Killing for You: A Brave Soldier, a Beautiful Dancer, and a Shocking Double Murder

by Keith Elliot Greenberg

Killing For You is True Crime veteran Keith Elliot Greenberg's shocking, authoritative account of a brutal double murder.

A KILLER PLOT
Twenty-six-year-old actor Daniel Wozniak was unemployed, facing eviction, and deep in debt for his upcoming wedding. So he devised a diabolical plan: He asked his neighbor Sam Herr, a young war veteran, to help him move some things into the attic of an empty theater. There, Wozniak shot Herr twice in the head before taking his ATM card and cell phone. Hours later, Wozniak performed on stage with his fianc�e in a local production of the musical Nine, convinced that he had gotten away with murder...



A DRAMATIC LAST ACT
Wozniak dismembered his victim's body and hid the pieces. Then he lured Herr's college friend Juri "Julie" Kibuishi to Herr's apartment and shot her twice in the head. The police immediately declared Herr a prime suspect--just as Wozniak had planned. But when Herr was declared missing, and his ATM withdrawals led authorities to Wozniak at his bachelor party, the actor was forced to play the role of a lifetime in a shocking murder investigation that would be his greatest--and final--performance...

Includes 8 pages of photos

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction, Crime, Audiobook, Memoir

288 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published May 30, 2017

About the author

Keith Elliot Greenberg is a New York Times bestselling author and producer for America's Most Wanted. In addition to producing programs for VH1, 48 Hours, MSNBC Investigates, the History Channel, and Court TV, among others, Greenberg has authored more than thirty nonfiction books and written for such outlets as Maxim, The Village Voice, The New York Observer, USA Today, Playboy.com, and US Weekly."

Reviews

[Teresa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had a hard time with this one. I don't care for books that jump around, and I think I just didn't jive with this author's writing style. Each time a new person was introduced, the author would then go into this long, drawn-out saga of their whole life, then it would jump back into the story. I don't know...just not my cup of tea.

[Ronnie Cramer · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is an interesting case and the book provides a lot of information, but it's presented in a way that totally robs the story of any drama or suspense, like spilling all the beans at the outset so that everything that comes later is old news.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I vaguely remember hearing about this case. The most mind boggling part of this whole case was not the act of the crimes but Daniel's demeanor towards the whole situation. He acted as if he was playing a part in a show, even when Mr. Greenberg went to visit him in prison. How, someone can be so distinct about taking innocent lives is mind boggling. Yes, Daniel did it for the money but in the end he really did not end up with a lot of money.

The way that Sam's military buddies bonded with his parents was sweet. Yet, on the other hand, I also saw the downside to a murder. For example, the theater where Daniel starred in; received so much bad publicity that the owners had to shut it down. You don't really think of all of the ripe effects a murder has on everyone involved. Mr. Greenberg did a very good job writing this book. I did not feel like anything was unbalanced in the details. Fans of true crime will enjoy this book.

[Alisi ☆ wants to read too many books ☆ · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is poorly written and the actual case (and sundries) weren't very interesting. Tragic? Sure but there wasn't enough here to justify a book. An article perhaps but not a whole book.

To compensate, the author goes off into tangents and adding details that truly added nothing to it. Like, for example, the father gets his sons' financial records and we're told how he visits various places that his cards were used after death and just starts at the patrons, wondering if any of them did it. But he doesn't just say that like I just did. He does this whole dramatic mock up.

And then the author insisted on giving the life story of everyone who came into this book. Any new person is treated to a mini biography from childhood to the present. I simply didn't care about any of them. I know that sounds callus, but after your 50th mini bio, you simply stop caring.

[Stefanie Robinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Daniel Wozniak was born in California in 1984. He became involved in community theatre, performing as an actor. Wozniak committed a dramatic double murder in hopes that he would be able to fund his honeymoon and pay some debts. This story was wild and was featured on Dateline. The girlfriend of Wozniak was interviewed on Dateline. His father was also interviewed on Dr. Phil. This was a weird case.

[Audio Audits · Rating 4 out of 5]

Killing For You is a terrifying look into actor turned murderous psychopath Daniel Wozniak’s vicious and completely uncalled for killing of two innocent people. The depth of his callousness and lack of remorse is more frightening than any monster you could make up.

This nearly 8 ½ hour audiobook is a true story and author Keith Elliot Greenberg leaves no stone unturned, gathering information from a multitude of sources to bring a complete and disturbing look into the mind of this killer, who, thankfully, has been sentenced to death for his crimes. Narrator Tom Perkins expertly guides you through all the evidence in an informative and engaging way. His pacing is perfect in this flawless production.

True crime buffs will find this story fascinating and will no doubt search YouTube for the all the talk show and news magazine references tossed liberally throughout this book.

This audiobook was gifted to me in exchange for an unbiased review!

[Molly · Rating 1 out of 5]

I had no idea this book existed until a friend mentioned it last week. Dan Wozniak was in a show with me and, unfortunately, the horror when this story hit the media hasn't waned. The book, however, has so many tangents and extraneous details that it makes for a terrible read. It's hard to summon pathos for a meticulous, premeditated crime. My heart breaks for the victims' families. The case took years to weave through the criminal justice system, prolonging the victims' families' grief. A murderer got to be the center of attention he obviously craved. Don't waste your time on this book -- let the victims rest in peace.

[Mara Baldwin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love reading true crime novels when the authors make sure to devote a substantial portion of the book to honoring the victims involved, and this author did just that! Very informative, I couldn’t put it down.

[Charlie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overly detailed, yet fairly easy-to-follow nonfiction in the “true crime” genre. Story has a “breezy” tone and pacing given the subject matter (a double homicide). Character development and storytelling are excellent and representative of the author’s experience with this genre.

[Fran · Rating 2 out of 5]

I lost interest by chapter 8.

[brenda belg parlaman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read very interesting

[Margaret Aldridge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed the book but so heart breaking

[Nikki]

dnf