Good Cop/Bad Cop: The True Story of Murder and Mayhem

by Rebecca Cofer - Dartt

When the Harris family was found brutally murdered three days before Christmas, it plunged the sleepy upstate New York community of Ithaca into shock. The town clamored for justice and breathed a collective sigh of relief when the police, led by rising-star investigator David Harding, who found the murderer's fingerprints, solved the case in just six weeks.

The prime suspect was fatally shot when police tried to apprehend him, but his middle-aged mother went to prison as an accomplice. Senior investigator David McElligott was skeptical of the easy outcome of the investigation, particularly Harding's part in it, but his concerns went unheeded. Harding was hailed as a hero.

However, two years after the sensational crime and trial, the town experienced further trauma. Federal authorities discovered that McElligott's suspicions had been justified. Harding had falsified evidence and perjured himself to bring about a conviction. Further inquiry showed it was not the first time the fast-track cop had tampered with fingerprints in order to sew up otherwise flimsy prosecutions. This false testimony sent defendants to jail and death.

Rebecca Cofer Dartt, as friend of the Harris family, has written an electrifying account of corruption, evil, and specious justice.

Genres: True Crime

200 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 10, 1994

Reviews

[Sheri]

This is a true story about a normal family robbed & brutally murdered & about a career criminal who was cornered & shot by police, but a dirty cop falsifies fingerprints to place the criminal's mother at the scene as well, and she is wrongfully convicted.



This book really held my interest - read it in less than a week. It is a horrible crime & story, written by a lady who lived near the town where the crime occurred.

[Tricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

NOT for the faint of heart. Having lived down the road from this family and having followed the details in the paper/on the radio of this murder it was interesting to read a full accounting from the perspective of the police, investigators and DA on the case-as told by a local writer.

[Celia Sweet · Rating 3 out of 5]

What I already knew, there are good ones and bad ones. Only human nature.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

So well-written, a captivating real-life drama. Highly recommend!