Customer Reviews

Dying For Daddy: A True Story of Family Killer Jack Barron (St. Martin's True Crime Library)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is a pretty straightforward telling of a true crime story that involved Jack Barron, a man whose wife, son, and daughter all seemed to have died in that order in their sleep in Sacramento California within two years of each other. Thanks to a bumbling, seemingly incompetent, Coroner's Office and a fairly uninterested Sacramento County Sheriff's Department, what should have been obvious after his wife's death, went unnoticed by those who should have known. One cannot help but speculate what might have been had the authorities acted with some semblance of competence. Perhaps, there might not have been three more needless deaths.

Consequently, Jack Barron went on to ensure that his little son and young daughter met the same fate as their mother. Still, no one in Sacramento law enforcement made a move to stop Jack Barron after each death, and the Coroner's Office still dithered in terms of its medical findings and conclusions. It was not until Barron moved to another jurisdiction, Benicia, California, and his own mother met the same fate as her daughter-in-law and grandchildren, did the Sacramento authorities really sit up and take notice, as law enforcement in Benicia was immediately suspicious of the circumstances surrounding his mother's death, especially when they discovered what had happened to the rest of Barron's family in Sacramento. The Coroner's Office for Benicia had no problem determining the cause of death for Barron's mother, given the medical findings. They were the same findings that had existed for Barron's wife. The only difference in the determination of the cause of death was the competence of the Coroner for the corresponding jurisdiction.

While the story is told in a fairly straightforward fashion, it is a story that is somewhat premature in the telling, as the book ends with Jack Barron awaiting trial for murder in Sacramento, California for the deaths of his wife, son, and daughter. His trial for his mother's murder would follow the one in Sacramento. So, there is no trial information or resolution in this book. One has to go on the internet to discover the eventual result of the trial. The lack of this information in the book is disappointing, as it leaves the reader hanging. Those readers who enjoy the true crime genre will still get a modicum of enjoyment from reading this book but will be brought up short by the obvious drawback in the story.

As a private investigator, formerly operating in Sacramento, I'd recommend reading this book with an eye for its insight into various social and professional values, and human dynamics. I was crying for this family before halfway through the book. Having dealt with many of the officials and agencies involved in the case, I can say that Mr. Smith showed more than good research in his treatment. He poses a poignant question of social importance, to which, unfortunately, I know the answer. He does so tactfully, accurately and constructively. Wherever you live, his question is relevant. If you live in Sacramento County, this book should begin to open your eyes to an all-too-common failure of the one agency you may someday need most desperately to trust. (They still think it's "unprofessional" to cry for the victims they leave in their wake. - When you call them, I hope you can change that view.)

To be added to my previous review.

Jack Barron was convicted of 1st Degree murders of Irene Barron, Jeremy Barron, and Roberta Butler, in April 2000, and was sentenced to 3 consecutive life terms without the possibility of parole. He was acquitted, unthinkably, as being responsible for his daughter's death, Ashley. He is now in the Corcoran Penal Institution located in California.

why didn't the author wait to write it AFTER THE TRIAL. I just bought this book (year 2000) and apparently this apparently evil man almost got away with murder of his wife, 2 kids and mother. He vehemently denies committing these unthinkable horrific crimes but one is left with no other suspects; I was extremely disappointed that at the time this book came out the suspect was awaiting trial sometime in 1998. I want to know the outcome of the trial-can anyone give me more information about the trial or where I can find the information myself?

All in all a pretty good, engaging book. I felt so sorry for Irene and Roberta and the children and I really can't see how the police could fail to investigate when these healthy people died in that house, one after another. I think the author's suggestion that the deaths had something to do with Jack's father wears a little thin; I think it is more likely Munchausen's by proxy. I also believe it a bit unfair that the book would be published before Jack was brought to trial. I mean, he might be found innocent. All the same, good work.

This book was very good, it was a very easy read (I read it in a day and a half), and the author did a good job of making me feel like I knew the characters. The story is about a man, Jack Barron, who smothered his wife, then the following year smothered his 4-year-old son, and then the following year smothered his 4-year-old daughter. After all of that, he even smothered his own mother. It is incredible that nothing was done before all these murders, but the author does a good job of explaining the problems facing law enforcement. The only true disappointment is that the book was written after the preliminary exam and before the trial. I did some research and learned that Jack Barron was tried by a judge, not a jury, and was convicted of murdering his mother, wife, and son. He was acquitted of murdering his daughter. He was sentenced to life in prison w/o parole. The full text of Irene's letter is included in the court opinion. She complained that Jack never talked to her about anything anymore. The letter was ruled inadmissible after the preliminary hearing, but during the trial Jack testified that he and Irene had only gotten into 2 minor disagreements during their marriage because they always talked things out. He also testified that they never discussed divorce. The judge let the letter into evidence for impeachment. Jack challenged that ruling on appeal but he lost. The most recent information I can find is that the California Court of Appeals affirmed his convictions and a rehearing was denied in May 2002. In sum, I recommend this book to true-crime readers.

I am always annoyed when I read a book that lacks grammatical correctness. It is a sign of poor writing skills and/or sloppy editing. For me, it detracts from the story line and interferes with the smooth flow of the book.
I found the plot line to this book to be hapharard. At times it's difficult to determine who is narrating the story. The author is very repetitive. Also, don't look for a conclusion to the story.
This book was written prematurely. My guess is the author couldn't wait to write the book so he could start raking in the bucks.
Consequently, we're not informed of the outcome. Isn't that 99.99% of the reason for reading true crime books?
This one's a rip off!

As a true crime reader, I'm used to sogging through details of places and the players involved (often times to a distraction). This book dives into the heart of the story without really building too much on the "extras". The story itself is astonishing; a father kills his family one by one as the police sit by because a "cause of death" could not be determined. I wish the book were a little longer, and the details more explored. If you like your TC streamlined, pick this book up! Great for reading in one sitting.

I find the content of this book to be reasonably accurate with minor discrepancies. Although I never met the author, I did provide him with an audio tape describing some errors. It may be of interest to readers that the trial is still pending and presently scheduled for a date sometime late this month, August, or early September 1998. There has been several post-ponements since September 1995. Also of interest to readers may be the fact that neither my wife or myself have ever been contacted by the Sacramento County Sheriff's Department regarding these deaths, although we are the principal surviving victims. We are convinced, along with all our relatives and many friends that this department was sorely amiss in their investigations from the very beginning. Hopefully now, Jack Barron will in the near future be brought to trial and convicted so that we may finally put to rest this terrible action perpertrated by him.

Often with true crime, you know up front who the murderer is, so the interesting part is what mistakes did he make, what circumstances or character development led to the crime(s), how the police solved it and how the trial played out.
In this book, the motive is vague (insurance money, anger at father's desertion) and the character description doesn't really unfold enough for the reader to make an assessment.
The police part is pretty ho-hum, without many breakthroughs, mostly bumbling along. The final trial isn't included in the book.
I'm sure if I were a friend or family member, it would be riveting despite these drawbacks, but for me it was not a very satisfying example of true crime writing.