Horrific Garrow 1973 crime spree is topic of Minerva presentation

MINERVA | The inside story of the most notorious serial murder case occurring in the Adirondacks in at least 75 years will be detailed at an upcoming presentation in the town of Minerva. Jim Tracy, author of the newly published book "Sworn to Silence: the Truth Behind Robert Garrow and the Missing Bodies Case" will be giving a PowerPoint presentation on the complex and intriguing multiple murder and rape case from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, July 17 in the new pavilion at Donnelly Beach on Minerva Lake. Robert Garrow Jr. was a serial rapist and murderer who went on an 18-day killing spree in the summer of 1973, stabbing four people to death, including a woman he abducted and raped, before being caught. An ensuing 12-day manhunt for Garrow transfixed the public, horrified with the crimes, which caused that season in 1973 to be named "the summer of terror" in the Adirondacks. The crime spree and manhunt involved sites in Warren, Essex and Hamilton counties, including the towns and hamlets of Wevertown, Speculator, Bakers Mills, Mineville, Indian Lake, Wells, Lake Pleasant and many other communities. At the time, it was the most extensive, expensive and widespread manhunt in New York State history. During the search for Garrow, roadblocks were set up through the Adirondacks, with state troopers mandating that motorists open their trunks for inspection, and people were warned not to stop between destinations. A former reporter at the Post-Star, Tracy conducted 9 years of research before he wrote the book following his 10-year stint at the Post-Star. His book includes exclusive interviews with key people involved in the case, including a police investigator and one of Garrow's two defense attorneys. His research included culling details from original court transcripts, police records and historic newspaper accounts. The case is renowned not only for its gruesome crimes. Garrow's defense attorneys refused to disclose the location of the bodies of two of the victims, citing attorney-client privilege — prompting dismay of victims' grieving family members and anger from area citizens. This lack of disclosure, which prompted the indictment of one of Garrow's lawyers, tested the scope and parameters of attorney-client privilege and led to a landmark legal ruling. Tracy has a personal connection to the search. As an 8-year old, he personally saw evidence — at the time of the manhunt — of how Garrow had broken into his father's hunting camp in Speculator after police discovered the intrusion. Tracy's book also tracks the intriguing fate of the lawyers and police involved in the Garrow case, as well as Garrow's upbringing and background. Tracy will be answering questions from the public and signing books at the July 17 presentation in Minerva. An ice cream social is to precede Tracy's presentation at 6:30 p.m. The dual events are sponsored by the Minerva Historical Society.

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Horrific Garrow 1973 crime spree is topic of Minerva presentation

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