Early Graves by Thomas H. Cook (1992 1st Thus Mass Market Paperback)  

  --  SHOCKING TRUE CRIME -- The Youngest Woman Ever Sentenced to Death Row  

The story of the life and crimes of the youngest woman on Death Row describes how pregnant, teenaged Judy encouraged her husband, Alvin, to go on a killing spree that left two little girls dead.

On September 29, 1982, 13yr old Lisa Ann Millican's tortured body was found at the bottom of Little River Canyon, Alabama. Nearly 3-weeks later, 22yr old Janice Kay Chatman's badly decomposed body was discovered a few miles away in Gordon County, Georgia. The desperate hunt for those responsible for the grisly murders led police to 18yr old Judith Ann Neelley and her husband Alvin. 

It did not take long for investigators to make their most surprising discovery: the impetus behind the killing spree came not from sinister, smiling, oversized Alvin Neelley, but from his pregnant teen aged wife, Judy, who far exceeded her husband in her cruelty and thirst for deadly control. 

Charged with kidnapping and murder, Judith Neelley would achieve a distinction grimly unique in the annals of American justice - at the age of 18, she would become the youngest woman ever sentenced to Death Row. Here is the bizarre and terrifying tale of a truly shocking case that tore apart a Southern community and made unprecedented legal history.   xiv + 338pp +8pp of photos.  

THOMAS H. COOK was born in Fort Payne, Alabama, in 1947. He has been nominated for the Edgar Award seven times in five different categories. He received the best novel Edgar for The Chatham School Affair, the Martin Beck Award, the Herodotus Prize for best historical short story, and the Barry for best novel for Red Leaves, and has been nominated for numerous other awards.  Novelist Cook here turns to nonfiction to tell of the sadistic 1982 murders of two southern teenagers. Strong writing enhances the book's grisly appeal.  

Mass-Market Paperback with initial seller's name ink-stamped on front-facing end-page (adds no value).  Cover remains complete but with reading creases in spine and storage crease in rear cover.  Interior is tight, clean and text is unmarked.  Above standard condition.  

Copyright 1990.  This copy stated from First Signet Printing, June 1992 with full print-line, but marked as published by Onyx (also owned by Penguin Group).  Originally published in a Dutton edition.  Printed in U.S.A.   Cataloged as Onyx True Crime: 451-JE296.  ISBN: 0-451-40296-0.  No LCCN.  MSR = US $4.99.  

Notes on Condition/Edition ratings:

Fine – means like new, but any book produced over 10 years ago isn't “brand new” or even “new.”  Using the same term as coin collectors, “can’t guarantee it is uncirculated, but it looks very much like it could be.”  Booksellers need similar grading to describe this...

Like New – A new book, no marks no damage (except maybe remainder marks or shelf-wear) except not obtained directly from the publisher or in packaging from the publisher.  Same sort of thing about grading as Fine above except generally used for newer publication dates with title still in print. 

Good – How someone else might take care of a book. Also referred to as “standard.” This is the most likely condition for books of this age & title, shows the book has been read or previously owned.  

 Acceptable – How a young child, student or a librarian might take care of a book. (Either trying to make sure someone doesn't steal it by plastering ownership everywhere, filled it with copious notes or a book that has been damaged.)

Poor – Combination of “acceptable” factors above. Most likely with water damage as well. Might have missing pages (you should ask).  Usually requires repair to be usable. 

Near – Means “almost” in an optimistic sense. e.g., “Near Fine” means very good, but on the high end.

1st Thus – Unique somehow, maybe 1st paperback, new illustrator, misprint or even the 1st edition. A collector might desire this copy for their collection.

Thanks for looking!