Mothers, Murders, and Motivation: A Journey Through the Mind and Heart of a Prosecutor - Paperback

by Jarrett Ferentino (Author), Ron Lieback (With), Nancy Grace (Foreword by)

A prosecutor's unforgettable journey from rookie lawyer to seeking justice against the accused in some of the nation's most heart-wrenching murders.

The wrong names are often remembered after the gavel drops.

While headlines focus on criminals, the real story lies with the families forever changed by their crimes. Departing from the perspective of the accused, Mother, Murders, and Motivation offers readers a raw, behind-the-scenes look at pursuing justice in small-town America amid some of the most emotional and complex murder cases.

Told from the powerful perspective of prosecutor and national legal analyst Jarrett Ferentino, he shares unforgettable high-profile courtroom battles, personal tragedies, and the lives forever altered by them.

Ferentino pulls back the curtain on these cases, revealing the humanity behind the prosecution. From the terror of Hugo Selenski's backyard burials and prison escape to the heartbreak of Brittanee Drexel's disappearance, these stories reveal the unbearable pain of victims' mothers and the unyielding fight to empower their voices in court.

Gripping, empathetic, and unflinching, Mothers, Murders, and Motivation stands as a bold testament to the resilience of the human spirit, and a powerful tribute to those forever transformed by crime--and the unyielding fight to ensure their names are not forgotten.

Jarrett Ferentino is a nationally recognized former homicide prosecutor and legal analyst featured on ABC's 20/20, Crime Nation, Crime Stories with Nancy Grace, and more. He is the host of True Crime Boss, and maintains a private law practice in northeastern Pennsylvania.

Ron Lieback is the founder of ContentMender and 365 to Vision, and an author, business development consultant, digital marketer, and world-traveling motorcycle journalist. He contributes his narrative expertise to this emotionally powerful true crime memoir.

Author Biography

Attorney Jarrett J. Ferentino served as a prosecutor in Pennsylvania for nearly two decades, handling thousands of major criminal cases, and earning a reputation as one of the state's most relentless voices for justice. He is a partner at the law firm Pugliese, Finnegan, Shaffer &amp. Ferentino lives in Kingston, Pennsylvania, where he continues to fight for victims and their families. In 2015, Jarrett secured murder convictions against notorious serial killer Hugo Selenski. He also represented the family in the 2009 Brittanee Drexel case, seeking justice for the seventeen-year-old teenager who disappeared in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Jarrett's expertise has made him a frequent legal analyst on national media. He has appeared on ABC's Good Morning America and 20/20, the CW Network's Crime Nation, New York Homicide, Crime Stories with Nancy Grace, Court TV, and numerous true crime documentaries. He is a graduate of King's College in Wilkes-Barre and the Penn State Dickinson School of Law in Carlisle. Jarrett lives in Pennsylvania with his wife, Dr. Nicole Ferentino, their children, Dominick and Victoria, and their puppy, Apollo.

Ron Lieback is the founder of ContentMender and 365 to Vision, where he helps businesses, authors, and thought leaders amplify their voices through storytelling and digital marketing. An author, consultant, and entrepreneur, Ron has spent over two decades shaping narratives that drive both emotional impact and measurable results. Beyond the business office and writing desk, Ron is also a world-traveling motorcycle journalist whose journeys across continents

have fueled his perspective on resilience, focus, and human connection. His work has appeared in leading publications, and his expertise continues to help professionals grow their brands while telling stories that matter. With this emotionally powerful true crime memoir, Ron draws on his narrative craft to illuminate truth, memory, and justice in a way that resonates deeply with readers. He lives in Mountain Top, Pennsylvania, with his wife, Pam, and their son, Enzo.

An outspoken, tireless advocate for victims' rights and one of television's most respected legal analysts, New York Times bestselling author Nancy Grace currently hosts Crime Stories with Nancy Grace (airing on Dr. Phil's all-new Merit Street Media and SIRIUS XM, and downloadable as a podcast that boasts 12M+ downloads monthly) and headlines the hit syndicated television series Bloodline Detectives and ID Discovery's CrimeFeed. She is the founder and publisher of CrimeOnline.com, a crime-fighting digital platform that investigates breaking crime news, spreads awareness of missing people, and shines a light on cold cases. A former prosecutor, she was a fan favorite on Dancing with the Stars; all of her earnings from the show went to support the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. In 2011, Grace was named one of the most impactful and powerful women in entertainment by both leading industry trade magazines, Variety and The Hollywood Reporter.

She is the recipient of several American Women in Radio & Television Gracie Awards for her Nancy Grace Investigates primetime report on Court TV and has been awarded the Individual Achievement/Best Program Host honor. Grace has also been widely recognized by many notable organizations (including the Carole Sund/Carrington Foundation, Crime Victims United of California, and The Retreat) for her advocacy work on behalf of victims' rights.