A Death in White Bear Lake : The True Chronicle of an All-American Town

Rating:
Summary: Disturbing
Review: I found this book to be quite disturbing, it was well written, chock full of information and research. I never knew that before the 60's most people were never charged with child abuse most of the time, because most believed that a parent could never do that to their own child. What I found most horrific was that most of the relative's were aware of the abuse of dennis and turned a blind eye toward that evil woman, lois. And her husband Harold? what a loser! he deserved jail time for his complicity in the crime.

Rating:
Summary: Disturbing
Review: I found this book to be quite disturbing, it was well written, chock full of information and research. I never knew that before the 60's most people were never charged with child abuse most of the time, because most believed that a parent could never do that to their own child. What I found most horrific was that most of the relative's were aware of the abuse of dennis and turned a blind eye toward that evil woman, lois. And her husband Harold? what a loser! he deserved jail time for his complicity in the crime.

Rating:
Summary: Living in White Bear
Review: I have lived in White Bear all of my life. My parents grew up there. We all attended classes in the "new" high school that is talked about. My aunt was in that school's first graduating class in 1965. I say this because, horrifying as the Dennis Jurgens case may be, it is not hard to see how it happened. Even today, it is a small community where most everybody knows everybody else. My family often attended holidays at the Zerwas home, and even today they find it hard to speak ill of Lois. This book does a wonderful job of telling what so many people have been trying to keep quiet for so many years. This is a story that needs to be told in order to make sure that it never happens to another child. Siegel does an excellent job of projecting the difficulty of following up a 20 year old crime that nobody would admit was committed. This is a powerful story that will make you look at child abuse in a whole new way.

Rating:
Summary: "A well written biography of one boys short life".
Review: I read this book many years ago and was moved by its fine detail into one childs life of suffering. The author was exceptional with the detail into the abusers life and family history, the history of White Bear Lake, the adoption, and the trial. I felt the boys pain and suffering and was outraged at the husband,the police department,the coroner,the family, and everyone involved who allowed this horrible act of child brutality to happen. I will never forget what happened to this child, thanks to this book. A must read for all who want to protect children from abuse.

Rating:
Summary: A Story Close To Home!
Review: I read this book two times and I could read it another time. I live in Oakdale, MN. I have driven by the house that it took place in. It is really close to home and it is really cool. One of my teacher's fathers buried Dennis Jurgens.
It is very shocking on how this kind of a thing could take place in a little well kept communy.
-Dan Abrahamson
Age 12

Rating:
Summary: Superbly researched and written
Review: Incredible book. I could scarcely put it down, and since it's a mighty thick book, I found myself bringing it with me everywhere to read it at any free moment. I was disappointed that I couldn't find any other non-fiction work by Barry Siegel. He has a real gift for writing in this genre.

Rating:
Summary: Superbly researched and written
Review: Incredible book. I could scarcely put it down, and since it's a mighty thick book, I found myself bringing it with me everywhere to read it at any free moment. I was disappointed that I couldn't find any other non-fiction work by Barry Siegel. He has a real gift for writing in this genre.

Rating:
Summary: Fascinating tale of child-abuse murder
Review: On Sunday morning, April 11, 1965, the badly bruised and battered body of 3 1/2 year old Dennis Jurgens was reportedly found in his crib by his adoptive parents, Harold and Lois Jurgens, who claimed he had fallen down the evening before. Rigor mortis had already set in when the police arrived, and the autopsy determined that his death was due to peritonitis, due to a rupture of his bowel. Although virtually everyone who knew the family suspected that the death was due to child abuse, the case fell through the cracks and was eventually forgotten, until the birth mother walked into the police station in White Bear Lake, Minnesota in 1986, demanding justice for her son. This is the fascinating story of the events leading to his death and the subsequent investigations, both at the time and later, when it was successfully prosecuted. Only 3 days ago, I drove by the house in White Bear Lake where little Dennis suffered and died, and one of the principals in the book, Lt. Jerome Zerwas died last October (1997). Five stars.

Rating:
Summary: True Crime Drama
Review: One of the best true crime stories yet written. It was obviously throughly researched by the author,with a great deal of detail. Since it took over 20 years for Justice to come for little Dennis, a historical and sociological study of the syndrome of the plight of abused child in American society becomes a large part of the story. Although a heartbreaker, it is a highly informative book. A must read for the true crime fan as well as for any interested in the plight of unparented children in America.