Deadly Intentions

This well written true crime book holds your attention. You find yourself identifying with the victim's family and waiting to see the outcome. Often have I wished for a sequel to this book written by the victim herself.

The story begins with a passenger dressed in a ridiculous disguise and carrying a suspicious briefcase boarding an airplane on Dec. 6, 1977. He is Dr. Patrick Henry, bound for Tucson to murder is ex-wife. He promised her during the two years they were married that he would kill her in a horrific manner if she ever left him. The murder attempt failed, but the preparation behind the attempt combined with Dr. Henry's sadistic personality convinced William Randolph Steven, the Chief Criminal Prosecutor of Pima County, Arizona, that the doctor would try again. Conviction of Dr. Henry for the crime of attempted murder was vital to secure the safety and survival of Christina. The book is organized into four parts: the revelation of the strange and incriminating contents of Dr. Henry's briefcase at the Tucson airport, the marriage of Patrick Henry and Christina Bellios, the investigation of the attempted murder of Christina, and the trial of Dr. Henry. The second section in which Christina relates her marital history with Patrick is sad, terrifying and profoundly ugly. Truly her husband was a sadistic sociopath. I found myself emotionally engaged from the beginning. Christina had to be protected. The third section dealing with the investigation reads quickly - each piece of evidence brings into focus the sinister plot. The final section deals with the trial. Much of the proceedings are related verbatim. Stevens is an excellent writer - as precise in his account of the crime as he is in his legal arguments. The fact that the events really happened resonates long after the final page.

William Randolph Stevens, author of DEADLY INTENTIONS, was the prosecuting attorney in Pima County, AZ, in the 1970's and was responsible for the prosection of Dr. Patrick Henry, a highly intelligent physician, for the attempted murder of his wife, Christina. Henry is one of the more despicable characters you will ever read about (although I'll admit to saying this about half the sleazebags I read about in true crime). He was a man who was able to contol his emotions and to display his normalcy when necessary. He was also cheap, impossibly angry, vindictive, cruelly sadistic, and so cold as to be unimaginable. And was he WEIRD. I don't understand why he got married, though I guess it was his normal side coming out, because he very quicky came to despise his wife and delighted in nothing more than torturing her, both to remain in total control of her and just for his own enjoyment. As one of many possible examples, Christina was freaked out by a certain kind of insect that was common to where the Henrys were living. One night, in an almost unheard of gesture, Pat took Christina out to dinner, though he was so cheap they went to the cafeteria of the hospital where he worked. During dinner he excused himself for about 10 minutes. Upon entering the car to leave, Christina was descended upon by hundreds of the insects, swarming, landing all over her, and getting caught in her hair. Patrick laughed at her all the way home, refusing to stop the car to allow Christina to get out and escape the insects which he had so carefully planted. Patrick also used to come home from work seething with anger and going into great detail about what he would do to anyone who crossed him. His plans included such things as sharpening a knife on both edges, taking his victim to a swamp (he loved swamps), gouging out his eyes, filling his orifices with firecrackers - small ones so he could stand close to watch - and lighting them, and eventually gutting him with his knife. In his fantasies these sessions might last several days. He also told Christina that he would kill anyone who ever left him, which Christina finally did after witnessing him mistreat animals and suspecting him of abusing their newborn baby. This started Patrick's intricate and murderous plan which, being meticulous to the point of compulsion and filled with vengeful hatred, he plotted for over 3 years. The book details the murder attempt, the excellent police work, and the trial and verdict. It is unusual that I enjoy true crime books written by police or prosecutors. They usually have an amateur feel even if, as is customary, they are ghostwritten. And they are almost always self-aggrandizing making the author the "star" of the book. Another aspect of true crime writing I usually find boring is a lengthy account of a trial. But DEADLY INTENTIONS is an exception. First of all, though Stevens is a lawyer, he is also a very good writer. The book is credited to Stevens alone and while he plays a major role

This book should be required reading for every 18 year old girl. A truly compelling story about how we too often judge people by appearances.

It's a very good book , here we can even feel the coldness of this young doctor and his terryfied wife .Mr.Stevens did a wonderful work. It really worth reading!!!!