Shot Through the Heart is an exhaustive, investigative account of one of the most controversial capital punishment cases in modern American history. Spanning over five decades, the book explores the life, crimes, and execution of Ronnie Lee Gardner—a Utah man whose violent acts and ultimate death by firing squad ignited national and international debates about the death penalty, prison reform, and the moral limits of justice.

The story begins in Gardner’s troubled childhood, marked by instability, neglect, and early exposure to crime and substance abuse. Born into a broken home plagued by poverty and domestic violence, Gardner's descent into criminality seemed almost inevitable. Early chapters trace his teenage years filled with street crime, escalating drug use, and time spent in juvenile detention centers, painting a vivid portrait of a young man spiraling out of control.

As Gardner entered adulthood, his criminal behavior intensified. He became entangled in local gang activity and committed a string of burglaries and robberies. These culminated in the 1984 murder of Melvyn Otterstrom, a Salt Lake City pawn shop owner, during a botched robbery. Arrested shortly thereafter, Gardner awaited trial in Salt Lake County Jail—where he would go on to commit an even more shocking act.

In 1985, while attending a court hearing on unrelated charges, Gardner attempted a daring escape. With the help of a smuggled firearm, he shot and wounded a bailiff and fatally shot attorney Michael Burdell, an innocent bystander. The incident stunned the public, and further cemented Gardner’s image as a dangerous, unrepentant criminal.

The book details Gardner’s dual trials for both murders and follows his long tenure on death row at Utah State Prison. Despite the severity of his crimes, Gardner's years behind bars were marked by contradictions. He painted, wrote poetry, explored Native American spiritualism, and taught fellow inmates to read. He fathered a child through a conjugal visit and maintained close contact with some members of his family. Yet, he also continued to exhibit violent behavior and was repeatedly caught with contraband weapons.

Through numerous interviews with the book explores Gardner’s evolving mindset—shifting between defiance, self-pity, spiritual awakening, and moments of remorse. His legal journey spanned nearly 25 years, filled with appeals, clemency requests, psychiatric evaluations, and widespread media coverage. One of the most polarizing moments came when Gardner chose execution by firing squad—a decision that reignited national debates over capital punishment and brought renewed attention to Utah’s unique execution laws.

The final chapters capture Gardner’s last days in remarkable detail: his final meals, spiritual advisors, conversations with prison guards, and the emotional testimony of victims’ families. On June 18, 2010, Ronnie Lee Gardner was executed by a five-man firing squad, becoming one of the last individuals in the United States to die by this method.

In the epilogue, the book reflects on the legacy of Gardner’s life and death, exploring broader issues like ethical execution methods, criminal justice reform, and the psychological impact on everyone involved—from law enforcement to families of victims and the condemned. Gardner’s case became a focal point for legislative debates and influenced Utah’s reinstatement of the firing squad in 2015 as a backup method for capital punishment.

Shot Through the Heart is not only the story of one man’s violence and downfall, but also a meditation on justice, redemption, and the lasting consequences of institutional failure. It challenges readers to consider the complexity of human behavior and the profound moral questions that surround the ultimate punishment.