A book signing was recently held for a pair of true life crime books that detail the chase and ultimately the capture of Ray Mcleod, the man who brutally murdered Krystal Mitchell. It was the hot pursuit by Mitchell's mother, Josephine Funes Wentzel, that led to Mcleod's arrest after six years on the run. Joan Aguon Charfauros sat down with Wentzel, who is not only a daughter of Guam, but the author.

It's been 28 years since Wentzel has been back home. Along with rest and relaxation, she also made time for a book signing at the GPO Bestseller for her two true life crime stories, 'The Chase' and 'The Capture'.

The books chronicle the six-year hot pursuit and capture of Krystal's murderer.

"I felt compelled to write these books about the chase because there was so many things that I was learning as I went along. And I really wrote it with the intent audience of being family who. Lost children to murder and to teach them not give up hope, and how to pursue it, how to deal with the police and things like that. It's really more of helping them through the process of grieving-.to never give up is basically what it is," she said.

She says a reason why it was important to write 'The Chase', was a psychological one. "I wanted the 'wanted' poster to be on the book to send a message to the murderer, that there is a book out about him. So he's going to be looking over his shoulder all the time because he doesn't know if they read the book, right? It was one of the very reasons why I did this book."

'The Capture' details what led to the murderer, Mcleod's apprehension in El Salvador in 2022, who is currently sitting in a San Diego jail he has yet to appear in court. Which has been difficult for wentzel, who lives in Washington State.

"We had an arraignment. We still havent had the preliminary.the hearing has been put off for two years now. It's just San Diego is so backed up with cases. I don't know this is like the ninth time they've changed the court date," she explained.

Wentzel, who is a former detective with the Guam Police Department says writing the books was therapeutic, noting, "I was able to print the truth about this man. I actually flew to Arizona looked up court records on him. Of course, I changed names in the book because I dealt with witnesses and tipsters and I didn't want them to feel like they couldnt come forward."

She says the reason why the books were so important to her is that she wanted to make sure she found out everything about him so the district attorney and prosecutors can see all of the information. "They're happy I was able to refer to certain experts to them...I'm hands-on all the way. To see this through," she said.

And although she says the intended audience for the books are those seeking justice, she adds, saying, "God forbid they are in the situation that happened to me or are in, to know that there is hope, to never give up, and there are ways to keep your cases alive."

To purchase your very own copies of The Chase and The Capture, visit your nearest Bestseller bookstore or Amazon.