Murder in Canaryville: The True Story Behind a Cold Case and a Chicago Cover-Up

by Jeff Coen

"A real-life crime drama with vivid individuals and neighborhoods.  A murder unsolved until now after forty years. It portrays the unvarnished Chicago of yesterday...absolutely a must read." —Dick Simpson, author of The Good Fight 

The cold-case murder of John Hughes, the son of a Chicago Outfit member suspected of pulling the trigger, and the efforts of a determined detective to unravel a cover-up 

The grandson and great-grandson of Chicago police officers, Chicago Police Detective James Sherlock was CPD through-and-through. His career had seen its share of twists and turns, from his time working undercover to thwart robberies on Chicago's L trains to his years as a homicide detective. He thought he had seen it all.  

But on this day, he was at the records center to see the case file for the murder of John Hughes, who was seventeen years old when he was gunned down on Chicago's Southwest Side in 1976. The case’s threads led everywhere: Police corruption. Hints of the Chicago Outfit. A crooked judge. Even the belief that the cover-up extended to "hizzoner" himself—legendary Chicago mayor Richard J. Daley.  

A murder that had roiled the city and had been investigated for years had been reduced to a few reports and photographs. What should have been a massive file with notes and transcripts from dozens of interviews was nowhere to be found. Sherlock could have left the records center without the folder and cruised into retirement, and no one would have noticed.  

Instead, he tucked the envelope under his arm and carried it outside. 

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction, History, Crime, Mystery, Audiobook, Historical

256 pages, Hardcover

First published January 12, 2021

About the author

Jeff Coen is a reporter for the Chicago Tribune, covering federal trials and investigations from the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse in downtown Chicago. He was present in the courtroom throughout the Family Secrets trial, and his pieces on the case were featured in a popular series in the Chicago Tribune."

Reviews

[Jeanette · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a cold case that happened in 1976 and more than 40 years later was worked on by the author, since a retired Chicago Detective (also worked FBI).

I don't recommend it although it was intensely interesting to me because of my life spent in these locations. Some of the exact locations too, but at an earlier era. I'm about 50 blocks South of Bridgeport for most of my first 20 years. But going to Sox games and having huge conflation with all these places and especially High Schools since then for another 1/2 century- I was 4.5 star interested.

The case has enough steam to fill about 1/2 the copy. The other half is Chicago Police and politico corruption history. It's the kind of book I would be wary about giving to my brother (Retired Homicide Chicago Pol. Dept.). Not that he would be "hurt" or deny any of it- just that it, like great majority re Chicago P.D. associated printed material of any ilk- tells of the Burge's and not the 90% of the others in the departments. Or of the ones of ultimate police duty who never came home.

The crux of this is that the case was a butting heads incident between the Irish and the Italian teen-agers. It's accurate, but that's just a tip of the iceberg, IMHO. There's more to it because of the shooter's parent and driver's dad. (One a made Mafia, one a fire chief's son.) Suffice to say, the murderer was never even questioned because he wasn't identified. Gun went missing. All files locked and most lost. Surprise, surprise! John Hughes to this day still has a de la Salle scholarship in his name (the murdered Junior from that school).

If you know Chicago's South, Southwest, and Far South or West sides. Or the suburbs west or southwest, then this will be of more interest than if you don't.

It's hard to follow. The murderer killed again (his own girlfriend) and has passed away at 57. He never spent a day in jail for either murder. If you want to know why, read the book.

This somewhat gives you the "feel" of those two neighborhoods but IMHO- there are far more interesting and complex situations happening all the time South of that and West of that. Even now. The area around Sox park and much of Bridgeport itself has become gentrified.

He gets lyrical and rather smaltzy, IMHO. The tales are far, far worse since this era. Or to the west of this described area. Especially in neighborhoods like Englewood or much of the east side all the way to Indiana. Teenagers and young men killing each other constantly over drugs, crime money etc. and in constant gang butting. Or anyone who happens to be between them or just there. And similar as in this case, someone always knows but can't tell. If they do, they are next. And if they don't tell, they still may be next. Just like LaMantia's girlfriend in this book.

"Perhaps at least as often as anywhere else on earth, things happen in Chicago that should never happen to anyone. And what should happen- if God were keeping watch on the dark skyscrapers on the the shore of Lake Michigan- doesn't.
Clouded. Unforgiving. Infuriating.
Chicago. "

Not always true for many in Chicago. But certainly for some. I'm one.

[Therese Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cold cases are incredibly fascinating, because who doesn’t want to know the truth?

But if the case should never have gone cold and almost certainly should have been an easy solve, then the question becomes how could this happen? Particularly when the community knows the answers to who, why, when, and where.

Jeff Coen brings his formidable investigative reporting skills to exploring the 1970’s murder of a Chicago high school junior, John R. Hughes. But, the backbone of this true crime/corruption expose is the dogged work of seasoned police detective and good cop, Jim Sherlock.

And while both these men do excellent work illuminating the dark corners of Chicago police and political corruption, it is Jim Sherlock’s empathy and relentless search for the truth for the family and friends of John Hughes that is a shining beacon that spotlights the good, honest men and women in law enforcement.

[Ronnie Cramer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A detective tries to properly investigate an unsolved 1976 cold case after more than forty years. Includes information about other related crimes and Chicago Police corruption in general. The book lacks a satisfying resolution but it is nonetheless quite good.

[KayB · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definitely gives a taste of the south side and especially Bridgeport and Canaryville. Being from the south side, two parishes south, I felt like I was back there. The story wandered off the main story of John Hughes too often for my liking. There was too much repetition. The police and judicial corruption was disgusting although being from Chicago I know it exists. It's one thing for your ward committeeman to get you a job or garbage cans (don't laugh, it happens), but judicial payoffs to get murderers off is horrifying. That is not the Chicago I want to be from. This was just one story but I know this is repeated over and over everyday. It's easy to ignore it as long as it doesn't touch you, but for the individuals and families involved it is a sad reality.

[Mickey Mantle · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is a kick to the gut. It IS the Chicago I knew and know.

Interesting.....I talked with a few people who were present that evening many years ago. I met them in a Bridgeport saloon recently after a White Sox game. The author seems to downplay the viciousness on BOTH sides. The Canaryville guys were not exactly angelic.

[Thomas Radigan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The subject is interesting, but the book has two major flaws. That the book does not show anybody's picture is understandable, but it should have at least shown some maps of the area so we could more easily figure out what was where. Also, while police corruption and political pressure is the major if not overriding reason the murder of Hughes was never officially solved, a lot of stories about police and political corruption, as well as the local mob, are included even though they have no bearing on the Hughes case. Yes, we all know about these matters, but this book was supposed to be about why the Hughes murder was never solved. It seems that there is a lot of filler because the author had so little material to work with on the main story. Investigator Jim Sherlock was given missing police material and tried to fill in what he could, and even interviewed a number of survivors of the 1976 murder, but in the end he could do little with it.

[Barbara Langlois · Rating 2 out of 5]

Major disappointment. Borderline boring. Purports to be about the cold case investigation into the murder of John Hughes. Due to a insufficient amount of material, the author spends the majority of the book dealing with the Chicago Outfit and police corruption. Not only does much of that material not relate to the Hughes murder, neither is it shocking or eye opening to anyone who grew up in the Chicago area. The history of the relationship between the mob and the Chicago police easily goes back to the days of prohibition and the history of corruption in Chicago politics is deep seeded.

[Bridget Johnson (Jameson) · Rating 2 out of 5]

In this true crime book, a Chicago police officer tries to close a cold case: a murder from the 1970s.

There isn’t enough about the murder of John Hughes to fill a book, so the author includes a lot of tangentially related history about the Chicago police force, organized crime in Chicago, Chicago itself. If you love Chicago, you’ll probably enjoy this book! If you just want to read about a murder, you might, like me, find it disappointing and kind of boring.

[Henry Sparks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Listened as an audiobook. Decent, little copaganda-y for being about police corruption cases. Loses the thread a little in the back half but really interesting stuff about the history of Canaryville, Bridgeport, and CPD through both Daley administrations.

[Jordan · Rating 3 out of 5]

In a Chicago suburb a young teen is shot and killed one evening in front of many witnesses. Two rival groups of teens had been in a fight earlier in the evening, and witnesses could identify who was in the car the shots came from. It seemed like a simple case but one that was never solved. With underground crime ties and the killer never getting caught, it was surprising to me that this took place in the mid-1970s.

The murder of 17-year-old John Hughes is the beginning of this book but it is only a small part of the story. This is more about a modern-day detective looking back on an old cold case and finding coverups and corruption.

There are a lot of people in this book as layers are uncovered. This is a good true crime book for fans of organized crime, especially in the notorious Chicago area.

[Zeb Kantrowitz · Rating 4 out of 5]

During the summer of 1976, kids from two neighborhoods in southwest Chicago had been fighting each other on a daily basis. It wasn't unusual for groups of youths from one neighborhood to go into the other and cause trouble. On one night after a big party in Bridgeport there was a fight among the boys but everyone went their own way. Later that night a car pulled up at the corner of a park where the Canaryville boys hung out, the car slowed down (there were three boys in the car) and as the Canaryville kids came down to the car, a shot rang out.

John Hughes were just a neighborhood kid who was athletic and did well in school, he was just the random guy who the bullet hit. It was dark in the car and no one saw all three kids. The car took off and even after forty plus years, and many inquiries, the murderer was never brought to justice. The guy who most likely pulled the trigger was related to made-men from the "Outfit" and had cops and politicians in his family and among friend. The Hughes family knew no one.

Over the years, investigators were sure that they knew who had shot John Huges, but they could never come up with the proof or an eyewitness who could/would testify. There was one girl who said she knew who had shot Hughes but never testified because the killer also killed her. She was the girlfriend of the killer and when she threatened to go to the Cops, he accidently shot her too. He was found not guilty at a bench trial by a Judge was was know to take a payoff.

Coen also spends a lot of time explaining the connections between the three youths in the car and the corruption that was blatant during the time of the murder and for years after. Based on the investigation as an FBI cold case on how the case was mishandled (on purpose), we are made privy to all those involved who helped to protect the killer and bury the case.

[Krlb · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book with special interest for two reasons: 1) I was a year ahead in high school of an older brother of the boy who was killed - I knew him pretty well, and he almost exactly matched the description of the victim, and 2) I grew up in Bridgeport and lived about 1/4 mile from the spot where the fight broke out, earlier in the night, between the Italians from Bridgeport and the Irish from Canaryville, the fight that precipitated the revenge drive-by shooting that's described in the book. I knew well the police station on 35th and Lowe in Bridgeport, just down the block from Mayor Daley, where the fix was initiated. I spent many, many hours playing baseball at McGuane Park (called Mark White Park back then). Knowing the nature of the neighborhoods made the story ring true (the Italians were always fighting somebody, whether it was the Irish in Canaryville or the Polish, German, Lithuanian, Irish polyglot that made up the rest of Bridgeport, west of Halsted Street). The location of the party that kicked off the fateful evening (on Throop Street) was intriguing because there are two Throop Streets in Bridgeport, about 6 blocks apart - the Throop that runs south from 31st Street in about 6 blocks west of the Throop that runs north from 31st Street - go figure. It would have helped me to know which Throop the author was talking about (I suspect the Throop that was farther east). It always adds to the interest of the read when you know something about the principals or the location, so it was easy to get involved in this one.

If I wasn't as familiar with the locale and the ethnic rivalries described in the book I probably would have given it one star less, for two reasons: 1) too much of the book focused on the well-known corruption in the police department - this may be newsworthy for someone who didn't grow up in Chicago, but it was old history for me, and took up too much of the book, 2) even though the author describes the dogged pursuit of this cold case by a dedicated detective, it's ultimately unresolved. One of the problems associated with tackling a 40-year-old murder case is that many of those involved are dead, or are too old to remember details. And those that still remember, especially those who were directly involved in some way, aren't ready to give any deathbed confessions to clear their conscience.

If you're unfamiliar with the political-law enforcement-mob connections in Chicago, this would be a good primer. As unbelievable as some of the story seems, I'm sure it's authentic. The fact that this situation wound up with an unsolved murder is regrettable, but what's more regrettable is that could have been any weeknight in any summer in Chicago in the 1970s.

[Gregory Steadman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was a sophomore at De La Salle when this happened in 1976. What the book never mentions is that both John Hughes and Rocco LaMantia were classmates at “D” and in the same junior class. John was on the football team and LaMantia had played on the Hockey team. They knew each other. What an incredible tragedy. Everyone knew then and now that LaMantial shot John but it could not be proven. To this day I cannot recall a sadder wake or funeral. John was laid to rest in his football jersey. His parents were destroyed. Shame on Commander Haberkorn and the other corrupt police in the 9th District who buried the case against LaMantia and the passenger. Hope they all rot in Hell!

[Drew Zagorski · Rating 5 out of 5]

I grew up in Bridgeport and my oldest sister was actually a witness to the events in the book. Reading it was like going back in time. Coen captured the feel of the neighborhoods and the time (late 70s, early 80s). A well written true crime history here. Detective Jim Sherlock spoke with me about the case, where it stands today and offers some info that came to light following the book project. Listen to my conversation with him here: https://www.youdontsay.net/episodes/murder-in-canaryville

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is an interesting read. Perhaps a more accurate subtitle would be "A History of Police Corruption in Chicago" because the book is about far more than the Hughes case.

There is a lot of information in the book and at times I had to stop the audio and rewind to repeat because the cast of characters is quite large.

Still, given that I was 12 when the John Hughes murder happened, that I grew up in Chicago and am familiar with many of the people discussed, it was an engaging book.

[Leo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maybe not quite 4*. Good feel for the night when Hughes was murdered. It's not that much of a mystery, more that the story is a mule that looks at the days of the old power structure (Outfit, Politics, corruption, etc.) and how it has changed in some ways.

[Powerock · Rating 3 out of 5]

The painstaking process of a detective gathering information was interesting but the author digressed so often from the pursuit of the answer to the killing of John Hughes. This is more about the political and mob involvement with the system of justice AND a litany of some of worst corrupt cops

[Joanne Sitarz · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is no happy ending here. I get it, murder stories don’t have happy endings, but why would the author write this book, knowing that the story doesn’t bring closure to the reader or worse, to the survivors?

[Ed Pienta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting since I lived in the area. While I was a neighborhood away I knew the areas well.

[Kenb Monroe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reads like a mystery novel, which it is.
Does not find the killer, but "knows" who it is.
Only downside is author takes side trips about other issues beyond this murder.

Well written.

[Kevin Walery · Rating 2 out of 5]

They don’t close the case!! WTH? Very disappointed, shame on me for assuming this cold case would be solved. Now I understand why he spent so much time on some shakily related back stories.

[Alexander · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book details a Chicago detective's last case in 2018-19--a long cold one from 1976. The murder of John Hughes is a relatively simple case that would have been solved the night it occurred (or within a week) had the CPD not been hampered by the internal rot and corruption of Chicago politics under the Daley regime--or, as the author rather convincingly puts it, just about any other from Daley the father, to the son, to Emanuel, et al. Aside from internal PD rot, corruption at city hall, this tale is also enmeshed in Chicago's notorious mob, The Outfit.

The book has two main issues, one the author's fault, the other not. The first, and not the author's issue, is that there is nothing satisfying about the conclusion of the investigation for the reader, or the detective. The case was simply too well obstructed, too many of the main players are already dead, and the few that are still around are still tight-lipped despite the fact that there seems very little chance of bringing any charges against anyone. So the book ends with the status quo ante.

The second issue is repetitiveness. This book probably could have been an extended pamphlet rather than a book. This is evidenced by a very long chapter that veers far from the Hughes murder and cover-up to detail a host of other tangentially related CPD and Mayor du jour scandals. Perhaps the project should have been several of these stories instead of just one--it is unlikely that the people who obstructed justice so glibly in this story only did it this one time (as a subsidiary, and related, murder story within suggests).

A quick read that should have been even quicker.

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

In addition to main story, details a lot of Chicago corruption and "I know a guy.". Should be no surprise to Chicago folks and no different than now - snitches get stitches. Need to wrap your head around a narrator who interviews certain folks, then details findings of a recent cold case investigator who finds certain info from previous cold case and original investigations. And not really spoiling anything since you'll find out in the first 20 pages (give or take), the most recent cold case investigator initially receives a very thin police department folder which should have been voluminous given the very prominent murder. If you find your Chicago friend's tales of corruption or irregularities fantastical or unbelievable, read this. It's a good random sampling of "you can't make this up."

[Burt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Edward R. Hamilton had a remainder copy of Murder in Canaryville and I took a chance on it. The book tells an interesting, true story of a 1976 killing in Chicago that became a cold case. Author Jeff Coen presents substantial evidence that Chicago's "powers that be" may have prevented a full investigation.

The first 150 pages of this book are quite good. Unfortunately, Coen ruins a lot of his good work over the last 80 pages or so. He didn't have enough material for a book, so he started "padding it out" by repeating a lot of details. Even worse, he takes about a 30-page detour that repeats liberals' talking points about all of the things that they dislike about the police.

Murder in Canaryville isn't a bad book, but it has its share of drawbacks.

[willowdog · Rating 4 out of 5]

Coen's work is so much more than a story of Jim Sherlock's investigation into a 1970's murder case of a youth in Canaryville, a neighborhood of Chicago. One would assume from the title that this would just be a made for television investigation replay.
Yes, it does follow the efforts of Sherlock in the pursuit of justice, but Coen traces just how this murder was not solved at the time due to the many factors. It delves into the history of police and government corruption over the last 5o years and outlines this corruption through the many scandals. It is very comprehensive in detailing these.

Thanks to the publisher and Above the Treeline for providing me with this electronic copy.

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is more than a story about a cold case - it is an examination into the recent history of Chicago's Police Dept, organized crime, and police cover-ups. Reading it gives a bleak look at the corruption that seems to still be part of the culture of the CPD. This book had so much detail; if you are not a fan of Chicago history, this book is not for you. There were so many names and people to remember - I am very interested in Chicago history and I still got lost a few times. But overall I liked this book and most of what is covered was interesting to me.
Five words to describe this book: true crime, Chicago, history, corruption

[Taylor Mitchell · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a book you read if you’re incredibly interested in true crime cold cases or you have a tie to the Southside of Chicago. Otherwise it’s going to miss its mark. I found it a bit difficult to keep up with as there are so many names, relations, and layers brought to your attention to try and express the level of corruption in CPD. overall I just found the book kind of tiring, which isn’t even the authors fault more so just reading and seeing yet another example of corruption in Chicago. If you’re into cold cases, sure give it a go but otherwise I’d say this was just a bit too difficult to keep me engaged in.

[Donna Frasor · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars. Being from the southside of a Chicago, my husband and I thought this would be an informative read to listen to on our walks. Although interested early on in a detective’s search to solve an unsolved murder of a teenager in 1976, my husband quickly bailed. We enjoyed the references to the south side parks, schools, etc., but he quickly tired of all the information, somewhat repetitive. I stuck it out to learn the outcome, but the author meandered into areas unconnected to the original story. It was a sad affirmation of the corruption in the city of Chicago where money and political connections carried more weight than finding the truth.

[Rosemary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well researched history of crime and corruption in Chicago, specifically surrounding the shooting of a young man, John Hughes, in a park, late at night, May 15, 1976. Canaryville and Bridgeport are adjacent neighborhoods in Chicago, strongly controlled by a trio of invincible forces; the Outfit, the Chicago Police Department and the Daley political machine. Despite accurate eye witnesses, this murder was filed away unsolved, related paperwork mostly destroyed. Details, run on sentences, repetitions and more details tell the story that will never see the light of an honest courtroom.

[Lena · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author of this book clearly wanted to write a book about gangs and police corruption and a lot of the central narrative feels like an excuse to do that. That said, the stuff about gangs is also potentially more interesting. (Maybe I'm just not a true crime intended audience). I think the narrative didn't really work here because a lot of information felt repeated and seemed like we heard everything in the first chapter and it was just repeated.