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The True Crime Story of a Teenage Killer and the Mother Who Loved Him

A family tragedy propels this gripping true crime debut as a mother searches for answers in the shocking murder of her husband—and conviction of her son.

In the early morning of October 18, 1986, Cherie Wier’s life collapses when her teenage son takes the life of her beloved husband.  For years, Cherie grapples with events preceding and following the crime, struggling to overcome the consuming grief she suffers from her loss and the difficulty she faces as she attempts to forgive her son. The courtroom accounts of gruesome details and the shocking testimonies from experts only add to Cherie’s yearning to make sense of the crime. She is tormented, wanting to know how and why this tragedy happened, and if there was anything she could have done to prevent it. 

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The Decision to Kill trailer

The Decision to Kill trailer

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Available in Kindle, paperback, hardcover and audio formats

978-1957288338 (paperback)

978-1957288345 (hardcover

Published by WildBlue Press

June 17, 2022

Leslie Ghiglieri
from Leslie Ghiglieri

wrote this book to fulfill a promise I made to my friend Cherie Wier whose story fills the pages.

In 2016, Cherie asked me to document the events surrounding the 1986 murder of her husband by their adopted teenage son. The writing of this story was particularly difficult, as I immersed myself in the emotional life of each character. The Decision to Kill is more than a crime story. It is a family saga about how the decision of one family member forever affected the lives of them all.

     This unique true crime book gives the reader an unusual look into the personal circumstances leading up to and after the crime. The reader learns of the teenager’s progression into the world of drug abuse and alcohol addiction while watching the parents try to change his behaviors--their mistakes, frustrations, and disappointments. Included in the latter chapters are excerpts from letters the convicted killer wrote to his mother while in prison revealing his battle with addiction, sexual identity, and his search for faith.