Son of a Grifter by Kent Walker with Mark Schone

Son of a Grifter: The Twisted Tale of Sante and Kenny Kimes, the Most Notorious Con Artists in American; A Memoir by the Other Son, Kent Walker with Mark Schone. New York: HarperCollins e-books, 2001, 2006, 464 pps.


     There's bunches of people that I am happy not to share any blood with. Sante and Kenny Kimes are two of them. Kent Walker is Sante's older son by a previous marriage. Sante married three times. The third time was to a millionaire. That union produced Kenny Kimes.

     Kent Walker grew up in a chaotic household. Even back then, Sante was involved in procuring Mexican women off the streets. Whatever salary she promised, she never delivered. They would work as her slaves. She was caught and convicted but that didn't stop her. She switched her sights to using people from a nearby homeless shelter. 

     Kent Walker was caught in a petty crime as a young teen. His experience with this led him to the decision not to follow in Sante's lifestyle examples. But like the victims of many others who possess a certain sick slick charm, Kent found it difficult to break away. Even as an adult, Kent went running to his mother's aid when she created crises. Her problems frequently led to a demand that she and Kenny move in with Kent, his wife, and his children.

     Even so, I found it impossible to "hate" Kent Walker. He was able to become his own man and for that I salute him.

     Sante Kimes died in Bedford Hills in her cell in May of 2014. At least now, it will be more difficult to impossible for her to hurt anyone ever again.

sapphoq reviews says: Sante Kimes' older son Kent Walker has pretty much been ignored by the media. He has been described as being dumped on his father or not mentioned at all. Son of a Grifter gives pretty good insight into what it might be like to grow up in a family where crime is a lifestyle. Highly recommended for those adults who relish a good true crime story.

Once Upon A Time by Harry N. MacLean

Once Upon A Time: A True Story of Memory, Murder and the Law, Harry N. MacLean. New York: HarperCollins/ Crime Rant Classics, 1993. 535 pps.

https://twitter.com/HarryNMacLean

http://www.harrymaclean.com/


     Susan Nason, fourth grader, went missing in Foster City, California in 1969. She was discovered dead a couple of months later. The homicide went unsolved for twenty years. Some say it remains unsolved to this day.

     George Thomas Franklin had some kids, a wife, a white van, and a sexual attraction to little girls. He beat all his kids-- George Jr., Janice, Eileen, and Diana-- and his wife Leah. He was not a nice man. 

     In 1989, Eileen Franklin began claiming that she had a sudden returning of memories of the murder of Susan Nason. And that her dad George Thomas Franklin had done it. Her retrieved memories involved hypnosis and the use of several therapists. She retrieved other memories of her father sexually abusing her. Later she would claim that her dad killed two other people. But he was cleared of the latter through D.N.A.

     There was a trial. George Thomas Franklin was put in prison as the murderer of Susan Nason.

sapphoq reviews says: I had heard or read bits and pieces of the Susan Nason/ George Thomas Franklin story before [finally] picking up this book. I'd heard that he was in A.A. and that his A.A. buddies had written a slew of letters to the judge. I also located the articles written in 1969 after the Susan Nason murder and some written during and after the trial. 
     George Thomas Franklin and Leah are now divorced. Leah has blossomed and is now an attorney herself. She denies many of the things that Eileen has "remembered." She was astonished to find that there was a claim that Eileen had rubbed a spot on her head bald and bloody. No such spot existed. Eileen's claim is that her mother Leah simply wasn't "there" mentally when she was growing up. This inattention is supposedly why Leah does not recall the spot.
     I had some problems with Eileen's claimed memories. Having read both Lenore Terr and Elizabeth Loftus, I tend to be in the Loftus camp. Eileen's "memories" kept changing as was convenient. Meanwhile, her dad [a creepy guy but perhaps not a murderer] languished in prison.
     Eileen going to the jail before the trial in an attempt to get a confession from her father was one of the reasons why George Thomas Franklin is a free agent today. During that visit, rather than get into the particulars of the case George pointed to a sign that stated that conversations may be monitored. I would have done the same, innocent or guilty.
     The portrayal of Eileen's older sister Janice was most interesting to me. She was bent on revenge. I would have liked to have known more about Janice. Although Eileen was one of the main characters of Once Upon A Time, I wonder about Janice and her rages. Janice was not addicted to being a victim. She simply wanted revenge.
     Harry N. MacLean did an excellent job with this book. Excepting those who object to any talk about the implications of repressed memories going viral in the present time, highly recommended.

The Internet Police by Nate Anderson

The Internet Police: How Crime Went Online, and the Cops Followed, Nate Anderson. New York: Norton, W.W. & Company, Ince., 2013. e-book, 269 pps.

     The Internet Police starts off with a recounting of Ryan Lackey and HavenCo living in a rusty old ocean fort called Sealand. [At one time, Sealand was listed as a micro-nation but I do not know how accurate that description was. It appears from this book that it never was up for squatters' rights]. Stories about John Perry Barlow, stolen laptops, a hacking stalker, e-mail bomb threats, various and sundry F.B.I. spy programs, Smilin' Bob ads on television and the promise of larger penises with pills, the viciousness of RIAA prosecution, spam, and the darknet.

sapphoq reviews says: For those who have an inadequate grasp on why the rest of us are so angry at the United States government and the actions of Big Hollywood, The Internet Police is as good a place as any to start. Notably lacking was information about Anonymous, the phone phreaks, and a resolution to the conflicts.
     Nate Anderson is correct that if the Internet winds up with a set of laws, those laws will be designed to placate the countries with the most money and biggest mouths-- the United States for sure, and probably the U.K., and maybe Germany-- and a certain amount of random chaos will be lost. This I think is rather unfortunate because we need makers and creators and hackers in order for society to thrive.
     The assumption that anonymity on the internet is "bad" is an unfortunate one that some percentage of the population continue to believe. I've seen vicious attacks on Fake Book where [it is assumed] that [cough, cough] folks who hang there are doing so under their wallet names and wallet info.
     Until the United States dismantles or revamps the N.S.A., I cannot condone any call for Internet i.d. numbers or registration before using a computer on-line. I don't trust the gatherers of information and at this point I certainly do not trust my government. 
     In spite of my personal misgivings, The Internet Police is an interesting read. Recommended.

The Berlin Turnpike by Raymond Bechard

The Berlin Turnpike: A True Story of Human Trafficking in America, Raymond Bechard. New York: Sons of Liberty Press, 2011. e-book, 1939 pps.


The Berlin Turnpike traces the history of the Berlin Turnpike in Connecticut near Hartford from its' beginning to what it is now and its' connection to prostitution. There are bunches of motels along the road-- and a few stripper clubs-- where prostitutes are kept. Ads can be found in a local free paper for their services. Dennis Paris was one such pimp [but not the only pimp] who used the Berlin Turnpike as his base. He was mean and abusive in particular to two teens that he had under his control.

sapphoq reviews says: Raymond Bechard has written a thorough book. The Berlin Turnpike ties in the history of a road with its' present day commercial activities. Those who insist that "all" or "almost all" sex workers remain with abusive pimps of their own free will are presented with a story that will require some thought. Those without an interest in tracing history will probably not finish this book or will thumb through to the areas of their interest. The rest of us ought to read this book from beginning to end. It is a lot to take in. I did not finish it in one sitting. But I did finish it and it made me think. I found that some things that I thought were correct really aren't. Highly recommended.

Undercover Cop by Mike Russell with Patrick W. Picciarelli

Undercover Cop:  How I Brought Down the Real-Life Sopranos, Mike Russell with Patrick W. Picciarelli.  New York: St. Martin's Press, 2013.  e-book, 237 pps.

     Mike Russell was working undercover with a rep as a rogue cop that had been fired.  He was working the streets of Newark looking for some action.  First he hooked up with a couple of young thugs from the Lucchese  Mafia family but that didn't go so well.  After that, he happened to meet Andy Gerardo who was one of the higher-ups of the Genovese family.

     Andy Gerardo believed Mike Russell's cover story-- that he was in the oil delivery business and also removed furnaces.  But nothing much happened for awhile until Russell hired himself out as a bodyguard for a crooked Jersey police chief.  His rep got around and he was in.

     After the plug was pulled on the undercover op, Russell went freelance so that way he could still work undercover which resulted in a bunch of arrests.

sapphoq reviews says:  I enjoyed Undercover Cop immensely.  It is an excellent addition to any library involving the Mafia.  Some of the last names in this book and the landmarks were familiar to me.  Undercover Cop has the smell of truth.  Mike Russell comes off as a tenacious individual who served the community well in taking some killers and extortionists off the street.  Highly recommended.

Too Young to Kill by M. William Phelps

Too Young to Kill, M. William Phelps.  New York: Pinnacle Books (Kensington Publishing Corp.), 2011.  448 pps. excluding another book preview, paperback.

Adrianne Reynolds, 16 year old teen enrolled in an alternative high school in Illinois, was murdered by two classmates in January 2005.  Adrianne was bisexual and one of her love interests, Sarah Kolb, was also bisexual.  Sarah Kolb had a decided mean streak.  After inviting Adrianne to have sex with any of the male teenagers hanging at the local party house, Sarah Kolb proceeded to badmouth Adrianne for doing what she had been encouraged to do.

One Friday, Sarah and follower Cory Gregory offered Adrianne a ride home.  On the way home, they murdered her in a fast food restaurant parking lot.  Later on, Sarah Kolb and Cory Gregory had a third buddy Nathan Gaudet hack up Adrianne's dead burned body and assist in burying her remains in several sites.

sapphoq reviews says: The three suspects listened to Insane Clown Possee (a band that I also happen to like) and were part of the Juggalo sub-culture.  If there is one fault of Too Young to Kill, it is M. William Phelp's inability to separate his dislike of the music and lyrics having to do with senseless violence from the decisions and actions of three teenagers.  Having said that, I recommend this book to those who like accurate reporting on a horrific crime.