Turning Toward Death: Lessons from the Crime and Recovery of a Convicted Killer

Affectionately given the nick-name "Hammer" in prison, the author was encouraged by friends to write her story. In 1992, she was charged with a crime that shocked the university community in which she lived. The following year, she was tried and convicted of murder. Her crime stands in stark contrast to her family background and professional training as a counselor. She has spent the past decade analyzing her experiences and beliefs which led to such a violent act. After sharing these insights with fellow convicts, she discovered her issues were not unique. She attempts here to untangle them for her readers. It is a straightforward account of the events, dead ends, conventional and unconventional beliefs, sexual confusion, political environment, and academic theories that influenced her perceptions and choices. At this time of political, economic and climate upheaval this dark memoir offers some surprising spiritual hope and affirmation of traditional beliefs. Memoirs about shocking events have currently lost their credibility. Many writers pretend outrageous lives in order to attract readers. In this book however, newspaper articles, legal documents, photographs, and more are available to validate the story's authenticity. The author's conclusions, however, remain to be evaluated by individual readers.