Phelps M. William - Ill be watching you

I

Theres no doubt that we learn something new from each book. We gain an understanding of yet another layer of society that, thankfully so, not too many of us come in contact with on a daily basis. In authoring eight true-crime books now, I had gotten to a rather complacent point in my career: where I thought I had seen and heard everything.

Not true. I had yet to meet a killer like Edwin Fales Snelgrove. I firmly believe that there are at least four more bodies in Neds pastbodies of women killed in the same manner as Karen Osmun and Carmen Rodriguez, left in towns where Ned had been on a business trip, a business call, or, like Hartford and Kenneys, he had traveled to in order to exclusively seek out new murder victims. These are open cases that should not be made public right now.

Ned is one of the scariest killers in recent historyI heard this time and again. From cops. From lawyers. From profilers. Even from people who were close to Ned. And heres the thing: no one has heard of the guy outside of the law enforcement community and those in Connecticut who followed the case. Its not as though Edwin Snelgrove is a household name, like Manson, Dahmer, and especially Neds mentor, Bundy.

Part of Ned, I feel, relishes the fact that hes killed more women, and those family members of the missing go through misery each day, unable to put their loved ones to rest. Another part of Ned, I am convinced, believes that he is an innocent man who was framed for killing Carmen Rodriguez, sick to his stomach that Zagaja and his crew did not prove their case.

Either way, Ned is where he belongs.

II

The scores of recorded interviews, thousands of pages of documents, police reports, witness statements, depositions, trial testimony, autopsy reports, and other documents, along with anonymous sources inside and outside the system, and letters from the killer and his cell mates and several others involved personally in this case, allowed me to add a depth of reporting to this book I rarely get a chance to explore.

I

It was a rainy Saturday morning when I met the Rodriguez family at Rosas home (Carmens mother) in Hartford, Connecticut. Luz and Sonia and Petra and several of Carmens brothers and friends and her son and grandchild and Kathy Perez, Carmens niece, were there to greet me. I sat on a comfortable couch in the living room, with a large photograph of Carmen hanging on the wall in back of me, as if she were there, too, watching over all of us. Talking for hours, I asked Luz at one point about Carmens favorite meal. She called it bacalaito and explained. Then she yelled in Spanish to her mother, who was in the kitchen cooking. It seemed Rosa was cooking from the time I arrived to the time I left.

A moment later, Rosa came out with a plate of bacalaito; she had just happened to be cooking it that day. My mother, Luz said, says you cant know what Carmen loved until youve eaten it yourself.

Ill never forget that day and the subsequent interviews I conducted with this smart, lovely, and loving family, who had accepted me (and trusted me with Carmens story) as if I were one of their own. I especially wanted to say thank you to Luz for being so outspoken and honest and always willing to answer my questions. Luz and her family are tremendous people.

II

Mary Ellen Renard is one of the most courageous women Ive met. What she went through at the hands of Ned Snelgrove would have led most into a life of hellespecially considering the road Mary Ellen traveled before she met Ned. But Mary Ellen was able to pull herself out of it all, stay positive, and get the help she needed. I commend her for opening up to me about her life and telling me her incredible story of survival. In addition, Diana Jansen, Mary Ellens daughter, was equally helpful. I appreciate her honesty, integrity, and guts to speak out about her past. Likewise, the discussions I had with Barbara Delaney about her family and sister Karen Osmun were incredibly useful. I thank Barbara for her candor and sinceritynot to mention all the documents she willingly handed over.

David Zagaja was as helpful as any prosecutor with a case on appeal could have been. He was always kind and generous with his time. I thank Mr. Zagaja for the interviews and direction. In addition, all of the detectives and investigators involved in the case that I spoke to were always open and willing. Hartford Superior Court clerk Anthony DAddeo was extremely considerate with his time and helpful with documents and photographs.

Everyone in Hopkinton, Rhode Island, was courteous and kind to me as I asked tough questions, especially Detective McDonald and Hopkinton police chief John Scuncio. Also, Mr. McDonalds secretary, Lorraine Serio, was accommodating in collecting documents connected to the case and getting them to me.

Whenever you do a book like this, with so many people involved, its hard to thank each and every person. There were dozens, literally, who helped me create this work of nonfiction. And each and every person that helped has my utmost respect and praise.

Lastly, the usual suspects: my family, my editor, Michaela Hamilton, and my business manager. Thank you for all you do. Also, copy editor Stephanie Finnegans work was exceptional on this project.

III

This book is dedicated to my readers because I have come to learn throughout the years that they are the most important part of what I doand I am grateful and humbled by having so many. My deepest appreciation goes out to every reader.

Truly.

IV

Curtain.

Newly divorced, 44-year-old Mary Ellen Renard was brutally attacked during the summer of 1987 and nearly died from multiple stab wounds. (Photo courtesy of Mary Ellen Renard)