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Three Boys Missing: The Tragedy That Exposed the Pedophilia Underworld
On October 16, 1955, three grade-school boys went to downtown Chicago by bus to see a movie. They never returned. Two days later, after a massive hunt for the boys by hundreds of police officers and detectives, their bodies were found, naked, beaten, and bloodied. The mystery of what happened to them would not be resolved until 40 years later – and 41,000 police interviews -- after an FBI informant’s statement led to the arrest and eventual conviction of a sexual-deviant-turned-triple-murderer.
406 pages, Hardcover
First published October 9, 2006
2 people are currently reading
125 people want to read
About the author
James A. Jack
3 books4 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
January 16, 2018
Very sad and eerie book about the murder of three young boys in suburban 1950s Chicago. The main part of it is a manuscript written by one of the lead detectives on the case and as a result it has a gritty and authentic 1950s voice. The manuscript ends abruptly and switches gears to a final act written by a different author that disrupts the flow of the book but still it is a very good read.
April 28, 2008
I would give this 3.5 stars.
It was a very interesting book, as it was written by the detective who was first on the case and who worked it through to the end. The crime occured in 1955, and the book was written in first person. So there was a lot of dialogue and it was hard to imagine that the author really remembered so much exact detail. But it was still good.
The byline, "The Tragedy That Exposed the Pedophilia Underworld" was interesting. That title led me to believe (before reading it) that the perpetrator of the crime was the referenced pedophile. And although he was a pedophile, he was not alone. When searching for the suspect, the police undercovered A LOT of pedophilia and sex crimes. It was truly scary. I wonder how many pedophiles would have continued, and never been caught, if the police had not been searching for the suspect. Unfortunately, it took 40 years to track him down, so he continued to abuse children for many, many years.
I believe this crime truly changed the face of America. Before this crime, children had a lot more freedom. Afterwards, parents watched their children a lot more closely.
People probably wonder why I read this book, but I believe knowledge is power. As one reviewer (Former Governor James R. Thompson) said, "It is required reading for anyone who believes the welfare of our children should be a high priority. Impossible to put down."
It was a very interesting book, as it was written by the detective who was first on the case and who worked it through to the end. The crime occured in 1955, and the book was written in first person. So there was a lot of dialogue and it was hard to imagine that the author really remembered so much exact detail. But it was still good.
The byline, "The Tragedy That Exposed the Pedophilia Underworld" was interesting. That title led me to believe (before reading it) that the perpetrator of the crime was the referenced pedophile. And although he was a pedophile, he was not alone. When searching for the suspect, the police undercovered A LOT of pedophilia and sex crimes. It was truly scary. I wonder how many pedophiles would have continued, and never been caught, if the police had not been searching for the suspect. Unfortunately, it took 40 years to track him down, so he continued to abuse children for many, many years.
I believe this crime truly changed the face of America. Before this crime, children had a lot more freedom. Afterwards, parents watched their children a lot more closely.
People probably wonder why I read this book, but I believe knowledge is power. As one reviewer (Former Governor James R. Thompson) said, "It is required reading for anyone who believes the welfare of our children should be a high priority. Impossible to put down."
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 23, 2016
A great read on a very disturbing case. Recommended.
April 28, 2021
Written by one of the first detectives on the case. He has almost a minute by minute recollection of the night the boys were reported missing and every move after.
The 3 boys are Robert Peterson, John and Anton Schuessler. Robert and John were 13 years old and in 8th grade while Anton was 8 years old and 3rd grade.
I lived in the Jefferson Park area where the boys lived. I was only 5years old at the time. Things like this just didn't happen like this back then. So tragic!
The case wasn't solved for many years, I don't think it came to trial for 47 years after the murders.
The only thing I would've added to the book is a map of where the boys are believed to have been on the afternoon and evening of their disappearance.
Even though I could picture many spots of what the author talked about, I couldn't keep track.
The 3 boys are Robert Peterson, John and Anton Schuessler. Robert and John were 13 years old and in 8th grade while Anton was 8 years old and 3rd grade.
I lived in the Jefferson Park area where the boys lived. I was only 5years old at the time. Things like this just didn't happen like this back then. So tragic!
The case wasn't solved for many years, I don't think it came to trial for 47 years after the murders.
The only thing I would've added to the book is a map of where the boys are believed to have been on the afternoon and evening of their disappearance.
Even though I could picture many spots of what the author talked about, I couldn't keep track.
January 21, 2016
Three Boys Missing tells the tragic true story of three young boys abducted and murdered in the Chicago area in the 1950's, and of the 40 year search to bring their killer to justice. The author was a detective on the case from the start, Detective James Jack, who took the initial missing persons report from the father and spent countless hours scouring the streets, alleys, and forest preserves around Chicago. What was most astonishing about this case was how many other crimes and criminals were outed as a result of the investigation. Child molestation cases were not as commonly reported in that era, but what police uncovered while searching for a suspect in the Peterson-Schuessler murders made it clear that children were much less safe than parents would imagine.
Jack walks his readers through the concerning first reports of the missing children, through the horror of the discovery of their bodies, and on through the never ending investigation that dragged out for years, with detectives clinging to the hope that they would catch a lead into who was responsible. He recreates conversations between colleagues, explains techniques used during that era of police investigation, and sheds light on shortcomings of procedures and conflicts between law enforcement agencies that ultimately led to the investigation dragging out for so many years.
Though I was familiar with the general story and the eventual outcome, the book shared many particulars that were shocking (and upsetting), and really cracks this case open for the reader. I thought this was a riveting true crime tale, and certainly enlightening about law enforcement and criminal activities in that era and region.
Jack walks his readers through the concerning first reports of the missing children, through the horror of the discovery of their bodies, and on through the never ending investigation that dragged out for years, with detectives clinging to the hope that they would catch a lead into who was responsible. He recreates conversations between colleagues, explains techniques used during that era of police investigation, and sheds light on shortcomings of procedures and conflicts between law enforcement agencies that ultimately led to the investigation dragging out for so many years.
Though I was familiar with the general story and the eventual outcome, the book shared many particulars that were shocking (and upsetting), and really cracks this case open for the reader. I thought this was a riveting true crime tale, and certainly enlightening about law enforcement and criminal activities in that era and region.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews