Chase the Devil: Murder and Obsession on Florida's Gulf Coast

by Tony Adame

A police detective and an investigative journalist team up in secret to try and solve a series of rapes and murders from the early 1980s on Florida's Gulf Coast, hoping to crack the cold case that has passed through generations of detectives.
On December 31, 1984, Tonya Ethridge McKinley was out with friends celebrating New Year's Eve and the start of her new life in Pensacola, Florida. Finally free from an abusive relationship, she was just weeks from her 24th birthday and moving toward becoming the person she'd always wanted to be.
When Tonya's body was found dumped on the side of the road, half-naked, raped, beaten, and choked to death in the early-morning hours of New Year's Day, it was the first of two unsolved rapes and murders in the same area in the first two months of the year.
Chase the Devil takes readers back to that rainy December night in 1984 and barrels forward like a freight train, moving across the decades and diving into the details of the crime and inside the lives of the victims and their families, the suspects, and the law enforcement officers who kept the case alive. With original reporting and unprecedented access to investigators, case files, and FBI reports kept hidden for decades, investigative journalist Tony Adame immerses readers in the investigation and tries to answer the questions of what really happened to Tonya that night and who took her life.

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction

213 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 13, 2025

Reviews

[Maryjane Gardner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tony Adame delivers a gripping, expertly told true crime story in Chase the Devil, centered on a shocking 1983 murder in Pensacola that gets reopened 35 years later. It’s wild, deeply researched, and completely absorbing.

Tony—both a friend and a phenomenal writer—peels back the layers of obsession, secrets, and justice with skill and heart. If you love true crime that reads like a thriller, this is absolutely a must-read.

[Laura Lavan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating true crime read! Tony Adame does a wonderful job of telling this story from beginning to end, without simply being a list of facts and bullet points.
This murder and rape of a young mother took place in 1985- a time when unfortunately, people were quick to judge one’s behavior and come to conclusions that were not fair to the victim. This included the initial police handling of the case. The dedication of other officers and investigators who were willing to take the time, not rush to judgement, keep investigating (over a 35 year time span) and continue applying new ways of DNA testing was fascinating to read about. The way they cared about the victim and her family was fully on display in this book. It is impressive that Mr. Adame was more of a sports reporter who found a way to be an investigator and never gave up wanting to tell this story, and was there to find out in real time, how the story ended. I hope he continues to write as an investigative journalist when he comes across the next story that needs to be told.
Thank you Rowman & Littlefield for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC from Netgalley for an honest review of this book. Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher, Rowman&Littlefield, for this opportunity.

Author Tony Adame comprehensively covers every aspect of the 1985 murder of Tonya McKinley. A heartbreaking story that took the life of a young mom, Chase the Devil was a case that went cold for 35 years. Although the initial police response was lackluster, the book details how dogged determination from Pensacola Police Department Captain Chuck Mallett finally provided answers to McKinley’s son, Joe Jr, in 2020.

A must read for fans of true crime and those who listen to Podcasts such as Dateline and Casefile!

[Charlotte Renollet · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very detailed account of a cold case in Florida that is solved with DNA evidence and genealogy. There are A LOT of names in this book so be prepared to read slowly and do your best to keep it straight but wow.. what a huge effort on behalf of the investigators and the author for their dedication. This is just the start for this investigative journalist and I can’t wait to read more cases he investigates. I could feel the excitement as the suspect pool narrowed down and really appreciated the pictures and transcription of the interrogation. I was glued to that chapter and couldn’t tear myself away!

[Kristi Voss · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a gripping, detailed account from start to finish, offering a fascinating look at the relentless work of a dedicated team of investigators as they cracked a long-cold case. Tony Adame, as an investigative journalist, provides a unique behind-the-scenes perspective, following the twists and turns in real time as the killer was finally brought to justice for Tonya and her family.

Adame does an excellent job of keeping the facts straight and letting the story speak for itself without unnecessary emotion. I appreciated that he not only revealed some early mistakes made by police but also highlighted the tireless dedication of the investigation team over the years who refused to give up and how hard it is on officers when they can’t solve a case. They often don’t get enough credit for the emotional weight they carry for countless victims and their families. Most importantly, the book emphasizes the power of being an advocate for your loved ones — and the importance of fighting for answers and not lose hope, even decades later.

[Whiptosticbooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

This as a very factual book. It felt very hard to connect because I couldn’t feel any emotion.

[Kendra Hoey · Rating 4 out of 5]

The frustrations when clues lead nowhere, the devastation of disappointingly fruitless DNA results, and the resilience of investigators hidden underneath years of active new cases highlights the impressive tenacity of crime scene investigators desire to find justice for a young woman whose life ended so prematurely. Chase the Devil was not written as a fictional entertaining storyline. It was written from the view of a journalist peering down a short telescope, digesting years of false leads and swallowing repetitive deflation only to take sip after sip until the case is resolved. If you want the bare facts with no sugar coating and no puff, you will enjoy seeing the murder case analyzed through a personal insider view. The relentless discovery and commendable resolution documented in this book would make any crime junkie appreciate detectives, police, and forensic scientists.

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first true crime book, and it hit very close to home—literally. It’s not a genre I typically reach for, but I’m glad it was chosen as a book club pick. The murder of Tonya Ethridge McKinley took decades to solve, and shockingly, I had never even heard of the case, even though her body was found just outside my neighborhood. That made this story feel especially personal and haunting.

The book paints a picture of a long and frustrating investigation filled with sloppy police work, uninterested officers, and MESSY suspects and witnesses. In the end, it was scientific advancements and the persistence of dedicated investigators that finally brought justice for Tonya. While justice took way too long, I’m thankful her family finally got the answers they deserved.

[Ron Baumer · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting true crime read. The author does a good job of telling the story and the longtime it took to solve. There were parts that were hard to follow and lacked emotion, but the outcome of the story was satisfying. I would recommend this book to any true crime fan.

Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Susie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book made me doubt my understanding of the word veracity. I gave up shortly after second guessing unabated as well. I think his writing style is not for me.

[Lisa Wright · Rating 3 out of 5]

This isn’t the best written book. It’s like reading a true crime script from television. But I went to that Darryl’s Bar and Grill on Davis where this woman likely met her killer. I know the roads off Scenic Highway where she was murdered and her body dumped and my dad was a cop with the cops who investigated, botched, others who investigated competently and ultimately brought the killer to justice. I know Milton and the 1980s this woman lived in. It was stacked against her. She was judged for her dress and her choices though she had so few options. Going to night school to gain a skill! I also know what it’s like to have a sister who loves you fiercely. This sister refused to let her sister’s memory die and doggedly pursued justice by pushing the police to continue to investigate. She set up a Facebook page dedicated to her sister - Facebook started almost 20 years after her sister’s murder. To me, that’s the story. It’s about sisters. And also about the devastation left behind. A nuclear family ruined. A boyfriend and son devastated and a sister who had nothing left but to mourn. So much sorrow brought by one asshole.