Savage Vengence by Gary C. King

 

Renae Ahlers Wicklund thought that sunny day in December of 1974 would be the worst day of her life.  She was at home with her 16-month old daughter when a man burst into the house.  He attacked Renae and told her to strip, saying that he would kill her daughter otherwise.  He left only after oral sex.  Renae ran to the neighbor's house and reported it immediately to the police.

The man was Charles Campbell.  Although he was young, only twenty, he had a long record of victimizing women.  He had no problems beating them and threatening their children.  He was also into drugs and committed burglaries.  When he was captured, he was sentenced to many years in prison and Renae finally felt safe.

But Campbell was the kind of man who managed to work the system.  Instead of the years he was given, he managed to get out in only seven years although he hadn't been a model prisoner.  His first act upon moving to a halfway house?  He tracked down Renae, broke in once again and this time killed her, her daughter who was eight by then and a neighbor who came to check on Renae.  

Gary King is recognized as one of the genre's best true crime writers.  His career has spanned thirty decades and he's written nineteen books as well as writing shorter fiction for true crime magazines and content for the various television shows on true crime channels.  It is apparent that he does extensive research and follows the criminal from the crime, through the trial and then gives the reader the disposition of the case.  This book is recommended for true crime readers.