Michael Varnado began his 30 year career as a law enforcement officer while
still a student at Southeastern Louisiana University. He joined Washington Parish
Sheriff’s Office; ultimately becoming a detective. He is the detective
famous for solving the murder case on which the movie “Dead Man Walking” is based.
His first book, “Victims of Dead Men Walking” is a response to the movie (and the book from which it is
taken). Detective Varnado presents a very different picture of the killer and
justice. His second book, “Soft Targets: A Women’s Guide to Survival,”
uses actual case histories as a means to advice women on how avoid becoming the victim of a crime.
According to the book description of
Soft Targets: A Woman's Guide To Survival, “Violence against women and girls has reached
epidemic proportions in America. Now, a twenty-year veteran detective shares hard-won lessons from the front line of crime-scene
investigation. Using actual case studies from his own career, Detective Michael Varnado advises women on how to avoid becoming
a 'soft target' for violent predators. The book also includes hot lines, Web sites, and other resources for crime
survivors.”
According to the book description of
Victims of Dead Man Walking, “This is the true story of the rape and murder of Faith Hathaway
by Robert Lee Willie and Joe Vaccaro. Detective Mike Varnado provides a vivid eyewitness account of the investigation into
her murder. Varnado was only twenty-five when he discovered Faith Hathaway's body. Finding her killers and bringing them
to justice has been one of the most important endeavours of his life. But for Varnado, Faith's family, and the citizens
of their quiet Louisiana community, the nightmare did not end with the capture and conviction of the murderers. While on Angola's
death row, Robert Lee Willie was counseled by Senator Helen Prejean, who wrote about him in her best-selling book, Dead Man
Walking. He also served as the primary model for the character played by Sean Penn in the Academy Award-winning film version
of 'Dead Man Walking'. As Willie and his story achieved world-wide notoriety, Faith Hathaway, her short life, and
her brutal death were almost forgotten by everyone but those closest to her. Victims of 'Dead Man Walking' reminds
readers of an aspect of the death-penalty debate that is too often forgotten -- the innocent victim of crime, the victim's
family, and the police officers, lawyers, judges, and ordinary citizens called upon to perform difficult but necessary roles
in the pursuit of justice.”
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