A nationally recognized true-crime author with local ties recently sat down to to discuss her latest book about an infamous double murderer and attempted Cayuga County prison escape in an upcoming interview on Finger Lakes News Radio.
Susan Ashline, an Emmy-nominated investigative journalist with more than 25 years of experience in print, radio and television, released Ungrateful Bastard Feb. 5.
Gordon “Woody” Mower first made national headlines in 1996 after killing both of his parents at age 18 and fleeing the country before being captured and sentenced to life in prison. Years later, he again drew attention after attempting to escape from Auburn Correctional Facility by hiding inside a coffin.
Ashline said the story came to her unexpectedly when someone connected to Mower first reached out.
“A woman who had been friends with Woody emailed me about the story,” Ashline said. “And then Woody started sending me letters.”
The book explores Mower’s childhood, the murders, his life in prison and the psychology behind the crime through both Ashline’s investigative reporting and Mower’s own words.
Ashline will join Finger Lakes News Radio to discuss the book, how she came to tell the story and what her reporting uncovered about the case and the prison system.
You can hear the entire interview next week on Finger Lakes News Radio.
Ashline will be signing copies of Ungrateful Bastard Friday the 13th at DisBatch Brewing Company from 6 to 8 p.m. There will be no formal presentation, but attendees can meet the author and get books signed. She will also have limited copies of her other books, Without a Prayer and A Jacket Off the Gorge.
