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Showing posts with label Baseline Killer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Baseline Killer. Show all posts

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Crime Writer on "Legitimate" Rape--Akin

Pssst! Going to jail, buying documents, and everything else it takes to get this kind of info for the blog takes time and money! Every time you make a purchase here, it helps me be able to do more for you! 


People who read True Crime stories come from all over the political spectrum and they should not be subjected to politics of any kind when they pick up a book from the True Crime shelf.

Warren Jeffs and 17 of his wives
from the film Sons of Perdition
Warren Jeffs and some of his "wives"
How many were held down when they were 12?
How many of their mothers were?
Which is why the comments of U.S. Congressman Todd Akin infuriate me. Acts of crime fall on Republicans, on Democrats, on Independents, on Tea Partiers, and on Green Partiers alike. A guy with the glint of malice in his eye does not stop to check a man's voter registration card before stealing his car. And he certainly does not look in her purse for campaign literature before assaulting a woman.

And biology, Mr. Congressman, does not stop to check, either.

Akin claimed that a woman's body "has a way of shutting that down" when she is "legitimately" raped.  No conception, no aftermath issues involving pregnancy will arise. When the rape is "legitimate."

I do hope someone will direct Mr. Akin to this blog because right off the top of my head I can think of 3 famous cases of conception following rape.

First, a law-abiding man named Matthew Roberts innocently went pursuing his biological roots as so many adoptees do.  At the end of the trail, imagine his horror to find Charles Manson was his father and himself a product of rape. This story first hit national headlines in 2009.

In northern Arizona we have a community called Colorado City full of polygamists who believe in the sanctity of a man's right to sexually claim or assault the "females" designated to him via a theocratic bureaucracy. Thousands of babies are born through this process.  I said "females" in quotes because while some are adult women, plenty are underage girls.

Listen to the audiotape of a 12-year-old girl being held down by several of her "sister-wives" while FLDS monster/prophet Warren Jeffs rapes her and then talk to me about "legitimate" rape, Mr. Congressman.  Jurors in Texas had to listen to that tape. Thanks to their collective revulsion, Jeffs is now pacing a prison cell for a long time to come.

And then there's Bryan Grove who was just on TV a couple weeks, partly as himself and partly portrayed by an actor on the episode "The Body Shifters"on the show Wicked Attraction. Bryan had a fascination for his own biological roots.  Learning he, too, was the product of rape cast a very wretched shadow over his life.  (For more about Grove, scroll down one post or click here)

I could trot on over to my own county courthouse right this minute and easily find untold numbers of very young girls pregnant by their own fathers, uncles, and family "friends." That's just one county in a desert state. I wonder how many I would find in the State of Missouri?

Where is this magical biology button, Congressman Akin?  Does it only kick in when a female is say, past 30 and dragged into a dark alley? Is it okay with you that it doesn't work when a girl is 12 and held down in a fancy gilded room by a gaggle of women she considers something like aunts?

Akin has later clarified that when he said "legitimate" what he really meant was "forcible."  So I'd like to give the legislator another example from the annals of true crime.  (Should I say "legitimate" crime?)   Mark Goudeau, also known by his police-bestowed moniker the "Baseline Killer," is currently serving 400 years in Arizona for an act of rape that occurred when he attacked two sisters, one of them heavily pregnant. He aimed his gun at the bulging pregnant abdomen of the one sister while raping the other. Is this not forcible enough for the State of Missouri? In her terror for her sister and unborn niece, did the un-pregnant sister not fight her rapist vigorously enough for the congressman's scorecard?

By the way, Goudeau is also on Death Row for the many murders he committed, all of them associated with acts of rape.

This is what real crime looks like.

In the congressman's defense, severe internal hemorrhaging from trauma is undoubtedly likely to "shut down" a pregnancy.  But Akin needs to step out of the limousine and delve into real crime files and see how many awful forms rape can and does take. Every day. Every where.  

Everyone who counts in his own party has already asked Akin to step out of the race. His party's presidential nominee, his party's various campaign revenue committees and so forth. And that is to the credit of the GOP.

Akin's response so far has been that he is "not a quitter." Mr. Akin, let me say this as clearly as possible. This is not about you.  This is about the crime victims of America.

You need to take yourself out of this race because you need to take time to reflect. You need to study. You need to roll up your sleeves and see what crime is really like. CRIME.  Crime is ugly, twisted, and painful.

You've spent the last few days making that pain worse. Is that why you really went into public service, Mr. Akin? To make things worse?

Stop thinking in high school football terms. This isn't about "quitting."  It isn't even about "defending the unborn," as you also claim. And this is not about "one little word," which you have said in order to minimize the colossal damage of the statement. Neither is it about one political party or the other.

This is about not being a friend to and enabler of rapists.

This is about a man realizing that other well-intentioned people are not calling him a "quitter" but are throwing up vast numbers of rocket flares that he has mistakenly taken the wrong path. This is about calling upon your own human decency, Mr. Akin, to remind yourself that by the standards of my profession you are one of the good guys and good guys do not align themselves with rapists.  Mr. Akin, good guys--and good public servants--say "I want to make the world a better place. Somewhere I started listening to the wrong voices. It is time I stepped out of the glamorous limelight because in its glare I have lost my way."

Mr. Akin, you can find another way to contribute. Are you man enough?

Like this post? You may also be interested in Fifty Shades of Foolhardy    < < click there

17 different crime writers share stories of mayhem -- get it now             




Pssst! Going to jail, buying documents, and everything else it takes to get this kind of info for the blog takes time and money! Every time you make a purchase here, it helps me be able to do more for you! 




Monday, December 5, 2011

Stocking Stuffers Under Ten Bucks

Got a lotta people on your list? Trying to stretch the greenbacks? A gen-u-wine Camille Kimball costs less than ten bucks! What could be easier than slipping one of these books into someone's stocking hung by the chimney with care?

Baseline Killer Mark Goudeau was just sentenced for crimes committed in "The Year of the Serial Killers." But he's barely half the story! Find out what really happened that year. Give a copy of A SUDDEN SHOT to someone and borrow it back from them. Just $7.99 at any bookseller including Target.com, Wal-Mart.com, Barnes and Noble, BooksaMillion and Amazon, to name a few. Each book is available on Kindle, nook, or any of the e-readers. (Click to buy at bottom of post, also to right and very bottom of page--or just google my name plus your favorite bookseller!)

Blonde bombshell Marjorie Orbin was very proud of her svelte figure but not of her portly husband. Find out just how handy she is with electric saws...in WHAT SHE ALWAYS WANTED. Look for the red book in the center. She's on 48 Hours, Investigation Discovery and basically all over TV. Don't you want to find out the story behind the story?  Also, just $7.99. You've had Grande EggNog-accinos that cost more!

The Mammoth Book of Tough Guys is for the reader who wants to nibble on one short story at a time. Especially good for the tough guy who lives in your house. Ok, so the MAMMOTH BOOK OF TOUGH GUYS isn't under 10 bucks but only by a hair. Amazon has it right now for $11.18.  What man doesn't want to curl up on a cold winter's night with a big book of testosterone affirming tales? 

After you've read these books, come back to this site and browse around looking for the extra photos, updates, and materials, like Marjorie's love letter, unedited and unabridged!  A gen-u-wine Camille Kimball is a gift that keeps on giving, well after you've read the last page!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!  


(click on a title below to buy)
Camille Kimball's books:
                 **A Sudden Shot** as seen on TV!
Coming soon: Masters of True Crime-Chilling Stories of Murder and the Macabre

Thoughts on this or any article at this site? To the next person whose comment I use for a post I will send a free signed book!  (If you post as "anonymous" for convenience, try to include an identifying website or name in your remark so no one else can claim your prize!)  For an example, please click here

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Baseline Killer Sentenced Today (Mark Goudeau)

This post was written from inside the Baseline Killer's courtroom as the sentencing was happening, in real time.
http://www.desertlivingtoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Baseline_Killer_Phoenix.jpg
This sketch circulated for months before Mark Goudeau (r) was arrested in 2006




Mark Goudeau, convicted as the "Baseline Killer" who terrorized Phoenix in 2005-2006, has just been sentenced to: Georgia Thompson-Death, Tina Washington-Death, Romelia Vargas-Death, Mirna Palma Roman-Death, Chao Chou-Death, Liliana Sanchez-Death, Kristin Gibbons-Death, Sophia Nunez-Death, Carmen Miranda-Death.

Mark Goudeau has shown no reaction whatsoever.

It's a clean sweep. For every capital charge, Goudeau has received the death penalty. These death sentences were delivered by a 5 woman/7 man jury. He will face the judge again to be sentenced for a multitude of non-capital charges. The jury will not be there for that, they have been formally excused. A few have agreed to talk to the press but have directed they will not give their names and do not wish to be photographed.

ADD: All of them spoke to us. You will see no pictures on TV, due to their instructions, but I will write more about their fascinating discussion with me and a few other reporters soon. Please check back. 

A lot of press has gathered, the court having arranged for an overflow press room. I am in the real courtroom, directly behind Mark Goudeau by about 20 feet. Goudeau tried to waive his presence for this sentencing, but Judge Warren Granville wouldn't allow it. Goudeau wore a dust-brown suit, his hair still cut short as in the above photo at right.

Goudeau was already serving a sentence in excess of 400 years for the sexual assaults of two women who testified against him in an earlier trial.  An appeal of these death sentences is automatic, he couldn't get out of the years of appeals ahead of him he wanted to.  He did try to get out of being present for the jury's verdict today, but Judge Granville told him Arizona law is airtight, "you can waive many things, but you cannot waive being present for your sentencing."

The Baseline Killer is often confused with the Phoenix Serial Shooter. It's an easy mistake to make and even at the time, many citizens living through it felt the same confusion. But the two sets of crimes were very, very different.  The Baseline Killer targeted women, often two together, and made his crimes very personal. They often began when he approached the women and asked for the time or directions and soon escalated into a kidnapping, rape, and murder.  The victims saw his face, heard his voice, knew what he wanted. Some of them survived and gave a description to police, resulting in the above sketch which was released to the media and widely circulated. With the constant use of the fishing hat and through other details, police suspected the braids were a wig. In fact, when Mark Goudeau was arrested, his hair was short.

By contrast, the Serial Shooter shot anyone and anything, in stealth mode. People, men and women, died or were maimed without ever knowing why it had happened to them or who had done it.

For the Serial Shooter crimes, Dale Hausner, and others, were arrested on August 4, 2006.  Mark Goudeau and Dale Hausner have never met. The two series' of crimes were completely unrelated other than, in the later stages, a possible competition for headlines as each terrorized the city at an increasing pace.

The story was a highly unique one. And it was my privilege to tell as much as could fit in one book,  which is A SUDDEN SHOT. It's available at any bookseller. The special Sudden Shot community gathers at the FB page you can visit and join by clicking the FB badge to the right on this page.  For a small excerpt of the book, click here.  Many extra photos and and samples are on this blog as well. Check the cloud at left for appropriate tags.

Dale Hausner was arrested several weeks before the Baseline Killer


(click on a title below to buy)
Camille Kimball's books:
                 **A Sudden Shot** as seen on TV!
Coming soon: Masters of True Crime-Chilling Stories of Murder and the Macabre

Thoughts on this or any article at this site? To the next person whose comment I use for a post I will send a free signed book!  (If you post as "anonymous" for convenience, try to include an identifying website or name in your remark so no one else can claim your prize!)  For an example, please click here

Monday, October 31, 2011

Baseline Killer Completes A Sudden Shot Story

People who read A SUDDEN SHOT often want to know more about the "Baseline Killer" because he was attacking Phoenix at the same time as the Serial Shooter was.  Today, Mark Goudeau has been convicted and can now be officially considered the Baseline Killer.
http://www.desertlivingtoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Baseline_Killer_Phoenix.jpg
Composite sketch--Mark Goudeau
This composite sketch, based on survivor accounts, appeared on billboards and newscasts at the same time that the Serial Shooter was also dominating the news. But there was no composite sketch of the Serial Shooter because no one had ever seen him and survived.

Dale Hausner and Sam Dieteman were arrested on August 4, 2006. But the Baseline Killer was still at large for several more weeks.


null
Sam & Dale, both have dyed hair in this booking photo.


With the conviction of Mark Goudeau, this horrible nightmare has reached a conclusion.  For the hundreds of people affected by these crimes, there will be no "closure." But getting the conviction is an important moment. A feeling of relief descends on the heart. The terrible tension of fearing the monster might escape justice can subside.  
This book is featured on TV!
A Sudden Shot
The story behind the headlines is here...


Mark Goudeau will go into an "aggravation" then a "mitigation" phase before he will receive his sentence. But he is already serving a several hundred year sentence and will undoubtedly get several hundred more.  Expect multiple death penalties, too.


(click on a title below to buy)
Camille Kimball's books:
**A Sudden Shot** as seen on TV!
The Mammoth Book of Tough Guys
Coming soon: Masters of True Crime-Chilling Stories of Murder and the Macabre

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Wicked Attraction -- airs this week!

Detective Ron Rock gets miked up for his interview by audio man Rusty, director Darin Wales oversees



Man, woman, or beast, no one was safe...

June 15 the show Wicked Attraction airs the episode based on my book, A SUDDEN SHOT (Penguin 2009). Here's the trailer for the show (my soundbites come toward the end). Check your local listings for exact times (on the Investigation Discovery Channel, right next to the Science Channel).

The city of Phoenix was under siege....two separate serial killers were attacking the city at the same time...A SUDDEN SHOT is about the one who shot stealthily in the dark hours at anything that moved.....the other killer, the Baseline Killer, is on trial right now!
After you see the show, why not stop by the A SUDDEN SHOT page on Facebook? Many more photos there. Just click on the link above right, showing the blue book cover. Scroll through and see what the families and detectives have been saying about the case, the book and the show.

A SUDDEN SHOT is available anywhere books are sold, here's an easy one, Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Sudden-Shot-Phoenix-Shooter-Berkley/dp/0425230198/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_2

Many of the visitors to this site are from across the sea! Glad to have you! May I suggest The Poisoned Pen bookstore? They will ship internationally. http://www.poisonedpen.com/products/trucrime/9780425230190




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