In the Wake of the Butcher: Cleveland's Torso Murders

When Storytellers Media Group decided to produce a true crime series of documentaries - beginning with Ohio's own Torso Murders - we were pleasantly surprised to find that the author of the definitive study on the subject lived right here in Cleveland. It was Jim Badal's carefully measured narrative that became the on-screen voice for The Fourteenth Victim - Eliot Ness and the Torso Murders, and which has since lent itself to our newest collaboration on the sad tale of missing child Beverly Potts; his book about Beverly is entitled Twilight of Innocence, and the resulting documentary is called Dusk & Shadow. Unlike some historical true crime studies, Jim does not talk down to his readers and hand them a solution in either book. Instead, he offers the evidence and lets the reader decide - but the hint Badal drops is the size of a late-50s Buick, and it becomes all too clear who even Eliot Ness thought was the Mad Butcher of Kingsbury Run. I won't spoil it for you. While I had cut my teeth on Ann Rule true crime books, it's Jim Badal's roman noir style of writing he employs for In the Wake of the Butcher - Cleveland's Torso Murders that seems to bring the genre from its solid emotional grounding that informs Rule's books and into a scholarly literary form. At the same time, though, Jim writes in a spare prose that reads like more like a desperate Jim Thompson novel where tragedy unfolds inexorably. You do not want to read Butcher after dark - or, if you're anything like me, perhaps you do!

I appreciate Mr. Beveridge taking the time to "review" my book "In the Wake of the Butcher." I must point out, however, that his allegation that I "ultimately dismiss" Dr. Francis Edward Sweeney as the prime candidate in the series of murder-dismemberments is simply not true. No one who read my book carefully could possibly come to that conculsion. Of course, with over 1,500 online reviews to his credit, Mr. Beveridge probably has precious little time for any sort of reading, careful or otherwise.

Sadly, Mr Beveridge seems to have mistaken Dr Badal's book for something penned by another. IN THE WAKE OF THE BUTCHER covers hitherto unexplored ground, is superbly researched, and brings to light information previously thought lost. Dr Badal writes with warmth and feeling for the victims and the pursuers; he places the reader directly in the heart of the investigation, and makes us feel the frustration of those trying to solve this puzzle. His book is the best of the group of "Butcher books" available; he does not pretend to present a solution, but presents his evidence and leaves the reader to draw his own conclusions. Dr Badal has not written a novel, nor has he written a lurid "tell all" expose; what he HAS done is write a clear, concise, readable account of a period in Cleveland's history, during which horrific murders terrorised the city's citizens, and ultimately destroyed the career of Eliot Ness. Cheers to Dr Badal!!

The Cleveland Torso Murders were among the first, accounted for, serial killings in America. Because of the gruesome details, not to mention that fact that the case is still open, they deserved much more attention. Criminologists, especially those interested in psychological profiling, would learn much from studying this case, than from other, more publicized murders, including the Sam Sheppard case.Though we have not seen each other recently, I knew Jim Badal many years ago when I lived in Cleveland. His expertise in the Torso case at that time merited, at least in my opinion, a book, but Badal held back until he could bring real additional knowledge to the discussion, not just rehash and theories. His wait was worth it. Not only was Badal able to track down and interview members of the victim's families (and thus put a real face on persons previously portrayed through stereotypes), but he was the first Torso case author to read through the extensive records left by the lead police investigator. Thus we have a book of superb accuracy and detail, that reads better than a good crime novel.The best part of the book is that Badal does not push his own theory of who was the Torso murderer. While some may find that disappointing, he instead takes the high road by giving the readers just the facts, and thus allows them to come up with their own theories. We will probably never know who did these awful crimes, and speculating for a little added notoriety would have only diminished the book's true horror.

"In the Wake of the Butcher" is the most complete book I have read regarding the topic of the Torso killings in Cleveland, Ohio. Not only can you uncover new details and new information about this case but James Badal has an uncanny way of putting "faces" on the victims and people involved. From Elliot Ness to Peter Merylo to Frank Dolezal...you'll walk away from this book feeling like you have gone back to the Thirties, have your Sherlock Holmes hat on and come up with your own theories of "Who Done It"! This book will not disappoint you.