John Ferak’s new book "FAILURE OF JUSTICE" about Beatrice, Nebraska brings to mind those strange days when we came face to face with the reality that five people had falsely confessed to participating in a murder. That case confirmed a belief that I have held throughout my career as a prosecutor and as defense counsel. Interrogation is not investigation. The successful solicitation of a confession is no substitute for thorough … [Read more...]
Did A Psychic Help Solve The Helen Wilson Rape-Murder in Beatrice, Nebraska?
As of February 1988, the Helen Wilson murder investigation was in need of a fresh set of eyes - like a psychic, perhaps? By 1988, more than a hundred potential suspects had been interviewed, examined and excluded. Mostly these were southeastern Nebraska residents, but some were out of state serial rapists from the likes of Kansas and Colorado as well. It didn't matter. Wherever the Beatrice Police Department seemed to go looking, … [Read more...]
FAILURE OF JUSTICE: A Brutal Murder, An Obsessed Cop, Six Wrongful Convictions; A True Crime Thriller By John Ferak
'MAKING A MURDERER' TIMES SIX! If the dubious efforts of law enforcement that led to the case behind MAKING A MURDERER made you cringe, your skin will crawl at the injustice portrayed in FAILURE OF JUSTICE: A Brutal Murder, An Obsessed Cop, Six Wrongful Convictions. Award-winning journalist and bestselling author John Ferak pursued the story of the Beatrice 6 who were wrongfully accused of the brutal, ritualistic rape and murder of an elderly … [Read more...]
“Making A Murderer,” FAILURE OF JUSTICE Shine Light on Wrongful Convictions
Millions across the globe have watched 'Making a Murderer' on Netflix. It's the story of Wisconsin's Steven Avery. He goes to prison in the 1980s. He's a victim of a wrongful conviction for a brutal rape. Years later, he goes back to prison for murder and people are now debating whether he was victimized by a broken criminal justice in Wisconsin - again. My new book chronicles the terrible saga of Nebraska's Beatrice 6. FAILURE OF JUSTICE is … [Read more...]
John Ferak Set To Discuss BODY OF PROOF On Two Radio Shows Saturday
WildBlue Press true-crime author John Ferak continues to make the media rounds this summer answering questions about his most recent best-seller, BODY OF PROOF: Tainted Evidence in the Murder of Jessica O'Grady? wbp.bz/bop On Saturday morning, Ferak will tape an appearance on Donna Gore's popular Shattered Lives Radio Podcast as part of the WildBlue Press Author Series. This weekend's show will be hosted by Donna's sidekick, Delilah Jones. … [Read more...]
Discredited CSI Commander At The Heart of John Ferak’s True Crime BODY OF PROOF
Tainted Evidence In The Murder of Jessica O'Grady? Jessica O’Grady was a tall, starry-eyed co-ed in search of finding her Mr. Right. Christopher Edwards was a 19-year-old deceitful and darkened soul. David Kofoed was a veteran crime lab commander who was on the prowl for more high-profile sensational murder cases to keep his prestigious forensics lab in the media spotlight. include … [Read more...]
Ferak explains how 3 nagging questions led him to write BODY OF PROOF
Back in the summer of 2006, one murder case shook the city of Omaha like no other that year- - the disappearance of 19-year-old University of Nebraska at Omaha student Jessica O'Grady. Jessica was gone. Nobody could find her. Yet her car turned up days later. But where did her killer hide her? The community outpouring toward finding Jessica was something I would never forget. I was a journalist at the Omaha newspaper at the time. The … [Read more...]
Fallen CSI commander who went to prison grants interview for Ferak’s sequel to BLOODY LIES
Every new book I write is a new adventure. Occasionally, my persistence pays off and the true-crimes readers of all shapes and sizes can benefit from the depth of my research and fresh perspectives of the people I can interview. Every author is different, but I tend to take the advice of veteran true-crime writer Gary C. King. I'll often send a formal type-written letter through the mail to the person I would like to interview. Some respond … [Read more...]
Ferak Writing Sequel To Debut True Crime BLOODY LIES And Another CSI Scandal
THE TALE OF THE BLOOD-SOAKED MATTRESS Was it a CSI commander's finest hour ... or something quite different? Jessica O’Grady was a tall, starry-eyed Omaha, Nebraska co-ed in search of Mr. Right. Christopher Edwards was a deceitful and darkened soul. CSI commander Dave Kofoed was on the prowl for sensational murder cases to keep his prestigious crime lab in the constant media spotlight. In May of 2006, Jessica’s sudden and mystifying … [Read more...]
Author Ferak returns to Nebraska for major speaking events Feb. 23-24
On Sunday morning, I fly back to Omaha, Nebraska. My old stomping grounds. Where I lived and worked for nine years. But don't expect to see me around Omaha very much over those next few days. I'll be staying in Lincoln, where I'm one of the presenters at this year's 2015 Nebraska League of Municipalities Midwinter Conference. The event takes place at the Cornhusker Hotel, not too far from the state capital. For schedule of conference events, … [Read more...]
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