Depraved Obsession

The Gripping True Story of Law Enforcement’s Hunt for a Sadistic Serial Killer

By: Rodney Sadler

Narrated by: James Matthews Vannoy

What drove the inconspicuous sociopath to become a ruthless killer?

During his nearly fifteen-year reign of terror, Ronald Lloyd Bailey’s depraved obsession with sexual sadism held communities across southeast Michigan in a shroud of fear. From the early 1970’s to the mid-1980’s, the former patient at one of Michigan’s foremost psychiatric hospitals, abducted as many as fifteen teens and over time became a sadistic serial killer.

In this shocking, fast-paced account, retired police officer and true crime author Rod Sadler examines law enforcement's dedicated efforts in connecting the dots to stop an unknown killer, and he poignantly chronicles the determination of the victims' families to triumph over tragedy.

Sadler also examines Bailey’s insanity defense that centered on the alleged abuse he endured at the hands of his psychiatrist. In doing so, the bestselling author of KILLING WOMEN asks and answers the question: What drove the inconspicuous sociopath to become a ruthless killer?

©2025 Rod Sadler (P)2025 WildBlue Press

Can't put this down

What leads a person to commit unspeakable acts? This book gives us a glimpse into the mindset of how people kidnap and kill children. It shares the pain of families who have lost a child and details how our law enforcement and justice system works. It tells the true story of how good attorneys find the courage to represent those who kill. The back stories of the real life characters make this a "cant put it down" type of book. You will completely forget about your own problems while you read this book. That alone is a reason to read it.

The story is fantastic. I’m a true crime buff and this listen is fantastic.

What I disliked are the many mispronunciations of Michigan Cities such as Novi (NOT Novee) and Mackinaw (Not Mackinack) . The last names of Judges and others.

Good story

Seemed a little repetitious at times. But the story was compelling and interesting. I would recommend it to true crime fans.

The case was interesting. I’m from Ohio/Michigan and lived in NW Ohio when this was going on. Yet never heard about it.

The recording was… odd. The narrator read well enough except for just a few mispronunciations, but the recording itself! Sounded like he was recording into an iPhone from his kitchen table. I swear I faintly heard dogs, passing vehicles, and movement in the recording. Also, could hear the reader swallow and wet his lips. Not his fault, we all have to do this when reading aloud. But, clearly there was no audio editing. So strange. Not a criticism
of the narrator, though.

The obviously AI voice

The AI voice was very obvious. For any book over $5 AI shouldn't be used. I'd rather support a human being that put effort