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The Road Out of Hell
The Road Out of Hell: Sanford Clark and the True Story of the Wineville Murders | Anthony Flacco, Jerry Clark
16 posts | 15 read | 17 to read
"And you wonder: How the hell did this guy go on to be a loving father and grandfather? How did he bury all that crap? That's a story in itself." Clint Eastwood, director of THE CHANGELING The film story of young Sanford Clark and his forced participation in the Wineville Murders was covered in Clint Eastwood's movie, THE CHANGELING, but for answers to the questions Eastwood posed after completing the project, turn to the true story of the Wineville murders: Anthony Flacco's THE ROAD OUT OF HELL. The hell part isn't what makes the story important; it's the road out that does. From 1926 to 1928, Gordon Stewart Northcott committed at least 20 murders on a chicken ranch outside of Los Angeles. His nephew, Sanford Clark, was held captive there from the age of 13 to 15, and was the sole surviving victim of the killing spree. Here, acclaimed crime writer Anthony Flaccousing never-before-heard information from Sanfords son, Jerry Clarktells the real story behind the case that riveted the nation. Forced by Northcott to take part in the murders, Sanford carried tremendous guilt all his life. Yet despite his youth and the trauma, he helped gain some justice for the dead and their families by testifying at Northcotts trialwhich led to his conviction and execution. It was a shocking story, but perhaps the most shocking part of all is the extraordinarily ordinary life Clark went on to live as a decorated WWII vet, a devoted husband of 55 years, a loving father, and a productive citizen. In dramatizing one of the darkest cases in American crime, Flacco constructs a riveting psychological drama about how Sanford was able to detoxify himself from the evil hed encountered, offering the ultimately redemptive story of one mans remarkable ability to survive a nightmare and emerge intact.
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CuriousG
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I'm posting one book per day from the ever growing unread stacks in my personal library. No description or explanation, just books I own and plan to read. #tbr

Day 66 (Audible edition) - missed a few days so posting multiples today

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tricours
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Mehso-so

Not exactly pleasant reading, and it does get a way too fictional feeling quite often, but it‘s fascinating the things people manage to do.

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prowlix
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Mehso-so

I struggle with what to think about this book. Sanford Clark never gave interviews, didn‘t write about his experience and only spoke of it once to one of his sons. Yet this is told from his perspective with lots of details. The above is the only reference page. I don‘t doubt that these were horrific crimes but it feels like lots of artistic license. It felt opportunistic to me. This one also has all the TW. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

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Jana
Mehso-so

I saw this on a BuzzFeed(?) list and it was described as the most disturbing book you‘ll ever read. Awesome! Sign me up! And it was disturbing. Gross, horrifying, and also true. And I love some true crime. But something about this book was lacking. I think it was the writing. It just didn‘t connect for me. I‘m not sure if it‘s his style or the way he dragged out the end or what but while the story is fascinating, it deserved a better telling.

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MatchlessMarie
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This is the first one that came to mind for #LiveToTell. Such a harrowing true story of Sanford Clark, an unwilling accomplice who was himself a victim in many ways. #AugustGrrrl

Cinfhen This sounds so compelling. #stacked Have you read this @Reviewsbylola @Mdargusch 7y
Reviewsbylola No but I just stacked it too! @Cinfhen 7y
Mdargusch No! @cinfhen. Thanks for tagging me since I had not heard of this book. 7y
25 likes4 stack adds3 comments
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MatchlessMarie
Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is a story that will stay with you and rip your heart out. The content is not an easy read by any means. The accounts recalled here are graphic and harrowing. I wanted to reach into this book so many times to just embrace Sanford and shield him from the terrors he faced. Ultimately this book is a testament of the triumph of the human spirit in the face of pure evil.

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MatchlessMarie
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I'm often amazed at the reoccurrence of the healing property of reading that I see time and time again in nonfiction works of despair. 💔📚

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Jamesmelvinmitchell
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Pickpick

This book was really good but I wouldn't recommend it to anyone because of the content. A young man is sexually abused by an uncle and then forced to help dispose of the bodies of other victims after the uncle kills them. There is a lot more to this book but the greatest thing is that the young man gets help and despite what happened he never allowed it to affect the rest of his life. Entered the service got married had children and grandchildren.

BekahB I've heard about this from a couple of true crime podcasts. I've been interested in reading it, but I expect it will be difficult. 7y
Jamesmelvinmitchell @BekahB hurt my heart to think a person would do anything like this to someone else. I won't forget it for a long time. 7y
TricksyTails As a fan of true crime this appeals to me, but it sounds wretched and heartbreaking. 😞 7y
53 likes3 comments
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MatchlessMarie
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Summer break is one of the hardest times of the year for me to find alone time for reading, so I am taking advantage of the fact that I am feeling awake at 3 AM. 📚🍷
#riotgrams #truestories

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MatchlessMarie
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Fancypants
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Pickpick

If true crime intrigues you then pick this up and give it a try but be warned its heart breaking.

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MatchlessMarie
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#junebookbugs #junemostanticipated
I have been looking forward to this one, but with caution because I know there's nothing lovely about this one. 🤢

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Chezjennyd07
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This is probably my most favorite TC book ever!!!!! The movie "The Changeling" was loosely based on the book, but the book is amazing!!!!!!!!

1 like2 stack adds