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Beyond Cruel

The Chilling True Story of America's Most Sadistic Killer

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Beyond Cruel

By: Stephen G. Michaud
Narrated by: Eric Jason Martin
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About this listen

Authorities opened the door on one man's hidden life...

Mike DeBardeleben was known as the Mall Passer for the way he passed off fake money at local shopping centers. But when US Secret Service agents finally arrested him, they were met with more than just phony bills. They found that their counterfeiter led a shocking double life....

...only to discover a house of horrors.

DeBardeleben's home was littered with drugs, bondage gear, and a collection of audio tapes in which he recorded the abuse of his countless victims. As the evidence mounted, a terrifying profile emerged of a man who forced women to be his accomplices, practiced sadism, even dressed up in women's clothes - a serial killer whose depraved fantasies led to a spree of violence that would last as long as 18 years...and would end in a sentence of almost 400 years in prison. As terrifying as it is true, this is the story of a man who proved to be, beyond the shadow of a doubt, beyond cruel.

©1994 Stephen G. Michaud (P)2020 Tantor
Murder Exciting Scary Nonfiction True Crime

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Amazing insight into a disturbed individual

Very interesting look into the life and crimes of a very disturbed man. Well written and interesting to hear the impact his horrendous actions had on so many people. Diverse crimes which is quite unique in this genre. Glad he has received the sentencing he deserves.

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good book

not enough detail for me personally, I would have liked to had a more in depth look at the murders and assaults rather than the apparent focus on his counterfeiting but still a good book.

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Detailed account of a man you’d rather not meet.

Extremely detailed account of a man we would all hope never to encounter. The author’s attention to detail is to be commended, although the backstory of the detectives involved in the cases was unnecessary as it didn’t add anything useful to the story. There were times it was a little hard to follow as it seemed to go back and forth chronologically but that may have been less so if I was reading the physical book where you can see the dates and flick back through pages to make sense of things. Great narration and well written.

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