Corey Mitchell's True Crime Book Updates

Corey Mitchell to Discuss MURDERED INNOCENTS on The Michael Smerconish Show - 12:30pm (CST)

2009-07-02T10:14:00.001-07:00

In Cold Blogger founder Corey Mitchell will be on The Michael Smerconish Show at 12:30pm (CST) talking about the Texas Yogurt Shop Murders and his book, MURDERED INNOCENTS. Nationally syndicated radio program airs live in some markets/taped delay in others. Check your local listings.

Yogurt shop murder defendants released on bond

2009-06-25T02:44:00.001-07:00

Here's a detailed article on the temporary release of two defendants featured in my best-selling true crime book, MURDERED INNOCENTS.

Yogurt shop murder defendants released on bond

Yogurt Shop Murder Re-Trial Set

2009-06-24T05:20:00.001-07:00

Case featured in Corey Mitchell's book, MURDERED INNOCENTS.

Yogurt Shop Murder Re-Trial Set

Shared via AddThis

Yogurt Shop Murder Re-Trial Set

2009-06-24T05:18:00.001-07:00

Case featured in my book, MURDERED INNOCENTS.

Yogurt Shop Murder Re-Trial Set

Shared via AddThis

2009-05-01T13:39:00.001-07:00

Be sure to catch 20/20 on ABC at 10:00 p.m. (EST) and see the subject of my next book, SAVAGE SON. It is the story of Bart Whitaker, a young, handsome man who attempted to have his entire family slaughtered.

The only surviving member of the massacre, Bart's father, released a book on the case last year, however, Kent Whitaker's book is much different than mine. Mr. Whitaker focused more on his religious angle of forgiveness while SAVAGE SON takes a much more in-depth look at the crime, Bart Whitaker's past, and the backgrounds on those who helped him kill.

Here is a link for 20/20 with a few short video teasers.

http://ping.fm/aHV32

SAVAGE SON will be released in July 2010.

2009-04-28T09:03:00.001-07:00

Lisa Popp Mitchell - October 7, 1963 - April 28, 2002 - I miss you sweetheart!! I still think about you every day...Love always, Corey

PURE MURDER: Vote for PURE MURDER for Book of the Year

2009-01-11T20:09:00.000-08:00

I am honored to inform you that my most recent book, PURE MURDER, has been nominated for the Preditors & Editors Best Print/Electronic Novel in 2008.

If you would like to vote for it, please visit Preditors & Editors, click the button to the left of the book title and fill in your name and e-mail address at the bottom of the ballot.

Anything you can do to help the story of Jennifer Ertman and Elizabeth Pena reach the masses is greatly appreciated.

***DEADLINE TO VOTE: JANUARY 14***

****************

PURE MURDER has already made the Borders Group International Paperback Bestseller List alongside such classics as To Kill A Mockingbird and Catcher in the Rye.

PURE MURDER is also currently on the list of books to be considered for an Edgar Award for Best Fact Crime Book of 2008.

PURE MURDER was named one of the four Best Metal Books of 2008 at MetalSucks.

MURDERED INNOCENTS: Springsteen and Scott's attorneys want to test DNA of serial killer Kenneth McDuff

2008-08-25T22:12:00.001-07:00

PURE MURDER #1 on Amazon; BGI Bestseller

2008-08-13T11:07:00.000-07:00

I just received great news from my editor-in-chief at Kensington, Michaela Hamilton, that my latest release, Pure Murder, just made the Borders Group Incorporated (BGI) best seller list for mass market paperbacks for sales in all Borders bookstores and Walden bookstores.

According to Michaela, this is quite an honor and a rare feat for a true crime book (specifically, she stated that "it almost never happens"). The list includes mmps from all genres and tallies novels as well as non-fiction titles among its totals. That put me directly alongside such stellar classics as Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird and J.D. Salinger's Catcher in the Rye which, of course, blows my mind.

Needless to say, I am very happy about the great news.

Pure Murder also hit #1 on Amazon for books on the subject of rape. I have been in the top 3 for months alongside my good friend and fellow In Cold Blogger Ron Franscell with the paperback release of his book Fall, re-titled The Darkest Night (any Batman play there by St. Martins, Ron?) and Alice Sebold's rape memoir, Lucky. Pure Murder reached #1 last week and subsequently ran out of stock at Amazon.

Thank you to everyone who has purchased a copy of Pure Murder or who intends to do so in the future. I could not do what I do without your support.

PURE MURDER 7.18.08: Petition to Move Forward with Execution of Jose Medellin

2008-07-18T12:28:00.000-07:00

[This petition was submitted to me by Melissa Pena, mother of murder victim Elizabeth Pena. - Ed.]

PETITION TO TEXAS BOARD OF PARDONS AND PAROLES

Attn: Lela Smith
Fax: (512) 406-5786

Phone: (512) 406-5852

e-mail: lela.smith@tdcj.state.tx.us

Ms. Smith will send faxed petitions and e-mails to the Board for review.

*************

On June 24, 1993, Jose Ernesto Medellin—TDCJ No. 999134—along with five fellow gang members, kidnapped, gang raped (over the course of many hours), beat, stomped and strangled Elizabeth Peña (age 16) and Jennifer Ertman (age 14). Medellin and the others then bragged about the rapes and murders of the girls to friends. Elizabeth’s and Jennifer’s bodies were left in the woods for four days in the extreme hot Texas summer before they were discovered.

Jose Medellin was convicted of capital murder and sentenced to death in 1994. Over the past fifteen years, the death sentence given to him has been upheld by every court that was petitioned on his behalf. The Supreme Court of the United States has also affirmed his death sentence and rejected his legal claims. The attorneys for the condemned have now filed an Executive Clemency Petition to either reprieve or commute the sentence to life (which translates to forty years in prison).

We, the undersigned, are concerned citizens who urge the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles to uphold Jose Medellin’s — TDCJ No. 999134 — previous capital punishment sentence for the murders of Elizabeth Peña and Jennifer Ertman. Justice demands that he be punished to the full extent of the law for such a heinous crime.

Printed Name / Signature / City, State / Comment(s)

_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________

PURE MURDER: 7.16.08: U.N. "Orders" Texas to Halt Execution of Jose Medellin

2008-07-17T11:24:00.000-07:00

[Ed. - This article originally appeared at my other blog, In Cold Blog earlier today.]

The big news yesterday was that the United Nations' International Court of Justice "ordered" the state of Texas to halt the execution of Mexican national/child murderer Jose "Joe" Medellin (pictured left), who is scheduled to die on August 5.

Medellin, featured in my newest book, Pure Murder, has been on death row since he was convicted in 1994 and has fought mightily to avoid the same fate he perpetrated on two teenage girls, Elizabeth Pena, 16, and Jennifer Ertman, 14, more than fifteen years ago. Medellin, who was born in Mexico and illegaly migrated to the United States when he was nine years old, has repeatedly attempted to have his case reviewed by the International Court based on a claim that, as a Mexican national, he was denied consular representation at the time of his arrest.

According to the Houston Chronicle, the International Court of Justice (AKA World Court), which is the United Nations' highest court, ordered the United States government to make an effort to force the state of Texas to stop the execution of Medellin and four other Mexican national death row inmates so the Court can further review the cases.

It all sounds stern and authoritative, however, it doesn't mean squat. The World Court has absolutely no jurisdiction over Texas.

Furthermore, the case has already gone before the United States Supreme Court with the charge to spare Medellin's life led by none other than former Texas governor and still-president George W. Bush. In March of this year, the Supreme Court ruled against the Bush administration and declared that the state of Texas could proceed with Medellin's execution.

The Bush administration was not to be deterred. According to fellow In Cold Blogger and City of Houston Mayor's Office crime victims' advocate Andy Kahan, Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice intervened with current Texas governor Rick Perry on behalf of the president in an attempt to convince the governor to order a stay of execution.

Perry responded with the legal equivalent of a big, "Fuck you!"

Last night, Perry spokesman Robert Black iterated, "The world court has no standing in Texas and Texas is not bound by a ruling or edict from a foreign court." Black added, "It is easy to get caught up in discussions of international law and justice and treaties. It's very important to remember that these individuals are on death row for killing our citizens."

That sentimentality is also what I expressed during a phone interview with reporter Ned Hibberd of the Houston Fox news affiliate last night. You can watch the interview here which also features Kahan.

Kahan expects the fireworks to continue from now until August 5 when Medellin is scheduled to die.

You can order Pure Murder below:

EVIL EYES June 14, 2008 - Interview with Harriett and John Semander

2008-06-14T05:14:00.000-07:00

One of my greatest pleasures since I started writing has been developing a friendship with Harriett Semander, the mother of Elena Semander (pictured left), a beautiful young woman whose life was snuffed out by serial killer Coral Watts.

I recently asked Harriett and her son, John Semander, a few questions about how my book, Evil Eyes, has impacted their lives.

**********************

Can you tell us about your daughter/sister Elena?

Harriett Semander (HS): Elena was the oldest of our four children. She was smart and athletic, an artistically talented young girl with a beautiful smile, a forgiving heart, and a real natural next-door-neighbor kind of girl. She was barely old enough to discover her real talents or goal in life when she was murdered a week before her twenty-first birthday. One thing Elena often mentioned was her love for children and that she wanted to teach mathematics and coach sports like her Dad.

John Semander (JS): I can only tell you that I didn't have nearly enough time with her in this world.

What happened to her?

HS: Elena met the Devil himself early that morning. Coral Eugene Watts spotted her stopped in her car "Peanuts" at a red light and made a U-turn to follow her. In Watts's plea bargain he confessed he attacked her as she was getting out of her car. Elena fought him hard and even unsuccessfully tried to stop a passing motorist for help. Being that Watts was a Golden Glove wannabe in his early youth, Elena didn't stand a chance of blocking his knockout blow to the side of her head. The autopsy report showed that she was strangled to death with her blouse; her legs were pulled up behind her back and tied to the blouse’s long sleeve, sort of in a "hog-tied" position. There was no evidence of rape. A few hours later, a city dump truck driver picked up the apartment’s trash bin where Watts had hidden Elena and noticed a body fall into the compactor. He called the police. Watts threw Elena’s life away like it was a piece of trash.

JS: She was killed by a man she did not know for reasons none of us will ever truly understand.

How did you feel when I first asked you for an interview about the murder of Elena?

HS: There were frequent requests for interviews over the years from writers who had tried to get the Watts story published with no luck. Then I met Corey Mitchell. He approached me during the closing ceremony of a Crime Stoppers luncheon. He carried in his hand a pencil, pad of paper, and a tape recorder. He looked young enough to be my son. We took a minute to get acquainted. When Corey started asking me questions about Elena, he made it sound like he was interested in her as a person, not as a crime victim. We made a follow-up appointment to meet at my home with one of my other daughters. When Corey asked my daughter and me about Elena's life, he made us feel so comfortable. It was like he was one of the family. He understood our loss and could empathize.

JS: My mother was okay with it, and that was good enough for me.

Were you upset that I wanted to write a book about her case?

HS: I wasn't upset that yet another writer wanted to research the Watts case. I had spent the past twenty years keeping the case in the limelight because Watts, a serial killer, was due to be released back into society. I had a lot of unanswered questions about Elena's murder and the surveillance of Watts while he was killing women in Houston. I WANTED a book written on her case.

JS: I was upset only because you were going to beat me to it...but then I saw the amount of work that went into researching the case and was truly relieved.

How did you feel after having spoken with me about Elena?

HS: After the interview, Corey left my home and took with him Elena's story. He knew her better than any other reporter or writer. He knew our family's history better, too. We had bonded with Corey and trusted that he would write a truthful account of the lives of not only Elena, but also the other innocent, talented young women Watts had destroyed.

JS: We have never spoken about her as far as I can recall, but I'm sure I would have felt the way I always feel after talking about my sister...inspired.

Did you believe I did a good job of telling Elena and Coral Watts's other victims' stories in Evil Eyes?

HS: Evil Eyes is just one of a string of true crime books that Corey Mitchell wrote, bringing life, truth, and justice to the victims.

JS: I thought you did a great job of telling a very complex story that desperately needed to be told.

Was there anything missing from my book that you felt should have been included?

HS: To the contrary, I learned more about Elena’s case through the book. I wish Corey had included IQ scores of the detectives in charge!!

JS: Nothing comes to mind, Corey.

Was there anything in the book that you wish was not included?

HS: Corey and I discussed a couple of issues about the book that I felt were not pertinent to the story line and might prove embarrassing for the families of the victims. One discussion that I remember was a victim's drug use, which had nothing to do with her murder. Another point was the description of a victim's underwear, which again was not pertinent as to why she was murdered. Some things were beyond his control and mine when it went to the publisher.

JS: The picture of me looking like a fourth Semander sister (just kidding).

How has the publication of Evil Eyes affected you or your family?

HS: The publication of Evil Eyes gave my family and me a sense of closure. Finally, the story was told in a book. Included in the book were all the legal maneuvers and details of the victims' lives and deaths, their families' suffering compounded by the broken criminal justice system, and Watts's family and how they and the system failed to give Watts the medical help he needed. The true facts about the ineffective surveillance, the negligence of the police to connect the murders, the D.A.'s plea bargain, Houston's inner politics and policies that created the atmosphere of a killing field, the parole hearings….Everything was included except the final ending which surprised everyone.

JS: I think we were all given a serious sense of closure, especially with the release of the book coming so closely on the heels of Watts's conviction for Helen Dutcher's murder.

How did you feel about Watts's conviction for the murder of Gloria Steele?

HS: Watts's conviction for Gloria Steele's murder was long over due and was like justice had come full circle. Each trial brought us more "closure." It couldn't get any better than two Life Without Parole sentences! But it did.

JS: The seeking of a conviction on top of the previous conviction actually worried me, to be honest. I just didn't want there to be any more room for appeal, and I felt a second trial could somehow expose cracks in the earlier verdict. I just didn't want to take that chance, although I obviously understood it was being done for the sake of the Steele family.

Any thought on Watts's death last September?

HS: The Life Without Parole sentences were the justice I sought, until I received word that Coral Eugene Watts had died from cancer in September 2007. Talk about a feeling of freedom. My first thought was of his family, sister, and uncle because my husband died of cancer and I know the devastation and loss cancer brings to a family. It’s hard to believe that anyone loved Coral Watts, but they did. I still light a candle for him when I pray for Elena’s soul. After all, final judgment has not come. Although Watts never repented for the violent, brutal murders of fifteen women, I pray that God will have mercy on his soul. Authorities should have locked Watts up when he was first diagnosed as homicidal. Corey’s book Evil Eyes brought to the public’s attention what can happen when citizens ban together to protect each other and society. Thank you Corey.

JS: Lots of thought on it, which can be read at In Cold Blog in an article entitled "A Sort of Resolution."

Any last thoughts?

HS: Just thank you for all the answers to my questions about Elena's murder. You helped my family heal and I hope other crime victims' families seek you out to write about their loved ones.

JS: I am excited to be finishing up my own book, which is a first person account of the events surrounding my sister's death (among other less morbid things). It is titled Probably Better Left Unsaid and I fully intend for you to be one of the first to proof it for me!

****************

The "Word of the Day" is: AIN'T

Be sure to catch Corey Mitchell Pure Murder Virtual Book Tour tomorrow, Sunday, June 15, at Bonnie's Blog of Crime.

Welcome

2008-06-14T05:01:00.000-07:00

Many of my readers want to know what happened to the people I write about in my books. It has been difficult, however, to keep up with new events, life changes, and legal proceedings of the people and cases I write about on my website due to technical constraints and user limitations. I decided the best way to handle this issue is to create a new blog specifically for case updates.

Hopefully, I will be prompt and list events as I am made aware of them. Also, I hope to include new interviews with people involved in my books such as today's inaugural post with Harriett and John Semander from my book Evil Eyes.

As for events that have occurred after the publication date of my books up until now, I will eventually go back and list as much as I can and hopefully figure out a way to organize them so they will be user-friendly.

If you have any information involving any of the cases I have written about, please feel free to contact me at truecrimewriter@aol.com.

Thank you for reading my books or having an interest in them. And thank you for wanting to learn even more about what has happened since you've closed the book.

I would not be able to do what I do were it not for your interest and support.

Sincerely,

Corey Mitchell