Family Skeleton: A Brother and Sister’s Journey from Murder to Truth
by Andre Carmichael, Sabrina Carmichael-Yaw and Aurora Mackey
Published by New Horizon Press
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Reviewed by Knevits Stephens
This is a true story about Andre and Sabrina’s lives and a great big nasty secret that is 20 years old. Imagine going through life with something in the back of your mind that you remember but too afraid to tell anyone. Being isolated from the world and afraid to even go home after school.
In New York a single mother, Mrs. Carmichael, was raising four children on her own. Gregory is the oldest boy, then Sabrina, and twins, Andre and Latanisha.
When the twins were three and Sabrina eight, Sabrina witnessed her mother and brother Gregory beat Latanisha till she fell backwards dead. After trying to resuscitate her, they put her little body in a garbage bag and then into a trunk. The trunk was then put in the back of the mother’s closet where it remained– never to be spoken of again. Both Andrea and Sabrina were abused over the years, and Andre is kept isolated at home. They are both scared of their mother and brother Gregory.
Twenty years later Andre searches for Sabrina. He has known something was missing all these years and is most curious about his twin–an aunt claims he has a twin. After several attempts Sabrina tells Andre of the murder and where Latanisha’s body still is. Sabrina is scared to go to the authorities for fear of their lives and their children’s lives. Andre talks to a detective and then they go to the police.
Andre and Sabrina take the stand at the trial against their own mother and brother. After being convicted and sentenced the mother still has no remorse or truth, and she takes it all to the grave with her.
Aurora Mackey had read the story about the Carmichael family. It touched her deeply and she got in touch with Andre. After getting to know Andre and Sabrina, they became good friends. Sabrina and Andre told her she could write the book but it was to be Latanisha’s story. After a while Aurora shares her own secret with them–about her fraternal twin, and that she understands how Andrea feels.
After reading this book I had chills because the abuse is so unbelievable, not to mention the murder.
Armchair Interviews says: Strong story that’s sad-but-true real life.