Murder In The Heartland

M. William Phelps

Apr 2010 · Pinnacle Books

About this ebook

The New York Times bestselling author examines the shocking case of a Kansas woman who murdered to become a mother.

On December 16th, 2004, a 911 operator in rural Missouri received a frantic call from the mother of twenty-three-year-old Bobbie Jo Stinnett. The eight-months-pregnant mother-to-be had been found bleeding on her family room floor—her unborn baby gone.

More than 150 miles away, in Melvern, Kansas, Lisa Montgomery proudly showed off “her” new baby, duping many while arousing the suspicions of others. Across the nation, televisions broadcast the first Amber Alert for an unborn child.

Here is the true story of the frantic search for a baby born under shocking conditions, of the lucky break that led to the killer, of a tortured history of sexual abuse, and the pain that lingers in two American towns. With the exclusive cooperation of key witnesses and participants, award-winning investigative reporter M. William Phelps reveals what really happened that fateful December day.

“The most disturbing and moving look at murder in rural America since In Cold Blood.” —Gregg Olsen

Ratings and reviews

This crime was absolutely horrible. I had heard of it but not as much came out in the papers, etc in Alaska as I'm sure it did in the lower 48. I was impressed with the detail of the book, horrid as it was. My fave author, another excellent book!

What a gut wrenching story told so well by M. William Phelps. So very sad but also asks the question of how was she able to fool so many with the fake pregnancy? Like every book I have read by M W P this is well researched and equally well written making them so much better to read. Highly recommend to all who enjoy true crime, MWP is up there with the best such as Ann Rule, Greg Olsen etc.

I found this book to be the worse of Phelps that I've read. It just went on and on in circles about the same scenarios just seemed pointless and boring which i haven't found reading his other books

About the author

New York Times bestselling, award-winning investigative journalist, executive producer and serial killer expert M. William Phelps is the author of more than forty nonfiction books and has made over 300 television appearances. He created, produced and hosted the series Dark Minds and is one of the stars of Deadly Women and Oxygen’s Snapped, Killer Couples, andREELZ’s Sex, Lies, and Murder. Radio America calls him “the nation’s leading authority on the mind of the female murderer.” His iHeartRadio investigative podcast, Paper Ghosts: The Five, which he wrote, directed, and executive produced, debuted in 2020 and soared to #1 in popularity. Touched by tragedy himself through the unsolved murder of his sister-in-law, Phelps is able to enter the hearts and minds of his subjects like no one else. He lives in Connecticut and can be reached at his website, www.mwilliamphelps.com.