Conversations with Rod Sadler

Today we’d like to introduce you to Rod Sadler.

Hi Rod, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I retired from law enforcement in 2012 after a 30-year decorated career. My great grandfather ( x2) was the elected sheriff in Ingham County, Michigan in 1897 and while I was doing genealogy research about him, I discovered a macabre murder he had investigated in the town where I’d spent my childhood. I based my first book on that murder and titled it To Hell I Must Go. After that book was published, I wrote my second book titled A Slayer Waits that detailed the vicious murder of an elderly couple in Stockbridge, Michigan in 1955. They were murdered by an escaped convict from Jackson Prison, and 29 years after their murder, the killer’s case was scheduled to be heard by the United States Supreme Court, and there was a genuine fear that he might be released. My third book details East Lansing serial killer Don G. Miller. In 1977 and 1978, Miller murdered four women in the East Lansing/MSU area and hid their bodies. Only one of those was eventually discovered. Miller continued his murderous spree when he broke into a home near Lansing, Michigan and raped a fourteen-year-old girl, then tried strangling her. She escaped when her brother entered the house and Miller turned his rage toward the brother. Miller was captured within an hour and sentenced to prison after a trial. A plea deal was reached wherein, if Miller would take LE to the bodies of the other three missing women, he wouldn’t be charged in two of their deaths and would be allowed to be plead to manslaughter instead and serve his time at the same time he was serving for attacking the kids. By 2031, Miller will have served all his time and will be released from prison. My latest book titled Grim Paradise details the still-unsolved murder of Frances Lacey on Mackinac Island in 1960. In this book, I identify at least two persons of interest, one of whom the police never considered. I have a new book that will launch on May 6 titled Depraved Obsession and highlights law enforcement’s collective efforts to find a sadistic serial killer and how two victims’ families turned their tragedy into triumph.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It’s never a completely smooth road. The biggest obstacle to begin was researching how the traditional publishing process varied from the independent publishing trade. There were mistakes made along the way that were costly, but it was all part of a learning curve. The biggest thing I had to learn was patience. The second biggest thing was being comfortable speaking in front of large audiences. I think I’ve done pretty well so far.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m retired from law enforcement after thirty years in the business. I was a police composite artist, lead traffic crash investigator and emergency manager. I was promoted to sergeant in 1999 and supervised a road patrol squad until my retirement. I think I’m most proud of the fact that I became a writer after I retired, and I’ve stuck with it. It’s not a high-paying job, but it gives me satisfaction knowing that the victims’ families appreciate what I’ve done.

How do you think about happiness?
Spending time with my family, especially my new granddaughter.

Pricing:

• To Hell I Must Go – $15
• A Slayer Waits – $20
• Killing Women – $20
• Grim Paradise – $20
• Deviant Obsession – Pending

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.rodsadler.com
• Instagram: Rod Sadler-Author
• Facebook: Rod Sadler – Author
• LinkedIn: Rod Sadler
• Twitter: @RMSauthor
• Youtube: Rod Sadler