The Crime of the Century: Richard Speck and the Murders That Shocked a Nation

by Dennis L. Breo

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Author: Dennis L. Breo

Publisher: Skyhorse

Paperback:
ISBN 10: 9781510708860
ISBN 13: 978-1510708860

"Oh, my God, they are all dead!"

On July 14th, 1966, Richard Franklin Speck swept through a quiet Chicago townhouse like a summer tornado and stabbed, strangled, and killed eight young nurses in a violent sexual rampage. By morning, only one nurse, Corazon Amurao, had miraculously survived, and her scream of terror was heard around the world.

As the eight bodies were carried out of the small building, the coroner, who had seen the carnage up close, told a gathering crowd: "It is the crime of the century!"

Now, on the 50th anniversary of the murders, the prosecutor who put Speck in prison for life (William J. Martin) and the author and journalist who won an award for his coverage of the crime (Dennis L. Breo) have teamed up to re-create the blood-soaked night that opened a new chapter in the history of American crime: mass murder. Their riveting and richly documented account reveals fascinating behind-the-scenes descriptions of Speck, the young nurses, the relentless manhunt and massive investigation, and the bold legal moves and painstaking preparation for the trial that returned a death sentence for Speck.

Corazon Amurao, the nurse the killer left behind, confronted Speck at trial and told jurors, "This is the man!" Richard Speck was spared execution by Supreme Court rulings and here is the inside story of how he confessed to the murders in a sordid prison video made three years before his death of a heart attack in 1991. And here, in exclusive interviews and photos, is the life today of the nurse who survived the crime that murdered American innocence.

Review

"The Crime of Century is the brilliantly written and factual precise recreation of the brutal murder of eight nurses by Richard Speck fifty years ago in a Chicago hospital town house. No crime fiction can match this page-turning account of human evil and courtroom drama.William J. Martin, Speck's prosecutor, and Dennis L. Breo wrote the first edition of this stunning and powerful book in 1993. As the 50th anniversary of the horrible crime approaches, a second edition packed with new information from the lone survivor of that evil night along with fresh, chilling material makes the book even more compelling than its original. You won't put it down."
~Bernard Judge

"One of the finest true crime books ever written. We're confronted with new faces of evil every day, but to me the real face of evil will always be Richard Speck and the horrific murders he committed 50 years ago. This book hits you like a locomotive, detailing how Speck's crime shattered our innocence. It is a heart-breaking story, but heart-warming, too, because of the courage and integrity of Corazon Amurao, whose survival to identify Speck at trial is a triumph of the human spirit over unspeakable evil. It is also a memorial to the eight young nurses who were slain. Go out and buy The Crime of the Century as soon as possible."
~Rick Kogan, prominent Chicago newspaper columnist, radio personality, and author.

"A case that shattered notions of personal safety."
~Jim Williams, CBS Chicago

"A definitive account of the crime and of the incredible courage of Corazon Amurao, who not only survived but confronted Speck in court."
~Paul Caine, WTTW Chicago Tonight

"It was so unfathomable--a massacre for no apparent reason by a remorseless stranger against a group of women he didn't know. And it introduced a term to the American public that has since then become all too familiar: random mass murder."
~Corky Siemazko, NBC News

"Richard Speck attack survivor Corazon Amurao: 'Somebody up there was hiding me from him. God was so nice'...the book is a detailed account of the crime and the drama of the trial."
~Rose Sobol, Chicago Tribune

"The barbarity of the attack shocked the nation. People were terrified that this monster was among us."
~The "Morning Show," WGN TV Chicago

"The women thought he was going to take the money and leave until he pulled out a knife and started ripping bed sheets into strips. He used these strips to bind hands and feet and gag his captives... About four and a half hours after the ordeal started, he walked out the door and disappeared. Miraculously, he overlooked Corazon Amurao."
~Mara Bovsun, New York Daily News

"Chicago woke up to a nightmare...for three days, the city, and the nation, were gripped with fear."
~Phil Rogers, NBC Chicago

"Richard Speck opened the floodgates to a tragic phenomenon (mass murder) that haunts us today...The victims can never be forgotten...the brave Corazon Amurao speaks lovingly of her colleagues. So should we all."
~Oak Park, Illinois, Wednesday Journal

"I was nine years old and living in the suburbs of Chicago when Richard Speck committed his horrible crime. Even at that age, I knew this was something enormous. As the years went on, the crime slipped into the back of my mind. However, it was all brought to the forefront when the now infamous prison tapes of Speck were made public in 1996. This prompted me to read The Crime of the Century by Dennis and Bill.The amount of information that had never been released before, the stories of the dedicated police, lawyers, ordinary citizens, and even skid row bums to bring Speck to justice, the courage and determination of Corazon Amurao, and, mostly, the vignettes of Suzanne, Nina, Pat, Merlita, Mary Ann, Valentina, Pamela, and Gloria that brought them back to life as individuals was fascinating, moving, and inspiring. The amount of facts and details is enormous, but structured in such a way that it is easy to follow. As a professional producer/director in Chicago theatre, I realized this would be an incredible stage play, and for the next 3 1/2 years, I worked with well known playwright Rebecca Gilman adapting the book and the story to the stage. The production was a tremendous hit, introducing many people to the stories of the heroes of this horrible event."

"I am now very happy to see the book re-issued with an updated afterword touching on some of the events relating to the case since the book's original publication, including the prison tapes, the disappearance of Speck's brain, the update of Cora's life, and even our play. Having met many of the individuals involved with the crime, including cops, lawyers, friends, and even family members of the eight victims (and becoming friends with some of them), I know this book treats them all with the honor and respect they deserve. Rebecca Gilman has said to me, 'you can't appreciate the good in people until you understand the bad.' This book delves into the horrifying evil of Speck, but, more importantly, into the remarkable good of hundreds of others. It's a fascinating journey into the first of the modern day mass murders we now have become used to. I highly recommend The Crime of the Century as a must read."
~Greg Kolack, Producer of the stage adaptation, The Crime of the Century.

From the Inside Flap

MORNING AFTER
The alarm rang at five-forty A.M. in the bedroom of Judy Dykton; she was determined to get in some final licks for the neurology exam. She switched off the fan that had been working overtime against the summer heat and heard a noise that sounded like the whimpering of an animal, but paid no attention.
She walked to the basement of the town house, took some clothes that had been drying overnight, and returned upstairs. Again she heard a sound, and this time it was more distinct, like a little child crying or calling out. She opened a blind and looked out and saw a woman standing across the street, looking up at 2319, toward the crying voice. Opening the window, Judy could now clearly hear Cora's cry:
"Oh, my God, they are all dead!"

Cover photos of the nurses are (top, from left) Mary Ann Jordan, Nina Schmale, Patricia Matusek, Valentina Pasion, and (bottom, from left) Gloria Jean Davy, Suzanne Farris, Merlita Gargullo, and Pamela Wilkening.

"Fast-paced detective work and high drama in the courtroom combine to make The Crime of the Century a first-rate thriller.
- James R. Thompson, governor of Illinois 1977-1991

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The Crime of the Century: Richard Speck and the Murders That Shocked a Nation