Fatal Flaw: A True Story of Malice and Murder in a Small Southern Town

Winter Garden, Fla., although near Orlando, the home of Disney World, is a small southern community. In 1975 one of the largest businesses in town was the Ziegler furniture store, run by Tommy Ziegler with the aid of his parents, who had founded it. In that store on Christmas Eve, four persons were killed: Tommy's wife, his parents-in-law and a worker. Although wounded by a bullet to the abdomen, Tommy was arrested for the killings. He was convicted of the murders when the single juror who thought him innocent buckled under the pressure of being the lone holdout, according to Finch ( Sugarland ). And, although the jury recommended life imprisonment, the judge handed down a death sentence. Tommy has been on Death Row in Florida for 17 years. With extensive reference to courtroom testimony, Finch argues convincingly for Ziegler's innocence by suggesting that he interrupted a crime in progress at the store and was subsequently framed for the killings. Photos not seen by PW. (Nov.)