SMITTY: My Marriage to Serial Killer Charles Schmid, the Pied Piper of Tucson (Hardcover)

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SMITTY: My Marriage to Serial Killer Charles Schmid, the Pied Piper of Tucson (Hardcover)

WHY WE CHOSE THIS
Imagine falling in love, getting married, and discovering just days later that your husband is suspected of multiple murders.

That was Diane Schmid's reality.

In "SMITTY: My Marriage to Serial Killer Charles Schmid, the Pied Piper of Tucson," Diane joins author Marshall Terrill to tell the story she's carried for more than sixty years. As a teenager in 1965, she fell for Charles "Smitty" Schmid, a charming, Elvis-inspired young man who swept her off her feet. They married just two months after meeting. Less than two weeks later, police arrested him for murder.

Schmid became infamous as the "Pied Piper of Tucson," but Diane knew another side of him. Her account takes readers inside their whirlwind romance, his criminal case, their marriage, and the years of heartbreak that followed. She also shares the devastating personal toll of loving a man responsible for such terrible crimes, and the questions that have haunted her long after his death in prison.

What makes this book especially compelling is Diane's willingness to tell her story, even when it reveals painful truths about herself and the man she loved. With Terrill's research providing historical context and additional investigative detail, "SMITTY" offers a perspective rarely found in accounts of notorious killers: that of the woman who married one.

This is more than a true crime story. It's a deeply personal account of love, manipulation, trauma, and the lifelong consequences of choices made when we are young.

SMITTY: My Marriage to Serial Killer Charles Schmid, the Pied Piper of Tucson unveils an unforgettable tale of love, betrayal, and survival. Diane Schmid thought she had found her Prince Charming when she met Charles Schmid, a charismatic and mysterious man who swept her off her feet as a teenager in the mid-1960s. But her fairytale quickly unraveled when her husband was arrested for multiple shocking murders that captured national attention. 

Set against the backdrop of a rapidly changing America, this deeply personal memoir recounts Diane’s journey from a young girl in love to a woman facing unimaginable revelations. Through vivid memories and unflinching honesty, Diane reveals how she navigated a life overshadowed by her husband’s heinous crimes while striving to protect her family and find peace.

Written with co-author Marshall Terrill, this book offers a unique perspective on one of the most infamous cases in American history, shedding light on the devastating human cost of living with such a dark secret. Blending gripping storytelling with heartfelt reflection, SMITTY captures the strength of a survivor who chose to share her voice after decades of silence.

SMITTY is a compelling and haunting read for those who seek a deeper understanding of resilience in the face of unthinkable events.

SMITTY: My Marriage to Serial Killer Charles Schmid, the Pied Piper of Tucson (Hardcover)