Body of Proof

The award-winning journalist and author of Dixie’s Last Stand delves into a troubling murder trial gone wrong in this “superbly crafted” true crime (Jim Hollock, author of Born to Lose). When Jessica O'Grady met Christopher Edwards, she was a starry-eyed Nebraska college girl in search of Mr. Right—and Edwards had a dark and deceitful soul. In May of 2006, Jessica's mystifying disappearance and a blood-soaked mattress sparked a state-wide media frenzy. Enter Douglas County Sheriff's CSI stalwart Dave Kofoed, a man so driven to solve high-profile murders that he had twice before planted false evidence. With public pressure high, Kofoed knew he had to act fast. But while Edwards was known to be the prime suspect, the baffling disappearance of the body and weapon made his guilt nearly impossible to prove. And when Edwards finally did face trial, his defense had questions about the forensic evidence used against their client. In Body of Proof, investigative journalist John Ferak explores why “the case of Jessica O’Grady’s disappearance remains controversial” in this “compelling account” (Peter Vronsky, author of Serial Killers: The Method and Madness of Monsters).