Bad Boy from Rosebud: The Murderous Life of Kenneth Allen McDuff

712 Pages·1999·1.55 MB·English

by  Gary M. Lavergne

Bad Boy From Rosebud : The Murderous
title:
Life of Kenneth Allen McDuff
author: Lavergne, Gary M.
publisher: University of North Texas Press
isbn10 | asin: 1574410725
print isbn13: 9781574410723
ebook isbn13: 9780585263120
language: English
McDuff, Kenneth Allen, Mass murderers--
Texas--Biography, Serial murderers--Texas-
subject
-Biography, Criminal justice,
Administration of--Texas.
publication date: 1999
lcc: HV6248.M4652L38 1999eb
ddc: 364.15/23/09764
McDuff, Kenneth Allen, Mass murderers--
Texas--Biography, Serial murderers--Texas-
subject:
-Biography, Criminal justice,
Administration of--Texas.
Page iii
Bad Boy From Rosebud
The Murderous Life of Kenneth Allen McDuff
Image not available.
Gary M. Lavergne
Page iv
Disclaimer:
Some images in the original hard copy book are not available for
inclusion in the netLibrary eBook.
© 1999, Gary M. Lavergne
First Edition
All rights reserved
Manufactured in the United States of America
5 4 3 2 1
The paper in this book meets the minimum requirements of the
American National Standard for Permanence of Paper for Printed
Library Materials, Z39.48.1984.
Permissions
University of North Texas Press
PO Box 311336
Denton TX 76203-1336
940-565-2142
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data:
Lavergne, Gary M., 1955
Bad boy from Rosebud : the murderous life of
Kenneth Allen McDuff / by Gary M. Lavergne.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 1-57441-072-5 (alk. paper)
1. McDuff, Kenneth Allen. 2. Mass murderersTexasBiography.
3. Serial murderersTexasBiography. 4. Criminal justice,
Administration ofTexas. I. Title.
HV6248.M4652L38 1999
364.15'23'09764dc21 99-22050
CIP
Design by Angela Schmitt
Page v
For Charlie, Mark, Amy, and Anna
Page vii
Contents
Author's Notes and Acknowledgments ix
Prologue 1
1. They Was Just Pranks 11
2. The Broomstick Murders 25
3. A Prisoner of the State 39
4. Freed to Kill Again 55
5. Parole 69
6. An Absence of Beauty 79
7. Going to College 92
8. Every Woman's Nightmare 107
9. The Cut 125
10. The Car Wash 141
11. Cowboy 161
12. The Convenience Store 178
13. The Boys 194
14. "Don't Hurt Junior" 216
15. Searching for a Monster 230
16. Heartbreaking Stupidity 244
17. "As Nice As I Could Be" 261
18. Guns and Condoms 279
19. The Northrup Trial 298
20. The Reed Trial 315
Epilogue 331
Notes on Sources 351
Index 355
Page ix
Author's Notes and Acknowledgments
Because of the utterly bizarre stories and characters in this book, I am
concerned that some episodes will be misread as insensitive or
irreverent attempts at dark humor. With the exception of occasional
playful banter between police officers, this book is incrediblenot
funny.
I firmly believe in the necessity of historians keeping their personal
passion out of their writing, but that was very difficult to do with this
book. I cannot imagine how anyone could report this story and not be
outraged. For me, this was an intensely powerful personal journey, but
my documentation is exhaustive, and it speaks for itself. I also freely
admit to having a great admiration for the remarkable men and
women who brought McDuff to justice.
This is a work of non-fiction; all of the characters are/were real people
and all of the episodes are documented through interviews, official
records, sworn statements, or eyewitness testimony. I have tried to
make clear those few instances where I have drawn conclusions or
made assumptions.
Some of Kenneth Allen McDuff's victims were prostitutes who lived
tragic lives in a degraded subculture. Because some of them have
surviving family members, I agonized over how to strike a balance
between sensitivity and brutal honesty about the destructive power of
prostitution and drugs. I made up my mind after watching the
television network premier of the movie Pretty Woman. I could not
help but wonder how many young girls throughout America were left
with the impression, even for a moment, that whores look like Julia
Roberts, are picked up by handsome Richard Geres in $200,000 cars,
and taken to five-star hotels for a week of champagne and
strawberries, spending sprees, opera, and polo matches. The truth is
that there is no such thing as "safe sex" for prostitutes. Prostitution is a
tool for those who hate, not love, women. It makes beautiful women
uglyand it kills them. In my treatment of this tragic topic, I want to
make clear that this book does not suggest that these women deserved
the treatment inflicted on them by Kenneth McDuff. I sincerely ask for
the understanding of those who may be hurt by uncomfortable truths,
but I am determined this book will not add to the dangerous notion
that drugs and prostitution are safemuch less glamorous.