Wayne Adam Ford's chilling words, "I hurt some people, " opened the door to a dark world. This world was explored by a Southern California author who spent years investigating Ford's deadly compulsion. The author's book, "Body Parts: A Serial Killer's Deadly Compulsions, " sheds new light on Ford's first victim, identified 25 years after her brutal murder.

        The book is set to be rereleased on Feb. 25, with multiple book signings scheduled across southern California in March. The author, known for her true crime books, has written about some of Southern California's most notorious killers and mysterious deaths. She is an award-winning investigative journalist and a New York Times bestselling author. Her work is known for its detailed investigation and engaging storytelling.

        Ford, a former marine, learned first aid and CPR during his service. One night, while on a date, he saw a car crash and tried to help the injured passenger. He used a technique to stop the bleeding, which he later used to choke his victims during rough sex. A drunk driver hit him, causing a traumatic brain injury. His family said he was never the same after waking up in the ICU nine days later.

        Ford's deadly compulsions led him to murder and dismember multiple women while working as a long-haul trucker. Though some victims were found and identified, the author believes there may be more. The 2025 release of "Body Parts" includes previously sealed testimony and interviews with key players in the case, including Ford's brother and father. The book is described as "intimate and psychologically resonant" into the identity of Wayne Adam Ford’s first victim – Kerry Anne Cummings of Tucson, Arizona, who went missing in 1997 and ended up in Humboldt, where her remains were discovered.

        Kerry Anne Cummings, high school photo and later photo before her disappearance. (California Statewide Law Enforcement Photos) "Everything they knew about his first victim was based on her torso, " the author said. She had given birth, but not much else was known. "We had no idea, except that she was 25 and had some drugs on her, a weird can opener, and a tattoo with rose petals. " The rest came later, thanks to familial DNA.

        A cousin registered for a DNA website, offering police the opportunity to 'backward-engineer' missing person cases. The story of that journey is detailed in the 10, 000 words added to the narrative, with extensive updates about Cummings, how she came to California, and where her life ended. Now, her family knows what happened, which, for the author, is what matters. "There’s never really a happy ending to a serial killer story, but this is the closest thing to it, " the author told Patch. "She has her name, and her family has closure. "

        The author is holding a series of book signings for "Body Parts" across Southern California:

Uncovering the Chilling Truth: Wayne Adam Ford's Deadly Obsession

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