits on death row. Rother was detailed in her presentation of the case while managing to be respectful of the victims’ and their families. Ford is an interesting case, seeming to be either extremely pathetic or extremely manipulative depending on the circumstances, and I was fascinated with the psychological components and Rother’s attention to detail.
“Body Parts” is the perfect true crime story for fans who are interested in the development of a serial killer. Rother doesn’t spare the details, so there is a high amount of gore and violence, but her story flows and speaks to Rother’s versatility as a journalist, non-fiction and mystery writer.
Expected publication date: Feb. 25, 2025
“Body Parts: A Serial Killer’s Deadly Compulsions” by journalist-turned-author Caitlin Rother, is a compelling look at the twisted mind and crimes of serial killer Wayne Adam Ford. This edition has been released with new details of Wayne Adam Ford’s first victim, details that only came to light twenty-five years later.
Wayne Ford is one of the more underrepresented Pacific Northwest serial killers. At a time when that geographic area was almost inundated with the morose and the gory, Ford likely got lost among killers such as Ted Bundy and Gary Ridgway. However, his story is just as tragic and the damage to his victims just as gruesome.
Rother presents Ford’s life in chronological order, starting with his childhood and family life and ending with his apprehension and trial. In between, of course, Rother provides details on Ford’s victims and their families. Written this way, everything one wants to know about Ford (well, everything that he is willing to share) is depicted through Rother’s careful research using trial notes, police reports and conversations with those in Wayne’s social circle (such as it was).
Why is Ford so remarkable that he warrants his own story? Unlike most serial killers of the time, Ford did not wait to be caught. He walked into the police station, after some coercion from his brother, and admitted to officers that he had done “bad things” and no longer wanted to “hurt people”. Oh, he also had a severed breast in his coat pocket. (“Body Parts” is aptly named as all of Ford’s victims- and presumed victims- were raped, strangled and dismembered, left in or near bodies of water.)
I was particularly interested in Ford’s upbringing, although both of his parents continue to tell different stories about how functional (or dysfunctional)Wayne’s childhood was. It was clear early on, however you look at it, that Ford was a very unstable individual. As the detailed court proceedings reveal, his sanity (or lack thereof) was on trial as well, as his lawyers debated an insanity defense (which was not successful).
After four rapes and murders (and many more supposed ones), Ford was sentenced to death, although he still sits on death row. Rother was detailed in her presentation of the case while managing to be respectful of the victims’ and their families. Ford is an interesting case, seeming to be either extremely pathetic or extremely manipulative depending on the circumstances, and I was fascinated with the psychological components and Rother’s attention to detail.
“Body Parts” is the perfect true crime story for fans who are interested in the development of a serial killer. Rother doesn’t spare the details, so there is a high amount of gore and violence, but her story flows and speaks to Rother’s versatility as a journalist, non-fiction and mystery writer.
June 29, 2025
I’m giving this book 3 1/2 stars. It was a very interesting book with many graphic details about the world inside a mad mad however, I felt that in some parts of the book lagged quite a bit I would find myself bored at times and had to walk away from reading and then having a hard time picking the book back up.
This book is disturbing and parts of it will make you question humanity but, I just kept reminding myself that this type of people are rare (I hope with this is true with all my heart).
This book is disturbing and parts of it will make you question humanity but, I just kept reminding myself that this type of people are rare (I hope with this is true with all my heart).
March 18, 2025
I know it might sound odd, but I love serial killers….I mean reading about serial killers. I love getting into their minds, searching for the reasons they do the things they do…and Wayne Adam Ford deserves a close look and the sentence that was handed down to him. I am also intrigued by the legalities. Why does it take years?
I got ticked off at those who felt empathy for him. I don’t believe there was anything wrong with him, other than he is a monster that gets off on killing women. I believe that he was able to manipulate people, never letting them see the real him, until they take their last breath.
Body Parts has been updated by Caitlin Rother and I think she did have some things I didn’t like. The story was easy to follow along, but I don’t believe it was family or a brain injury that was the cause of him being a serial killer. That is where the nature or nurture question comes into play. I am not an expert, so I can’t say what is what, but I feel they will use whatever excuse they can come up with to make themselves less of a monster.
My thanks go out to Caitlin Rother for the opportunity to read and review Body Parts.
See more at http://www.fundinmental.com
I got ticked off at those who felt empathy for him. I don’t believe there was anything wrong with him, other than he is a monster that gets off on killing women. I believe that he was able to manipulate people, never letting them see the real him, until they take their last breath.
Body Parts has been updated by Caitlin Rother and I think she did have some things I didn’t like. The story was easy to follow along, but I don’t believe it was family or a brain injury that was the cause of him being a serial killer. That is where the nature or nurture question comes into play. I am not an expert, so I can’t say what is what, but I feel they will use whatever excuse they can come up with to make themselves less of a monster.
My thanks go out to Caitlin Rother for the opportunity to read and review Body Parts.
See more at http://www.fundinmental.com
October 31, 2017
This was such a good book! It was so detailed and told of the lives of the victims as well as Wayne and his family. My head is still swimming with some of the things he did. What makes people even think up these things let alone do them. It's true when they say there are no monsters only human beings. I believe Wayne knew exactly what he was doing. Who cares if he is the one to turn himself in because he wishes to no longer to hurt people. People think we should give him credit for that? The only credit I give the man is for murdering these women who didn't deserve to die. If you like true crime I would recommend this book. It's a page turner and filled with so much information. I will definitely read another book by this author.
January 22, 2019
As I was reading some of the cases in regards to Wayne’s victims, some started to sound familiar to me. I shortly after realized I had read another book on the same serial killer. This book had insight that I didn’t recall reading in the other. It was heartbreaking to read what he did to his victims. This book made me feeling very sad when I was done reading it.
May 23, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.
Caitlin Rother did a lot of research to write this book as it is very detailed. Sometimes that can make a reader feel bogged down. But it's also a fascinating look into the mind of a unique serial killer's mind. This case was complex but she lays the story out nicely.
Caitlin Rother did a lot of research to write this book as it is very detailed. Sometimes that can make a reader feel bogged down. But it's also a fascinating look into the mind of a unique serial killer's mind. This case was complex but she lays the story out nicely.
January 28, 2025
Caitlin Rother’s “Body Parts” is a true crime book that delves into the horrific crimes of Wayne Adam Ford, a serial killer who dismembered his victims.
“Body Parts” is a well-written and disturbing true crime book that offers a chilling look into the mind of serial killer Wayne Adam Ford. It is a powerful reminder of the importance of justice for victims and a cautionary tale about the dangers that lurk within society.
The book is well-researched, drawing from interviews, court documents, and previously sealed testimony. This level of detail provides a comprehensive and chilling account of Ford’s crimes. The book also centres on the victims, giving them a voice and honouring their memory. This book is a powerful reminder of the importance of justice for victims and a cautionary tale about the dangers that lurk within society. I love Caitlin Rother’s writing, which I find engaging and suspenseful. The book kept me hooked from beginning to end.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers of this book for giving me a free advance copy to preview. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
“Body Parts” is a well-written and disturbing true crime book that offers a chilling look into the mind of serial killer Wayne Adam Ford. It is a powerful reminder of the importance of justice for victims and a cautionary tale about the dangers that lurk within society.
The book is well-researched, drawing from interviews, court documents, and previously sealed testimony. This level of detail provides a comprehensive and chilling account of Ford’s crimes. The book also centres on the victims, giving them a voice and honouring their memory. This book is a powerful reminder of the importance of justice for victims and a cautionary tale about the dangers that lurk within society. I love Caitlin Rother’s writing, which I find engaging and suspenseful. The book kept me hooked from beginning to end.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers of this book for giving me a free advance copy to preview. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 29, 2018
Normally I'm not a fast reader but this book I finished in about two and a half day. In the beginning, I thought the book was a little dry, but that changed when I read a little further into the book it absolutely skyrocketed I actually found it hard to put down.
The author has done a lot of research and placed a lot of effort into her book. I can only imagine the hard work she went through researching this case.
The book is very well written, and it gives the reader a chilling insight into the mind of the serial killer named Wayne Adam Ford. And I have to mention the victims were not forgotten when the author wrote her book, she has described the women and their lives were well.
I'd recommend this book to all who have an interest in true crime cases and of course, if you're interested in serial killers this book is definitely for you
The author has done a lot of research and placed a lot of effort into her book. I can only imagine the hard work she went through researching this case.
The book is very well written, and it gives the reader a chilling insight into the mind of the serial killer named Wayne Adam Ford. And I have to mention the victims were not forgotten when the author wrote her book, she has described the women and their lives were well.
I'd recommend this book to all who have an interest in true crime cases and of course, if you're interested in serial killers this book is definitely for you
April 27, 2025
4 🌟
Body Parts by Caitlin Rother is a highly detailed and troubling account of serial killer Wayne Adam Ford. Somehow I had never heard of him before, even though he turned himself in at a time I would've been paying some attention to the news.
Body Parts does not shy away from details which I always appreciate, but I know won't be suitable for some readers as it's pretty graphic. I liked that Rother also did a deep dive on each of the victims, bringing each woman's story to light. Extensive research was also done on Ford's family, his background, his head injury when he was younger, etc.
I think this novel would work pretty well (maybe better?) as an audiobook.
Recommended for true crime readers who can handle disturbing details.
Thank you NetGalley and Kensington for the ARC.
Body Parts by Caitlin Rother is a highly detailed and troubling account of serial killer Wayne Adam Ford. Somehow I had never heard of him before, even though he turned himself in at a time I would've been paying some attention to the news.
Body Parts does not shy away from details which I always appreciate, but I know won't be suitable for some readers as it's pretty graphic. I liked that Rother also did a deep dive on each of the victims, bringing each woman's story to light. Extensive research was also done on Ford's family, his background, his head injury when he was younger, etc.
I think this novel would work pretty well (maybe better?) as an audiobook.
Recommended for true crime readers who can handle disturbing details.
Thank you NetGalley and Kensington for the ARC.
July 13, 2010
Interesting tale of a bizarre California thrill killer who eluded justice for decades more out of animal cunning and luck than pure smarts. The big twist here, of course, is that he wound up turning himself in, sort of ... but needed his brother to actually get him in the door of the police station. But, as author Caitlin Rother makes clear after exhaustively thorough backtracking through Wayne Ford's weird history, the voluntary surrender was more about encroaching mental illness than a sudden redeeming burst of conscience. Wayne Ford is one sick man who's only getting sicker.
Rother is a former newspaper journalist, and her just-the-facts style serves her well here. Though it lacks the florid and even overheated tone of most other books in the genre, it makes clear her reliability as a fair recounter of complex events. Unlike many current true-crime authors, Rother isn't invested in any point of view other than that of the purely objective one. She doesn't see it as her job to be a victim's advocate, or a "badge bunny" (as they call reporters who devolve into uniform groupies). She simply sees it as her job to lay it all out there and let the reader draw his or her own conclusions ... which is pretty refreshing.
I'll always read Caitlin Rother's true-crime books for one reason above all: I trust her to give it to me straight. I wish that weren't so rare these days.
Rother is a former newspaper journalist, and her just-the-facts style serves her well here. Though it lacks the florid and even overheated tone of most other books in the genre, it makes clear her reliability as a fair recounter of complex events. Unlike many current true-crime authors, Rother isn't invested in any point of view other than that of the purely objective one. She doesn't see it as her job to be a victim's advocate, or a "badge bunny" (as they call reporters who devolve into uniform groupies). She simply sees it as her job to lay it all out there and let the reader draw his or her own conclusions ... which is pretty refreshing.
I'll always read Caitlin Rother's true-crime books for one reason above all: I trust her to give it to me straight. I wish that weren't so rare these days.
September 21, 2017
This was a really well-written account of a horrible series of crimes. A real page-turner. The author skated perilously close to the thin ice of "this is the story of a poor widdle serial killer, tragically beset by his own demons," but she kept the story from going out of bounds by including as much as she could of the victim's stories and the point of view of the devastated families Ford left in his wake. She does a good job of teasing apart Ford's evasions and justifications from what really happened to these unlucky women.
December 20, 2020
Well-written, albeit sometimes slow-moving, true crime book. I have mixed feelings about getting really biographical about murderers. The guy in this story was one of those "he was so polite, I never would have suspected" types.
July 25, 2010
Good book. I'd read another book about this killer but this one was much better.
November 8, 2011
Loved this book! Reading this led me to one of my favorite authors, Caitlin Rother. I would highly recommend this book to True Crime readers.
January 6, 2017
Caitlin Rother relates to the killer surprisingly well despite the fact that he's actually a monster.
March 7, 2025
Thank you to the Author, Publisher and Goodreads for this giveaway win!
I honestly laughed that I won this book based on the title alone. I’m a true crime junkie and so it was fitting.
The story was perfectly written and kept me so mesmerized by Wayne’s life. Not in a good way of course, it was just a wild ride from start to finish.
The cover quotes Gregg Olson calling the author “the next Ann Rule” and I can see why (huge Ann Rule fan). Great work! I learned a lot about the legal system, as well as other intriguing cases.
5/5 would recommend to true crime readers (without a weak stomach)
I honestly laughed that I won this book based on the title alone. I’m a true crime junkie and so it was fitting.
The story was perfectly written and kept me so mesmerized by Wayne’s life. Not in a good way of course, it was just a wild ride from start to finish.
The cover quotes Gregg Olson calling the author “the next Ann Rule” and I can see why (huge Ann Rule fan). Great work! I learned a lot about the legal system, as well as other intriguing cases.
5/5 would recommend to true crime readers (without a weak stomach)
November 7, 2023
I wouldn’t bother with this one. I just didn’t like it.
March 1, 2025
Body Parts is a good crime story.
February 24, 2025
New York Times bestselling author and award-winning investigative journalist Caitlin Rother returns with an updated version of her book Body Parts, now titled, Body Parts: A Serial Killer's Deadly Compulsions, more than ten years after the publication of the story of Wayne Adam Ford. This upcoming release includes shocking new details about the identity of Ford's first victim.
When Ford contacts his brother Rodney and asks him to meet him at the rustic cabin where he is staying, Rodney has no idea what is about to unfold. Wayne tells him that he "hurt some people," and begs for his brother's help. They walk into the local sheriff's office where Wayne explains to the sergeant that he doesn't want to hurt anyone anymore. The gruesome contents of his jacket pocket lead to his arrest and an investigation involving four California counties where Ford ends up being tried and convicted for the torture and murder of four women, including his first victim, who would remain unidentified for 25 years.
With Body Parts, Rother has done another impressive job of diving into a chilling true crime story. This deep dive into the mind of serial killer Wayne Adam Ford brings readers up close and personal and lets you get to know Ford's family, his victims, the victims' families and the fallout from Ford's actions, all about the detectives working the case and the attorneys involved, puts you inside the jury deliberation room, and provides new information about how an arrest in an unrelated case opened the doors for the Humboldt County Sheriff's Office to finally identify Ford's first victim.
Rother provides an unbiased account of Ford's killing spree and how the investigation unfolded from the moment Rodney and Wayne stepped into the sheriff's office. She investigates the psychology of a killer who might never have been caught if he hadn't turned himself in, and how an earlier head injury and past emotional trauma evolved into dark sexual impulses he seemed unable to control.
Body Parts is a riveting page turner from beginning to end. Highly recommended!
When Ford contacts his brother Rodney and asks him to meet him at the rustic cabin where he is staying, Rodney has no idea what is about to unfold. Wayne tells him that he "hurt some people," and begs for his brother's help. They walk into the local sheriff's office where Wayne explains to the sergeant that he doesn't want to hurt anyone anymore. The gruesome contents of his jacket pocket lead to his arrest and an investigation involving four California counties where Ford ends up being tried and convicted for the torture and murder of four women, including his first victim, who would remain unidentified for 25 years.
With Body Parts, Rother has done another impressive job of diving into a chilling true crime story. This deep dive into the mind of serial killer Wayne Adam Ford brings readers up close and personal and lets you get to know Ford's family, his victims, the victims' families and the fallout from Ford's actions, all about the detectives working the case and the attorneys involved, puts you inside the jury deliberation room, and provides new information about how an arrest in an unrelated case opened the doors for the Humboldt County Sheriff's Office to finally identify Ford's first victim.
Rother provides an unbiased account of Ford's killing spree and how the investigation unfolded from the moment Rodney and Wayne stepped into the sheriff's office. She investigates the psychology of a killer who might never have been caught if he hadn't turned himself in, and how an earlier head injury and past emotional trauma evolved into dark sexual impulses he seemed unable to control.
Body Parts is a riveting page turner from beginning to end. Highly recommended!
May 12, 2014
I didn't really like this one by the author at all. I got totally bogged down with it and was not looking forward to switching my Kindle on to wade through a bit more. I got confused with it more than I have with others by her with timelines which jumped around a bit too much plus there were a LOT of people featured and you didn't know at first who was important and how they were going to feature later (or not).
There were more mistakes in this one, too. Apostrophe mistakes and words like or/do missed out of sentences and hyphens being randomly added-like in disregu-lated and unregulat-able. Then injustice was used instead of in justice which makes a difference...
I felt for Wayne quite a lot as his family was a pretty dysfunctional one although Rodney had the same upbringing and wasn't a killer !! Much was made of Rodney's bringing Wayne in but I didn't read it like that as at the time he'd no idea what his brother had done and he was only with him because Wayne had asked him to be. One sentence really made me think-"....but my parents never went and watched me" referring to his sporting activities. I thought that was horribly sad.
I was shocked that it took 8 years before they even got to trial and now of course he'll probably be appealing and appealing for another 40 years !! A crazy system altogether.
I got most bogged down with the courtcase, really. It seemed never-ending and by then for me all the victims had blurred into one because of the order it was put together. It just wasn't written as well as her other books and if I'd read this one first I'd not bother with another.
There were more mistakes in this one, too. Apostrophe mistakes and words like or/do missed out of sentences and hyphens being randomly added-like in disregu-lated and unregulat-able. Then injustice was used instead of in justice which makes a difference...
I felt for Wayne quite a lot as his family was a pretty dysfunctional one although Rodney had the same upbringing and wasn't a killer !! Much was made of Rodney's bringing Wayne in but I didn't read it like that as at the time he'd no idea what his brother had done and he was only with him because Wayne had asked him to be. One sentence really made me think-"....but my parents never went and watched me" referring to his sporting activities. I thought that was horribly sad.
I was shocked that it took 8 years before they even got to trial and now of course he'll probably be appealing and appealing for another 40 years !! A crazy system altogether.
I got most bogged down with the courtcase, really. It seemed never-ending and by then for me all the victims had blurred into one because of the order it was put together. It just wasn't written as well as her other books and if I'd read this one first I'd not bother with another.
January 28, 2023
Wayne Adam Ford was born in California in 1961. He was in a car accident, having a head injury. His family and friends made several statements about how his personality changed after this accident. He was married two times, both ended in divorce. He served six years in the United States Marine Corps, gaining an honorable discharge in 1985. He ran into several issues with the police, and during this time, he also murdered four women. He wound up turning himself in to police, with body parts in his pocket.
I didn't want to go into too much detail about his brushes with law enforcement or the other weird things that he got up to, but he certainly got up to some things. I cannot imagine being a police officer and someone coming in with body parts in their pocket. What a day that must have been! The author did a really good job of letting the reader get into the mind of Wayne Adam Ford, and learn about his history. The facts of the case were very accurate and presented well. I had never heard of this case, though I did search for pictures of what these people looked like, and to see if Ford was still alive since this book was published some time ago. During that search, I found that this case was mentioned on several television shows, so if you are interested in that, look it up really fast to see where it is available. This book is available currently on Audible Plus to listen to for free.
I didn't want to go into too much detail about his brushes with law enforcement or the other weird things that he got up to, but he certainly got up to some things. I cannot imagine being a police officer and someone coming in with body parts in their pocket. What a day that must have been! The author did a really good job of letting the reader get into the mind of Wayne Adam Ford, and learn about his history. The facts of the case were very accurate and presented well. I had never heard of this case, though I did search for pictures of what these people looked like, and to see if Ford was still alive since this book was published some time ago. During that search, I found that this case was mentioned on several television shows, so if you are interested in that, look it up really fast to see where it is available. This book is available currently on Audible Plus to listen to for free.
July 8, 2023
Wayne Ford was discharged from the Marines after being diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder. His parents' divorced after mom had a fling with her husband's fifteen-year-old brother. She also had attempted to seduce a teacher at the age of thirteen. I love the word "precocious." She told Wayne that he was born after his father had raped her; not exactly mother of the year.
A torso was discovered and was never identified but a few more floating bodies were, and not a real shocker, they were drug addicted prostitutes, the most colorful being Lanett, a mother of three. Crank was the chemical of choice for the dead lady. Other profiles are not exactly uplifting.
Wayne knew that he had a problem and he turned himself into the police. The evidence was immediate as they removed a plastic bag from his jacket containing a breast.
For some unknown reason, the lunatic had released a few of his victims. He explained his rage to one of them. His second wife had left him and he missed his son. Huh!
After admitting to murder, Wayne was given Haldol to calm him down. The same drug was prescribed by the Marine doctors a few years earlier.
The trial was quite entertaining, with sexual asphyxia being the main defense. One hooker who lived testified that Wayne choked her to the point of unconsciousness and then performed CPR to revive her. Read the book for the final outcome.
Caitlin Rother spins quite a story and Body Parts is a very good read.
A torso was discovered and was never identified but a few more floating bodies were, and not a real shocker, they were drug addicted prostitutes, the most colorful being Lanett, a mother of three. Crank was the chemical of choice for the dead lady. Other profiles are not exactly uplifting.
Wayne knew that he had a problem and he turned himself into the police. The evidence was immediate as they removed a plastic bag from his jacket containing a breast.
For some unknown reason, the lunatic had released a few of his victims. He explained his rage to one of them. His second wife had left him and he missed his son. Huh!
After admitting to murder, Wayne was given Haldol to calm him down. The same drug was prescribed by the Marine doctors a few years earlier.
The trial was quite entertaining, with sexual asphyxia being the main defense. One hooker who lived testified that Wayne choked her to the point of unconsciousness and then performed CPR to revive her. Read the book for the final outcome.
Caitlin Rother spins quite a story and Body Parts is a very good read.
October 7, 2009
The first part of the book was very interesting and quite well-written, but the trial portion got very long and too drawn out.
February 18, 2011
It was engaging, but I lost interest during the description of the trial phases.
July 21, 2015
I liked this book, but too much on the trial. I like more about the victims and offender.
March 12, 2025
“I’m in some real bad trouble and I think the police are looking for me. I need your help. I need you to come get me.” So began the telephone call Rodney Ford received from his younger brother, Wayne, at 7:00 p.m. on November 2, 1998, at his home in Vallejo, California. Although he was tired after his last day working as a superintendent for a construction company in South San Francisco, Rodney could tell that the call was somehow different from previous pleas for help from Wayne. So he embarked on the five-hour drive to Trinidad, a tiny coastal town in Humboldt County. Rodney had no way of knowing what was about to transpire or that his life – along with his and so many other families’ lives — were about to be forever and irrevocably changed.
At the time, Rodney told authorities Wayne had refused to provide details, saying only, “I hurt some people, and I don’t want to hurt anybody anymore. I want to go to the sheriff’s. I want to turn myself in.” Ronald convinced Wayne they should first get some rest, and then they spent the next day together. Wayne kept repeating that he hurt people and Rodney worried the people Wayne was referencing might be in danger and need help. Until Wayne confirmed that “they don’t have to worry about anything anymore.” Ronald recognized he could be charged as an accomplice after the fact, so when Wayne vacillated and delayed about turning himself in, he knew there was no turning back. Despite his wavering, Wayne was aware that “I would do what was right, regardless of the consequences,” Rodney recalls.
The Humboldt County deputy sheriffs were baffled at first. There was no existing warrant for Wayne’s arrest nor was he a suspect in any criminal investigations. But Wayne was insistent, telling them, “Once you see what I have in my pocket, you’ll know. It’s just the tip of the iceberg.” To convince them, he retrieved a plastic bag containing a human female breast and was immediately arrested on suspicion of aggravated mayhem (removal of a human body part). The detectives began questioning Wayne in detail. Despite talking about having an attorney represent him, Wayne knowingly and volitionally waived his right to have counsel present while being questioned. The officers believed Wayne’s assertions were related to their ongoing search for the killer of “Torso Girl,” a young woman whose identity remained a mystery more than a year after only a portion of her dismembered body was discovered by kayakers in a nearby slough.
Relating those events in her Prologue, bestselling author Caitlin Rother deftly lures readers into the story from the very first sentence of Body Parts, the book she describes as “probably the most gruesome tale I’ve ever written.” It is indeed a grisly, yet riveting and unusual story of a brutal serial killer and the string of crimes (including rape, torture, and murder) he committed as he traveled up and down California, working as a long-haul trucker and victimizing dozens of women. Unusual because “Ford stands out from other killers, because he turned himself in to stop himself from killing again,” Rother says. Once Wayne determined to turn himself in, he sought assistance from Rodney, the one person in his life he could count on to ensure that he followed through. Instances of serial murderers turning themselves in and confessing are rare. Also unusual because rather than exercising his right to be represented while being interrogated, Wayne proceeded to confess to numerous heinous crimes, and even led authorities to locations where he claimed to have concealed evidence. He was cognizant that once he contacted sheriff’s deputies, he would never again be a free man. And he never has been. He was eventually convicted of four counts of first-degree murder with special circumstances. Now sixty-three years old and sentenced to death, Wayne remains incarcerated at the California Men’s Colony in San Luis Obispo. Had Wayne not confessed, the majority of the crimes of which he was convicted would likely remain unsolved. The actual number of his crimes and identities of his victims will never be known with certainty.
Rother extensively researched her account of the case. She was granted access to trial exhibits, witness interview recordings and transcripts, Wayne’s military medical files (he served in the Marine Corps but was discharged due to his mental health and behavioral issues), and other documents, “some of which never made their way into the jury’s hands,” she notes. She also conducted interviews with the detectives who worked on the case; Rodney and his father, Gene; and some of the victims’ family members, although some declined to speak with her, as did Wayne’s mother. She spent countless hours extracting salient details as she carefully constructed a compelling and thought-provoking narrative.
In Body Parts, Rother acquaints readers with a man who had a troubled, tumultuous childhood. His parents met when his mother, Karen, was just sixteen years old and Gene was four years older. Their recollections of their family life are widely divergent and include allegations of spousal abuse and rape. It is undisputed that they married about a year and a half after they met and Karen was pregnant with Rodney. From the outset, Karen felt trapped in a life she did not want, and matters worsened when she became pregnant with Wayne — by the time she was nineteen years old, Karen was the mother of two young sons. She admitted that she was never affectionate with or able to show love to them. In fact, she cruelly told Wayne that he was conceived when Gene raped her. Some experts cited her claim as a factor in Wayne’s later troubles, of which there were plenty. He was an emotional child who craved attention, had trouble socializing, and exhibited mood swings and violent behavior. Eventually, Gene and Karen divorced, with the boys bouncing between their parents’ homes and their Uncle Jimmy’s, who observed that even as a youngster, Wayne “couldn’t handle doing something wrong and not being punished for it.” Even as a child, Wayne confessed when he misbehaved and after one aborted effort to run away, found his way to Juvenile Hall where he attempted to turn himself in. Eventually, his family decided the best course of action would be for Wayne to enlist in the military and, with Gene’s consent, he began basic training when he was barely seventeen years old. He sustained head injuries when he was struck by a drunk driver in 1980, the nature and lasting effect of which later became a point of contention during the trial. As noted, his military service was terminated by the government.
In a straight-forward manner, Rother details Wayne’s mental health struggles and two troubled marriages. His wives related being subjected to dominance, demands that they engage in sexual acts with which they grew increasingly uncomfortable (including autoerotic asphyxiation), rape, other forms of physical as well as emotional abuse, and even wanting his second wife to work as a prostitute. He drank heavily and was often depressed. During his first marriage, he was arrested for the attempted rape of another woman, but the charge was ultimately dismissed. He held a variety of jobs as he moved around California, and had a son, Max, with his second wife in 1995, in whom he showed little interest. After the marriage ended, Wayne stated he “hated women” and because “his wife took his kid away from him, . . . he wanted to ‘cut them up,’ ‘dismember’ them and ‘hide everything that would identify them.'” Was Wayne relating fantasies or confessing?
Rother explores Wayne’s horrifying crimes, detailing the unspeakable acts to which he subjected them in a sensitive and restrained narrative which is nevertheless deeply disturbing. In addition to “Torso Girl,” the body of Tina Renee Gibbs, a twenty-five-year-old prostitute with a criminal record, was found in the California Aqueduct near Buttonwillow. “Orange County Doe” made the mistake of getting into Wayne’s truck in Anaheim but lived to relate the ordeal. When Wayne released her, “he told her she was lucky because others had not survived.” Twenty-two-year-old Rachel Holt made the same mistake in Santa Rosa. He left her on the side of a freeway, hog-tied with one of his neckties, after showing her a photo of his ex-wife and son while claiming his actions were motivated by a desire for revenge. He actually hugged her and said, “I’m sorry I did this to you. Because you gave me a shoulder to cry on, I’m going to let you go.” She went straight to authorities and submitted to grueling examinations that facilitated the collection of confirming evidence. Valerie Rondi also survived her encounter with Wayne, but not before being tortured and forced to traverse California with him, from Eureka south almost to the Mexican border. Lanett Deyon White, age twenty-five, was not so fortunate. Her body was discovered in an irrigation ditch along Highway 12 just west of Interstate 5 near Lodi. She had an extensive criminal history and was “caught in a downward spiral,” but remained close to her mother and left behind a daughter. Wayne also dumped the body of Patricia Anne Tamez, who was twenty-nine years old with a lengthy arrest record, in the California Aqueduct near Interstate 15 in Hesperia. By telling his victims’ stories in an unembellished yet compassionate manner, Rother gives necessary context to the story, especially the final chapters in which she circles back to Wayne’s surrender to authorities and confession, and the subsequent trial.
Rother’s skillful recitation of foundational facts makes her description of the trial and sentencing both fascinating and thought-provoking. Charges filed in different jurisdictions were adjudicated in one trial during which there was no question that Wayne was a killer deserving appropriate punishment. Rather, the issues the jury wrestled with included Wayne’s intent. Were the killings premeditated, a requisite finding for a first-degree murder conviction? During interviews, Wayne readily remembered events, but – conveniently? – claimed he could not recall critical aspects or the killings themselves. To no one’s surprise, retained experts reached different conclusions about his undisputed social and family history, and mental health challenges and diagnoses, his ability to reason and retain information, as well as his capacity to appreciate the difference between right and wrong, and express genuine remorse. Much was made of the fact that Wayne turned himself in, ostensibly so he would be stopped from taking more lives and absent his confession, he would still be on the loose. Why did Wayne kill? What was his motive for forcing those women to engage in sexual activities many people would consider far outside the realm of normalcy, physically and mentally tormenting them before discarding their bodies in abhorrently disrespectful ways? If Wayne is indeed the “monster” the prosecutor described (“There are monsters in the world . . . They look like human beings and sometimes they look exactly like Mr. Ford. ‘Cause Mr. Ford is, in fact, a monster.”), what factors shaped him into such a creature? The lack of love and care his mother showed him? The head injuries he sustained? The deep pain he described about being separated from his young son after his second divorce? Rother’s plainspoken explanations of the legal machinations illuminate the nuanced issues, and challenge readers to step into the jurors’ shoes and decide if they would render the same verdict. And sentence Wayne – theoretically, at least – to death. (Which in reality, in California, at least, means a life in prison without the possibility of parole.)
Rother acknowledges that some people are simply fascinated by serial killers and enjoy reading about them. But she maintains that she does not “write these books to be entertaining. I write them with the hope of educating people about the criminal justice system, humanity, and the different paths they both can take, some darker than others. . . . I also write them to give a voice to the victims and their families.” Rother reports that Body Parts allowed her to bring more closure to the victims’ families than any of her other books. The 2025 update happily reveals that technological advances and a law enforcement commitment to solving cold cases brought resolution to the family of “Torso Girl,” who got her name back: Kerry Anne Cummings, a free spirit and thinker who disappeared in 1997 at the age of twenty-five. She is no longer a “Jane Doe” and the parts of her remains located by officials have been returned to her family.
Kerry Anne Cummings. Tina Renee Gibbs. Lanett Deyon White. Patricia Anne Tamez. Those are the names that, hopefully, readers will remember. Those four young women’s lives were cut short by a “monster” who today, as recounted by Rodney, laughs about murdering them and brags about leading investigators on wild goose chases in their search for evidence. He’s not remorseful about killing anybody,” Rodney, who has never visited his brother in prison, says.
Kerry Anne Cummings. Tina Renee Gibbs. Lanett Deyon White. Patricia Anne Tamez. Along with “Orange County Doe,” Rachel Holt, Valerie Rondi, and the other victims who have never been located or identified.
Body Parts is their haunting, difficult to read, but important story. And it should be read by all serial killer afficionados and other true crime fans.
I was fortunate to receive a complimentary Advance Reader's Copy of the 2025 revised edition of the book from the author, which enabled me to review it.
At the time, Rodney told authorities Wayne had refused to provide details, saying only, “I hurt some people, and I don’t want to hurt anybody anymore. I want to go to the sheriff’s. I want to turn myself in.” Ronald convinced Wayne they should first get some rest, and then they spent the next day together. Wayne kept repeating that he hurt people and Rodney worried the people Wayne was referencing might be in danger and need help. Until Wayne confirmed that “they don’t have to worry about anything anymore.” Ronald recognized he could be charged as an accomplice after the fact, so when Wayne vacillated and delayed about turning himself in, he knew there was no turning back. Despite his wavering, Wayne was aware that “I would do what was right, regardless of the consequences,” Rodney recalls.
The Humboldt County deputy sheriffs were baffled at first. There was no existing warrant for Wayne’s arrest nor was he a suspect in any criminal investigations. But Wayne was insistent, telling them, “Once you see what I have in my pocket, you’ll know. It’s just the tip of the iceberg.” To convince them, he retrieved a plastic bag containing a human female breast and was immediately arrested on suspicion of aggravated mayhem (removal of a human body part). The detectives began questioning Wayne in detail. Despite talking about having an attorney represent him, Wayne knowingly and volitionally waived his right to have counsel present while being questioned. The officers believed Wayne’s assertions were related to their ongoing search for the killer of “Torso Girl,” a young woman whose identity remained a mystery more than a year after only a portion of her dismembered body was discovered by kayakers in a nearby slough.
Relating those events in her Prologue, bestselling author Caitlin Rother deftly lures readers into the story from the very first sentence of Body Parts, the book she describes as “probably the most gruesome tale I’ve ever written.” It is indeed a grisly, yet riveting and unusual story of a brutal serial killer and the string of crimes (including rape, torture, and murder) he committed as he traveled up and down California, working as a long-haul trucker and victimizing dozens of women. Unusual because “Ford stands out from other killers, because he turned himself in to stop himself from killing again,” Rother says. Once Wayne determined to turn himself in, he sought assistance from Rodney, the one person in his life he could count on to ensure that he followed through. Instances of serial murderers turning themselves in and confessing are rare. Also unusual because rather than exercising his right to be represented while being interrogated, Wayne proceeded to confess to numerous heinous crimes, and even led authorities to locations where he claimed to have concealed evidence. He was cognizant that once he contacted sheriff’s deputies, he would never again be a free man. And he never has been. He was eventually convicted of four counts of first-degree murder with special circumstances. Now sixty-three years old and sentenced to death, Wayne remains incarcerated at the California Men’s Colony in San Luis Obispo. Had Wayne not confessed, the majority of the crimes of which he was convicted would likely remain unsolved. The actual number of his crimes and identities of his victims will never be known with certainty.
Rother extensively researched her account of the case. She was granted access to trial exhibits, witness interview recordings and transcripts, Wayne’s military medical files (he served in the Marine Corps but was discharged due to his mental health and behavioral issues), and other documents, “some of which never made their way into the jury’s hands,” she notes. She also conducted interviews with the detectives who worked on the case; Rodney and his father, Gene; and some of the victims’ family members, although some declined to speak with her, as did Wayne’s mother. She spent countless hours extracting salient details as she carefully constructed a compelling and thought-provoking narrative.
In Body Parts, Rother acquaints readers with a man who had a troubled, tumultuous childhood. His parents met when his mother, Karen, was just sixteen years old and Gene was four years older. Their recollections of their family life are widely divergent and include allegations of spousal abuse and rape. It is undisputed that they married about a year and a half after they met and Karen was pregnant with Rodney. From the outset, Karen felt trapped in a life she did not want, and matters worsened when she became pregnant with Wayne — by the time she was nineteen years old, Karen was the mother of two young sons. She admitted that she was never affectionate with or able to show love to them. In fact, she cruelly told Wayne that he was conceived when Gene raped her. Some experts cited her claim as a factor in Wayne’s later troubles, of which there were plenty. He was an emotional child who craved attention, had trouble socializing, and exhibited mood swings and violent behavior. Eventually, Gene and Karen divorced, with the boys bouncing between their parents’ homes and their Uncle Jimmy’s, who observed that even as a youngster, Wayne “couldn’t handle doing something wrong and not being punished for it.” Even as a child, Wayne confessed when he misbehaved and after one aborted effort to run away, found his way to Juvenile Hall where he attempted to turn himself in. Eventually, his family decided the best course of action would be for Wayne to enlist in the military and, with Gene’s consent, he began basic training when he was barely seventeen years old. He sustained head injuries when he was struck by a drunk driver in 1980, the nature and lasting effect of which later became a point of contention during the trial. As noted, his military service was terminated by the government.
In a straight-forward manner, Rother details Wayne’s mental health struggles and two troubled marriages. His wives related being subjected to dominance, demands that they engage in sexual acts with which they grew increasingly uncomfortable (including autoerotic asphyxiation), rape, other forms of physical as well as emotional abuse, and even wanting his second wife to work as a prostitute. He drank heavily and was often depressed. During his first marriage, he was arrested for the attempted rape of another woman, but the charge was ultimately dismissed. He held a variety of jobs as he moved around California, and had a son, Max, with his second wife in 1995, in whom he showed little interest. After the marriage ended, Wayne stated he “hated women” and because “his wife took his kid away from him, . . . he wanted to ‘cut them up,’ ‘dismember’ them and ‘hide everything that would identify them.'” Was Wayne relating fantasies or confessing?
Rother explores Wayne’s horrifying crimes, detailing the unspeakable acts to which he subjected them in a sensitive and restrained narrative which is nevertheless deeply disturbing. In addition to “Torso Girl,” the body of Tina Renee Gibbs, a twenty-five-year-old prostitute with a criminal record, was found in the California Aqueduct near Buttonwillow. “Orange County Doe” made the mistake of getting into Wayne’s truck in Anaheim but lived to relate the ordeal. When Wayne released her, “he told her she was lucky because others had not survived.” Twenty-two-year-old Rachel Holt made the same mistake in Santa Rosa. He left her on the side of a freeway, hog-tied with one of his neckties, after showing her a photo of his ex-wife and son while claiming his actions were motivated by a desire for revenge. He actually hugged her and said, “I’m sorry I did this to you. Because you gave me a shoulder to cry on, I’m going to let you go.” She went straight to authorities and submitted to grueling examinations that facilitated the collection of confirming evidence. Valerie Rondi also survived her encounter with Wayne, but not before being tortured and forced to traverse California with him, from Eureka south almost to the Mexican border. Lanett Deyon White, age twenty-five, was not so fortunate. Her body was discovered in an irrigation ditch along Highway 12 just west of Interstate 5 near Lodi. She had an extensive criminal history and was “caught in a downward spiral,” but remained close to her mother and left behind a daughter. Wayne also dumped the body of Patricia Anne Tamez, who was twenty-nine years old with a lengthy arrest record, in the California Aqueduct near Interstate 15 in Hesperia. By telling his victims’ stories in an unembellished yet compassionate manner, Rother gives necessary context to the story, especially the final chapters in which she circles back to Wayne’s surrender to authorities and confession, and the subsequent trial.
Rother’s skillful recitation of foundational facts makes her description of the trial and sentencing both fascinating and thought-provoking. Charges filed in different jurisdictions were adjudicated in one trial during which there was no question that Wayne was a killer deserving appropriate punishment. Rather, the issues the jury wrestled with included Wayne’s intent. Were the killings premeditated, a requisite finding for a first-degree murder conviction? During interviews, Wayne readily remembered events, but – conveniently? – claimed he could not recall critical aspects or the killings themselves. To no one’s surprise, retained experts reached different conclusions about his undisputed social and family history, and mental health challenges and diagnoses, his ability to reason and retain information, as well as his capacity to appreciate the difference between right and wrong, and express genuine remorse. Much was made of the fact that Wayne turned himself in, ostensibly so he would be stopped from taking more lives and absent his confession, he would still be on the loose. Why did Wayne kill? What was his motive for forcing those women to engage in sexual activities many people would consider far outside the realm of normalcy, physically and mentally tormenting them before discarding their bodies in abhorrently disrespectful ways? If Wayne is indeed the “monster” the prosecutor described (“There are monsters in the world . . . They look like human beings and sometimes they look exactly like Mr. Ford. ‘Cause Mr. Ford is, in fact, a monster.”), what factors shaped him into such a creature? The lack of love and care his mother showed him? The head injuries he sustained? The deep pain he described about being separated from his young son after his second divorce? Rother’s plainspoken explanations of the legal machinations illuminate the nuanced issues, and challenge readers to step into the jurors’ shoes and decide if they would render the same verdict. And sentence Wayne – theoretically, at least – to death. (Which in reality, in California, at least, means a life in prison without the possibility of parole.)
Rother acknowledges that some people are simply fascinated by serial killers and enjoy reading about them. But she maintains that she does not “write these books to be entertaining. I write them with the hope of educating people about the criminal justice system, humanity, and the different paths they both can take, some darker than others. . . . I also write them to give a voice to the victims and their families.” Rother reports that Body Parts allowed her to bring more closure to the victims’ families than any of her other books. The 2025 update happily reveals that technological advances and a law enforcement commitment to solving cold cases brought resolution to the family of “Torso Girl,” who got her name back: Kerry Anne Cummings, a free spirit and thinker who disappeared in 1997 at the age of twenty-five. She is no longer a “Jane Doe” and the parts of her remains located by officials have been returned to her family.
Kerry Anne Cummings. Tina Renee Gibbs. Lanett Deyon White. Patricia Anne Tamez. Those are the names that, hopefully, readers will remember. Those four young women’s lives were cut short by a “monster” who today, as recounted by Rodney, laughs about murdering them and brags about leading investigators on wild goose chases in their search for evidence. He’s not remorseful about killing anybody,” Rodney, who has never visited his brother in prison, says.
Kerry Anne Cummings. Tina Renee Gibbs. Lanett Deyon White. Patricia Anne Tamez. Along with “Orange County Doe,” Rachel Holt, Valerie Rondi, and the other victims who have never been located or identified.
Body Parts is their haunting, difficult to read, but important story. And it should be read by all serial killer afficionados and other true crime fans.
I was fortunate to receive a complimentary Advance Reader's Copy of the 2025 revised edition of the book from the author, which enabled me to review it.
February 25, 2025
In her latest novel, Body Parts, investigative journalist / author Caitlin Rother takes the reader behind the scenes of a riveting true crime thriller for an in depth look at a highly publicized serial killer murder case set in Humboldt County, California.
In November 1998, Wayne Adam Ford turned himself into the Humboldt County Sheriff's Office with a woman's body part in his pocket, claiming that he's hurt some people and didn't want to do it anymore. What ensues is an extensive investigation spanning four California counties, a total of four female murder victims, and a trial that led to the torture and murder death row conviction of the Humboldt County Serial Killer, Wayne Adam Ford.
Body Parts was first published on March 1, 2009, and now with an updated version published on February 25, 2025, author Caitlin Rother provides new developments to the case, the identification of victim number one via DNA testing and forensic genealogy twenty-five years after her murder.
Body Parts is a riveting true crime story that easily draws the reader in from the start, keeping them captivated as the author weaves a thoroughly intriguing and intricate recounting of a sadistic sexual serial killer murder case.
The author provides the reader with a fascinating and richly detailed and in depth look into the back stories and lives of each participant; extensive research of the investigative and legal aspects of the case; and a photo insert.
You can't help but get drawn into this complicated, fascinating, and multi-layered story, it is a gripping dark account of the sadistic sexual serial killer murders wrought by Wayne Adam Ford. It is shocking and mind boggling that this sadistic sexual predator committed such heinous sexual torture and murders of four innocent victims. After an extensive and determined investigation and pursuit of justice for the four women's families, the reader follows a haunting tale of the senseless murders by a narcissistic man that eventually led up to his conviction and death penalty sentence.
I would be remiss if I didn't mention that this was one of the most disturbing true crime stories that I have ever read. I had no sympathy for this narcissistic serial killer, and I felt that turning himself in was solely because of his feelings of guilt and nothing more.
Body Parts is a gripping and chilling account of a sexual serial killer murder case that is a must read for all true crime fans.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author / publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
https://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspo...
In November 1998, Wayne Adam Ford turned himself into the Humboldt County Sheriff's Office with a woman's body part in his pocket, claiming that he's hurt some people and didn't want to do it anymore. What ensues is an extensive investigation spanning four California counties, a total of four female murder victims, and a trial that led to the torture and murder death row conviction of the Humboldt County Serial Killer, Wayne Adam Ford.
Body Parts was first published on March 1, 2009, and now with an updated version published on February 25, 2025, author Caitlin Rother provides new developments to the case, the identification of victim number one via DNA testing and forensic genealogy twenty-five years after her murder.
Body Parts is a riveting true crime story that easily draws the reader in from the start, keeping them captivated as the author weaves a thoroughly intriguing and intricate recounting of a sadistic sexual serial killer murder case.
The author provides the reader with a fascinating and richly detailed and in depth look into the back stories and lives of each participant; extensive research of the investigative and legal aspects of the case; and a photo insert.
You can't help but get drawn into this complicated, fascinating, and multi-layered story, it is a gripping dark account of the sadistic sexual serial killer murders wrought by Wayne Adam Ford. It is shocking and mind boggling that this sadistic sexual predator committed such heinous sexual torture and murders of four innocent victims. After an extensive and determined investigation and pursuit of justice for the four women's families, the reader follows a haunting tale of the senseless murders by a narcissistic man that eventually led up to his conviction and death penalty sentence.
I would be remiss if I didn't mention that this was one of the most disturbing true crime stories that I have ever read. I had no sympathy for this narcissistic serial killer, and I felt that turning himself in was solely because of his feelings of guilt and nothing more.
Body Parts is a gripping and chilling account of a sexual serial killer murder case that is a must read for all true crime fans.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author / publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
https://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspo...
July 8, 2025
First, a big thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of Caitlin Rother’s novel “Body Parts" – “Now updated with shocking details about the identity of Wayne Adam Ford’s first victim – revealed 25 years after her death – the brand new edition of a true crime classic from New York Times bestselling author Caitlin Rother delves into the disturbing mind and brutal crimes of the Humboldt County serial killer now on Death Row.”
“Body Parts: A Serial Killer’s Deadly Compulsions” by journalist-turned-author Caitlin Rother, is a compelling look at the twisted mind and crimes of serial killer Wayne Adam Ford. This edition has been released with new details of Wayne Adam Ford’s first victim, details that only came to light twenty-five years later.
Wayne Ford is one of the more underrepresented Pacific Northwest serial killers. At a time when that geographic area was inundated with the killers, Ford got lost among killers such as Ted Bundy and Gary Ridgway. However, his story is just as gruesome.
Rother presents Ford’s life in chronological order, starting with his childhood and family life and ending with his apprehension and trial. In between, of course, Rother provides details on Ford’s victims and their families.
Unlike most serial killers of the time, Ford did not wait to be caught. He walked into the police station, after some coercion from his brother, and admitted to officers that he had done “bad things.”
Rother was detailed in her presentation of the case while managing to be respectful of the victims’ and their families. “Body Parts” is the perfect true crime story for fans who are interested in the development of a serial killer. Rother doesn’t spare the details, so there is a high amount of gore and violence, but her story flows and speaks to Rother’s versatility as a journalist, non-fiction and mystery writer.
I received an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
“Body Parts: A Serial Killer’s Deadly Compulsions” by journalist-turned-author Caitlin Rother, is a compelling look at the twisted mind and crimes of serial killer Wayne Adam Ford. This edition has been released with new details of Wayne Adam Ford’s first victim, details that only came to light twenty-five years later.
Wayne Ford is one of the more underrepresented Pacific Northwest serial killers. At a time when that geographic area was inundated with the killers, Ford got lost among killers such as Ted Bundy and Gary Ridgway. However, his story is just as gruesome.
Rother presents Ford’s life in chronological order, starting with his childhood and family life and ending with his apprehension and trial. In between, of course, Rother provides details on Ford’s victims and their families.
Unlike most serial killers of the time, Ford did not wait to be caught. He walked into the police station, after some coercion from his brother, and admitted to officers that he had done “bad things.”
Rother was detailed in her presentation of the case while managing to be respectful of the victims’ and their families. “Body Parts” is the perfect true crime story for fans who are interested in the development of a serial killer. Rother doesn’t spare the details, so there is a high amount of gore and violence, but her story flows and speaks to Rother’s versatility as a journalist, non-fiction and mystery writer.
I received an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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