A Descent Into Hell: The True Story of an Altar Boy, a Cheerleader, and a Twisted Texas Murder | 
 enlarge | Author: Kathryn Casey
Publisher: Harper
Category: Book
List Price: $7.99
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Avg. Customer Rating:  17 reviews
Sales Rank: 14239
Media: Mass Market Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 384
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.5
Dimensions (in): 6.7 x 4.1 x 1.2
ISBN: 0061230871
Dewey Decimal Number: 364.15230976431
EAN: 9780061230875
ASIN: 0061230871
Publication Date: July 1, 2008
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Product Description
Bright, attractive, and both from good families, University of Texas college student Colton Pitonyak and vibrant redhead Jennifer Cave had the world at their beckoning. Cave, an ex-cheerleader, had just landed an exciting new job, while a big-money scholarship to UT's prestigious business school lured Pitonyak to Austin. Yet the former altar boy had a dark, unpredictable streak, one that ensnared him in the perilous underworld of drugs and guns. When Jennifer failed to show up for work on August 18, 2005, her mother became frightened. Sharon Cave's search led to Colton's West Campus apartment, where Jennifer's family discovered a scene worthy of the grisliest horror movie. Meanwhile, Colton Pitonyak was nowhere to be found. A Descent Into Hell is the gripping true story of one of the most brutal slayings in UT history—and the wild "Bonnie and Clyde-like" flight from justice of a cold-blooded young killer and his would-be girlfriend, who claimed that her unquestioning allegiance to Pitonyak was "just the way I roll."
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| Customer Reviews: Read 12 more reviews...
WOW what a book August 6, 2008
0 out of 2 found this review helpful
This is a great true crime book. It is the first book I've ever read where Im on the edge of my seat reading. Look out Ann Rule here is an author who is going to give you some competition!!!
This is a must read,even if you don't usually read this type of book you will really enjoy it.
True crime at its very best. If I could give it more stars I would give it 10 plus.
A Stunning Portrait of College Life! Ann Rule of Texas Strikes Again! August 3, 2008
1 out of 5 found this review helpful
Kathryn Casey has earned 15 perfect scores and I don't want to mess that up. I didn't care for this book as much as the other but I did walk away with a strong impression about the case itself. Casey does an excellent job. She manages to maintain a good pace of covering the story as it unfolds. She doesn't repeat information which can be infuriating in this true crime genre. Jennifer Cave's body was discovered and the author has maintained some suspense to that discovery by her own family when the police didn't or couldn't unlock the apartment door of Colton Potyniak. Obviously, Casey portrays Jennifer Cave as a complex young woman who has overcome so much especially the dark side of drugs and the wrong crowd of people. Casey's description of Jennifer helps us understand her need to help everybody and see the good in them. Unfortunately, Colton was trouble from the very moment. He was obviously obsessed with Jennifer and couldn't let her go. He had already a lovick equally obsessed girl, Laura Ashley Hall who is troubled herself. Both are now in prison. Colton destroyed Laura's dream of being a lawyer but she is sick herself at least mentally and still professing her love and devotion to such a cold-blooded sociopath without any remorse towards Jennifer. I wished Laura that she would realize how close that she came herself to having the same fate as Jennifer someday. Regardless, the Cave family have suffered enough after Jennifer's senseless murder. I won't spoil the crime here for readers. You'll just have to read it yourself.
Hellishly Tragic Story - Great Read! July 24, 2008
3 out of 5 found this review helpful
Kathryn Casey tells a tragic story of drugs, obsession, murder, and dismemberment. As are all of Casey's books, DESCENT is impeccably researched and no stone is left unturned with regard to the individual histories of the offender and the victim. On the surface, the murder appears senseless... until you enter the dark world of Colton Pitonyak. A brilliant student turned drunken punk, turned drug dealing thug, Pitoniak not only sold drugs, he used street drugs daily and popped prescription pills like candy.
Jennifer Cave was a bright, caring young woman but she too destroyed a promising future with drugs. Addicted and unable to right the course of her future, Jennifer paid for her mistakes with her life. Sadly, if not for her use of meth, Jennifer never would never have met Pitonyak.
Some argue that Jennifer and Pitoniyk were good friends. Perhaps. But Jennifer also admitted, "The relationship was all about drugs." In addition, Jennifer recognized that Pitonyak was a dangerous individual whom she could not and should not trust. After being threatened with a knife, Jennifer told many that she would never spend time with Pitonyak alone again. However, her resolve was short lived. (As the time of Jennifer's death grows near, Casey employs a masterful use of suspense and with a sense of growing dread, I felt compelled to continue reading toward the tragic conclusion of this story.)
In a impusive drug fueled rage, Pitonyak killed Jennifer. However, it is the rest of the story that is truly compelling. Enter Laura Hall. Hall was obsessed with Pitonyak and admired his bravado, his criminal history, and his carefully constructed drug dealer image. Hall loaned Pitonyak money throughtout the course of the relationship and did him favors. In return, Pitonyak used Hall. Often derisive toward Hall, Pitonyak borrowed money, sent Hall on personal errands for him, and banged her when he felt like it. He also requested her help following Jennifer's murder.
Forensic evidence would suggest Hall assisted Pitonyak in attempting to dismember Jennifer's body. Given the post-murder bragging Hall did, one could reasonably assume the plan to dismember the body was hers. At a minimum, she participated. There is less historical information about the person Hall was before this horrific crime, but the existing information suggests she was quite mentally and emotionally unstable if not obsessive, somewhat delusional, and tending toward the antisocial.
On a particularly painful note, Jennifer's mother, Sharon Cave, lamented frequently that Jennifer was murdered just as she was "...beginning to turn her life around." Maybe. But Jennifer's history was unstable and she eventually found herself a college dropout, unemployed, and homeless if not for the generosity of friends. Similarly, while Jennifer had spoken of recovery from her addiction, autopsy analysis revealed drugs in her system. She may have lessened her use of drugs, she may have wanted to stop, but she had not stopped. Haunted by a poor self-image and living with the consequences of drug abuse and addiction, every decision Jennifer made led her one step closer to death. This is not to say she is responsible for her own death. Only Pitoniak is to blame. But it was horrifying to read about a bright, attractive young woman who spiraled into the black hole of addiction.
My only complaint about the book is the subtitle. Sure, Pitnonyak was an altar boy... FOUR YEARS prior to the murder. And Jennifer had not worn a cheerleading uniform in at least that long. The subtitle suggests the roles of altar boy and cheerleader are current ones. Hardly. This is the very kind of trashy hype that detracts from the True Crime genre as a whole. At best, it is unnecessary. At worst, it is misleading. For True Crime fans everywhere, ignore the subtitle and enjoy the read... and the ride. Kathryn Casey is one of the very best.
A real page turner! July 23, 2008
1 out of 5 found this review helpful
I couldn't put this down. A very tragic, but compelling story. It will make you want to go hug your daughters.
Kathryn Casey draws you in. July 21, 2008
2 out of 4 found this review helpful
This is such a sad, horrific story. Kathryn Casey gives a well researched timeline of the crime and it's aftermath. Casey draws you into the suffering of the victem's family and friends hitting home just how much damage a murder can do. An excellent read for all, especially true crime fans.
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