Professor Thomas E. Murray and his wife Carmin Ross had been married almost two decades when she decided to leave the marriage in search of her spiritual self. While getting in touch with her most inner being, she also found another man.
What followed was the downfall of a eightteen year marriage, the life as it was known by a four-year-old girl, and a murder.
In Language of Evil, author Robert Beattie outlines the story of Carmin Ross’ murder and how it came to be that Professor Murray would be convicted of killing his wife.
Did he kill her in a jealous rage over her new lover? Was money (child support) a motivator? No. It was the fear of losing his daughter that drove Tom Murray to end the life of Carmin Ross.
Ross’ new love lived not in Manhattan, Kansas were the Murray-Ross couple had lived for the majority of their marriage, but across the country in San Diego, California; where Ross also wanted to raise her daughter.
Like any good father, Murray couldn’t bear the thought of his daughter being thousands of miles away from him and becoming a part-time father. Yet rather than wait for the Courts to make a custody decision, Murray jumped the gun and took matters into his own hands.
And while one can somewhat sympathize even with the murderous father in this situation, one cannot fathom the arrogant professor who tried to outwit police as they investigated this brutal crime.
Beattie takes police interrogation transcripts and turns them into an interesting, quick paced story that keeps the reader intrigued.
Add that to the summarized account of the trial versus the standard bogged down, hum-drum version found in many true crime books, and this is a great read.
If you love true crime and/or was fascinated by the television show’s featuring the crime of Thomas Murry, you’ll enjoy Language of Evil by Robert Beattie.
