Acknowledgments
Id like to thank Rick Scott, Matt Organ, Gary Parfitt and Brian McDonnell for their help on this book. And Id especially like to thank Lane Youmans and Frankie Cochran, without whose help this project would have been impossible. Thanks also go to my editors at Kensington, Mike Shohl, Richard Ember, and Michaela Hamilton.
David Allen Gerard had brushes with the law even as a young man.
(Mug shot)
As a young girl, Frankie Cochran was bright, inquisitive, and adventurous.
(Photo courtesy of Frankie Cochran)
Frankie was a proud mother when her first child, a daughter, was born. She would eventually have two sons as well. (Photo courtesy of Frankie Cochran)
One day, in the town of Montesano, Gerard told Frankie that he had stolen a bank bag from a local Thriftway store and that he would hurt her if she ever told anyone. In a strange coincidence, Kurt Cobain jammed with his buddies behind the store. (Author photo)
When Frankie decided she wanted to work part time, Gerard became so upset about losing total control of her that he smashed most of her personal belongings. (Photo courtesy of Grays Harbor Sherriffs Office)
Gerard grabbed Frankie and violently pulled her out of his vehicle during an argument. In response, Frankie threw hot coffee on Gerards chest. (Photo courtesy of Grays Harbor Sheriffs Office)
The deputy who took this photo believed that Gerard had bitten his own lips to make the injury look worse than it was. (Photo courtesy of Grays Harbor Sheriffs Office )
After Frankie threw coffee on Gerard, he took a hammer from a tool shed and threatened to kill her with it. A week later, he attempted to do just that. (Photo courtesy of Grays Harbor Sheriffs Office)
On March 17, 1999, Frankie was alone in the milking parlor at Clarks Dairy, milking cows. Gerard sneaked in, hit Frankie in the head at least five times, and stabbed her in the neck. (Author photo)
A long streak of blood trailed down a concrete ramp in the milking barn where Frankie lay for hours before help arrived. (Photo courtesy of Grays Harbor Sheriffs Office)
The injuries to Frankies head from the hammer blows were massive. Few expected her to live through the ordeal. (Photo courtesy of Grays Harbor Sheriffs Office)
Frankie miraculously survived the attack, but it would take years of painful recovery to learn to walk again and use her arms. (Photo courtesy of Grays Harbor Sheriffs Office)
Gerards girlfriend, Patty Rodriguez, had two boys, Matthew and Joshua. (Photo courtesy of Matthew B. McDonnell)
Patty broke up with Gerard on February 14, 1995, at Muddy Waters Tavern in Aberdeen and threw some of his clothing at him in the parking lot. Hours later, Patty, her sons, and her mother Patricia McDonnell were dead. (Photo courtesy of Lane Youmans )
The remains of the house where Patty, her sons, and her mother died in a mysterious fire. (Photo courtesy of Matthew B. McDonnell)
Patty never made it down this burned-out hallway. Detective Lane Youmans believes that Gerard murdered Patty, her two boys, and her mother, and then set the house on fire to cover up his crimes. (Photo courtesy of Matthew B. McDonnell)
Elaine McCollum of Aberdeen had a typical childhood and attended Aberdeen High School. Although not a good friend of Gerards, she knew him. (Yearbook photo)
After an emotional breakdown, Elaine got back into the city life and often went to downtown taverns with her boyfriend, Dave Simmons. (DMV photo)