In a presentation unlike other true crime stories, TRACKRS takes the reader through all the stages involved in the pursuit of a serial killer who sexually assaulted seven young women in Orange County, California in 1978 and 1979. He brutally murdered five, savagely attacked another who barely survived, and injured a pregnant woman so severely that it caused the death of her unborn child.
The narration provides a closeup, detailed chronicle of an intricate murder investigation by multiple Orange County law enforcement agencies in 1996. Including transcripts of the defendant’s recorded statements and courtroom testimony. The events are chronicled through the eyes of the author, Michael Jacobs, an assistant district attorney and veteran homicide prosecutor who initiated the investigation and followed the case through to the jury’s final verdict.
Never before have I read such a thorough rendering of events in a true crime novel. This book is unique and to be praised for its attention to detail, scrupulous timeline, outline, and unfolding of both the people involved and the events that brought them together. The author’s memory, and the facts presented are amazing to behold! An incredible amount of moving pieces and mountains moved for justice to prevail.
As a person attracted to true crime to discover how perpetrators operate, in hopes of better protecting myself and my loved ones, and to learn how those who commit crimes are captured and brought to justice, this book teaches more than all other books I’ve read combined!
My takeaway from this read is the astounding number of cold cases, and how many crimes and murders go unsolved! The fact that there is little being done about this, little being done on a National level to bring about changes to create infrastructure to combat the issue at hand, is disturbing. How many criminals walk freely among us? Too many. How do we stop this? By instituting more programs like TRACKRS! Somehow, we, the people, must find a way to make our voices heard by our elected officials so that cold cases are not left cold but are continuously worked on until the crimes are solved, and justice prevails.
Thank God for those like Michael Jacobs who dedicate themselves to finding and upholding the truth that leads to victory. I thank him for his service to our country by doing his best to see that cases such as the Parker case get the focus and attention that they deserve. May we find a way to join these unsung heroes in their work, and may Heaven help us all! Amen.