Deadly Goals : The True Story of an All-American Football Hero Who Stalked and Murdered

The gripping true story of a small town football hero and the murder he almost got away with. A star athlete with a winning smile, Pernell Jefferson had no trouble attracting women. But beneath his immaculate exterior lurked a beast that left nothing but battered women and broken dreams in his path. Addicted to steroids and nearly destitute after walking away from a football career with the Cleveland Browns, Pernell set his sights obsessively on Jeannie Butkowski. Calling her at every hour of the day, showing up to her home unannounced, and battering her when she turned her attention toward other men, Pernell made Jeannie a prisoner of her own home and her own mind. After Jeannie's sudden disappearance, the Butkowski family and Jeannie's friends could name the man responsible. But police, despite subsequently discovering Jeannie's charred remains in a small Virginia town, refused to question the man most likely linked to the brutal crime. Deadly Goals explores the devastating details of Pernell Jefferson's past, the disturbing nature of his crimes, and the impassioned cries for justice from Jeannie's family at a pace so compelling that True Crime fans won't be able to set down this must-read from seasoned author Wilt Browning The story of a small town football hero whose obsession and steroid rage led to murder is revealed in “ this fine true-crime tale” ( Publishers Weekly ). A star athlete with a winning smile, Pernell Jefferson had no trouble attracting women. But his charming exterior belied his brutally violent tendencies. After walking away from a football career with the Cleveland Browns, he was addicted to steroids and nearly destitute. That’s when he set his sights on Regina Butkowski. Pernell obsessively called and showed up to her home unannounced—and he battered her when she turned her attention toward other men. When Regina disappeared, the Butkowski family knew who was responsible. But even after police discovered Regina’s charred remains in a small Virginia town, they refused to question the man most likely linked to the brutal crime. In Deadly Goals , veteran author Wilt Browning explores the devastating details of Pernell Jefferson’s past, the disturbing nature of his crimes, and the Butkowski family’s pleas for justice that led to his arrest. Deadly Goals was previously published under the title Where the Wildflowers Grow .