Matt Birkbeck Knihy

THE INSPIRATION FOR THE NETFLIX DOCUMENTARY GIRL IN THE PICTURE Sharon Marshall was a brilliant and beautiful student whose future was filled with promise—until her murderous, fugitive father drew her into a lifetime of deception that became one of the most baffling cases in the annals of American true crime. A student at Forest Park High School near Atlanta, Georgia, popular blonde-haired Sharon Marshall was at the top of her class. Serving as a Lt. Colonel in the ROTC, she earned a full scholarship to Georgia Tech University to study aerospace engineering. She was the ultimate girl next door, sweet, generous, and well-adjusted. But Sharon had disturbing secrets so shocking and unique, they took more than a decade to unravel... This is the horrifying true story of a mysterious young woman caught in the violent web of the murderous fugitive she called her father—and a heartrending testament to the profound courage and perseverance of one woman trapped in the grip of extreme evil.

Delving into the world of organized crime, this narrative unfolds through the perspective of William "Big Billy" D'Elia, a key figure and right-hand man to notorious mafia leader Russell Bufalino. The book reveals a compelling father/surrogate son dynamic, offering insights into the complex relationships and inner workings of the mob. As an investigative journalist, the author provides a unique lens on the intricacies of loyalty, power, and the dark allure of the mafia over decades of American history.

Caught in the murderous web of the monster she called her father, Sharon wasn't her real name. But her horrifying story captured the hearts of readers everywhere and lead to a ten-year search to resolve two great mysteries - what was her true identity, and what became of her young son Michael, who was kidnapped from his first grade classroom and never seen again.The worldwide interest in Sharon's story prompted the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children to open a new case file enlisting the FBI - and with A Beautiful Child as a roadmap, two FBI agents set their sights on death row interviews with Sharon's tormentor to learn the shocking truth