The Darkest Night: Two Sisters, a Brutal Murder, and the Loss of Innocence in a Small Town (Mass Market Paperback)

by Ron Franscell (Author)
Key Phrases: Ronald Kennedy, Ron Kennedy, Becky Thomson (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Heartbreaking…not unlike Truman Capote’s In Cold Blood.”  —Chicago Sun-Times

“This uncommon story has every chilling component of human terror, drama and suspense that readers of true crime look for… I highly recommend this engaging book.”  —Vincent Bugliosi, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Helter Skelter

"This is a very, very, good book... written by a very, very, good writer."  —Ann Rule, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Stranger Beside Me and Green River Running Red

"It will haunt you long after you've read it. A remarkable achievement."  —C.J. BOX, bestselling author of Free Fire and Blue Heaven and Wyoming native

"Stand[s] out from the legion of true-crime books. The author here was an affected bystander, not a neutral observer... In the end, [The Darkest Night] is too horrifying to try to explain." —Denver Post

Product Description

Casper, Wyoming:1973. Eleven-year-old Amy Burridge rides with her eighteen-year-old sister, Becky, to the grocery store. When they finish their shopping, Becky’s car gets a flat tire. Two men politely offer them a ride home. But they were anything but Good Samaritans. The girls would suffer unspeakable crimes at the hands of these men before being thrown from a bridge into the North Platte River. One miraculously survived. The other did not.

Years later, author and journalist Ron Franscell—who lived in Casper at the time of the crime, and was a friend to Amy and Becky—can’t forget Wyoming’s most shocking story of abduction, rape, and murder. Neither could Becky, the surviving sister. The two men who violated her and Amy were sentenced to life in prison, but the demons of her past kept haunting Becky…until she met her fate years later at the same bridge where she’d lost her sister.

See all Editorial Reviews

---

Product Details Mass Market Paperback: 320 pages Publisher: St. Martin's True Crime (March 4, 2008) Language: English ISBN-10: 0312948468 ISBN-13: 978-0312948467 Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.1 x 1 inches Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies) Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (39 customer reviews) Amazon.com Sales Rank: #3,282 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books) Popular in these categories: (What's this?) #4 in  Books > Health, Mind & Body > Mental Health > Abuse & Self Defense > Rape #14 in  Books > Nonfiction > True Accounts > Murder & Mayhem #24 in  Books > Nonfiction > True Accounts > True Crime

Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!

Search Inside This Book:

---

Inside This Book (learn more)

Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Ronald Kennedy, Ron Kennedy, Becky Thomson, Fremont Canyon Bridge, Jerry Jenkins, Amy Burridge, John the Hatter, John Ackerman, North Casper, Death Row, Supreme Court, Don Chapin, Sally Springs, Ronald Leroy Kennedy, Jack Burk, Casper Police Department, Wyoming State Penitentiary, Did Ronnie, Dave Lewis, Dave Dovala, San Francisco, Andrew Pixley, Center Street, Casper Mountain, North Platte River

Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!

Search Inside This Book:

---

What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

	75% buy the item featured on this page: The Darkest Night: Two Sisters, a Brutal Murder, and the Loss of Innocence in a Small Town 4.4 out of 5 stars (39) $6.99
	7% buy House of Evil: The Indiana Torture Slaying (St. Martin's True Crime Library) 3.5 out of 5 stars (18) $6.99
	7% buy Pure Murder (Pinnacle True Crime) 4.6 out of 5 stars (28) $6.99
	5% buy A Descent Into Hell: The True Story of an Altar Boy, a Cheerleader, and a Twisted Texas Murder 4.7 out of 5 stars (32) $7.99

Explore similar items

---

Tags Customers Associate with This Product  (What's this?) Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people. Check the boxes next to the tags you consider relevant or enter your own tags in the field below. true crime(55) murder(24) nonfiction(22) crime drama(17) survivor guilt(16) rape(14) wyoming(14) death penalty(12) book recommendations(9) justice(8) sisters(8) See all 34 tags... Your tags: Add your first tag

Search Products Tagged with   See most popular tags

Help others find this product — tag it for Amazon search

Ron Franscell, Author of 'The Darkest Night' suggested this product show on searches for "true crime". What do you suggest?

---

Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store

If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store. Learn more

---

 

Customer Reviews

39 Reviews 5 star:  (23) 4 star:  (11) 3 star:  (2) 2 star:  (2) 1 star:  (1)           Average Customer Review 4.4 out of 5 stars (39 customer reviews)		Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews 67 of 72 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars In the Spirit of Capote, March 4, 2008 By  Kenneth Blum (Orrville, Ohio USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)    Many of you may recall a groundbreaking book titled "In Cold Blood" by famed author Truman Capote. Written in the early 1960s, Mr. Capote claimed to introduce a new and compelling way of writing nonfiction, a technique he dubbed as the "nonfiction novel." Actually, the term was misleading because it seemed to imply that the writer is embellishing the truth with fabrications from his or her imagination. That wasn't true - every fact reported in the book was accurate. Instead, a better way to define the "nonfiction novel" is that is a factual account told in a way that uses the novelist's skills for constructing a story and adding vivid details. The term most definitely fits "The Darkest Night", Ron Franscell's haunting book about the small-town abduction of two sisters in 1973 (Mr. Franscell's neighbors and friends). The abduction culminated in a rape and murder at a bridge that spanned over a 110-foot gorge. Both girls were thrown from the bridge. One survived. The other was traumatized for the rest of her life. The effect of a crime this horrendous does not begin with the heinous deed, and end with a jury verdict. The sheer immensity is a mental infection that lasts for generations - in unspeakable torment for the victims and their families, in shock for a community, in macabre fascination and disgust for those who learn about the crime through the media. In a style similar to "In Cold Blood", Mr. Franscell captures, from start to finish (if there is ever a finish), this terrible saga. He went to enormous lengths to provide vivid and unforgettable narrative, from extensive interviews with one of the murderers, to spending a night under the bridge on the 30th anniversary of the crime. There's one important difference with Mr. Capote's book; in "The Darkest Night's" case, the author knew the victims. That heart-rending relationship to the story is evident throughout the book. The end will floor you. If it were fiction, no one would believe it could happen. 40 of 42 people found the following review helpful: 4.0 out of 5 stars THE DARKEST NIGHT INDEED..., June 8, 2008 By  Lawyeraau (Balmoral Castle) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)       In 1973 in Casper, Wyoming, the paths of two twenty something lowlifes, Ronald Kennedy and Jerry Jenkins, intersected with that of two half-sisters, eighteen year old Becky Thompson and eleven year old Amy Burridge. None of their lives would ever be the same again. Becky and Amy had just finished up some last minute grocery shopping at a local store, when they realized that they had a flat tire. Kennedy and Jenkins offered to help them and give them a ride home. Once they were in the car, however, it was clear that Becky and Amy were going to be taken to hell and back again. The upshot is that they were abducted and ultimately driven to the North Platte River where Amy was thrown from a bridge that spanned a gorge into the river over a hundred feet below. Becky was then raped by Kennedy and Jenkins, and then she, too, was thrown from the bridge into that same river and left for dead. The only difference is that she physically survived her ordeal and lived to tell the tale. The author divided the book into three parts. In the first part, the author takes great pains to describe the town and the people who played a part in the unfolding drama. He also paints a poignant portrait of the two girls who had been abducted and treated so cruelly by fate. He also describes the details of the events that led up to the crime, the crime itself, and its immediate aftermath. In the second part of the book, the focus is on the prosecution of the case. Again, the author gives much detail on the individuals who were going to be involved in the prosecution of the case, as well as those who were to be responsible for the defense of Kennedy and Jenkins. The author also gives details from the trial itself, in addition to the outcome. In the third part of the book, the author details what became of Becky Thompson and notes the impact that this singular event had on her life. He also details what happened to Jenkins and Kennedy. The reader also discovers what became of the families of the victims, the families of the defendants, and those who were involved in the trial process. He also includes portions of a memoir written by Kennedy, which the author expertly dissects and analyzes. This is, however, the Achilles heel in the book, as the self-serving drivel served up by Kennedy made this portion of the book drag somewhat. This case was big news when it happened, and it shook the town of Casper to its core. In fact, the author knew Becky and Amy, as they were his next door neighbors in Casper, Wyoming, where he grew up. He was a junior in high school at the time that the crime occurred, and he recalls the impact that the crime had on not only the community but on his family, as well. This personal connection explains the well-spring of deep sadness that resonates throughout this well-written book and speaks to the reader. Meticulous in his research, it is clear that for this author this book was a labor of love, as the author brings to life with his prose all those whose lives had been touched by this heinous crime. 19 of 19 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars An Excellent True Crime Book!, May 24, 2008 By  Sylviastel - See all my reviews    The author, Ron Francsell, was a boy himself when this brutal murder, rape, and abduction occurred in his picturesque hometown of Caspar, Wyoming in September 1973. I was in diapers then. His memories and research are first rate about Amy and Becky Burridge, two sisters, who go to the Thriftway market to pick up items for their mother. The author was wise not to change the names of anybody in the book. It's pretty brave of him. Their car has a flat tire that was just fixed and two men agreed to help them. The two men, Jerry Jenkins and Ronald Kennedy, were career criminals. They orchestrated the flat tire in order to abduct and rape the older sister. After hours of pure torture and torment by their abductors, they drive their victims to the Fremont Canyon Bridge where they send Amy and Becky to their sure deaths but one survives. The older sister would survive the harrowing ordeal but barely, traumatized for the rest of her life. Frightened and horrified, a couple rescue her and bring her to the hospital where she recounts the whole ordeal and night of torture. The whole town of Caspar, Wyoming has never fully recovered and the names of Jerry Jenkings and ROnald Kennedy sends chills down even the toughest of people.		Ad feedback   Most Recent Customer Reviews 4.0 out of 5 stars Truth always much stranger than fiction. Such a sad and deplorable story. I felt the author did a good job providing the reader w/all the pertinent facts. Read more Published 2 months ago by Laura Thomas 4.0 out of 5 stars hard to put down This book grabbed me from the beginning and carried me into Part 3, when it seemed to bog down in too much of Ronald Kennedy's self-serving writings. Read more Published 3 months ago by CountryRefuge 5.0 out of 5 stars Easy Read This book was an easy read and very informative at the same time. Some true crime tends to just go on endlessly with information about each officer etc. Read more Published 4 months ago by Timeless 5.0 out of 5 stars Lock all the doors while reading this one!!! Ron Franscell has certainly done his homework for this heart-wrenching true crime book! Oddly enough, I was out West a couple Summers ago and stopped at the Fremont Canyon... Read more Published 4 months ago by Paula Melton 5.0 out of 5 stars Are they related to Roberta Lee Streeter? Ron Franscell, newspaper journalist and True Crime writer par excellence, grew up in Casper, Wyoming, in the shadow of the horror he details in this well-deserved addition to my... Read more Published 5 months ago by TundraVision 5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic! I am in awe of this author and the story that he has told here. His heart is obviously in the telling of the story of these two girls, and you can tell this in every, single word... Read more Published 5 months ago by Irma Leanne Guy 5.0 out of 5 stars Horrifying ...... is this excellent book by Ron Franscell which takes you down this most unbelievable and horrifying of dark roads where and when two sisters found themselves, on a simple shopping... Read more Published 6 months ago by D. A. Ristow 4.0 out of 5 stars Sociopaths Among Us It is disturbing that sociopaths such as those depicted in this book actually walk among us. It is truly a tragedy and the extent to which Becky was scarred (physically,... Read more Published 6 months ago by ardnam 5.0 out of 5 stars The Darkest Night Great Book If you are much like I am, I love true stories. The Darkest Night is that book a really good page turner and the best part of it, it is a true story. Read more Published 6 months ago by Kelly Cook 1.0 out of 5 stars Book Very good book, although sad and disturbing. Received in great condition. Thank you! Published 8 months ago by R. Molitor Search Customer Reviews Only search this product's reviews

---

Customer Discussions

 Beta (What's this?)

New! See all customer communities, and bookmark your communities to keep track of them.

This product's forum (1 discussion)   Discussion Replies Latest Post Would you reccomend it for...? 1 August 2008 › See all discussions...   [Start the discussion] Start a new discussion Topic: First post: Receive e-mail when new posts are made Prompts for sign-in   [Cancel] Guidelines Active discussions in related forums   Discussion Replies Latest Post health What do you think of animal testing? 93 3 minutes ago health Is Spanking a lovable or harmful form of disipline? 4336 18 minutes ago health Knee Replacement 6 55 minutes ago health Michael Goldfied is a troll that is not a Phd or licensed professional in anything he discusses. All his responses are pure crap wrote to stroke his own agenda and ego. If you're tired of it .. sign here. 140 1 hour ago health From Our Community---to Michael Goldfield---Thank You for Stepping Past Our Fears, into Winds of Our Lies, to Uncover Truth for Our Own Health and Lives 44 2 hours ago true crime What is the best true crime book you have ever read? 211 2 days ago true crime Why do you read true crime? 92 3 days ago book recommendations 17yr old who hates reading 15 4 days ago

The True Crime community Latest activity 38 minutes ago 3,429 customers have contributed 3,070 products, 34 discussions and more... › Explore the community The Crime Drama community Latest activity 1 hour ago 5,830 customers have contributed 4,897 products, 437 lists & guides and more... › Explore the community The Book Recommendations community Latest activity 16 minutes ago 11,396 customers have contributed 11,406 products, 693 lists & guides and more... › Explore the community Related forums book recomme... (1 discussion) crime drama (3 discussions) health (542 discussions) true crime (34 discussions) Explore more › See all Customer Communities › Your communities

---

Product Information from the Amapedia Community

Beta (What's this?)

The Darkest Night: Two Sisters, a Brutal Murder, and the Loss of Innocence in a Small Town

Search for answers compels recounting of senseless crime in 'Darkest Night' By JANE MCBRIDE, The Beaumont Enterprise 03/02/2008 Ron Franscell, former Beaumont Enterprise managingeditor, ...

Author: Ron Franscell;  Edition: Reprint;  Number Of Pages: 320; ...

(Report this)

Created on Mar 14, 2008, last edited on Mar 14, 2008.

› Read More and Edit at Amapedia.com

---

Listmania!

Non-Fiction that did it for me . . .: A list by D. A. Ristow "books4me"   Great Non-Fiction reads (includes true crime): A list by V. Mulvaney   My precious: A list by Vedrana "Sadie W." Create a Listmania! list

Search Listmania!

---

So You'd Like to...

(r^5)-#4: A guide by H. Touhy   read true crime to become more knowledgeable?: A guide by Melody Davis   Understand the raw side of human nature?: A guide by Melody Davis Create a guide

Search Guides

---

Look for Similar Items by Category

• Books > 4-for-3 Books Store > Nonfiction > True Accounts > Murder & Mayhem
• Books > 4-for-3 Books Store > Nonfiction > True Accounts > True Crime
• Books > Health, Mind & Body > Mental Health > Abuse & Self Defense > Rape
• Books > Nonfiction > True Accounts > Murder & Mayhem
• Books > Nonfiction > True Accounts > True Crime

---

$15 Off Olay, Pantene, and More This July, enjoy an extra $15 off select skin and hair care from favorite brands such as Olay, Pantene, Secret, and Ivory. ›Shop this offer now

Best Books of 2008 Find our top 100 editors' picks as well as customers' favorites in dozens of categories in our Best Books of 2008 Store.

Dive into Summer Reading Don't even think about hitting the beach without browsing the books in our Summer Reading Store. Discover bestsellers, paperback picks, beach reads, and more terrific titles all summer long.

Best Books See our editors' picks and more of the best new books on our Best of the Month page.

Ad feedback

 

Feedback If you need help or have a question for Customer Service, contact us.  Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images? Is there any other feedback you would like to provide? Your comments can help make our site better for everyone. Please note that we are unable to respond directly to all feedback submitted via this form, but we'll ask you to sign in so we can contact you if needed.

Where's My Stuff? Track your recent orders. View or change your orders in Your Account. Shipping & Returns See our shipping rates & policies. See FREE shipping information. Return an item (here's our Returns Policy). Need Help? Forgot your password? Buy gift cards. Visit our Help department.

Your Recent History

  (What's this?)

You have no recently viewed items or searches. After viewing product detail pages or search results, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in. Look to the right column to find helpful suggestions for your shopping session.	Continue shopping: Top Sellers Free by Chris Anderson 3.5 out of 5 stars (15)$0.00 Paranoia by Joseph Finder 4.1 out of 5 stars (202)$0.00 My Soul to Lose by Rachel Vincent 3.6 out of 5 stars (5)$0.00 Glenn Beck's Common Sense by Glenn Beck 3.8 out of 5 stars (310)$6.59

Amazon.com Home  |   Directory of All Stores

International Sites:  Canada  |  United Kingdom  |  Germany  |  Japan  |  France  |  China

Business Programs: Sell on Amazon  |  Build an eCommerce Site  |  Advertise With Us  |  Developer Services  |  Self-Publish with Us

Help  |  View Cart  |  Your Account  |  1-Click Settings  |  Join Associates  |  Join Advantage

Careers at Amazon  |  Investor Relations  |  Press Releases  |  Corporate Responsibility

Conditions of Use | Privacy Notice © 1996-2009, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's True Crime (March 4, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312948468
• ISBN-13: 978-0312948467
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (39 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #3,282 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #4 in	Books > Health, Mind & Body > Mental Health > Abuse & Self Defense > Rape
  #14 in	Books > Nonfiction > True Accounts > Murder & Mayhem
  #24 in	Books > Nonfiction > True Accounts > True Crime

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

67 of 72 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars In the Spirit of Capote, March 4, 2008

By	Kenneth Blum (Orrville, Ohio USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Many of you may recall a groundbreaking book titled "In Cold Blood" by famed author Truman Capote.
Written in the early 1960s, Mr. Capote claimed to introduce a new and compelling way of writing nonfiction, a technique he dubbed as the "nonfiction novel."
Actually, the term was misleading because it seemed to imply that the writer is embellishing the truth with fabrications from his or her imagination. That wasn't true - every fact reported in the book was accurate.
Instead, a better way to define the "nonfiction novel" is that is a factual account told in a way that uses the novelist's skills for constructing a story and adding vivid details.
The term most definitely fits "The Darkest Night", Ron Franscell's haunting book about the small-town abduction of two sisters in 1973 (Mr. Franscell's neighbors and friends). The abduction culminated in a rape and murder at a bridge that spanned over a 110-foot gorge. Both girls were thrown from the bridge. One survived. The other was traumatized for the rest of her life.
The effect of a crime this horrendous does not begin with the heinous deed, and end with a jury verdict. The sheer immensity is a mental infection that lasts for generations - in unspeakable torment for the victims and their families, in shock for a community, in macabre fascination and disgust for those who learn about the crime through the media.
In a style similar to "In Cold Blood", Mr. Franscell captures, from start to finish (if there is ever a finish), this terrible saga. He went to enormous lengths to provide vivid and unforgettable narrative, from extensive interviews with one of the murderers, to spending a night under the bridge on the 30th anniversary of the crime.
There's one important difference with Mr. Capote's book; in "The Darkest Night's" case, the author knew the victims. That heart-rending relationship to the story is evident throughout the book.
The end will floor you. If it were fiction, no one would believe it could happen.

40 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars THE DARKEST NIGHT INDEED..., June 8, 2008

By	Lawyeraau (Balmoral Castle) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)

In 1973 in Casper, Wyoming, the paths of two twenty something lowlifes, Ronald Kennedy and Jerry Jenkins, intersected with that of two half-sisters, eighteen year old Becky Thompson and eleven year old Amy Burridge. None of their lives would ever be the same again. Becky and Amy had just finished up some last minute grocery shopping at a local store, when they realized that they had a flat tire. Kennedy and Jenkins offered to help them and give them a ride home.

Once they were in the car, however, it was clear that Becky and Amy were going to be taken to hell and back again. The upshot is that they were abducted and ultimately driven to the North Platte River where Amy was thrown from a bridge that spanned a gorge into the river over a hundred feet below. Becky was then raped by Kennedy and Jenkins, and then she, too, was thrown from the bridge into that same river and left for dead. The only difference is that she physically survived her ordeal and lived to tell the tale.

The author divided the book into three parts. In the first part, the author takes great pains to describe the town and the people who played a part in the unfolding drama. He also paints a poignant portrait of the two girls who had been abducted and treated so cruelly by fate. He also describes the details of the events that led up to the crime, the crime itself, and its immediate aftermath.

In the second part of the book, the focus is on the prosecution of the case. Again, the author gives much detail on the individuals who were going to be involved in the prosecution of the case, as well as those who were to be responsible for the defense of Kennedy and Jenkins. The author also gives details from the trial itself, in addition to the outcome.

In the third part of the book, the author details what became of Becky Thompson and notes the impact that this singular event had on her life. He also details what happened to Jenkins and Kennedy. The reader also discovers what became of the families of the victims, the families of the defendants, and those who were involved in the trial process. He also includes portions of a memoir written by Kennedy, which the author expertly dissects and analyzes. This is, however, the Achilles heel in the book, as the self-serving drivel served up by Kennedy made this portion of the book drag somewhat.

This case was big news when it happened, and it shook the town of Casper to its core. In fact, the author knew Becky and Amy, as they were his next door neighbors in Casper, Wyoming, where he grew up. He was a junior in high school at the time that the crime occurred, and he recalls the impact that the crime had on not only the community but on his family, as well. This personal connection explains the well-spring of deep sadness that resonates throughout this well-written book and speaks to the reader. Meticulous in his research, it is clear that for this author this book was a labor of love, as the author brings to life with his prose all those whose lives had been touched by this heinous crime.

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Excellent True Crime Book!, May 24, 2008

By	Sylviastel - See all my reviews

The author, Ron Francsell, was a boy himself when this brutal murder, rape, and abduction occurred in his picturesque hometown of Caspar, Wyoming in September 1973. I was in diapers then. His memories and research are first rate about Amy and Becky Burridge, two sisters, who go to the Thriftway market to pick up items for their mother. The author was wise not to change the names of anybody in the book. It's pretty brave of him. Their car has a flat tire that was just fixed and two men agreed to help them. The two men, Jerry Jenkins and Ronald Kennedy, were career criminals. They orchestrated the flat tire in order to abduct and rape the older sister. After hours of pure torture and torment by their abductors, they drive their victims to the Fremont Canyon Bridge where they send Amy and Becky to their sure deaths but one survives. The older sister would survive the harrowing ordeal but barely, traumatized for the rest of her life. Frightened and horrified, a couple rescue her and bring her to the hospital where she recounts the whole ordeal and night of torture. The whole town of Caspar, Wyoming has never fully recovered and the names of Jerry Jenkings and ROnald Kennedy sends chills down even the toughest of people.