Chapter summaries The Girl from Devil's Lake J. A. Jance

Chapter 47: A Glow-in-the-Dark Cross Connects to Tennessee

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.

Summary

Joanna is at her desk when county attorney Craig Witherspoon calls to say he is on his way. She updates him on Stephen Roper’s custody and confession. After hanging up, she overhears Tom Hadlock arranging inmate transport to Saguaro Hills. Joanna instructs Tom to gather all investigators for a briefing with Witherspoon in thirty minutes.

She then calls FBI agent Anna Rae Green. Joanna tells her that Roper confessed for three and a half hours, clearing six cases—three of them related to Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIV). Anna Rae asks whether Roper targeted Indigenous victims deliberately or by opportunity; Joanna says it is too soon to tell. Joanna notes that the trophy case found at Roper’s home suggests far more victims. She mentions that Luke Running Deer has already been informed.

Joanna then returns a call from Sheriff Augie Nesbitt of Lauderdale County, Tennessee, who responded to a BOLO. Nesbitt describes the 1986 disappearance of seven-year-old Jimmy Gibson at a tomato festival. The boy’s body later washed up, identified by a recent dental filling. The father, John Gibson, was the prime suspect but never charged; he committed suicide five years earlier. Joanna asks about missing items. Nesbitt says Jimmy carried a glow-in-the-dark cross from Vacation Bible School. Joanna confirms she has that exact item in evidence. She tells Nesbitt that Roper confessed to six murders and the Tennessee case makes eight. Nesbitt says he will inform Jimmy’s mother, Gail. Joanna feels deep sympathy for the wrongly accused father.

Key Events

  • Craig Witherspoon announces he will arrive in twenty to thirty minutes for a full briefing.
  • Joanna learns that Roper gave a three-and-a-half-hour confession covering six murders, including three tied to MMIV.
  • Joanna calls Anna Rae Green and shares details of the confession.
  • Joanna contacts Sheriff Augie Nesbitt of Lauderdale County, Tennessee, regarding a BOLO.
  • Nesbitt recounts the 1986 Jimmy Gibson case; the boy’s glow-in-the-dark cross is identified as a trophy.
  • Joanna links the cross to Roper, expanding the total confirmed victims to eight.
  • Nesbitt plans to inform Gail Gibson; Joanna reflects on the injustice suffered by John Gibson.

Character Development

Joanna Brady demonstrates exceptional coordination under pressure. She manages the arrival of the county attorney, briefs the FBI, and reaches out to an out-of-state sheriff. Her empathy grows as she feels sorrow for John Gibson, who was wrongly blamed and later died by suicide. Joanna’s investigative instinct—asking about missing items—directly solves a thirty-seven-year-old cold case.

Craig Witherspoon shows proactive engagement. He wants full access to investigators and the interview video, indicating careful preparation for forthcoming legal proceedings.

Anna Rae Green remains a steady professional contact. She asks probing questions about motive (targeting Indigenous victims versus opportunity), pushing the investigation beyond surface confessions.

Sheriff Augie Nesbitt embodies thoroughness. He pulls the old file and remembers key details like the date and the cross. His compassion is evident when he worries about reopening old wounds for Gail Gibson.

Stephen Roper, though not present in the scene, expands psychologically. The sheer number of trophies and confessions suggests a compulsion to collect and a desire to control the narrative by confessing on his own terms.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Justice delayed and denied: The Gibson case shows how an innocent man—John Gibson—was destroyed by suspicion. Even after his suicide, public opinion held him guilty. Joanna’s discovery provides posthumous exoneration but cannot undo the harm.

Trophy keeping as control: The glow-in-the-dark cross is the fourth trophy mentioned in the novel. These objects symbolize Roper’s need to relive his crimes. The specific cross, unique to Vacation Bible School, proves the connection across decades.

Summer crimes: Joanna notes that many of Roper’s crimes occur in summer, including Jimmy Gibson’s disappearance at a Tomato Festival in July. This pattern may help identify other victims.

Law enforcement community: Multiple agencies (Cochise County, FBI, Tennessee) collaborate via BOLO. The chapter shows how serial investigations require trust and quick communication across state lines.

Why This Chapter Matters

Chapter 47 dramatically widens the scope of Roper’s killing spree. The confession alone clears six cases, but the Tennessee connection adds an eighth victim and reveals the depth of Roper’s history—reaching back to 1986. It also highlights the tragedy of wrongful accusation: an innocent father’s reputation and life were destroyed while the real killer remained free. Joanna’s ability to connect a small piece of evidence (the cross) to a cold case demonstrates her skill and the importance of persistence. The chapter sets up a much larger investigation ahead, as more jurisdictions may come forward.

Study Questions and Answers

1. What evidence from the 1986 Tennessee case directly implicates Stephen Roper?
Answer: Sheriff Nesbitt told Joanna that Jimmy Gibson had a glow-in-the-dark cross from Vacation Bible School. Joanna had recovered an identical cross from Roper’s trophy collection, confirming Roper was the killer.

2. Why does Joanna feel sorrier for Jimmy’s father, John Gibson, than for his mother, Gail?
Answer: John Gibson was wrongly accused by the community and by Gail. He endured years of blame and eventually committed suicide, even though he was innocent. Joanna recognizes that his death was a direct consequence of the false accusation.

3. How does this chapter expand the investigation beyond Arizona?
Answer: Roper’s confession and the BOLO prompt Sheriff Nesbitt in Tennessee to report a cold case. Joanna confirms the link, proving Roper operated in at least two states. This suggests that many more jurisdictions may have unsolved cases connected to him.