"Please...Don't Kill Me"

The True Story of the Milo Murder

By: William C. Dear, Carlton Stowers

Narrated by: J. Scott Bennett

Length: 8 hrs and 42 mins

Publisher's summary

"I don't care who you hire, or what the company has to pay him…so long as he's the best there is."

This anguished cry from the wife of murder victim Dean Milo would draw private investigator Bill Dear into one of the most frustrating, and ultimately triumphant, cases of his career.

Dean Milo was a phenomenally successful businessman who built a tiny family business into a $50-million-a-year corporation. Along the way, he established a lengthy list of enemies that began with his immediate family and stretched throughout the social and business community. His fast-track ride to the top came to a violent halt on August 11, 1980, when Milo was found dead in his luxurious Ohio home, shot twice in the head. A blank telegram form lay nearby.

Four months after his death, the investigation remained a confusing collection of non sequiturs. Clues pointed toward Milo's involvement with the Mafia, the drug world, and the gay community. His own family refused to cooperate with the authorities. And time was ticking by.

In desperation, Maggie Milo turned to Texas private eye, Bill Dear. This is the gripping story of the remarkable collaboration between Dear and the police detectives of Akron, Ohio, that led to 11 convictions, an Ohio record. It is also a tale of the human weakness, desperation, and overwhelming greed that led to a sudden death.

©1989 William C. Dear and Carlton Stowers (P)2018 David N. Wilson

Greed and jealousy

William C. Dear, a Dallas-based private investigator. was hired by the Milo family to find the killer of Dean Milo in 1980. Milo ran the successful Milo Barber and Beauty Supply Company, a family business, and had rubbed his siblings the wrong way by his business practices. Additionally, there were rumors that Milo's death could have been an organized crime hit, or possibly that he had engaged in a same sex relationship. There appeared to be no shortage of possible suspects at the onset of the investigation.

Dear had gained notoriety by solving the disappearance of James Dallas Egbert III, a sixteen year old Michigan State student. Dear was able to find the child prodigy safe and sound in Louisiana. Years later, the high profiled private investigator conducted a through investigation of the OJ Simpson murder case from 1994. Dear wrote " O.J. is Innocent and I Can Prove It," which presents the case against OJ's son Jason.

Dear eventually moved into the Milo family's home, and traced Dean's final steps. Robbery was not the motive, as the murderer didn't remove any valuables or cash from the Milo house. It appeared to be a clean hit, which seemed to point the finger at organized crime, however, the PI would learn of family greed and jealously. Early signs suggested Dean's sister and husband might be involved, however, it was a bit more complicated than that.

In the end, it was learned that Dean Milo's brother Fred was the man who ordered the hit on his brother. However, it would take the investigator some time to unravel the web of description, and shine light on the tangled conspiracy to murder Dean Milo. This is a well written book that captured my interest. For true crime fans, I recommend this title and Dear's "The Dungeon Master: The Disappearance of James Dallas Egbert III."

True Crime written at its best, amazing detail

If it had not been for one Texas private eye this case would not have been solved, he never gave up even when the family/company wouldn’t pay him. The wife said I will pay, but he was willing to move on to find justice for one man and wife who wanted justice at no cost. This is an amazing true story of a family that had it all, all the money they could spend, some didn’t have to work but some were not happy about being cut out. I am thinking are you crazy, give me all the money I can spend and let me set on my butt and you do all the hard work I could be very happy. The family had jobs in the company but the older son wanted all control without having to ask for permission. Dean took a company that was doing very well and made this family billionaires. Someone was hasn’t happy someone wanted him dead, the story starts from the start when he was found dead and the police could not get any answers. That is until Dean’s wife turned to Bill who took this investigation to a new level.

What you will find between these pages is true facts that will shock you. A mother and son who didn’t like being cut out but are they willing to kill to get back what they believe is theirs. Wait the brother had a meeting setup for the day after Dean was killed everyone thought they would work out their difference. True there was a lawsuit for the family to gain some control back, but they were working it out. There is talking of an affair maybe in with a man, there is even some talk about drugs, and so much more. You really do not know what to believe, Bill takes it slow and easy working each stage finding answers which only lead to more questions. I think half the state was mixed up in his death, one door opens and then a twist is throw in with new characters that may or may not have anything to do with this killing.

Mr. Bennett’s narration is outstanding as he brings to life the story with strong emotions, confusion, power, control, anger, loss, heartache. He builds each character giving us their strengths and weakness taking us inside a story to see the true characters as you would have never seen them had you read this story. His female and male voices are wonderful you always know who is talking and just what they are feeling. His tones are right on the money bring so much emotion that you feel the wife’s pain as well as the uneasiness of the family. You will find no background noises, no volume changes just a very clean clear audio that really pulls you in. It sounds like he took no breaks and this was read at one setting. What really makes this an outstanding audio is how the narrator really brings it to life, you have no trouble getting lost in his pleasant voice which makes it very easy to picture the scenes in your mind. Mr. Bennett really gives character to the characters as he puts his self in their place. He gives the facts and lets you make of them what you will. I found myself asking questions, and then he would turn around and answer them. I was so pulled into this story when I got home I set for a little while in the car not wanting to put it down. You will have no trouble picturing the scenes as first one family member and then another would give no help. It is always a pleasure listening to anything this narrator publishes, I know it will always be delivered with powerful feeling and emotions, I will always be pulled in and taken away into the story that is delivered with such passion that I become part of the story. I truly enjoy his narration and can’t wait to listen to more of his work.

The author gives you a very complex true story that will hold you spellbound with so many twists and turns that will keep your mind spinning. So much detail is given but I came to expect that from this author with all he was willing to do, some of it very strange if not downright weird. Mr. Dear had me in the palm of his hand from the first page to the last. It was a story I listened to at one setting, filled with every emotion you can think of. I really can’t wait to listen to more of his audios, true crime at its best with facts and a plot that is so vivid you are so invested you won’t be able to put it down. One of the best written true crimes books I have listened to.

Great Book!

This book keeps you going. About the time you think you figured it out more and more characters get added. I would recommend this book to anyone.

One of the best true crime stories

Complex and detailed, this is one of the best true crime stories I've listened to or read. The story is well-written and told in a way that is easy to follow but it is a very in depth account with many players so it has to be followed along closely. This is definitely a book I will listen to again and one that I highly recommend to true crime fans. I was voluntarily provided this review copy audiobook at no charge by the author, publisher and/or narrator.

Interesting true crime

This happened in our vicinity many years ago. I couldn’t remember all the details so it was good to listen to it again to refresh my memory. Well written and well narrated. Good job to author and narrator.

A Story of Many Stories

As a True Crime story of an actual event, there is little to say about plot twists. Therefore the bulk of the work to draw the listener in to the story. Fortunately this narrator is able to project a wide cast and differentiate between characters easily. Thanks to that the book becomes an audio version of the serialized unsolved crime TV shows or Date-Line.

The book itself is intriguing, with a good use of chapter breaks and other pauses as well as a careful selection of reveals in order to build suspense. Like the true story itself, the dead-ends are frustrating and the extensions and new leads are exciting. The only negative I can find with this book is that the numerous characters and changes in the investigation are confusing, especially if the reader needs to pause the story.

Ture crime

Always enjoy a good true crime book and this was no exception. Nice narration. Enjoyed the investigation process and how it laid out.

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review

Interesting insight

I received the audiobook free in exchange for an honest review.

I'm not sure what to make of this book. It gives the reader an insight into the process of what detectives (and private investigators) have to do in order to find their man.

Bill Dear, a private investigator, is brought into Akron, Ohio to solve the case of the murder of Dean Milo. The police had been unable to find the killer and had to move on to more current cases. With the help of his team of investigators, and a few police officers, Dean painstakingly delves into the murder, into the lives of those involved, and slowly unravels the murder plot.

The writing style was interesting enough, not just a recitation of the dry facts of the case, but no huge descriptions to pad out the story. J. Scott Bennett narrated the story well, as always.

AMAZING

This is an amazing detailed true crime story. I have read many--more than 100. Any true crime buff that wants an excellent read should read this one. EXCELLENT!

Memorable murder

I always find true crime murder stories a bit creepy because you know they are the retelling of an actual event, and this one is definitely a bit bizarre. This is an intriguing story that gives the reader insight into the investigative process and shows well the thrill of new leads and the frustration of dead-ends. It was fascinating to hear how the investigators dug into the murder and the lives of those involved, following one lead to another, until they finally unraveled the plot. The narrator did a great job of delineating the numerous characters and making the story easy to follow. This is an interesting true crime story that is well narrated and, though a bit slow in the beginning, it is well worth the listen.