OK...So I am a True crime junkie. Love books like this. I am always amazed of people who can take another person's life and have no remorse at all. I love when the guilty are finally caught and punished. My heart goes out to the families of the innocent. ( )

On February 16, 2002 authorities responded to the report of a fire, they arrived to find a burned out car with two bodies in the trunk. It was Alan and Terra Bates, they had been murdered by Alan’s ex-wife, Jessica McCord and her husband, Jeff McCord, a police officer in Pelham, Alabama. Jessica wanted full and permanent custody of their children, without having to comply with the court ordered visitation allowed to Alan, she had already spent time in jail for disobeying the judge, and Jessica was used to getting what she wanted.

Incredibly detailed account of the lives of the involved parties, Phelps details the long custody battle, Jessica’s total disregard for the court and her manipulation of the children to paint herself as the good mom and Alan the evil abandoning father. Phelps brings the facts to life and we get to know the people through his research and in-depth interviews and correspondence with friends, family and even Jeff McCord. I recommend this book. ( )

i never received this book so I can not review ( )

This book reminds me of Ann Rule's writing and that is not a compliment!



It seems I am the only one who got really annoyed reading this book. I mean yes there are people who got annoyed because the way it was written but I do not see anyone who was annoyed for the same reason i was.


Okay Let's have it out. Why does Mr Phelps feels the need to constantly tell us how bad Jessica mcCord is and what an angel Alan Bates was.
It felt like Ann Rule because she has the same annoying habit.

Come on. We all know people are not all bad and not all good and it gets so irritating when you read it on every page. Sometimes more than once per page.

I am sure Alan ws a good guy but boy was he a pushover. Even dropping his friends because his wife was jealous?

Comment by his best friend) "And then Alan called one day. It was a total surprise. "Listen.. I..I Jessica said it is okay that we talk"

Mr Phelps also ridicules her story that she claimed to have a very abusive background. Even though it later appears this was true. (Not that that matters cause that doesn't excuse murder))
It sucks really cause I liked this book but when someone tries to prove a point and does that in nearly every sentence, it's no fun.

yes I am sure she is bad but I want to come to this conclusion on my own thank you.

I think I just prefer a little bit more neutrality from my true crime writers.



( )

Death Trap tells the horrible story of the murder of Alan and Terra Bates by Alan's ex-wife and her policeman husband. Why? To keep him away from his own children, no other reason. Terra just happened to be with Alan and was considered collateral damage. Four bullets into each victim and then they were put in the trunk of their car, driven to a remote area and the car was set on fire.How can a mother kill the father of her children just to keep him from seeing them? How can a husband who is a police officer sworn to protect and defend, help his wife commit this crime? These questions will probably never be answered since both parties involved, Jessica and Jeff McCord see nothing wrong with what they did and still lay blame everywhere but on themselves.My thoughts:This is one of those books that makes you shake your head and say how could this woman have gotten to this point and not be stopped? How could a husband be so controlled that when his wife says "We have to kill him" his answer is "Ok?" So many people were witnesses to this crazed woman's antics yet she still wasnt stopped. Her family lied to protect her and wound up in jail as well. Not for a second did Jessica McCord stop and think of her children and what her actions would mean for them. They are now without father and mother.This book was written in a style that made it read like a fiction novel. Many true crime books are like reading textbooks and don't flow like a novel. This one does. The writing makes it an easy and enjoyable read, the facts make you sick to your stomach. ( )