Righteous Carnage: The List Murders

John List and Family were certainly not your typical family living during the turbulent 60's and early 70's. His Mother was a Christian Fundamentalist who interpreted all fun as being sinful and his wife's venerial disease must have surely created much heartache for the family as well as the children living in this household. If only List would have focused on the ceiling with the Louis Comfort Tiffany stainglass instead of on his demented, mentally unstable view of life; he could have paid off his mortgage and recouped his losses. This is a story once again of the terrible effects of "Brain Washing Faith" on the human form and the terrible fate awaiting an unsuspecting family.

This is one of the best true crime stories I have ever read. The thing that I like about it, is it dosen't sugar coat the facts, and doesn't dismiss John List of his crimes. It does however paint a picture of a man who had his life spin out fo control. On one hand, you feel sorry for Mr. List, but under no curcumstances can you dismiss his actions. A POWERFUL read!

This book is so good and so rich with details and confidential information that it begs to be made into a movie! The story itself is like something from the Twilight Zone. I rarely read books twice....But I've read this one twice. According to the author blurbs in the back of the book, these authors each actually live within a mile of the murder mansion, and their intimacy with the neighborhood, the mood of the community, and their access to police and witnesses really comes through. If you only read one more true crime book in your life, this one should positively, absolutely be it.

John Emil List was a man of faith. He read the Bible daily, taught Sunday school and prayed often. He did everything he could to shelter his wife and three children within the Lutheran faith. Though he ultimately failed, it is the way he dealt with his failure for which he will be remembered.List supported his family as an accountant. He was promoted regularly and eventually accepted a vice-presidency for a firm in New Jersey. Though far beyond their means the family bought an 18-room mansion and moved John's mother to the third floor apartment. The house was magnificent, the crown jewel being a beautiful ballroom with a Tiffany's lead glass ceiling The List's, however, could never afford to properly furnish or heat the sprawling home and footsteps echoed through the lonely halls.John lost his job as vice president and eventually ended up selling life insurance. This kept the family afloat for awhile, but as bills continued to pile up the three mortgages John had taken on the house remained unpaid. John's client list dried up and he was left unemployed, brooding in the cavernous house.Benford and Johnson successfuly detail the life of an extremely pious and desperate man, and the frame of mind that drove him to murder his entire family - one by one.