Customer Reviews

Grave Secrets: Leading Forensic Expert Reveals Startling Truth abt O J Simpson David Koresh Vin

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1 star:		(5)

 

 

These chapters came from cases where his knowledge was crucial in exposing official mistakes of showing weaknesses by the prosecution. The accuracy and fairness of crime lab evidence are entirely dependent on proper identification, protection, and transfer of evidence from the crime scene. The Introduction explains how a seeming accident was found to be murder by analyzing the entrance wound and the position of the shotgun. Forensic pathology investigates sudden, violent, or unexplained deaths. 75% of all deaths are from natural causes, 75% of the rest are accidental. About 1.5% are suicides and homicides. Many of the most controversial cases on record have involved medical examiner systems, due to political influence (p.9).

Chapter 1 deals with the Trial of OJ Simpson, and the evidence for guilt or innocence. One of the biggest mistakes was to not get a forensic pathologist to the scene immediately; important evidence was lost forever (p.34). Nicole's stomach contents were discarded; if empty, then 3 or more hours elapsed since her last meal. Page 43 tells of the high error rate in laboratory testing of blood and other specimens. Nicole's uncorroborated diary wrote of being followed to a "Payless shoe store". Would a fan of fashion and style ever go there? Page 49 says there is NO regulation on DNA testing, or of the astronomical percentage estimates. Page 59 tells that two weeks after the murders there was no blood on those socks; weeks later there was! Page 67 says no cuts were seen on OJ's hands on the flight to Chicago. Page 70 tells of Cochran's wearing that knitted cap; to me, it looked like a child's cap.

Chapter 2 discusses the suicide of Vincent Foster, and how rumor mongers blew it up into a fantasy (p.81). Chapter 3 tells of his investigations into the aftermath of Waco. This was a tragedy that never should have occurred (p.100). Chapter 4 tells of a shoot-out in Cleveland; the coroner's staff was guilty of deliberate, willful, and clever deception (p.114). Chapter 5 tells of a shooting in Chicago where "this whole operation may have been nothing more than a political assassination" (p.131). The State Attorney and the police officers involved in the raid were charged, and found at fault (p.134). Chapter 6 deals with the 1989 Oakland earthquake. Many who died would be alive if state and local emergency management officials had done their jobs quickly and efficiently (p.142). The autopsy reports were done by the lowest bidder, and the reports had the lowest quality (p.146). Chapter 7 tells of the nightclub fire in 1977 Cincinnati. Many did not die of burns or smoke inhalation, but from invisible and odorless toxic fumes (p.162).

Chapter 8 explains why a fall from a high building was homicide and not suicide or an accident. Chapter 9 investigated the mysterious death of a government opponent; it was an accident. Chapter 10 tells of the unexpected death of a government official; it was a natural death. Chapter 11 tells of the execution of a maid that caused an international incident. Chapter 12 deals with the swine flu panic of 1976, a result from using "Legionnaires Disease" to allocate money and authority to the CDC and FDA (p.231). At least 52 people died after receiving swine flu vaccine. Chapter 13 tells of a man serving a life sentence for stabbing his wife and her parents. Fingerprints found at the scene did not match the suspect, the victims, or those who were in the house before the murders (p.247). After the State forced the defense lawyer off the case, he was convicted at the third trial (p.258)! Pages 259-60 tell why a jury will convict even if the evidence is unconvincing! Chapter 14 tells of his viewing of an 18 minute videotape of an autopsy on an unknown being. He could not say it was a hoax.

I have no doubt in my mind that Dr. Wecht is a talented and very experienced forensic pathologist. However, as a book on this subject, it is the worst that comes to mind. I wouldn't even recommend this to someone as an introduction to the subject. Most of the book seems to point to someone with an extremely large ego, which is unfortunate. Most of the book consists of how he got introduced to the case, his sterling reputation, his travel plans, and even what he ate. In chapter 11, page 216, he writes: "An elaborate buffet of vegetables and meats had been prepared for us, but because we had eaten on the flight to Manila, the three of us settled for soft drinks." This is how most of the book reads. What makes the author think I have any interest in this? I am interested in interesting cases or unusual events or facts of forensic pathology. There is very little written as far as technical information regarding the subject. In most of the cases in this book, he does little more than travel to an interesting locale, read the official autopsy report, agree with it, and leave. Are these the best cases that the author could have documented? You can actually get more detailed information about these cases from newspaper articles, and that is very upsetting. And in the cases where something interesting was discovered, the author never follows up on it. It is as if once he was out of the official investigation, he had no interested in it. Well, as someone who IS interested in the subject, I want to know the conclusion of the case, if possible. There is a reason that this book is out of print. It isn't very good. I will expect a better effort from this author in the future. Do not buy this book. Instead, buy Dead Men Do Tell Tales by William R. Maples. It is MUCH better.

Dr. Wecht will skew the facts presented in his book to justify his own liberal viewpoint. He dismisses some hard-to-dispute facts to serve his criminal-pandering ideology. His intolerance of "radical rightwingers" is typical of a defense-paid expert; his star-struck, namedropping accounts (a la Lance Ito) are too nauseating to stomach. You'll only need to read the first chapter of this book, depicting his take on the evidence presented in O.J. trial, to be convinced that Dr. Wecht is just like any other highly paid expert--he'll say just about anthing for a buck. Read it if you are a criminal-loving bleeding heart. Skip it if your a thinking person with high blood pressure.

Far from being "fluff", Dr. Wecht's mind-ripping coverage of 14 topics ranging from "The Mysterious Death of Vincent Foster" to "The Nightclub With No Way Out" is fascinating and worth every minute to read. The book combines previously unsolved mysteries with medicolegal brilliance to make for reading that will not be set down until finished. Dr. Wecht intrigues the reader...(who would thought of a second Simpson killer?)...while weaving in information about the work of the forensic expert. A great book!

Had been looking for this book for a long time.I like true crime not fiction.I picked it up on Amazon could not wait to get the book and read it.Once I started reading the book.Could not put it down.Excellent True Crime Book To Read. Many Sensational Cases To Read About!!!!! 10 Stars to all that helped to put this great book together!!!!

Really not worth reading. Poorly written but more than that the author never forms conclusions. Re: OJ he was a 'consultant' for the defense so his 'objectivity' is severely compromised. He suspects OJ is innocent but offers no other idea as to what happened. He suggests a UFO autopsy may or may not be real. He is inconclusive in suggesting Vince Foster killed himself. When it's not downright unbelievable it's downright boring. Further he fawns at everyone including Lee, Ito, and the Today Show hosts; he's nice enough too to put in a good word for his wife. Don't bother.

It's a quick read, so if you're looking for some fluff to read on the bus, I guess it's bearable. But if you're interested in learning anything about forensic science from a master, don't bother. Unfortunately Dr. Wecht seems to be more fascinated with himself than he is with the science and technology that make him what he is.

Having distinguished himself amongst the ranks of JFK assassination researchers, he has been put on a pedestal and embraced by other zelots. He has done himself and his profession a great disservice by publishing a book rendering his opinions on cases which he knows nothing about. He has shown his lack of professionalism by surrounding himself with sensational cases in a pathetic attempt to boost his own credibility. In this undocumented work, Wecht lied about his participation, showed an appauling lack of knowledge of history, ignored key evidence, misrepresented other evidence, and failed to come to a single forensic opinion based on established evidence...all that in just chapter five! But what can be expected of a man who regularly appears on the Geraldo Show as the resident expert on alien autopsies?

I did not find anything to like about this book. Even Wecht's writing style is less than good. However, most importantly, he has misstated facts, the most glaring one immediately coming to mind is that there was a small amount of blood in the OJ Bronco. Careful review of the forensic evidence in the case clearly reveals that there were large amounts of blood in the Bronco, although, admittedly, this was poorly presented by the prosecution. An individual at Wecht's level should KNOW and RESEARCH his facts completely before opining about such cases. Further, the thought of a second killer in OJ is not seriously considered by anyone who reviews the case with care. The American public deserves better! His treatment of the other cases he chose is, in my opinion, no better than that of OJ.

I found this book to be a waste of my time. The fist in many book that I have read about the O.J. Trial.
I found the first review from "Reader in Somerville, N.J." to be a waste of time also since they put the same review...word for word in every review they give. How can that help you with a book when a person just repeats thier views over & over for every book. Answer=It can't.