While Innocents Slept: A Story of Revenge, Murder, and SIDS (Hardcover)

~ (Author) "At first glance, it appeared to be some sort of parade..." (more)
Key Phrases: bottle warmer, county police department, Garrett Michael, Montgomery County, Garrett Wilson (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Billed as a medical thriller, this unsavory story focuses on the troubled life of Garrett Wilson, the father of two infants who mysteriously died in their cribs in the 1980s. Wilson is not an easy person to like: he's a womanizer, a liar, and a thief. But is he a murderer? Author Adrian Havill, better known for biographies of more appealing characters such as Christopher Reeve and Bob Woodward, maintains a journalist's impartiality throughout the story and utilizes an abrupt, matter-of-fact writing style, never hinting at Wilson's guilt or innocence until the trial verdict at the end. Readers may find it difficult to keep track of the many characters that appear--particularly since there is no single, distinct voice telling the story--but more than a dozen black-and-white photographs help keep the faces straight. The medical angle of the mystery, with its detailed look at sudden infant death syndrome, adds interest and intrigue. --Jodi Mailander Farrell

From Publishers Weekly

This disturbing true-crime tale by veteran author Havill (The Mother, the Son, and the Socialite, etc.) recounts the horrific saga of Garrett Wilson, a man who was convicted of killing two of his infant children for insurance money and is now serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole. Havill, who interviewed Wilson in prison and had access to both prosecutors and defense lawyers, describes Wilson's penchant for deceit as a smooth-talking womanizer and embezzler who twice tried to mask his stealing of funds as robbery. In 1980, in his mid-20s, he married Debbie Oliver, a 16-year-old who was five months pregnant with his child. Their baby daughter's death at two months was attributed to sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), a broadly defined cause of death that is not well understood by doctors. Wilson took his wife on a vacation with the $40,000 life insurance policies he had taken out on the baby's life. History repeated itself in 1988 when another baby, a five-month-old son that Wilson had with Missy Anastasi, whom he married after divorcing Debbie, also died of SIDS and Wilson collected on a $100,000 policy. Missy became convinced that he had murdered their child, and Havill traces her long legal battle for justice. At the time of his arrest, Wilson was again remarried and with a young daughter. Although his third wife, Vicky, testified to his innocence and still takes their daughter regularly to visit Wilson in prison, she, too, eventually divorced him. Child murder is a difficult subject to broach, but devotees of the true-crime genre may be drawn to this account. Photos not seen by PW. (Jan.)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 250 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Press; 1st edition (January 10, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312262701
• ISBN-13: 978-0312262709
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,493,993 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars The Death of Non-Fiction, June 20, 2002

By	Patricia L. Schrein (Bethesda, Maryland) - See all my reviews

This review is from: While Innocents Slept: A Story of Revenge, Murder, and SIDS (Mass Market Paperback)

This book is poorly researched, disorganized, and a difficult read. The author also seems to be biased toward the killer, and in fact, obtained most of his information from the killer and his starry-eyed, fourth wife. Havill does not appear to think highly of women; the victim, Ms. Anastasi, has traveled the world, holds a master's degree and currently works for NASA. Havill describes her as an overweight, bleached blonde. (incidentally, she is an attractive, natural blonde who happens to be in her forties). The trial judge, Ann Harrington, was one of the first women prosecutors in the State of Maryland, and is considered a brilliant, fair jurist. Her convictions are rarely, if ever, overturned on appeal. Havill describes Judge Harrington only in terms of her daily choice of jewelry and makeup, and mentions that she is a former beauty queen.

Havill's "research" is flawed because he presents only one view; that from the killer and this then-current family and few friends. The lawyers and witnesses in the case were not free to discuss the case while it was pending, and thus a mountain of information (evidence that was not admitted at trial) was never revealed. If Havill had not been in such a hurry to publish, his account could have been much more informative and accurate. I know; I am one of the figures in the investigation.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars While Innocents Slept, April 2, 2001

By A Customer

This book grabbed me from the beginning. It's way above most true crime because it treats both sides equally and reads more like a novel than a by-the-book regurgitating of trial transcripts. I started this at eight in the evening and finished it at five the next morning, fell asleep, and was an hour late for work. So my advice is: start on a weekend. Seriously, I've read a lot of crime and this is one of the best!

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars I knew this man, November 15, 2001

By A Customer

I knew Garrett Wilson at the time of Michael's death. I knew and worked with him at Jordan Kitt's Music before and after Michael was born and when he also, unfortunately died. I found the book interesting, however, I was disappointed with Mr. Havill's research. For someone that met with Mr.Wilson numerous times, there wasn't much dialog from Mr. Wilson. I found the book to be truthful as far as Mr.Wilson's womanizing and spending habits. I was 15 when I met Mr. Wilson and was 16 when we became involved. I was shocked to learn of Michael's death. The picture Garrett painted Missy was not a pretty one. He was coniving and manipulative (especially of a 16 year old). As he told Vicky, he also asked me if I'd like to take care of Michael. I found it interesting to find out there were at least two other women besides me at that same time, although, now that I'm 14 years older and wiser, not shocked. I still have journal entries about this man from my teen years, I am interested to dig them out of storage now. I wonder how many other women there truly were. I never saw Garrett as an evil or hurtful man, but would he kill his child for insurance money? I think it's quite possible. I remember running errands for Mr.Wilson and I believe one of the many errands was dropping off that insurance payment. In the beginning of our "relationship", I remember him asking me how much money my father made, etc... Greed takes over some people in strange ways. My heart truly goes out to Missy. I am so very, very sorry for her loss. Garrett was the truest form of a "con-man". Garrett deserves to be where he is now.