A Prisoner by No Crime of My Own: Incest. Rape. Murder. Then, I turned four.

by Jodie Tedder, Brit Diaz (Contributor), Susan Mary Malone (Editor)

At three years old, Jodie watched her father murder a woman in a seedy hotel room. He, a true-born sociopath, strolled undetected, using religion as his disguise. A life suffocating the truth wouldn't work for Jodie. The murdered woman's spirit seemed to ignite a search for answers in Jodie's adulthood. A budding darkness around the reality of her past was coming sharply into focus. Her family coat of arms was incest. Like a breastplate of righteousness, the diabolical clan changed morality to fit their own design. Murder was the force that would help free her from her gruesome past and a family that would do everything to keep the secrets they helped conceal. The painstaking task to unearth evidence of these crimes proved formidable. Decades spent chasing down leads through a private investigator, coordinating with police and confronting the perps. Hospital records and other known facts ultimately point to the identity of the victim and a sister's loving pursuit to find her missing sibling helps spur the investigation. They may have solved this case. The problem -- the cops need a confession or a body. No help would be found in Jodie's family. She would have to fight alone in her quest to sift truth from determined lies. Her faith sustained her as she moved toward the dragons from her youth. The terror of reliving the incessant sexual abuse stalled her attempts as her body recalled the misery. The opinion of others wreaked havoc and tried to block her efforts through stifling rejection and judgment. Millions of children have suffered for crimes they did not commit. Would this victim find justice - for herself and for the murdered woman? Would peace ever live in her world again? This story is not only an homage to all missing persons never found under the rubble they were dumped into after a brutal death. But it's also a courageous dedication to all children who have lived through childhood violence and deviance. It's all murder. The literal victims of murder, and victims who experience that same destruction in their souls. Unrelenting guilt to bring this woman justice would open doors to the past that could not be closed. Her life mattered and so did her death. Her murder left a destiny to locate the truth and get the chance to bring healing and justice to cold crimes lost to time.

Genres: Nonfiction

241 pages, Paperback

Published May 5, 2023

Reviews

[Jenny K · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank You To Both GoodReads and the Author, Jodie Tedder, For A Free Kindle Edition of “A Prisoner by No Crime of My Own….”

It’s women like Ms Jodie Tedder that should be celebrated!! The bravery she displays by sharing her story, is not only offering hope to other victims of abuse… She is helping them to find their voice!

I shed so many tears for the author throughout the telling of her story… Some of them because I could relate, others I cried because I just could not imagine.

It’s upsetting to know that law enforcement fell short on their end when it came to finding the murder victims true identity… In the end letting so many people down when they, themselves held the power to bring Justice to this innocent young lady.

Jodie Tedder, I applaud you!!

I highly recommend that anyone & everyone reads your story…. Your Truth Will Set Many Free!! 💕

[Patrick Anyaegbuna · Rating 4 out of 5]

In A PRISONER BY NO CRIME OF MY OWN, the first person narrator, Jodie white suffers from an abuse from her father, Mr. Stan Steele and her brother, Claude, and lack of love and care from her mother. Her mind suffers more when her daughters (Brit and Brooke) have the same ugly experience with her first husband, Richard.

Culpable acts of her father with Craig Holbrook (CHOLLA) against a married woman, Madeline Babcock, and alibi her mother provided to shield her father in June 8, 1968 also trouble her heart. She needs confession and justice to unravel the murder committed in 1968, have peace of mind and be free from the internal imprisonment.

Can she get the justice and help the innocent soul have proper burial? Enjoy the psychological and legal thriller.

[Judy Kowalsky · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so thankful that Jodie shares her story. There are so many afraid to speak out about their abuse.
I feel the more who speak out about such horrible childhood abuse stories are doing their part in helping to STOP this evil for others. No child should ever be subjected to such abuse. No more secrets!

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

That little girl and her siblings lived through a horror. 😥
I am glad she finally got some relief as an adult.
It was a bit hard to keep track at times since she wrote as her memories came to her.
Thanks to Goodreads for the kindle copy.

[Sandra Burns · Rating 5 out of 5]

My heart hurt for her, some aspects of her home life, mirrored my own. I too, do not remember much about my childhood. Guess that is God's way of protecting us. I did not even speak, until I was 6 years old. My parents thought I was deaf and dumb, the old terminology. I was too afraid to speak, and hid lots. Had tons of hiding places outside the home, even up in a really tall tree, in a neighbors yard.

I am appalled that even law enforcement, did not pick up on what was happening to you and your siblings.

I also felt, that my Mom did not love me either, even though she said she did. There was never any abuse from her, just mostly indifference.She closed her eyes, to what I went through, just like yours did.

Stay strong.

[Kathleen Babb · Rating 5 out of 5]

A story that makes you wonder how God allows some children to be born into a family of sociopaths.
What a horrible thing to have to endure but also a story of strength and courage to go on and try to correct all mistakes of the past so you can go forward and live the best life possible. We need to do more to protect the innocent children who through no fault of their own are not born into a normal, stable, loving home.

[Kathi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jodie Tedder shares her story of a hellish, mentally and physically abusive childhood, years of intensive therapy and the steps she has taken for the fight for justice. Well written, interesting and inspiring...a must read.