• Newsletter Signup
  • Interested Authors
  • Blog/Content
    • Author Reports
      • On The Trail Of Ted Bundy
      • Bradley Nickell Q&A With a Sin City Cop
      • From Russia With Love
      • eZine
        • Sign Up For The WildBlue Press eZine
  • Events / Media
    • Special Events
    • Upcoming Media Appearances
    • Media Appearances Archive
  • About Us
    • Catalog
    • Terms of Use
    • Privacy Policy
  • Partners
    • MacGregor Literary
    • ImaginePublicity
    • The House Of Mystery With Host Al Warren
  • Contact Us
    • For Interested Authors
    • Participate in Focus Groups
    • Employment

WildBlue Press

Great Reads from Exceptional Authors

Great Reads from
Exceptional Authors

  • Home
  • Our Books
    • By Genre
      • Business
      • History
      • Mystery
      • Sci-Fi/Fantasy
      • Thrillers
      • True Crime
    • Box Sets
    • Award Winners
    • Coming Soon
    • Featured Books
    • New Releases
  • Blog
  • Subscribe
  • Interested Authors
  • Partners
    • Imagine Publicity
    • MacGregor Literary
    • The House Of Mystery With Al Warren
  • About Us
    • Catalog
    • Terms of Use
    • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us

Iowa parole board to review DIXIE’s case; make your voice heard!

Since January #truecrime readers have grown quite familiar with my first #truecrime book published via #WildBluePress. Meanwhile, business at the Iowa parole board continues.

Dixie audible cover

DIXIE’S LAST STAND will be available in audiobook in early February 2015

DIXIE’S LAST STAND chronicles the plight of #prisoner Dixie Shanahan. It’s a book about #domesticviolence, fateful choices and rigid sentencing guidelines. So far, #DIXIE has proven to be a conversation starter. wildbluepress.com/Dixie

Here’s a random sampling of recent comments posted on #Amazon by readers of DIXIE’S LAST STAND: Was it Murder or Self-Defense?

(If you’ve read DIXIE, please take the time to post your own book review.)

“I firmly believe that Dixie was terrorized and acted out of fear but could she have responded differently? Surely she could have but still I feel that justice in her case was unusually harsh” — Amazon customer Deb.

“This is a riveting take (of) a battered woman that took justice into her own hands. While I felt for her, the resources were clearly there for her.” — Kimberly Trivette

BODY IN BED Free Dixie fund

Photos courtesy of Des Moines Register

“Dixie underwent many horrible beatings, mentally and physically, but murdering Scott wasn’t necessary. She had so many chances to escape, but didn’t. This book shows how cruel people are and when backed into a corner a dog will bite. What I fail to understand is how Dixie killed Scott and let him rot in bed and still live in the home. I can only imagine the stench, and bugs. It only took me a few hours to read this, and enjoyed it.” — Alissa Reichrath

“All I can say is that Dixie is obviously not a very bright woman. She should have immediately called the police after she killed that pig. Scott Shanahan got exactly what he had coming to him. If she would have waited until he was actually abusing to defend herself she would not have had a chance and she herself would have probably been killed. She didn’t do this for the money and it wasn’t a cold-blooded murder, this was a desperate act to save herself and her children from any further abuse from an evil, vile animal. She was absolutely justified and anyone who thinks otherwise has never been a victim of abuse or dealt with anyone who has been. These abuser beat their victims down so badly that the victim feels they have no way out.” — Wendy L. Stamatovich  

Probably by summer, the five-member #Iowa Board of Parole will once again review the annual parole petition from Dixie.

BODY IN BED Dixie convicted

 

Do you believe Dixie Shanahan should remain in prison and denied parole? Or do you feel Dixie’s served enough time in the joint and the board appointed by Gov. Terry Branstad should let her go home to Defiance, Iowa?

I’ve included bio information from the Iowa state government website on the current five-member parole board plus information on how you can reach the chairman via email or by phone:

Board Chairman John F. Hodges of Bondurant, Iowa. J.D., Chair.

Appointed to the Board of Parole in 2014. Born in Hudson, New York. Graduated from Hudson High School, Hudson, New York (1998). Attended Central College, Pella, Iowa, earned a B.A., with a double major in Political Science and Sociology (2002). John earned his J.D. with honors and certification in Litigation and Dispute Resolution from Drake University Law School (2004). In 2013, John opened his own law practice. In February 2014, John was presented with the opportunity to return to public service as the Vice Chair of the Iowa Board of Parole. He was subsequently appointed to Chair in May 2014. His term runs until April 30, 2018

SONY DSC Contact information:

[email protected] 515-725-5757

 Norm Granger, Vice Chair. Appointed to the Board of Parole in 2014. Born and raised in Newark, New Jersey. Graduated from Barringer High School in 1980. While at the University of Iowa Norm started as the number one fullback his sophomore, junior, and senior year. During those three years his team participated in the 1982 Rose Bowl, 1982 Peach Bowl, and the 1983 Gator Bowl. In 1984 Norm was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys Football Club in the 5th round. Norm went on to play with the Cowboys from 1984-1986. Then he played for the Atlanta Falcons in 1987 and retired from football following that season in 1988. Over a twelve-year period Norm’s vocation was dedicated to youth and education in the Public Relations Department of Allen Hospital in Waterloo. He has been a NCAA Football official for the past twenty years. He has also been an official of the Iowa High School Athletic Association for the past twenty four years.

Charles W. Larson, Sr., Board Member. Appointed to the Board of Parole in 2013. Appointed by President George W. Bush in 2001 to serve as the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Iowa. He served in this capacity until December 2006. From July 2004 through May 2005, Charles served in Iraq as the Justice Department’s Senior Advisor to Ambassador John Negroponte. From 1986–1993 he served as United States Attorney under Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush. President William J. Clinton named him a member of the Drug-Free Communities Commission in 1995. He served as Iowa’s Commissioner of Public Safety from 1974–1980. He is a graduate of the Army War College and a retired Army Reserve Colonel.

Sue Lerdal, Board Member. Appointed to the Iowa Board of Parole in 2014. Sue graduated from Iowa State University where she majored in Political Science and from what is now Des Moines University where she studied Health Care Administration. She retired from the Legislative Services Agency in 2011 after serving over 30 years, where she provided statutory and appropriations committee nonpartisan staffing in a variety of subject areas to the Iowa General Assembly. Without any background in corrections, Sue fulfills the Code Section 904A.2(1) requirement of a disinterested layperson Board of Parole member. Sue operates her own small business, In Lieu Of, which assists those in central Iowa who may not have family or friends to rely on to help with medical appointment comprehension, completion of insurance and financial assistance forms, and almost anything legal, to help individuals who would otherwise fall between the cracks in this challenging world, with an emphasis in serving those with special needs.

Sheila A. Wilson, Board Member. Appointed to the Board of Parole in 2013. She holds a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Criminal Justice and a Master’s of Arts Degree in Counseling from Illinois State University, Normal, Illinois. She retired from Unites States Probation, Southern District of Iowa, in April 2013. During her 21 years with U.S. Probation, Ms. Wilson worked as a United State Probation Officer and Senior U.S. Probation Officer, before retiring as Supervising U.S. Probation Officer. Ms. Wilson was also employed by the Illinois Department of Corrections for 10 years. She started her career in Criminal Justice at the Dwight Correctional Center; Dwight, Illinois in 1976 as a Correctional Counselor.

Filed Under: Blog, DIXIE'S LAST STAND, True Crime Tagged With: Dixie s, Dixie's, domestic violence, Iowa, Iowa Board of Parole, John Ferak, John Hodges, Murder, Norm Granger, truecrime, WildBlue Press
March 18, 2015 By John Ferak 1 Comment

Comments

  1. Eric Ebacher says

    December 24, 2016 at 12:24 pm

    Dixie should be denied clemency and should have to serve her entire 50-year sentence for killing her first husband; Dixie had absolutely no right to commit murder despite the fact that Scott was abusive towards her; if this was, in fact, the case, Dixie should have filed for divorce and moved to Texas to be with her family, which was *the* sensible alternative, primarily after the incident in October of 2000 when Scott threw Dixie in the basement, tying her hands and feet up in the process and leaving her there for three days. Instead, as everyone knows by now, in August of 2002, Dixie shot and killed Scott in the head as he was sleeping after storming off to the bedroom, with Dixie making up a story during her trial about Scott supposedly brutally punching her when she didn’t wake him up to say goodbye to their oldest son before he left for school.. If any crime warrants a life sentence with no chance of parole, this should have been one of those cases.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Ferak’s WildBlue Press Books

WRECKING CREW Kindle Cover

WRECKING CREW Gives An Inside Look Into Kathleen Zellner’s Efforts To Free Steven Avery

“Ferak chronicles the long and sordid history of the Manitowoc County Sheriff’s department and the reason Sweaty’s license was suspended. Framing Avery was just par for the course." -- Kathleen Zellner In 2016-17, while working for the USA TODAY … [More...]

FAILURE OF JUSTICE: A Brutal Murder, An Obsessed Cop, Six Wrongful Convictions; A True Crime Thriller By John Ferak

'MAKING A MURDERER' TIMES SIX! If the dubious efforts of law enforcement that led to the case behind MAKING A MURDERER made you cringe, your skin will crawl at the injustice portrayed in FAILURE OF JUSTICE: A Brutal Murder, An Obsessed Cop, Six … [More...]

Body of Proof Cover-Final

Discredited CSI Commander At The Heart of John Ferak’s True Crime BODY OF PROOF

Tainted Evidence In The Murder of Jessica O'Grady?   Jessica O’Grady was a tall, starry-eyed co-ed in search of finding her Mr. Right. Christopher Edwards was a 19-year-old deceitful and darkened soul. David Kofoed was a veteran crime lab … [More...]

Dixie's Last Stand Cover

Readers Asked To Decide “Was It Murder Or Self-Defense?” in DIXIE’S LAST STAND

A WildBlue Press True Crime By Award-Winning Journalist John Ferak Buy DIXIE'S LAST STAND now: Kindle      Paperback Audible iTunes Dixie Shanahan had a terribly troubled and abusive marriage in the sleepy little town of Defiance, Iowa. Then one … [More...]

John Ferak’s Books

Nonfiction

True Crime Classics

Buy John Ferak's book Bloody LiesBLOODY LIES: A CSI Scandal in the Heartland (Black Squirrel Booksy Series)
Rural Nebraska is the backdrop for one of the nation's most egregious crime-scene investigation scandals in modern history.
--
Recent Development: BLOODY LIES was selected as a Foreword Reviews' 2014 INDIEFAB Book of the Year Award Winner!
--
An hour's drive from Omaha, Murdock, pop. 269, seemed about the last place on Earth to be the setting for one of the Heartland's most ruthless and gory double murders in decades. The little farming town in western Cass County had gone more than a century without a single murder.

The frightening and chilling killings inside the upstairs of the farmhouse captured state news media attention. Residents in the country were filled with fear, panic and outrage. Who killed Wayne and Sharmon Stock? What was the motive?

In the News

WildBlue Press 2018 Year in Review

In 2018, WildBlue Press released 29 new titles! Among those titles, twenty-one were under the true crime genre, four were thrillers, two mysteries, … [More...]

True Murder Dan Zupansky Logo

FAILURE OF JUSTICE’s John Ferak on True Murder Radio Show With Host Dan Zupansky

John Ferak, author of WildBlue's hit true crime book FAILURE OF JUSTICE, was recently featured on the True Murder radio show with host Dan Zupansky to … [More...]

Watch John Ferak’s Interview With Al Warren on The House of Mystery

Watch John Ferak's interview with Al Warren on The House of Mystery Radio Show. John discusses his new true crime book, FAILURE OF JUSTICE, which … [More...]

John Ferak Discusses FAILURE OF JUSTICE With Host Alan R. Warren on The House of Mystery Radio Show. Listen Here!

John Ferak is an award-winning investigative journalist and true crime author. His latest true crime book, FAILURE OF JUSTICE, details the largest … [More...]

Darkness Radio logo

John Ferak Discusses FAILURE OF JUSTICE on Darkness Radio With Host Dave Schrader

John Ferak was on Darkness Radio with host Dave Schrader on Tuesday, May 24th, from 10-11pm Central Time. John will be discussed his new true crime … [More...]

John Ferak on The House of Mystery Radio Show

WildBlue Press author John Ferak was on The House of Mystery Radio Show, with host Alan R. Warren, to discuss his hit true crime book, BODY OF PROOF. … [More...]

Genres, Types

New Releases
Featured Books
Coming Soon
Award Winners

Business
History
Horror
Mysteries
Romance
Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Thrillers
True Crime

eBooks
Paperbacks
Audio Books
Box Sets

Available

Cookbook
• Frank Cullotta's Greatest (Kitchen) Hits
True Crime
• 'the Son Of Sam' And Me
• Serial Killers
• Satin Pumps
• Out Of The Mouths Of Serial Killers
• True Crime Chronicles Volume Two
• The World Encyclopedia Of Serial Killers Volume Three
• The Enigma Of Ted Bundy
• True Crime Chronicles Volume One
• Killing Women
• From The Mob To The Movies
• The World Encyclopedia Of Serial Killers Volume Two
• To Kill Or Be Killed
• No Angels
• Monster
• Under A Full Moon
• 'til Death Do Us ...'
• The World Encyclopedia Of Serial Killers
• First Degree Rage
• The 'supreme Gentleman' Killer
• Beast Of New Castle
• The Garden State Parkway Murders
• How Now, Butterfly?
• The Encyclopedia Of The Ted Bundy Murders
• Survival
• Missing ... And Presumed Dead
• Wrong Numbers
• Tantamount
• Playing Dead
• Mothers And Murderers
• Dead Reckoning
• Underworld
• Gabacho
• The Gangster's Cousin
• Race To Justice
• Ted Bundy's Murderous Mysteries
• Travesty Of Justice
• Railroaded
• You Have A Very Soft Voice, Susan
• A Family Business
• Pathological
• Wrecking Crew
• The Last Man Standing
• My Son, The Killer
• Saving Annie Book 2
• Inconvenience Gone
• Toxic Rage
• The Killing Game
• Shots In The Dark
• Saving Annie
• The Case Of The Golden State Killer
• His Garden
• The Crate
• Burned
• The Case Of The Zodiac Killer
• A Murder In My Hometown
• Bullied To Death
• The Beast I Loved
• Summary Execution
• The Shawcross Letters
• Better Off Dead
• Sidetracked
• My Brother's Keeper
• Targeted
• Held Hostage
• Room 1203
• A Special Kind Of Evil
• Brooklyn's Most Wanted
• Outlaw Los Angeles
• Unsolved No More
• She Is Evil
• The Rise And Fall Of A Casino Mobster
• Outlaw Southwest
• A Clockwork Murder
• Raw Deal
• The Bundy Secrets
• Betrayal In Blue
• The Politics Of Murder
• Murderers Row
• Rough Trade
• Daddy's Little Secret
• Murder In The Family
• Failure Of Justice
• Ice And Bone
• Smooth Talker
• The Trail Of Ted Bundy
• A Taste For Murder
• Sketchcop
• Body Of Proof
• Kentucky Bloodbath
• No Stone Unturned
• Repeat Offender
• Dixie's Last Stand
• Vampire
• Man Overboard
• Bogeyman
Thriller
• No One Will Hear Your Screams
• The Screaming Room
• Bone Thief
• Four
• Crux
• Sword Of The Caliphate
• Last Son Of The War God
• Leviathan
• Highwayman
• The Strait
• Enemy Of The People
• Cain
• Dark Visions
• Hunter
• The Reckoning
• Hard Dog To Kill
• 16 Souls
• Borderland
• Paper Wings
• Lockout
• Pitfall
Mystery
• Raven's Ridge
• Raptor's Ridge
• Napa Noir
• Melia Ridge
• Emerald Ridge
• Beacon Hill
• Northern Ex
• Created
• Crevice
• Headlock
• Identity Crisis
• The Obituary
• Naked Addiction
• The Deadline
Horror
• Acadia Event
• The Red Son
• The Equinox
• The Pure And The Hated
• Savage Highway
Sci-Fi/Fantasy
• Happenstance
• Destruction Of Justice
• Blunt Force Magic
Business
• Leaderology
• The Age Of Pluralism
• Bamboo Strong
• Corporate Superpower
• Wordpress Websites For Business
• Productivity Tools For Business
History
• Legion Rising
• The Korean Crisis
• Tempest Tost
• Saving Sandoval
• Killing Rasputin
Politics
• The (Redacted) Mueller Report
Romance
• When Fall Fades

New Releases

‘THE SON OF SAM’ AND ME

In 1976, a killer who called himself ‘The Son of Sam’ shot and killed a half dozen people and wounded as many more in New York City. During his crime spree, the madman left bizarre letters mocking the police and promising more deaths. After months … [More...]

SERIAL KILLERS: 101 Questions True Crime Fans Ask

Learn the terrifying truth behind the world’s deadliest serial killers… Serial killers haunt our dreams and inspire the terrifying villains of TV shows and horror movies. But how much do you really know about the minds behind the world’s deadliest … [More...]

SATIN PUMPS Gives Inside Look Into Gripping Midcentury Murder

It was the midcentury murder that fascinated a nation and kept it glued for two years to radio, television and newspapers through three trials. Did the handsome, wealthy doctor and his beautiful young paramour plan to kill his glamorous socialite … [More...]

OUT OF THE MOUTH OF SERIAL KILLERS

Why Do Serial Killers Kill? Find Out In OUT OF THE MOUTHS OF SERIAL KILLERS

WHY DO SERIAL KILLERS KILL? OUT OF THE MOUTHS OF SERIAL KILLERS​ is as close as you will ever come to discovering the answer ... and in the killer’s own words! In this one-of-a-kind book, author Mary Brett corresponded with some of America’s … [More...]

Coming Soon

The Son Of Seven Mothers Kindle Cover

Cult Survivor Benjamin Risha Tells Readers His Story In THE SON OF SEVEN MOTHERS

As the adopted son of two cult leaders, Benjamin Risha was raised to someday assume a place of leadership in the Tony and Susan Alamo Christian Foundation with the Bible, and his parents’ interpretation of it, as his guide. He believed the prophecies … [More...]

Recent Posts

  • Abraham Lincoln, True Crime Author
  • Book Trailer for ‘THE SON OF SAM’ AND ME
  • ‘THE SON OF SAM’ AND ME
  • Author and Aviator Les Abend Comments on United 328
  • Carl Denaro: “This Book Is About My Quest To Figure Out Who Shot Me”
  • SERIAL KILLERS: 101 Questions True Crime Fans Ask
  • Joni E. Johnston, Psy.D.

Sign Up for Our Newsletter

eZine SignupJoin our email list and be the first to get hot deals, new releases and...
* Author updates
* Free eBooks
* Free audio books
* Enlightening and entertaining posts
* Advance notice of book deals, special offers

Follow Us

Blog Tag Cloud

best true crime books Bogeyman Bradley Nickell Brian Whitney Burl Barer Caitlin Rother Cold Case crime Crime Fiction Crime thriller Detective Detectives Facebook True Crime John Ferak Kevin Sullivan Las Vegas Murder murder book Mysteries Mystery mystery thriller Non-Fiction Ron Franscell Serial Killer serial killer books Serial Killers Steve Jackson Suspense suspense thriller Ted Bundy Thriller Thriller Books True-crime truecrime True Crime True Crime Authors true crime book true crime books True Crime Discussions True Crime Original true crimes true crime stories True Murder WildBlue Press writing

Privacy Policy

As Seen On:

Our Authors Have Been Seen On...

Interested Authors Click Here
See Our Entire Catalog
SSL Secure Connection

Copyright © 2021 WildBlue Press. All rights reserved.
Website design by Denver Local SEO Marketing Company
Iowa parole board to review DIXIE’s case; make your voice heard!