Ep 2. Gangland Graveyard

"Secrets of the Dead" is a popular PBS documentary series that takes viewers on riveting journeys throughout history, often using cutting-edge technology and state-of-the-art forensic techniques to uncover new insights about events and people of the past. The show's fifth season, episode 2, titled "Gangland Graveyard," dramatizes the harrowing tale of a brutal massacre that occurred in 1929 in a small Italian-American neighborhood on the outskirts of New York City.

In the early hours of April 15, 1929, five gangsters-turned-police informants were kidnapped from a diner in Brooklyn by members of notorious mob boss Salvatore Maranzano's gang. The informants were then transported to a remote stretch of land in nearby Staten Island, where they were brutally murdered by a gang of hitmen wielding axes and guns. The incident became known as the "St. Valentine's Day Massacre of the East."

Despite decades of speculation and investigation, the exact location of the burial site had remained a mystery for years - until recent advances in ground-penetrating radar technology allowed a team of archaeologists to stumble upon a potential gangland graveyard. But the real challenge remained: determining whether or not the site was linked to the infamous 1929 massacre.

In this episode, viewers get a front-row seat to the meticulous and often suspenseful excavation process as archaeologists carefully comb through the site of the massacre. Guided by experts in forensic anthropology, ballistics, and criminal sociology, the team works tirelessly to uncover vital clues and piece together the gruesome events of that fateful night. Along the way, they encounter chilling discoveries that help shed light on the twisted world of organized crime in early 20th century America.

Through interviews with experts and specialists who have studied the Maranzano or the New York City mob scene, the episode also delves into the deeper issues surrounding the history and legacy of organized crime in America. With its thrilling blend of investigative journalism, cutting-edge forensic science, and expert analysis, "Gangland Graveyard" is a gripping and informative episode that will keep viewers on the edge of their seats from start to finish.