She’s So Cold by Donald McInnis
Think this couldn’t happen to your family? Think again.
In the winter of January 1998, the small town of Escondido, California, was horrified when the body of 12-year-old Stephanie Crowe was found brutally murdered in her own bedroom. The police used psychological manipulation to force three 14-year-old boys to falsely confess to the murder. She’s So Cold traces the twists and turns of a real-life mystery which eventually changed the lives of fifteen people and cost a district attorney his job.
To protect children and teens from such manipulation in the future, McInnis proposes a new Children’s Miranda Rights Warning and a Bill of Rights for Children who are being questioned as suspects. These proposals must be adopted in order to prevent minors from making false confessions that could destroy their futures.
She’s So Cold is the story of a broken system. A system stacked against families and, most of all, against children.
Amazon Barnes and Noble Goodreads
About the Author
Mr. McInnis has been an attorney for over 40 years. Early in his career he was a Research Attorney for the California Superior Courts. Later he became a Deputy District Attorney for two different counties in Northern California and a Deputy Public Defender in San Diego County.
Mr. McInnis has also served as a Superior Court Judge Pro Tem, has been an arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association and a referee/arbitrator for the California Superior Courts.
For the past twenty years, Donald McInnis has specialized as a litigator trying criminal and civil cases. His civil trial work has been in business law, personal injury, wrongful death, medical malpractice, and civil rights cases. Mr. McInnis has handled over a hundred jury trials and negotiated hundreds of settlements. He is admitted to try cases before all state and federal courts in California.
With over a hundred jury trials and hundreds of negotiated settlements, Mr. McInnis is admitted to all State Courts and Federal District Courts in California.
My Review
4 Stars
In January 1998, Stephanie Crowe was discovered stabbed and dead in her bedroom. The police then coerce three fourteen year olds, including her brother, into confessing to the murder. Donald McInnis was the attorney for Aaron Hauser and saw problems associated with interviewing the boys in this case. He proposed changes to the interrogation process for children to help keep these false confessions from happening.
This is not your normal true crime story. Although we do see what happened all because of Stephanie being murdered it revolves around the way the confessions were obtained. I don’t agree with the way it happened in the book. I mean I understand the police were under a lot of pressure to find the killer(s). I also understand that sometimes you have to do things to get the killers trust to get a confession. Having said that I don’t believe children and teens should face the same inquires. I am glad that Donald McInnis stepped up and changed procedures for the children and teens.
I learned a lot from this book. I recommend those that like true crime read the story. They will get so much more from it than just the mess that the police and others made trying to get a confession.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.
I would like to thank FSB Associates for the opportunity to read and share this book.
jbronderbookreviews 