Dead in the Water

My Forty-Year Search for My Brother's Killer

By: Penny Farmer

Narrated by: Tess Gallagher, Ian Porter

Length: 9 hrs and 15 mins

Publisher's summary

In this shocking, heart-wrenching true-crime drama, a 40-year-old double murder brings together a grieving family and two brothers - just kids when they witnessed their father commit the brutal act - to track down a psychopath once suspected as being the Golden State Killer.

In 1978, two tortured corpses were discovered in the sea off Guatemala. Hooded, bound with ropes and weighted down with heavy engine parts, Chris Farmer and his girlfriend Peta Frampton were still clinging to life when they were thrown from a yacht on which they had been crewing. 

This is the gripping account of how Chris's family painstakingly gathered evidence against the boat's Californian skipper, Silas Duane Boston, working alongside the FBI, Interpol, and police in the UK and the USA. Almost four decades later in 2015, there was a major breakthrough in the case when, using Facebook, Chris's sister Penny tracked Boston down. Following the testimony of his two sons who, as young boys, had witnessed the horrific murder of Chris and Peta at the hands of their father, Boston was finally arrested and charged with two counts of maritime murder. 

Chillingly, Boston was later linked to several other killings on US soil - at one point he was even the FBI's prime suspect in the notorious Golden State Killer case, until DNA ruled him out. The list of crimes for which he was suspected put him in the league of America's most prolific and elusive serial killers. 

Not just a story of murder on the high seas, Dead in the Water is a tale that offers insights into the minds of the killer and his two sons. And it reveals a family's fortitude and diligence in tracking down a monster of a man, a task which ultimately fell to the author to complete. It exemplifies that life can be senselessly snuffed out but love never dies.

©2019 Penny Farmer (P)2019 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

A riveting story.

The author describes the search for her brother’s killer in minute detail. This true story is so well written and performed that you feel the experiences as they are being read. I can’t begin to imagine how the author and her family lived through this with an ounce of sanity at the end. I reached out to the author after reading this book to express my condolences to her and her family. I immediately received a warm and gracious response from her. My heart goes out to Penny, her family and all who knew her brother and his girlfriend.

Excellent read from start to finish.

Such a heartbreaking story shared in a way that made me feel as if Chris and Peta were my own family. My heart also breaks for the lives of Russell and Vince with their monster father. I used to say I could write a book about my family history but it wouldn’t come near as to what both boys experienced.

Such a sad story

Very interesting read. I have never heard of this case. Very well written with great narration. I especially liked the narration of one of the male voice portraying one of Boston’s sons. Was interesting from start to finish.

This is how true crime should be written

I thought this was the most heartbroken story that I had listen to in a long time. So many hurt, so many life's lost and so many years that you cannot get back. My heart goes out to so many people in this story. First to the author WOW what can I say you did an outstanding job putting this together. You gave the facts but gave true emotion, I want to thank you for allowing me into you life's. I know this must have been hard to write to not only for you but for the two sons and all they have been through trying to bring justice. Not to forget the parents who had to deal with the lose. My hats off to them, for never giving up, for their lose and their pain. For the sons they have nothing to feel bad about, they were young, you have to do what you are told to do but again my hats off for when they got older to trying to find justice and finally being about to do to some degree.

It has been a while since a story has brought tears to my eyes, but never for so many people. The author gives you the facts, true emotions, hurt, and pain with so many more emotions. When she does go off on another case it is to just touch on it and bring us right back to the facts and carries on as before. There is no way you cannot listen to this audio and not be touched and brought to tears.It is one of the best True Crime stories I have listened to.

The narrators aren't bad, they both do a wonderful job, the lady narrator I thought at times did a few character voices which I didn't care for. There was one place were the break was to long and I am sure it is where she took a break.The male narrator did a wonderful job. I thought they blended well together with no pause between where one took over. Together they flow smoothly. There were no background noises, only a few places where the pause as a little longer, no volume change. I really enjoyed their performance and this audio.

I thought it was a powerful story, with a lot to get over for so many. It was nice to see two families come together and form some kind of friendship out of the crime. The author holds nothing back going into vivid details that makes it easy to picture all that is going on. I was sorry they didn't get true justice but still they did get some he isn't here anymore to hurt others. It was great to see how each member grew and how their lives turned out. There are no words to take away the sorrow or pain, the best I can do is to say you all will see your love ones again. Thank your for sharing this story.

A family's tragedy told with dignity and grace

If you are a fan of real crime , don't miss this book. Beautifully written and read with the perfect tone. I was left moved and saddened, but with utmost respect for a family that endured this life changing tragedy.

Loved listening to this

Sad, crazy, and so glad Russell seems well after that upbringing. I live in the greater Sacramento area of NorCal, so I felt a connection with this true crime story. I feel for Penny and her wonderful family, along with the Framptons. 💔

A gut wrenching true story

Interesting case and not well known. A gut wrenching true story told by a loved one. Well worth the listen. Your heart goes out to the family.

Excellent

Excellent recount of such a senseless tragedy. My compliments to the family for their tireless quest for justice and to the US government for stepping up when others were willing to let a criminal walk.

Heartbreaking

This book is very sad. There wasn’t a happy ending at all. Boston was a evil psychopath.

Silas Duane Boston is a Disgusting Monster of a Human Being

Silas Duane Boston is a Disgusting Monster of a Human Being. The fact that he was able to elude police around the world for 40 years is incomprehensible to me. His own sons told their stories and no one listened. This book gives a detailed description of what happened and is not for the faint of heart. There were a few times I wanted to stop but my overpowering curiosity got me through the book. In the end, Boston dies taking the cowardly way out while in custody which is about right for a low life.