Who Killed Stephanie Crowe: Anatomy of a Murder Investigation [Paperback]

Paul E. Tracy (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 367 pages
• Publisher: True Crime Pub Llc (June 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0974134201
• ISBN-13: 978-0974134208
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 2.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,302,667 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Garbage! Trash! Escondido PD Propaganda!, June 16, 2009

By 

ThatsMrGrinch2U - See all my reviews

This review is from: Who Killed Stephanie Crowe: Anatomy of a Murder Investigation (Paperback)

What Detectives Claytor, Wrisley and McDonough did to a 14-year-old child was absolutely horrid and evil. I wonder if they regret or have the intelligence to realize what they did was sick and pathetic -- grown professional (not!) men mentally torturing an innocent child. I hope they never work in law enforcement again. DO NOT BUY THIS BOOK -- IT IS GARBAGE! A better book to read is "Shattered Justice" by John Philpin.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Detectives' point of view..., January 14, 2008

By 

LT (Michigan, United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Who Killed Stephanie Crowe: Anatomy of a Murder Investigation (Paperback)

This book, written by Paul Tracy, "in collaboration" with chris mcdonough and r. clayton, the detectives who interviewed michael crowe and the other two boys, left me with the impression that the book's true purpose was to justify the actions of the detectives.

In the book, author and criminologist paul tracy concluded that the evidence suggested that the boys were more likely to have committed the murder (a hardly surprising conclusion considering his collaborators). I don't quite understand how Tracy reaches that conclusion when he knows that Richard Tuite, a transient who was a sex offender and convicted felon for breaking and entering, was seen trying to break into homes in the neighborhood (as reflected by 911 calls from Crowe neighbors frightened by Tuite in the hours before the stabbing), was seen in front of the Crowe home, and had the victim's blood on his sweatshirt. I don't understand how he is less likely to have committed that murder. How does Paul Tracy reach this conclusion?

The truth of the matter is these detectives stepped over the line when they questioned 14-year old Michael Crowe without his parents' knowledge and without an attorney present. I know the police are allowed to lie during interrogations but they clearly over-reached and coerced in this instance. The saddest part of the story is the refusal of the detectives to admit that they could have made a mistake. They almost sent three innocent boys to the slammer because they were wrong, but they refuse to admit it. These guys should get a conscience.

There is nothing in the book that wasn't reported or can't be found by doing some simple research on the case. That, along with the bias, made it very easy for me to give this book one star.

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Don't give them money!, June 10, 2008

By 

Dana San Diego (Escondido, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Who Killed Stephanie Crowe: Anatomy of a Murder Investigation (Paperback)

I have lived in Escondido my entire life and our entire community lived through this horrible case. According to what Det. Craytor said at the time this book was written, he is supposed to get 20% of sales after the cost of self printing. This is a cop out of control, who tortured three boys and ignored real evidence until others had to finally catch and convict the real killer - now serving his time (Tuite). Ralph Craytor "retired" after this case and moved out of state. And even in another unrelated case, another family sued and won $750,000 settlement against the Escondido Police Department because of Claytor's bad policing. We are glad he moved out of state. Don't buy the book and give them any more money than our taxes are paying his retirement fund - he doesn't deserve it! Plus, this book leaves out some major facts in the case...don't contribute to the tragedy.