Aftermath of Ruth Stepson's Murder

This chapter describes the aftermath of the discovery of Ruth Stepson's body and the reaction of her grandson, Bill Pelke. It explores the arrest of the four suspects, all girls under the age of 18, and the involvement of Lake County prosecutor, Jack Crawford, who was determined to seek the death penalty for the girls. The chapter also discusses the political climate surrounding the 'law and order' approach to crime, as well as Crawford's consideration of the potential backlash from pursuing capital punishment for black girls.