After Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, Zackery Bowen became the face of hope in the local news. A handsome veteran of the Iraq War, Bowen was all smiles and high spirits when he appeared on live television—partying on Bourbon Street, or raising a glass with his beautiful bartender girlfriend, Addie Hall. But Bowen’s happy-go-lucky persona in the Big Easy concealed a tortured mind…

In October 2006, Bowen leapt from the rooftop bar of a French Quarter hotel—instantly killing himself. Later, it was discovered that he had also killed Addie…and left a note directing police to her dismembered body. Why did Bowen do it? What made him snap? This is the true story of a war-torn veteran driven to commit the most heinous of crimes.