Death, Love, and Redemption: Zenith Man in a Georgia Courtroom

"Wildly entertaining…. Zenith Man By McCracken Poston, Jr. is a true crime book, but the events described seem more like a John Grisham novel." —Mystery Tribune

In a captivating small town Southern setting, Zenith Man tells the fascinating true story of an idealistic young lawyer determined to free an innocent neurodivergent man accused of murdering the wife no one knew he had. Echoing elements of Rainman and Just Mercy, this nonfiction John Grisham thriller is sometimes humorous, sometimes heartbreaking. It serves as an inspiring argument for compassion in the pursuit of true justice for readers of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil and Just Mercy.

"Was this small-town TV repairman a harmless eccentric or a bizarre killer" questioned the Atlanta Journal Constitution. For the first time, Alvin Ridley’s own defense attorney reveals the inside story of his case and trial. It unfolds as an extraordinary tale of friendship and the quest of an idealistic young attorney to clear his client’s name while rebuilding his own life.

The town of Ringgold in northwest Georgia was shaken in October 1997 by reports of a murder in their midst. The dead woman found in Alvin Ridley’s house was the wife no one knew he had. McCracken Poston, a former state representative turned lawyer, knew Alvin as the “Zenith Man,” a local character who once sold and serviced Zenith televisions. Despite his reclusive and outsider nature, Alvin hardly seemed capable of murder.

Poston faced challenges with Alvin as a client, who was reluctant to disclose crucial information and kept evidence in a cockroach-infested suitcase. Gradually, Poston pieced together the full story of Virginia and Alvin’s unusual marriage and her overlooked cause of death. By calling on medical experts, Alvin’s testimony, and evidence from his cluttered home, Poston built a groundbreaking defense that ultimately freed Alvin.

Years later, Alvin was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, shedding light on his lifelong personal struggles and the societal misunderstandings he faced. Zenith Man is not just a true crime story or courtroom drama, but also a tale of unexpected friendship that changed the lives of two very different men.

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