Veteran journalist Wilt Browning takes us deep into the twisted life of All-American football hero Pernell Jefferson and the women he stalked and terrorized.A confident and charming demeanor was only a cover for the deep insecurities and fears of rejection that led Pernell to walk out of the Cleveland Browns training camp just as he was about to be offered a starting position and caused him to abuse the women who loved him.Jeannie Butkowski was one of those women. Hunters discovered her remains in Amelia County, Va.Was Pernell, as he now claims, a victim of Roid Rage. a condition supposedly caused by using illegal steroids to build his body? Or was something deeper -- and more evil -- at work?This spellbinding true-life thriller not only considers those questions but offers stunning insights that could apply to the Simpson case as well.
(Google books)
Good flashback true crime. Neo-noir?
"Deadly Goals" is the story of one Pernell Jefferson, a former Small College (N.A.I.A.) All-American football star. He was convicted of the abduction and murder of his girl friend by a Virginia court. His abuse of the victim, Jeannie, and other females was acerbated by the heavy use of steroids to enhance his football prowess. DG is fast, linear, no-nonsense reading. There is a total absence of mystery here. DG is told in classic flashback style. The reader knows the ending from the outset. We only have to read to learn how the wheels of justice turned. BG even includes a note from Mr. Jefferson, penned from the Virginia State big house. A strong point of DG is that all the very real life characters come across as genuine people, warts and all. A disturbing aspect is that not all police departments prosecute abuse toward women equally aggressively. Jefferson's violent proclivities happened in different locales and the Miami and Chesapeake, VA cops were lethargic in pursuing him or responding to his victims' allegations. Jeannie's' abduction, murder and dumping of her body happened in a smaller Virginia town, which would not tolerate such crimes. This reviewer can picture DG as a classic 1940-50s-film noir, with the purp telling his tale from behind bars. He can see Lizabeth Scott or Veronica Lake as the unfortunate victim and perhaps Pat O'Brien and Brian Dunlevy as the detective and prosecutor who bring Pernell down. DG has definite big screen potential, with or without the noir. Any reader must wonder what Pernell's life might have been like had he NOT walked out of the Cleveland Brown's summer camp. (Some observers felt he would have made the squad as a rookie). There was also the controversial introduction of a taped phone conversation with Jeannie as crucial prosecutional evidence at his trial. Making the team might have kept Jefferson out of trouble; exclusion of the tape might have exonerated him, albeit free to abuse other women. BG is recommended as a good no-nonsense straightforward true crime tale. A star is deducted for the lack of any true suspense.
Good book
There was a lot of research put into this which is apparent throughout. Hearing the after thoughts from the killer was a little different than the books I normally read. At first I didn't really care for that, but as I read on it gave me more of an idea of what kind of person he truly was. I was glad that even after hearing what he had to say for himself I still felt no empathy for him. He should rot in prison for the rest of his life. Hopefully he will die there too. He didn't give his victim the chance to live so he should never see the light of day either.
Good Story-Too much Football as Filler
The story was interesting but I agree with many reviewers that there did not seem to be a point to the ridiculously detailed descriptions of football games, including play-by-play commentary. It seemed like filler. There could have been about 50 less pages of book, because yeah we get it, the guy was a good player when he cheated by using steroids, which does not excuse that he was an abusive murderer.
DESPITE ERRORS, LOCAL TRUE-CRIME STORY IS DIFFICULT TO PUT DOWN
HE STALKED, beat and terrorized several women. He abducted, raped and killed Jeannie Butkowski. He blamed steroids.
Now, though, Pernell Jefferson claims he is Mr. Nice Guy.
Wilt Browning, a sports columnist for The News & Record in Greensboro, N.C., tells a taut true-crime story about Jefferson in ``Deadly Goals: The True Story of an All-American Football Hero Who Stalked and Murdered,'' his fifth book.
The chapter devoted to the killer's apologia, however, is not designed for the skeptic who might be bored with that plot. Especially those in Hampton Roads.
``Deadly Goals'' hits very close to home. Butkowski lived in Chesapeake; her family lived in Virginia Beach. Her father is retired Navy. Jefferson cooperated with Browning in writing this book, which pulls no punches in its vivid descriptions of a frightening, disgusting lifestyle.
Jefferson, a Benson, N.C., native, used sports as his way out of poverty.
In 1984, the Guilford College student became the nation's leading kick returner, a recognition that netted him a contract with the NFL's Cleveland Browns.
Jefferson, a charmer when he wanted to be, was insecure and exited training camp to avoid a cold dismissal. Later, he found out he would have been asked to stay on.
By that time, though, steroid abuse was part of his life. It began, he claims, in college when he became interested in muscle building, an interest that netted several awards.
His regimen was a five-day-a week training schedule supplemented with lots of carbohydrates, proteins and steroids. Jefferson continues to lift weights today, but steroids are not on the menu at the Augusta Correctional Center in Craigsville, where he is serving a life sentence for capital murder. He will be eligible for parole in 2011.
Jefferson goes for the Brownie points in ``Deadly Goals,'' claiming he can now serve as an example to potential drug users. ``I was a victim of the mental conditions and serious physical problems caused by steroid use,'' he notes.
But he was in high school and steroid-free when he first hit a woman.
To read the full review, click HERE.
Just Another Low-Life Abuser
This book begins with an intriguing statement by Pernell Jefferson about anabolic steroid use and abuse and how he has come to realize what a monster steroids had made of him.
Don't believe a word of it.
I was looking forward to an indepth, breakthrough personal account of how Jefferson''s abuse of these products lead him down a dark and twisting path culminating in violence and murder.
Nope. Pernell Jefferson is nothing more than a vile and common domestic abuser who had more than a little help from his friends-- star struck cops who have enough misogyny to match Jefferson and raise him.
Two of Jefferson's victims called and visited police, one with both her parents, to no avail.
And if any one out there thinks misogyny does not still exist in our police forces- you've got another think coming.
Carrie Butkowski, Jeannie Butkowski's mother put her grief to work, becoming active in three separate victim groups. And that's what it's going to take. Because most of the time, you're fighting a boy's club that think rape and beatings is merely "play-acting" on the woman's part. Funny when she winds up dead. Suddenly, everything changes.
Pernell had nothing but charm and anger. But, boy, could be get those cops to fall in line.
Sadly, women, too.
As for his anabolic sob story...BS. He was slapping women around before he ever shoved a needle into his fatty tissue.
The book is a quick read, delivering the basic facts, and giving good insight into the person Pernell.
If you are a lover of true crime, I would recommend.
As for you cops out there, especially you leaders: Up your damn game. This read casts a despicable light on your interactions with women who have been abused, with your willingness to believe your brothers, especially if, God forbid they are athletes, and this is not just a problem in the South.
Ladies: If it effing hurts it is not love.
Join up. Run for office. Join the police force. This doesn't stop until we stop it. Because the brothers are not going to stop it for us.
Ever.
I'm very impressed with this author!!
I usually try to leave a review on books i read that really capture my interest in True Crime. I must say, this one was a doozy on sucking me into the story!! I started it around 3am this morning and just now finished it at 9:25on tonight. I did have several hours of away time, but it kept calling me to read more, lol.
Usually, I'm not a sports fan, but the premise of the book was definitely what caught my interest. Mr. Browning has done excellent research, if you would like to call it that. He definitely got to the crux of the story very early in and it's so interesting to follow the investigation backwards. It really is. I'm looking forward to finding more of his books to read!!
Interesting book!
This book details the sad story of a young woman who got involved with the wrong person and ended up paying for that decision with her life. This story is truly a cautionary tale. I highly recommend this book to other true crime readers
Racism
First, this is a good read. Second, I kind of disturb by the racism in this book, including the victim father. And also by a stereotype that a white woman "showed him correct way to speak, showed him how to dress right". And the whole seen when Denise called Parnell and mimicking jive talk in 1990's is completely ignorant. The fact the author would even put that in a book is beyond belief.