Robert Garrow Book

[Meg]

I was following a thread about Robert Garrow here, but it seems to be gone now. Anyway, someone had mentioned a new book about the subject and I checked it out. It's a great book and it clears up a lot of the errors that have circulated over the years.

The book is by Lawrence P. Gooley; I've read a couple of his books before and they were good. He does thorough research. This book covers Garrow's whole life story as well as his crimes and the huge manhunt in the 1970s.

For anyone interested, the book is available at Cornerstone Drug in Rouses Point. It's probably in other stores in the area, too, and it's online at http://www.bloatedtoe.com/store/product.php... .

Check it out.

[Raydene]

Thank you for the info.
Sounds like an interesting book.
I feel bad for the family of this man, but then we all have a black sheep in our family tree.
Like they say you can pick your friends but you are stuck with your relatives!
Again Thanks
Raydene

[Meg]

Raydene wrote:

I feel bad for the family of this man, but then we all have a black sheep in our family tree.
Like they say you can pick your friends but you are stuck with your relatives!

I know what you mean; I have a feeling that's why the other thread was removed. People were saying some nasty things about Garrow's relatives. I think most people are just interested in the story, though; especially people like me who are too young to remember when the events actually happened. I mean Garrow's relatives no harm or ill will. I just want to read the story. We can't erase the fact that it really did happen.

[Jim]

Unfortunately, it's a part of our history and they're are lessons to be learned from it.
The book was very good and very detailed.
The main theme of his arrest and conviction, however, is still missing.
He pretty much did get screwed by his attorney, Francis Belge.

[the Mandy family]

Some of his family members ARE a part of the story.

They helped him evade capture for days--not too far from where one of the girl's bodies was stashed in a hole. How horrible for her family!!

Meg wrote:

<quoted text>
I know what you mean; I have a feeling that's why the other thread was removed. People were saying some nasty things about Garrow's relatives. I think most people are just interested in the story, though; especially people like me who are too young to remember when the events actually happened. I mean Garrow's relatives no harm or ill will. I just want to read the story. We can't erase the fact that it really did happen.

[new Garrow book]

I finally read "Terror in the Adircondacks: The True Story of Serial Killer Robert F. Garrow." (Author Lawrence P. Gooley.)

It was an okay read. Well researched but it read like pieces of research strung together--not great prose.

Like "Prviliged Information," Gooley's book does an effective job of showing how horribly disturbed Garrow was. He abducted, raped and murdered--and sometimes all of the above--women, men, children (as young as nine!) and, yes, animals.

I don't believe that Garrow was screwed at all by his attorney, Belge. Garrow made a great attempt to convince everyone that would listen that he was "insane" and used every chance he had to convince the authorities, including the judge and jury, that he deserved to be found innocent by reasons of insanity. It just backfired on him because he wasn't very smooth or cunning or bright--it just didn't fly with anyone. All of his "poor me," and "my terribly abusive parents," which apparently they were, did not make him "incompetent" to be held responsible for his crimes. So, he was found guilty.

As for his family, especially the Mandy family, apparently they were as disturbed as he was!
How could anyone help hide this man from a massive manhunt when he ALREADY has done hard time for rape a few years before? When it had to have been clear that he was a sick and very dangerous person?? Were they not worried for their own children and personal welfare? It is truly mind boggling. And, why they were not held accountable in a court of law for aiding and abetting him coutinues to be a mystery!

All in all, it's a worthwhile book for those who are interested. However, it is not for bedtime reading!

[hmmmm]

this book goes also to show the aspects of child abuse. This person was beaten repeatedly for things that children of his age should not of gone through. He was made to give up his money that he made to his father. The mother was beating on the family constintly due to her drinking.

[the parents]

The parents were just as crazy as he was. And then, his son took over the criminal life after Garrow's final capture/death.

Genetics.

hmmmm wrote:

this book goes also to show the aspects of child abuse. This person was beaten repeatedly for things that children of his age should not of gone through. He was made to give up his money that he made to his father. The mother was beating on the family constintly due to her drinking.

[From Ti and Remembers]

I remember getting stopped at a state police roadblock on the way to Genes and having a state trooper point a shotgun into our trunk ( and everyone elses)looking for this Garrow fella and at 10 yrs old was thinkin that BOY was he really in trouble. Found out he was a killer later as an adult. Super scary guy just proves they can be frof ANYWHERE.

[hmmmm]

the parents wrote:

The parents were just as crazy as he was. And then, his son took over the criminal life after Garrow's final capture/death.
Genetics.
<quoted text>

just to let you know his son did not, so dont go there. That guy was nuts, am glad I never got to meet him. He forced his family to do the things they did. He was very manipulitive. He was good at threatening others and playing games with peoples minds.

[hmmmm]

the parents wrote:

The parents were just as crazy as he was. And then, his son took over the criminal life after Garrow's final capture/death.
Genetics.
<quoted text>

If it was genetics, lets take a look at your genetics shall we. What past family members of yours have done something??? Do you still do the things that they did??? DO you still think they way the did???

[Wrong]

His son aided him in escaping the facility at Fishkill. He brought in a gun in with some food. Garrow used it to escape the prison guards. Thank God that no one was killed except Garrow, finally!

His son was arrested.

If you never met him, how do you know that he "forced" his family to do things? How do you "force" people from prison??

hmmmm wrote:

<quoted text>
just to let you know his son did not, so dont go there. That guy was nuts, am glad I never got to meet him. He forced his family to do the things they did. He was very manipulitive. He was good at threatening others and playing games with peoples minds.

[hmmmm]

Wrong wrote:

His son aided him in escaping the facility at Fishkill. He brought in a gun in with some food. Garrow used it to escape the prison guards. Thank God that no one was killed except Garrow, finally!
His son was arrested.
If you never met him, how do you know that he "forced" his family to do things? How do you "force" people from prison??
<quoted text>

have you read the books and find out how this guy forced others to do what he wanted them to do for him.

[hmmmm]

The boy was arrested but never charged.

[Yes]

I have read more than the books. I have read actual records.

Oh yeah, he "forced" them alright: it's called rape.

hmmmm wrote:

<quoted text>
how this guy forced others to do what he wanted them to

[Yes he was]

He was arrested AND charged. Conviction is another matter.

Do you understand the vocabulary?

[Sarah Miller]

He was convicted and sentenced to 4 years in prison. He has been in trouble with the law several times since. I thought Gooley's book was very interesting and being from the area and having actually been in Dannamora prison myself (as a visitor) it seems unbelievable that someone from one of our small towns is capable of such things. Does anyone know if there has ever been a movie made????

[truth]

what was his sons name where is he at?where can i get this book a local library whats the name of it

[Movie]

The movie is called "Sworn to Silence" and starred Peter Coyote and Dabney Coleman.(I think Coleman won or was nominated for an award for his performance.) The movie wasn't great but isn't wasn't bad. It was based on the first Garrow book, "Privileged Information." I wouldn't expect to find the movie or the book in a local library.

Sarah Miller wrote:

He was convicted and sentenced to 4 years in prison. He has been in trouble with the law several times since. I thought Gooley's book was very interesting and being from the area and having actually been in Dannamora prison myself (as a visitor) it seems unbelievable that someone from one of our small towns is capable of such things. Does anyone know if there has ever been a movie made????

[Correct]

The first book 'Privileged Information' is the better book. It is out of print but available at used online websites.

I heard that a new movie or documentary may be in the works.

Movie wrote:

The movie is called "Sworn to Silence" and starred Peter Coyote and Dabney Coleman.(I think Coleman won or was nominated for an award for his performance.) The movie wasn't great but isn't wasn't bad. It was based on the first Garrow book, "Privileged Information." I wouldn't expect to find the movie or the book in a local library.
<quoted text>