Innocent Victims

by Brian J. Karem

In 1997, 15-year-old Sam Manzie was sexually abused by a pedophile he had met on the Internet. In September of that year, 11-year-old Eddie Werner was selling candy door-to-door and was lured by Menzie into his home while his parents were out. Menzie then sexually assaulted and strangled the sixth grader with an electrical cord and dumped Werner's body in the woods.

Includes 8 pages of photos.

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction

320 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published December 1, 2001

Reviews

[Fishface · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you want to really get the full effect of this atrocious story, open it and start reading WITHOUT looking at the jacket copy or the photo section. They were clearly designed to spoil the story for readers -- and is this one ever full of twists and turns! It's an infuriating case that made me want to tear the whole criminal-justice system right down to the ankles so someone can rebuild it from scratch. The screw-ups in the system managed to almost blot out the terrible, terrible crimes under discussion. The author never descended into trying to interpret this head-scratcher of a story for you. There was no shoot-from-the-hip psychoanalysis going on, for instance -- he tells you what everyone saw and lets you make up your own mind. There's a whole lot of room for debate left after the story ends. If it has ended. I came away with the feeling that there were even more disasters in store after the last page. I can't recommend this one too highly.

[♥ Marlene♥ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this book in 2 days. very well written but very sad story.Written with lots of care for the victims's family and for Sam's family who in a way also was a victim.
8.5

[Brittanniaa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story is one of tragedy on so many parts. At the end of the book, i couldnt tell you who was more to blame. None the less, its a great read. IF i sit down and actually go into detail, i will ruin the book though anyone who picks this book up most of the time understands what it's about.

[Louise · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good but sad story about a 15 year old boy who gets himself involved in an affair with an older man from the internet. The boy himself already has mental problems and unfortunately this affair adds to his already confused mind. The 15 year old goes on to murder a little boy.
Good book.

[Darian · Rating 1 out of 5]

While I am interested in this story, this author’s style of writing made it difficult to follow. The overly sensational presentation is exhausting and rather than just being told the facts of the case, I was left feeling baited. Take this review with a grain of salt because I did not finish the book.

[Delphia Gomez · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very disturbing case. The evil acts this boy did is hard to believe. It reaffirms my belief that some people are just born evil.

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written, but what a sad awful story.

[Jo · Rating 3 out of 5]

What an indictment of the social institutions that are purportedly set up to help people. Sad story with very rough elements.

[Carrie Billig]

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[Matthew Russell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a harrowing true story of a horrible crime that could have been prevented.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was pretty good, but it had way to many stories going on at one time, it felt like the story line lasted forever and wouldn't end.