New Book Suggests Pa. Is A Crime-Filled State
By John Ostapkovich
PHILADELPHIA (CBS)--Pennsylvania is surprisingly a crime-filled place, at least according to a man who co-wrote a book compiling many of the incidents we don't mention in polite company.
From West Philly abortionist and murderer Kermit Gosnell, to the constantly vandalized grave of a minister who re-buried John Wilkes Booth, The Crime Buff's Guide to Outlaw Pennsylvania presents brief versions of dozens of tales spanning the decades.
Co-author Ron Franscell says all of the dirt came as a surprise.
"A place like Pennsylvania where you have such a long history both monumental and dark, it was especially fascinating to me because I have always considered Pennsylvania to be this nice, sedate, civilized place, but it has this dark crime history that's rather surprising."
He continues, "It's probably not well-known in Pennsylvania that the first school shooting in American history happened in Pennsylvania. The first bank robbery in American history, the first armored car heist and the first kidnapping of a child for ransom all happened in Pennsylvania."
The book also provides GPS coordinates so you can find some of the places where notorious crimes occurred.
