Social scientist, victim advocate, and the mother of a murder victim - Deborah Spungen is well acquainted with all facets of what she defines as "the blackest hell accompanied by a pain so intense that even breathing becomes an unendurable labor." In Homicide: The Hidden Victims, Spungen illustrates just how and why family members become co-victims when a loved one is murdered, and she poignantly addresses the emotional, physical, spiritual, and psychological effects of such traumatic events. The timely information and innovative modalities discussed in this book make it ideal for mental health and criminal justice professionals, pastoral counselors, social workers, and victim advocates.

When mentally deranged Ken Franck kills four people, he shatters the lives not only of their families, but of his own family. However, his other victims refuse to let hate destroy them. When the victim's son marries, his best man is the murderer's son.

Based, in part, on interviews and field surveys conducted in the Midwestern area of the United States.