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The biggest scandal in Tacoma’s recent history, the murder/suicide of Tacoma Police Chief David Brame and his estranged wife Crystal, is the subject of a new book, “Tacoma Confidential” by Paul LaRosa.
LaRosa works for CBS News, and produced a 2003 segment for “48 Hours” on the Brame shootings and subsequent fallout.
John Hathaway, who operates the New Takhoman web site, was featured prominently on the show. He appears from time to time in the book, but he doesn’t dominate the story as he did on “48 Hours.” LaRosa was so enthralled by Hathaway’s image of a 1940s detective, or old school journalist, that it impacted the TV show. The film noir techniques and saxophone lines were interesting but added a cheesy element, and many felt the re-appearing black crow was too heavy on the symbolism.
LaRosa does a better job telling the story in book form.
LaRosa grew up and lives in New York. As such, he can be forgiven for some errors. He describes Tacoma as north of Gig Harbor, and calls Lincoln District “Little Saigon.” He claims there is only one newspaper in Tacoma, which is certainly news to us.
How much the reader knows about the Brame scandal will affect how much they will get out of “Tacoma Confidential.” I cover the city hall beat, and have written many articles on this scandal.
I have attended press conferences and meetings, read many articles in other newspapers, and poured over countless documents and investigative reports related to the scandal. Even I learned some things from reading LaRosa’s book.
LaRosa delves heavily into the personalities of David and Crystal Brame, and the dynamics of their respective families. One thing that becomes quite clear is that the two should never have married.
She was outgoing, and a typical young woman who wanted to hang out with friends and go have fun. David was an introverted homebody.
He was controlling, and wanted a submissive wife. Crystal clearly didn’t fit this role. David was interested in trying group sex; she absolutely wasn’t.
In proper journalistic fashion, LaRosa attempts to tell both sides of the story. Relatives and friends of Crystal and David are interviewed. David often accused his wife of having a wicked temper, and several people in the book recount Crystal screaming and shouting at home.
She clearly had some mental instability during her years living with David, but it likely was caused by his controlling behavior and pressure to engage in group sex. Once she left David, LaRosa describes Crystal returning to her former, bubbly self.
LaRosa only skims over the political fallout and investigations since the shootings; this is basically about the couple’s deteriorating marriage. But it is a quick read, and well worth $8.
