THE DECISION TO KILL: A True Crime Story of a Teenage Killer and the Mother Who Loved Him

A 1986 family tragedy propels this gripping true crime debut as a mother searches for answers in the shocking murder of her husband—and conviction of her son.

For years, Cherie struggles to overcome the consuming grief she suffers from the loss of her husband and the difficulty she faces as she attempts to forgive her son, Dwayne. The courtroom accounts of gruesome details and the shocking testimonies from experts add to Cherie’s desire to make sense of the crime. Tormented by wanting to know WHY this tragedy happened, she wonders if she could have prevented it.

“The Decision to Kill” is an unusually personal true crime story because it is told by the mother herself and contains excerpts from letters written to her by her killer son while he is in prison. The crime reader will appreciate the rare insight this book provides into what the murderer himself describes as his “twisted mind.” The killer hints at the formation of “the decision” he made and how that one decision forever altered the course of many lives.

Dwayne’s words reveal his struggles with substance abuse, gender identity, sexual orientation, and search for faith. His ever-changing views will challenge readers to decide if there is hope for true, positive change in violent sociopaths.