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The WVU Coed Murders: Who Killed Mared and Karen?
Some said that the killer couldn't be a local. Others claimed that he was the wealthy son of a prominent Morgantown family. Whispers spread that Mared and Karen were sacrificed by a satanic cult or had been victims of a madman poised to strike again. Then the handwritten letters began to arrive: "You will locate the bodies of the girls covered over with brush--look carefully. The animals are now on the move." Investigators didn't find too few suspects--they had far too many. There was the campus janitor with a fur fetish, the "harmless" deliveryman who beat a woman nearly to death, the nursing home orderly with the bloody broomstick and the bouncer with the "girlish" laugh who threatened to cut off people's heads. Local authors Geoffrey C. Fuller and S. James McLaughlin tell the complete story of the murders for the first time.
416 pages, Paperback
Published October 4, 2021
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318 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
October 31, 2021
Overall: 3 stars.
Based on a podcast (which I didn’t listen to), this book expands upon the original show to thoroughly cover the WVU Coed Murder case of 1970. The first two thirds of the book are fantastic: in-depth details of the lives of Mared and Karen, what campus was like in the 70s, a little bit of the history of West Virginia: the book really paints a detailed picture of the context of the crimes. What shines for me here is the way the book captures how the community reacted to the crimes and the very real impact the murders had on student lives.
What doesn’t work for me at all is the last third of the book: here the authors assert themselves and talk at length about their own fascination with the crimes and their own efforts at playing amateur sleuth. The case remains unsolved, of course, and seeing the authors run after every wild goose chase and still end up with nothing kind of undermines the first part of the book, in my opinion. The tone radically shifts from laying out facts and details to cooking up conspiracy theories, trying to pin the crimes on long-dead men who can’t speak for themselves. I’m not saying these men aren’t awful people (they seem to be), but spending several chapters trying to “prove” based on hearsay that someone now deceased committed this crime is definitely grasping at straws. It feels like the authors were really hoping they’d succeed where the police hadn’t and could “solve” the case just in time for their podcast. Meh.
Nevertheless, the first two thirds of the book are very well written and cover a case I hadn’t heard of at all. I recommend the book for that alone.
Based on a podcast (which I didn’t listen to), this book expands upon the original show to thoroughly cover the WVU Coed Murder case of 1970. The first two thirds of the book are fantastic: in-depth details of the lives of Mared and Karen, what campus was like in the 70s, a little bit of the history of West Virginia: the book really paints a detailed picture of the context of the crimes. What shines for me here is the way the book captures how the community reacted to the crimes and the very real impact the murders had on student lives.
What doesn’t work for me at all is the last third of the book: here the authors assert themselves and talk at length about their own fascination with the crimes and their own efforts at playing amateur sleuth. The case remains unsolved, of course, and seeing the authors run after every wild goose chase and still end up with nothing kind of undermines the first part of the book, in my opinion. The tone radically shifts from laying out facts and details to cooking up conspiracy theories, trying to pin the crimes on long-dead men who can’t speak for themselves. I’m not saying these men aren’t awful people (they seem to be), but spending several chapters trying to “prove” based on hearsay that someone now deceased committed this crime is definitely grasping at straws. It feels like the authors were really hoping they’d succeed where the police hadn’t and could “solve” the case just in time for their podcast. Meh.
Nevertheless, the first two thirds of the book are very well written and cover a case I hadn’t heard of at all. I recommend the book for that alone.
January 29, 2023
This is an expanded version of The WVU Coed Murders podcast (https://www.coedmurders.com).
November 15, 2021
I had this book for several weeks before I started really reading it. Once I started I couldn’t put it down. Understand that I’m a lifelong resident of the area involved. I have lived my entire life just off the Grafton-Morgantown road which was a huge part of this story. I graduated from Grafton High School in 1965 and WVU in 1970. I was a senior at WVU and on my birthday April 16 1970 the headless bodies were discovered. My family and I followed the news closely because WVU was not only my school but also where we lived. I moved closer to Morgantown after graduation and attended church near the Weirton Mine area where the bodies were found. It seemed every few pages a name or place of which I’m familiar would pop up. I’ve never thought the man convicted of killing them was the one who did it. Not that I knew but it just didn’t sit well with me. This book answers a boatload of questions and opens even more. The murders and happenings described thoroughly in this book leave me in awe about how close it was to me while I was so unaware. Well written and well organized. It isn’t a novel but very much a page turner.
April 24, 2023
I was highly interested in this book because I am a WVU alumnus. I didn't realize that this was based on a podcast, which I haven't listened to, until I picked it up. The WVU Coed Murder case of 1970 was tragic and it's honestly so sad that it's still unsolved. The first two thirds of this book were great. It was chock full of WVU and West Virginia history, as well as in-depth details of the lives of Mared and Karen. It was fascinating to read about how the campus was like in the 70s and how little public transportation there was for students. This book also really focuses on how all of those detailed lent themselves to Karen and Mared's murders, and how the community reacted to this case.
The reason that this book isn't getting a four or even five stars, is the last third of the book. It really petered out and began to drag on. The authors broke their experiences and fascination with this case into separate sections and talk at length about their own efforts playing amateur sleuth. Reading how they followed every lead and start cooking up their own conspiracy theories really was a tonal shift. And then after all that they still end up with nothing as the case is unsolved. It felt like grasping at straws and that they hoped that by putting their theories down on paper they'd be able to pin this crime on men who are long-dead at this point.
Overall, this was an informative and interesting book on a case I hadn't heard of before. It was also really cool to recognize all of the WVU and Morgantown landmarks mentioned.
The reason that this book isn't getting a four or even five stars, is the last third of the book. It really petered out and began to drag on. The authors broke their experiences and fascination with this case into separate sections and talk at length about their own efforts playing amateur sleuth. Reading how they followed every lead and start cooking up their own conspiracy theories really was a tonal shift. And then after all that they still end up with nothing as the case is unsolved. It felt like grasping at straws and that they hoped that by putting their theories down on paper they'd be able to pin this crime on men who are long-dead at this point.
Overall, this was an informative and interesting book on a case I hadn't heard of before. It was also really cool to recognize all of the WVU and Morgantown landmarks mentioned.
January 3, 2022
I literally could not put this book down. The writing is fantastic. I cannot leave a review without mentioning WVU though. As an alumni, I had never once heard of this case, which is crazy to me now. I was a student nearly 40 years after Karen and Mared, but as a true crime fanatic, this is one of the absolute craziest cases I have ever learned of. HOW did this not continue to be known on the campus? The university failed miserably at protecting their female students during this time. I am disgusted and appalled at the behavior of not only the university but the police department as well. I wonder if WVU has ever given any sort of public apology for their actions? Anyway, great book. Going to listen to the podcast next.
March 6, 2024
The WVU Coed Murders podcast kept me spellbound—so outstandingly produced and paced. I chose to read the book because I always want to learn more about media I’ve enjoyed, and I wasn’t at all disappointed. The book goes into more detail about the full context of Mared and Karen’s lives and tragic deaths, and the authors deeply explore the suspects for this still-unsolved double murder. Some readers have criticized the last third of the book as “amateur sleuths” pursuing every lead and coming up with no answers; however, I see this section as evidence of Fuller and James-McLaughlin’s motivation and passion to keep the case alive. If some reader knows more about any of the suspects, the authors implicitly invite contact and offer respect to anyone with any hints of resolution.
May 12, 2022
It was good but I'm also glad to have my life back.
March 24, 2024
As a Wvu student, this book hit even harder. I loved it. Such a gripping true crime narrative.
May 22, 2024
very interesting book about the coed wvu murders. only shortfall of the book is that names get rather confusing, but the glossary helps!
March 29, 2023
The authors have clearly done so much work for this investigation, which is an interesting cold case for sure. I enjoyed the B/W photos of the Morgantown area and the scene. However the layout of the book was really confusing. I enjoyed the podcast much more.
June 23, 2024
Very poorly written and difficult to follow
April 23, 2022
I was a sophomore at WVU the year Karen and Mared went missing. I remember it all too well, as I think all women who were on campus at that time must. The fact that the Morgantown cops refused to even look for them for months, insisting ( without evidence) that they must have run off, was insulting to all of us who knew how dangerous that town could be for women.
The WVU administration seemed to want to blame the victims, refusing to do anything to make getting from one campus to another safer. I still recall the shock the day their bodies were found and the wave of grief that overwhelmed the campus.
To add insult to, well, tragedy, police were only too happy to accept a confession a few years later, even when it was clear the self-professed killer didn’t have the details right.
I wanted to read something that did justice to Karen’s and Mared’s memories. Unfortunately, this book doesn’t succeed. There is too much speculation about “suspects” who are connected to the crime only by 50-year-old rumors. One of the authors is convinced that the killer was a serial killer who was born in WV and whose sister was attending WVU at the time. Forget the fact that there’s no proof he was in Morgantown at the time; no one knows where he was 50 years after the crime, so he must have done it.
Worse yet is the authors’ attempts to reconstruct dialogue. I can tell you from personal experience that WVU students called marijuana “pot.” I never heard it called “reefer.” I found that bit of dialogue particularly funny; apparently Morgantown undergrads resembled 1950s beatniks more than ‘60s flower children.
The authors include a list of who they interviewed but do not give footnotes to cite their sources. Any WVU student who’s completed freshman English knows better.
I do believe that the authors sincerely want to see justice for Karen and Mared, and I do applaud them for their dedication. However, I just wish they’d stick to the facts instead of muddying the waters with so much speculation.
The WVU administration seemed to want to blame the victims, refusing to do anything to make getting from one campus to another safer. I still recall the shock the day their bodies were found and the wave of grief that overwhelmed the campus.
To add insult to, well, tragedy, police were only too happy to accept a confession a few years later, even when it was clear the self-professed killer didn’t have the details right.
I wanted to read something that did justice to Karen’s and Mared’s memories. Unfortunately, this book doesn’t succeed. There is too much speculation about “suspects” who are connected to the crime only by 50-year-old rumors. One of the authors is convinced that the killer was a serial killer who was born in WV and whose sister was attending WVU at the time. Forget the fact that there’s no proof he was in Morgantown at the time; no one knows where he was 50 years after the crime, so he must have done it.
Worse yet is the authors’ attempts to reconstruct dialogue. I can tell you from personal experience that WVU students called marijuana “pot.” I never heard it called “reefer.” I found that bit of dialogue particularly funny; apparently Morgantown undergrads resembled 1950s beatniks more than ‘60s flower children.
The authors include a list of who they interviewed but do not give footnotes to cite their sources. Any WVU student who’s completed freshman English knows better.
I do believe that the authors sincerely want to see justice for Karen and Mared, and I do applaud them for their dedication. However, I just wish they’d stick to the facts instead of muddying the waters with so much speculation.
December 31, 2021
I enjoyed learning more about Mared and Karen because growing up and hearing adults talk about the case, no one seemed to focus on who they were, just the gruesome murder. For victims of any murder, it's important humanize them and realize the full lives they had.
Throughout the whole book though, I felt like it needed at least another round of editing. Most of the writing was clunky with information given to you all over the place. It read like a stream of consciousness and I didn't like how some scenes were written in present tense while others were written in past tense (events and facts). I know that was prefaced before the book started, and why the authors chose it, but switching between scenes like that was disjointed.
I was also able to make connections to my personal life to events in the book. For example, my grandmother worked at Sterling Faucet in Sabraton but after Thrasher. Nick DeMidici is my grandmother's (the same one who work at S.F.) neighbor who helped me when my license plate was stolen off my car my first day at WVU. An acquaintance went to Dr. Costiane's in the 1970s and said he was extremely creepy. I googled Costianes which led me to information that Dr. Costiane's son was arrested as a result of participating in the January 6th Insurrection and along with Drug Conspiracy and Firearm charges. Wild stuff. This case is nothing but a web.
Overall I recommend reading this book to familiarize yourself with the case, who Mared and Karen were, and how scary it was to be a woman in the 1970s.
Throughout the whole book though, I felt like it needed at least another round of editing. Most of the writing was clunky with information given to you all over the place. It read like a stream of consciousness and I didn't like how some scenes were written in present tense while others were written in past tense (events and facts). I know that was prefaced before the book started, and why the authors chose it, but switching between scenes like that was disjointed.
I was also able to make connections to my personal life to events in the book. For example, my grandmother worked at Sterling Faucet in Sabraton but after Thrasher. Nick DeMidici is my grandmother's (the same one who work at S.F.) neighbor who helped me when my license plate was stolen off my car my first day at WVU. An acquaintance went to Dr. Costiane's in the 1970s and said he was extremely creepy. I googled Costianes which led me to information that Dr. Costiane's son was arrested as a result of participating in the January 6th Insurrection and along with Drug Conspiracy and Firearm charges. Wild stuff. This case is nothing but a web.
Overall I recommend reading this book to familiarize yourself with the case, who Mared and Karen were, and how scary it was to be a woman in the 1970s.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 27, 2023
This is the story of two freshman at West Virginia University who were murdered in 1970. Mared and Karen were found in the woods beheaded after hitchhiking near their campus. After 63 years their murder has never been solved. The cops at the time worked with suspects that seemed to fit the murders, but they were all dead ends. As the years went by, the case got colder and colder. After 100s of interviews and looking into all the suspects, the murderer was never caught. Enter Geoffrey and Sarah who thought they might be able to use the modern age to open the case and find out what happened to these young women. In 2021, they started a podcast about the murders and then wrote this book and still came up empty handed in the end.
This was an okay book. I am glad I read it because my parents actually were at WVU as students in 1970. I was curious about the case, and was hoping that because of the podcast and book that the murder was finally caught. But he wasn't. The book is a bit dry - delving deep into the ins and outs of the case, but more interesting than dull overall. I am glad I read it even if the ending was not what I was hoping for (the murder being solved)
This was an okay book. I am glad I read it because my parents actually were at WVU as students in 1970. I was curious about the case, and was hoping that because of the podcast and book that the murder was finally caught. But he wasn't. The book is a bit dry - delving deep into the ins and outs of the case, but more interesting than dull overall. I am glad I read it even if the ending was not what I was hoping for (the murder being solved)
May 3, 2025
My local library had an electronic copy of the WVU Coed Murders available. It had been on my to-read list for a long time, so I checked it out. Unfortunately, it’s only a middling read.
Way back in January 1970, two WVU (West Virginia University) coeds went to see the movie Oliver! at a theater in Morgantown. On the way back to campus, they hitched a ride with an unknown man. Then they disappeared until April 1970 when they were found dead outside Morgantown.
The first half of the book focuses on the case and it’s quite good. The authors do a good job of describing the victims, the investigation, the suspects, and the place and time. This material really held my attention.
Unfortunately, the last half of the book is close to a dud. The authors chase down every lead and they include every excruciating detail. They also engage in some lurid, literary journalism when they describe the killings with fictional details.
So, the book starts with a bang and ends with a whimper. I’m not sorry that I read this one, but I can’t recommend it.
Way back in January 1970, two WVU (West Virginia University) coeds went to see the movie Oliver! at a theater in Morgantown. On the way back to campus, they hitched a ride with an unknown man. Then they disappeared until April 1970 when they were found dead outside Morgantown.
The first half of the book focuses on the case and it’s quite good. The authors do a good job of describing the victims, the investigation, the suspects, and the place and time. This material really held my attention.
Unfortunately, the last half of the book is close to a dud. The authors chase down every lead and they include every excruciating detail. They also engage in some lurid, literary journalism when they describe the killings with fictional details.
So, the book starts with a bang and ends with a whimper. I’m not sorry that I read this one, but I can’t recommend it.
December 24, 2023
Listened to the audio of this unsolved double murder that happened in my home state in 1970. It’s hard to fathom in 2023 that young people didn’t take the dangers of hitchhiking as seriously. It’s frustrating that the local authorities honed in on one theory and didn’t consider others. The honesty of one investigator cost him his job but it put a voice to the community’s frustration over the investigation’s progress. The results of the 2006 and 2015 case reinvestigations seem to be just unfruitful as the original investigation. It’s sad that the Geoff and the police officer who was investigating the case for Karen’s mother had a falling out over who the lead suspect was in the crime. The JBC or Hacker as possible suspect theories are convincing.
December 21, 2024
I'm a sucker for true crime and anything related to my home state is always a must for me. I'd never heard of this particular case, so I was very excited about the book when I first purchased it. However, I was not a fan of how the book was written.
The first portion of the book I really enjoyed. It detailed the case, the investigation, etc in a really nicely done way. However, the second part of the book felt disconnected. Personally, I felt like it was back and forth diary entries between the two authors.
Had the ending been written differently, I think it would have been a better read. Overall, it wasn't terrible, I just personally wasn't a fan of how the second half of the book was written.
The first portion of the book I really enjoyed. It detailed the case, the investigation, etc in a really nicely done way. However, the second part of the book felt disconnected. Personally, I felt like it was back and forth diary entries between the two authors.
Had the ending been written differently, I think it would have been a better read. Overall, it wasn't terrible, I just personally wasn't a fan of how the second half of the book was written.
January 10, 2025
This was an interesting book to me for two reasons I love true crime and two I’m from West Virginia. This was a great case to read about, I didn’t know it was based on a podcast until I read others reviews, I’ll have to check that out. I was breezing through this book so intent and interested until I got towards the end then I had to force myself to finish. Over half of the book is great talks about the case different people who may have been involved what was happening and listed landmarks so if you are familiar with the areas good note to compare how it is now. I’m not disappointed I read this book but definitely wish the ending would have been a little different.
May 13, 2022
A very sobering read. As an out-of-towner who recently relocated to the Morgantown area, I found it interesting (albeit sad) to read about how the university and town failed its female students. The story of Karen and Mared is especially tragic within the larger context of young women's concerns being dismissed, ignored, and inadequately addressed. Though anything with this many names, dates, locations, and other pieces of information can be dense and dull at times, the authors worked hard to present everything in a logical way that propelled the story forward. Really well done.
July 14, 2022
intriguing and well researched
As a lover of true crime books, I was pleased to read this story about the tragic co-ed murders at WVU. I had the opportunity to be interviewed by Geoff Fuller concerning my working relationship to a possible suspect JB Crutchley. Both he and Ms McLaughlin have done excellent research into this heinous crime. They have come as close as anyone can to finding the truth in this case. I highly recommend this book to all who enjoy, as I do, looking into unsolved cases.
As a lover of true crime books, I was pleased to read this story about the tragic co-ed murders at WVU. I had the opportunity to be interviewed by Geoff Fuller concerning my working relationship to a possible suspect JB Crutchley. Both he and Ms McLaughlin have done excellent research into this heinous crime. They have come as close as anyone can to finding the truth in this case. I highly recommend this book to all who enjoy, as I do, looking into unsolved cases.
January 27, 2024
Two young college students were murdered and decapitated in Morgantown WV in 1970. To date, no one has been arrested for the crime. The author and a podcaster investigate further and find that there are at least 4 suspects who could have committed the crime. Another man, already serving time, confessed to the murders and was convicted twice. However, the investigators suspected it was a false confession which the jurors believed it twice. The books authors do what they can to investigate the other suspects but little is accomplished. End of book..
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 16, 2021
I was in the 9th grade in West Virginia when this happened. It kept me from hitch hiking except for one occasion w my freshman roommate. I remember being so scared and never hitched again even though we were ok. I was very upset to find out that the Morgantown Police Dept did so little to solve this crime. Most likely the two young women were killed within 12 hours of being abducted, but the MPD chalked it up to running away. It became the job of the WVSP to really investigate and go after many suspects. This story still makes me sad but I believe our law enforcement bureaus are much more able to handle this type of crime and I hope that will keep this from happening in the future.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 14, 2022
Maybe I'm biased because I live in Morgantown, but I really enjoyed this book!
I had never heard about the coed murders until recently. I listened to the Appalachian Mysteria podcast and then I had to get this book! I liked the many visual aspects the podcast couldn't provide. I liked the story-telling portions rather than pure fact and speculation.
This is my first experience with true crime and I'm in pretty deep now!!
I had never heard about the coed murders until recently. I listened to the Appalachian Mysteria podcast and then I had to get this book! I liked the many visual aspects the podcast couldn't provide. I liked the story-telling portions rather than pure fact and speculation.
This is my first experience with true crime and I'm in pretty deep now!!
October 27, 2022
Bringing a long cold case back into the spotlight
As a WVU grad (class of '82) I had a very vague recollection of this crime. It would show up periodically in the Morgantown and WVU newspapers while I was a student.
When I saw the podcast I was all in. The podcast was so good I had to read the book, and when I did I couldn't put it down. If only the original police investigation worked this hard to find the truth.....
As a WVU grad (class of '82) I had a very vague recollection of this crime. It would show up periodically in the Morgantown and WVU newspapers while I was a student.
When I saw the podcast I was all in. The podcast was so good I had to read the book, and when I did I couldn't put it down. If only the original police investigation worked this hard to find the truth.....
January 13, 2023
long, no answers
I haven't listened to their podcast, and I think that's the ideal audience for this book. The info was sometimes confusing, like the book was for folks familiar with the case. The narrative shift when the two writers started telling their own POV stories was a little jarring. Ultimately no answers, and I feel like addressing that specific frustration in the intro would be smart. I don't read a ton of true crime, but this seemed like a middling example.
I haven't listened to their podcast, and I think that's the ideal audience for this book. The info was sometimes confusing, like the book was for folks familiar with the case. The narrative shift when the two writers started telling their own POV stories was a little jarring. Ultimately no answers, and I feel like addressing that specific frustration in the intro would be smart. I don't read a ton of true crime, but this seemed like a middling example.
January 20, 2024
Phenomenal
I'm only about 20 percent through but this book is phenomenal. As a West Virginian who was only a kid when these horrid murders happened, I'd tried to find information off and on but never ould. I'm writing this review now, though, because the authors not only re-create the Morgantown I knew ten years later but they so achingly bring the two young girls to life that I find myself mourning not only their deaths but mourning for what their families will face, as well.
I'm only about 20 percent through but this book is phenomenal. As a West Virginian who was only a kid when these horrid murders happened, I'd tried to find information off and on but never ould. I'm writing this review now, though, because the authors not only re-create the Morgantown I knew ten years later but they so achingly bring the two young girls to life that I find myself mourning not only their deaths but mourning for what their families will face, as well.
January 24, 2025
I listened to the podcast this book is based on prior to reading this book. I kept picking it up and putting it back down over the course of a couple years (lol). Giving it 5 stars because the topic is super interesting to me and I loved learning about the case, the theories and clues, and appreciated all the research that went into compiling all of this into a book!
October 26, 2021
This book is a great read! Well-researched, well-organized, and well-written. I loved the CREEP factor of the story. I read the book over the course of three evenings. It felt as the different suspects followed me to my bedroom after each of those nights- like I knew them.
December 30, 2022
A lot of information - well-researched and clearly written. A reminder of how often crimes are difficult to solve.
January 10, 2023
WV resident, so I may be biased because of my ties. I listened to the podcast first. This filled in so many gaps that the limited time of a podcast could cover.
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