Customer Reviews

One Deadly Night (St. Martin's True Crime Library)

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I had not heard of this case, but I do like the books John Glatt writes, so I bought this..... Besides being another husband on family murder a la O.J. and Scott Peterson, this case is not over yet. He is convicted, it is overturned, he is rearrested, the charges are dropped, he is rearrested yet again.... etc. It is very interesting..... except that I have been trying to get an update on the case and haven't had much luck. I wish all authors had email addresses so we readers could reach them with our comments and questions. In any case, this is another well-written true crime book by Glatt and it is terribly sad in this day of easy divorces that we have so many men resorting to this type of crime. It is especially appalling when the perp is a former law enforcement officer. One can only hope he will a come-uppance of some sort in prison.

That's the question a reader will have to decide for themselves after reading Glatt's account of the murder of David Camm's wife and two small children. Glatt did an excellent job of research and story-telling in this non-fiction about an Indiana State trooper accused of killing his family. After reading the book, Glatt portrays David Camm as the sort of person you just love to hate. The man is an arrogant and adulterous, ladies man that is so self-centered you simply can't stand him. And for all I know, maybe that's the way he really is. It's just hard to imagine a father looking into the eyes of his small children, and then blowing them away with a gun. Glatt really did do a great job on this story, but the saga continues because Camm's first trial was over-turned and a new trial is expected to begin early in January of 2006 along with his suspected accomplice. So the reader really doesn't know the final outcome of what happened and who done it. I highly recommend this book to non-fiction lovers of true crime.

Those readers who enjoy the true crime saga will certainly enjoy this well-researched book about David Camm, the Indiana man who in September of 2000 was alleged to have blown away his wife and two small children, leaving them to die in a pool of blood in his garage. What could possibly have compelled this man, a former state trooper, to have committed these heinous murders?

This book attempts to answer these questions in a methodical fashion, exploring the many facets of this killer's personality and sifting through the evidence presented at the trial. The book also follows the case through the unanimous reversal by the Indiana State Court of Appeals of Camm's trial convictions of the three murders. Even though the book contains some very interesting late breaking news regarding this sensational case, the final outcome of the retrial is not known by reading this book alone.

As a prosecutor, I was not surprised at the reversal of Camm's trial convictions, as I had expected such a decision based upon how the trial had been conducted. The presiding judge had issued poor evidentiary rulings that were quite surprising, and the prosecutors did not distinguish themselves either with their handling of the case. What was surprising was the late breaking news, which initially seemed to throw into question the defendant's guilt in the matter. All I can say is thank goodness for Google, which allowed me to discover the final outcome of this sensational case.

8086 Indiana State Trooper David Camm obviously planned to murder Ex Con Charles Boney and blame the murder on Boney!

Much has happened since the book was published. Former Indiana State Police Officer David Cam won a reversal of the jury verdict finding him guilty of murdering his wife and two young children. Then at his second trial the jury convicted him again. The blockbuster turn of events is that a third jury convicted Charles Boney of the murder. This does not trouble me. Dual culpability is certainly believable.

Notes about this murder:

1. I read that convict Charles Boney ( now convicted for the murder of David Camm's wife and two children) said that Former Indiana State Police Officer David Camm (convicted twice for these same murders) invited Boney to his house under the pretext of buying another gun. Boney says that (unbeknownst to Boney) Camm had planned to do the murders while Boney was there. Boney said that Camm tried to shoot Boney also but the gun misfired. The gun misfiring seems very unlikely. Had Camm been successful he would likely have succeeded. Boney would have been at the scene - dead. Camm would not have needed his basketball alibi. I have not explored this story further.

2. Also, Camm would have been able to collect on the half million insurance money!

Attorney Douglas Palaschak [..]

I was especially interested in this book because I live in New Albany and not too far from where this murder took place. A lot of names in the book are people I've heard of or know. The book is very well written and quite accurate. It is a book that I found hard to put down. The retrial of Camm and Boney (mentioned at the end of the book)will be coming up soon. It still floods the news daily. I look forward to a sequel to the book. It could definitely be written.

"One Deadly Night" may be the most unusual true crime tale this reviewer has read. This is entirely due to the fact that author Glatt, or his publisher, rushed ODN to print far too soon. The following will attempt to justify that charge: David Camm was a former Indiana State Trooper. He may have been a fine cop but it appears he was anything but a good husband or a nice guy. (There are no crimes attached to those personal shortcomings!). One evening in September 2000, Camm's wife and two children were murdered in the garage of their New Albany, Indiana home. The setting is a Louisville suburb, not a remote town in the cornfields. ODN is told mostly from a prosecutorial viewpoint. The investigating State Police fingered DC as the perp from the very outset. Virtually no effort was made, at least within the pages of ODN, to identify another suspect or accomplice. This reader had the suspicion that Camm made enemies among his fellow troopers while still in uniform and was receiving some serious payback. It is almost meaningless that that DC is found guilty of murder only to have that conviction overturned. What happened next? My amazon friends have 2 choices in securing an answer: 1) Do a web search on David Camm to be bought up to date as of March 7, 2006. 2) Wait until the case has COMPLETELY wound its' way through the legal system. Perhaps then author Glatt will produce a comprehensive-and FINAL! - story on the events of that "deadly Indiana night" of September 2000. In that forthcoming final version, one hopes the author will shed light on the urgency to rush a garden variety, uncompelling murder case into print. Judging by the reprint history ODN is selling well but promoting an unresolved case is plainly and simply misleading. For the moment, ODN is not recommended to my amazon friends.

This was in incredible true story of a man who had everyone fooled. I am a true crime fanatic, I watch all the forensic files, and cold cases on TV. So if you like that sort of thing, this book is for you. Especially because there is twist to the story at the end. Definately read this one, you won't want to put it down.

I found this book intriquing. I couldn't put it down. Of course, these murders took place in an area where I live and I was familiar with the case, plue I knew all the landmarks mentioned in the book. Everyone I know wants to read this book and it is being discussed everywhere I go. Recommend this book for anyone living in or from Southern Indiana.

If you are a True Crime fan, you should enjoy this book. It is well researched and well written. The story is interesting. While the crime itself is rather ordinary, the stories behind the crime are what I found gripping. I also recommend "And Never Leave Me," by this same author.

I finished reading "One Deadly Night" several months ago and have since seen a prime-time news documentary about this case. It is rather disturbing that the "Bones" sweatshirt that was found at the crime scene was not fully pursued as a viable piece of evidence by the prosecuting attorney at the time of the initial trial. Do I believe David Camm murdered his wife and two children? I am not certain to this day what I think. It seems most unlikely that Charles Boney, who had no association to any of the victims, would have chosen the Camm house (at random) and then killed 3 innocent people for no discernable reason. These murders did not personally benefit Charles Boney in any way. I think it is likely that Boney had some sort of relationship with David Camm and was either asked by Camm to commit the murders or was there with Camm when he committed the murders. Although Charles Boney did not present as insecere or untruthful during the interview I watched, I am equally certain he can be charming when he needs to be and has the capacity to appear sincere even when he is not. He is a two-bit career criminal with a long history of conning others.

What I am certain of is this... I have not one shred of sympathy for David Camm. This may be an evil thought, but I really do not care if Camm was wrongfully convicted or spends the remainder of his life in prison. He was not a good husband, a good father, or a good man! He was supremely selfish and did whatever he wanted whenever he wanted. His wife did EVERYTHING for those two children and did EVERYTHING for David Camm to assure that he had a restful, stable home environment waiting for him. His wife took the children to school, worked full time, picked the children up from school, and escorted the children to all extracirricular activities. What did David Camm do? He chose to play basketball and pursue other women, as if he had no responsibilities at home! Perhaps he got what he deserved... at least morally. As I said, I really don't care what happens to David Camm.

Before I get into the specifics of the book, allow me to say that John Glatt is a phenomenal author (I have read nearly all his works now) and a class act (a fellow New Yorker who I know personally). All of his publications have been well written, straight forward and a presentation of all the facts. I not only recommend this book, but his other books as well (Internet Slavemaster is my personal favorite).

The David Camm story is truly a winding tale of deception, accusation, and murder. Although Mr. Camm is no angel, as the book first introduces his escapades with numerous women while married and his abuse of power as a State Trooper, he is convicted of triple murder with little to no evidence. Although the sentence has been overturned, Mr. Camm faces retrial on the charges with a co-defendant.

At the time of the murders, Mr. Camm claims he was playing basketball with 14 other people, none of whom saw him leave the courts during the entire time. Moreover, one must remember that Mr. Camm is a police officer and knows how an investigation of a crime scene is handled. Thus, it is hard for me to believe that he would shoot his family at much a close range to splatter blood on his clothing. Finally, Camm was willing on numerous occasions to take a polygraph test, although his was never given one.

Although I am not convinced that Mr. Camm did not have any involvement in the crime or even conspire to have his wife killed, I do not feel that he committed the crime or intended to have his children executed in such a vicious style. This case seems to be a personal attack by the State Troopers of Indiana and the District Attorney of Indiana on an ex cop who was constantly harrassing a female officer, bragging about his increase in salary since quitting the force, and pointing fingers at certain hierarchy for their own abuse of the system.

Regardless of my opinion, this book sparks great debate and interest in the case. I have even read numerous internet articles, some in support of Mr. Camm and others calling him a cold blooder killer who deserves the death sentence. One Deadly Night provides all the facts and information supporting this case from an unbiased view so that you, the reader, can draw your own conclusions.