THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, June 26, 1996 TAG: 9606270596
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E3 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Book Review
SOURCE: BY FRANK ROBERTS, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 91 lines
HE STALKED, beat and terrorized several women. He abducted, raped and killed Jeannie Butkowski. He blamed steroids.
Now, though, Pernell Jefferson claims he is Mr. Nice Guy.
Wilt Browning, a sports columnist for The News & Record in Greensboro, N.C., tells a taut true-crime story about Jefferson in ``Deadly Goals: The True Story of an All-American Football Hero Who Stalked and Murdered,'' his fifth book.
The chapter devoted to the killer's apologia, however, is not designed for the skeptic who might be bored with that plot. Especially those in Hampton Roads.
``Deadly Goals'' hits very close to home. Butkowski lived in Chesapeake; her family lived in Virginia Beach. Her father is retired Navy.
Jefferson cooperated with Browning in writing this book, which pulls no punches in its vivid descriptions of a frightening, disgusting lifestyle.
Jefferson, a Benson, N.C., native, used sports as his way out of poverty.
In 1984, the Guilford College student became the nation's leading kick returner, a recognition that netted him a contract with the NFL's Cleveland Browns.
Jefferson, a charmer when he wanted to be, was insecure and exited training camp to avoid a cold dismissal. Later, he found out he would have been asked to stay on.
By that time, though, steroid abuse was part of his life. It began, he claims, in college when he became interested in muscle building, an interest that netted several awards.
His regimen was a five-day-a week training schedule supplemented with lots of carbohydrates, proteins and steroids.
Jefferson continues to lift weights today, but steroids are not on the menu at the Augusta Correctional Center in Craigsville, where he is serving a life sentence for capital murder. He will be eligible for parole in 2011.
Jefferson goes for the Brownie points in ``Deadly Goals,'' claiming he can now serve as an example to potential drug users. ``I was a victim of the mental conditions and serious physical problems caused by steroid use,'' he notes.
But he was in high school and steroid-free when he first hit a woman.
``Deadly Goals'' points out the unfortunately all-too-common theme of abuse victims clinging to their abusers.
Susan Demos of Florida was a prime example. The frequent victim of Jefferson's vicious attacks and domineering attitude, she once paid the $200 he was fined after being convicted of assaulting her.
Jeannie Butkowski tried to get away from his rage and beatings, but he wouldn't let her go, at one time giving her that old grade-B movie line, ``If I can't have you, nobody's going to.''
Jefferson emphasized the point by beating and raping Butkowski. She refused to press charges, fearing he would follow through on a threat to kill her best friend, Denise Edwards, and her daughter.
The next step was abduction. Eight months later, Jeannie's body was found in Amelia County.
Browning praises officers in that area for their investigative skills - for bringing Jefferson to justice. Hampton Roads officers get shortchanged for their efforts, with the author claiming that they dropped the investigative ball.
He also hits on a local television crew for lack of compassion during an interview with Edwards about Butkowski's disappearance.
Browning quotes a reporter as saying, ``Just between us - what's the real story? What happened to your friend? You know where she is, don't you?''
The trial is presented almost verbatim, a ``truth-stranger-than-fiction'' chapter.
Jefferson was found guilty but now maintains his innocence, another familiar scenario. He claims his ex-girlfriend's death came about when he tried to get a pistol away from her.
He also claims he is a model prisoner, noting that some professionals interested in weightlifting are in touch with him for the research he has been doing on the subject.
Jefferson's ``drugs-are-dangerous'' contributions to ``Deadly Goals'' may net him some more of those Brownie points. He offers his address, asking disbelievers to write him for confirmation.
He also apologizes for his behavior and, no surprise, asks God's forgiveness.
The author may be forgiven for a few mistakes. He refers to this area as Tidewater, calls channel 13 WBEC-TV and refers to former Gov. L. Douglas Wilder as Thornton Wilder - a nice literary error.
Aside from that, ``Deadly Goals'' is a well-written book that is often hard to put aside. ILLUSTRATION: Graphic
BOOK REVIEW
``Deadly Goals: The True Story of an All-American Football Hero
Who Stalked and Murdered''
Author: Wilt Browning
Publisher: Down Home Press. 240 pp.
Price: $21.95 by CNB