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Kitty Genovese: A True Account of a Public Murder and Its Private Consequences
Written in a flowing narrative style, Kitty A True Account of a Public Murder and its Private Consequences presents the story of the horrific and infamous murder of Kitty Genovese, a young woman stalked and stabbed on the street where she lived in Queens, New York in 1964. The case sparked national outrage when the New York Times revealed that dozens of witnesses had seen or heard the attacks on Kitty Genovese and her struggle to reach safety but had failed to come to her aid or even call police until after the killer had fled.
This audiobook cuts through misinformation and conjecture to present a definitive portrait of the crime, the aftermath, and the people. Based on six years of research, Catherine Pelonero's audiobook presents the facts from the police reports, archival material, court documents, and first-hand interviews. Pelonero offers a personal look at Kitty Genovese, an ambitious young woman viciously struck down in the prime of her life; Winston Moseley, the killer who led a double life as a responsible family man by day and a deadly predator by night; the consequences for a community condemned; and others touched by the tragedy.
Beyond just a true crime story, the audiobook embodies much larger the phenomenon of bystander inaction, the evolution of a serial killer, and the fears and injustices spawned by the stark prejudices of an era, many of which linger to this day.
©2014 Catherine Pelonero; (P)2014 Audible, Inc.
This audiobook cuts through misinformation and conjecture to present a definitive portrait of the crime, the aftermath, and the people. Based on six years of research, Catherine Pelonero's audiobook presents the facts from the police reports, archival material, court documents, and first-hand interviews. Pelonero offers a personal look at Kitty Genovese, an ambitious young woman viciously struck down in the prime of her life; Winston Moseley, the killer who led a double life as a responsible family man by day and a deadly predator by night; the consequences for a community condemned; and others touched by the tragedy.
Beyond just a true crime story, the audiobook embodies much larger the phenomenon of bystander inaction, the evolution of a serial killer, and the fears and injustices spawned by the stark prejudices of an era, many of which linger to this day.
©2014 Catherine Pelonero; (P)2014 Audible, Inc.
14 pages, Audiobook
First published March 4, 2014
195 people are currently reading
2311 people want to read
About the author
Catherine Pelonero
5 books70 followersCatherine Pelonero is the author of the New York Times bestseller, Kitty Genovese: A True Account of a Public Murder and Its Private Consequences, a nonfiction book about the notorious 1964 murder case. Kitty Genovese twice made the New York Times Best Sellers list, reaching #10 in crime and punishment and reaching #1 on Amazon bestsellers in biography and memoir.
As a true crime author and commentator, Catherine appears on national TV news broadcasts and crime shows, including episodes of the Emmy-winning series A Crime to Remember, It Takes a Killer, Fox Files, Murderous Affairs, and Gangsters: America's Most Evil. See IMDB for a list of shows and episodes. She was a contributing writer for Investigation Discovery’s CrimeFeed.
Her latest book, Absolute Madness: A True Story of a Serial Killer, Race, and a City Divided, is a nonfiction account of Joseph Christopher, a white serial killer who targeted black men in a crime spree across New York state. Praised by noted FBI profiler John Douglas as “A gripping account of a complex and controversial case,” Absolute Madness was published in November 2017 to critical acclaim.
As a playwright, Catherine Pelonero’s titles include Family Names and Awesome Ghosts of Ontario, both published by Samuel French, Inc. Other plays include Puppies with Papers, a finalist for the Heideman Award at Actors Theatre of Louisville, and Another Effing Family Drama, which premiered at the 2011 Hollywood Fringe Festival and was chosen for Best of the Fringe.
Catherine Pelonero grew up in Buffalo, New York. She was formerly a member of the Actors Studio Playwrights & Directors Unit and Sisters in Crime and is a lifetime member of the Alliance of Los Angeles Playwrights (ALAP). She lives in Los Angeles.
As a true crime author and commentator, Catherine appears on national TV news broadcasts and crime shows, including episodes of the Emmy-winning series A Crime to Remember, It Takes a Killer, Fox Files, Murderous Affairs, and Gangsters: America's Most Evil. See IMDB for a list of shows and episodes. She was a contributing writer for Investigation Discovery’s CrimeFeed.
Her latest book, Absolute Madness: A True Story of a Serial Killer, Race, and a City Divided, is a nonfiction account of Joseph Christopher, a white serial killer who targeted black men in a crime spree across New York state. Praised by noted FBI profiler John Douglas as “A gripping account of a complex and controversial case,” Absolute Madness was published in November 2017 to critical acclaim.
As a playwright, Catherine Pelonero’s titles include Family Names and Awesome Ghosts of Ontario, both published by Samuel French, Inc. Other plays include Puppies with Papers, a finalist for the Heideman Award at Actors Theatre of Louisville, and Another Effing Family Drama, which premiered at the 2011 Hollywood Fringe Festival and was chosen for Best of the Fringe.
Catherine Pelonero grew up in Buffalo, New York. She was formerly a member of the Actors Studio Playwrights & Directors Unit and Sisters in Crime and is a lifetime member of the Alliance of Los Angeles Playwrights (ALAP). She lives in Los Angeles.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 135 reviews
June 27, 2016
It is a cruel irony that it is so much easier to explain why a book is bad than why a book is good. Because this book is excellent and I'm sitting here trying to figure out how to explain why.
Partly, it's that Pelonero has a clear, vivid writing style; partly it's her effort to practice compassion towards everyone involved, even that baffling, prowling monster, Winston Moseley; partly it's that she has done the research and dug as deeply as she can dig, and she shows the careful process of assessing her sources, trying to figure out for each discrepancy who was wrong and why (and she admits that with some discrepancies it can't be done). Partly it's the vehemence with which she defends the truth against the revisionist histories that have started cropping up. I agree with her that I understand why people want to believe that what really happened wasn't as bad as the reporters made it out to be, but it is intensely frustrating, just as it is in any case where revisionist denier-ism crops up, to watch the rapacious ease with which the lie overtakes and in some cases drowns out the truth, how easy it is for people not to assess their sources, but to assume that because it's in print (or, even worse, because it's on the internet) it must be true. Plus the greedy pleasure we are all prone to when offered the idea that "they" have been lying to us but "we" know better.
Just because someone is telling you what you want to believe, does not make what they say the truth.
The death of Kitty Genovese is a true nightmare and a nightmare of truth. We need to remember her because we need to remember what her death tells us, in plain, indelible, capital letters, about human nature. Thirty-eight witnesses saw and did nothing, not because they were monsters, but because they were human beings.
Partly, it's that Pelonero has a clear, vivid writing style; partly it's her effort to practice compassion towards everyone involved, even that baffling, prowling monster, Winston Moseley; partly it's that she has done the research and dug as deeply as she can dig, and she shows the careful process of assessing her sources, trying to figure out for each discrepancy who was wrong and why (and she admits that with some discrepancies it can't be done). Partly it's the vehemence with which she defends the truth against the revisionist histories that have started cropping up. I agree with her that I understand why people want to believe that what really happened wasn't as bad as the reporters made it out to be, but it is intensely frustrating, just as it is in any case where revisionist denier-ism crops up, to watch the rapacious ease with which the lie overtakes and in some cases drowns out the truth, how easy it is for people not to assess their sources, but to assume that because it's in print (or, even worse, because it's on the internet) it must be true. Plus the greedy pleasure we are all prone to when offered the idea that "they" have been lying to us but "we" know better.
Just because someone is telling you what you want to believe, does not make what they say the truth.
The death of Kitty Genovese is a true nightmare and a nightmare of truth. We need to remember her because we need to remember what her death tells us, in plain, indelible, capital letters, about human nature. Thirty-eight witnesses saw and did nothing, not because they were monsters, but because they were human beings.
August 31, 2020
On Friday, March 13, 1964, a twenty-eight-year-old bar manager named Kitty Genovese was stalked and stabbed to death in the middle of the night in quiet Kew Gardens, Queens, by a twenty-nine-year old psychopathic loner from nearby South Ozone Park. What was most alarming was not the horrific nature of the crime, a murder that, according to the NEW YORK TIMES and other media, came in several waves of attack and took half an hour to complete, but that of the several dozen neighbors within earshot of the attack, only a couple troubled to call the police, resulting in an in-person response that arrived only as Genovese was dying.
A number of books that analyzed the Genovese slaying and its aftermath arrived roughly fifty years after the original crime; this one, Kitty Genovese: A True Account of a Public Murder and Its Private Consequences, is probably the most detailed. It offers a sympathetic account of Kitty Genovese's life, her coming out (insofar as the times allowed) as a lesbian and her search for a life partner, though a rival book, Kitty Genovese: The Murder, the Bystanders, the Crime that Changed America by Kevin Cook, does better in that regard. However, this book spends more time relating killer Winston Moseley's murder trial, and offers a more believable account of the killer's strategem for getting out of Attica prison and into a hospital (here, he inserted a juice can into his rectum; in the Kevin Cook book it was, less believably, a meat can of the type that holds Spam). What this (Pelonero) book does not do, though, is take serious exception to the myth that thirty-eight of Kitty's neighbors stood by, open-mouthed and apathetic, as she was attacked at least twice over a period of nearly half an hour. (Half an hour, yes; open-mouthed and by-standing at their windows, some but far from all.)
Either one of these books makes for good reading; my preference is for this one despite its avoidance of revisionism. Sadly, despite the passage of over 55 years, various manifestations of what have been called apathy or "bystander effect" (see below) are still very much with us. Another possibility for the interested reader is "No One Helped": Kitty Genovese, New York City, and the Myth of Urban Apathy, the shortest of the three books here, but the one that most wholeheartedly assails the myth of the 38 bystanders.
from the book:
In one scenario [researchers Bibb] Latané and [John] Darley had placed college students in separate rooms and asked them to converse over an intercom. They had one of the group simulate a seizure and call for help. Varying the number of "bystanders" in several repetitions of the experiment, they found that of the subjects who believed they were alone with the victim, 85 percent reported the emergency to the experimenter. When two were present, the figure dropped to 62 percent. In groups of five or more, a bystander would seek help for the victim only 31 percent of the time . . . [ultimately] The terms "Genovese syndrome," "bystander effect," and "diffusion of responsibility" became part of the lexicon. (p. 293)
A number of books that analyzed the Genovese slaying and its aftermath arrived roughly fifty years after the original crime; this one, Kitty Genovese: A True Account of a Public Murder and Its Private Consequences, is probably the most detailed. It offers a sympathetic account of Kitty Genovese's life, her coming out (insofar as the times allowed) as a lesbian and her search for a life partner, though a rival book, Kitty Genovese: The Murder, the Bystanders, the Crime that Changed America by Kevin Cook, does better in that regard. However, this book spends more time relating killer Winston Moseley's murder trial, and offers a more believable account of the killer's strategem for getting out of Attica prison and into a hospital (here, he inserted a juice can into his rectum; in the Kevin Cook book it was, less believably, a meat can of the type that holds Spam). What this (Pelonero) book does not do, though, is take serious exception to the myth that thirty-eight of Kitty's neighbors stood by, open-mouthed and apathetic, as she was attacked at least twice over a period of nearly half an hour. (Half an hour, yes; open-mouthed and by-standing at their windows, some but far from all.)
Either one of these books makes for good reading; my preference is for this one despite its avoidance of revisionism. Sadly, despite the passage of over 55 years, various manifestations of what have been called apathy or "bystander effect" (see below) are still very much with us. Another possibility for the interested reader is "No One Helped": Kitty Genovese, New York City, and the Myth of Urban Apathy, the shortest of the three books here, but the one that most wholeheartedly assails the myth of the 38 bystanders.
from the book:
In one scenario [researchers Bibb] Latané and [John] Darley had placed college students in separate rooms and asked them to converse over an intercom. They had one of the group simulate a seizure and call for help. Varying the number of "bystanders" in several repetitions of the experiment, they found that of the subjects who believed they were alone with the victim, 85 percent reported the emergency to the experimenter. When two were present, the figure dropped to 62 percent. In groups of five or more, a bystander would seek help for the victim only 31 percent of the time . . . [ultimately] The terms "Genovese syndrome," "bystander effect," and "diffusion of responsibility" became part of the lexicon. (p. 293)
September 13, 2014
As a "woman of a certain age", I remember when this crime was committed. All the media talked about was the apathy of Kitty Genovese's neighbors during the 1/2 hour it took for her to be savagely murdered. Author Catherine Pelonero gives a complete and unbiased account of this heinous crime. Instead of focusing on the more sensational headliner-grabbing fact of a white woman being killed by a black man, Pelonero tells the good and bad about everyone, including the 30+ witnesses who didn't help Kitty that night. For the first time, I learned that Kitty was a lesbian - considered "deviate" for that era - and had a criminal record and worked in a bar. Her killer, Winston Moseley, heretofore shown only in a booking photo, was a middle-class professional husband and father with no criminal record. He owned his own home and two cars. His wife was a registered nurse. That said, Pelonero gives each of these two very disparate persons equal weight, choosing to focus on ALL facts of the crime. What no one knew was Moseley was a serial killer and rapist. He'd previously terrorized women of his own race so not much investigation was put into those crimes. In fact, Annie Mae Johnson, a 24 year-old black woman, had been murdered on her porch then dragged into her living room where Moseley raped her post-mortem, with her husband asleep upstairs. The medical examiner in New York stated that the woman had been stabbed. It wasn't until Moseley confessed to that murderer and saying he'd SHOT the victim, that the body, buried in South Carolina, was exhumed. A subsequent autopsy revealed SIX bullets in Mrs. Johnson's body.
Moseley, a prolific but undetected criminal has gotten less attention in history than Ted Bundy, Jeffrey Dahlmer, John Wayne Gacy and other white serial killers. It is this very racial oversight which led FBI profilers into mistakenly predicting that the DC Sniper had to be a white male. They should had done the research that this author put into her book.
This is one of the best true crime books that I've read in years. Pelonero does get a bit weighty in some places, giving a blow-by-blow account of some court testimony. But her attention to detail in other areas is well done. This story is not just about 3 dozen people who failed to act by merely calling the police - although not much has changed in many decades since then, as evidenced by the recent murder in a yoga wear store while 2 Apple Store employees next door listened with their ears to the common wall. This is a story about a horrific crime, an innocent victim, a mentally ill killer and the question of the public's MORAL duty to assist a fellow human being fighting for his or her life. Pelonero invested a lot of time into deeply researching the psychology of human reaction to overt criminal behavior. In a society where "Snitches end up ditches" and the community has such a negative relationship with the police, what happened that early morning in Queens to Kitty Genovese is even more evident today.
Moseley, a prolific but undetected criminal has gotten less attention in history than Ted Bundy, Jeffrey Dahlmer, John Wayne Gacy and other white serial killers. It is this very racial oversight which led FBI profilers into mistakenly predicting that the DC Sniper had to be a white male. They should had done the research that this author put into her book.
This is one of the best true crime books that I've read in years. Pelonero does get a bit weighty in some places, giving a blow-by-blow account of some court testimony. But her attention to detail in other areas is well done. This story is not just about 3 dozen people who failed to act by merely calling the police - although not much has changed in many decades since then, as evidenced by the recent murder in a yoga wear store while 2 Apple Store employees next door listened with their ears to the common wall. This is a story about a horrific crime, an innocent victim, a mentally ill killer and the question of the public's MORAL duty to assist a fellow human being fighting for his or her life. Pelonero invested a lot of time into deeply researching the psychology of human reaction to overt criminal behavior. In a society where "Snitches end up ditches" and the community has such a negative relationship with the police, what happened that early morning in Queens to Kitty Genovese is even more evident today.
October 17, 2016
This came up on my Bookbub recommendations and since it was free I thought I'd give it a go. I've never heard of Kitty Genovese or her murder (which is surprising given my interest in true crime) but I was intrigued by the synopsis, particularly the inactivity of her friends and neighbours during and after her death. This account comes across well researched packed with references and sources, which the author acknowledges is in response to these events being considered as an urban legend in later years (it seems that many people could not and cannot accept that such inaction is possible, personally I was not surprised). The crime itself, while tragic, gruesome and horrifying, is not the most shocking part of the story. It is the fact that 38 people heard and saw Kitty's murder over the course of the 40 minutes and repeated returns of her killer and only 1 called the police and reported it while another managed to get through after much waiting and pushing of the operator. Pelonero reports on all of this with an impressive objectivity, quoting the residents and detectives, only offering her own thoughts and opinions as she analyses what this meant for Kitty and society as a whole.
The second half of the book that covers the trial, aftermath and on-going effects on Kitty's family, friends and neighbourhood get a little repetitive as people struggle to accept the truth and the reports themselves become lost in the passage of time. It does show however how time can distort reality, especially realities that we do not want to believe. Seems this is something Homo sapiens will always try just so we don't have to face how cruel, cold and heart-less we can really be.
The second half of the book that covers the trial, aftermath and on-going effects on Kitty's family, friends and neighbourhood get a little repetitive as people struggle to accept the truth and the reports themselves become lost in the passage of time. It does show however how time can distort reality, especially realities that we do not want to believe. Seems this is something Homo sapiens will always try just so we don't have to face how cruel, cold and heart-less we can really be.
October 16, 2022
I came across this true crime murder from 1964 a few years ago, and was horrified. I have read Acts Of Violence, which is a book which was inspired by the story, however, I was pleased to find this book, which is a well researched and comprehensive telling of the crime, but also its aftermath. How could a young woman be brutally attacked and murdered, and nobody even contacted the police, let alone help poor Kitty, who was screaming for help? The killer was even able to leave the scene during the attack, then come back a short time later to continue his attack. The case sent shockwaves through the country, and led to 911 being instated as a number to urgently contact emergency services. I highly recommend this book, even if readers are aware of this story, as a definitive study of a shocking event, and its repercussions.
November 1, 2014
To much detail of little things, that are just not important to the story itself.
August 19, 2016
I didn't want to get involved...
A simple sentence that absolutely kills the speakers humanity. This book is the tale of a young woman, viciously murdered in her prime by, and this is my own personal opinion, a completely sane psychotic. He knew what he was doing, he went out that night hunting. He stalked her, he stabbed her, he ran from being caught but came back to finish the job. Yet the defense went with the insanity plea, to no avail thankfully. So now he rots in jail, and deserves every stretched out second in that cell no matter how much he has changed for the better. This fantastic book is my introduction to the case of Kitty Genovese, and to be honest I don't know what was more disturbing, the horrific crime or the human apathy displayed during it.
The number of witnesses to the crime, whether eye witnesses or ear witnesses, doesn't really matter to me. It was said at the time to be 38, 37 of which didn't call the police after hearing Kitty's cries for help, the one that did waited over a half an hour to call. Over the years the number of the witnesses has been debated, and this book absolutely puts the evidence on both sides of the fence in our faces. One number is overwhelmingly stronger in case of validity, but what does it matter? If only one person heard what was going on and didn't call the police it is too many. After reading this book I have indeed put a lot of thought into what I would do. Safe in my house would I have been too scared to call the police? Hopefully I will never be in that situation, but if I ever am I hope I rise to the help of a fellow human being. That has always been my assumption, that I would of course jump in to help. Now that I am aware of the case of Kitty Genovese though I am hesitant to believe in myself. I want to do the right thing, always, but would I have the guts to do it? If the time ever comes I will remember Kitty and I will do the right thing, and I think that conviction I now have is thanks to the amazing work Catherine Pelonero has put into providing the correct evidence, the proper chain of events and telling the complete story of Kitty Genovese.
It truly is a great book, a horrible tale and one that should make you look hard at yourself, help you think about what you would do, but a great book nonetheless. Would you get involved? Would you take the chance? One phone call after her first terrified screams would have saved Kitty Genovese. At first I was angry at the people who did nothing to help her, now though I pity them. I hope that I am not one of them and will absolutely strive to do the right thing should the situation ever present itself, for Kitty.
Thank you Catherine Pelonero, you wrote a great book and have indeed opened my eyes to the cancer of apathy.
A simple sentence that absolutely kills the speakers humanity. This book is the tale of a young woman, viciously murdered in her prime by, and this is my own personal opinion, a completely sane psychotic. He knew what he was doing, he went out that night hunting. He stalked her, he stabbed her, he ran from being caught but came back to finish the job. Yet the defense went with the insanity plea, to no avail thankfully. So now he rots in jail, and deserves every stretched out second in that cell no matter how much he has changed for the better. This fantastic book is my introduction to the case of Kitty Genovese, and to be honest I don't know what was more disturbing, the horrific crime or the human apathy displayed during it.
The number of witnesses to the crime, whether eye witnesses or ear witnesses, doesn't really matter to me. It was said at the time to be 38, 37 of which didn't call the police after hearing Kitty's cries for help, the one that did waited over a half an hour to call. Over the years the number of the witnesses has been debated, and this book absolutely puts the evidence on both sides of the fence in our faces. One number is overwhelmingly stronger in case of validity, but what does it matter? If only one person heard what was going on and didn't call the police it is too many. After reading this book I have indeed put a lot of thought into what I would do. Safe in my house would I have been too scared to call the police? Hopefully I will never be in that situation, but if I ever am I hope I rise to the help of a fellow human being. That has always been my assumption, that I would of course jump in to help. Now that I am aware of the case of Kitty Genovese though I am hesitant to believe in myself. I want to do the right thing, always, but would I have the guts to do it? If the time ever comes I will remember Kitty and I will do the right thing, and I think that conviction I now have is thanks to the amazing work Catherine Pelonero has put into providing the correct evidence, the proper chain of events and telling the complete story of Kitty Genovese.
It truly is a great book, a horrible tale and one that should make you look hard at yourself, help you think about what you would do, but a great book nonetheless. Would you get involved? Would you take the chance? One phone call after her first terrified screams would have saved Kitty Genovese. At first I was angry at the people who did nothing to help her, now though I pity them. I hope that I am not one of them and will absolutely strive to do the right thing should the situation ever present itself, for Kitty.
Thank you Catherine Pelonero, you wrote a great book and have indeed opened my eyes to the cancer of apathy.
November 6, 2015
I expected to be disturbed by this book, but not quite as much as I ended up being. For one thing, I wasn't previously aware of just how gruesome and protracted the murder was. And while it's bad enough that people couldn't be bothered to even pick up the phone while someone was being murdered outside their windows, the excuses made afterward are perhaps even more appalling.
Some people didn't call because they figured it was "just" a man beating his wife/girlfriend. One particularly disgusting man commented that "At one point I thought maybe a girl was being raped — but if she was out alone at that hour, it served her right." (This is the same guy who also blamed her for his inaction -- apparently it's her fault for not screaming loudly enough while being stabbed in the lungs -- and whined about getting "ribbed" by his coworkers for his inaction.)
Another woman's problem with the coverage of the event was that her neighborhood was described as middle class, when she thought it should be described as upper-middle class. Heavens, what an outrage! And of course, there's all the whitewashing that took place with people denying what actually happened decades later, because they have no shame whatsoever.
It says something about the people involved in this when you come out of a book about a hideously cruel, misogynistic, remorseless rapist and murderer like Moseley with the feeling that he's not the worst person you just read about.
This was a well-researched, well-written account of the crime and its aftermath. Just be prepared to come out of it with a lower opinion of humanity than you started out with.
Some people didn't call because they figured it was "just" a man beating his wife/girlfriend. One particularly disgusting man commented that "At one point I thought maybe a girl was being raped — but if she was out alone at that hour, it served her right." (This is the same guy who also blamed her for his inaction -- apparently it's her fault for not screaming loudly enough while being stabbed in the lungs -- and whined about getting "ribbed" by his coworkers for his inaction.)
Another woman's problem with the coverage of the event was that her neighborhood was described as middle class, when she thought it should be described as upper-middle class. Heavens, what an outrage! And of course, there's all the whitewashing that took place with people denying what actually happened decades later, because they have no shame whatsoever.
It says something about the people involved in this when you come out of a book about a hideously cruel, misogynistic, remorseless rapist and murderer like Moseley with the feeling that he's not the worst person you just read about.
This was a well-researched, well-written account of the crime and its aftermath. Just be prepared to come out of it with a lower opinion of humanity than you started out with.
April 8, 2014
Kitty Genovese: A True ..By Catherine Pelon narrated by Dina Pearlman.
A research, crime narration of the true story of the murder of Kitty Genovese this book was fascinating even though a lot of repetition was present due to the nature of the story line. The book chronicles the Kitty Genovese case from start to finish. Detailing her life and personality to a degree. Focusing on her murder and the complete disdain people in the neighborhood showed when she was murdered in front of their eyes.
I loved the fact that 911 was a result of this murder and how it was dealt with. The psychological research that went into to disinterested bystander etc kept me riveted. Like I said, this is not a novel. It is a chronological look at as many facets as the author could regarding Kitty's life.
With this type of journalism repetition to prove a point etc or to go from hearsay to semi-proven fact is a given and it does get to be a bit much but I understood the reasoning behind it and if true life stories is your cup of tea then I am sure you will really enjoy this book and the look into the reasoning behind events.
WaAr
A research, crime narration of the true story of the murder of Kitty Genovese this book was fascinating even though a lot of repetition was present due to the nature of the story line. The book chronicles the Kitty Genovese case from start to finish. Detailing her life and personality to a degree. Focusing on her murder and the complete disdain people in the neighborhood showed when she was murdered in front of their eyes.
I loved the fact that 911 was a result of this murder and how it was dealt with. The psychological research that went into to disinterested bystander etc kept me riveted. Like I said, this is not a novel. It is a chronological look at as many facets as the author could regarding Kitty's life.
With this type of journalism repetition to prove a point etc or to go from hearsay to semi-proven fact is a given and it does get to be a bit much but I understood the reasoning behind it and if true life stories is your cup of tea then I am sure you will really enjoy this book and the look into the reasoning behind events.
WaAr
January 26, 2015
If you read pop sociology, from Gladwell to Freakonomics, you know about the murder of Kitty Genovese. It's been cited as the genesis of the "bystander effect", Exhibit A for the modern American public's incredible, savage apathy to the plight of our fellow citizens. 38 people see and/or hear a young woman raped and stabbed to death in front of an apartment building, and no one bothers to call the police for almost an hour? The full factual truth, when laid out, is no less chilling or amazing. And there are so many other sensational aspects to this story that one would think it's actually the best Law & Order episode ever, rather than true crime.
August 2, 2015
This was well-researched true crime, but I felt like it repeated itself a good bit. Most of the interesting parts are at the very beginning and the end. I found myself ready to be finished with the book a hundred pages before the end, which is never a good sign. I didn't love it, didn't hate it - it was more like "Hmm, interesting."
September 13, 2014
Pelonero's research was fantastic, but the repetition in the text is maddening. She needed a stronger editor working with her in the early stages.
May 18, 2015
A plea for help goes unanswered
Over 50 years ago and 4 months after JFK's assassination, a woman on her way home from a late night date was sexually assaulted and stabbed to death a few short yards from her own front door. The woman cried out for help repeatedly but no one stepped forward to help her. Despite her repeated screams for help, cries that she had been stabbed, and more cries that she was dying, Kitty Genovese received no timely help that might have saved her life despite the fact that some 38 people heard the screams, looked out their window and saw some of the attack, but chose to go back to bed without even calling the police. One witness later said that he didn't want to get involved while others said it was none of their affair or that they had assumed it was only a loud lovers quarrel and that the pairwise drunk. Only two women, who had been asked to identify Kitty after the attack was ended, ventured down to see if it was their friend Kitty, and to aid her in any way possible. They were the last people to be with Kitty as she lay dying, the last to give her human comfort, and were two of the residents who had neither seen or heard the attack and were the first to ask why no one had helped their friend or called the police.
The story hit the headlines, beginning with the New York Times and spreading across the country. It did not receive its renown because Kitty was murdered. Murders are a daily occurrence and generally are only local news and not national news. Kitty's sad end was publicized because over 30 people watched some of the murder take place but deliberately chose not to help, to not go to her aid, and to not call the police to get help for her that way. The callous unwillingness of the majority of Kew Gardens residents in Queens New York was the real story, a story that persists even today as we wonder why no one helped and even more immediate -- would we have done different? The callous indifference to a young woman's plight even while she screamed for help shocked and horrified people then and still has the power to horrify people today.
This book gives as full an account as possible of the people caught up in the crime and explores the young man who was convicted for her murder, a portrayal of a quiet man who committed brutal crimes and then confessed to them calmly to the police almost as if he was reading the weather report. Pyscological studies which arose from the murder are also discussed as well as the trial of the killer and the ever remaining question of why did no one call the police to get help for Kitty and would we have done different and hopefully
Really a good book with deep questions for all -- whatever would we have done??
Over 50 years ago and 4 months after JFK's assassination, a woman on her way home from a late night date was sexually assaulted and stabbed to death a few short yards from her own front door. The woman cried out for help repeatedly but no one stepped forward to help her. Despite her repeated screams for help, cries that she had been stabbed, and more cries that she was dying, Kitty Genovese received no timely help that might have saved her life despite the fact that some 38 people heard the screams, looked out their window and saw some of the attack, but chose to go back to bed without even calling the police. One witness later said that he didn't want to get involved while others said it was none of their affair or that they had assumed it was only a loud lovers quarrel and that the pairwise drunk. Only two women, who had been asked to identify Kitty after the attack was ended, ventured down to see if it was their friend Kitty, and to aid her in any way possible. They were the last people to be with Kitty as she lay dying, the last to give her human comfort, and were two of the residents who had neither seen or heard the attack and were the first to ask why no one had helped their friend or called the police.
The story hit the headlines, beginning with the New York Times and spreading across the country. It did not receive its renown because Kitty was murdered. Murders are a daily occurrence and generally are only local news and not national news. Kitty's sad end was publicized because over 30 people watched some of the murder take place but deliberately chose not to help, to not go to her aid, and to not call the police to get help for her that way. The callous unwillingness of the majority of Kew Gardens residents in Queens New York was the real story, a story that persists even today as we wonder why no one helped and even more immediate -- would we have done different? The callous indifference to a young woman's plight even while she screamed for help shocked and horrified people then and still has the power to horrify people today.
This book gives as full an account as possible of the people caught up in the crime and explores the young man who was convicted for her murder, a portrayal of a quiet man who committed brutal crimes and then confessed to them calmly to the police almost as if he was reading the weather report. Pyscological studies which arose from the murder are also discussed as well as the trial of the killer and the ever remaining question of why did no one call the police to get help for Kitty and would we have done different and hopefully
Really a good book with deep questions for all -- whatever would we have done??
May 8, 2015
This is an amazing book. I remember when this story was originally on the news and I remember the controversy that it stirred for a long time. Ms. Pelonero has done her homework. Her work reflects many hours of research into what really happened during this tragic event.
From page one the book takes the reader to the crime scene and through the rest of the events.
Although the subject matter could be dry and read like a history book, it does not. The author not only knows her facts but she knows how to weave a story as well.
I highly recommend this book. It is big, it has scenes that are "hard to swallow" in their description of the events, but it is so well written that it will grab you and not let you go until the final paragraph.
From page one the book takes the reader to the crime scene and through the rest of the events.
Although the subject matter could be dry and read like a history book, it does not. The author not only knows her facts but she knows how to weave a story as well.
I highly recommend this book. It is big, it has scenes that are "hard to swallow" in their description of the events, but it is so well written that it will grab you and not let you go until the final paragraph.
August 21, 2015
I had the privilege of hearing Catherine Pelonero speak at a conference recently about this book. I was intrigued by her explanation of her process of writing this book. I remember when this murder first happened and all the sequelae regarding Kew Gardens. In reading the book, I was impressed by the depth of scholarship Pelonero brought to the subject. She created images of Kitty Genovese that were heart wrenchingly human. Her use of metaphors was always thoughtful and seemed to bring the reader to a greater depth of understanding of what this case was really about. The book was so captivating I had problems putting it down. One of the best true crime books I’ve read.
May 13, 2014
Consistent in its message, though occasionally repetitive.
February 7, 2015
Two and a half stars. Just too much fluff.
July 4, 2021
Kitty Genovese: A True Account of a Public Murder and Its Private Consequences by Catherine Pelonero 3.5
You’ve probably heard the story of the woman who was murdered on a New York street, screaming for help, while numerous witnesses did nothing, leading to discussion of ‘the Bystander Effect’. You might have heard it was exaggerated or even that it was an urban legend. However, the woman was Kitty Genovese and the story is even worse than it sounds.
Possible spoilers ahead!
The first section of this book is really compelling: it explains exactly what took place on March 13, 1964. Kitty was arriving home when a man who had followed her from the bar where she worked stabbed her on the street, around the corner from her apartment. She screamed for help – she was heard shouting that she’d ‘been stabbed’ and was ‘dying’. This was a quiet neighbourhood in Queens, not one where people expected to hear screaming and shouting at 2.30am and neighbours reacted. Some looked out and shouted: ‘Shut the fuck up!’ ‘Leave that girl alone!’ The attacker ran away. But the attack wasn’t over. Kitty tried to get home. She made it not to the entrance of her apartment, but to that of a friend. She went in, maybe just to get off the street, and called up the stairs to her friend. Instead of helping he called another friend and got other neighbours to come down to check if it was really Kitty. But it was all too late because by the time anyone came to Kitty’s aid, the killer had returned to finish the job.
At the time it was reported that there were 38 witnesses (the police reports back this up) and none of them helped. This is the biggest point of contention in this case. Of course, it sounds incredible, but we have to understand that 38 means the total number of people who saw or heard something – and that could’ve been a shout, or a man standing too close to a woman. No one saw the whole thing from start to finish, and not everyone could have realised that it was serious enough to call the police (if I called the police every time I heard shouts, I’d be the one getting arrested). Also, it was 1964; for some people, summoning help may have meant going down to the police call box in the street where potential danger lay – and witnesses included 14-year-olds and pensioners. And most importantly – at least two claim to have tried to call, or called and not been given priority. Today, over 50 years later there are claims that reports were wildly exaggerated. Based on what I read in this book (in particular the author’s afterword) and just common sense (time changes everything, even memories) I don’t agree. I do think it was unrealistic to expect all 38 people to react, but there were some key people whose actions were shameful. You’ll know who if you read.
There’s more to the book: we get background on the killer, information on the trial and what happened after – there are plenty of twists and turns, the tragedy of those Kitty left behind – her partner Mary-Ann, who to everyone else was only her roommate; and her brother who committed himself to helping everyone leading him to Vietnam.
The book is well- written and very well-researched. As I said, the first part was compelling. What happened? Who was Kitty? What’s the truth behind ‘no one helped’? However, what brought my rating down was that the story got very repetitive and kept coming back to that last question. Sadly, the case stopped being about a young woman who was tragically murdered outside her own home and became about a community who got tired of being bad-mouthed.
You’ve probably heard the story of the woman who was murdered on a New York street, screaming for help, while numerous witnesses did nothing, leading to discussion of ‘the Bystander Effect’. You might have heard it was exaggerated or even that it was an urban legend. However, the woman was Kitty Genovese and the story is even worse than it sounds.
Possible spoilers ahead!
The first section of this book is really compelling: it explains exactly what took place on March 13, 1964. Kitty was arriving home when a man who had followed her from the bar where she worked stabbed her on the street, around the corner from her apartment. She screamed for help – she was heard shouting that she’d ‘been stabbed’ and was ‘dying’. This was a quiet neighbourhood in Queens, not one where people expected to hear screaming and shouting at 2.30am and neighbours reacted. Some looked out and shouted: ‘Shut the fuck up!’ ‘Leave that girl alone!’ The attacker ran away. But the attack wasn’t over. Kitty tried to get home. She made it not to the entrance of her apartment, but to that of a friend. She went in, maybe just to get off the street, and called up the stairs to her friend. Instead of helping he called another friend and got other neighbours to come down to check if it was really Kitty. But it was all too late because by the time anyone came to Kitty’s aid, the killer had returned to finish the job.
At the time it was reported that there were 38 witnesses (the police reports back this up) and none of them helped. This is the biggest point of contention in this case. Of course, it sounds incredible, but we have to understand that 38 means the total number of people who saw or heard something – and that could’ve been a shout, or a man standing too close to a woman. No one saw the whole thing from start to finish, and not everyone could have realised that it was serious enough to call the police (if I called the police every time I heard shouts, I’d be the one getting arrested). Also, it was 1964; for some people, summoning help may have meant going down to the police call box in the street where potential danger lay – and witnesses included 14-year-olds and pensioners. And most importantly – at least two claim to have tried to call, or called and not been given priority. Today, over 50 years later there are claims that reports were wildly exaggerated. Based on what I read in this book (in particular the author’s afterword) and just common sense (time changes everything, even memories) I don’t agree. I do think it was unrealistic to expect all 38 people to react, but there were some key people whose actions were shameful. You’ll know who if you read.
There’s more to the book: we get background on the killer, information on the trial and what happened after – there are plenty of twists and turns, the tragedy of those Kitty left behind – her partner Mary-Ann, who to everyone else was only her roommate; and her brother who committed himself to helping everyone leading him to Vietnam.
The book is well- written and very well-researched. As I said, the first part was compelling. What happened? Who was Kitty? What’s the truth behind ‘no one helped’? However, what brought my rating down was that the story got very repetitive and kept coming back to that last question. Sadly, the case stopped being about a young woman who was tragically murdered outside her own home and became about a community who got tired of being bad-mouthed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 28, 2018
I took psychology courses in high school and college in the early to late 1990s. The name Kitty Genovese was a footnote in chapters about the "bystander effect." I only knew that a young women was murdered on the streets of a quiet 1960s neighborhood and that people pretty much watched her die. At the time, it was stated that no one called the police and it was inferred from my readings that she died completely alone. Upsetting.
The truth is not much better, though. I had no idea how horrific her final ordeal was, how methodical Moseley was in coming back to finish the job. I also understand that her neighbor and friend didn't want the police hassling him because he was gay and that was a criminal offense at the time period, but NOT calling the police and lying about whether or not he heard anything actually made him look worse, in the end.
It's disturbing and sad that over thirty people saw or heard something and there are contemporary police reports that state various pathetic excuses. I know you're scared, but if you're on the sixth floor of a building and the killer is in the street and can't see you, he doesn't know you called the cops. Weak sauce. If just one more person had made a call, especially those who claimed that they saw him beating her or stabbing her, or HEARD her say she'd been stabbed or yelling for help, she might have survived. Moseley's repeated stabbings were deep enough to cause harm, but not immediate death; she suffocated slowly and horribly, and might have hastened her death by trying to get home. Considering the apathy of her neighbors, I'm sure if Moseley had come back for her and tried to assault her in the street again, people probably STILL would not have called the police.
We're really no different now. A few years ago, there was surveillance photo of a person bleeding out on a street in New York and people WALKED OVER HIM as he died. People always think that someone else is going to do something. But seriously, who cares if three other people called before you? Call anyway.
This was a very thoroughly researched book and Ms. Pelonero tells a very clear narrative. I tore through this book in one day.
The truth is not much better, though. I had no idea how horrific her final ordeal was, how methodical Moseley was in coming back to finish the job. I also understand that her neighbor and friend didn't want the police hassling him because he was gay and that was a criminal offense at the time period, but NOT calling the police and lying about whether or not he heard anything actually made him look worse, in the end.
It's disturbing and sad that over thirty people saw or heard something and there are contemporary police reports that state various pathetic excuses. I know you're scared, but if you're on the sixth floor of a building and the killer is in the street and can't see you, he doesn't know you called the cops. Weak sauce. If just one more person had made a call, especially those who claimed that they saw him beating her or stabbing her, or HEARD her say she'd been stabbed or yelling for help, she might have survived. Moseley's repeated stabbings were deep enough to cause harm, but not immediate death; she suffocated slowly and horribly, and might have hastened her death by trying to get home. Considering the apathy of her neighbors, I'm sure if Moseley had come back for her and tried to assault her in the street again, people probably STILL would not have called the police.
We're really no different now. A few years ago, there was surveillance photo of a person bleeding out on a street in New York and people WALKED OVER HIM as he died. People always think that someone else is going to do something. But seriously, who cares if three other people called before you? Call anyway.
This was a very thoroughly researched book and Ms. Pelonero tells a very clear narrative. I tore through this book in one day.
March 30, 2020
An admirable investigation confirming, though slightly complicating, most of the original sensational claims of bystander indifference of the 4am murder. Editors might have excised the long mid-book transcript of the murder trial—the author already gives us an accurate account of events as the book opens. More could have been said about the use of the Genovese case in popular culture, scholarship and politics—some of which is mentioned in passing. While the killer’s story is fascinating, from his bizarre childhood to his bizarre week-long escape from prison, there’s another important story here. Moseley, the very-rare Black serial killer, gives accurate details about a previous murder he committed, but which had been pinned on another Black man who the police had derived a “confession.” The innocent man is eventually convicted—the DA not wanting to undermine confession as a key piece of evidence. We know now, after the Central Park 5, how frequently false confessions have been coerced.
March 9, 2022
I am not a big fan of courtroom drama and I don't think there really was any in this particular case. Winston Moseley confessed his crimes and even his lawyer knew he was guilty. The not guilty by reason of insanity plea was not unexpected and a quick google search would have told anyone he died in 2016. While his childhood is tragic, others have survived worse and gone on to live normal lives. I think this triple murderers flaws ran deeper.
What I did really enjoy about the book was the author's attempt to make Kitty Genovese a real person, not just the victim of a horrible crime and an even more horrible aftermath. Too often when tragic circumstances of an individual lead to meaningful change, the person becomes a caricature and loose their humanity. Kitty seems to be someone who deserves to be remembered in her fulsome.
Sadly, positive moves forward in society can occur out of tragedy. The Halifax explosion taught doctors about the structure and treatment of eye injuries. Pilots in the Second World War being burnt in their planes moved plastic surgery forward. Kitty's death spurred the creation of the 911 system, which has saved lives and made it easier for people to get help in a timely manner. I think that is a good legacy to remember her by.
What I did really enjoy about the book was the author's attempt to make Kitty Genovese a real person, not just the victim of a horrible crime and an even more horrible aftermath. Too often when tragic circumstances of an individual lead to meaningful change, the person becomes a caricature and loose their humanity. Kitty seems to be someone who deserves to be remembered in her fulsome.
Sadly, positive moves forward in society can occur out of tragedy. The Halifax explosion taught doctors about the structure and treatment of eye injuries. Pilots in the Second World War being burnt in their planes moved plastic surgery forward. Kitty's death spurred the creation of the 911 system, which has saved lives and made it easier for people to get help in a timely manner. I think that is a good legacy to remember her by.
April 27, 2022
Subtitled: A True Account of a Public Murder and its Private Consequences this is the story of the horrific murder of Kitty Genovese on the street where she lived in Queens, New York in 1964. What proved more horrifying however, was the number of witnesses to her screams during the prolonged attacks and the fact that none of them bothered to call the police or tried to help her. Using in-depth research, police records, court documents and newspaper reports, Catherine Pelonero reveals the backgrounds to both Kitty Genovese and her killer, Winston Moseley and the aftermath of the murder and its effects on the community where Kitty lived.
I hadn’t heard of this case before, so the details were all new to me. Aside from the shocking murder of a young woman, the response of her neighbours in their apartments across the street provoked outrage at the time and eventually led to the setting up of a single telephone number people could use to call the police. The details of the murder are gory to say the least and may be off-putting to some readers. The author does a sterling job of retelling the story, though she does repeat herself a few times - maybe understandable considering the many witness statements and subsequent interviews of those involved. The book is a fascinating and disturbing account of how individuals can turn away from those in need – a fact that is still prevalent today.
Thought-provoking and disturbing.
I hadn’t heard of this case before, so the details were all new to me. Aside from the shocking murder of a young woman, the response of her neighbours in their apartments across the street provoked outrage at the time and eventually led to the setting up of a single telephone number people could use to call the police. The details of the murder are gory to say the least and may be off-putting to some readers. The author does a sterling job of retelling the story, though she does repeat herself a few times - maybe understandable considering the many witness statements and subsequent interviews of those involved. The book is a fascinating and disturbing account of how individuals can turn away from those in need – a fact that is still prevalent today.
Thought-provoking and disturbing.
August 18, 2021
As a psychology major, I saw Genovese mentioned in several textbooks. I had always been curious to learn more, so this was the book for me. Pelonero details Genovese's grisly assault and murder, with her neighbors apathetically watching or listening and doing little or nothing. The book features accounts from her neighbors, a full profile of the killer (his background, other crimes he committed, prison time, and other information), her family’s heartache, and the consequences in regards to public reactions, psychological research, and implementing emergency response systems. I was alarmed how years later some people called this horrible event an urban legend with their denials and their urge to rewrite history. Genovese’s preventable death very much happened and should never be forgotten. This book is well-written, well-researched, and thought-provoking.
April 13, 2020
This book started strongly, and Kitty sounded like such a wonderful person. But the book drags on and is very repetitive. It would have been more interesting to read the news articles about the story rather than the author summarising them.
July 14, 2021
This is a really, really deep dive. If you are interested in this case, I would highly recommend but not for the casual reader.
April 14, 2024
“It’s in the nature of the human being to not give a damn about his fellow man”
Poignant especially given the current events unfolding on the world stage..this book will make you sad and angry.
Poignant especially given the current events unfolding on the world stage..this book will make you sad and angry.
September 3, 2024
Really enjoyed the book, appreciate the style and the order of the book. Kind of wish there weren’t any spoilers about Buffalo escape, but that a moot point. I appreciate the author not interjecting her thoughts too much, but it would have been nice for her to shut down all the people trying to twist the story 40 years later. She clearly did enough research to prove the actual accounts.
May 23, 2025
I love it when books are really well researched!
December 18, 2023
Catherine Pelonero's "Kitty Genovese: A True Account of a Public Murder and Its Private Consequences" is a comprehensive exploration of one of the most infamous crimes in modern history. Pelonero meticulously pieces together the details of the tragic event that occurred in Kew Gardens, Queens, in 1964, shedding new light on the circumstances surrounding the murder of Kitty Genovese and the aftermath that followed.
The strength of Pelonero's narrative lies in her ability to present a well-researched and deeply human account of a crime that has become symbolic of urban apathy. The author delves into the background of Kitty Genovese, providing readers with a nuanced understanding of the vibrant woman whose life was tragically cut short. By painting a vivid portrait of Kitty as more than just a victim, Pelonero humanizes her, making the impact of the crime all the more poignant.
The book meticulously dissects the widely reported but often misunderstood aspects of the case, particularly the infamous "bystander effect" and the alleged apathy of the witnesses. Pelonero challenges the prevailing narrative, offering a more nuanced and contextualized view of the events that unfolded that fateful night. This thorough examination of the facts surrounding the crime helps dispel misconceptions and encourages readers to reevaluate their understanding of the case.
Pelonero's writing is both engaging and empathetic, making it easy for readers to connect with the individuals involved in the story. The detailed exploration of the police investigation, legal proceedings, and the lives of those affected by the tragedy adds depth to the narrative. The book also succeeds in contextualizing the social and cultural climate of the 1960s, providing a backdrop for understanding the dynamics at play in Kew Gardens.
While the book is a commendable work of investigative journalism, some readers may find the level of detail overwhelming at times. Pelonero's meticulous examination of various aspects of the case, while informative, may result in a slower pace that could potentially deter readers seeking a more streamlined narrative.
In essence, "Kitty Genovese" is a compelling and enlightening read that humanizes a historical tragedy and challenges preconceived notions. Pelonero's dedication to unraveling the layers of this complex case, coupled with her empathetic storytelling, makes this book an important contribution to the true crime genre. While the extensive detail might be overwhelming for some, the overall impact of the narrative and its ability to provoke critical thought warrant a solid 4 out of 5 stars. "Kitty Genovese" serves as a reminder of the power of storytelling to reshape our understanding of the past and its enduring consequences.
The strength of Pelonero's narrative lies in her ability to present a well-researched and deeply human account of a crime that has become symbolic of urban apathy. The author delves into the background of Kitty Genovese, providing readers with a nuanced understanding of the vibrant woman whose life was tragically cut short. By painting a vivid portrait of Kitty as more than just a victim, Pelonero humanizes her, making the impact of the crime all the more poignant.
The book meticulously dissects the widely reported but often misunderstood aspects of the case, particularly the infamous "bystander effect" and the alleged apathy of the witnesses. Pelonero challenges the prevailing narrative, offering a more nuanced and contextualized view of the events that unfolded that fateful night. This thorough examination of the facts surrounding the crime helps dispel misconceptions and encourages readers to reevaluate their understanding of the case.
Pelonero's writing is both engaging and empathetic, making it easy for readers to connect with the individuals involved in the story. The detailed exploration of the police investigation, legal proceedings, and the lives of those affected by the tragedy adds depth to the narrative. The book also succeeds in contextualizing the social and cultural climate of the 1960s, providing a backdrop for understanding the dynamics at play in Kew Gardens.
While the book is a commendable work of investigative journalism, some readers may find the level of detail overwhelming at times. Pelonero's meticulous examination of various aspects of the case, while informative, may result in a slower pace that could potentially deter readers seeking a more streamlined narrative.
In essence, "Kitty Genovese" is a compelling and enlightening read that humanizes a historical tragedy and challenges preconceived notions. Pelonero's dedication to unraveling the layers of this complex case, coupled with her empathetic storytelling, makes this book an important contribution to the true crime genre. While the extensive detail might be overwhelming for some, the overall impact of the narrative and its ability to provoke critical thought warrant a solid 4 out of 5 stars. "Kitty Genovese" serves as a reminder of the power of storytelling to reshape our understanding of the past and its enduring consequences.
August 26, 2021
Sad but true recounting of bystanders failing to prevent Kitty Genovese's murder. In the 1960s, Kew Gardens was considered a nice neighborhood. Most of the residents kept to themselves, living in large buildings, unlike the modest Tudor apartment complex where Kitty and her partner, Mary Ann, resided.*
Kitty never knew her attacker and many of the eye and ear witnesses never knew her. Those that did, including a gay friend at whose steps she pleaded for her life, failed her. (Said friend called someone to ask what he should do. Then instead of following that person's advice to contact the police, he climbed across the roof to the next apartment to confer with that tenant.)
Fortunately, she was able to die in the arms of a friend, Sophia, and her death was not in vain. Although many Kew Gardens residents denied the incident years later, Kitty's murder instigated the concept of today's 911 system. Previously, police could only be reached by either calling the operator or contacting the appropriate borough dispatcher. The centralized routing system soon expanded to include firefighters and ambulances and truncated the phone number to something easily memorized.
Long review short, a lack of bystander intervention is nothing new. If you like true crime and exploring social psychology read this book.
*Mary Ann was considered a roommate and a friend to all but a few people who knew their real relationship. Unfortunately, having to remain closeted meant that Mary Ann was not included in most mourning or investigatory activities.
Kitty never knew her attacker and many of the eye and ear witnesses never knew her. Those that did, including a gay friend at whose steps she pleaded for her life, failed her. (Said friend called someone to ask what he should do. Then instead of following that person's advice to contact the police, he climbed across the roof to the next apartment to confer with that tenant.)
Fortunately, she was able to die in the arms of a friend, Sophia, and her death was not in vain. Although many Kew Gardens residents denied the incident years later, Kitty's murder instigated the concept of today's 911 system. Previously, police could only be reached by either calling the operator or contacting the appropriate borough dispatcher. The centralized routing system soon expanded to include firefighters and ambulances and truncated the phone number to something easily memorized.
Long review short, a lack of bystander intervention is nothing new. If you like true crime and exploring social psychology read this book.
*Mary Ann was considered a roommate and a friend to all but a few people who knew their real relationship. Unfortunately, having to remain closeted meant that Mary Ann was not included in most mourning or investigatory activities.
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