A Descent Into Hell: The True Story of an Altar Boy, a Cheerleader, and a Twisted Texas Murder [Mass Market Paperback]

Kathryn Casey (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 24, 2008

Bright, attractive, and both from good families, University of Texas college student Colton Pitonyak and vibrant redhead Jennifer Cave had the world at their beckoning. Cave, an ex-cheerleader, had just landed an exciting new job, while a big-money scholarship to UT's prestigious business school lured Pitonyak to Austin. Yet the former altar boy had a dark, unpredictable streak, one that ensnared him in the perilous underworld of drugs and guns. When Jennifer failed to show up for work on August 18, 2005, her mother became frightened. Sharon Cave's search led to Colton's West Campus apartment, where Jennifer's family discovered a scene worthy of the grisliest horror movie. Meanwhile, Colton Pitonyak was nowhere to be found.

A Descent Into Hell is the gripping true story of one of the most brutal slayings in UT history—and the wild "Bonnie and Clyde-like" flight from justice of a cold-blooded young killer and his would-be girlfriend, who claimed that her unquestioning allegiance to Pitonyak was "just the way I roll."

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Kathryn Casey is one of the best in the true crime genre," --Ann Rule

"Kathryn Casey joins Carlton Stowers as the premier chroniclers of Texas crime," --NYT bestselling author Gregg Olsen

"Kathryn Casey stakes her claim as one of the best in the business," M. William Phelps, author of Love Her To Death

“Msterfully, Casey weaves a dark and disturbing look into a world of advantaged youths who throw it all away.” (Carlton Stowers )

About the Author

     Kathryn Casey is an award-winning, Houston-based novelist and journalist, the author of six highly acclaimed true crime books. Ann Rule calls Casey: "one of the best in the true crime genre." Over two decades, Casey has chronicled sensational murder cases across Texas. In addition, Casey is the creator of the Sarah Armstrong mystery series. SINGULARITY, the first in the series, was included in Booklist's best crime novel debuts of 2009, and Library Journal named the third in the series, THE KILLING STORM, one of the best books of 2010. Casey's protagonist is a Texas Ranger/profiler headquartered in Company A, Houston.  
     Casey has appeared on Oprah, Oprah Winfrey's Oxygen Network, Court TV, Biography, Nancy Grace, E! Network, Investigation Discovery, and A&E.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Harper (June 24, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061230871
• ISBN-13: 978-0061230875
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (48 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #52,989 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #40 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Nonfiction > True Accounts > Murder & Mayhem
  • #40 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Nonfiction > True Accounts > True Crime

More About the Author

Hello to Everyone:

Amazon's suggestion is that I use this space to tell you a little about myself. So, I'll try: I'm an immigrant to Texas from the upper Mid-west, but I moved here in the early eighties so I consider myself a naturalized Texan. Houston is an amazing place to live, exciting and full of life. I'd recommend it to anyone.

I ventured into true crime writing purely by accident. I was working at Houston City Magazine in the eighties when a fascinating murder took place in the Big Thicket, the wide expanse of pine forests that meld Texas and Louisiana. My editor suggested I cover the case. I did and, from that point on, I was hooked. I've never looked back.

Since then, I've written six true crime books: "A Warrant to Kill," is on Houston's Kent McGowen case, that of a murderous deputy and the woman he terrorized. Next came "She Wanted It All," on Austin's incredible Celeste Beard case. It's hard to beat that one for twists and turns!

2007 introduced "Die My Love." It's an account of the Piper Rountree case, that of a Houston attorney and her professor ex-husband, Fred Jablin. The book is a fascinating, in-depth look at a train-wreck marriage that ended in a tragic murder.

June 2008 debuted "A Descent into Hell," on Austin's bizarre Colton Pitonyak case. Then, that November, "Evil Beside Her," a rerelease of "The Rapist's Wife," my first book, with a new title, cover, photos and an update. Last year, "Shattered" hit bookstores, an account of the tragic case of Belinda Temple, a young mother murdered by her football star husband.

My foray into fiction began in 2009 with the birth of a mystery series featuring Texas Ranger Sarah Armstrong, a single mom, investigator and profiler. The series started with "Singularity," followed by "Blood Lines," and "The Killing Storm." All the books have garnered stellar reviews, and the third was named a best book of 2010 by Library Journal.

There's been little publicity for any of my work, so it's all word-of-mouth. Yet that's carried "A Warrant to Kill" into a ninth printing and "She Wanted It All" into a seventh. "The Killing Storm" was only out for a few months when it went into a third printing. Truly remarkable!

The credit goes to all of you who read the books and recommend them to friends and family. Keep up the good work! Spread the word! It's appreciated!

I'm not sure how often I'll check in here, but you can always peruse my website: kathryncasey.com, to keep abreast of upcoming events and new books. And email me at [e-mail]. I'll look forward to it!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great, but left me wanting to know more..., April 6, 2009

By 

Melanie - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: A Descent Into Hell: The True Story of an Altar Boy, a Cheerleader, and a Twisted Texas Murder (Mass Market Paperback)

Once again, Kathryn Casey gives me a gripping story to follow. And once again, she expects me to not read between the lines and take everything at face value.

Again and again she refers to Jennifer Cave as "Colton's friend." Yet, I feel certain we are supposed to assume there was indeed a sexual relationship between the two, at least initially, which is hinted about during Casey's discussion of motive. She mentions throughout the trial that the prosecution had no idea about this side of the story so it was never presented as motive (the idea that Pitonyak wanted Cave and she no longer wanted anything more to do with him). Does the prosecution ever find out? How did Casey come across this information so easily but a team of investigators could not?

I don't know, but something about this area of the story left me feeling let down and unfulfilled....so many unanswered questions and too much speculation. Aside from this, it was a great read.

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Workmanlike true crime, October 8, 2009

By 

kevnm "kevnm" (Costa Mesa, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: A Descent Into Hell: The True Story of an Altar Boy, a Cheerleader, and a Twisted Texas Murder (Mass Market Paperback)

I didn't find this book either terrible or terribly interesting, but a decent account of an interesting case. The author competently walks us through the story, doing her best to flesh out the minimally interesting characters, detail the investigation and document the trial - just like one expects in a book like this.

What bothers me about the Ann Rule school of true crime is the need writers feel to give their stories a tragic scope. Most people involved in crimes are just like the rest of us - not all that interesting and far from perfect. In true crime books,though, the chronically unemployed, meth-head dropout has to be a radiant angel beloved by all. The screwed up loser with a backwards baseball cap selling dope to college kids and trying to be a gangsta is portrayed as evil incarnate. I mean no offense to the real people hurt in this case, I just don't like their story turned into a simplistic cartoon about good vs. evil. (end of rant)

This is a decent true crime story, of about average quality, that will pass the hours for fans of the genre.

27 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO PUT IT DOWN!, July 6, 2008

By 

Kathryn Inabinett "Roxanne" (TN) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Descent Into Hell: The True Story of an Altar Boy, a Cheerleader, and a Twisted Texas Murder (Mass Market Paperback)

I have swayed away from True crime in the past few years because most of the books just are not well researched and are just kind of boring. Not so with this book,Ms.Casey draws you in from the first page and lets you feel like you know the people in this book.It is a very sad story a must read for parents with college aged children,Parents period.Then you will want to pass it down to your children who are old enough to read it so they can learn the TRUE dangers of Drugs.So sad.Lifes ruined and a beautiful soul no longer with us because of drugs.My heart goes out to the families.My soul feels hurt by what was done to Jennifer and I hope one day her family can just remember the good times.
Beware..When you buy this book be prepared not to do anything else but read.I had not heard of this case until I picked this book up and for two nights I have had very little sleep(so excuse my typos) I have stayed awake until the wee hours unable to put this book down.Probably the best written True Crime book I have read in years. Kudo's Kathryn Casey!