Book Review: Unleashed : Of Poltergeists and Murder: The Curious Story of Tina Resch

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

Unleashed : Of Poltergeists and Murder: The Curious Story of Tina Resch     Amazon US PB Amazon Canada PB
William Roll , Valerie Storey
Class/Genre:   Non-Fiction   True Crime
Paraview, May 2004, $14.00, 320 pp.

In 1984 teenager Tina Resch gained fifteen minutes of fame as the focus of major poltergeist activity. Among those observing what was occurring in her family’s Columbus, Ohio home were noted parapsychologist William Roll and his investigative partner Kelly Powers. Mr. Roll relates what he saw and what he was told by other eyewitnesses.

The rest of the Resch story occurs a few years later. In 1988 Tina gives birth to a girl. She raised the child by herself until she met divorced father David Herrin. In 1992 Georgia, police arrest Tina and David for the brutal murder of Amber. Tina confessed and was convicted to spend life in prison.

Mr. Roll believes that Tina has special extrasensory powers that enable her to do extraordinary telekinetic actions. The author admits that he is fascinated with her prowess and likes her so has a bias towards Tina. The writers insist that Tina did not commit the infanticide, but fail to defend their assertion; instead they insist that too many years considered a freak by “friends” and her adopted parents took its toll so she simply confessed. Most of the writing focuses on the paranormal happenings, which will attract many readers, but also turns Tina into an oddity as she is rarely presented as a person with battered feelings. Still, this well written and enticing biography combines a true crime tale (towards the end of the book) with a documented poltergeist series of episodes.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner

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