A Murder in West Covina

Chronicle of the famous Finch-Tregoff case of 1959. In June of that year Dr. R. Bernard Finch and his 18 year old paramour murdered the doctor's wife. The book documents the crime and the ensuing three trials it took to convict the pair. The courage of the young au pare who witnessed the crime is documented. As well, the greed and arrogance of the defendants is portrayed. Book has many photographs.

On late evening in June of 1959 gunshots echoed through southills neighborhood of West Covina, California. Dr. R. Bernard Finch had murdered his wife, Barbara Jean. His accomplice was his 18 year old paramour, Carole Tregoff. The only witness; the young au pare from Sweden, Marie Anne Lidholm. Three years and three trials followed, during which the defendants' testimony resulted in two hung juries. The book tells the story of the crime and the court dramas that ensued. And in doing so studies the greed, deceit, jealousy, resentment, and fear of the human nature. It also portrays the bravery and courage of the au pare, Lidholm, who was almost killed by Finch and, undaunted, proceeded to testify at all the trials with remarkable consistency. She is interviewed in the book and has written the introduction. This paperback edition has many photographs.

For 35 years psychologist and emergency Physician lived and worked in Southern California a few blocks away from where the famous Finch-Tregoff events took place in 1959. Having heard many different versions of facts about the case he decided to document it first hand. He already knew many, and met many more, eyewitnesses to the case, including police officers, prosecutors, and local residents. Jones has written many technical and research articles related to emergency medicine and currently writes for the internet health magazine HealthWorldNet.com. Having retired from emergency medicine, he knows specializes in cruise ship medicine and is a member of the American College of Emergency Medicine's section on Maritime Medicine.