Sleeping with the Devil

Finstad ( Heir Not Apparent ) fails to paint a credible picture of a romantic, naive younger woman who fell in love with a handsome, sociopathic older man, with disastrous consequences. The situation appears to be that both Barbara Piotrowski, California beauty contest winner, and Richard Minns, Texas millionaire, expected they would get everything they wanted; when they wanted each other, both became obsessed. Their passionate and stormy relationship ended when she left him; a short time later, he tried, she contends, to have her killed. She was left paralyzed after the shooting, and he allegedly fled the country. The aftermath of their violence would seem to sully justice: Minns was never questioned by police, despite the fact that he is reported to have revisited his native state frequently. For her part, Piotrowski has made amazing strides to rehabilitate herself. Photos. (July)