WILKES-BARRE, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — It's one of the largest mass murders in the history of the nation and ranks as the number one mass killing in Pennsylvania. George Banks from Wilkes-Barre killed 13 people in 1982.
Despite the passage of 43 years, the crime is still talked about in northeastern Pennsylvania and beyond, and it's now the focus of a 2822Now App podcast.
The I-Team's Andy Mehalshick covered the murderous rampage.
The name George Banks still haunts many in our region. He killed 13 people, including 7 children.
We will take a closer look at the case in a 'mehalshick files" podcast exclusive.
On September 25, 1982, George Banks went on a shooting rampage in Wilkes-Barre and Jenkins Township, then held police at bay for several hours, finally surrendering.
Banks shot and killed eight people inside a home on Schoolhouse Lane in wilkes-barre.
He shot two men who just happened to be walking down the street.
One of those men died, and he shot four other people at a home in Jenkins Township.
He was the father of five of the children he murdered; among the adults were girlfriends and the mothers of his children.
Current Luzerne County District Attorney Sam Sanguedolce says even after the passage of 43 years, the Bank's case is still studied by prosecutors and police.
PennDOT workers got lost in tunnel during inspection
"I think the level of horror seen in this case took everybody by storm was the real loss of the innocence of Luzerne County, to think that women and children, murdered to such an extent. I mean, the violence in this case to lose 13 people in a span of 24 hours is something I think the people of Luzerne County were ready for," Sanguedolce explained.
We also talked with former TV reporters Dave Decosmo and Mark Davis.
The 2822Now App is available on Roku, Amazon Fire, and Apple TV.
Despite the passage of 43 years, the case still haunts many in the area.
The Banks massacre is now the focus of a podcast on the 2822Now App. The I-Team's Andy Mehalshick talks with prosecutors and reporters who covered the case.
Andy reports live on 28/22 News.
