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Dying for Daddy: The True Story of a Family's Worst Nightmare
From the bestselling author of The Search for the Green River Killer: The account of the family tragedy that became one of California’s most shocking murder cases.
On a picturesque street in Sacramento County, California, three healthy saplings stand side by side. But what they symbolize are the deaths of three innocent people—two of them children. The man who took their lives, then planted trees in their honor, was their own husband and father.
Hearts went out to Jack Barron when his wife, Irene, died mysteriously in her sleep. Soon after, his two young children were also found dead in their beds. Barron claimed they suffered from the same rare genetic disorder as their mother. But when his fifty-two-year-old mother died, also of asphyxiation in her sleep, law enforcement officials finally took The fatal pattern was impossible to ignore.
Was this “devoted” father really a heartless murderer? Did he suffer from a bizarre syndrome known as Munchausen by proxy, whereby a parent kills a child to gain sympathy? With firsthand interviews and exclusive inside information, author Carlton Smith paints a chilling portrait of a man driven to commit the most unspeakable of acts.
On a picturesque street in Sacramento County, California, three healthy saplings stand side by side. But what they symbolize are the deaths of three innocent people—two of them children. The man who took their lives, then planted trees in their honor, was their own husband and father.
Hearts went out to Jack Barron when his wife, Irene, died mysteriously in her sleep. Soon after, his two young children were also found dead in their beds. Barron claimed they suffered from the same rare genetic disorder as their mother. But when his fifty-two-year-old mother died, also of asphyxiation in her sleep, law enforcement officials finally took The fatal pattern was impossible to ignore.
Was this “devoted” father really a heartless murderer? Did he suffer from a bizarre syndrome known as Munchausen by proxy, whereby a parent kills a child to gain sympathy? With firsthand interviews and exclusive inside information, author Carlton Smith paints a chilling portrait of a man driven to commit the most unspeakable of acts.
262 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 15, 1998
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740 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
May 13, 2025
Thoughts:
I am not doing my traditional small backstory as I am just going to give out my thoughts on this true crime story.
The story is wrapped around a man by the name of Jack Barron who "supposedly" murdered his wife, two children and his mother but everything that happened was all based on "circumstantial evidence" and Jack never cracked under pressure from the interrogations by the police as he stayed as a cool as a cucumber with no confession. Everyone knows he did it but they could not "prove" that he did it up until after his mother was murdered then they finally went after him!
How could they wait until the fourth murder to do anything?! Are you serious! This story just shell shocked me on how they could not have thrown him in prison after the murder of his wife and then him killing his children but they didn't proceed to do anything "till" the murder of his mother with finally seeing justice done and even then it took them forever to sentence him as it was years later before he finally went to prison! At least justice was finally served but I felt that it took forever for him to be tossed in a prison cell! Giving this book four "True Terror" stars!
I am not doing my traditional small backstory as I am just going to give out my thoughts on this true crime story.
The story is wrapped around a man by the name of Jack Barron who "supposedly" murdered his wife, two children and his mother but everything that happened was all based on "circumstantial evidence" and Jack never cracked under pressure from the interrogations by the police as he stayed as a cool as a cucumber with no confession. Everyone knows he did it but they could not "prove" that he did it up until after his mother was murdered then they finally went after him!
How could they wait until the fourth murder to do anything?! Are you serious! This story just shell shocked me on how they could not have thrown him in prison after the murder of his wife and then him killing his children but they didn't proceed to do anything "till" the murder of his mother with finally seeing justice done and even then it took them forever to sentence him as it was years later before he finally went to prison! At least justice was finally served but I felt that it took forever for him to be tossed in a prison cell! Giving this book four "True Terror" stars!
December 7, 2021
I need to know how can your wife die, then your son, next your daughter in the span of 3 years and no one is waving huge red flags? I mean soon as the son died no one thought hey there is a problem here? It is not until Jack Barron murders his mother something is done. The book gets tedious in the middle about the time of deaths. Overall a nice crime book.
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May 8, 2009
1996 version. How can it take 4 deaths in one family to realize something is very wrong? One by one the family begins to die. At first it was considered to be a medical mystery until one off hand remark from a neighbor is the first clue in the undoing of a psychopath. The need for the admiration and acceptance from those around him was more powerful than the need to be a loving husband,father,son. Betrayal of the innocents by their "Protector".
June 7, 2020
This was an excellent read. Although there is no addendum in this version and I had to go online to find out whether he was found guilty. I’m assuming the updated version gives more detail. This man was a cold, callous murderer he admits to nothing. His extended family couldn’t believe that part or the facts that he killed his wife, children and his own mother over a period of three years. Hope he’s enjoying prison life and his new roomie, Bubba.
September 26, 2018
Very well written and great story.
October 26, 2020
Through most of this book I was going to give this book a 4 star, maybe even 5 star rating. Then I got to the end and I have to deduct a star because the book was published before the trial so you have to google to find out what happened. In all fairness to the author it looks like he would have waited 4 years to publish his book. I did not learn why it took so long for this case to go to trial. This book is about a man who murdered his wife and 2 small children but didnt get caught until the 4th murder. I wont say who the 4th victim was because it was because it took me by surprise when I got that far and I wouldnt want to post a spoiler. The most interesting thing about the book was fact that the killer had a favorite country singer (who is also one of my favorite singers) and was able to meet her and the singer even contacted him upon the death of his child but then told people they were going to get married. It didnt say in the book but he even threatened her afterwards if she didnt meet him. I thought this was sad and one of the reasons its so hard to personally meet some of our favorite celebrities. Something that was interesting was the fact that the killer almost always killed on the 7th of the month, which was speculated had something to do with the fact that his father was born on the 7th and he had a contentious relationship with his father. I dont think this was ever proven and I would have liked that to be explored in depth.
October 22, 2018
Captivating true crime
Dying for Daddy is the true story of the unexplained deaths of Irene Barron, 34; Jeremy Barron, 4; Ashley Barron, 4; and Roberta Butler within a three-year period.
Although the series of deaths within a single family was suspicious, there was no basis for an investigation until Roberta's death because the cause of death for the previous three was "undetermined."
5
Dying for Daddy is the true story of the unexplained deaths of Irene Barron, 34; Jeremy Barron, 4; Ashley Barron, 4; and Roberta Butler within a three-year period.
Although the series of deaths within a single family was suspicious, there was no basis for an investigation until Roberta's death because the cause of death for the previous three was "undetermined."
5
December 2, 2019
So sad
Good read but sad this guy killed his own family and got away with it for so long. I guess if you want to kill someone smother them. Glad some I know never read or I would be dead.
Good read but sad this guy killed his own family and got away with it for so long. I guess if you want to kill someone smother them. Glad some I know never read or I would be dead.
July 27, 2017
It was just okay.
April 5, 2018
Okay book but I ultimately had to go to Google to find out the ending of the story.. The book stops at the preliminary hearing so you don't have an ending to the story.
July 11, 2025
The real events of Dying for Daddy took place in Sacramento County, California in the 1990's. Jack Barron's 34 year old wife Irene died suddenly, and no cause could be found. Perhaps it was a rare genetic disorder because in the next few years, both Jack's son and daughter died, both age four at their deaths. But officials began to have suspicions when Jack's mother died not long after his daughter. That would rule out a genetic disorder since Irene and the two children were not related to her by blood.
Jack was the grieving widower, father, son... until he wasn't. Friends and family members began to question how four seemingly healthy people could die, all in the same family and all within years of each other. It seems to me that the first death was under very mysterious circumstances, but to wait until four are dead to investigate? That is unreal.
While I hate that this event occurred, I believe the writing could have been much better. Far too much description was wasted on the backgrounds of Jack's parents and grandparents. Much of the story was repetitive. The part where Jack is being questioned by police also went into far too much detail since basically Jack's only words (over and over) were, "I didn't do it." The reader doesn't need the word-for-word retelling of questioning that elicited the same response the entire time.
And worst of all, the book had no ending. It just stopped. We as readers did not find out if he was held over for trial, what that trial was like, or whether or not there even was a trial, and surely not the results. It literally just stopped. There is nothing worse. For these reasons, I can only say that the book was okay.
Jack was the grieving widower, father, son... until he wasn't. Friends and family members began to question how four seemingly healthy people could die, all in the same family and all within years of each other. It seems to me that the first death was under very mysterious circumstances, but to wait until four are dead to investigate? That is unreal.
While I hate that this event occurred, I believe the writing could have been much better. Far too much description was wasted on the backgrounds of Jack's parents and grandparents. Much of the story was repetitive. The part where Jack is being questioned by police also went into far too much detail since basically Jack's only words (over and over) were, "I didn't do it." The reader doesn't need the word-for-word retelling of questioning that elicited the same response the entire time.
And worst of all, the book had no ending. It just stopped. We as readers did not find out if he was held over for trial, what that trial was like, or whether or not there even was a trial, and surely not the results. It literally just stopped. There is nothing worse. For these reasons, I can only say that the book was okay.
May 4, 2025
Just like a train wreck that you cannot look away from, this true crime novel is very compelling.
The events started in the early 1990's, when Jack Barron and his wife Irene were living in Sacramento, California with their their two young children. It appears that Irene was living her dream, being a wife and mother but her husband Jack, who was working stocking shelves at a supermarket, was less enamored with his lot in life.
Jack loved to be the center of attention and according to psychologists and lawyers who looked at this case later, that was part of his downfall.
This is one of those cases where you wonder how dumb someone can be when they are setting out to commit a crime. Although coroners were unable to say for sure what happened, it was painfully obvious that something was very wrong when Jack's family members all started dying. Each one was found mysteriously deceased in their bed, and the only common denominator was Jack. Jack, who swore up and down that he had nothing to do with it, but basked in the attention he received as a grieving husband, father and son.
At 262 pages, it is a quick read, especially since readers will not want to "look away" from this train wreck.
The events started in the early 1990's, when Jack Barron and his wife Irene were living in Sacramento, California with their their two young children. It appears that Irene was living her dream, being a wife and mother but her husband Jack, who was working stocking shelves at a supermarket, was less enamored with his lot in life.
Jack loved to be the center of attention and according to psychologists and lawyers who looked at this case later, that was part of his downfall.
This is one of those cases where you wonder how dumb someone can be when they are setting out to commit a crime. Although coroners were unable to say for sure what happened, it was painfully obvious that something was very wrong when Jack's family members all started dying. Each one was found mysteriously deceased in their bed, and the only common denominator was Jack. Jack, who swore up and down that he had nothing to do with it, but basked in the attention he received as a grieving husband, father and son.
At 262 pages, it is a quick read, especially since readers will not want to "look away" from this train wreck.
January 22, 2020
This is a very well-written true crime book about Jack Barron, whose entire family mysteriously died, year by year. First, his wife passed away in bed. He said she had a cold, and police accepted that despite the fact that she was found with a pillow over her face. Can you believe that? A pillow over her fucking face, and the police kinda shrugged and said, "omg so mysterious much enigma wow!" and then just let it go. Sorry, I guess I'm kinda bitter. One by one, each of Jack's kids dropped dead of unknown causes in the middle of the night, and then, weirdly, his mother, just after she'd been having arguments with him. Well, it doesn't take a genius to figure out what was going on, but apparently even scraping by with "mildly competent" was too much to ask of the police or the pathologist at the time, who didn't even bother to develop the pictures taken of the first body. The book is an exercise in frustration, but it's well-written and engaging. Anyway, the copy I read didn't have updated information, so I had to go online to find out how things actually resolved.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 11, 2022
Jack Barron is the most unlucky man on Earth. His wife, Irene, dies mysteriously in her sleep. Then just a few months later, his young son Jeremy also dies in his sleep. A year later, his daughter is dead too. And not long after that, his own mother. After each death, he plants a tree in their memory. Now he has trees in his yard but no family, and other family members are suspicious...
I picked this book up at at thrift shop and hadn't heard of the case before so I grabbed it. It only took me one day to read this book. The chapters are really short. I liked the author's writing style; he doesn't go on forever about complicated family histories of all of the people involved in the case. Though the book did end in a strange place, with Mr. Barron in a jail cell awaiting trial. I may read more of Mr. Smith's books if I can find them. I am giving this book four stars.
I picked this book up at at thrift shop and hadn't heard of the case before so I grabbed it. It only took me one day to read this book. The chapters are really short. I liked the author's writing style; he doesn't go on forever about complicated family histories of all of the people involved in the case. Though the book did end in a strange place, with Mr. Barron in a jail cell awaiting trial. I may read more of Mr. Smith's books if I can find them. I am giving this book four stars.
October 23, 2023
Dying for Daddy by Carlton Smith is a run-of-the-mill account of an odd case involving four separate deaths within one family in the span of less than three years. The book’s title makes plain that the writer “knows” who did it, and he has the law on his his side - “Daddy” is serving three life sentences. But the most basic elements of the crimes - means, motive, and opportunity - are never elucidated. On the other hand, when a man’s wife, his two children, and finally his middle-aged mother are sequentially found dead in their beds, it’s hard not to blame the guy, even though you don’t know why and how he did it. The book is short, which is just as well, because it’s also dull. It won’t hurt true crime addicts to read it, but it would be quicker and more interesting to read the lengthy entry online in Murderpedia.
July 14, 2022
Great Book but What a Shame!!!!!
Great book and well written, but what an injustice for the deaths of two innocent children and a 52 year old Mother!! When Irene was found with a pillow on her face & mascara on the pillowcase, HELLO??, how could these obvious clues as well as the lip wounds, and bruises be found as "cause of death undetermined"??? The liver temperature alone provided a range for the time of death and it was clearly when the killer was at home!! This psycho should have been in prison right after his wife's murder. The police obviously caused three unnecessary murders!!!!
Great book and well written, but what an injustice for the deaths of two innocent children and a 52 year old Mother!! When Irene was found with a pillow on her face & mascara on the pillowcase, HELLO??, how could these obvious clues as well as the lip wounds, and bruises be found as "cause of death undetermined"??? The liver temperature alone provided a range for the time of death and it was clearly when the killer was at home!! This psycho should have been in prison right after his wife's murder. The police obviously caused three unnecessary murders!!!!
October 15, 2023
Summary:
Jack Barron finds himself under police scrutiny after his wife, children & mother all end up passing away in mysterious circumstances. He maintains his innocence & believes that his family could have passed away from an unknown heredity illness. The police have their suspicions & think otherwise.
My Thoughts:
I never heard of this case until now & I found it to be an unusual, tragic & haunting case. It definitely left an impression on me & I found myself thinking about the case whenever I wasn’t reading the book.
RIP Roberta, Irene, Jeremy & Ashley x
My Rating: * * * *
Jack Barron finds himself under police scrutiny after his wife, children & mother all end up passing away in mysterious circumstances. He maintains his innocence & believes that his family could have passed away from an unknown heredity illness. The police have their suspicions & think otherwise.
My Thoughts:
I never heard of this case until now & I found it to be an unusual, tragic & haunting case. It definitely left an impression on me & I found myself thinking about the case whenever I wasn’t reading the book.
RIP Roberta, Irene, Jeremy & Ashley x
My Rating: * * * *
May 3, 2020
Good not great. Very little info at the end, but I have noted before that I feel a lot of these True Crime publishers push for books to be out to capitalize on the case while it is still current. My copy had an epilogue that gave a summary of trial, sentencing, and request for appeals but not in any detail. Quick read, though the transcription of lengthy interrogations seemed unnecessary... guy wasn't talking, and you spent more time on this than any other thing that happened. Weird. But this was definitely the easy thoughtless book I needed after finishing Anna Karenina.
January 15, 2021
Where is the end of the story?
I would never recommend this book. An interesting story, yes, but to much detail at times made the book drag for me. Then we get to the last few chapters and are left hanging, Jack was arrested but we have no idea what happened after that. Last we know he was going to go to court for 3 murders. Did that happen and if so what was the outcome. Not even a mention, guess thats why we have Google. Pro ably won't be in a hurry to read anything by this author again.
I would never recommend this book. An interesting story, yes, but to much detail at times made the book drag for me. Then we get to the last few chapters and are left hanging, Jack was arrested but we have no idea what happened after that. Last we know he was going to go to court for 3 murders. Did that happen and if so what was the outcome. Not even a mention, guess thats why we have Google. Pro ably won't be in a hurry to read anything by this author again.
February 5, 2021
A very well written book about a topic I love, murder mystery.. Unfortunately the end left me headed straight to Google to fine out the real end of the story.. This however might be due to the fact of when the book was written, but being that I downloaded it digitally I know a later note can be added to the book, and in my opinion should be done to avoid making the reader feel as I did, left hanging. I really enjoyed the writing style of this book and the over all story had me thinking about the book when when I was not reading.
June 19, 2020
I don't mind this style of writing in true crime books, however, I do feel like the author dragged on about small details to up the dramatics. Also, I noticed that like other books written by this author, they don't seem to revisit the case to update the book on the trials. It's been 20 years since this person was convicted and the book abruptly ends with the pretrial. Then again, I don't know if I need all the details of the trial laid out in a book for me either.
April 2, 2025
Fascinating Story but.....
This story was unbelievable yet the author explained it well. I was disappointed that I had to research the outcome on my own. Since it occurred between 1992 & 1994 why couldn't the author provide details of the trial. I believe Mr. Barron was guilty but I don't understand why there wasn't more evidence of asphyxiation. Providing only 2 photos of just the policemen didn't make sense, most readers would prefer seeing the family members.
This story was unbelievable yet the author explained it well. I was disappointed that I had to research the outcome on my own. Since it occurred between 1992 & 1994 why couldn't the author provide details of the trial. I believe Mr. Barron was guilty but I don't understand why there wasn't more evidence of asphyxiation. Providing only 2 photos of just the policemen didn't make sense, most readers would prefer seeing the family members.
November 19, 2017
Good read
I found this book well written and very informative. I have read other books by him and always enjoyed them a lot! So if you are looking for a good book then I recommend this but please be warned that it involves children as well. I know some people do not like reading books about someone harming children.
I found this book well written and very informative. I have read other books by him and always enjoyed them a lot! So if you are looking for a good book then I recommend this but please be warned that it involves children as well. I know some people do not like reading books about someone harming children.
November 22, 2017
Reasons why some people shouldn't become parents
I found the book very informative. The whole time, while reading the book, I was wondering, could someone be so evil. It's amazing, that this husband thought that he would never get caught. Killing is wrong, but; killing your whole family takes a very big ego and think that you'll never get caught.
I found the book very informative. The whole time, while reading the book, I was wondering, could someone be so evil. It's amazing, that this husband thought that he would never get caught. Killing is wrong, but; killing your whole family takes a very big ego and think that you'll never get caught.
December 5, 2017
Has no ending...
Needs to be updated. I'm sure there's been a conclusion by now, and the trial is over since this happened so long ago.
I love this author, and his writing of this story is fantastic, just like always, but really needs to be updated with the conclusion in order to be given five stars. Sure, we could Google it, but why, when it should be included here?
Needs to be updated. I'm sure there's been a conclusion by now, and the trial is over since this happened so long ago.
I love this author, and his writing of this story is fantastic, just like always, but really needs to be updated with the conclusion in order to be given five stars. Sure, we could Google it, but why, when it should be included here?
September 19, 2018
This was a good book but a little more depth, or detail, would've improved it somewhat. One can't help but feel sympathy for this doomed family, especially for the two innocent children. How someone can have it in them to kill their own child is one of those mysteries that most of us will never be able to understand; perhaps that's for the best.
January 13, 2021
A bit tiresome and I almost stopped in the first chapter since I dislike non-fiction when the author makes up the inert thought of the killer or other main persons in the case without actually hearing this from the person in question. The ending also left me unsatisfied since some crucial information was lacking.
August 25, 2021
A true crime story of a family who died one by one except for the father. None of the autopsies could provide any details of how the person died. Did he do it? The whole book tries to point the finger at him and yet no evidence or motives. I found a podcast about this family; it lent no other information than the book. It was well written, kept my interest, so I recommend it.
August 28, 2018
True Crime Story
This book is a good true crime story, except that the author did not wait for the trial. I find that disappointing because it leaves the reader with an incomplete tale. I like to read the whole story.
This book is a good true crime story, except that the author did not wait for the trial. I find that disappointing because it leaves the reader with an incomplete tale. I like to read the whole story.
April 7, 2021
This was a really good book, but I wish the author had covered the actual trial instead of just the preliminary hearing to establish charges. I just felt like the book's ending was very unfinished and abrupt.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews