Nightmare in Rochester: The Double-Initial Murders

by Michael Benson, Donald A. Tubman

In 1971, there began in Rochester, N.Y., a series of hideous murders, cases that offered the starkest of contrast between good and perfectly innocent victims, perfectly evil predators. The three victims were little girls, each named with the same first and last initial. Each, the legend said, had been dumped in a town that also began with that letter. The victims had all been last seen in an urban setting and their lifeless bodies were found raped and carelessly dumped along a rural roadside, strangled by ligature. Local girls with alliterative names were on high alert and told to be vigilant. The little ones didn’t quite get it, but they sensed it, something in their mother’s tighter grip on their little hand, or the way mom never relaxed when they were out of doors. The older ones looked at maps and guessed where their own lifeless bodies would be discovered in a ditch. No one wondered why the initials were important, what it all meant. They understood one it was terrifying.

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction

240 pages, Paperback

Published December 2, 2018

Reviews

[Beth Eepoo · Rating 5 out of 5]

a great read

I grew up in Rochester, NY and remember the case well as I was their age. We all lived in fear. I had to read this after all these years and am glad I did. I am also amazed at how many famous killers came from Rochester at one time.. Well written!

[Vicki · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was left with more questions at the end. You’d think with all the advances in DNA, they could solve this. Very sad story.

[Denise Meister · Rating 4 out of 5]

Little Girls' Lives Stolen

This is well researched but despite all efforts three little girls are gone. So young, families devastated and a murderer never identified. The crime against these girls was pure evil. One has to wonder if their home situations, poverty, and their learning challenges may have left them vulnerable . And, had they come from " the right side of town" , from wealth and well known families would the investigation have been more determined to find the killer? We will never know. But what we do know is that three trusting, beautiful girls were robbed of their life, their hopes, dreams and future. And their families will never be the same.

[Ronnie Cramer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Starts off okay, but soon we're reading about crimes that may or not be related, then later we're reading about the research that went into this project. By the end there are plenty of questions left unanswered and the book never really feels complete.

[Kris Ruocco · Rating 2 out of 5]

Growing up in Rochester, I was well aware of the murders and the fear that rippled through the city. I was intrigued decades later to read about them and my hometown. The narrative was long and tedious at times.

[Christine Cazeneuve · Rating 4 out of 5]

In depth investigation

Any one who lived in Rochester during that time remembers these murders. We had just relocated from Brooklyn and was questioning that Rochester was supposed to be a safer place. Great deep dive into this tragedy that will probably never be solved.

[Scarlett Griffin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well documented and thorough research

As I said, the authors did their research well. However, I finally gave up and looked at photos. Way too much information. I couldn’t finish the book.

[Pat · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting as I live and grew up in Rochester. Remember these murders and how frightened the city was.

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

An awful true story. I have been to Rochester, but I didn’t know about these murders. Scary.

[Melissa Gloss · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is terryfying. I can’t believe all this happened so close to home. The amount of criminals that get away with rape and murder is unbelievable.