{"product_id":"the-torch-murders-the-brutal-slaying-of-four-teens-in-rural-michigan-9781467158756","title":"The Torch Murders: The Brutal Slaying of Four Teens in Rural Michigan","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe murders that shocked Michigan \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn the early morning of Tuesday, August 11, 1931, a Washtenaw County farmer found the smoldering remains of a car. Inside were the bodies of four teens, burned almost beyond recognition. Police immediately began an investigation, even tapping Harry Bennett, head of the Ford Motor Company Service Department, for assistance. Three killers stood trial two days later as a mob gathered outside the Ann Arbor Courthouse clamoring for a lynching. With the mob held back by the Michigan National Guard, Bennett delivered the killers to Jackson Prison by midnight Thursday. At the time, the so-called Torch Murders were deemed the most gruesome act of homicide in Michigan's history--and perhaps the nation's. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePeeling away myth from truth, author James Mann tells the story in full for the first time ever.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eJames Thomas Mann is a local historian in Ypsilanti, Michigan, and is the author of ten published books on local history. His works include \u003cem\u003eWicked Washtenaw County\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eWicked Ann Arbor\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eWicked Ypsilanti\u003c\/em\u003e. His most recent work is \u003cem\u003eMurder \u0026amp; Mayhem in Washtenaw County\u003c\/em\u003e. He is also a frequent contributor to the \u003cem\u003eYpsilanti Gleanings\u003c\/em\u003e, a publication of the Ypsilanti Historical Society. Mann is the host of the Highland Cemetery Lantern Tours every October.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"History Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51635438158098,"sku":"9781467158756","price":17.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_8ff58a03-5bea-475b-8d2d-252cdb4dfa55.jpg?v=1759235883","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/the-torch-murders-the-brutal-slaying-of-four-teens-in-rural-michigan-9781467158756","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}