Town file
Kingston Township, Pennsylvania
Kingston Township, Pennsylvania (Luzerne County, Pennsylvania) is the town in one episode of Small Town Murder, the comedy true-crime podcast: episode 585, "Serial Killer's Secret Graveyard" (3 April 2025). Michael Jason Kerkowski Jr. grew up in the Back Mountain area of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, in a middle-class family.
- Town
- Kingston Township
- County
- Luzerne County
- State
- Pennsylvania
- Country
- USA
- Episodes
- 585
- Approximate location
- 41.265, -75.887
Episode 585 / 3 April 2025 / 179 min / full
Serial Killer's Secret Graveyard
"We're going to Kingston Township, Pennsylvania, about a half hour outside of Scranton, in Luzerne County." about 0:04:32
The case: Murder of Michael Kerkowski and Tammy Fassett (May 2002); Murders of Frank James and Adaya Keillor (May 2003); Disappearance of Felicia Thomas (June 2004). Read the case file.
The figures, as told in 2025
- Population
- 7,076
- Median age
- about 48
- Median household income
- $75,285 a year
- Median home value
- $181,000
- Two-bedroom rent
- $1,030 a month
- Cost of living
- $80.6
- Property crime
- ▼ less than half the national average
- Violent crime
- ▼ about one-third under
History, in brief
- Kingston Township was one of the original townships formed by the Susquehanna Land Company of Connecticut in 1790. about 0:06:25
- It was named after Kingston, Rhode Island, and was originally called King's Town. about 0:06:34
- The township was later downsized when whole regions were stripped away to form new municipalities. about 0:06:42
- Its motto is the gateway to the Back Mountain. about 0:06:09
The reviews read out
4 stars
"In the largest part a great place to grow up and settle down, though those in between may find it too slow-paced and quiet."about 0:06:50
4 stars
"Right down the road, just rebuilt and up to date, visited almost every day because it carries every essential needed."about 0:07:19
3 stars
"Not many opportunities; the people who live here are all very wealthy but there are few options for the up-and-coming generations."about 0:08:03
Nearest Small Town Murder towns
- Ross Township, Pennsylvania38 miles
- Weisenberg Township, Pennsylvania47 miles
- Easton, Pennsylvania53 miles
- Sunbury, Pennsylvania55 miles
- Wantage Township, New Jersey65 miles
- Franklin, New Jersey68 miles
Everything here is as told in the episode, on the date it went out; figures and places may have changed since. Endings are covered: open an episode and use the spoiler switch to read them.