Blame
Death, Disability, and the Search for Justice for Guy Mitchell
by Dustin Galer
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Pub Date Jul 07 2026 | Archive Date Mar 01 2026
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Description
On April 29, 2012, a private world of deceit and neglect came crashing down when Guy Mitchell, a 38-year-old man with developmental disabilities, died confused and alone, thrashing in a dark underground tank on the rural property where he lived.
When police arrived, they found a far larger crime scene: a house of horror where Guy had been living with two other vulnerable individuals under the care of a young woman with serious psychological issues. The home had no running water and no heat. Human waste filled the toilets and covered bathtubs, walls, and floors. There was no food in the kitchen, and mounds of dirty laundry and garbage cluttered most rooms. Yet the agency overseeing the home gave it a pass just two days before Guy’s death.
Blame: Death, Disability, and the Search for Justice for Guy Mitchell attempts to find meaning and justice in the tragic death of a vulnerable individual whose circle of care failed him. Moving between the coroner’s inquest and flashing back to real-time events, author Dustin Galer explores what happened to Guy Mitchell in meticulous detail. As each layer of Guy’s support system is peeled back and examined, new facts emerge that reveal yet another missed opportunity to intervene in a rapidly deteriorating situation. Dramatic nonfiction that reads like a legal thriller, Blame resists easy answers, exposing a tangled web of negligence, indifference, and systemic failure and probing the deeper structural forces behind Guy’s death. What emerges is a powerful indictment of a broken system and a strong argument that the duty to care for society’s most vulnerable ultimately lies with us all.
Available Editions
| EDITION | Other Format |
| ISBN | 9781770418479 |
| PRICE | $21.95 (USD) |
| PAGES | 240 |
Available on NetGalley
Average rating from 7 members
Featured Reviews
I had never heard of this case before reading but I have learned so much. This book truly opened my eyes to the broken systems for adults with developmental disabilities and how Guy was failed. The evidence was laid out and explained and I go to walk through the case from start to finish. This book is a very important read in today’s world and I fee it did a great justice for a Guy’s memory. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review will be posted on Instagram and Amazon on pub day and links added to NetGalley.
Blame is a story brilliantly written about the life and death of Guy Mitchell, a 38 year old man with intellectual disabilities. Before reading, I had never heard of Guy's story, but I can't help but feel as though while reading this book, I had been seated at the juror's table - the author played the part of judge, lawyer, and witness. This was done through jaw dropping testimonies, in depth descriptions and definitions, and insightful stories written with the people most important to Guy in mind. Through this lens, the author takes you on a journey through the life of Guy; his family, his friends, his support system and all those who were touched by his story. Blame is a tragic tale about death, but woven throughout is glimpses of hope. Hope of better support system for vulnerable adults, hope that Guy's death could awaken empathy and change in those with power, but also hope in community and being kind to one another. Guy's story will stay with me, as I am sure it will stay with you.
A big high five to you Guy!
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