Mistrial in ‘Fatal Vision’ Suit

A mistrial was declared today in a $15-million lawsuit brought by convicted triple murderer Jeffrey MacDonald against the writer who chronicled the killings in the best-selling book, “Fatal Vision.”

MacDonald, a former Green Beret captain and physician who insists he is innocent, claimed that author Joe McGinniss deceived him by posing as a friend and supporter to gather information for “Fatal Vision” and concealing his belief that MacDonald had indeed killed his pregnant wife and two young daughters. The six jurors announced they were hopelessly deadlocked after six weeks of trial and 20 hours of deliberations, forcing U.S. District Judge William Rea to declare the mistrial today.