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Reasonable Doubt

A Shocking Story of Lust and Murder in the American Heartland

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Reasonable Doubt

Written by: Steve Vogel
Narrated by: Keith Sellon-Wright
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About this listen

A mother and her three young children are found hacked to death in their beds. The apparent weapons, an ax and butcher knife, are found nearby. A month later, the husband and father, who was away on a business trip when the bodies were found, is accused of the killings. Police believe he methodically murdered his wife and children before he left. But why?

A successful businessman and devoted member of a fundamentalist religious group, David Hendricks has the total support of his extended family. Police paint a darker picture, and prosecutors face the daunting task of convicting him on a case based on completely circumstantial evidence.

A New York Times best seller, this book has now been updated with additional content. People often comment they must continually remind themselves that this story is real, that Reasonable Doubt is testament to the fact truth is stranger than fiction. The book has also been used in college-level criminal justice courses to explain and illustrate the legal concept of reasonable doubt.

©1989 Steve Vogel; Postscript to the Paperback Edition copyright 1991 by Steve Vogel; Postscript to the Spring 2018 edition copyright 2018 by Steve Vogel (P)2018 Tantor Murder True Crime Crime Marriage Nonfiction Crime
All stars
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Well written and interesting. I feel a massive injustice was done but otherwise would recommend

Interesting and tragic

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I thought he was guilty almost from the beginning. But I don't get how he got a second hearing and was found not guilty. I just shake my head at the the the justice system. But he will have to face god at the end when all is said and done. Meanwhile I hope karma finds him.

Confused

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Investigative Reporter Steve Vogel puts his experiences covering the arrest and trial of convicted, then exonerated family annihilator David Hendricks - who barbarically butchered his wife and three children to cover up a deviant sexual perversion that was threatened (a pretty dubious motive). The conversations between a sometimes aggressive sometimes reluctant prosecutor and sometimes believable sometimes manipulative defendant are engrossing. Vogel doesn't come to conclusions - choosing to present the case with the same ambiguity that jurors faced. I enjoyed the approach. The research in the book is also strikingly extensive - including transcripts of police interviews, direct trial excerpts, and recreated witness/victim/perpetrator/investigator conversations. Background information on everyone involved fills out a "nothing-left-out" exposé.
Less fortunately, that same dedication to completeness makes the book poorly paced and occasionally mired in irrelevancies. An aggressive editor could easily have cut ⅓ of the text without affecting the narrative.

As to presentation: Reader Keith Sellon-Wright is genuinely admirable in maintaining an interested tone while reading the book - and impresses with his professional reading skills - but fails to distinguish himself. Tantor Audio Inc. could have cast this project equally effectively with any of their stable of performers.

Altogether, 'Reasonable Doubt' is a thought-provoking audiobook. This 7/10-star effort is definitely worth a listen if you can get it for free. If it leaves the 'Plus' catalog, however, consider spending your Credit on something better structured.

Exhaustive Documentary

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Two juries. Two results. On which jury do you sit? If the accused is not guilty, who is?

What happened

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