The Valley of the Shadow of Death, Kermit Alexander
The Valley of the Shadow of Death, Kermit Alexander
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The Valley of the Shadow of Death
A Tale of Tragedy and Redemption

Author: Kermit Alexander, Alex Gerould, Jeff Snipes

Narrator: Kermit Alexander

Unabridged: 11 hr 8 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 09/22/2015


Synopsis

In this heart-wrenching memoir, former NFL star Kermit Alexander tells the devastating true story of the horrific massacre of his family and his subsequent years of despair, followed by a spiritual renewal that showed him a way to rebuild his family and reclaim his life.

On the morning of August 31, 1984, in the South Central section of Los Angeles, three armed men broke into a house, brutally murdering two women and two young boys.

The victims were Ebora Alexander, Dietra Alexander, Damani Garner, and Damon Bonner—the mother, sister, and nephews of retired All-Pro cornerback for the San Francisco 49ers Kermit Alexander.

In his own words, Kermit Alexander finally shares the full story of what happened to his loved ones and the aftermath of that tragic day. He recounts the hours leading up to the massacre, and how afterward he lost himself in the LA underworld, pleading, bribing, and threatening in a search for answers. He describes his journey through the “wilderness” of despair—the years of isolation living out of his car, broke, depressed, and sick. We also learn about his coming-of-age in 1950s LA, the following decade he spent in the NFL, the events leading up to that fateful August day, and finally the shocking truth behind the murders. Kermit opens up about his darkest hours, but also what it took to turn his life around, rebuild his family, and ultimately find peace.

Ominous and intense, powerful and uplifting, tragic and triumphant, The Valley of the Shadow of Death is more than a rendering of one man’s adversity; it’s testament to the value of family and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of overwhelming loss.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Judy

Oh my, this was tough, both due to the subject matter and to the somewhat inept writing. Being the world's least sports-minded person, I had never heard of Kermit Alexander. He is a retired NFL All-Pro cornerback who played for the San Francisco 49ers, the Los Angeles Rams and the Philadelphia Eagl......more

Goodreads review by Michael

I was a Freshman at Mount Carmel High School In Los Angeles when the main author Kermit Alexander was a Senior. We once play a handball game where he hit me in the face with the ball and that really hurt. Years later I saw him at UCLA when I was a student there. I took a look at the book just becaus......more

Goodreads review by David

This personal story takes the reader inside an event so shattering that the author never really recovers. He finally finds redemption by creating a brand new life with an entirely new family. Raw truth well-written and unforgettable.......more

Goodreads review by Pat

This is the non-fiction story of four murders that happened in South Central Los Angeles and the affect it had on their family, the community, and the law. The family is the Kermit Alexander family who was a great NFL star for the 49ers and the Rams in the 60's and 70's. It was a terrible occurrence......more