
The Killing Month August 1978
WRAL News | Raleigh, North Carolina
1 Creator
1 Creator
The events that took place in Chester County, Pennsylvania in August 1978 were unthinkable. Family killing family. A father calling for the murder of his own son. For years The Johnston Gang got away with everything—theft, burglary, violence—until the brazen attacks of August 1978 crossed a line, and the family crime empire began to crumble. Host and writer Amanda Lamb shares her own memories of the murders and the trials that followed. Her father was the lead prosecutor who helped bring the killers to justice. A fictional account of The Johnston Gang’s downfall was portrayed in the 1986 movie “At Close Range,” but this is the real story of a violent family crime operation and the long task of bringing its leaders to justice. The Killing Month August 1978 is a production of WRAL News in Raleigh, North Carolina.
1 Listener
All episodes
Best episodes
Top 10 The Killing Month August 1978 Episodes
Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best The Killing Month August 1978 episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to The Killing Month August 1978 for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite The Killing Month August 1978 episode by adding your comments to the episode page.

E2 | Officers Down in Kennett Square
The Killing Month August 1978
08/14/23 • 39 min
Six years before the murders of August 1978, two police officers were ambushed and gunned down in the sleepy town of Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. Though Bruce, David and Norman Johnston were not charged at the time, investigators always knew there was a connection to The Johnston Gang. Years later, they would trace a line back to the Kennett Square murders as the starting point of a reign of terror that claimed at least six lives.
1 Listener

E1 | The Ambush
The Killing Month August 1978
08/14/23 • 40 min
In late August 1978, two men hid in a cornfield in Chester County, Pennsylvania. They were waiting for 15-year-old Robin Miller and her boyfriend Bruce Johnston, Jr. When the couple arrived, the ambush began. This brazen, murderous attack crossed a line. The leaders of the Johnston Gang didn’t know it yet, but their family crime empire began to crumble that night.

Introducing: The Killing Month August 1978
The Killing Month August 1978
07/31/23 • 2 min
The Johnston Gang operated on one simple principle: Don't snitch on the family. People who did found out the hard way how far the Johnstons would go to keep their crimes secret. In August 1978, the family's criminal empire came crumbling down when their threats and intimidation turned to murder. The Killing Month August 1978 is the true story of a rural crime family that would stop at nothing to keep people quiet—even their own children.

E3 | Buried Alive
The Killing Month August 1978
10/24/23 • 38 min
The first rule of running with The Johnston Gang: You don’t snitch. In July 1977, Gary Crouch learned that the hard way. One day he was a police informant, helping to build a case against Bruce, David and Norman Johnston. The next...he was gone. To figure out what happened to Gary, the police will have to find another member of the gang willing to put his life on the line.

E4 | Digging Up The Kiddie Gang
The Killing Month August 1978
10/31/23 • 51 min
When teenage members of the gang disappear, investigators know the clock is ticking. Once again they rely on a Johnston Gang snitch to lead them to answers. On a cold December night, in a remote, wooded area of rural Pennsylvania, police start to dig. What they find makes it clear the Johnstons will stop at nothing to keep people from ratting on the family.

E5 | The Dangerous Life of a Johnston Gang Snitch
The Killing Month August 1978
11/07/23 • 31 min
As a burglar who ran with The Johnston Gang, James “Disco” Griffin saw firsthand how ruthless Bruce, David and Norman Johnston could be. But Griffin was no killer, and he was desperate to get away from the gang before he had blood on his hands.
If the family is willing to kill to keep people quiet, how will Griffin get out of the Johnston Gang alive?

E6 | The Trial of David and Norman Johnston
The Killing Month August 1978
11/14/23 • 61 min
After years of ruthless violence and criminal activity, David and Norman Johnston are charged with multiple counts of murder. In a Pennsylvania courtroom 225 miles away from Chester County, they face a jury. Will the testimony of snitches be enough to convict them?

E7 | Justice for Bruce Johnston, Sr.
The Killing Month August 1978
11/21/23 • 53 min
Since the murders of two Kennett Square police officers in 1972, investigators have been building the case against Bruce Johnston, Sr. In March 1980, justice finally came for the leader of the family crime empire. As prosecutor Bill Lamb told the press after the verdict, “The wheels of the justice system grind slowly, but they do grind.”

E8 | Escape from Prison and the Legacy of The Johnston Gang
The Killing Month August 1978
11/28/23 • 50 min
The murders, the all-consuming investigation and trials, and the fear inflicted by the Johnstons left indelible marks on Chester County, Pennsylvania. Scars remain, 45 years after the events of August 1978.
Find out what happened to The Johnston Gang and the investigators and prosecutors who worked for years to bring them to justice.

Listen Now - Dr. Death: Bad Magic
The Killing Month August 1978
01/25/24 • 5 min
When a charismatic young doctor announces revolutionary treatments for cancer and HIV, patients from around the world turn to him for their last chance. As medical experts praise Serhat Gumrukcu’s genius, the company he co-founded rockets in value to over half a billion dollars. But when a team of researchers makes a startling discovery, they begin to suspect the brilliant doctor is hiding a secret. From Wondery, the new season of Dr. Death: Bad Magic is a story of miraculous cures, magic and murder. Hosted by Laura Beil.
Listen to Dr. Death - Bad Magic: http://wondery.fm/MAGIC_TKM
Show more best episodes

Show more best episodes
FAQ
How many episodes does The Killing Month August 1978 have?
The Killing Month August 1978 currently has 10 episodes available.
What topics does The Killing Month August 1978 cover?
The podcast is about Society & Culture, True Crime, Documentary and Podcasts.
What is the most popular episode on The Killing Month August 1978?
The episode title 'E2 | Officers Down in Kennett Square' is the most popular.
What is the average episode length on The Killing Month August 1978?
The average episode length on The Killing Month August 1978 is 37 minutes.
How often are episodes of The Killing Month August 1978 released?
Episodes of The Killing Month August 1978 are typically released every 7 days.
When was the first episode of The Killing Month August 1978?
The first episode of The Killing Month August 1978 was released on Jul 31, 2023.
Show more FAQ

Show more FAQ