Through the window by diane fanning fantastic fiction. Serial killer tommy lynn sells was executed by the state of texas tonight after his lastminute appeal fell through. Diane fanning is the author of the edgar award finalist written in blood. I compiled this information myself, though the majority of it comes from the book through the window, by diane fanning.
Killer who complained about execution drug is put to death. Tommy lynn sells claimed he killed dozens of people before he landed on death row. This is the story of tommy lynn sells who killed in multiple states and the testimony of a 10 year old girl that survived one of sells murderous attacks. Through the window book by diane fanning thriftbooks. It was her determined testimony that ended the slaughter. Murderpedia according to sells, he met keith at a truck stop, or maybe a pool hall, and keith invited him home to dinner, where keith then propositioned sells to engage in a threesome with him and elaine.
Cloud used for the purpose of documenting facts about serial killers listed in our database. He says the most common motive for a perpetrator is some type of sexual perversity, but adds, there is no one single profile of serial murderer. The terrifying true story of crosscountry killer tommy lynn sells from the worlds largest community of readers. His mother, nina, had two sons before the twins were born, and three more boys would soon follow. Tommy lynn and his twin sister tammy jean contracted meningitis when they were eighteen months old. Tommy lynn sells june 28, 1964 april 3, 2014 was an american serial killer. Miraculously, she survived and would lead authorities to the arrest of 35yearold tommy lynn sells, a former truck driver, carnival worker, and. A true story of murder and a deadly 16yearold secret that tore a family apart. Some serial killers seem to have such ideal lives that its almost impossible to understand the. The story of tommy lynn sellss life is similar to that of other serial killers. The first week in april the week of his execution it was impossible.
Fanning was given the defenders of the innocent award by the illinois innocence project for getting the confession from sells. Miraculously, she survived and would lead authorities to the arrest of 35yearold tommy lynn sells, a former truck. The author jack smith has 10 book s listed on killer. The disappearance of lauria bible and ashley freeman the. Through the window by diane fanning book cover, description, publication. Tenyearold krystal surles watched in horror as her best friend was murdered at the hands of an intruder. Serial killer tommy lynn sells aka the cross country killer, was active for 20 years between 19801999, known to have 3 confirmed 70 possible victims. The true story of the cross country trail of murder committed by serial killer tommy lynn sells. Detectives say tommy lynn sells provided unique details in confessing the murder of a couple and their two children in ina, ill. Miraculously, she survived and would lead authorities to the arrest of 35yearold tommy lynn sells, a former truck driver, carnival worker, and crosscountry. This horrific crime spree stunned the nation and goes beyond the typical psychopath behavior of serial killers. Tommy lynn sells was a serial killer who claimed responsibility for over 70 murders across the u. Ap phototexas department of criminal justice he was struck by the fact that tate was sexually assaulted with a. The terrifying true story of crosscountry killer tommy lynn sells by diane fanning.
Perhaps one of the biggest problems with a sells based movie or miniseries would be figuring out how to deal with the violence, since so much of it is directed at children. The terrifying true story of the cross country killer tommy lynn sells and the role this book played in obtaining justice for wrongfully convicted julie rea. Then with coldblooded precision he brought a twelveinch boning knife to krystals throat. Diane fanning books list of books by author diane fanning. He was convicted of one murder, for which he received the death penalty and was eventually executed. Diane fanning, whose book through the window chronicles his gruesome crimes, said he liked. Tommy lynn sells signed letter envelope set true crime. Tommy lynn sells was born on june 28, 1964 in oakland, california, usa. Eventually, he would confess to killing people in numerous states across the country, over an extended period of time. He was born with a fraternal twin sister on june 28, 1964 in oakland, california, but lived mostly in frisbee, missouri. Inside the mind of a murdering psychopath abc news. Tommy lynn sells mostly complete victim list this is the most complete victim list of tommy lynn sells that i know of available to the public.
His body of criminal work makes one pattern, one motive all too clear. So diane thought julies story about the masked intruder plausible. The terrifying true story of crosscountry killer tommy lynn sells by diane fanning at. Authorities believe he committed a total of 22 murders. With a single, violent slash, he severed her windpipe and left her for dead. However, sellss story is unique in comparison to other killers based on his victimology and patterns. And i hung around several hours, till it come wee hours of the morning. During the year 2002, she corresponded with tommy lynn sells, a serial killer, and in one of his letters, he confessed to killing a ten year old boy. The state of texas executed tommy lynn sells on april 3, 2014, for the 1999 murder of kaylene jo katy harris. Most widely held works about tommy lynn sells through the window by diane fanning book 12. The bludgeoned bodies were found three days later, by which time sells had left town.
Gruesome illinois mystery appears to end with texas. He was born on june 28, 1964 in oakland, california, but lived mostly in frisbee, missouri. Then at the age of eight, after moving away from his parents to live with his aunt, he was molested on a consistent basis. I am a true crime junkie, but tommy lynn sells is the worst serial killer ive ever read about. Tommy lynn sells was a serial killer that stalked and killed his victims starting at age 16 until he was caught 19 years later.
A judge ordered texas prison officials thursday to disclose the supplier of a new batch of. United states tommy lynn sells was born on june 28th 1964 in oakland, california, us. The book takes you on a journey across the country and. This new true crime classic edition updates the unfolding events in this story since its original publication in 2003 including the pivotal role this book played in obtaining justice for wrongfully convicted julie rea harper tenyearold krystal surles watched in horror as her best friend was. Images from the crime scene and investigation of tommy lynn sells.
If the book is older andor out of print book try to locate a copy on. Sells was born with a twin sister, tammy jean, in oakland on june 28, 1964. Life of serial killer tommy lynn sells by jack smith online at alibris. True story of crosscountry killer tommy lynn sells by diane fanning on. In 2006, her book written in blood received an edgar award. The book takes you on a journey across the country and into the mind of this man who was able to commit these acts while seeming to be pretty. This serial killer was active in the following countries.
The terrifying true story of crosscountry killer tommy lynn sells tenyearold krystal surles watched in horror as her best friend was murdered at the hands of an intruder. Tommy lynn sells was a sexual psychopath who stalked, raped and murdered women and girls. John wayne gacy speaks out about his victims and their families. Sells has claimed he committed his first murder at age 16. The book follows williams trial and, despite being written in the style of fiction, is widely. The terrifying true story of crosscountry killer tommy lynn sells being made into a movie or a tv series. I often manage to banish serial killer tommy lynn sells from my thoughts. Diane fanning chronicles sells childhood,numerous jail stays,and nationwide travels. Tommy lynn sells early years were characterized by death and molestation.
It was her testimony and the book she wrote that was able to prove the moms innocence. The cross country killer mentions 1 serial killers including tommy lynn sells. Sells, tommy lynn coast to coast killer information researched and summarized by catherine rowe, nicole ruggiero, christopher ruotolo, jason smith department of psychology radford university radford, va 241426946 date age life event 062864 0 born dec. Story of crosscountry killer tommy lynn sells fanning, diane on. For 20 years, tommy lynn sells killed without remorse. Tommy lynn sells this sketch of serial killer tommy lynn sells was drawn based on a description provided by 10yearold krystal surles, who survived having her throat cut by sells on december 31, 1999. A true story of murder and a deadly 16 yearold secret that tore a family apart, through the window. Tommy lynn sells, who was executed on thursday, april 3, 2014. Execution date scheduled for tommy lynn sells nbc 5. Tommy lynn sells, a texas death row inmate whos been linked to more than a dozen slayings and whos claimed to have committed dozens more around the country, has been set for execution april 3.
Story of crosscountry killer tommy lynn sells fanning, diane on amazon. Life of serial killer tommy lynn sells jack smith on. Fanning corresponded with serial killer tommy lynn sells, who. Sells pleaded guilty to just two murders, but that was enough to land him on texas death row.
Diane fanning is an american crime writer and author who writes nonfiction and mystery. She was writing a book on tommy lynn sells, a serial killer who was on death row in texas. Sells hoped to delay his execution based on the fact that nobody knows where texas got its new supply of lethal pentobarbital, but apparently that missing morsel of information wasnt enough to tempt the u. Victim recants id that put man in prison for mothers. Sells had a history of killing people with items from their own home. In a letter to the joplin globe in may 2002, convicted murderer tommy lynn sells confessed to killing danny and kathy freeman and abducting and killing ashley and lauria. Tommy lynn sells has been executed, but he still haunts my memories. Diane fanning wrote about tommy lynn sells in her bookthrough the. Tommy lynn sells killed several people before authorities finally caught up with him.
Her other works of true crime include the bestselling mommys little girl, a poisoned passion, the pastors wife, and gone forever. In july 1985, when he was 21 years old, sells was working at a carnival in forsyth, missouri. However, that is exactly some of the serial acts of murder that were committed by tommy lynn sells. The terrifying true story of cross country killer tommy lynn sells, into the water. The terrifying true story of crosscountry killer tommy lynn sells by fanning, diane and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. He died on april 3, 2014 in huntsville, texas, usa. She has been featured on 48 hours, 2020, court tv and the discovery channel, and has been.
1624 1198 419 146 669 1105 1149 913 631 1045 995 1635 847 510 1048 572 1093 1581 1239 1108 692 1000 687 411 749 343 641 53 561 1053 197 51 380 1063 1293 761 1012 1052 95 255 389 596 1268