Author Rosemary Reynolds will be doing a reading of her new book Trapped in the System tomorrow at the Rainier Historical Museum and Library at 1 p.m.

The book covers the brutal murder of Rainier Police Chief Ralph Painter in 2011. Reynolds, a longtime radio news reporter for KXL-FM in Portland, followed the case for years, and she said it eventually stuck with her.

She was encouraged to write the book by Painter’s brother, Alan Painter, whom she got to know while covering the case. The book delves into how Painter’s life was cut short during a routine call and the lengthy murder trial that followed. Painter’s killer, Daniel Butts of Kalama, was sentenced in 2019 and won’t be eligible for parole until 2060.

Following tomorrow’s reading, a small number of books will be available for sale at the library. Rosemary will sign those books and any others that attendees have pre-purchased on Amazon.