Obsession (62 page)

Carroll Ann Ellis, Director of the Fairfax County Police Department Victim-Witness Unit. Many survivors credit her with literally saving their lives.
(Photo by Mark Olshaker)

Sandy Witt, Fairfax County victim coordinator. She says, “There are no time limits in what we do. I’ts a 24-7-365. Whatever it takes, we’ll be there form them.”
(Photo by Mark Olshaker)

Stephanie and Jeni Schmidt. At the sentencing hearing of Stephanie’s killer, Jeni confronted him with what he had robbed her of.
(Photo by Gene Schmidt)

Stephanie Schmidt was a beautiful young woman. The quote under her photo in her senior class yearbook said: “A day without laughter is a wasted day.”
(Photo by Gene Schmidt)

This flyer was widely distributed after Stephanie disappeared and Donald Gideon left town. He turned himself in weeks later in Florida after the case was featured on
America’s Most Wanted
. Gideon pled guilty to Stephanie’s murder and led authorities to her body.
(Flyer by Peggy and Gene Schmidt)

The authors visit the Schmidt family at their home in Leawood, Kansas. From left to right: John Douglas, Gene Schmidt, Peggy Schmidt, Jeni Schmidt, Mark Olshaker.
(Photo b Carolyn c. Olshaker)

July 6, 1997. Friends and family gathered at the Schmidts’ house for a celebration of the Supreme Court victory in
Kansas v. Hendricks
, which challenged a key provision in the Stephanie Schmidt Sexual Predator Law. Kansas attorney General Carla Stoval reminisces with Gene, Jeni, and Peggy before cutting the cake.
(Photo by Mark Olshaker)

Carla Stoval presented the Schmidts with an angel doll, with blond curly hair like Stephanie’s, holding a heart, upon which is written the date of the high court’s ruling and the phrase “Stephanie Smiled.”
(Photo by Gene Schmidt)

The pit in the cellar of Gary Heidnik’s Philadelphia house where he placed his female victims. On one occasion he filled the pit with water and electrocuted one of them.
(Photo courtesy of the Philadelphia Police Department)

Gary Heidnik, bright enough to amass a stock market fortune from his military disability pension, abducted women and kept them as slaves in the basement of his house in Philadelphia.
(Corbis-Bettmann)

Theodore “Ted” Bundy, shortly before his execution at the Florida State Penitentiary at Starke.
(Photo courtesy of the FBI)

Some of Ted Bundy’s victims. His “preference” in victims is obvious.