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James Jessen Badal
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In the Wake of the Butcher: Cleveland's Torso Murders Paperback – April 16, 2014

by James Jessen Badal (Author)
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 184 ratings
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In 2001 The Kent State University Press published James Jessen Badal’s In the Wake of the Butcher: Cleveland’s Torso Murders―the first book to examine the horrific series of unsolved dismemberment murders that terrorized the Kingsbury Run neighborhood from 1934 to 1938. Through his access to a wealth of previously unavailable material, Badal was able to present a far more detailed and accurate picture of the battle between Cleveland safety director Eliot Ness and the unidentified killer who avoided both detection and apprehension.

In his groundbreaking historical study, Badal established beyond any doubt the truth of the legend that Ness had a secret suspect whom he had subjected to a series of interrogation sessions, complete with lie detector tests, in a secluded room in a downtown hotel. Badal also disclosed recently unearthed evidence that identified exactly who that mysterious suspect was. But was he the infamous Mad Butcher of Kingsbury Run? Badal presented all the evidence available at the time and invited readers to draw their own conclusions.

Now, armed with conclusive new information, Badal returns to the absorbing tale of those terrible murders in an expanded edition of In the Wake of the Butcher. For the very first time in the history of research into the Kingsbury Run murders, he presents compelling evidence that establishes exactly where the killer incapacitated his victims, as well as the location of the long-fabled “secret laboratory” where he committed murder and performed both dismemberment and decapitation.

Was Eliot Ness’s secret suspect the Mad Butcher? Thanks to this new information, Badal is finally able to answer that question with certainty.

Previous page
  1. Print length
    312 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    The Kent State University Press / Black Squirrel Books
  4. Publication date
    April 16, 2014
  5. Dimensions
    6.13 x 0.81 x 8.96 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    160635213X
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1606352137
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

James Jessen Badal is an assistant professor of English and journalism at the Eastern Campus of Cuyahoga Community College in Cleveland. He has served on the board of trustees of the Cleveland Police Historical Society since 2001. His previous books for The Kent State University Press include Twilight of Innocence: The Disappearance of Beverly Potts (2005), Though Murder Has No Tongue: The Lost Victim of Cleveland’s Mad Butcher (2010), and Hell’s Wasteland:

The Pennsylvania Torso Murders (2013). He is currently working on a book devoted to the unsolved 1964 murder of 16-year-old Beverly Jarosz in Garfield Heights just outside of Cleveland.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ The Kent State University Press / Black Squirrel Books; Revised, Expanded ed. edition (April 16, 2014)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 312 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 160635213X
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1606352137
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.05 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.13 x 0.81 x 8.96 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 184 ratings

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James Jessen Badal

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Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
184 global ratings
Well-Researched...a Great Read
5 Stars
Well-Researched...a Great Read
I just finished "In the Wake of the Butcher." What a great read! I've been reading books about the Torso Murders, going all the way back to when I was in high school.  This book was by far the most enjoyable of them.I've been a Cleveland police officer for the last 27 years and having worked in 6th, 5th District and 4th Districts, I felt a special connection to some of the areas and neighborhoods described in the book.As much as I enjoyed the content (which was a reflection of the author's research), I truly enjoyed his direct style of writing. It's not an easy task to be so direct when attempting to describe some of the street people as well as the police officers and politicians in play. Nicely done.
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Top reviews from the United States

Jay
5.0 out of 5 stars Couldn’t stop reading!
Reviewed in the United States on August 20, 2023
Verified Purchase
After reading “Twilight of Innocence” a case that forever interests I like this author’s style. So I decided to read this one. Loved it. Excellent read for any true crime buff. If you like the “Black Dahlia” case this is up your alley. The author goes over various suspects but one seems to really be the guy. I personally feel it was a bit of cover up because they knew who the guy was but did not have any legal evidence to pin him. And I believe they didn’t have any evidence because they may have purposely looked the other way. Maybe I am over thinking it but this book keeps you wondering and thinking as its still all unsolved cold.
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Jeffrey Compton
5.0 out of 5 stars The Definitive Account of the True Crime of the Century
Reviewed in the United States on July 7, 2002
Verified Purchase
The Cleveland Torso Murders were among the first, accounted for, serial killings in America. Because of the gruesome details, not to mention that fact that the case is still open, they deserved much more attention. Criminologists, especially those interested in psychological profiling, would learn much from studying this case, than from other, more publicized murders, including the Sam Sheppard case.
Though we have not seen each other recently, I knew Jim Badal many years ago when I lived in Cleveland. His expertise in the Torso case at that time merited, at least in my opinion, a book, but Badal held back until he could bring real additional knowledge to the discussion, not just rehash and theories. His wait was worth it. Not only was Badal able to track down and interview members of the victim's families (and thus put a real face on persons previously portrayed through stereotypes), but he was the first Torso case author to read through the extensive records left by the lead police investigator. Thus we have a book of superb accuracy and detail, that reads better than a good crime novel.
The best part of the book is that Badal does not push his own theory of who was the Torso murderer. While some may find that disappointing, he instead takes the high road by giving the readers just the facts, and thus allows them to come up with their own theories. We will probably never know who did these awful crimes, and speculating for a little added notoriety would have only diminished the book's true horror.
30 people found this helpful
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David N. DeRoberts
4.0 out of 5 stars Best account of the subject
Reviewed in the United States on October 13, 2018
Verified Purchase
This book is by far the most thorough and best account of Cleveland's torso murders. It's well-researched and provides solid evidence that Dr. Sweeney was the killer. Well worth reading even if You're not from northeast Ohio.
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Paul B
5.0 out of 5 stars Well-Researched...a Great Read
Reviewed in the United States on August 25, 2020
Verified Purchase
I just finished "In the Wake of the Butcher." What a great read! 
I've been reading books about the Torso Murders, going all the way back to when I was in high school.  This book was by far the most enjoyable of them.
I've been a Cleveland police officer for the last 27 years and having worked in 6th, 5th District and 4th Districts, I felt a special connection to some of the areas and neighborhoods described in the book.
As much as I enjoyed the content (which was a reflection of the author's research), I truly enjoyed his direct style of writing. It's not an easy task to be so direct when attempting to describe some of the street people as well as the police officers and politicians in play. Nicely done.
Customer image
Paul B
5.0 out of 5 stars Well-Researched...a Great Read
Reviewed in the United States on August 25, 2020
I just finished "In the Wake of the Butcher." What a great read! 
I've been reading books about the Torso Murders, going all the way back to when I was in high school.  This book was by far the most enjoyable of them.
I've been a Cleveland police officer for the last 27 years and having worked in 6th, 5th District and 4th Districts, I felt a special connection to some of the areas and neighborhoods described in the book.
As much as I enjoyed the content (which was a reflection of the author's research), I truly enjoyed his direct style of writing. It's not an easy task to be so direct when attempting to describe some of the street people as well as the police officers and politicians in play. Nicely done.
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5 people found this helpful
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Eudoxia
5.0 out of 5 stars A grisly Cleveland time capsule
Reviewed in the United States on May 22, 2007
Verified Purchase
Early on in this masterpiece of urban history and crime journalism, James Badal compares Cleveland's Butcher of Kingsbury Run's four-year (at least) career with that of Jack the Ripper, and concludes that the same two ingredients guarantee continued fascination with both cases: atrocious crimes and a perp who is never identified. Does Badal ever demonstrate these with regard to the Butcher! This book would read like fiction if we didn't have Badal's meticulous notes to back it all up. What's more, there is a vivid sense of what it was like to have this slaughter going on in the Great Depression, in some of Cleveland's poorest and most wretched shanty-towns. At the time my family lived in Tremont, just over the river and up the hill from the killing grounds, and now I know one story they didn't pass on to the kids. Badal has done a superb job here. It's horrible and it's convincing.
5 people found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Jaw dropping!
Reviewed in the United States on October 29, 2021
Verified Purchase
This is a story that you won't forget. I can't imagine that the killer got away with it all. This is a good historical account of a horrible killer. I wish that there could have been some thoughts from the killer and that the police could have found him.
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Sam Weintraub
4.0 out of 5 stars Personal Review of In the Wake of the Butcher
Reviewed in the United States on November 25, 2012
Verified Purchase
Although a bit short, In the Wake of the Butcher is compelling. One will need a strong stomach to finish this gruesome tale of at least 12 brutal murders in the Cleveland and Pennsylvania areas.
I enjoyed it. I just wish the Cleveland Police would have caught the guy. It's very creepy to know someone has gotten away with such butchery.
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Mason C
5.0 out of 5 stars The Only TRUE telling of the Torso Murders
Reviewed in the United States on November 27, 2011
Verified Purchase
First off, having owned 2 previous books on the Torso murders, both seemed to be focused on the Elliot Ness aspect of the case, and not, much to my dismay as a true crime fan, to the actual murders, which are as mysterious & bizzare as the equally unsolved cases of the Zodiac & Jack the Ripper, except this case far out brutilizes those 2. The writing reads well & is interesting throughout. the book itself is researched very well & presents interesting little known facts & pictures (some gory) from the crimes, aswell as extensive bios for the major suspects in the crimes. A must have for any true crime buff or student of the Torso murders.
2 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

natalie palmer
5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating, tragic and well researched.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 15, 2020
Verified Purchase
Most comprehensive, detailed, meticulously researched book on the Mad Butcher of Kingsbury Run. Fascinating and saddening by turns, this book also gives detailed portraits of the lives of the few identified victims and of the hardship and sometimes staggering poverty of the era. The victims seemed to consist primarily of vagrants and prostitutes, people who led extremely hard lives but were, at the same time, very vulnerable.
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Laura O'Reilly
5.0 out of 5 stars Gave Me NightMares
Reviewed in Canada on April 15, 2014
Verified Purchase
This book gave me nightmares. All I kept thinking about was the killer and the way he cut up bodies and alluded police.
It was very informative. It made you think of how police investigated murders back in the day and how it's changed today.
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Debbie Jane
5.0 out of 5 stars if you are interested in true crime, you'll love this!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 21, 2016
Verified Purchase
only half way through but loving it. not for those with a weak stomach though. read his other book about the pennsylvania murders, that seem to be link to the cleveland ones. highly recommended.
One person found this helpful
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Zoe
3.0 out of 5 stars It was ok
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 12, 2021
Verified Purchase
It started off great then the written started repeating himself and jumping from date to date but not in order. Got bored.
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