Fred H. Kornahrens III is one of South Carolina's most famous criminals. He was condemned to death row and then, to the shock of the entire state, managed to escape. In the years that followed, people discussed Kornahrens's story. Everyone had an opinion about the man, but few knew the truth. Now, he tells all in
Reflections Upon a Sunny Day
.
As a child, Kornahrens suffered from the unstable parenting of his mentally ill mother and aggressive father. When the two weren't fighting each other, they were taking out their frustrations on a helpless child. Kornahrens's mother was eventually hospitalized numerous times for schizophrenia but found no relief in the asylum.
Kornahrens himself began exhibiting signs of mental illness, but his upbringing hadn't given him the tools to cope. He thought he found a purpose when he joined the military, but his career did not last long. He hoped he could make up for his parent's faults by providing for his own family, but this proved to be the biggest mistake of all.
Finally, Kornahrens's damaged psyche collapsed, and the resulting tragedy devastated the community. He has written his story, trying to make sense of what happened-for himself and for his readers.