knotheadusc's Full Review: Stella Sands - Behind the Mask: A True Story of Ob...
I did so much traveling last month that I had a hard time getting in my usual reading and had practically run out of books. Consequently, on our latest trip to AAFES, I ended up in the book section. It's been awhile since my last true crime indulgence; even though AAFES doesn't generally stock very good true crime books, that doesn't stop me from picking up a few of the ones they do keep on hand. This time, I purchased Stella Sands'Behind the Mask: A True Story of Obsession and a Savage Genius. As of today, this book has been out exactly one month. Savage Genius is another book published by St. Martin's True Crime Library, a publisher that, in my opinion, delivers books of varying quality. Anyway, this is the first book I've read by Stella Sands.
The case
Back in 1997, William "Bill" Coday seemed to be the consummate professional and scholar. At 40 years of age, he worked as a librarian in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He was fluent in German, English, Spanish, and French and was proficient in Italian, Hindi, and Farsi. He had degrees in languages, history, law, and library science. His job at the library was a prestigious one that included perks like the ability to travel the world to find materials for the Fort Lauderdale library system. Always quiet, helpful, and charming, Coday seemed to be the kind of man who would make a sensitive husband and a good provider. Indeed, he had been divorced twice and remained friendly with his former wives. And yet, behind his mask of brilliance, professionalism, and decorum, William Coday was a killer.
On July 12, 1997, the usually punctual Coday failed to show up for work. His co-workers were understandably concerned because Coday was usually so dependable and he had recently seemed very depressed. They worried that Coday might be suicidal. After calling him many times and failing to reach him, two of Coday's colleagues went to his apartment and knocked. When they didn't get an answer, they called the emergency number for the apartment complex. Thaddeus Janik, the maintenance worker who answered their worried call, assured the two women that he would check on Coday.
A couple of hours later, Janik arrived at Coday's apartment. He knocked on the door, but got no answer. He decided to get a master key from the owner. As Janik entered the dwelling, he called out a greeting. There was no answer, though the apartment looked to be normal. As Janik further investigated, however, he soon came upon a truly horrifying sight. There, lying in a pool of blood, was a female body. She had been stabbed and bludgeoned multiple times.
Gloria Gomez
The stabbing victim on Coday's bedroom floor was Gloria Gomez, a beautiful young Colombian woman whom Coday had been dating. Coday had been distraught because Gomez had been trying to break off their relationship. She had fallen in love with another man and was planning to get married. Gomez had come over to Coday's apartment let her ex boyfriend down easy. She knew he had been depressed and she wanted to be kind to him. In exchange for her act of compassion, Gomez was dealt 144 blows by two hammers and a knife. There was no doubt that Bill Coday was her killer. But it turned out there was a lot more to Bill Coday and this murder case than met the eye.
A history of violence
Unbeknownst to Bill Coday's friends and colleagues, the man had a violent past. Coday met Lisa Hullinger in 1975, when they were both high school students. They both represented their respective schools in Augsburg, Germany as part of a prestigious summer exchange program to learn German. The two became fast friends and ended up dating, even though they lived in different states. They both graduated high school in 1976 and went off to different colleges, though they still considered themselves boyfriend and girlfriend. The relationship continued into their sophomore year. In 1978, both Coday and Hullinger decided to study abroad in Germany again, this time in Hamburg. But Hullinger was growing weary of the long distance relationship and wanted to see other people. On the night of September 12, she visited Coday's apartment to break off the relationship. Coday went ballistic. Hullinger sat quietly, hoping that would calm Coday. He left the apartment and perhaps she wondered if maybe he had stepped out for some air. But no... he came back, armed with a hammer, which he used to bash in her skull. She later died in a German hospital.
The German panel of judges had determined that Coday was insane and needed psychiatric help more than he needed incarceration. He was given a sentence of three to five years. Coday served about eighteen months in a German prison before he was shipped back to America. Lisa Hullinger's parents were shocked by the outcome, but determined to go on living their lives... until they got a phone call nineteen years later from a Fort Lauderdale detective, calling to let them know that Bill Coday had killed again.
My thoughts
I think Stella Sands did a pretty good job with Behind the Mask. Although there were a couple of sections in this book that seemed like they needed a good editor, the writing is mostly engaging. I think writing about this case was a good choice; I had not heard of Bill Coday, but his story is certainly very intriguing, especially since I currently live in Germany.
Beyond outlining Bill Coday's upbringing, education, and crimes, Stella Sands does a good job explaining how the court case went. As it turned out, the jury in Coday's case was not told about his prior conviction. Sands explains why the German case was deemed irrelevant. She also provides commentary on the difference between German and U.S. laws. And there is a photo section included, although it's rather skimpy.
A lot of times, when I read books by St. Martin's Press, I come away with the idea that the authors aren't always able to get cooperation from the people involved in the cases. That wasn't the case for Behind the Mask. I got the sense that Sands was actually able to interview the victims' families as well as Coday's attorneys. That made this book more substantial than some of the other true crime books I've read from St. Martin's.
That said...
I still think this book could have been better than it is. Like a lot of true crime books by St. Martin's Press, Behind the Mask has sort of a sensational feel to it. It also seemed like Sands was rather sympathetic to Coday, which may be a turn off for some readers.
Who was William Coday?
Although William Coday was sentenced to death for his crime against Gloria Gomez, he never faced the death chamber. On May 4, 2008, Coday was found dead in his death row cell, having bled to death. So much of this case seemed focused on lawyers trying to prove who Coday was... a cold-blooded killer or a hot-headed, mentally unstable man who killed in the height of passion. Stella Sands seems to be trying to figure out Coday, but I'm not sure she succeeded.
Overall
I think Behind the Mask is a worthy read for those who like true crime. At the very least, it details a fascinating man whose brilliant mind and helpful demeanor hid a very violent dark side. I give it four stars.
Sands recounts the case of William Coday, a mild-mannered Fort Lauderdale librarian who completely loses control when his girlfriend leaves him. He lu...More at Buy.com Marketplaces
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