A long night of partying during the summer of 1988 ended late the next morning when a group of friends and acquaintances went their separate ways. Over the following weeks the mystery began; one person had gone missing. After four years of rumors and the eager attention of a police Task Force desperate to solve their own issues, three suspects were arrested May, 1992. No body, no weapon, no evidence. Although a speedy trial would have been prudent for the defendants, 32 months went by until Kerry Dalton stood alone on trial for a torture-murder. A collection of hearsay upon hearsay, from tweekers and jailhouse informants, earned Kerry a Death Sentence. Not just a memoir, CAGES is a biography and factual recounting of a Death Penalty trial according to the trial transcripts. Kerry was sentenced to death over seventeen years ago without a shred of physical evidence. The book plays out an intimate, powerful, human interest story integrating some humorous scenes, touching exchanges of love, and tender, poignant moments. The account evolved into chronicling two sisters' journeys in life, their paths veering off in different directions. The purpose is not an attempt to expound on the law and legally take apart and analyze the trial, but to represent authentically the actual trial through a layman's eye, creating a riveting true story that will provoke and entertain its audience while unraveling the trial process with all its deficiencies. Authenticity and accuracy are of vital importance to this book's cause. "This painfully moving account of an actual death penalty case is remarkably written. Victoria Thorpe engages the reader on all levels, drawing them into the courtroom drama, along with inviting them into both her sister's and her own personal life. Whichever side of the fence you are on, Cages is a must read that exposes the complexities and faults within the system, while going deeply into the moral issue of capital punishment. The story of these two sisters will capture your heart." --Sister Helen Prejean, Author of Dead Man Walking The book includes a detailed list of transcript references and other sources.
