On a cold morning in December 1960, sixty-year-old Laura Mutch was found strangled behind a house in downtown Erie. The city was reaching new heights, including a triumphant run for the coveted “All-American City” award, yet the incident created pandemonium. As investigations progressed, attacks on women continued, sending citizens and seasoned investigators to the brink of chaos. Seventy-two-year-old Clara Carrig was brutally stabbed, and Helen Knost narrowly survived an attempted killing. Mary Lynn Crotty, Eleanor Free and Marian Graham were found murdered, all by strangulation. Women throughout the region locked their doors and avoided the streets at night. The case attracted nationwide attention after the arrest of truck driver John Howard Willman in 1963 yet many questions remain unanswered. Author Justin Dombrowski charts the harrowing attacks, investigations and mystery surrounding Erie’s 1960s reign of terror.
Justin Dombrowski has studied local history for more than fifteen years, specializing in local historical and criminal records. A native of Erie, Pennsylvania, he obtained a degree from Mercyhurst University and worked as an intern with the Erie County Detective’s Unit. Having worked in the film industry since 2011, Justin is also a cofounder of Pickwick Entertainment, an Independent Film Production Company. His first book with The History Press, Murder & Mayhem in Erie, Pennsylvania, received critical acclaim for its writing and research. He resides in Erie, Pennsylvania.