Scoundrel

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In the 1960s, Edgar Smith, sentenced to death for murdering teenager Victoria Zielinski, corresponded with William F. Buckley, founder of National Review. Buckley, unable to believe that a supporter of the neoconservative movement could commit such a crime, advocated for Smith's life and sentence to be overturned. This sets the stage for a bizarre and tragic narrative of mid-century America. Sarah Weinman's exploration reveals the twists of fate that led Smith to freedom, fame, and ultimately another attempted murder. Smith emerges as a psychopath who gained public acclaim and acceptance before his eventual downfall. Weinman examines the individuals he deceived—Buckley, a book editor, friends, and romantic interests—alongside the American public that bought into his fabrications. The narrative questions who is granted innocence and how society becomes complicit in the stories we share. With clarity and sympathy for those affected by Smith's actions, the work illustrates how he manipulated well-meaning individuals and the American criminal justice system. It uncovers a neglected chapter of American history at the intersection of justice, prison reform, and civil rights, highlighting the profound impact of one man's misguided efforts to liberate another at the expense of Smith's victims.