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The Politics Of Murder: The Power and Ambition Behind "The Altar Boy Murder Case"
Nash’s masterful feat of weaving together this story should give pause to anyone who trusts the integrity of the judicial system. Nash shows just how easily the social networks of powerful people within a local court system can lead to an influential person manipulating the process and infringing on the rights of ordinary Americans."--Victoria Hewlett in The Somerville News Weekly
On a hot night in July 1995, Janet Downing, a 42-year-old mother of four, was brutally stabbed 98 times in her home in Somerville, a city two miles northwest of Boston. Within hours, a suspect was identified: 15-year-old Eddie O’Brien, the best friend of one of Janet’s sons.
But why Eddie? He had no prior history of criminal behavior. He was not mentally ill. He had neither motive nor opportunity to commit the crime. Others had both. Yet none of that mattered because powers far beyond his Somerville neighborhood decided that Eddie needed to be guilty.
As laid out in THE POLITICS OF MURDER, the timing of this case did not bode well for Eddie. A movement hoping to stop the supposed rise of young “superpredators” was sweeping the nation, and juvenile offenders were the targets. Both the Massachusetts governor and an elected district attorney who personally litigated this case supported juvenile justice reform, and both aspired to higher offices.
Eddie O’Brien’s case garnered both local and national publicity: He was the youthful Irish Catholic boy next door. His grandfather was the retired chief of the Somerville Police Department. Court TV covered the trial in adult court gavel to gavel, calling it the altar boy murder case. His highly publicized case changed the juvenile laws in Massachusetts. Other states began to follow suit. But did the justice system fail Eddie?
That’s the contention of author-attorney Margo Nash in her explosive expose, THE POLITICS OF MURDER. Appointed Eddie’s guardian ad litem, Nash attended every court session and eventually gained access to all his files. Now after painstaking research and examination of each step of the investigation, trial transcripts and the forensic evidence, Nash makes the case that Eddie could not have committed the crime and that other viable suspects were never properly considered.
The Innocence Program has recently taken on Eddie’s case. Now readers can decide if politics sent an innocent boy to adult prison for the rest of his life.
"A chilling story about corruption, political power and a stacked judicial system in Massachusetts."--John Ferak, bestselling author of FAILURE OF JUSTICE.
On a hot night in July 1995, Janet Downing, a 42-year-old mother of four, was brutally stabbed 98 times in her home in Somerville, a city two miles northwest of Boston. Within hours, a suspect was identified: 15-year-old Eddie O’Brien, the best friend of one of Janet’s sons.
But why Eddie? He had no prior history of criminal behavior. He was not mentally ill. He had neither motive nor opportunity to commit the crime. Others had both. Yet none of that mattered because powers far beyond his Somerville neighborhood decided that Eddie needed to be guilty.
As laid out in THE POLITICS OF MURDER, the timing of this case did not bode well for Eddie. A movement hoping to stop the supposed rise of young “superpredators” was sweeping the nation, and juvenile offenders were the targets. Both the Massachusetts governor and an elected district attorney who personally litigated this case supported juvenile justice reform, and both aspired to higher offices.
Eddie O’Brien’s case garnered both local and national publicity: He was the youthful Irish Catholic boy next door. His grandfather was the retired chief of the Somerville Police Department. Court TV covered the trial in adult court gavel to gavel, calling it the altar boy murder case. His highly publicized case changed the juvenile laws in Massachusetts. Other states began to follow suit. But did the justice system fail Eddie?
That’s the contention of author-attorney Margo Nash in her explosive expose, THE POLITICS OF MURDER. Appointed Eddie’s guardian ad litem, Nash attended every court session and eventually gained access to all his files. Now after painstaking research and examination of each step of the investigation, trial transcripts and the forensic evidence, Nash makes the case that Eddie could not have committed the crime and that other viable suspects were never properly considered.
The Innocence Program has recently taken on Eddie’s case. Now readers can decide if politics sent an innocent boy to adult prison for the rest of his life.
"A chilling story about corruption, political power and a stacked judicial system in Massachusetts."--John Ferak, bestselling author of FAILURE OF JUSTICE.
350 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 22, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
January 27, 2017
This book should be required reading for anyone who goes to Law School. It is a book about how the prosecutors and police can manipulate evidence, basically lie and use the media to try this young boy in the newspapers and tv " news". I could not put this book down and am so discouraged after reading it and seeing how the so called " justice" system can put an innocent boy in jail for life..!!! What an absolute travesty of justice. Hopefully this boy who has spent 21 years in jail and is now a man can finally find justice and be returned to his loving family..!!
June 19, 2017
This is a shocking story. If the story is true, a 15-year-old boy becomes the sacrificial lamb to further political aspirations. The police investigation was sloppy and incomplete with Eddie O'Brien the only suspect.
According to the author, it would have been impossible, not improbable, for Eddie O'Brien to have committed the murder of which he was accused and convicted. Can you imagine an innocent teenager being sentenced to life in prison?
According to the author, it would have been impossible, not improbable, for Eddie O'Brien to have committed the murder of which he was accused and convicted. Can you imagine an innocent teenager being sentenced to life in prison?
April 29, 2017
A well-written court procedural about a politically charged, high profile case. With painstaking detail the author, an attorney assigned to look out for the underaged defendant's welfare but not his defense, makes her case for his client's innocence. In doing so, she takes on the cops, the prosecutors, the defense attorney, politicians, and the justice system itself.
February 21, 2017
This book describes a real world application of the maxim, "when it rains, it pours." Fifteen year old Eddie O'Brien is charged with the savage murder of his best friend's mother. The attorney/author clearly reveals that neither the crime scene evidence, the time frame of the murder, nor the young man's record and character support this charge. Likewise, several witnesses who offered evidence pointing to other perpetrators were largely ignored. Police handling of the crime scene and incompetent processing of crime scene data also worked against Eddie. His lawyer, who had a good reputation at the time, provided an incomplete, basically incompetent defense. and, finally, the prosecutor had political ambitions, taking the case that would ordinarily be handled by lower level lawyers. Adding another negative factor was the movement at that time to try minors as adults.
One leaves this book amazed at how many things can go wrong for a clearly innocent boy. The author knowledgeably chronicles the case from beginning to trial and then conviction, showing at each step what went wrong for the Irish Catholic son of a sound family caught up in a legal system where a variety of factors, many revealing the justice system at its worst,combined to sentence a young man to prison for life--allow a savage killer to walk free.
The only ray of hope at book's end is that Eddie's case has been accepted by The Innocence Project which may at some time free him from this clearly revealed miscarriage of justice. This is an eye-opening, informative, and very readable book.
a
One leaves this book amazed at how many things can go wrong for a clearly innocent boy. The author knowledgeably chronicles the case from beginning to trial and then conviction, showing at each step what went wrong for the Irish Catholic son of a sound family caught up in a legal system where a variety of factors, many revealing the justice system at its worst,combined to sentence a young man to prison for life--allow a savage killer to walk free.
The only ray of hope at book's end is that Eddie's case has been accepted by The Innocence Project which may at some time free him from this clearly revealed miscarriage of justice. This is an eye-opening, informative, and very readable book.
a
December 6, 2016
This is very well researched and well written book about a situation that unfortunately happens far too often. I am referring to when a crime is committed and law enforcement immediately zeroes in on someone they think makes a good suspect. They put blinders on and decide what is important to follow up on and what is not, key evidence is not test and/or lost, or evidence is manipulated and other suspects are ignored. After reading this book, there is no doubt in my mind that Edward O'Brien is innocent. I hope that the Innocence Project can help him.
January 19, 2017
This wasn't a fun book to read. It's horrifying, and occasionally a bit of a slog. Still, the story it tells is a very important one. It's so easy to criticize President Obama for commuting so many sentences, and it's easy to forget that sometimes, politics trumps justice in this country.
I'm appalled that so often this has happened in Massachusetts. The Fells Acres Day Care case, the persecution of Bernard Baran, and now this one. One gets the feeling that politicos in Massachusetts put their careers over even a rudimentary sense of justice. Shame on them all!
I'm appalled that so often this has happened in Massachusetts. The Fells Acres Day Care case, the persecution of Bernard Baran, and now this one. One gets the feeling that politicos in Massachusetts put their careers over even a rudimentary sense of justice. Shame on them all!
February 4, 2017
5-Star *Dedicated "Lawyer Author" Wrote A Well-Written Book! Solid Background Of Author Is A Journey Of Discovery For Reader Into A Unique Case!
My Perception Is The*"Brother-In-Law" Has Involvement In The Murder, But The
Wrong Person "Eddie O'Brian" Convicted! Did The Prosecutors Plus
Political Sick Needs "Railroad" An Innocent 15-Year Old? *Author Insights In A Detailed Book Seeks "Justice" Due Abuse Of Power! Injustice A 15-Year Old Sent To Prison Is Still IN PRISON, And Lawyer Author Has Excellent Materials In Book Points "Innocence Person"!
My Perception Is The*"Brother-In-Law" Has Involvement In The Murder, But The
Wrong Person "Eddie O'Brian" Convicted! Did The Prosecutors Plus
Political Sick Needs "Railroad" An Innocent 15-Year Old? *Author Insights In A Detailed Book Seeks "Justice" Due Abuse Of Power! Injustice A 15-Year Old Sent To Prison Is Still IN PRISON, And Lawyer Author Has Excellent Materials In Book Points "Innocence Person"!
December 3, 2016
A bit too indepth detail for the reader, this book definitely covers in minutia all the things wrong with the American justice system. Very eye-opening to the challenges facing defence of people who do not have a lot of money and what happens when an DA has a political agenda he is pushing behind the scenes.
December 7, 2016
Innocent
I really hope Eddie is granted another trial. He is innocent. Its so sad he has spent all this time in prison for a crime he did not commit. I think 2017 is going to be his year. #eddiesinnocent
I really hope Eddie is granted another trial. He is innocent. Its so sad he has spent all this time in prison for a crime he did not commit. I think 2017 is going to be his year. #eddiesinnocent
December 22, 2022
excellent book!!!!
I watched the entire trial, I felt then that it was an atrocity! I have corresponded with and become friends with Ed during his incarceration. He was a boy, a healthy NORMAL teenage boy! No way will I ever be convinced he could have possibly done this crime. Ms. Nash has done an exceptional job in explaining the technical side as well as show who the real murderer is.
I watched the entire trial, I felt then that it was an atrocity! I have corresponded with and become friends with Ed during his incarceration. He was a boy, a healthy NORMAL teenage boy! No way will I ever be convinced he could have possibly done this crime. Ms. Nash has done an exceptional job in explaining the technical side as well as show who the real murderer is.
August 19, 2017
Interesting account on the Eddie O'Brian (Altar Boy) Murder case. It focuses on revisiting the Political ramifications and importance of the case, as well as the case itself. Lots of early detail was most interesting, it seemed to bog down a bit and had a bit of a hast "wrap up", so I was left wanting a bit more clarity on how the results impacted all.
September 2, 2022
This kid was screwed from the get go. The politics involved was disgusting. Other suspects-obvious ones-were never questioned. The DA was all about appearances. This author did her due diligence far greater that Eddie’s legal team. I’d love a follow up to his story-I only wish he could’ve spoken at the time of his trial.
June 25, 2025
This may not make sense cause it’s hard to explain but basically Eddie is my noncontiguous aunt’s second cousin. ( they were so close growing up and went to the same school that she said he was like a first cousin) she visits him once a month and she is 100% sure he is innocent read this book and see the injustice of this court case that lead to a very possibly innocent man in jail.
June 10, 2017
The trial
This book, written in the hope it will help free an incarcerated prisoner who the author believes to be innocent of the crime of murder. Only a reader who enjoys learning about trials will enjoy this book.
This book, written in the hope it will help free an incarcerated prisoner who the author believes to be innocent of the crime of murder. Only a reader who enjoys learning about trials will enjoy this book.
September 24, 2019
This is a fascinating look into a case where a teenage boy was falsely accused of murdering his best friend's mom, but this book was a tough one to get through. It felt like I just read a 327 page news article.
April 9, 2025
This case needs to be reopened and investigated again! Well written
January 12, 2022
Big question marks on this
Ok, never read Margo Nash before. Never heard of this disturbing case before. I know that Nash was Eddie's Guardian ad Litem and feels he was made a scape goat by the prosecutor and local LE and eventually into state politics that were brewing in the early 90s. Yes, there is a lot of "reasonable doubt" in this brutal and mysterious case. I am still twisted up as to whether Eddie is guilty or his uncle. Eddie had no motive. There are people who are saying the key witnesses and family members who believe Eddie is innocent and some think he's guilty. Nash's story only centers on his innocence. I did some digging around online and found many people lambasting Nash's book and saying a lot of it isn't true. So i am left as a frustrated reader just not wanting to finish this book. I'm only on page 151. I just feel like I know where the case is
now--nowhere. Book published in 2016. Innocence Project has taken up the case, which we know can take years to resolve. I hope they do get a true, thorough investigation completed. There had to be so much forensic evidence because the timeline is so close. It was someone who is already in the story. There is no unidentified killer roaming around free.
Ok, never read Margo Nash before. Never heard of this disturbing case before. I know that Nash was Eddie's Guardian ad Litem and feels he was made a scape goat by the prosecutor and local LE and eventually into state politics that were brewing in the early 90s. Yes, there is a lot of "reasonable doubt" in this brutal and mysterious case. I am still twisted up as to whether Eddie is guilty or his uncle. Eddie had no motive. There are people who are saying the key witnesses and family members who believe Eddie is innocent and some think he's guilty. Nash's story only centers on his innocence. I did some digging around online and found many people lambasting Nash's book and saying a lot of it isn't true. So i am left as a frustrated reader just not wanting to finish this book. I'm only on page 151. I just feel like I know where the case is
now--nowhere. Book published in 2016. Innocence Project has taken up the case, which we know can take years to resolve. I hope they do get a true, thorough investigation completed. There had to be so much forensic evidence because the timeline is so close. It was someone who is already in the story. There is no unidentified killer roaming around free.
May 2, 2022
Incredible job telling the twisted story of that night. I’m from the same town and Janet’s children, as well as Ed were a few years younger than me. But it was a captivating summer…and so was this book. I’ve always leaned/assumed/and just accepted that Ed was the perp, this novel really forces you to think about reasonable doubt at least! Wow.
December 15, 2016
I think the case itself is very interesting but I had a hard time getting into the book. I actually had to force myself to read it
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews