R&L Logo R&L Logo
  • GENERAL
    • Browse by Subjects
    • New Releases
    • Coming Soon
    • Chases's Calendar
  • ACADEMIC
    • Textbooks
    • Browse by Course
    • Instructor's Copies
    • Monographs & Research
    • Reference
  • PROFESSIONAL
    • Education
    • Intelligence & Security
    • Library Services
    • Business & Leadership
    • Museum Studies
    • Music
    • Pastoral Resources
    • Psychotherapy
  • FREUD SET
Cover Image
Hardback
Paperback
eBook
share of facebook share on twitter
Add to GoodReads

The Freach and Keen Murders

The True Story of the Crime That Shocked and Changed a Community Forever

Kathleen P. Munley and Paul R. Mazzoni

In November 1973, William J. Wright, a former patient and trustee of the Farview State Hospital for the Criminally Insane, brutally murdered two teenage boys, Edmund Keen and Paul Freach, in Lackawanna County, a region that took great pride in not only its history, but its reputation as a friendly, family-oriented, safe place to live. It was a place where families could leave their doors unlocked, and be confident about allowing their children to play and explore outdoors. Yet all that would change in an instant. The brutal murders of these two boys forever altered the way people thought of this region and the safe neighborhoods they had come to take for granted.

Kathleen P. Munley and Paul R. Mazzoni tell a story of unbelief, anger, and fear, but also courage and fortitude. They delve deep into the Commonwealth v. William J. Wright trial, looking inside the investigation, the trial, and how the public was impacted by this unthinkable crime.

In captivating detail, the authors weave together the events of this devastating crime and remind us that, even in the pleasant light of day, evil can and does exist, and one must always be on guard.
  • Details
  • Details
  • Author
  • Author
  • TOC
  • TOC
  • Reviews
  • Reviews
Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
Pages: 336 • Trim: 6½ x 9¼
978-1-4422-4579-2 • Hardback • May 2015 • $56.00 • (£43.00)
978-0-8108-9608-6 • Paperback • November 2017 • $38.00 • (£30.00)
978-1-4422-4580-8 • eBook • May 2015 • $36.00 • (£30.00)
Subjects: True Crime / Murder / General, Law / Criminal LAW / Sentencing, Law / Legal History, True Crime / General
Kathleen P. Munley, PhD, is a local historian and longtime professor of history at Marywood University, Scranton, Pennsylvania, where she teaches a variety of courses on American history and served on many elected and appointed academic committees. She developed and directed a legal studies program at the university that included an American Bar Association–approved legal assistant major. A lifelong resident of the region, Munley has been associated with many local community organizations and volunteer activities.

Paul R. Mazzoni, JD, has been a practicing attorney in Lackawanna County for over fifty-two years and served the county as its district attorney for two terms, from 1970 to 1978. As district attorney, Mazzoni was the chief prosecutor in the Commonwealth v. William J. Wright. Mazzoni continues to practice law with the firm Mazzoni, Karam, Petorak, and Valvano in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Mazzoni is a longstanding member and former president of the Lackawanna Bar Association and a member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association. Active in community life in the region, Mazzoni was appointed by President Dwight D. Eisenhower to serve as director of the Census for the Tenth Congressional District.
Introduction
Prologue
1: The Missing Boys
2: Investigation and a Camper’s Discovery
3: Who Murdered Paul Freach and Edmund Keen?
4: The Murderer
5: Who is William J. Wright?
6: The Investigation Concludes
7: Preliminary Hearing
8: Preparing for the Trial
9: Trial – September 12, 1974
10: Trial – October 16, 1974
11: Trial – December 12, 1974
12: Aftermaths
A terrifying trip inside an American nightmare.
— Michael Benson, author of The Devil at Genesee Junction


Drawing upon their historical and legal expertise, the authors have presented, in plain language and granular detail, the tragic tale of a horrible crime that deserves wider notice and attention.
— Michael Flamm, Professor of History, Ohio Wesleyan University


A spellbinding must read for true crime enthusiasts! It is a strong warning to the evil monsters that exist in our society today, and how a teen killer can slip through the cracks and prey on the innocents of our society. This is a tragic example of the great importance bestowed upon us to teach safety and awareness to families and children, which has been my mission for thirty plus years. I recommend this book to law enforcement, parents, and anyone who comes into contact with troubled youth. A MUST READ!
— Phil Chalmers, author of Inside the Mind of a Teen Killer; featured on the LMN Network show Killer Kids


When two teenage boys, Edmund Keen and Paul Freach, didn’t make it home after leaving school on November 1, 1973, the town of Scranton, Pa., was forever changed, assert local historian Munley and attorney Mazzoni. Though William Wright was eventually caught and successfully convicted of murdering Freach and Keen due to Mazzoni’s efforts as chief prosecutor. . . .the ensuing fear has remained. Here, the authors recount the early days of the investigation—the countless interviews with friends and relatives, the FBI bulletins, and the grim search for remains, as well as the tremendous stroke of luck that led authorities to Wright. . . .The authors delve into the minutiae of the investigation, culminating in an epic recounting of Wright’s trial.
— Publishers Weekly


The Freach and Keen Murders

The True Story of the Crime That Shocked and Changed a Community Forever

Cover Image
Hardback
Paperback
eBook
Summary
Summary
  • In November 1973, William J. Wright, a former patient and trustee of the Farview State Hospital for the Criminally Insane, brutally murdered two teenage boys, Edmund Keen and Paul Freach, in Lackawanna County, a region that took great pride in not only its history, but its reputation as a friendly, family-oriented, safe place to live. It was a place where families could leave their doors unlocked, and be confident about allowing their children to play and explore outdoors. Yet all that would change in an instant. The brutal murders of these two boys forever altered the way people thought of this region and the safe neighborhoods they had come to take for granted.

    Kathleen P. Munley and Paul R. Mazzoni tell a story of unbelief, anger, and fear, but also courage and fortitude. They delve deep into the Commonwealth v. William J. Wright trial, looking inside the investigation, the trial, and how the public was impacted by this unthinkable crime.

    In captivating detail, the authors weave together the events of this devastating crime and remind us that, even in the pleasant light of day, evil can and does exist, and one must always be on guard.
Details
Details
  • Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
    Pages: 336 • Trim: 6½ x 9¼
    978-1-4422-4579-2 • Hardback • May 2015 • $56.00 • (£43.00)
    978-0-8108-9608-6 • Paperback • November 2017 • $38.00 • (£30.00)
    978-1-4422-4580-8 • eBook • May 2015 • $36.00 • (£30.00)
    Subjects: True Crime / Murder / General, Law / Criminal LAW / Sentencing, Law / Legal History, True Crime / General
Author
Author
  • Kathleen P. Munley, PhD, is a local historian and longtime professor of history at Marywood University, Scranton, Pennsylvania, where she teaches a variety of courses on American history and served on many elected and appointed academic committees. She developed and directed a legal studies program at the university that included an American Bar Association–approved legal assistant major. A lifelong resident of the region, Munley has been associated with many local community organizations and volunteer activities.

    Paul R. Mazzoni, JD, has been a practicing attorney in Lackawanna County for over fifty-two years and served the county as its district attorney for two terms, from 1970 to 1978. As district attorney, Mazzoni was the chief prosecutor in the Commonwealth v. William J. Wright. Mazzoni continues to practice law with the firm Mazzoni, Karam, Petorak, and Valvano in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Mazzoni is a longstanding member and former president of the Lackawanna Bar Association and a member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association. Active in community life in the region, Mazzoni was appointed by President Dwight D. Eisenhower to serve as director of the Census for the Tenth Congressional District.
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
  • Introduction
    Prologue
    1: The Missing Boys
    2: Investigation and a Camper’s Discovery
    3: Who Murdered Paul Freach and Edmund Keen?
    4: The Murderer
    5: Who is William J. Wright?
    6: The Investigation Concludes
    7: Preliminary Hearing
    8: Preparing for the Trial
    9: Trial – September 12, 1974
    10: Trial – October 16, 1974
    11: Trial – December 12, 1974
    12: Aftermaths
Reviews
Reviews
  • A terrifying trip inside an American nightmare.
    — Michael Benson, author of The Devil at Genesee Junction


    Drawing upon their historical and legal expertise, the authors have presented, in plain language and granular detail, the tragic tale of a horrible crime that deserves wider notice and attention.
    — Michael Flamm, Professor of History, Ohio Wesleyan University


    A spellbinding must read for true crime enthusiasts! It is a strong warning to the evil monsters that exist in our society today, and how a teen killer can slip through the cracks and prey on the innocents of our society. This is a tragic example of the great importance bestowed upon us to teach safety and awareness to families and children, which has been my mission for thirty plus years. I recommend this book to law enforcement, parents, and anyone who comes into contact with troubled youth. A MUST READ!
    — Phil Chalmers, author of Inside the Mind of a Teen Killer; featured on the LMN Network show Killer Kids


    When two teenage boys, Edmund Keen and Paul Freach, didn’t make it home after leaving school on November 1, 1973, the town of Scranton, Pa., was forever changed, assert local historian Munley and attorney Mazzoni. Though William Wright was eventually caught and successfully convicted of murdering Freach and Keen due to Mazzoni’s efforts as chief prosecutor. . . .the ensuing fear has remained. Here, the authors recount the early days of the investigation—the countless interviews with friends and relatives, the FBI bulletins, and the grim search for remains, as well as the tremendous stroke of luck that led authorities to Wright. . . .The authors delve into the minutiae of the investigation, culminating in an epic recounting of Wright’s trial.
    — Publishers Weekly


ALSO AVAILABLE

  • Cover image for the book Medication, Mental Illness, and Murder: What Really Killed the Crespi Twins
  • Cover image for the book The Berman Murders: Unraveling the Mojave Desert's Most Mysterious Unsolved Crime
  • Cover image for the book The Devil in My Friend: The Inside Story of a Malibu Murder
  • Cover image for the book Butterfly in the Rain: The 1927 Abduction and Murder of Marion Parker
  • Cover image for the book Broken Scales: Race and the Crisis of Justice in a Divided America
  • Cover image for the book The Allure of Premeditated Murder: Why Some People Plan to Kill
  • Cover image for the book Jesuit Assassinations
  • Cover image for the book The Unspeakable Crimes of Dr. Petiot
  • Cover image for the book The Great Pictorial History of World Crime, 2 Volumes
  • Cover image for the book Medication, Mental Illness, and Murder: What Really Killed the Crespi Twins
  • Cover image for the book The Berman Murders: Unraveling the Mojave Desert's Most Mysterious Unsolved Crime
  • Cover image for the book The Devil in My Friend: The Inside Story of a Malibu Murder
  • Cover image for the book Butterfly in the Rain: The 1927 Abduction and Murder of Marion Parker
  • Cover image for the book Broken Scales: Race and the Crisis of Justice in a Divided America
  • Cover image for the book The Allure of Premeditated Murder: Why Some People Plan to Kill
  • Cover image for the book Jesuit Assassinations
  • Cover image for the book The Unspeakable Crimes of Dr. Petiot
  • Cover image for the book The Great Pictorial History of World Crime, 2 Volumes
facebook icon twitter icon instagram icon linked in icon NEWSLETTERS
ABOUT US
  • Mission Statement
  • Employment
  • Privacy
  • Accessibility Statement
CONTACT
  • Company Directory
  • Publicity and Media Queries
  • Rights and Permissions
  • Textbook Resource Center
AUTHOR RESOURCES
  • Royalty Contact
  • Production Guidelines
  • Manuscript Submissions
ORDERING INFORMATION
  • Rowman & Littlefield
  • National Book Network
  • Ingram Publisher Services UK
  • Special Sales
  • International Sales
  • eBook Partners
  • Digital Catalogs
IMPRINTS
  • Rowman & Littlefield
  • Lexington Books
  • Hamilton Books
  • Applause Books
  • Amadeus Press
  • Backbeat Books
  • Bernan
  • Hal Leonard Books
  • Limelight Editions
  • Co-Publishing Partners
  • Globe Pequot
  • Down East Books
  • Falcon Guides
  • Gooseberry Patch
  • Lyons Press
  • Muddy Boots
  • Pineapple Press
  • TwoDot Books
  • Stackpole Books
PARTNERS
  • American Alliance of Museums
  • American Association for State and Local History
  • Brookings Institution Press
  • Center for Strategic & International Studies
  • Council on Foreign Relations
  • Fairleigh Dickinson University Press
  • Fortress Press
  • The Foundation for Critical Thinking
  • Lehigh University Press
  • United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
  • Other Partners...