Faces of Evil: Kidnappers, Murderers, Rapists and the Forensic Artist Who Puts Them Behind Bars

by Lois Gibson, Deanie Francis Mills

Riveting true story of the world's most successful forensic artist, Lois Gibson, and her thirteen most suspense filled cases.  Gibson takes readers inside the gritty atmosphere of forensics, going behind the scenes and into the victim's mind set as they seek vindication.

Genres: Nonfiction, True Crime

320 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2006

Reviews

[Laren · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like true crime books, but I had not heard of this one until I happened to be in Borders when the author was holding a book signing. She is a forensic artist who lived locally in the Houston area, and this is her book about why she became a forensic artist, how her process works and many of the cases she helped solve.

She is actually listed in the Guiness Book of World Records as the artist who has helped solve the most crimes with her profile sketches. And yet the Houston PD didn't want to hire her on full-time, preferring to use her freelance work when they chose. The author discussed this with us as she signed our book - that sometimes the police prefer their own forensic work to the "unproven" sketch artist's even when she has helped solve more crimes than they have! This is something I was not aware of, and the book also recounts her struggle to be taken seriously and earn a living even as her work spoke for itself.

The book is a fascinating glimpse into crime, and her work is focused primarily on the victims and getting them to give her the best information possible for the sketch. This was a refreshing change from the usual true crime formula, and I really enjoyed it.

[Mayra · Rating 4 out of 5]

A true story of how lois turned her brutal experience into something that could bring justice to hundreds of victims of pervs and such. lois was raped in her apartment and she used this experience to helpo her help other victims of similiar incidents. She was a artist and she used he talents to do forensic sketches that put hundreds of criminals behind bars. she drew sketches of pervs and brought justice to the people thyat deserved it. she talks about ehat motivated her to keep going and help other people.
this book was inspiring and it inspired me to help people and bring them justice with the talents i have. Its amazing how lois was able to over come her obstacles and help other people. she refused to be put down and worked for her goals. she knew that her talents would bring justice to the people who deserve it that had their innocence stripped away from them.

[Stacy Simpson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a great book on the life and job of a criminal scetch artist. I enjoyed the book and for being over 300 pages read through it pretty fast!

I was disgusted to read of the crimes and more so the lack of punishment that allowed these vile men to continue on escapades of terror.

It just helps instill in my mind that the government has its own twisted ethics of population control...let killers go on and on until even the wicked hands that shove them forward are appalled.

My prayers are with the families involved in the crimes and to lois who through all her anguish found the light of God through her hands to help others survive as well.

[Nancy H. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Met the author after she gave a lecture about forensic artists. She was so passionate & compelling that I was inspired to learn more so I bought her book. She took what was a traumatic experience & through perseverance, turned her skill/talent into a career. I do not believe that I could handle being with victims at the worst time in their lives, I’m glad that there are people like Lois who do this & do it so well. I’m glad that someone in Houston PD finally became her champion. I hope that she can continue the good work that she does & continues to teach others her craft. Yes, computers can do so much these days but with most things, the human touch makes all the difference.

[Jason A. Clark · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you are or want to be a forensic artist this book is probably a 5 star. If you are just interested in how forensic sketches help solve complicated cases it's more of a 3 star. The cases are interesting but it would have been more fulfilling to read about more cases and get more details of those crimes. I don't think that was the author's intent so it's hard to fault her for that.

[Marsha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lois Gibson was raped in her own apartment by an intruder when she lived in Los Angeles, California. As a result, she decided to dedicate her life to aid other victims in capturing their attackers. Gibson became a forensic artist in Houston, Texas. She aids survivors of horrific crimes by composing sketches of their attackers based on the victim’s recollections and memories to try and help capture the criminals.

What I found particularly interesting is that Ms. Gibson wrote that when she was raped, there really was no one to go to. It was in the early 1970s and if a woman admitted she was raped, there were accusations that she brought it upon herself by what she was wearing and by her behaviors.

Gibson had done modeling and even posed in an issue of “Playboy” magazine. Although a complete stranger had forced his entry into her apartment and raped her there, she knew that if she reported the rape, her modeling career would be used against her. It was bad enough she had anger and fear as a result of her attack. She did not need to be verbally assaulted in the courtroom. Fortunately, she found out that months later her attacker had been arrested, not for a sex crime but for the possession of cocaine. However, she had a sense of gratification that some justice had prevailed as her attacker would spend some time in prison.

Gibson’s goal to help others meant subjecting herself to the initial prejudices of police officers who did not take her seriously. This was mostly because she was female. It would take years, and many successful stories, but eventually Gibson would earn a solid reputation as a forensic artist with excellent abilities for her compositions.

In this book, Gibson talks about many of the cases she was involved in and there are samples of her illustrations in the book. Some of them are quite amazing. For instance, she did a sketch of a man named Donald Eugene Dutton who attacked a Houston police officer, shooting him twice and running over, and dragging the officer with his vehicle. Fortunately, despite his injuries, the officer survived. Lois visited him in the hospital while he was healing. He described to Lois what his attacker looked like. In the book, there is a candid photo of Donald Dutton, and Gibson’s illustration closely resembles him.

Gibson had gone to dental school for a bit and that helped her a great deal with her facial drawings as she learned about teeth and facial structure.

Gibson writes about many of the crimes she helped solve. Some of the victims were children and Gibson said that to help them feel comfortable, and able to open up to her, she would be very mothering towards them. However, when she returns to her own family, she does not talk to her son, daughter or husband about the horrors she hears about. She said that she often feels like she lives two worlds, the very safe world she shares with her family, and the horrific dangerous world she shares with the victims she tries to help.

The horrific crimes are sometimes through chance encounters. For instance, a blind pregnant woman came across her attacker on a public bus. Her male attacker took up conversation with her and told her that he wanted to help her, but when she got off the bus, he dragged her off to rape her and attempted to kill her. Fortunately she escaped death, but she had horrible injuries and of course, was traumatized emotionally. Since she was blind and could not see, the bus driver helped Gibson make the composition that lead to the attacker’s capture. Another chance encounter was when a fifteen-year old high school sophomore student was waiting for a bus on her way home from school. Two men drove by in a truck. They saw her and forced her at knifepoint to enter the truck where they took her to a wooded area to rape and rob her.

Gibson explains that forensic composition is important in helping to capture these criminals and Gibson has had a strong success rate.

I enjoyed reading about the selection of cases she chose to write about. It was sad too, as she showed how vulnerable people could be to evil. However, she felt that helping the victims to try and capture their attackers gave them a sense of control and empowerment towards helping to find closure to those horrible things that happened to them.

[Nonsequiteuse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lois Gibson, forensic artist for the Houston Police Department, painted my portrait when I was in 8th grade. She worked mostly from photographs, but had me sit a couple of times. While she worked, she talked to me about her work with the police department.

She told me that if I were ever attacked that I should try to remember some key feature (mole on the nose, scar, whatever) but NOT to stare and make it obvious to the attacker that I was memorizing his face. Scary but useful info.

The most chilling part of her gift is how accurately she can draw someone when the person describing the subject has been so traumatized. What a gift to have, and thank goodness she has it & is strong enough to use it so well.

[Rissy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was surprisingly shocked by this book and the great way it flowed while reading it. I go for true crime books like this but I was thrown off and postponed reading it for a while just not knowing what to expect.

The way the crimes were still clearly brought forth and the evidence for them, and the suspects along with witnesses mixed with the sketch artists perception and experience during it was fantastically written.

From the very first chapter and on, I was hooked and couldn't put it down for long. I absolutely would recommend this to anyone interested in such subjects. The last few chapters are also dedicated to anyone looking to get into or know more about sketching for the police. Very good information if you're looking for such a thing.

[M · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book wanted me to read it. I was annoyed all through it. I hated the title and the cover picture. But the author Lois Gibson and I share a lot of similarities, including religion.

I sent her an e-mail. I told her I don't know why I was compelled to read this book..but I did learn that --make sure your doors are locked..and if you are ever attacked..and you think you cannot remember the face, you will and she can sketch it. It's her gift. She also spoke of forensic anthropology and that is connected to my profession and mission in life.

[Diana · Rating 3 out of 5]

A forensic artist tells how she got into her occupation and of some memorable cases.

Very interesting and insightful. A little difficult to take at times.

[Tricia Loveridge]

Interesting book. I liked how each chapter was it's own little story. Great true crime novel