Safe Harbor, A Murder in Nantucket
Today I read "Safe Harbor" by Brian McDonald, published in 2006.
It was the story of Thomas Toolan III's murder of Elizabeth ("Beth") Lochtefeld in October of 2004. I was a little annoyed by the book's sloppy editing-- a few typos and repetition of information. I was also a little disappointed that the author's writing ended after Toolan was arrested. He offers no information on how Toolan was punished. Nevertheless, the book gave a detailed account of the incident, as well as a double biography-- of the killer and victim. Both people were New Yorkers.
The killer (Tom) had been an alcoholic since high school. His usual haunts were Dublin House (a New York City bar) and the New York Athletic Club (a fancy shmancy gym for investment bankers). Before his relationship with Beth, he had had a few other relationships with women in which he was a jealous, abusive liar. He wore nothing but high-class clothing, albeit worn out, trying to give the impression of wealth. However, it appears that he was unemployed for about two years before the murder. He had worked in the past at an investment bank for a very few years.
The victim (Beth) had moved to Nantucket six months before her death. She had had a mid-life crisis of sorts, having retired on the proceeds she collected from having sold her wildly successful business; the sale prompted by her burnout from workaholism for fifteen years. She had been an expediter-- a party that facilitates the paperwork required to do construction in New York. She had been studying aikido (a martial art) and was, at 44 years old, still looking for a lifelong mate. It was unclear why she couldn't find a permanent significant other-- she was pretty, fit, brainy, well-traveled, very social, oh, and have I mentioned, rich? (Parenthetical note: the author avoids all mention of sex-- that could have been one reason for Beth's loneliness).
An acquaintance of Beth's had innocently set up Tom and Beth, even though she was aware of Tom's sordid past. Beth was so desperate for a man, she rationalized away his lies and abusive behavior for a few weeks. Finally, Beth told him she was breaking it off with him. He wouldn't accept that.
In the end, Tom flew to Nantucket, bought a fishing knife, and walked straight into Beth's rented cottage and killed her. Sadly, her aikido skills at the time were insufficient to fend him off and save herself.
Sad story, that.
It was the story of Thomas Toolan III's murder of Elizabeth ("Beth") Lochtefeld in October of 2004. I was a little annoyed by the book's sloppy editing-- a few typos and repetition of information. I was also a little disappointed that the author's writing ended after Toolan was arrested. He offers no information on how Toolan was punished. Nevertheless, the book gave a detailed account of the incident, as well as a double biography-- of the killer and victim. Both people were New Yorkers.
The killer (Tom) had been an alcoholic since high school. His usual haunts were Dublin House (a New York City bar) and the New York Athletic Club (a fancy shmancy gym for investment bankers). Before his relationship with Beth, he had had a few other relationships with women in which he was a jealous, abusive liar. He wore nothing but high-class clothing, albeit worn out, trying to give the impression of wealth. However, it appears that he was unemployed for about two years before the murder. He had worked in the past at an investment bank for a very few years.
The victim (Beth) had moved to Nantucket six months before her death. She had had a mid-life crisis of sorts, having retired on the proceeds she collected from having sold her wildly successful business; the sale prompted by her burnout from workaholism for fifteen years. She had been an expediter-- a party that facilitates the paperwork required to do construction in New York. She had been studying aikido (a martial art) and was, at 44 years old, still looking for a lifelong mate. It was unclear why she couldn't find a permanent significant other-- she was pretty, fit, brainy, well-traveled, very social, oh, and have I mentioned, rich? (Parenthetical note: the author avoids all mention of sex-- that could have been one reason for Beth's loneliness).
An acquaintance of Beth's had innocently set up Tom and Beth, even though she was aware of Tom's sordid past. Beth was so desperate for a man, she rationalized away his lies and abusive behavior for a few weeks. Finally, Beth told him she was breaking it off with him. He wouldn't accept that.
In the end, Tom flew to Nantucket, bought a fishing knife, and walked straight into Beth's rented cottage and killed her. Sadly, her aikido skills at the time were insufficient to fend him off and save herself.
Sad story, that.
posted by Library Hopper | 7:18 PM
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