The Velvet Hammer, A True Crime Memoir by Chief Judge Belvin Perry Jr. and Amy Mitchell

The Velvet Hammer features the story and the sentencing of some of the infamous murderers in Florida, and details of Perry’s experiences. Perry gives a concise and factual overview of the criminal justice system in the United States. In the most horrific death sentence cases in which he was involved, he provides a unique and startlingly graphic first-hand account.

Spoiler-free plot

Chief Judge Belvin Perry, Jr. was born on October 11, 1949, in Orlando, Florida. Growing up, he had a keen interest in history. During his childhood, he encountered different challenges and lessons that shaped his life. When he was six years old, he had a tragic accident that left him half-blind, as the doctors had to remove his damaged eye and give him a prosthetic replacement. What led to the tragic incident was a sword fight with him using butcher knives, which he was pretending to have at his neighbor’s house. Also, his father was forced to raise him and his siblings alone. This was due to a mental illness that his mother, Rose suffered from, and left the family in 1957.

Chief Judge Belvin Perry, Jr. father’s work ethic and dedication to education, coupled with his stepmother Jesse Mae Rollins’ reinforcement of discipline, played a significant role in his life. He also had other experiences and lessons from his family, mentors, and teachers that aided in guiding his path to adulthood. 

In 1989, Belvin Perry, Jr. became the first African American to be elected to the Ninth Judicial Circuit Court in Orlando, Florida without being appointed first. He was chief judge from 1995 until he retired in 2014. During his entire judicial career, he convicted eight murderers who were known for their crimes and sentenced them to death due to his promises of enforcing the law and providing justice for these dreadful acts. Prior to becoming a judge, Perry had a notable background as a prosecutor, which included demanding capital punishment within many cases. He had a reputation as “The Velvet Hammer.”

Two-year-old Caylee Anthony’s death captured global attention and drew significant attention. Caylee disappeared on June 16, 2008. Her mother, Casey Anthony was the last person seen with her. Despite Casey’s partying and lying about Caylee’s whereabouts, it took a month for Caylee’s grandmother, Cindy Anthony, to report her missing. Months later, precisely December 2008, Caylee’s remains were found in a bag in a wooded area close to her home in Orlando.

Casey Anthony was eventually charged with Caylee’s murder due to her conflicting statements and her actions. During her trial, she was acquitted of all major charges, including first-degree murder, child abuse, and aggravated manslaughter. She was found guilty only of four counts of lying to law enforcement, receiving a four-year sentence, but her time served while awaiting trial effectively nullified this. The trial ended with a lot of anger and intense media coverage. The verdict was met with disbelief and anger. The majority of people believed that justice had not been served.

In his first true crime memoir, Belvin Perry brings to life a number of violent and terrifying murders, including the widow who poisoned her lovers gradually, the lust murderer who disfigured his victim while she was still alive, the serial killer who killed a family of four, which include his own five year old daughter out of jealousy, and several other violent and horrific killings. Perry holds nothing back when recounting the horrific aspects of these cases.

My Take on The Velvet Hammer

“The Velvet Hammer” by Chief Judge Belvin Perry Jr. is one of the most interesting true crime memoirs I have ever read. The book is suitable for lovers of true crime stories. It gives a clear account of some murder cases in Florida which the author had first-hand information on.

From the author’s experiences to his life as a prosecutor, and then a Judge, takes on an interesting journey. Reading this book opened my eyes to the justice system in the United States and detailed information on the infamous murder cases in Florida. From the first page to the very last page, I found myself loving this book.

The authors do a notable job in the portrayal of the characters and their dialogues. Perry’s and Amy’s careful descriptions of everything keep readers engrossed and immersed in the story. Aside from the Casey Marie Anthony story, another story that caught my attention was the story of Jerry William Correll, who committed a horrific quadruple murder in Orange County out of jealousy. He was jealous of the fact that he saw his ex-wife with another man. He became enraged and sought revenge. He broke into the house of his ex-wife. He killed his ex-wife, his ex-mother-in-law, his ex-sister-in-law, and did not even spare his own daughter. He was charged with the murders of his ex-wife Susan, their five-year-old daughter Tuesday, his ex-mother-in-law Mary Lou Hines, and his ex-sister-in-law Marybeth Jones. Correll’s crime was marked by extreme cruelty, and Perry served him the death penalty. With this story, I realized the wickedness of humans, and how far people can go to instigate revenge.

Each and every story in this true crime memoir is important and has significant lessons. I found myself immersed in reading every part. I highly recommend every law student and every true crime lover to read it.

Trigger Warning: The Velvet Hammer

Contains detailed and graphic content related to violent and horrific murders, including accounts of disturbing crimes, death penalty cases, and extreme cruelty. The book also includes depictions of tragic accidents and family challenges. Reader discretion is advised as the content may be distressing or triggering to some individuals.

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