Tunnel Vision - Trial And Error: An Untold Story Paperback – December 2, 2001

If you have read the book Blind Faith you MUST read Tunnel Vision also. Robert Marshall gives you a look into the truth about his story. He tells you what really happened when his family was tragically torn apart by his wife's murder. In his book he is able to clear up many untruths that were published in the book Blind Faith. I was amazed at how "uninvolved" his trial lawyer was with his case. To Robert's great unfortune he had the wrong man defending his life. I HIGHLY recommend this book, it is well written and will give any reader great pause. I hope Robert finds the justice he deserves and is released from prison.

There are two issues -- Am I glad I read this book? Yes. Is Marshall's story believable? No.The latter issue first. Here's the giveaway: When you are wrongly convicted of your wife's murder and have spent years in jail, you really don't indulge what are apparently still-pleasant memories of your mistress right in the beginning of the book. His wife was brutally murdered, and he can't wait to tell us about his mistress.Now, is it a bad book? No. It's well-organized, not badly written, and shows the mind of a murderer. Really, it's worth a read.

Imagine….A businessman spends a lot of money hiring thugs from the Shreveport, LA area to murder his wife while he’s committing adultery for a long time and owes a ton of money.That’s also the story of John Frank Howard of Carrollton, TX!And, crazy enough, I have relatives who personally knew both Robert O. Marshall AND John Frank Howard!!The biggest difference in the two stories is, Nancy Howard, John’s wife, survived being shot in the head by the thug!Look up:Dateline: The Carrollton PlotJames Patterson: Murder is ForeverOr just Google “John Frank Howard”. You’ll see an incredibly similar story!Oh… yes… Marshall was 100% guilty of murder for hire! So was Frank Howard. He was sentenced to life in prison.

I read Tunnel Vision because I wanted to hear Robert O Marshall's side of the story. I concluded that only the most hard-core of the wrongly convicted junkies could believe his version of this saga. It is simply implausible, incredible and over the top.First of all, each page drips with Marshall's unabashed narcissism. He's the guy who's the best at everything. The best tennis player, the best blackjack player, the best skier. All the hot women want him. He writes this story like some kind of prisoners fantasy of the high life he once lived. But after reading the book, I came away with a new theory as to what happened here. I think Marshall steadfastly maintains his innocence because it was never his original intent to have his wife murdered. Many unhappily married men have a dark thought now and then about what life would be like if their wife were just gone and away with. A chance encounter with an out-of-towner, Robert Cumber, turned that dark thought into a sprouting seed. Marshall met Cumber at a party in May of 1984 ( a party he didn't even want to go to, but his wife insisted he attend. ) He writes that he and Cumber sat at the bar for four hours, ' got tight ', and confided in each other their marital problems. Cumber said he knew a former Sheriff's deputy back in Louisiana. For Marshall, the great risk assessor, who named his own boat Double Down, the wheels started turning. Who but a former law enforcement officer to be a hired hitman? Marshall proceeded to feel out the situation and decided that summer that it was worth the risk to hire somebody to kill his wife. He would be rich and rid of her and free to be with the new love of his life. There is a saying, Nobody talks, Everybody walks. Problem was, his hit man decided to talk to save himself when the police investigation found out about him. In the end, Marshall bet it all and he lost. The other irritating aspect of this book, was the weak substitute of people's real names. For instance, he refers to Mudman Simon as Mo Muddling. Come on, this was a death row inmate. What is he protecting? The guy's reputation? I gave the book two stars because it was fairly interesting, if obviously a false story Marshall has had decades to manufacture. And I don't think he is a dangerous criminal or a threat to others. In fact, as he was once the big dog in the Toms River social scene, he probably is the brightest guy at New Jersey State Prison. The murder of his wife was a one time desperation deal. He rolled the dice and he lost.

Robert O. Marshall is a sociopath. He is absolutely guilty and try as he might to convince the world of his innocence it's just not believable. Now, that isn't to say that there are certain aspects of the legal system that were highlighted in this abomination that should be reconsidered. I do not think it's in our interest as a society to have the same judge oversee a trial and all of the subsequent appeals. If only because it gives creeps like Marshall something to cry over.I could go on and on about why he's still guilty beyond reasonable doubt, and why I believe his own words prove his guilt. But read it for yourself and see what you think.

An interesting book because of its author; a convicted murderer. Marshall and his late sister did a good job with the writing, but fail to answer too many questions. Why Marshall spent thousands supposedly hiring private investigators from Louisiana to check on missing money in his Harrah's account, something which is central to the story, is never really cleared up. Nor does he address why even his two eldest sons concluded that he was guilty -- not by itself proof of guilt, but worth wondering about. As literature and as debate material, ultimately disappointing.

He died in the Big House so it's all immaterial now. I liked the aliases for the kids; I always expected Mike , Steve, Ernie, Uncle Charlie and the rest of "My Three Sons" to arrive at any moment. So sad and unnecessary for everyone involved, (except for the attorneys who cleaned up), but there's nothing new there.