Bruce Johnston Pennsylvania

Status: Incarcerated

Bruce Johnston is a serial killer in the United States, that is still living. He killed in the state of Pennsylvania. He was sentenced to 6 life sentences.

According to Wiki, Bruce Alfred Johnston Sr. (March 27, 1939 – August 8, 2002) was the leader of one of the most notorious gangs in the history of Pennsylvania, U.S. The gang started in the 1960s and was rounded up in 1978 after his son, Bruce Jr., testified against him. The 1986 film At Close Range is based loosely on Johnston's gang.

Bruce Johnston may be included even though they do not technically meet the requirements for two or more killings in more then one event. Spree shooters, mass killers, and organized crime leaders may be included due to the volume or savagery of their crimes. 

His appeal includes:

The testimony at trial established that the petitioner [Norman Johnston] together with his two brothers, David K. Johnston and Bruce Johnston, Sr., successfully operated a burglary “ring” in Chester County, Pennsylvania, in association with Richard Mitchell, Leslie Dale, Roy Myers and James Griffin. The gang also included a group of teenagers, called the “Kiddie Gang,” who primarily stole lawn tractors. Bruce Johnston, Jr., son of Bruce Johnston, Sr., James “Jimmy” Johnston, Dwayne Lincoln, James Sampson and Wayne Sampson were members of this juvenile gang.

In the spring of 1978, Bruce Johnston, Jr. (“Bruce, Jr.”) began dating Robin Miller, then fifteen years of age, who encouraged Bruce, Jr. to abandon his life of crime. In June, 1978, Bruce, Jr. was arrested for the theft of a pickup truck and incarcerated. Robin wrote to Bruce, Jr. nearly every day. In one of her letters to Bruce, Jr., Robin informed him that Bruce Johnston, Sr. and James Sampson had raped her. Seeking revenge, Bruce, Jr. contacted law enforcement authorities and volunteered to testify against his father, Bruce Johnston, Sr., and others in the “gang”, including David Johnston and the petitioner. (N.T. 2/11/80, 493–96).

Victims

Victims include:

• James "Jimmy" Johnston (18) half brother to Bruce Jr. — murdered August 16, 1978
• Dwayne Lincoln (17) — murdered August 16, 1978
• Wayne Sampson (20) — murdered August 16, 1978
• James Sampson (24) — murdered August 21, 1978
• Robin Miller (15, girlfriend of Bruce Johnston Jr.) — murdered August 30, 1978
• Bruce Johnston Jr. (19) - critically injured during an attempted murder - August 30, 1978

You can write to Bruce Johnston at:

Smart Communications/PADOC

Bruce Johnston LF5788

SCI Chester

PO Box 33028

St Petersburg, FL 33733

You may also be able to contact them via Jpay.com, be sure to have their ID number on hand.

Try Amazon Prime 30-Day Free Trial

Videos are included when possible. Victim name links are to memorials or grave sites, while links on the killer's names are to their full appeal or articles that are of particular interest. If you are familiar with this inmate or the victim or the victim's family, feel free to comment below. Comments will not be censored (unless they are spam)

Can't get enough true crime? Check out Evil Lives Here for even more crime stories...