Perfectly Executed - by Peter Van Sant & Jenna Jackson (Paperback)

About the Book

Investigative correspondent Van Sant draws on interviews and extensive research to unravel a controversial case from the hit CBS News program "48 Hours Mystery," in which two gifted college students from a wealthy Seattle suburb were charged with murdering ones family in cold blood. Original.

Book Synopsis

THEY WERE YOUNG. THEY WERE SMART -- OFTEN TO THE POINT OF ARROGANCE. BUT WERE THEY KILLERS?

Investigative correspondent Peter Van Sant draws on penetrating interviews and extensive research to unravel a controversial case from TV's 48 Hours Mystery -- the two gifted college students charged with murdering one of their families in cold blood.

Bellevue, Washington: Early on a serene summer evening, neighbors heard a muffled commotion from inside the home of a quiet Muslim family, newcomers to the wealthy Seattle suburb. It wasn't until well after midnight that Atif Rafay and his best friend, Sebastian Burns, entered the Rafay house to find Atif's parents fatally bludgeoned, and his sister clinging to life. Despite airtight alibis and a dearth of evidence, the boys quickly emerged as suspects -- and sealed their fate when they headed to Canada. After a six-year extradition battle that went all the way to Canada's Supreme Court, they were returned to the U.S. -- in a twisting case involving an elaborate sting operation; a damaging screenplay; a shattering surprise witness; and the shocking discovery of one of the boys having sex with his female attorney in prison. Were Atif Rafay and Sebastian Burns falsely accused? Or was this unspeakable crime PERFECTLY EXECUTED?

About the Author

Peter Van Sant is a CBS News correspondent for 48 Hours and previously an international correspondent for the CBS Evening News, Public Eye with Bryant Gumbel, and Street Stories with Ed Bradley. He is a four time Emmy Award winner and a recipient of a Columbia Dupont Award, two Overseas Press Club Awards, three RTNDA Edward R. Murrow awards, the Sigma Delta Chi award, an American Women in Radio and Television Award, and The Golden Word, Russia's highest television news award. Van Sant was also a producer and writer for the documentary film Three Days In September about the Beslan, Russia school massacre, which premiered at the 2006 Tribeca Film Festival. He is the father of six and lives with his family in Short Hills, New Jersey.