Tracy
asked
Jeff Hobbs:
I loved your book. Do you think that Robert Peace's father was wrongly convicted? The way you portrayed him did not sync with a person who would engage in such a violent act, yet it seems improbable that the gun would have been stolen from his apartment and then returned to his apartment. Do you have any opinion on his guilt or innocence?
Jeff Hobbs
Dear Tracy, thank you for asking this. It's really hard to say, so hard that I consciously avoided providing a real theory in the book. I've spent many hours in the NJ State Law Library reading thousands of pages worth of court transcripts, also time in the state prison with guys who served time with Rob's father. What's true is that the evidence as presented in court pointed quite directly toward Skeet Douglas. What's also true is that no one, neither on the prosecution side nor the defense, presented anything resembling a motive, and that Skeet had not a single prior arrest or legal altercation in his life. My gut is probably not a reliable source from which to answer your question, since I never knew the man, but my gut tends to side with Rob in his belief that his father was innocent of murder, though not of other crimes that, in the complex world of inner city hustling, might have led to a set up. Thanks so much for reaching out. Best, Jeff
More Answered Questions
Robin
asked
Jeff Hobbs:
Jeff, I just finished listening to The Short and Tragic Life of Rob Peace on CD (read by you). Such a riveting and sad story, one really with no clear answers. I wanted to compliment you on the detail of the book. What was your method for collecting all the facts? That is really an impressive endeavor and clearly a labor of love. Best regards, Robin Lackner
Kelley
asked
Jeff Hobbs:
Jeff, I am heartbroken and angry and am finding myself almost more upset about the life and death of Rob Peace than any other person i have read about. Your ability to flesh out this man's character is amazing. What an eye-opening read it has been for me. is it wrong to write this without a ???. I simply have this amazing need to tell you what an impact your book is having on my life. So very much to digest.
Vicki
asked
Jeff Hobbs:
This question contains spoilers…
(view spoiler)[
Had Carl not stolen his ill gotten gains, do you think he would have changed his path? I have A LOT of experience with marijuana users in my family and it does make you lazy. Was it easier to deal than find a real job, before or after teaching? And as someone once told me, I was book smart but life naive. Did that fit Rob? Not to speak ill of him. He in no way deserved this. I saw the Carl thing coming?
(hide spoiler)]
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