I've Been Watching You
The South Louisiana Serial Killer
by
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The dog days of summer arrived hot and humid in
Reports filtered out about an exorbitant amount of unsolved cases involving missing and murdered women in the
The killer was a white male in a white Chevy pickup truck.
The killer liked dark hair.
The killer attended LSU.
The killer was a professor at LSU.
The killer had sought out all of the victims at The Caterie, a college bar at the intersection of
The killer was a police officer.
The killer played a tape recording of a baby crying outside of his victims’ doors. That’s how he got in.
The killer worked at the local BMW dealership.
Everyone knew someone who had seen a man peeping into their windows.
The East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office began hosting classes for women, teaching them how to defend themselves against attacks. Sales of pepper spray skyrocketed; storeowners couldn’t keep it on their shelves.
The Advocate,
Men in white trucks no longer smiled at pretty girls while stopped at red lights. Women loaded their guns and learned how to use them. There were no more late night shopping trips to Wal-Mart, no more leaving doors unlocked, no more sitting on porches after dark.
One man had taken control of a city.
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About the Book
“Rigor mortis had set in by the time police arrived,” Special Prosecutor Tony Clayton told the jury, watching their eyes as they viewed the photograph of the bloodied arm of Geralyn Barr DeSoto. Geralyn’s clenched fist, frozen in death away from her body, held her secret. “Geralyn was trying to tell us something. She was telling us how hard she fought. She was telling us who her killer is. ‘Right here,’ she said. ‘Right here I have the killer. Just open my hand. Just open my hand, and you’ll know who did it to me.’” Two months later: “Charlotte Murray Pace fought from one room of that apartment to the other,” Prosecutor John Sinquefield told jurors as they blinked tears away. “She clawed, she hit, she fought. As her young, strong heart pumped its last blood out of the holes he cut out of her, she fought. And in the fight, he took her life, her body. But he could not take her honor. She preserved her honor by the way she lived and the way she died. That fight is not over, ladies and gentlemen of the jury. Charlotte Murray Pace has brought her fight to you.” These crimes are vividly depicted in this first comprehensive book about Derrick Todd Lee. I’ve Been Watching You—The South Louisiana Serial Killer dramatically tells the story of Lee’s life and follows the timeline of his reign of terror over South Louisiana. Readers will become intimately acquainted with the seven victims who have been linked to Lee by DNA, along with the frustrated investigators who could not catch this diabolical killer. This recounting also details the murders of ten other women who were not connected by DNA, but whom these authors believe should be included on the list of Lee’s victims due to strong circumstantial evidence. There are many unanswered questions regarding these series of killings. How did Lee find his victims, and why did he choose them? Why didn’t the Multi-Agency Homicide Task Force believe he was the killer when his name was brought repeatedly to its attention? What evil possessed him to rape and murder so many women? All of these questions are answered as I’ve Been Watching You journeys for more than a decade through the small towns and swamps of South Louisiana to create a graphic accounting of Lee’s vicious rapes and homicides. I’ve Been Watching You vividly paints the portrait of this monster and the beautiful women who died as a result of his twisted compulsion to kill.
About the Author
Susan D. Mustafa
Susan D. Mustafa is the former managing editor of City Social magazine, a monthly lifestyles publication located in
Because she lived in
Tony Clayton
As the special prosecutor of the South Louisiana Serial Killer for the murder of Geralyn DeSoto, Tony Clayton brings a unique point of view to this book. Tony earned his Juris Doctorate from Southern University, graduating cum laude. He currently serves as the assistant district attorney for West Baton Rouge Parish. His distinguished history includes the positions of special prosecutor for East Baton Rouge Parish, district court judge in the Nineteenth Judicial District, assistant district attorney for East Baton Rouge Parish, and instructor of law at Southern University. After trying a multitude of murder cases, Tony's prosecutorial record is unblemished.
Tony possesses an intimate knowledge of the “behind the scenes” investigation into Derrick Todd Lee. He followed each case closely and worked with investigators and prosecutors in the numerous jurisdictions where murders were committed. His knowledge concerning all of the investigations gives readers an insight not normally available in many true crime books.
Sue Israel
Sue Israel’s writing and editing experience spans more than twenty years, culminating in her position at City Social as editorial director. Her professional background includes service as director of education and publications for a non-profit organization and automation coordinator for a state government agency. Having lived in
Susan and Sue’s talents and experience, combined with Tony’s insight and expertise, enabled these authors to present readers with an incredible description of events as they unfolded in