Arizona author closes case on mysterious death of boxer Zora Folley

CHANDLER, Ariz. - Sept. 23, 2014 - PRLog -- In July 1972, former heavyweight contender Zora Folley died mysteriously at a Tucson hotel. Some say it was murder, some say it was a mob hit, others claim it was a freak accident. For more than four decades his death has remained unsolved. Phoenix author and former reporter Marshall Terrill spent close to 10 years to uncover the truth about Folley's demise, which is now revealed in “Zora Folley: The Distinguished Life and Mysterious Death of a Gentleman Boxer.”

Folley, who lived in Chandler, Ariz. for a majority of his life, was a top heavyweight contender in the late 1950s and 1960s. Folley’s career culminated with the loss of a heavyweight title match against Muhammad Ali in March 1967 in New York’s Madison Square Garden.

His life was a testament to his impeccable character and Chandler has named a city street, park and community pool after him. Folley was a decorated Korean War veteran; a consummate fighter in the ring; a role model for youth; a seemingly happily married father of nine children; a successful businessman; Chandler’s first black city council member, and the city’s most famous son.

His death at age 41 on July 8, 1972, however, remained shrouded in mystery for more than four decades, and the few available details concerning what happened hardly square with his distinguished and genteel life according to Terrill.

“This book was originally a three-part newspaper series I wrote in 2003. I was haunted by the words of Zora’s son Robert, who told me, ‘One day the truth will come out,’” Terrill said. “But how was the truth supposed to come out if no one was actively in search of the truth? Closure is an overused word, but it became my Great White Whale.”

Terrill took it upon himself to finally answer the decades-long mystery of Folley’s death at a Tucson motel. He did so by uncovering Folley’s long vanquished police and autopsy reports, which he unearthed after years of searching. He also interviewed more than a dozen Chandler residens as well as an eyewitness who was there the night of Folley’s death. The 93-page original ebook also contains photos and memorabilia of Folley’s career as well as excerpts of the police and autopsy reports.

“Zora Folley: The Distinguished Life and Mysterious Death of a Gentleman Boxer” is Terrill’s 18^th book and is available exclusively on Amazon.com.