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Silent Scream
It was a time of innocence, a time of hippies, flower children and the Age of Aquarius. A time when young people felt free to roam about the countryside hitchhiking without fear. A time when law enforcement was trusted by the people they were sworn to protect and serve.
That time was shattered by one of law enforcements own. His name was Gerard Schaefer. He was a former Wilton Manors, Florida Police Officer who lied his way into the office of the Martin County Florida Sheriff’s Office. He used his lie to continue to perpetrate his crimes of torture and murder of young women who hitchhiked along Florida’s roads.
Gerard Schaefer shattered the lives of the families of these young girls and destroyed the faith of the public in law enforcement. He killed without pity. He tortured without conscience and he hid the crimes without thought.
Schaefer not only destroyed the lives of as many as 34 young women, he kept trophies of his kills, and he lived the crimes over and over again. He believed he was doing the world and his victims a justice by ridding the world of the “whores” who hitchhiked. Gerard Schaefer was a narcissistic psychopath who wanted his fifteen minutes of fame. He believed he had earned it.
Florida Author, Yvonne Mason, in her newest release Silent Scream, has captured not only the essence of evil in Gerard Schaefer, she has also captured his brilliance. But more than that Ms. Mason has finally given a voice to the Silent Screams of Gerard Schaefer’s victims, the known and the unknown.
Ms. Mason who has a degree in Criminal Justice and was a Bounty Hunter in Georgia before moving to Florida has given a voice to such victims as Georgia Jessup and Susan Place, the two who were discovered on South Hutchinson Island, April 1, 1973 seven months after they disappeared on Sept 23, 1972 in a shallow grave in pieces. She has also given a voice to Collette Goodenough and Barbara Ann Willcox who were killed in Jan 1973 and whose bones found four years later at C-24 Canal.
Ms. Mason has captured the not only the pain, the agony and the suffering Gerard Schaefer’s victims went through, she has captured the pain, the anger and the hurt which law enforcement suffered at the hands of this killer.
Even after thirty four years the ones who were in law enforcement at that time still haven’t forgotten. They still carry the emotional scars of the heinous tortures and murders of Gerard Schaefer on the innocent.
Retired FBI Roy Hazelwood writes after reading Ms. Mason’s book: "Yvonne Mason has captured the true essence of Gerard Schaefer, a deputy sheriff who enjoyed torturing and killing young women. It is a gripping story and you should prepare to be disturbed. I guarantee that you will find it difficult to put this book down."
Retired Oakland Park PD Detective Chuck Hemp who worked the disappearance of Jessup and Place wrote this after reading Silent Scream: “When Gerald Schaefer used his badge and gun to terrorize and kill rather than protect and serve he crossed a line that not only snuffed out the lives of his victims but also affected the lives of their loved ones and the police officers charged with investigating these crimes. In her book “Silent Screams” Yvonne Mason has captured more than just the story, but has also given voices to all of Schaefer’s unknown victims. I’m sure there are many.”
Ms. Mason stated this “The victims no longer scream silently, they now have a voice and with that voice comes peace.”
Silent Scream is a voice for the victims. It is their way of never being forgotten and of also reminding each of us that at any time or any place we also can become a victim.
That time was shattered by one of law enforcements own. His name was Gerard Schaefer. He was a former Wilton Manors, Florida Police Officer who lied his way into the office of the Martin County Florida Sheriff’s Office. He used his lie to continue to perpetrate his crimes of torture and murder of young women who hitchhiked along Florida’s roads.
Gerard Schaefer shattered the lives of the families of these young girls and destroyed the faith of the public in law enforcement. He killed without pity. He tortured without conscience and he hid the crimes without thought.
Schaefer not only destroyed the lives of as many as 34 young women, he kept trophies of his kills, and he lived the crimes over and over again. He believed he was doing the world and his victims a justice by ridding the world of the “whores” who hitchhiked. Gerard Schaefer was a narcissistic psychopath who wanted his fifteen minutes of fame. He believed he had earned it.
Florida Author, Yvonne Mason, in her newest release Silent Scream, has captured not only the essence of evil in Gerard Schaefer, she has also captured his brilliance. But more than that Ms. Mason has finally given a voice to the Silent Screams of Gerard Schaefer’s victims, the known and the unknown.
Ms. Mason who has a degree in Criminal Justice and was a Bounty Hunter in Georgia before moving to Florida has given a voice to such victims as Georgia Jessup and Susan Place, the two who were discovered on South Hutchinson Island, April 1, 1973 seven months after they disappeared on Sept 23, 1972 in a shallow grave in pieces. She has also given a voice to Collette Goodenough and Barbara Ann Willcox who were killed in Jan 1973 and whose bones found four years later at C-24 Canal.
Ms. Mason has captured the not only the pain, the agony and the suffering Gerard Schaefer’s victims went through, she has captured the pain, the anger and the hurt which law enforcement suffered at the hands of this killer.
Even after thirty four years the ones who were in law enforcement at that time still haven’t forgotten. They still carry the emotional scars of the heinous tortures and murders of Gerard Schaefer on the innocent.
Retired FBI Roy Hazelwood writes after reading Ms. Mason’s book: "Yvonne Mason has captured the true essence of Gerard Schaefer, a deputy sheriff who enjoyed torturing and killing young women. It is a gripping story and you should prepare to be disturbed. I guarantee that you will find it difficult to put this book down."
Retired Oakland Park PD Detective Chuck Hemp who worked the disappearance of Jessup and Place wrote this after reading Silent Scream: “When Gerald Schaefer used his badge and gun to terrorize and kill rather than protect and serve he crossed a line that not only snuffed out the lives of his victims but also affected the lives of their loved ones and the police officers charged with investigating these crimes. In her book “Silent Screams” Yvonne Mason has captured more than just the story, but has also given voices to all of Schaefer’s unknown victims. I’m sure there are many.”
Ms. Mason stated this “The victims no longer scream silently, they now have a voice and with that voice comes peace.”
Silent Scream is a voice for the victims. It is their way of never being forgotten and of also reminding each of us that at any time or any place we also can become a victim.
- GenresTrue Crime
427 pages, Print and Download
First published September 28, 2008
12 people are currently reading
163 people want to read
About the author
Yvonne Mason
49 books30 followersQuotes From Author by Yvonne Mason
“What you Don't Know About ME
Background: The eldest of five children, Yvonne was born May 17, 1951 in Atlanta, Georgia. Raised in East Point, Georgia, she resided there until 1970. Then moved to North Georgia, In 2006 she moved to Port St. Lucie, Florida where she currently makes her home. Licensed bounty hunter for the state of Georgia.
Education: After a 34 year absence, returned to college in 2004. Graduated with honors in Criminal Justice with an Associate’s degree from Lanier Technical College in 2006.
Awards: Nominated for the prestigious GOAL award in 2005 which encompasses all of the technical colleges. This award is based not only on excellence in academics but also leadership, positive attitude and the willingness to excel in one’s major.
Affiliations: Beta Sigma Phi Sorority
The Dream: Since learning to write at the age of five, Yvonne has wanted to be an author. She wrote her first novel Stan’s Story beginning in 1974 and completed it in 2006. Publication seemed impossible as rejections grew to 10 years. Determined, she continued adding to the story until her dream came true in 2006.
The Inspiration: Yvonne’s brother Stan has been her inspiration and hero in every facet of her life. He was stricken with Encephalitis at the tender age of nine months. He has defied every roadblock placed in his way and has been the driving force in every one of her accomplishments. He is the one who taught her never to give up.
“What you Don't Know About ME
Background: The eldest of five children, Yvonne was born May 17, 1951 in Atlanta, Georgia. Raised in East Point, Georgia, she resided there until 1970. Then moved to North Georgia, In 2006 she moved to Port St. Lucie, Florida where she currently makes her home. Licensed bounty hunter for the state of Georgia.
Education: After a 34 year absence, returned to college in 2004. Graduated with honors in Criminal Justice with an Associate’s degree from Lanier Technical College in 2006.
Awards: Nominated for the prestigious GOAL award in 2005 which encompasses all of the technical colleges. This award is based not only on excellence in academics but also leadership, positive attitude and the willingness to excel in one’s major.
Affiliations: Beta Sigma Phi Sorority
The Dream: Since learning to write at the age of five, Yvonne has wanted to be an author. She wrote her first novel Stan’s Story beginning in 1974 and completed it in 2006. Publication seemed impossible as rejections grew to 10 years. Determined, she continued adding to the story until her dream came true in 2006.
The Inspiration: Yvonne’s brother Stan has been her inspiration and hero in every facet of her life. He was stricken with Encephalitis at the tender age of nine months. He has defied every roadblock placed in his way and has been the driving force in every one of her accomplishments. He is the one who taught her never to give up.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
January 23, 2013
I cannot believe than any publishing house put this book out. It must have been self published.
The spelling is awful, the grammar is worse, syntax from another planet. The type fonts look like the book was decorated by a 6 year old fingerpainting.
I do not think anyone ever edited it. Looks like it was typed via free association.
The story line would be fine, a good history of happenings. Even is organized OK.
But for example: it is difficult to read even one chapter when a character is called Rivera on one page, Rivers on the next, River on another..
Terrible writing. Get it edited and cleaned up. Use only one font. Then re-publish it and take it off the shelves in the current form.
The spelling is awful, the grammar is worse, syntax from another planet. The type fonts look like the book was decorated by a 6 year old fingerpainting.
I do not think anyone ever edited it. Looks like it was typed via free association.
The story line would be fine, a good history of happenings. Even is organized OK.
But for example: it is difficult to read even one chapter when a character is called Rivera on one page, Rivers on the next, River on another..
Terrible writing. Get it edited and cleaned up. Use only one font. Then re-publish it and take it off the shelves in the current form.
December 12, 2008
I finished Silent Scream in one day and I can honestly say it is one of the most incredible, frightening and compelling books I've ever read. When I picked up Silent Scream this morning, I paged through it from the back to the front, and a certain face struck me. I stared at that picture and got chilled. The boyish looks of this man were at war with his eyes. I've heard that the eyes are the windows of your soul. For Schaefer, I guess this was true. His eyes bothered me. I raised the book up, saw the caption, and knew why I was afraid. The photo was of Gerard J. Schaefer.
Page by page, chapter by chapter, I was drawn into Silent Scream, into the stories of these girls and the madman who held them captive, then destroyed them in every way that it is possible for one human being to do in another. Schaefer was different from the average criminal. He was smart and wily as a fox. He played every angle, even maneuvering law enforcement officers, the press, supposed girlfriends and family in an attempt to achieve his twisted goals. Schaefer's trial, jail time and subsequent unending appeals were, indeed, a "circus".
This is powerful writing. Silent Scream is a book you really want to forget, but you can't. Your own sense of self-preservation pleads with you to file the story away in the depths of some deep, dark dungeon of your mind, where you don't have to deal with the pain and anguish Schaefer caused so many people. I can't. I won't.
I'm still reeling from what Ms. Mason has written and she deserves every iota of praise she receives for writing this masterpiece. For the innocent girls and unnamed victims yet to be discovered, we thank you.
Page by page, chapter by chapter, I was drawn into Silent Scream, into the stories of these girls and the madman who held them captive, then destroyed them in every way that it is possible for one human being to do in another. Schaefer was different from the average criminal. He was smart and wily as a fox. He played every angle, even maneuvering law enforcement officers, the press, supposed girlfriends and family in an attempt to achieve his twisted goals. Schaefer's trial, jail time and subsequent unending appeals were, indeed, a "circus".
This is powerful writing. Silent Scream is a book you really want to forget, but you can't. Your own sense of self-preservation pleads with you to file the story away in the depths of some deep, dark dungeon of your mind, where you don't have to deal with the pain and anguish Schaefer caused so many people. I can't. I won't.
I'm still reeling from what Ms. Mason has written and she deserves every iota of praise she receives for writing this masterpiece. For the innocent girls and unnamed victims yet to be discovered, we thank you.
August 1, 2014
I am the author of this book. This book is as much of Florida History as the settling of Florida. This book is a must read. Just so all of you will know This book is being made into a documentary for The Investigation Discovery Channel it will appear on the Show Most Evil. We are in pre-production now. I will post more as time goe
February 17, 2015
This is the first book by Ms Mason that I read. I cried for the victims and their families. The descriptions of locations was excellent - you felt like you were there. You also got insight into the determination of law enforcement to catch a killer.
May 5, 2009
Silent Scream takes you from the beginning to the end of serial killer Gerard Schaefer’s horrendous killing spree and then through the myriad of complexities in the criminal justice system. I was literally glued to this book! This book is disturbing, but I still found that I couldn’t put it down. But what’s even more disturbing is that the serial killer was a police officer who used his badge and gun to terrorize, torture, and kill young women in Florida between 1966-1972.
Books that involve serial crime, either fiction or nonfiction, fascinate me. Yvonne Mason has expertly crafted this true crime story to unfold with a continued escalating pace. A real page-turner! She has captured the evil soul of Gerard Schaefer and has also given a voice to the many victims. The extensive research conducted for this book is absolutely top notch.
I highly recommend this book for anyone who enjoys true crime or crime fiction genres. I’m anxious to read more books by this author in the future.
Books that involve serial crime, either fiction or nonfiction, fascinate me. Yvonne Mason has expertly crafted this true crime story to unfold with a continued escalating pace. A real page-turner! She has captured the evil soul of Gerard Schaefer and has also given a voice to the many victims. The extensive research conducted for this book is absolutely top notch.
I highly recommend this book for anyone who enjoys true crime or crime fiction genres. I’m anxious to read more books by this author in the future.
January 25, 2009
I don't normally read true crime. I have always felt that as long as the characters aren't real it doesn't affect you as much. I started reading Silent Scream a few nights ago and I have to say this is a story about one really evil man and I'm only about 1/5 of the way through the book. You read about this type in fiction but when you realize this is the real thing it brings home reality and reality is scary.
I'm feeling a little let down. I've just finished Silent Scream and didn't want it to end. Yvonne's way of telling the story about a true to life monster was unbelievable. She made you feel as if you were sitting in the courtroom, watching on the side as this evil person committed his crimes and you felt the pain of the families that he damaged so deeply. I would recommend this book to everyone even if you don't read true crime. It's a real eye-opener to the threats that are actually outside the locked doors of our homes.
I'm feeling a little let down. I've just finished Silent Scream and didn't want it to end. Yvonne's way of telling the story about a true to life monster was unbelievable. She made you feel as if you were sitting in the courtroom, watching on the side as this evil person committed his crimes and you felt the pain of the families that he damaged so deeply. I would recommend this book to everyone even if you don't read true crime. It's a real eye-opener to the threats that are actually outside the locked doors of our homes.
December 19, 2008
This book is one of the best books I have read this year. A real page turner. Once you read it you will sit back and think about everything that happened in this book happened. Then you will have a streak of fear run through your spine. One book everyone who reads murder mysterys or detective novels should read. Also every author should read it as well. The serial killer Gerard Shaffer has 10 serial killers in him. It is just amazing this man was a teacher and law enforcement. Makes you wonder. That should be the peers of our community that should be able to see this person is crazy. The truth is they did notice and fired him. But he would get hired some where else. A must read for sure. I wish I could give this more stars.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews