Deadly Heist - by Steven B Epstein (Paperback)

About the Book

DEADLY HEIST is the captivating story of one of Colorado's most notorious crimes and of a courtroom slugfest that would take a jury nine grueling days to resolve. Its verdict reverberates across the Rocky Mountains to this day.

Book Synopsis

At just 21 years of age, friends Todd Wilson and Scott McCarthy were virtually inseparable. The pair reported for duty at United Bank of Denver at 6:00 a.m. on Father's Day 1991-McCarthy's first day on the job. They joined two more experienced guards and began making their rounds. By 9:30 a.m., all four were dead. The killer then descended upon the cash vault where he held six petrified tellers at gunpoint before absconding with nearly $200,000.

Eighteen days later, the Denver Police Department arrested one of its own. Not only had retired sergeant James W. King served on the force for 25 years, he'd recently been a guard at United Bank-often complaining about the abysmal security, including a decision to disarm its guards. But would he slaughter four of his unarmed successors to prove his point and risk a date with the execution chamber?

DEADLY HEIST is the captivating story of one of Colorado's most notorious crimes and of a courtroom slugfest that would take a jury nine grueling days to resolve. Its verdict-delivered a year and a day after the bloody massacre-reverberates across the Rocky Mountains to this day.

Review Quotes

"With a clear, crisp writing style, Steve Epstein has managed to capture something often lost in the retelling of a true crime: the deep human toll. It's not just the four bank employees who lost their lives that day, but the ones who survived, left with lasting trauma and guilt. Deadly Heist is a compelling read, and also a vivid reminder of the intense human efforts so vital to bringing those accused of heinous crimes to justice."

-Erin Moriarty, CBS News and 48 Hours correspondent and host of podcast My Life of Crime with Erin Moriarty

"An engrossing story brilliantly told. This is a thorough behind-the-scenes breakdown of a horrific murder case, followed by the meticulous investigation seeking justice for victims and their families. This book made me nostalgic for my days as a homicide prosecutor and simultaneously inspired me as a true crime author. I can enthusiastically recommend!"

-Matt Murphy, Orange County, California homicide prosecutor (1993-2020), ABC legal analyst, and bestselling author of The Book of Murder

"Deadly Heist is a fast-paced, extraordinary read, not only for true crime enthusiasts, but for anyone who loves a tight, well-told story, filled with suspense. Steve Epstein has carefully researched what is arguably Colorado's crime of the century. His background as an attorney helps him bring the characters to life and sheds new light on this incredible true story... a book you'll continue to think about long after you put it down."

-Ron Peterson, Jr., bestselling true crime author of Under the Trestle, Chasing the Squirrel, Eyes of a Monster, and In the Wind

"Steve Epstein does a masterful job weaving together the story of this shocking murder-robbery that had me on the edge of my seat until the last page ... I was particularly riveted to his crisp retelling of the back-and-forth action in the courtroom. The book was thoroughly researched and well-written-a real page-turner true crime aficionados will savor."

-Alexandra Shapiro, defense attorney for Sean "Diddy" Combs, Sam Bankman-Fried, and other high-profile defendants, and author of crime novel Presumed Guilty

"Steve Epstein takes you on a riveting ride from the massacre at the bank, to the sprawling investigation that followed, and the battle royale inside the courtroom ... I couldn't put it down. This book is a must for any true crime fan, and for anyone who wants a rare, behind-the-scenes tour of the roller coaster that is the criminal justice system. Top-notch!"

-Dave Aronberg, State Attorney, Palm Beach County, FL (2013-2024), host of Court Authorities YouTube channel

"Deadly Heist takes you inside a fascinating criminal tragedy. This saga unfolds after four unarmed bank guards were murdered in a robbery with all the hallmarks of an inside job. The telling of the arrest and trial of James King evokes the tension in a high-profile criminal case-between giving a suspect the benefit of reasonable doubt or convicting them on compelling circumstantial evidence. The writing is crisp and informative, a must-read for true crime and crime procedural readers."

-McCracken Poston Jr, bestselling author of Zenith Man: Death, Love, and Redemption in a Georgia Courtroom

"...Undoubtedly the most violent and puzzling bank robbery of the many encountered during my 30 years with the FBI ... Extremely complete, well written, well researched, easy to read, very interesting, and above all very important; it also provides lessons to be learned for law enforcement, prosecutors, defense attorneys, banks, and the general public."

-Bob Pence, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Denver Field Office (1986-1992), and author of My Non-Political FBI: From Hoover to a Violent America