thestrangerbesideme

Stranger Beside Me (Updated Twentieth Anniversary) | Ann Rule

so-so

Ted Bundy has always been one of the serial killers that interests me the most and going into this I already knew most everything about Bundy‘s case but I‘d never read this book. And this book seemed to go on forever and ever. The parts that dragged were so boring maybe partly because of Rule‘s writing and also probably due to legal court proceedings.
#tedbundy #annrule #thestrangerbesideme #truecrime #theyearofhorrorbookclub

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xoxocass

The I-5 Killer | Ann Rule

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I love a true crime story every now and again. Ann Rule is among my favorite true crime writers. This story in particular chilled me to the bone! #annrule #thei5killer #truecrime

jessinikkip I love Ann Rule books!! 5y

Cinfhen I read my first Ann Rule this past November....so good!!!!

Stranger Beside Me: The Shocking Inside Story of Serial Killer Ted Bundy (Updated)

xoxocass @Cinfhen I haven‘t read that one yet. It‘s next on the list! 5y

Cinfhen There was a big BuddyRead so there are LOTS of questions & discussion if you want to check out the threads but definitely spoilers!!! @EadieB led the discussions so look back on her page or check the hashtag #TheStrangerBesideMe 5y

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EadieB

Stranger Beside Me: The Shocking Inside Story of Serial Killer Ted Bundy (Updated) | Ann Rule

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Ann Rule worked overnight at a 24 hour crisis center alongside Ted Bundy. Ann told him about the serial killer articles she was writing. After Bundy was caught, it was hard for Ann to believe that the guy who was saving suicide victims with her was the killer. I found this book most interesting as you begin to wonder what has changed such a personable person into a serial killer. I would highly recommend this book to those who like true crime.

LiteraryinLawrence This sounds terrifying but really well done. I think I‘m too squeamish to handle it, but thanks for the review! 5y

Samplergal Most sociopaths are charming. Ann Rule was the best true crime writer. 5y

EadieB #thestrangerbesideme #annrule 5y

EadieB @Samplergal Very scary! 5y

EmG This is one of the best true crime books out there. So scary. 5y

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EadieB

Stranger Beside Me: The Shocking Inside Story of Serial Killer Ted Bundy (Updated) | Ann Rule

January 7, 1980 - Kimberley Leach Trial - Orlando Florida

Judge Wallace Jopling gives Bundy his 3rd death sentence

Ted marries Carole Ann Boone at the Leach trial

Question 34 - What do you think about Ted and Carole marrying at the trial?

#thestrangerbesideme #annrule #buddyread

Cinfhen, Brenley, Crazeedi, JacqMac, Reviewsbylola, emilyhaldi, Mdargusch, MicheleinPhilly, kricheal, MommyWantsToReadHerBook, ErinGoBragh1011, Crewgurl, Librarybelle, Clare-Dragonfly, CoverToCoverGirl, Chrissyreadit, JaclynW, BeansPage, mermer87

Brenley What a farce! What was the purpose of that? I feel like the trial just get more and more circus-like. 5y

JacqMac He so loved being the center of attention. And outsmarting everyone else in the room. Just another power play for Ted. 5y

Cinfhen Totally agree @Brenley @JacqMac and just another layer of madness to this story!! And he fathered a daughter 😢 5y

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BethM @Cinfhen can you imagine? I wonder if her mom was allowed to raise her. I did some research and after they divorced there‘s no updated info on either woman. (edited) 5y

Cinfhen I can‘t imagine @BethM I‘m sure they both changed their name and are living a very quiet life out of the spotlight. 5y

Chrissyreadit I really wonder about her psychological profile. Surely she has family and friends that could shed more light. In today‘s know all media it‘s frustrating not to know all! 5y

peaKnit Carole Ann looks like she could have been Kimberly Leach‘s mom in this photo. I thought it was so shameless that they wasted court time to orchestrate getting married. Just more disrespect to the court and people:( 5y

Librarybelle So tacky! And so disrespectful for the poor suffering families. 5y

CoverToCoverGirl Madness is right @Cinfhen! Life sometimes is stranger than fiction! 5y

emilyhaldi @peaknit they looks SO alike in these photos 😳 5y

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Librarybelle

The Stranger Beside Me | Ann Rule

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Wow. Just wow. I was not alive during Bundy‘s killing spree, so this was an education for me. I knew about him, but didn‘t truly fathom his twisted nature. Rule, who personally knew him, shares insights on Bundy in a somewhat personal style. There are times you want to shake her for being so obtuse and other times you really feel her pain and grief. Thanks to @EadieB for leading a wonderful #thestrangerbesideme #buddyread !

CoverToCoverGirl Spot on, great review! Just now finished, it certainly made for an interesting buddy read. 5y

Cinfhen Great review 5y

Librarybelle Thanks, @CoverToCoverGirl and @Cinfhen ! 5y

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EadieB

Stranger Beside Me: The Shocking Inside Story of Serial Killer Ted Bundy (Updated) | Ann Rule

This post contains spoilers

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Picture of Ted after electrocution in the electric chair.

Ted expected it.
Attorneys expected it.
The public demanded it.

Question 31 - Judge Cowart said the Ted Bundy case is a tragedy. Total waste of humanity of a bright young man who could have been a good lawyer. Do you agree?

#thestrangerbesideme #annrule #buddyread

BeansPage Yes and no. As I stated before I don't think they should have given Bundy the death sentence but rather kept him alive and studied him as his contribution to society with all of the pain and hurt that he's caused others. But on the other hand he is responsible for his own downfall. As far as being a lawyer goes, that went out the window a long time ago for Bundy. Long before the trial ever took place. 5y

peaKnit It is a nice thing for a judge to say, and could have been true except i agree, @TheReadingMermaid that shipped at sailed. I don‘t think it would have been good to give this man any more attention, it seems like what he craved. 5y

Librarybelle I‘m not sure if I completely agree with that statement. Bundy was certainly something different - the way he could manipulate and control people. But, to say it was a waste just kind of unsettles me...maybe I‘m reading too much into it! 5y

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CoverToCoverGirl It‘s a tragedy only if he became who he was from the lack of nurturing.. it begs the question, Are serial killers created from nature or nurture or a combination of both? No one can deny that Bundy was intelligent but he was still caught and thankfully convicted. 5y

Brenley @Librarybelle completely agree! All I kept thinking was that it was a waste of humanity that all of those women were killed. Who knows what they could have accomplished had they been given the chance. Ted Bundy took that away from them. 5y

JacqMac Like everyone said, sure he was smart and had the potential to be good, but he was far from a good person. Usually I‘ll say everyone deserves a chance, but he was a waste of space. 5y

Cinfhen I feel for his mom but other than her I don‘t think Bundy needed to exist any longer. I understand what the judge was saying and yes, his story could have been a different one. @CoverToCoverGirl raises a good point, nature v nurture??? 5y

EadieB @Librarybelle I think the judge was saying that Bundy wasted his life doing the wrong thing when he could have become a productive member of society. 5y

EadieB @Brenley You do have think of the victims and all he took away from them. 5y

EadieB @peaknit I agree that he really shouldn‘t be given so much attention because that‘s what he craved. 5y

EadieB @TheReadingMermaid The death penalty is not a proper punishment. Living confined in prison is more of a punishment. studying him would be beneficial. The lies at the beginning of his life told him he was not important. Everyone tried to cover up what they did and never thought about what they were doing to Ted. I think he realized his father and grandfather were the same person and that hurt him bad. He didn‘t want to belong to that family. 5y

EadieB @TheReadingMermaid He wanted acceptance into a better life situation and when he was rejected by Stephanie he could not handle that rejection. He had a big hole in himself that could never get filled and drove him to kill because he wanted power and control which made him feel smarter than everyone else. That power and control turned him into the monster that he became. 5y

Brenley @EadieB I am right there with you on the death penalty. I think it's too easy a way out for some killers of heinous crimes. I absolutely agree that the media really sensationalized Bundy and focused on who he was instead of focusing on the crimes at hand. After the fact, I think we can see that what he did was so horrible and pervasive. It blows my mind that women 'fall on love' with him. 5y

EadieB @Brenley These women love the attention of loving the proverbial “bad boy.” They have nothing going on in their lives so becoming a serial killer groupie gives them the attention they crave. 5y

JaclynW @EadieB These groupies really bothered me! @Brenley 5y

JaclynW @EadieB I agree with your interpretation of what the judge said. That part is sad because he could have chosen a different path. Or could he?? Back to nature vs. nurture...right?? @CoverToCoverGirl But like @Brenley said, it is awfully sad that these women's lives were cut short and that was ultimately the real tragedy. 5y

Chrissyreadit @JaclynW @Brenley @EadieB @TheReadingMermaid @peaknit @Librarybelle @Cinfhen @CoverToCoverGirl @JacqMac I think some of this goes to the crux of how we view life- and often in this culture there is also a financial decision- indicated by every human system- was he worth keeping alive? Yes, if we value knowledge and understanding- but at what financial cost? Was there fear something could go back to trial? Was housing him worth how much he cost to 5y

Chrissyreadit Keep alive? I‘m opposed to the death penalty personally, and I look at how decisions are sometimes made - ultimately he could have been on death row for many more years, but the people making the decisions were done with having his name on their roster. I think he was actually very lucky. Many innocent people do not get a fair trial. 5y

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EadieB

Stranger Beside Me: The Shocking Inside Story of Serial Killer Ted Bundy (Updated) | Ann Rule

This post contains spoilers

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2/78 - Bundy is taken back to Tallahassee. Ted wanted Millard Farmer to defend him because he was an advocate against the death penalty but the judge refuses because Farmer did not have a license to practice in Florida. The judge also asks for hair, blood and saliva samples. Trial is moved to Miami and 12 jurors are picked.

Question 28 - Should prisoners be allowed special requests such as; reduced bail and to be able to defend themselves?

EadieB #thestrangerbesideme #annrule #buddyread (edited) 5y

BeansPage Reduced bail no that should be set by the law givers of that city/state, being able to defend themselves should be anyone's right. Just IMO. 5y

EadieB @TheReadingMermaid I agree that you should be able to defend yourself but while researching in the law library they should be highly guarded so as not to be able to escape. 5y

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BeansPage Agreed 💯% 5y

JacqMac I agree with you both @TheReadingMermaid and @EadieB But I‘m a big no for the other privileges. That should be dependent on the crime and the prisoners behavior while in custody. 5y

CoverToCoverGirl I agree with you all @TheReadingMermaid @EadieB @JacqMac 5y

CoverToCoverGirl Just for the record I find the above newspaper headline completely inappropriate, entirely offensive and disrespectful to the victims and their families. Can‘t believe they even printed it. It‘s like they think he‘s some kind of superstar .. it makes me want to vomit! 5y

peaKnit I think people should have the right to defend themselves even though it should be generally discouraged because it‘s usually not a good idea. Reduced bail, people can ask but everyone can argue, it‘s up to the judge. (edited) 5y

EadieB @CoverToCoverGirl I think the headline gives sympathy to the victims as it says through no fault of their own they were also fooled in to helping someone they thought was harmless. 5y

Librarybelle Agreed, @TheReadingMermaid @EadieB @JacqMac @CoverToCoverGirl ! 5y

JaclynW All American Boy!! 😱😱😱 I think they have a right to defend themselves but as @peaknit stated, it is probably not the best idea. As far as other privileges...I sort of think they've lost those rights if they've committed horrendous crimes. But I guess it is always innocent until proven guilty and they should have some rights. Ugh. This is a hard question. 5y

Chrissyreadit Yes because justice is not equal. If it truly was- then I would agree not necessary. But unfortunately I have witnessed the uneven sentences handed out, and lesser skills of public defenders who are also often overworked and underpaid. 5y

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EadieB

Stranger Beside Me: The Shocking Inside Story of Serial Killer Ted Bundy (Updated) | Ann Rule

This post contains spoilers

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Ted Bundy liked Detective Norm Chapman. After his arrest in Pensacola FL, Ted told him all about his escapes and that he was a night person, “a vampire” a peepingTom and had voyeurism fantasies which were taking over his life. He wanted to make a deal that if he gave them information he would want his life back in return.

Question 27 - Bundy said his mind had invaluable information for psychiatric research. Should they have made a deal with him?

BeansPage YES! As I stated in my review of the book, he was a rare jewel and they should have taken advantage of it. 5y

EadieB #thestrangerbesideme #annrule #buddyreads 5y

EadieB @TheReadingMermaid What if he escaped again and killed more girls? Is it worth it to take that risk? (edited) 5y

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BeansPage I think after his multiple escapes they would have put him into a better secured facility. Or at least I would hope so 😕 5y

JacqMac He would have been fascinating to study. But no, I think they did the right thing. Really not worth the risk. 5y

CoverToCoverGirl I agree with your unusual opinion @TheReadingMermaid. Bundy left so many things unresolved in regards to the crimes he committed — I believe he was guilty of many more — His name brings to mind a real life monster under the bed. He gained what he wanted through his manipulation and control — he became a person of interest, a notorious curiosity that continues to fascinate. Our buddy read nearly 30 years after his execution reflects that. 5y

BeansPage @CoverToCoverGirl 100% agreed 5y

peaKnit I don‘t really believe I the death penalty personally. Studies have shown crimes spike in area where the deaths are carried out, weird right? I think living in prison can be worse than death, and no doubt is more secure than jail. I feel like if he ever felt like telling, he could have owned up to triple digits of murders...but he was such a narcissist, he would have prized that information...and continued to hurt people. 5y

peaKnit I recall when he was electrocuted people onsite had signs, “Bundy BBQ”, “Burn,Bundy, Burn”...and humanity falls to pieces. I hope it brought peace to the families of the victims. 5y

Librarybelle What an interesting question, @EadieB ! Am I wrong in this, or did he “work” with law enforcement agents in tracking down other serial killers? Or, am I thinking of someone else? Like @peaknit , I‘m not a believer in the death penalty. But, if they made a bargain with Bundy, how could they make sure he was permanently behind bars? He would have been an interesting person to study, but was it with the risk? 5y

peaKnit @Librarybelle I don‘t think he helped any law enforcement (but I might be wrong on that) but he did talk to James Dobson on Focus on the Family about porn being the root of his evil. I was a weirdo and tracked down the tapes. 5y

EadieB @peaknit I think he worked with Bob Keppel to help find the the Green River killer. 5y

peaKnit @EadieB well I‘ll be darned, he did! 5y

CoverToCoverGirl I agree @peaknit I think prison would be akin to a slow living death and I personally don‘t believe in the death penalty either, mistakes are made that can‘t be undone @Librarybelle .. creepy interesting that he “helped” to track down other killers @EadieB and had they not executed him he may have been invaluable as a source of information to greater understanding into a serial killer‘s mind but only on his terms — control, control, control (edited) 5y

JaclynW @TheReadingMermaid @CoverToCoverGirl I think they should have made a deal. I think studying him could have been very valuable. Although you have to wonder how truthful he would be. Would he play them the entire time? Like you said, control, control, control! 5y

Chrissyreadit I completely agree with @TheReadingMermaid . We have some pretty high security prisons. His escapes were from places without those things in place. I think his being a narcissist could have been used to get information. I also think studying his brain and DNA would have been useful. And there is a place he witnessed extreme aggression- not just pornography, unless he watched it with his grandfather... there is a lot of information about 5y

Chrissyreadit Dissociative identity disorder that we have today that would help increase the usefulness of his information. I agree- there is a reason there is so much to discuss even today about him. 5y

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