Hunting a Psychopath

By Richard Shelby

Hunting a Psychopath - Richard Shelby
  • Release Date: 2015-03-27
  • Genre: True Crime
Score: 4.5
4.5
From 52 Ratings

Description

JUNE 16, 2016 - At a press conference today in Sacramento, the FBI and local law enforcement agencies announced a $50,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the East Area Rapist/killer along with a nationwide multimedia campaign to once again bring the case to the public’s attention. 

Hunting A Psychopath chronicles the on-going search for the identity of the serial rapist and murderer known both as the East Area Rapist and Original Night Stalker. The author first lays the ground work for how the investigation was conducted. Then using what reports are still available, plus some personal insights, he examines each assault in the order they occurred. Gradually the methods used by the EAR/ONS in first searching out his victims, then stalking them, come to light.

The EAR/ONS first surfaced in June,1976,in Sacramento, CA. He was last heard from in May, 1986,in Irvine, CA, where he brutally murdered an eighteen year old woman. In between those years he stayed busy, assaulting fifty-three people, and murdering twelve more, while spreading a blanket of fear across central CA and parts of Southern CA. It has been over thirty-years now,and still he has not been brought to justice. 

Although there have been other unsolved crimes of this same nature and of even greater magnitude, this series seems to have had a lasting impact on the public -- enough so that a virtual army of private citizens are pursuing this investigation on their own. When time permits, there are full time police officers who also work this investigation. 

By examining the information from each assault, it gradually becomes clear just how meticulous the EAR/ONS was. Every detail, from selecting a victim, to the actual assault, appear to have been carefully planned and orchestrated. The EAR/ONS was as devoted to committing sexual assaults and murders as anyone devoted to their own profession. In a distorted way, he was a professional rapist / murderer, and quite probably a certifiable psychopath.

Perhaps this continuing interest is because those wanting to involve themselves in the investigation know it can still be brought to a satisfactory conclusion.

Reviews

  • Horribly written

    2
    By shenkitup
    Really highlights that the only reason the EAR/ONS was never captured was solely due to police incompetence, egos, and stubbornness. Unbelievable that our detectives are unable to work together.
  • A must read for EARONS fanatics.

    5
    By mitchumjonescrusher
    This is a captivating read by the guy who was there. Sure, Shelby is not exactly PC by modern standards. Sure, he's not the greatest writer ever. Sure, I had to re-read certain passages several times and they still didn't make sense. But you have to respect Shelby as one of the leading experts on this case. If you're at all interested in EARONS you have to read this book. You wont regret it.
  • Long winded

    2
    By D5cad5ca
    Boring and way too long. It's "pure facts" with a lot of useless narration and also written from the view point of a chauvinistic cop who has been retired for 25 years. Author seems poorly educated no wonder the killer was never caught. Only pro is that it's searchable but all the facts could probably be condensed into 2-3 pages.