The Darkest Night cover art

The Darkest Night

Two Sisters, a Brutal Murder, and the Loss of Innocence in a Small Town

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The Darkest Night

By: Ron Franscell
Narrated by: Rob Shapiro
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About this listen

Casper, Wyoming: 1973. Eleven-year-old Amy Burridge rides with her 18-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. Yet 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 - a childhood friend and next-door neighbor to the girls - can't forget his hometown's shocking story of abduction, rape, and murder. Exploring the nature of a small town's memory and the poison of survivor guilt, The Darkest Night races toward a shocking ending. The result is one of the most provocative true-crime stories of the decade, told by one of the nation's finest narrative journalists.

©2007 Ron Franscell (P)2015 Tantor Abductions, Kidnapping & Missing Persons Crime Murder True Crime Disappearance

Critic Reviews

"This uncommon story has every chilling component of human terror, drama and suspense that readers of true crime look for." (Vincent Bugliosi, author of Helter Skelter)
All stars
Most relevant  
One of the saddest stories I’ve read.
Beautifully written and narrated this story is more than a story. If you are a true crime enthusiast you will be impressed by the authorship and how this story leaves you feeling on the journey it takes you on.
RIP Amy and Becky

Highly recommend

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A well told although horrifically tragic story, there were several times the story brought me tears. The perpetrators of crime have no conception of the ripple effect of their actions.

A heartrending story

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