Killing McVeigh : the death penalty and the myth of closure / Jody Lyneé Madeira.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 279-306) and index.

Part I. Blood relations -- "A rude awakening" : the origins of the victim-offender relationship -- "He broke into my life" : experiencing the victim-offender relationship -- Opening up "closure" : redefining a controversial term -- Part II. Traumas and trials -- "We come here to remember" : joining advocacy groups -- "God bless the media" : negotiating news coverage -- "Making sure justice was served" : pursuing accountability -- Part III. The road to execution -- Emotion on trial : prosecuting Timothy McVeigh -- Reaching law's limits : trying Terry Nichols and welcoming the McVeigh jury to Oklahoma city -- The storm before the calm : awaiting McVeigh's execution -- The weight of an impossible world : McVeigh confronts his public image -- Done to death : the execution and the end of the victim-offender relationship.

Presents a case study of the Oklahoma City bombing to explore how family members and other survivors come to terms with mass murder.