The Wrong Car: The Death of Lillie Belle Allen

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Summary: An Informed Review of William Keisling's
Review: This book elaborates on author (and self-publisher)William Keisling's theory of the events leading up to the murder of Lillie Belle Allen, a young black woman (and mother)who was killed by white racists during the 1969 Riots in York, Pennsylvania. Essentially, Mr. Keisling's theory is that York Police, fueled by anger over the shooting (and subsequent death) of a young white police officer, secretly aided white thugs in their attempt to ambush a car which they believed carried rival black gang members--but instead the car, which appeared identical to their alleged target--carried a black minister and his family who were vacationing from South Carolina. (The ambush of this innocent family by white thugs actually happened--the theory Mr. Keisling presents is that York Police helped to stage the ambush). It's an incredible theory. But because Mr. Keisling did not sufficiently "do his homework" before rushing to publish this book, his information regarding my family is wrong. First, he implies that my father, who was a York City Detective during the 1969 riots, was involved with the ambush. After traveling back to York to conduct my own investigation, I have obtained statements from over a dozen former police officers, witnesses, and gang-members that my father was not involved in any regard of this atrocity. The most convincing documented statement comes from a former city councilman (and attorney) who was riding in my father's cruiser car the night of this murder. What upsets me most about Keisling's implication of my father, is that being "a racist bigot" is the absolute last thing on earth my father would ever be. Next, Mr. Keisling states that "a man who was allowed to (smuggle) a shotgun out of the murder scene that night was probably the brother of York City Police Detective Wayne Ruppert." The problem here is that my father's brother had been dead for nearly 3 years when the riots occurred. Finally, he implies that I, Wayne Ruppert Jr, was involved in the ambush. The problem with this theory is I had just celebrated my 9th birthday when the murder occurred--need I say more? [...]. Overall, I agree wholeheartedly with Mr. Keisling's obvious contempt for racists and bigots, and I agree that justice for the murder of this young woman has been long overdue--and has yet to be fully served. I just wish he would have done his research thoroughly regarding my family. If he had bothered to do so, he would have discovered the truth about my father's well-established track record for being kind-hearted and treating ALL people fairly, and would have gained an ally (in me) in his crusade for justice. As it stands now, since I personally know how flawed his information is about my father, my uncle, and myself, I now question the accuracy of the rest of his book. Overall, it's an interesting read, and Mr. Keisling is a charismatic author--I just don't know how accurate he is.