Writers Tricks of the Trade VOLUME 7, ISSUE 3 | Page 29

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INCEST, MURDER AND A MIRACLE
THE TRUE STORY BEHIND THE CHERYL PIERSON MURDER-FOR-HIRE HEADLINES
AND THE POWER OF LOVE
By: Cheryl Cuccio, Robert Cuccio and Morgan St. James
ISBN: 978-1539660439
Publisher: CRM Publishing
Publication Date: December 15, 2016
Pages: 276
Kindle, paperback, ePub
“I always tried to be the "peacemaker" because I didn't want anyone to be
mad or upset, especially at me. My father had conditioned my obedience well
by using abuse and degradation. Maybe that's why I never told anyone what
was going on and meekly submitted to his quirks and demands. In a small way
I'm still like that, but now with everything I've gone through with Rob being
sick, then dying, I speak up. Life made me tough. When you go through what I
did, you have some choices. Remain the meek, battered person or get strong-
er. I got stronger and will never allow myself to be a victim again. You have to
stand up for your rights. If I hadn't, Rob would not be with us today.”
These are the words of Cheryl. At the age of eighteen Cheryl was sentenced
to jail for her part in arranging the murder of her sexually abusive father in an
attempt to keep him from abusing her younger sister. After her jail time she
married her longtime best friend and the love of her life Rob Cuccio. Even with
her PTSD caused by the tramas of her childhood, life was finally becoming
something that was livable, until Rob's heart attack hit. He was pronounced
dead which simply wasn't acceptable for Cheryl. She begged the doctor not to
give up on him, and was finally told they would try for just 10 more minutes.
After 43 minutes of his heart refusing to beat and no oxygen to his brain, a mir-
acle happened and Rob came back to life, starting another phase in the lives of
two people who had already lived through hell once.
As I read this book I had to keep reminding myself that these events actually
took place. The sexual abuse by the father, which happens so often but seems
to be pushed away. The reporters who treated Cheryl as if it was all her fault
and built the father up as a won derful, loving person, which also happens to so
many children that have been molested by family members. The nightmares and
M ARTHA C HEVES
A UTHOR /R EVIEWER
C HERYL AND R OB C UCCIO
Then
there
was Rob who was laughed at by his doctor when he W
went
in
S UMMER
2017
RITERS ’ T RICKS OF THE TRADE
22 all in his head and
for severe chest pain. He was basically told P it AGE
was
caused from his smoking. After several visits to the doctor with the