People are not only fascinated by the everyday doings of the very wealthy, but when they are accused of killing someone.

            Now internationally-known writer/sociologist Gini Graham Scott, Ph.D. has written a page-turner about how and why rich killers do it differently in WHEN THE RICH KILL, published by Black Rose Writing in early October.

            As Scott describes in the introduction, killings by the rich are much rarer today. But when someone wealthy gets arrested and convicted for murder, there is a great deal more media attention than when others kill.  Also, the rich are better able to delay any investigation or get away with murder because of their money, although they kill for many of the same basic reasons as others – jealousy, revenge, power, and more money.  Usually, though, much more money is involved, such as when they are in a divorce battle or when kids kill their parents.

           The book begins with a discussion about the differences between rich and poor killers and a historical overview of murder by the wealthy.  Then, the book features a series of cases illustrating the different ways the rich kill, including a chapter on the already famous and another on rich kids who killed their parents.

           The cases by the rich and already famous include that of Phil Spector, the famous musician best known for his wall of sound in the 1950s, who killed an aspiring actress Lana Clarkson in his hot tub in 2003.  Another rich and famous case is that of Oscar Pistorius, the superstar athlete, who ran on blades and killed his girlfriend, model Reeva Steencamp, when he shot into a bathroom, claiming it was self-defense, but the prosecution insisted the killing was due to an argument, and ultimately Pistorius was convicted.  

           The cases of rich kids killing their parents include the well-known case of the Menendez brothers, who shot their parents because they wanted their money, and the case of Dennis Oland, who shot his wealthy father over reducing his allowance by $200, because he had gotten used to getting whatever he wanted, and he wanted to continue to live his country club-style life without having to work.  Other cases show examples of a man murdering a wife who wanted too much in a divorce and another man who hired a killer to take out his demanding wife.

           WHEN THE RICH KILL is a follow-up to a book Scott wrote in 2005, Homicide by the Rich and Famous: A Century of Prominent Killers published by ABC-Clio and Berkley Books, which featured nearly 20 cases.  The book started out as a graduate seminar project for an M.A. in Communication at Cal State, East Bay, and for her final project is writing a book on The Science of Living Forever, to be published by Rowman & Littlefield.

            Scott has previously published over 50 books with major publishers, and 50 through her own company, Changemakers Publishing.  She has written scripts for four feature film projects now in release or in production.

            For more information and to schedule interviews:

Nancy Parker

Executive Assistant

Changemakers Publishing & Writing

3527 Mt. Diablo Blvd., #273

Lafayette, CA 94549

(925) 385-0608

changemakerspub@att.net

www.changemakerspublishingandwriting.com