Ep 4. Main Line Massacre

In Homicide City Season 1 Episode 4, "Main Line Massacre," the focus is on a tragic event that unfolded on the Main Line of Philadelphia. In the summer of 1976, six members of the Peterson family were brutally murdered in their home, sending shock waves through the community.

The episode begins with a reconstruction of the crime scene, as investigators walk through the Peterson's house and try to piece together what happened. The Petersons were a wealthy family, living in a mansion in an affluent suburb of Philadelphia. Their home was typically secure, with locked doors and windows, but on this particular night, someone gained entry and murdered them all.

Detectives on the case immediately suspected that the crime was not random. The Petersons were not known to have any enemies, but they had recently made a large donation to the Democratic Party. This gave rise to the theory that the murders may have been politically motivated.

The investigation led detectives down many different paths, but it was the discovery of a diary that ultimately led to a break in the case. The diary belonged to the Peterson's daughter, Susie, who had been away at college at the time of the murders. In its pages, Susie had written about a troubled young man named Richard Kuklinski, whom she had met while home on break.

Kuklinski was known to the authorities as a contract killer, and he had a reputation for being one of the most dangerous men in the city. The detectives were able to track him down and bring him in for questioning. Kuklinski initially denied having anything to do with the murders, but eventually he confessed to being the mastermind behind the Main Line Massacre.

Kuklinski explained that he had been hired by a local politician to carry out the hit on the Petersons. He had been promised a large sum of money and had been told that the murders would be blamed on a rival politician. Kuklinski had thought that he would be able to get away with the crime, but a small mistake had led to his downfall.

The episode goes on to explore Kuklinski's life and career as a contract killer, and the toll that it took on him and his family. Kuklinski was eventually convicted of the Peterson murders and many others, and he died in prison in 2006.

Overall, Homicide City Season 1 Episode 4 is a gripping exploration of a shocking crime and its aftermath. The episode provides insight into the investigation process and the toll that violent crime can take on a community.