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All assets associated with the tag: The Killing Month

The Killing Month Coverage

The final episode of WRAL's serial murder podcast "The Killing Month August 1978" drops Tuesday. Host Amanda Lamb shares reflections from people involved in the case and explains why the story doesn't end with the convictions of the Johnston brothers.

COLUMN. >> THE FINAL EPISODE OF WRAL, SERIAL MURDER PODCAST THE KILLING MONTH, AUGUST 1978, DROPS TODAY IN EPISODE 8 HOST AMANDA LAMB. SHARES REFLECTIONS FROM PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THE CASE AND EXPLAINS WHY THE STORY DOESN'T END WITH THE CONVICTIONS OF THE JOHNSON BROTHERS. >> IF WE'VE LEARNED ANYTHING ABOUT THE JOHNSTON GANG DURING THE CREATION OF THIS PODCAST, IT'S THAT THEY LIVED BY A SACRED CODE. YOU COULD DO ANYTHING YOU WANTED. YOU COULD RAPE YOUR SON'S YOU CAN BEAT YOUR WIFE. WHAT YOU DIDN'T DO WAS TO WRITE ON THE FAMILY, EVEN IF YOU WERE RELATED TO THEM. YOU WEREN'T SAFE. THIS IS NOT A FAMILY AND LOVED HIS FAMILY ARE AND THEY WORK FAMILY. I DON'T THINK THEY WERE CAPABLE OF HAVING THAT EMOTION. I CAN EXPLAIN AND I CAN'T. >> I UNDERSTAND HOW YOU CAN SHOOT A MEMBER OF YOUR OWN FAMILY. YOUR STEPSON AND PUT A CONTRACT OUT ON YOUR OWN SON. ULTIMATELY THE JOHNSTONS WERE CONVICTED OF KILLING A TOTAL OF 6 PEOPLE. >> MOST OF THEM YOUNG PEOPLE, THEY KILLED ALL THOSE YOU KNOW, IT JUST. >> IT WAS HER REFUND. ALL THE MURDERS WERE RUTHLESS AND BRUTAL AND 15 YEAR-OLD GIRL LOST HER LIFE IN IN A TERRIBLE WAY FROM REALLY TERRIBLE PEOPLE. THEY WERE ALL SENTENCED TO LIFE BEHIND BARS FOR, BUT EVEN PRISON BARS COULDN'T KEEP THEM CONTAINED. I GOT A CALL. I DON'T KNOW WHO WAS FROM. I THINK IT WAS SOMEBODY FROM THE STATE POLICE. >> WE JUST SAID TO ME WHEN I JUST WANNA LET YOU KNOW, BILL, NORMAN JOHNSON HAS ESCAPED AND HE MAY BE ON HIS WAY TO YOUR HOUSE. I'M AMANDA LAMB FROM WRAL STUDIOS. THIS IS THE KILLING MONTH. AUGUST 1978. >> THE STORY OF A FAMILY CRIME EMPIRE THAT CAME CRUMBLING DOWN WHEN THE BODIES STARTED PILING UP. >> I HAVE THE CHILLS. AND OF COURSE, IF YOU HAVEN'T FINISHED THE SHOW, YOU CAN STILL CATCH UP. YOU CAN FIND IT ON THE WRAL PODCAST NETWORK OR ANYWHERE THAT YOU GET YOUR PODCAST. JOINING US NOW FOR ONE FINAL INTERVIEW IS OUR HOST AMANDA LAMB. AMANDA, THIS IS SO SPECIAL TO SHARE THIS MOMENT WITH YOU. BUT THIS WAS SUCH A COMPLEX STORY. DESCRIBE HOW YOU FELT PUTTING THIS WHOLE THING TOGETHER. YEAH. I MEAN, IT REALLY WAS INTERESTING TO GO BACK AND TRY TO REMEMBER THESE THINGS THAT I LIVED IN MY FAMILY LIVES. BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? WE'VE LEARNED SO MANY OTHER THINGS AS WE RESEARCHED THIS AND HONESTLY. >> I BELIEVE WE HAVE SO MUCH NEW REPORTING THAT'S NEVER BEEN REPORTED. 45 YEARS LATER, MY DAD SAYS HE WAS EVEN SURPRISED BY THAT. WE FOUND IN. OF COURSE, IT WAS SUCH A PLEASURE TO WORK WITH HIM. YEAH. YOU SAID THAT WAS KIND OF THE PINNACLE OF YOUR CAREER. IT REALLY WAS. IT REALLY WAS. HE'S 83 YEARS OLD AND TO BE ABLE TO GIVE HIM THIS KUDOS AND ALL OF THE PEOPLE THAT WORKED ON THE CASE IS REALLY INCREDIBLE. WHAT ARE THE TAKEAWAYS FROM WHAT YOU'VE LEARNED FROM ALL OF THIS? YOU KNOW, I THINK WHAT I LEARNED IS WE ARE REALLY A PRODUCT OF HOW WE'RE RAISED. I MEAN, I GREW UP ABOUT 30 MINUTES FROM THIS AREA AND YET THESE YOUNG BOYS WHO ARE JUST A LITTLE BIT OLDER THAN ME, WHO BECAME VICTIMS IN THIS CASE, THEY DIDN'T HAVE MENTORS. THEIR FATHERS WERE EITHER ABSENT OR INVOLVED IN CRIME. SO THEY WERE REALLY DESTINED TO A VERY NEGATIVE LIFE. AND THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED TO THEM. THE OTHER THING IS, YOU KNOW, TODAY WE HAVE SO MANY TOOLS TO RESEARCH CASES. I MEAN, WE HAVE DNA. WE HAVE TECHNOLOGY. WE HAVE SURVEILLANCE VIDEO. WE HAVE CELL PHONE TOWERS. WE DIDN'T HAVE THAT BACK. THEN. AND THEY REALLY HAD TO DO BOOTS ON THE GROUND INVESTIGATING. YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. SO WHAT'S NEXT? WELL, I'M CONTINUING TO DO THE WRAL DAILY DOWNLOAD. YOU CAN HEAR THAT EVERY SINGLE MORNING I HOST AND PRODUCE THAT SHOW AND I GOT A COUPLE OTHER PODCAST IN THE WORKS. SO STAY TUNED. GOOD. I LOVE IT. WHILE YOU'RE AMAZING. WE'RE GOING TO MISS YOU SO MUCH. AMANDA, THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND ONCE AGAIN WHERE PEOPLE CAN LISTEN TO ALL THE EPISODES OF THE KILLING MONTH AGAIN ON AUGUST 1978, ANYWHERE THEY GET THEIR PODCAST. YOU CAN FIND US AND THE CONVENTION NOW IN A WAY.

Final episode of WRAL podcast 'The Killing Month August 1978' drops Tuesday

Episode 7 of WRAL's serial murder podcast, "The Killing Month August 1978," is out Tuesday hosted by WRAL's Amanda Lamb. In this episode, the verdict in the case of two of the brothers who were tried first, and the ringleader -- the head of the gang -- finally goes on trial.

Amanda spoke to one of the defense attorneys about how hard his job was...

WEEK. THAT'S ALL COMING UP. >> WELL, EPISODE 7 OF A SERIAL MURDER PODCAST THE KILLING MONTH, AUGUST 1978, IS OUT TODAY HOSTED BUT WRAL'S AMANDA LAMB IN THIS EPISODE, THE VERDICT IN THE CASE OF THE 2 BROTHERS WHO WERE TRIED FIRST AND THE RINGLEADER, THE HEAD OF THE GANG FINALLY GOES TO TRIAL SPOKE TO ONE OF THE DEFENSE ATTORNEYS ABOUT HOW DIFFICULT HIS JOB WAS. SHE'S VERY UPHILL BATTLE, ESPECIALLY THERE WAS NO ONE WHO WAS >> GOING TO TAKE A POSITION OF THE JOHNSON JERIANN TO JOHNSON GANG WAS SYNONYMOUS THE WORST CRIMINALS AND WORLD. THE NEWSPAPERS FOR YOU. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE UP AGAINST HER. WE'RE SO HAPPY TO HAVE A MAN HERE NOW. AND IN LISTENING TO THAT, IT'S SO IT'S LIKE THEY WERE SO MANY LAYERS TO THIS ABSOLUTELY. CAN. YOU KNOW, THEY REALLY WANTED THIS TO END IN A CONVICTION BECAUSE FOR 10 YEARS THIS COMMUNITY HAD BEEN TERRORIZED BY THIS GANG OF BROTHERS. >> BUT THE OTHER THING IS YOU HEARD IN THAT INTERVIEW WITH THE DEFENSE ATTORNEY, HE BELIEVED THESE GUYS ARE BEING RAILROADED. HE BELIEVED THAT THE POLICE HAD A GRENADE GRUDGE AGAINST HIM BECAUSE BACK IN 1972, 2 POLICE OFFICERS WERE KILLED. THESE GUYS WERE CONVICTED IN THAT CASE. BUT THERE'S ALWAYS A BELIEF THEY WERE SO WHEN YOU LISTEN TO EPISODES ONE THROUGH 6 AND EVEN LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS EPISODE, 7. >> I MEAN, WHEN WE COULD IMPACT ALL THESE LAYERS. YEAH, I MEAN, WE SPENT A YEAR RESEARCHING THIS AND THERE WERE ABOUT 200 WITNESSES IN THE TRIAL IS A LOT OF THEM WERE IN BOTH TRIALS. >> SO YOU CAN IMAGINE THERE ARE SO MANY TWISTS AND TURNS AND IT REALLY IT WAS A TEAM EFFORT WITH MYSELF AND MY PRODUCER, RACHEL, WHO REALLY HELPED US BRING THIS ALL TOGETHER IN A COHESIVE WAY THAT PEOPLE COULD UNDERSTAND. SO WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THIS, THIS SOME INTRIGUING PART TO EPISODE 7, INCLUDING SOME JAILHOUSE INTERVIEWS THAT YOU INCLUDED, WE WERE SO LUCKY TO GET BRUCE MADDY WAS A LOCAL REPORTER AT THE TIME FOR A NEWSPAPER CALLED THE DAILY LOCAL. HE ALSO WROTE A BOOK ABOUT THIS CASE. CALL JAILING THE JOHNSTON GANG. HE SHARED GRACIOUSLY SHARED THOSE JAILHOUSE INTERVIEWS WITH US AND THEY BRING A LOT OF CONTACTS INTO THE STORY. WHEN YOU CAN ACTUALLY HEAR THE VOICES OF THE PEOPLE, INCLUDING THE RINGLEADER, BRUCE JOHNSTON, YOU KNOW, FROM BEHIND BARS. YEAH. AND AND YOU KNOW THE SWITCH RIGHT IN THIS CASE. ABSOLUTELY. THEY REALLY NEEDED TO GET A CONVICTION IN THIS CASE. AND IT WAS A LONG TRIAL. THIS WAS AROUND 8 WEEKS. SO THEY WERE LIKE WE'VE GOT TO GET A CONVICTION. AND IF YOU LISTEN TO FIND OUT WHAT PEOPLE LISTENED TO. IT WASN'T ANYWHERE. YOU GET YOUR PODCAST OR YOU CAN GO TO WRAL DOT COM AND SEARCH PODCAST. ALL AND

Episode 7 of 'The Killing Month August 1978' drops

Another episode drops Tuesday in our newest serial murder podcast "The killing month August 1978" hosted by WRAL's Amanda Lamb. This episode features the trial of two of the gang members, brothers David and Norman Johnston.

SCHOOL, STILL LOOKING INTO WHAT CAUSED THIS FIRE. SO HAPPY THE STUDENTS ARE OKAY. >> WELL, ANOTHER EPISODE DROPS TODAY IN A NEW A SERIAL MURDER PODCAST, THE KILLING MONTH, AUGUST 1978, HOSTED BY WRAL'S AMANDA LAMB. THIS EPISODE FEATURES TO TRIAL OF 2 OF THE GANG MEMBERS, BROTHERS DAVID AND NORMAN JOHNSTON, HIS AND HIS FATHER, WILLIAM LAMB, THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY AT THE TIME WHO PROSECUTED THE JOHNSTONS. WHAT HOW HIS MAIN WITNESSES WAS SNITCH IS FLIPPED ON THE GAME. >> WILL SMITH TELLS A STORY WHERE YOU SET THE STORY, YOU ONLY EXCEPT THE STORY FOR WE HAVE MANY INSTANCES OF THAT SITUATION FOR LOOTING, LIKE WHERE THE BODIES ARE. YOU JUST TELL ME WHERE THE BODIES ARE. SHOW ME WHERE THE >> AND WE'RE SO HAPPY TO HAVE HIM. AND WITH US THIS MORNING, THAT WAS YOUR FATHER. BUT HE WAS YEAH, IT WAS IT LIKE WORKING WITH HIM ON THIS PROJECT. YOU KNOW, KEN, IT WAS SO AMAZING WHEN I WAS GROWING UP, I WAS SO PROUD OF MY DAD, BUT I DIDN'T REALLY KNOW WHAT HE DID UNTIL I GOT INTO THIS PROJECT AND REALLY DELVED INTO THE HISTORY. AND IT WAS JUST SUCH A BLESSING. IT WAS SUCH A GIFT TO BE ABLE TO WORK WITH HIM. AND I'M EVEN MORE PROUD OF HIM. IF THAT'S POSSIBLE. TODAY, AFTER WORKING WITH HIM. AND I'LL TELL YOU SOMETHING THAT'S GREAT ABOUT PODCASTING. THAT'S DIFFERENT THAN TRADITIONAL JOURNALISM IS THAT YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO THERE TO GET PERSONAL AND TO CONNECT WITH THE AUDIENCE IN A DIFFERENT WAY. SO THIS CASE HAS HAD A PROFOUND EFFECT ON YOU BECAUSE YOU SAID THAT AT 13 YEARS OLD, YOU ACTUALLY IN THE COURTROOM, THE TRIAL THAT'S FEATURED IN THE EPISODE. THE DROP TODAY AT 13 USE ALL. WHAT DO YOU REMEMBER FROM THAT? YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK I REALLY UNDERSTOOD EVERYTHING THAT WAS GOING ON. BUT I DO REMEMBER HOW MUCH SECURITY THERE WAS. I MEAN, THERE WERE SO MANY OFFICERS IN THAT COURTROOM, ARMED OFFICERS AND I ALSO REMEMBER FEELING LIKE IT WAS A LITTLE BIT LIKE THEATER AND I HAD GROWN UP IN THEATER AND IT WAS VERY DRAMATIC. IT WAS VERY INTENSE. AND OBVIOUSLY IT LEFT AN IMPRESSION ON ME BECAUSE I'M DOING THIS STORY. 45 YEARS LATER, WHAT SURPRISED YOU THE MOST ABOUT YOU RESEARCH WHEN IT COMES TO THIS TRIAL? WHAT WAS AMAZING ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR TRIAL IS THAT IT WAS MOVED ALL THE WAY ACROSS THE STATE FROM CHESTER COUNTY, WHICH IS OUTSIDE OF PHILADELPHIA TO THE MIDDLE OF THE STATE 5 HOURS AWAY. AND IF YOU CAN IMAGINE THAT WITNESSES, LAWYERS, THE JUDGE, THE JURORS, EVERYBODY HAD TO BE MOVED AND SO IT WAS A PRETTY EXPENSIVE, AN INTENSE EXPERIENCE. THEY DON'T REALLY DO THAT VERY OFTEN TODAY. BUT IT WAS IT WAS IT WAS IT TOOK A LOT OF LOGISTICS, WORKING PEOPLE. LISTEN TO THIS PODCAST. PEOPLE CAN LISTEN TO IT ANYWHERE THEY GET THEIR PODCAST, APPLE, SPOTIFY AND OF COURSE ON WRAL DOT COM. JUST SEARCH PODCAST EPISODES. ONE IN 6 ARE AVAILABLE ANYWHERE. YOU GET THE RIGHT ONE THROUGH 6. THAT'S RIGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING

New 'The Killing Month' podcast episode drops Tuesday

Episode 5 of WRAL's new true crime podcast "The Killing Month August 1978" drops Tuesday. In this installment you will hear from a member of the gang, a snitch who went into witness protection and testified against them.

<p>YOU INJURED AT WORK? &gt;&gt; EPISODE 5 OF OUR NEW TRUE CRIME PODCAST, THE KILLING MONTH, AUGUST 1978, DROPS TODAY. AND THIS INSTALLMENT YOU'LL HEAR FROM A MEMBER OF A GANG, A SNITCH WHO WENT INTO WITNESS PROTECTION AND TESTIFIED AGAINST THEM. TAKE A LISTEN. &gt;&gt; THE THING THAT MADE ME WALK RATE WAS I DON'T WANT TO GET KILLED, AND I DIDN'T WANT TO GO TO JAIL WITH THEM FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE THAT THEY KILL ME SO I SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT I'VE BEEN THERE'S I'M NOT GOING TO JAIL FOR MURDER. SO HAVE AT IT. &gt;&gt; AND PODCAST HOST AMANDA LAMB JOINS US THIS MORNING. AMANDA, THIS IS CRAZY. THIS MAN REALLY PUT HIMSELF IN DANGER BY GOING AGAINST THE GANG AND TURNING ALL THAT. HOW DID YOU GET HIM TO TALK ABOUT IT? HE ABSOLUTELY DID MICHELLE AND BELIEVE IT OR NOT, HE'S NOT IN WITNESS PROTECTION ANYMORE, BUT HE STILL USES THE IDENTITY. THEY GAVE HIM SO WE USE THE NAME THAT HE HAD BEFORE HE WENT INTO WITNESS PROTECTION. JAMES GRIFFIN AND WE'RE NOT REVEALING HIS LOCATION. HE BECAME VERY CLOSE WITH ONE OF FBI AGENTS ON THE CASE AND THAT PERSON THAT INVESTIGATOR CONNECTED US WITH JAMES. AND WAS HE EVER SCARED OF THEM? YOU KNOW, HE WASN'T IN THE BEGINNING BECAUSE HE KNEW THEM SINCE SHE WAS A TEENAGER. HE GREW UP WITH THEM AND THEN EVENTUALLY WHEN WITNESSES STARTED TO DIE, HE SAID, WAIT A MINUTE, I'M MIGHT BE IN TROUBLE HERE. AND THERE WAS A MOMENT WHEN BRUCE JOHNSON ACTUALLY PUTS A LOADED SHOTGUN TO THE BACK OF HIS HEAD WHILE HE'S DRIVING A CAR AND SAYS BASICALLY I'M GOING TO KILL YOU IF YOU SNITCH ON US. OH, MY GOODNESS. WELL, AND I THINK A LOT OF QUESTION THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE MIGHT HAVE THIS QUESTION. WHERE IS HIS LIFE NOW? WHAT IS HE DOING? AND, YOU KNOW, WE DO WANT TO GIVE TOO MUCH AWAY BECAUSE, AGAIN, WE WANT TO PROTECT HIS PRIVACY, BUT HE'S DOING REALLY WELL. HE HAS A JOB HE'S LIVING IN ANOTHER STATE. HE HAS FAMILY AROUND HIM AND HE REALLY TURNED HIS LIFE AROUND AND THE FBI AGENT IS VERY PROUD OF HIM FOR WHAT HE DID. AND HE'S SUCH A CHARACTER. I THINK PEOPLE ARE REALLY GOING TO ENJOY THIS EPISODE. AND THERE'S EVEN A SURPRISE WEDDING AT THE COURTHOUSE WAS PART OF HIS STORY. ALL MY GOODNESS. I'M DEFINITELY LISTENING TO THIS. WHERE CAN PEOPLE GO TO YOU CAN LISTEN ANYWHERE. YOU GET YOUR PODCAST. YOU CAN ALSO GO ON WRAL DOT COM AND SEARCH PODCAST. OH, MY GOODNESS. DEFINITELY GIVE IT A LISTEN. THE KILLING MONTH. AMANDA LAMB,</p>

New episode drops in 'The Killing Month' podcast 

In episode 4 of The Killing Month podcast, a mass grave, young witnesses shot and buried

FAMILIES. >> ALL 4TH EPISODE OF OUR NEW SERIAL MURDER PODCAST DROPS TODAY. AND WHAT A FITTING INSTALLMENT FOR HALLOWEEN IN THIS EPISODE. YOU'LL HEAR HOW INVESTIGATORS DISCOVERED A MASS GRAVE ON THE GAME RESERVE PRESERVE OTHER IN RULE PENNSYLVANIA, WHERE YOUNG WITNESSES HAD BEEN SHOT >> YOUR FIRST THING WE HIT THE SHOVEL WAS A BLUE DENIM GRINDER I MEAN, WE'VE GOT SOME THE LITTLE SPOON YOU HEARD THAT THEY HAD TO ABANDON THE BIG EQUIPMENT AND DIG VERY CAREFULLY FOR LABELS AND SPENT ARCHAEOLOGIST OR SOMETHING JUST VERY CAREFULLY FINDING THE 3 BODIES. AND I THINK THERE WAS NOTHING TO RECOGNIZE ABOUT THEM, EXCEPT THE CLOTHING WAS STILL. >> JOINING US NOW TO BREAK THIS ALL DOWN, THIS REALLY CHILLY EPISODE IS OUR AMANDA LAMB AND THEN GREAT TO HAVE YOU BACK IN THE PROGRAM. WE SHOULD LET OUR VIEWERS KNOW THAT YOU VISITED THIS LOCATION A LITTLE A YEAR AGO JUST BEFORE HALLOWEEN. IT WASN'T. YEAH, WE DID PHOTOGRAPHER KEITH BAKER AND I WENT UP THERE TO DO INTERVIEWS IN PERSON BECAUSE THAT'S THE BEST WAY TO DO INTERVIEWS FOR A PODCAST. >> AND WE WANTED TO GO TO THESE LOCATIONS WHERE THESE HORRIBLE THINGS THAT HAPPEN SO THAT HE COULD GIVE US CONTEXT AND OUR LISTENERS CONTEXT. SO I LITERALLY WALKED THROUGH THE WOODS WITH THIS FORMER INVESTIGATOR. IT WAS LIKE OUT OF THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT MOVIE, YOU KNOW, PUSHING ASIDE THE OVERGROWTH THAT HAD, YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN 45 YEARS TO THIS AREA WHERE THIS MASS GRAVE WAS. AND, YOU KNOW, IT WAS CHILLING. IT WAS RIGHT BEFORE HALLOWEEN AND THAT WASN'T LOST ON ME. HERE WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WOODS TALKING ABOUT THIS MASS GRAVE. IT WAS IT WAS PRETTY SCARY. I WOULD IMAGINE. SO WITHOUT GIVING TOO MUCH AWAY. THESE BODIES WITH HIS COVID MUCH LATER AFTER INVESTIGATORS REALLY STARTED PUTTING THESE PIECES TOGETHER. YEAH, THEY HAD TURNED SOME SNITCH IS IF YOU WILL MADE THEM IN HIS STATE'S EVIDENCE. AND SO THEY WERE THE ONES THAT TOOK THEM TO THE GRAVE. BUT WHAT WAS REALLY CHILLING ABOUT THIS IS AT LEAST ONE OF THE PEOPLE IN THAT GRAVE THEY THINK WAS BURIED ALIVE. AND THEY ALSO SAY THAT ONE OF THE PEOPLE WAS RELATED TO THE SHOOTERS AND WE'LL FIND OUT YOU FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THAT. IF YOU LISTEN TO THE PODCAST, BUT THESE PEOPLE WERE WILLING TO KILL ANYONE. IF FAMILY DIDN'T MATTER IF THEY WERE GOING TO STAY OUT OF JAIL BY TAKING OUT A WITNESS, THEY WOULD DO. IT SAID IF THESE EVENT OR DOCUMENTED AS WE HAVE BEEN TO THINK THAT WHO ARE MOVIE SCRIPT, I MEAN, AND IT WASN'T MOVING, ACTUALLY WAS MADE INTO A MOVIE CALLED AT CLOSE RANGE WITH SEAN PENN AND CHRISTOPHER WALKING. BUT IT'S NEVER BEEN A PODCAST. AND THAT'S WHY WE DECIDED TO GO BACK AND MAKE IT INTO A PODCAST BECAUSE IT'S IT'S RIGHT FOR THIS GENRE. PEOPLE LOVE TRUE CRIME IN PODCASTING AND REALLY INTO THIS AREA REALLY REMAINS A MYSTERY AND ALLURE FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO STILL LIVE NEARBY. IT SURE DOES. THERE'S A ROAD THERE. THEY CALL IT DEVILS ROAD. AND THERE'S A FAMILY THAT OWNS THE FARM WHERE THIS THIS GRAVE WAS AND AROUND THE HOLIDAYS AROUND HALLOWEEN, SPECIFICALLY, THEY SAY CARS LINE UP DOWN THIS ROAD TO TAKE A PEEK AT THIS PROPERTY. SO 45 YEARS LATER, IT'S STILL DRAWING PEOPLE BECAUSE OF THESE STORIES IS FASCINATING IS CHILLING. TELL US WHERE WE CAN LISTEN TO THIS PODCAST IS WIDELY AVAILABLE. YOU CAN GO TO WRAL DOT COM AND SEARCH PODCAST OR YOU CAN LISTEN TO IT ANYWHERE YOU FIND PODCASTS. I'LL TELL YOU IT IS APPOINTMENT

The Killing Month: Like an archeologist, finding bodies

In the third episode of 'The Killing Month,' Amanda Lamb talks to a woman whose father was buried alive by the Johnston gang.

SOUL. >> WELL, THE 3RD EPISODE OF OUR NEW SERIAL MURDER PODCAST, THE KILLING MONTH, AUGUST 1978, WITH HOST AMANDA LAMB OF DROPS TODAY. AND IN TODAY'S EPISODE, YOU'LL HEAR FROM A WOMAN WHOSE FATHER WAS SHOT BY THE JOHNSTON GANG AND BURIED ALIVE. >> AND THEY WERE ABLE TO DETERMINE BECAUSE IN HIS LONG AS THERE WAS SOME YOU KNOW, THAT IS JUST THE MOST INHUMAN MILDLY HAVE ALSO TOLD THAT HE HAD DIRT UNDER HIS FINGERNAILS SHEEN. WE KNOW ABOUT THIS STUFF IN HIS LUNGS. AND SHE WAS TOLD THAT HE HAD DIRT UNDER HIS FINGERNAILS LIKE HE HAD TRIED TO DIG HIS WAY OUT EVIL FOR AS A KID, I DIDN'T KNOW THAT THEY ARE >> AND HOST AMANDA LAMB JOINS US NOW TO BREAK DOWN THIS EPISODE FOR US. I JUST EVERY WEEK WE HEAR THIS, IT GETS BETTER AND BETTER. >> THIS IS SO CHILLING. THIS STORY YOU KNOW, THIS WOMAN TALKING ABOUT THE DEATH OF HER FATHER, HOW OLD WAS SHE WHEN THIS HAPPENED? SO SHE WAS 3 YEARS OLD. MICHELLE AND SHE REMEMBERS THE JOHNSTON GANG LIKE FAMILY FRIENDS. I MEAN, THEY WOULD SHOULD GO OVER TO THEIR HOUSE. SHE WOULD PLAY WITH THEIR CHILDREN WITH THEIR DOGS. SHE DIDN'T LEARN THE DETAILS TOO MUCH LATER. BUT ONCE SHE DID LEARN THE DETAILS, I MEAN, THIS DEFINED HER LIFE. IT BECAME PART OF HER STORY. HER NARRATIVE. AND SHE SAYS SHE CAN NEVER FORGET IT. SHE LIVES IN THE SAME TOWN WHERE THIS HAPPENED. WHY DO YOU THINK SHE'S COMING OUT NOW? WHY SHE CHOOSING TO TALK ABOUT THIS NOW? SHE'S NEVER REALLY TALKED PUBLICLY ONLY TO FAMILY AND FRIENDS. BUT ONCE WE GOT IN TOUCH AND STARTED TALKING, IT WAS CLEAR THIS WAS CATHARTIC FOR HER. SHE WANTS PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT SHE DID LOVE HER FATHER, THAT HE DID HAVE CHILDREN WHO LOVED HIM. AND THAT'S WHY, YOU KNOW, SHE'S SPEAKING PUBLICLY AND THE DEATH WAS NOT PART OF THE KILLING SPREE OF AUGUST 1978. SO WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT TO THE STORY? YEAH, IT HAPPENED ABOUT A YEAR BEFORE AND THE REASON IT'S SO IMPORTANT IS BECAUSE THIS WAS THE CASE THAT ALLOWED PROSECUTORS AND INVESTIGATORS TO TURN THE SNITCH IS TO MAKE THEM INTO WITNESSES TO MAKE THEM INTO STATES WITNESSES SO THEY COULD TESTIFY AGAINST THE JOHNSTON GANG IN THESE MURDERS OF AUGUST 1978. 0, MY GOODNESS. WELL, I WANT TO HEAR MORE. A LOT OF PEOPLE WANT TO HEAR MORE. WHERE CAN THEY FIND THIS PODCAST? THIS PODCAST IS WIDELY AVAILABLE. SO ANYWHERE YOU GET YOUR PODCAST, APPLE, SPOTIFY, ANYWHERE YOU GET THEM. YOU CAN FIND THE KILLING MONTH. AUGUST

Witness tells of father buried alive by criminal gang

The Johnston gang

WRAL's Amanda Lamb tapped her law enforcement father to tell a the story of a family criminal enterprise's rise and fall.

LOT OF US OUT THERE. MICHELLE, I HOPE YOU'RE TAKING NOTES. I DEFINITELY WAS SOME TIPS THERE. THANK YOU, KEN. WELL, WE HAVE AN EXCITING NEWS, WRAL PODCAST TO SHARE WITH YOU THE KILLING MONTHS, AUGUST 1978. >> IS NOW AIRING ON ALL PODCAST PLATFORMS. THE FIRST 2 EPISODES ARE OUT RIGHT NOW. IT FEATURES THE KILLING SPREE OF A BAND OF COUNTRY OUTLAWS WHO WERE TRYING TO SILENCE WITNESSES WRAL'S AMANDA LAMB IS THE HOST AND SHE HAS A PERSONAL CONNECTION TO THE STORY. >> BACK IN 1978, BEHIND THE BEAUTIFUL ROLLING HILLS AND FARMLAND, THE DEFINED OF RURAL PENNSYLVANIA. >> SOMETHING EVIL WAS AFOOT IN THEIR 10 COMMANDMENTS. THERE WAS ONLY ONE AND THAT IS YOU DON'T READ US OUT OR WE'LL KILL YOU. YOU HAD ON THIS MATCH. AND IF YOU DID WELL, WE SEE THE RESULTS OF IF YOU DID 3 BROTHERS KNOWN AS THE JOHNSTON GANG WERE ANOINTED AS THE LEADERS OF THEIR FAMILIES, CRIME EMPIRE. FOR YEARS. THEY DELUDED CONVICTION OFTEN BY THREATENING WITNESSES. WE'RE WORSE THROUGH HER FOR SURVIVAL. THEY WOULD DO ANYTHING AND THEY DIDN'T CARE WHO THE HEAD AND KILLED THE SO ASTONISHING AND SO EXTREME. >> WHAT KIND OF PERSON CAN DO THAT ONCE YOU HAD ALL THE FACTS, IT WAS BELIEVABLE. BUT YOU HAD TO BELIEVE THE BASIC PREMISE, WHICH IS WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF THE FATHER IS OF THAT, HE WOULD KILL HIS OWN KIDS OF FOOD, KEEP HIM OUT OF JAIL AS A 13 YEAR-OLD GIRL. >> I GOT TO WATCH THE ENTIRE CASE UNFOLD BECAUSE MY FATHER WAS THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY WHO HANDLED THE INVESTIGATION. ALL OF THE MURDERS WERE RUTHLESS AND BRUTAL. THE JOHNSTONS SHOT AND BURIED YOUNG SNITCHES. >> ALIVE. HE HAD DIRT UNDER HIS FINGERNAILS LIKE HE HAD TRIED TO DIG HIS WAY OUT. I'M YOUR HOST AMANDA LAMB. AND THIS NEW PODCAST FROM WRAL. I WILL TAKE YOU ON A WILD RIDE TO THE SPOTS WHERE WITNESSES WERE SHOT. >> AND BODIES WERE BURIED. YOU'LL HEAR FROM THE PEOPLE WHO WERE THERE ARE EVIL, YOU'RE EVIL AND THAT CAN I DIDN'T KNOW IT, BUT THEY ARE EVIL. >> THIS STORY OF A FAMILY CRIME EMPIRE THAT CAME CRUMBLING DOWN WHEN THE BODIES STARTED PILING UP THIS IS THE KILLING MONTH. AUGUST 1978. >> WOW. AND AMANDA JOINS US RIGHT NOW TO TELL US HOW THIS PROJECT STARTED. AMANDA AND WHAT LISTENERS WILL HEAR THROUGHOUT ALL 8 EPISODES. I MEAN, I HAVE THE CHILLS. YEAH, I COULD NOT GET THIS OUT OF MY MIND. I WATCH THIS IS A CHILD WATCHED IT UNFOLD. WATCHED IT IN THE COURTROOM. HEARD MY DAD TALKING ABOUT IT AND IT JUST STUCK WITH ME, MICHELLE, ALL OF THESE YEARS. SO FOR 45 YEARS, IT'S KIND OF BEEN IN THE BACKGROUND, SOMETHING I WANTED TO WORK ON SHORE AND IT WAS HARD TO FIND PEOPLE WHO ARE STILL AROUND AND STILL ALIVE TO REMEMBER WHAT HAPPENED. YOU KNOW, WHAT WAS AMAZING IS MOST OF THESE PEOPLE ARE IN THEIR 70'S AND 80'S. THEY WENT ON TO HAVE STELLAR CAREERS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THE LEGAL SYSTEM. BUT THEY REALLY THIS CASE JUST MEANT SO MUCH TO THEM AND FINDING JUSTICE IN THIS CASE MEANT SO MUCH AND THEY REMEMBER THINGS INCREDIBLE, DETAILED AND THEY WERE SO GRACIOUS WITH THEIR TIME. WOW. I MEAN, YOU'RE A LONGTIME CRIME REPORTER. YOU HAVE COVERED SO MANY HIGH-PROFILE CRIMES HERE IN NORTH CAROLINA AND YOU HAVE THE PERSONAL CONNECTION TO THIS STORY. ASIDE FROM THAT, WHAT ALSO INTRIGUED YOU ABOUT THIS CASE? YOU KNOW, I THINK WHAT INTRIGUED ME WAS THE FACT THAT THESE OFFICERS AND THESE INVESTIGATORS HAD TO WORK WITH NO GPS, NO TEXT MESSAGES, NO SURVEILLANCE VIDEO. THEY HAD TO DO IT THE OLD-FASHIONED WAY. AND IN THIS CASE THEY HAD TO TURN SNITCH IS IN SOME CASES, PEOPLE WHO WERE ALSO MURDERERS TO TESTIFY AGAINST THIS GROUP OF BROTHERS BECAUSE IT WAS THE ONLY WAY TO CONVICT THEM. WOW. WELL, YOU CERTAINLY HAVE MY ATTENTION. I'M SURE YOU HAVE THE ATTENTION OF EVERYBODY WATCHING WHERE CAN PEOPLE GO TO FIND A POCKET? PEOPLE CAN FIND THE PODCAST ANYWHERE THAT THEY LISTEN TO PODCAST APPLE, SPOTIFY AND TODAY YOU CAN LISTEN TO EPISODE ONE 2 AND EACH WEEK WILL BE DROPPING A

True crime story a family story for WRAL's Amanda Lamb

Manhunt for Danelo Cavalcante is reminiscent of another moment in PA history - Norman Johnston's escape from a prison near Altoona, Pa., in August 1999.

Murderer's escape, manhunt brings back memories of a similar search for a notorious serial killer

WRAL's newest true crime podcast, "The Killing Month August 1978," tells the true story of a string of murders in Chester County, Pennsylvania, committed by the Johnston Gang. The 1986 movie "At Close Range, with Academy Award-winning actor Christopher Walken and rising stars Sean Penn and Mary Stuart Masterson was loosely based on the saga of the Johnston Gang.

How 'The Killing Month August 1978' differs from the movie 'At Close Range'

Bruce Johnston Sr.

WRAL's new true crime podcast, "The Killing Month August 1978," tells the tale of the violent and murderous Johnston Gang. It's a story about family, what the word "family" means and what happens when the traditional bonds of family are broken. 

True crime podcast: 'The Killing Month August 1978' tells the violent saga of the Johnston Gang

The Killing Month: August 1978

<p>Family life can be complicated but not for the Johnsons in their 10 commandments. There was only one and that is you don't rat us out or we'll kill you don't snitch. And if you did, well, we see the results of, if you did in the 1973 brothers were anointed as the leaders of their family's crime empire in rural Pennsylvania. For years, they diluted conviction often by threatening witnesses or worse for their survival, they would do it thing and they didn't care who they had to kill. It's so astonishing and so extreme. What kind of person can do that? Once you had all the facts, it was believable, but you had to believe the basic premise, which is what would happen if a father resolved that he would kill his own kids. If it would keep him out of jail. In August 1978 the Johnston brothers tried to eliminate members of their own gang, including their own family, including teenagers, all to protect the family business. I'm Amanda Lamb. My father was the D A who prosecuted the Johnstons trying to put a crime family behind bars had costs. Dad slept with a loaded gun next to his bed. My vivid memories as a 13 year old are of sitting in the courtroom watching him explain to the jury how many seconds it took a teenage girl to die and the gang put a bullet in her face. All the murders were ruthless and brutal. The Johnstons shot and buried young snitches alive. He had dirt under his fingernails like he had tried to dig his way out. They're evil. They're evil as a kid. I didn't know it but they are evil. The story of a family crime empire that came crumbling down when the bodies started piling up. This is the killing month, August 1978. You can listen to all episodes of the killing month. August 1978 exclusively on Wonder Plus. Join Wonder Plus in the Wonder App or on Apple podcasts.</p>