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Pushed: State of Oklahoma vs. Amber Hilberling: The Inside Story of the Murder Case That Riveted the Bible Belt
It was one push.
One of the most controversial murder cases of the 21st century began the moment Amber Hilberling, a pregnant teenager raised in affluence, pushed her husband Josh inside their 25th-floor apartment living room. Amber watched in horror as Josh fell into a window, which collapsed on contact, then plummeted through the Tulsa sky to his death.
Amber's claim of self-defense against a longtime abuser was quickly drowned out by the aggressive public campaign Josh's family and friends launched. The media adopted their storyline without question - portraying Amber as a mentally-ill killer, Josh a "gentle giant" and victim. Hate websites launched, calling for Amber's execution. Strangers harassed her family. The Tulsa World newspaper mocked her "fitted jackets, full makeup and a mane of blown-out blonde tresses.” The State of Oklahoma charged Amber with murder and prosecuted her with troubling tactics the state supreme court later blasted as "dubious." The pressure drove Amber, soon a new mother to a baby boy, to the edge.
In Pushed, J.R. Elias, an award-winning journalist turned attorney who worked on the case, pulls back the curtains and shares the gripping full prosecutorial misconduct, the explosive behind-the-scenes dramas, lies, adultery, greed, the devastating effect of irresponsible media, the disturbing twists of the murder trial, and the toll the grueling case took on many lives. Just after he finished the book, the already-tragic story reached a shocking and heartbreaking conclusion, captured in a newly-added Epilogue.
Neither the public nor the jury has ever heard the full story. Until now.
One of the most controversial murder cases of the 21st century began the moment Amber Hilberling, a pregnant teenager raised in affluence, pushed her husband Josh inside their 25th-floor apartment living room. Amber watched in horror as Josh fell into a window, which collapsed on contact, then plummeted through the Tulsa sky to his death.
Amber's claim of self-defense against a longtime abuser was quickly drowned out by the aggressive public campaign Josh's family and friends launched. The media adopted their storyline without question - portraying Amber as a mentally-ill killer, Josh a "gentle giant" and victim. Hate websites launched, calling for Amber's execution. Strangers harassed her family. The Tulsa World newspaper mocked her "fitted jackets, full makeup and a mane of blown-out blonde tresses.” The State of Oklahoma charged Amber with murder and prosecuted her with troubling tactics the state supreme court later blasted as "dubious." The pressure drove Amber, soon a new mother to a baby boy, to the edge.
In Pushed, J.R. Elias, an award-winning journalist turned attorney who worked on the case, pulls back the curtains and shares the gripping full prosecutorial misconduct, the explosive behind-the-scenes dramas, lies, adultery, greed, the devastating effect of irresponsible media, the disturbing twists of the murder trial, and the toll the grueling case took on many lives. Just after he finished the book, the already-tragic story reached a shocking and heartbreaking conclusion, captured in a newly-added Epilogue.
Neither the public nor the jury has ever heard the full story. Until now.
- GenresTrue CrimeCrime
511 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 27, 2016
30 people are currently reading
57 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
February 12, 2019
I first heard about this story when her family appeared on Dr. Phil and I could not BELIEVE the miscarriage of justice! I have worked in a prosecutor's office and a defense attorney's office and when I started working at the defense attorney's office I asked how he could defend someone that he knew was guilty and he said it wasn't all about getting the guilty people off buy making sure their sentence matched their crime, this poor girl never stood a chance, the prosecutor was dirty and never gave her a shot at a fair trial and for her attorneys to make sure the sentence matched the crime. Technically, there was no crime, just an unfortuneate accident that no one could understand.
October 9, 2022
Tragic, toxic love story. If you can call it “love.” I have followed the Amber/Josh case since it was a breaking story on the news. I believe Amber, I mean she passed a lie detector test, which unfortunately not submissive in court. An accident that ended in a horrible tragedy.
August 9, 2025
I am annoyed. I tuned into such a short documentary about this case and it sounded so intriguing I wanted more info.
This is the only book I could find, and, not only is it told by her defense lawyer, but he tells it from her view and biased from the beginning.
It hardly can discuss ‘fairly’ the issues of, for example, male domestic abuse the documentary touched on.
A proper journalist should write a book about this very interesting case because I really believe this book was absolute spin and propaganda, or, if it really isn’t, the last person to tell me that is her actual lawyer?
Just so annoyed.
Really must look for long and somehow trustworthy resources about this fascinating case.
This book is definitely not that.
This is the only book I could find, and, not only is it told by her defense lawyer, but he tells it from her view and biased from the beginning.
It hardly can discuss ‘fairly’ the issues of, for example, male domestic abuse the documentary touched on.
A proper journalist should write a book about this very interesting case because I really believe this book was absolute spin and propaganda, or, if it really isn’t, the last person to tell me that is her actual lawyer?
Just so annoyed.
Really must look for long and somehow trustworthy resources about this fascinating case.
This book is definitely not that.
October 17, 2018
Enlightening
A book that combines fact & humanity. I had heard of this tragedy in the news, while sympathetic I never felt i had enough knowledge to decide guilt or innocence. After reading this book, a wonderful combination of facts and insight, I am appalled at the miscarriage of justice. Not one person thought of the effects the lies, greed and underhanded tactics would have on an innocent boy. The death of his father was an accident, his mother was murdered by the press and the state of Oklahoma!
A book that combines fact & humanity. I had heard of this tragedy in the news, while sympathetic I never felt i had enough knowledge to decide guilt or innocence. After reading this book, a wonderful combination of facts and insight, I am appalled at the miscarriage of justice. Not one person thought of the effects the lies, greed and underhanded tactics would have on an innocent boy. The death of his father was an accident, his mother was murdered by the press and the state of Oklahoma!
July 13, 2023
impactful
An extraordinarily well written book about some of the harsh realities of litigation, whether in the criminal or civil arena. Really struck home a I wind down my family law practice with a couple of difficult cases. IMHO, this points out the need for litigants to very seriously consider resolution by agreement rather than a courtroom battle.
An extraordinarily well written book about some of the harsh realities of litigation, whether in the criminal or civil arena. Really struck home a I wind down my family law practice with a couple of difficult cases. IMHO, this points out the need for litigants to very seriously consider resolution by agreement rather than a courtroom battle.
January 4, 2020
Very Good
Excellent! Well written and filled with facts and information bot made known in the original coverage. This case was interesting and I feel that this books fills in many details.
Excellent! Well written and filled with facts and information bot made known in the original coverage. This case was interesting and I feel that this books fills in many details.
January 30, 2018
Injustice for the abused
This story is so sad. It shows how the media can have an affect on how people can decide someone's fate without looking at all the evidence in a case.
This story is so sad. It shows how the media can have an affect on how people can decide someone's fate without looking at all the evidence in a case.
January 21, 2025
heartbreaking story of misjustice
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews