TOM MARQUARDT’S DEBUT BOOK
“I WANTED TO KILL HARTLEY AND THEN I WANTED TO KILL MARQUARDT.”
THE MISERABLE LONER WASN’T HAPPY WHEN HE SAW THE NEWSPAPER STORY OF HIS SEXUAL HARASSMENT CONVICTION. HE TOOK TO TWITTER TO ATTACK THE NEWSPAPER’S EDITOR AND THE REPORTER WHO WROTE THE STORY. HE SUED THEM FOR DEFAMATION. HE SUED ATTORNEYS AND JUDGES. WHEN HE EXHAUSTED ALL HIS APPEALS, HE BOUGHT A SHOTGUN .
the story
After losing five employees of its small staff, it seemed impossible that The Capital would publish the next day. But through a herculean effort, a grieving staff refused to betray the mission embodied by the journalists who gave up their lives on June 28, 2018. Not only did the staff persevere, but it went on to win a number of awards, including a Pulitzer Prize citation. They channeled their anger into a winning crusade to change gun laws and draw attention to the proliferation of mass shootings.
An assistant editor with a warm smile, a mentor for young journalists…the mother of the newsroom who charged the shooter to give reporters a chance to escape…an editor with a hearty laugh who knew University of Maryland sports better than anyone….an advertising assistant who always smiled even through her pain…a bright editorial writer who finally found love.
THE VICTIMS
Rob Hiaasen Wendy Winters John McNamara Rebecca Smith Gerald Fischman
(Photos from Anne Arundel State’s Attorney’s Office)
BOOK SIGNINGS
getting out the word
Press Club of Southwest Florida, March 11, 2025
Tom Marquardt: “Be aware, be aware”
by David Silverberg • March 18, 2025 •
Tom Marquardt has a warning for all journalists: “Number one, is that you have to be alert to your surroundings,” he told the Press Club of Southwest Florida in a presentation at its March 11 meeting, held at the Naples Hilton.
“My life has changed. I have weapons in my house now and my wife knows how to operate them. I don’t go into a room now without looking around me all the time.”
Marquardt has reasons for caution. He served as editor and publisher of the Capital Gazette in Annapolis, MD, retiring to Naples in 2012 after a 35-year career.
That’s where he was on June 28, 2018, when 38-year old Ramon Escara blasted his way into the newsroom of Marquardt’s former newspaper and killed five members of the staff. It was the worst mass murder of journalists in American history.
Escara had been covered in a 2011 article for stalking and sexually harassing a high school classmate. Enraged by the coverage, Escara attacked the newspaper on social media and sued it in court. The judge dismissed the rambling, unfocused complaint, leading Escara to spend the next three years plotting revenge of a different sort.
By 2018 he was ready to strike the newspaper’s offices. He blocked an exit, shot his way through the front door, killed five staffers, then called police and surrendered after hiding under a desk.
In his presentation to the Press Club, Marquardt provided a detailed account of the events leading up to the shooting, including police body camera video of the arrest. Although he was long gone from the newsroom, in the years that followed the attack he reviewed police and court files, eyewitness accounts and a psychiatrist’s interview with the killer. The result is a just-published book, Pressed to Kill: Inside Newspaper’s Worst Mass Murder.
In responding to a question from Press Club President Tom Doerr, Marquardt identified three lessons that journalists should take away from the incident.
Elaborating on the need to be aware of surroundings, he said: “What I’m suggesting is that every reporter, number one, be aware of who’s in the newsroom, or who’s in the public where they’re at. It’s really important to think about, whatever story you’re writing. If you do your feature story on somebody, chances are you’re not going to be getting any kind of physical attack. But if you’re reporting crime, if you’re reporting wrongdoing, any kind of political corruption, be aware, be aware.”
As another example of this kind of danger, Marquardt cited the 2015 shooting of reporter Alison Parker and photographer Adam Ward in Moneta, VA. Both were killed by a disgruntled former employee of their television station, who also shot the person they were interviewing. (She survived.)
A second lesson from the Capital Gazette incident, Marquardt said, was that “if you do feel threatened there are things you can do. You can walk away from the incident. …There’s a way of walking away from something if you feel in danger.”
However, if walking away is not an option, “you seek some sort of remedy for whatever’s happening.”
This is especially true for long-term issues like the one faced by the Capital Gazette, where Escara spent years complaining, harassing and suing the newspaper, his rants and threats becoming progressively more unhinged.
“You can go back to your boss and say, ‘Hey, this is happening here’ and ‘I think it’s happening more often,’” Marquardt said. “You see [reporters] out there being hassled just for doing their jobs, by people who are upset with stories that air. Now, most of these people haven’t done anything but it’s not going to take much to trigger a response similar to this [one in Annapolis].”
He also noted that in today’s environment, “There seems to be a license to go out and attack the media.”
Indeed, Southwest Florida had its own experience with a physical attack on a journalist on Nov. 28, 2019, when NBC2 reporter Delia D’Ambra was attacked—without warning or provocation — in North Fort Myers while doing a stand-up report on a street corner. The attacker was swiftly arrested.
Both D’Ambra and WINK security specialist Rich Kolko addressed the Press Club at that time to give the same warning that Marquardt conveyed: always be aware of your surroundings.
Also at that time the Press Club considered a resolution opposing violence against journalists.
A draft of that resolution stated:
“The Press Club of Southwest Florida condemns in the strongest possible terms any and all violence against journalists in the performance of their duties;
“Condemns hateful and violent rhetoric against journalists and media by all public figures and elected officials;
“Calls on law enforcement officers to vigorously enforce the law and fully prosecute to the greatest extent possible any and all perpetrators of violence against journalists;
“Calls on news organizations to provide the maximum possible protection for their employees and journalists in the performance of their duties… .”
Although not formally passed by the Club, as Marquardt’s story makes clear, those principles remain as relevant today as they were back then.
Editor’s Note: Tom Marquardt will be available to sell and autograph copies of his book at the upcoming April 9, 2025, Press Club luncheon at Season’s 52.
Podcast:
Five Dubs: Maryland Delaware DC Press Association
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True Murder Podcast by Dan Zupinsky:
“Tom Marquardt’s narrative is a gripping, necessary addition to the discourse on mass shootings and media resilience. It is a testament to the strength of those who, in the face of unimaginable loss, stand firm in their quest for justice and remembrance. This book is a beacon of hope and a sobering reminder of the cost of inaction in the face of clear threats. ”
— Kristen Ziman, author of “Reimagining Blue,” and former police chief in Aurora, Illinois, during its mass shooting in 2018. Ziman served on the U.S. Justice Department panel that investigated the mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas.
“I found Pressed to Kill emotionally compelling and so factually accurate – from the case details to the astonishing reality of gun violence in America. You have done a deep service to both the victims of that horrible day and your chosen profession.”
-- Dr. J. Reid Meloy, Ph.D, board-certified forensic psychologist, threat assessment consultant and author of “International Handbook of Threat Assessment (Oxford University Press).
READER COMMENTS
We have both finished reading your book. We each read it in two marathon sessions. I seldom read nonfiction books, but this is so well written I couldn’t put it down. Well done, roomie. I hope you have found some peace from the agony of second guessing. Glen I was thinking of the time we had a disccussion in the dorm about the rights of a reporter had in pursuing a story wand when he had crossed the line into intrusive.
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I just finished your book, what a masterpiece! I feel that I understand how the tragedy transpired and its many implications. Your writing is precise, engaging and to the point. It had to be so difficult to sort out the salient details from so much data and to express the emotions without overstating either one. Your tribute to those impacted was so personal and moving. Your description of the killer’s psychological makeup was very clear and in no way an excuse for his transgressions. I am very impressed with the time and effort you gave to a book that had to be so difficult for you to write because of your own personal involvement, but it was a story that needed to be told. Thank you for your brilliant and passionate insights.
Your description of the killer’s narcissism and revenge for perceived wrongs is way too close to the persona of our current president, very scary. I also learned a new vocabulary word which was very appropriately used, “bloviate”. Be glad to spread the word about your first of many books. The next ones will be much easier to write.
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Tom, we both found your book to be riveting. It is so well written and you can surely be very proud of all your hard work to create such a great book. We found it very interesting, but obviously very troubling, to read all the information at the end of your book. What a great deal of thorough research. Although we have talked to you about this, the book really reminds us of how much you went through at three times – when you were harassed with the initial threats, when you had to deal with the horror of the shootings and then again when you had to deal with the very sad events afterwards. Our hearts go out to you for all that you had, and are having, to deal with. Also, special kudos to Sue for all the support that she provided while you undertook the challenging task of writing the book. Thank you again for sharing this with us.
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I finished Pressed to Kill while on business travel this week. I wanted to reach out and share something that’s been on my mind.
As I read through your powerful account, I couldn’t help but reflect on those early days after the murder—while so many of us were going about our lives in what felt like paradise, and you were quietly living in emotional hell. I see that now more clearly, and I deeply regret not being more present for you during that time.
The book is extraordinary, Tom. It’s brave, relentless, and deeply human. Thank you for telling the full story!
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I am unsure if this is a book review or a sober reflection with tears.
The book is Pressed to Kill--Inside Newspapers' Worst Mass Murders by Tom Marquardt.
You should read it. Anyone connected to journalism, police, the legal system or business needs to read it.
The book is a thoroughly researched story of The Capital mass murder which claimed five journalists in Annapolis, Maryland.
Reading the book, you learn so much about the murderer, the victims and the victim's surviving families. You also learn why stopping these evil shooters is so damn difficult.
But the added value of this book is that it is written by the man who the murderer hated and really wanted to kill.
Every journalist will be drawn into the sadness, fear and guilt Tom felt and expertly conveyed.
But Tom's emotional connection to the murders demanded I reflect on my experiences and those of so many editors I know. For the first time today, I told my late-forties daughter about the time in her childhood an armed guard watched her get on the school bus for three days after I received a genuine death threat.
Tom obviously worked his butt off on this book and he's giving his profits to an organization dedicated to fallen journalists.
This book will help any journalist and lawyer. Let's reward him.
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Your writing was excellent and difficult for me to get through but I was thankful to have the opportunity. I was most appreciative of your epilogue that brought tears to my eyes.
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Tom thank you for your moving, monumental book. I’m sure it was emotionally difficult to research and write, but telling the whole story is vital. Please know that your dedication and perseverance resulted in one of the important works of our time. I pray it opens some eyes to how police can better assess risks to newsrooms from deranged people.
...You did the best you could in this situation, l and finally telling the whole story was a powerful tribute to the fallen. We hope for change.
I appreciate so much that you wrote this book. And I’m deeply sorry for the lives lost and the others forever scarred.
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You’ve done a great job of recreating the timeline with heart-wrenching detail. I wasn’t there but you have put things in a narrative that feels as though we were all present.
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Tom. I just wanted you to know that I was blown away by your book. It was a story that needed to be told and I thought you hit a home run.
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“Pressed to Kill is an important book that offers a sobering look at the dangers faced by journalists. It is a must-read for anyone interested in journalism, freedom of the press, and the fight against gun violence.”
— Kathleen Riggs, author of “Manatees.”
“This was a short, nonfiction book that was packed with information! A solid 4-star read for me.”
— Erica Gordon, author, “Rabbi’s Mission."
About tHE AUTHOR
I always wanted to write a book. Just not this one.
The killer should be forgotten, but not the innocent victims who were simply doing their job as journalists. This book is about their lives, but also the lives of the six journalists who managed to escape that day. It is about a system that let a killer slip through the cracks despite his haunting missives on social media. And, it is about a hardy, motivated staff who refused to give up their drive to publish a newspaper despite the setback.
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I spent 40 years in newspapers, first at small newspapers in Michigan and finally at Capital Gazette Newspapers in Annapolis, Maryland. I served in various positions from editor to publisher before retiring in 2012.
A native of Dearborn, Michigan, I graduated from Central Michigan University in 1970 with a major in journalism. In 2013 I was inducted into the Central Michigan University Journalism Hall of Fame.
I currently live in Naples, Florida, with my wife Sue and remain involved on the boards of several non-profit organizations.
Tom Marquardt, author, “Pressed to Kill”
All profits from the sale of the book will be donated to the Fallen Journalists Memorial Foundation.
TO REACH THE AUTHOR
“ACTIVE SHOOTER!”
Cars trickled down Bestgate Road, a divided boulevard that provided entry to the Annapolis' Westfield Mall and served as an artery around the city. Cpl. Gregory Lesane and Cpl. Danelo Sobers of Anne Arundel County Police had just finished policing an automobile collision outside of the mall and were seated in their cars writing reports when they received an urgent call about an active shooter at 888 Bestgate Road. The closest officers to the office building, they activated their lights and shifted into gear.
In less than three minutes they were racing into the lobby, guns drawn and less than a minute after Escara had killed his last victim. But neither did they hear that final shot nor did they see anyone who posed a danger. Could the gunman – or gunmen -- be hiding in an office? Had he escaped or was he preparing to burst out of a door wielding his long gun? The perpetrator could have been lurking on any one of the four floors of office space. There were no sounds of gunfire or cries for help from victims. The sparse description they had gotten of the shooter – male with long hair and wielding a shotgun – did not fit any of the people they’d seen so far.
County Police Officer Ryan McGeeney, who was at a nearby fire station when the call came in, arrived at the crime scene about the same time as Lesane and Sobers. McGeeney later told investigators, “It was kind of odd because when we pulled up, you’re expecting people to be running out screaming. (It was) just a regular business day. And when we get into the lobby, even more odd, there are people standing around, coming and going from the elevator...just walking around in the lobby.” 