Silent Scream: Yvonne Mason

 

Reviewed by Fran Lewis

 

 

 

In a world that has changed so much, where young people go missing daily, this novel reminds us that we need to warn our young women and young men to always be on the alert for sexual and social predators.  The lives of so many families changed in 1972 when Gerard Schaffer, serial killer, whose twisted and maniacal mind decided to take the lives of young women he felt were unworthy of living.  Comparing these young women to whores, he would trick, lead, and deceive these girls by leading them into his lair.  Gerard Schaffer, a man of superior intelligence, believed in his own mind that what he did was right.  He felt justified in his killings and bragged about them to anyone who would listen.

 

Pamela Sue Wells and Nancy Ellen Trotter were his first victims to get away. As a Deputy Sheriff, Gerard Schaffer, used his position of power and authority to terrorize these two girls by claiming he wanted to teach them a lesson.  The lesson being not to hitchhike with strangers.  He felt that they were nothing more than whores who needed to be taught a lesson.  Handcuffing by girls and hanging them from different trees with a noose around their neck, he left them hanging from the trees.  He took them to Hutchinson Island a remote place, which he thought, would be their final resting place.  He told them the evils of hitchhiking and he would be back with men who would sell them to slave traders.

Little did he know that Nancy Ellen Trotter with everything she had would manage to get out of her noose and get help for herself and Pamela Sue Wells.

 

Although he was fired from his position this did not stop his reign of terror.  Charged with two counts of aggravated assault, he did not seem to be fearful of the consequences he might face because of his actions.  Although arrested and put in jail for only two months, the Judge D.C. Smith released him and helped to set off a chain of killings that would span many counties in Florida and other states too.

 

Throughout this graphic novel, this reviewer read of the heinous mutilations, decapitations and dismemberments inflicted on Shaffer’s victims.  The list of victims and crimes seemed endless.

 

Trying to convince everyone he was mentally insane and should be sent to an institution, was not only a ploy of Schaffer to try and get out of going to prison for life, but one more way this reviewer realized just how evil and cunning this man was.

 

Although, there were many who interviewed him in jail, and many who corresponded with him and wanted to try to write his story and listen to his words, none was as powerful as those of the victims that were silenced by him.

 

Georgia Jessup, Susan Place, Collette Goodenenough, Barbara Ann Wilcox, Nancy Leichner, Pam Nater, Nancy Trotter, Pamela Wells, Carmen Hallock, Leigh Hainline, Elise Farmer, Alice Briscolina, Belinda Hutchins and those that we do not know about, this is your chance to have your Screams Heard forever.  Having no regard for the pain he inflicted upon you, not amount of remorse for what he did and using the media for more than 30 years to tell his sick and twisted stories and taunt the families of his victims, your voices will now be heard and his will forever be silenced.

 

When Gerard Schaffer finally got his just rewards in prison, an inmate silenced his human voice.  He used his knowledge of the law and his skill to write appeals and more to rat out his fellow inmates and try to get the courts to allow him to be set free.

 

In order to really understand and know just how twisted; insane and sick this man was, you need to read this book and make sure that their messages is sent aloud and clear to all young people.

 

To the real heroes of this story Philip Shailer, the Broward State Attorney, Judge Trowbridge who presided on the bench, was relentless, and made sure he would never go free, the girls thank you.  To all of the detectives on this case, to Jack for his diligence and hard work investigating these killings and to all of those in law enforcement that made sure that this sick and twisted man did not go free, we the victims of Gerard Schaffer yell loud and clear: THANK YOU!

 

 

 

 

 

 

To the victims of Geralr Schaffer:

A special Eulogy to the Victims:

From Fran Lewis

 

 

Your families gathered with great attitude

To come and honor you

To share the sweet recollections

And express their gratitude

 

You were a great example

Of the way one should live

Your generous and loving spirits

Were the greatest gifts you could give

 

You took each day as a challenge

Exactly as it came

Your spirits remained steadfast

Life and its ups and never made you change

 

Your families would often would marvel

At the strength and determination found in you

How much we will miss your courage

How fearless your attitude

 

Life is a fragile thing

And it can change within an instant

Nothing is safe from the effects of change

No person or possession we’re given

 

The only things we can hold forever

Are the memories of you in our hearts

The love you bestowed upon us on earth

Before it came time for you to depart

 

 

 

Goodbyes are not forever

And nor is this the end

When the angels came to call you away

They led you to a play to of peace to stay

 

The empty spaces in our hearts that is left behind

Within this world we all know

Reminds us just how we must cherish each day

And how precious our time is before we go

 

MAY YOUR VOICES BE HEARD AND YOUR SCREAMS NEVER SILENCED!  MAY THE SOUL OF GERARD SCHAFFER KNOW NO REST AND BE TORTURTED UNTIL ETERNITY.

 

There are not enough stars to give this book. I would give this five stars and five more for the outstanding and amazing author who wrote this important novel.