The Lost Sons of Omaha

The Tragic Deaths of Jake Gardner and James Scurlock in a Fractured America

By: Joe Sexton

Narrated by: Dion Graham

A NEW YORKER BEST BOOK OF 2023

“A meticulously researched and briskly written account that deftly weaves the influences of racial injustice, economic disparity, incendiary social media, and guns.” —Associated Press

From the award-winning journalist Bob Woodward calls “one of the truly great reporters working today,” a searing account of two linked and tragic deaths stemming from the 2020 George Floyd protests that explores the complex political and racial mistrust and division of today’s America.

“One of the most superb testaments about the confusion, despair, and—hopefully—humility that frames our century that one could ever hope to read.” —Hilton Als

On May 30, 2020, in Omaha, Nebraska, amid the protests that rocked our nation after George Floyd’s death at the hands of police, thirty-eight-year-old white bar owner and Marine veteran Jake Gardner fatally shot James Scurlock, a twenty-two-year-old Black protestor and young father. What followed were two investigations of Scurlock’s death, one conducted by the white county attorney Don Kleine, who concluded that Gardner had legally acted in self-defense and released him without a trial, and a second grand jury inquiry conducted by Black special prosecutor Fred Franklin that indicted Gardner for manslaughter. Days after the indictment, Gardner killed himself with a single bullet to the head.

The deaths of both Scurlock and Gardner gave rise to a toxic brew of misinformation, false claims, and competing political agendas. The two men, each with their own complicated backgrounds, were turned into caricatures. The twin tragedies amounted to an ugly and heartbreaking reflection of a painfully divided country. Here, Joe Sexton “elevates a made-for-social-media tragedy into a kaleidoscopic account of race, justice, and urban politics” (The New York Times Book Review) masterfully unpacking the whole twisted, nearly unbelievable chronicle and explaining which claims were true and which distorted or simply false. “A book of intense moral weight and integrity” (The Washington Post), The Lost Sons of Omaha involves some of the most pressing issues facing America today, including our country’s broken criminal justice system, the failure to care for the men and women who fight our wars, the dangerous spread of misinformation, particularly on social media, and the urgent need to band together in the collective pursuit of truth, fairness, and healing.

©2023 Joseph Sexton (P)2023 Simon & Schuster, Inc.

Well titled

Sad story all the way around… author provides extensive data from records related to the case and interviews a variety individuals

The domino effect of hate and untruths

A comprehensive investigation of an “every man” story of our troubled and divisive times. Everyone should be able to see themselves reflected in at least one person caught up in this tragedy.

Well done

This is something anyone from Omaha who had any opinion on this case needs to listen to. The author did an amazing job of humanizing both men and painting a 360 picture of their lives - not just what the media/mob shoved down our throats.

Amazing

Such great insight. I learned things I never new about this tragedy and it opens your eyes to so many of these same tragedies we will still face today. I definitely think everyone should read this.

Justice and Truth Denied: the Weaponization of Social Media

An impactful, well written and performed statement about truth sacrificed on the altar of social media. The BLM movement, so valid in itself, is high jacked as this heartbreaking story evolved. The individuals have reduced to stereotypes of our broken, post Trump, social order. Wonderful, haunting read!

Painful and Powerful

This book takes the reader down roads their personal bias would never travel. This true and tragic story is both painful and powerful. It is a must-read for anyone endeavoring to understand the complex and emotional issues dividing our country.

Unbiased explanation of the FACTS

Mr. Sexton provides the reader with factual evidence (audio recordings, official court transcripts, matters of public record, and firsthand witness testimony, etc.) along with the ability to form your own conclusions… Excellently written, thoroughly researched, and carefully delivered. Yes, this moment in modern history is 1000% heartbreaking, but it’s 10000% necessary that we understand ALL moving parts to not only this story yet the many stories of this nature. We need more reporting of the the FACTS. I applaud Mr. Sexton for his diligence in writing this book. A MUST READ FOR ALL!

Powerful Investigative Journalism

Extremely well done, non-biased, and balanced piece of investigative journalism that objectively deep dives into every character and every event along the way in this American tragedy. Joe Sexton’s relentless investigation and reporting ultimately exposed all the blatant lies spread on social media by reckless, ignorant and hateful humans. I highly recommend this book to anyone who lived through this hate-fueled episode in Omaha’s history.

A well-written falsehood

It’s so extraordinarily difficult to land in a city you’ve never been to, amidst a local and national riot, and capture the truth of an event so racially and politically charged, like this author has tried to do. Uhhhhh, but he didn’t. This book is ass, you guys.