Overview

""Cold Serial"" paints the picture of five girls who were raped and strangled in the Dayton, Ohio, area between 1900 and 1909. The working conditions, lack of rights for women and police protection, and the sexism of the age portray these girls as victims not only of a crime but also of their time. As their stories unfold, a common thread appears, a modus operandi that begins to link them together. During that era, police did not recognize the lurking shadow of a predator. But through diligent research conducted by the author, it is now revealed.

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9781630475482

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Reviews

I get asked to read a fair number of true crime books. The writers, like writers everywhere, are working hard to promote their creations and are eager for exposure. I hate to say no to these requests, but inwardly I sometimes groan as in, How in the world am I going to find a time to read, much less review, another crime book? Thus, it was with considerable pleasure and more than a little relief that I discovered that COLD SERIAL: The Jack the Strangler Murders, by Brian Forschner, provides a fascinating extended snapshot of a string of unprovoked rapes and murders committed in or around Dayton, Ohio between 1900 and 1909. Based on the modus operandi of the killer, the reader comes to the unavoidable conclusion that the murders are the work of a single cold-hearted killer, what today we would term a serial killer. Edgar Allan Poe once stated The death of a beautiful woman is, unquestionably, the most poetical topic in the world, and in COLD SERIAL the victims are all beautiful (or at least attractive) young females. However, these females are not quite women, rather they are girls---girls who although varying somewhat in temperament and age (11 to 19) are similar in that they all appear to be very decent individuals who are hardworking, full of life and eager to please (in the best sense of the phrase) the world in which they find themselves. The five victims (with the exception of victim #1 who is only 11 years old) share a normal, healthy interest in the opposite sex, despite the fact that they live in rather restrictive times where girls are expected to maintain virtuous decorum at all times. Because victims #2 through 4 are pretty young ladies, they have no dearth of suitors, and the reader gets the impression that they are quite willing to share passionate kisses, or in some cases a bit more, with their boyfriends. It is not their boyfriends they need to fear, however, as becomes increasingly clear as this tragic true tale progresses. Rather, they should be terrified of the serial rapist/murderer who is shadowing their movements as they go about their business, a fact they only learn when it is already too late. The killer s technique bears little I common with the flamboyant serial killers of the modern era. No torture, no anal sex, no oral-genital contact, no dismemberment, no skinning, and no freezing and eventual eating of body parts. Rather, our serial killer is an eminently practical man. He accosts his victims, overpowers them, strangles them, rapes them and then disposes of their bodies. Though, for the sake of accuracy, it should be pointed out that the killer does display a penchant for necrophilia. This characteristic, however, would appear to be more of a practical measure than an indication of kinky desires; i.e., it s much easier to rape someone who is not moving than a reluctant victim fighting hard for her life. It should also be noted that the killer does appear to be a fetishist, certain items belonging to the victims are invariably missing when their bodies are discovered. The author, Brian Forschner, became interested in this story when he was researching his family tree and discovered a relative named Mary Forschner, from the early 1900s, who he had never heard of and who had apparently died inexplicably at the age of 15. Mr. Forschner began to research Mary s life and soon discovered that she was the fourth of five young girls to meet a horrific and agonizing fate in the same Dayton neighborhood within the short span of a few years. From this point on, his research expanded ultimately resulting in COLD SERIAL. The book is divided into six discrete parts. Chapters One through Five chart the cruel fates of the five luckless victims. Chapter Six---well, I don t want to talk about Chapter Six because I don t want to spoil things. Let me just say that Chapter Six provides a satisfying, and perhaps unexpected conclusion. Along the way, the reader is treated to a vivid depiction of American life in the heartland during the first decade of the 20th Century. Hardworking, well-meaning teenage girls go to work in factories at around the age of 15 to help put food on the table. Sometimes, they read romantic poetry during their lunch breaks or while taking the trolley car to and from work. All too often, they are raped and murdered. 100 years ago the good citizens of mid-America were less likely than they are today to sit back and let law enforcement work unilaterally to solve high profile murders. In fact, many of the good folk of Dayton and its environs want nothing more than to catch the perpetrator and lynch the bastard. Law enforcement, however, prides itself on avoiding lynchings at all costs and does a good job of protecting its suspects. Its suspects, on the other hand, should probably never have been suspects in the first place, as you will see when you read Mr. Forschner s gripping tale. COLD SERIAL profits from excellent editing. It is alive, succinct and quite captivating. Not a word is wasted. An vivid portrait of mid-America circa 1900 is provided. I strongly recommend this book to any true crime fan interested in adding to his or her knowledge of both the history of serial killers in America and the curious manner in which the ways and means of at least one early 20th century serial killer differed strikingly from the appalling methods of certain of our modern breed. Review by Patrick H. Moore, blog All Things Crime

I get asked to read a fair number of true crime books. The writers, like writers everywhere, are working hard to promote their creations and are eager for exposure. I hate to say no to these requests, but inwardly I sometimes groan as in, How in the world am I going to find a time to read, much less review, another crime book? Thus, it was with considerable pleasure and more than a little relief that I discovered that COLD SERIAL: The Jack the Strangler Murders, by Brian Forschner, provides a fascinating extended snapshot of a string of unprovoked rapes and murders committed in or around Dayton, Ohio between 1900 and 1909. Based on the modus operandi of the killer, the reader comes to the unavoidable conclusion that the murders are the work of a single cold-hearted killer, what today we would term a serial killer. Edgar Allan Poe once stated The death of a beautiful woman is, unquestionably, the most poetical topic in the world, and in COLD SERIAL the victims are all beautiful (or at least attractive) young females. However, these females are not quite women, rather they are girls---girls who although varying somewhat in temperament and age (11 to 19) are similar in that they all appear to be very decent individuals who are hardworking, full of life and eager to please (in the best sense of the phrase) the world in which they find themselves. The five victims (with the exception of victim #1 who is only 11 years old) share a normal, healthy interest in the opposite sex, despite the fact that they live in rather restrictive times where girls are expected to maintain virtuous decorum at all times. Because victims #2 through 4 are pretty young ladies, they have no dearth of suitors, and the reader gets the impression that they are quite willing to share passionate kisses, or in some cases a bit more, with their boyfriends. It is not their boyfriends they need to fear, however, as becomes increasingly clear as this tragic true tale progresses. Rather, they should be terrified of the serial rapist/murderer who is shadowing their movements as they go about their business, a fact they only learn when it is already too late. The killer's technique bears little I common with the flamboyant serial killers of the modern era. No torture, no anal sex, no oral-genital contact, no dismemberment, no skinning, and no freezing and eventual eating of body parts. Rather, our serial killer is an eminently practical man. He accosts his victims, overpowers them, strangles them, rapes them and then disposes of their bodies. Though, for the sake of accuracy, it should be pointed out that the killer does display a penchant for necrophilia. This characteristic, however, would appear to be more of a practical measure than an indication of kinky desires; i.e., it's much easier to rape someone who is not moving than a reluctant victim fighting hard for her life. It should also be noted that the killer does appear to be a fetishist, certain items belonging to the victims are invariably missing when their bodies are discovered. The author, Brian Forschner, became interested in this story when he was researching his family tree and discovered a relative named Mary Forschner, from the early 1900s, who he had never heard of and who had apparently died inexplicably at the age of 15. Mr. Forschner began to research Mary's life and soon discovered that she was the fourth of five young girls to meet a horrific and agonizing fate in the same Dayton neighborhood within the short span of a few years. From this point on, his research expanded ultimately resulting in COLD SERIAL. The book is divided into six discrete parts. Chapters One through Five chart the cruel fates of the five luckless victims. Chapter Six---well, I don't want to talk about Chapter Six because I don't want to spoil things. Let me just say that Chapter Six provides a satisfying, and perhaps unexpected conclusion. Along the way, the reader is treated to a vivid depiction of American life in the heartland during the first decade of the 20th Century. Hardworking, well-meaning teenage girls go to work in factories at around the age of 15 to help put food on the table. Sometimes, they read romantic poetry during their lunch breaks or while taking the trolley car to and from work. All too often, they are raped and murdered. 100 years ago the good citizens of mid-America were less likely than they are today to sit back and let law enforcement work unilaterally to solve high profile murders. In fact, many of the good folk of Dayton and its environs want nothing more than to catch the perpetrator and lynch the bastard. Law enforcement, however, prides itself on avoiding lynchings at all costs and does a good job of protecting its suspects. Its suspects, on the other hand, should probably never have been suspects in the first place, as you will see when you read Mr. Forschner's gripping tale. COLD SERIAL profits from excellent editing. It is alive, succinct and quite captivating. Not a word is wasted. An vivid portrait of mid-America circa 1900 is provided. I strongly recommend this book to any true crime fan interested in adding to his or her knowledge of both the history of serial killers in America and the curious manner in which the ways and means of at least one early 20th century serial killer differed strikingly from the appalling methods of certain of our modern breed. Review by Patrick H. Moore, blog All Things Crime True crime books have always been a popular genre, but this particular story is unique in that it was inspired by the author's genealogy. Brian Forschner's Cold Serial: The Jack the Strangler Murders takes an in-depth look at the Dayton, Ohio murders of several women in the early 1900's. The author became interested in these crimes after he discovered a personal connection to one of the victims while researching his family tree; Mary Forschner was his grandfather's sister. Ada Lantz, Dona Gilman, Anna Markowitz, Elizabeth Fulhart, and the author's great-aunt were murdered over a 9-year period. Ada went missing during an evening party at her home and was found dead that night in the septic tank of the outhouse on the property. A coroner's examination reveals that she was raped and strangled. The Dayton Police Department is quickly beset by criticism from the public and media for failing to solve the crime. Four more murders occur within the decade in the same downtown area of the city, with the same modus operandi. Fears run rampant and pressure mounts for law enforcement to solve the crimes. A man is tried and convicted of the Markowitz murder, but there is lingering doubt among the Dayton police that he did it. Eventually, the unknown assailant becomes known as Jack the Strangler due to similarities to the Jack the Ripper murders in London. I enjoyed reading this well-written book. I felt like I was transported to Dayton in the early 1900's with a detailed picture of the social and political climate. It's clear that the author meticulously researched the cases, including the actions of the police, coroner, other local officials, and media. The local newspaper reporters actively covered the story and presented their own theories. It's interesting that it took several years for the newspapers to report that the murders were probably committed by the same person. The author vividly describes the socio-economic conditions when discussing the victims' backgrounds. It was commonplace for teenage girls to work full-time to contribute to the family income. This often put these young women in a position where they were walking home alone from the train station on dark streets. The crimes are recreated based on interviews, witnesses, and sparse evidence. The author presents an interesting backstory for each of the victims, including photos. Forensic techniques were unheard of at the time. Much of the investigative work was conducted intuitively rather than scientifically. It's mind-boggling to read about the ineptitude of law enforcement and the coroner's office. Suspects, including family members, were often arrested based on pretty much nothing other than the police or coroner's feelings. Each murder and ensuing investigation is showcased in its own long chapter. I found the individual cases compelling, but there is a somewhat disjointed feel when one chapter would end and another victim's story would begin. I believe this was partially due to the long chapters and detailed backstories of each victim. The way the book is formatted with an unusually long chapter for each case made for a slow experience for this normally fast reader. Still, I was blown away by the climax. Without giving spoilers, all I will say is the ending was shocking and thought-provoking. I rate this story 3 out of 4 stars. The author should be commended for his detailed research and ability to turn the wealth of information into a fascinating book. Fans of true crime and mystery books would find this an absorbing read. The book made me appreciate the things we take for granted in criminal investigations, such as advanced forensics and the use of computers. Our current criminal justice system has problems, but it is certainly preferable to what people dealt with at the turn of the 20th century. Review by bookowlie, OnlineBookClub.org

Author Information

The perspective of Brian E. Forschner, PhD, has been created through a span of experiences involving seminary training, the operation of halfway houses, university teaching, writing and research, to more recently, the building and operation of affordable housing for families and elderly Americans, retirement and nursing homes, home health, and post-acute services for a major health system. During his career his role spanned from one of minister, teacher, writer, counselor, and consultant, to CEO. His passion is social justice.

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