The History of George Banks, The 1982 shooting of his family in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania

How many times have we heard about mass shootings in the news and we say to ourselves what is going on in today’s society to want these people to commit these crimes? I bet many of us have said this many times.

Wilkes-Barre, PennsylvaniaPhoto byAbout Wilkes-Barre PA

It appears it happens more frequently these days, however it’s really nothing new. It has happened many times in the past. In fact, I’m going to take you back in time. So far back in time that I was only 13-years-old when this happened.

It’s the second worst familicide case in the history of the United States and it all happened in 1982 in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. What is a familicide case you might be asking yourself? It’s when a murder or murder-suicide happens when an individual kills multiple close family members in succession very quickly. It’s most often children, spouses, siblings, grandparents, or parents.

Wilkes-Barre Pennsylvania

Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania has the nickname “The diamond City” because of the coal reserve discovery in the 19th century, which led to the economy flourishing. During the city’s reign as an industrial and economic force, several companies held their headquarters there, such as Bell Telephone, HBO, and Stegmaier.

The city sits beside Scranton, PA. And, we all know what Scranton is famous for, although in recent years from 2005 to 2013, which ran for 9 seasons, “The Office.”

Wilkes-Barre was settled in early 1769. It’s nestled in the middle of nowhere, however somewhat rundown now. When I pass through the area, I always think to myself there’s nothing here but these two cities. What do these people do? In all honesty, when I looked at the city’s website and things to do, I really found nothing.

About George Emil Banks

George Emil Banks - after the first day of his murder trial in 1983Photo byTimes Leader

George Emil Banks was born on June 22, 1942, in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. His parents are John Mack, who was black, and Mary Yelland, who was white. George’s parents were not married.

Because George was biracial and he was growing up in the 40s and 50s, he endured a lot of bullying and abuse from other kids. He was called names and had things threw at him.

Later, when George became 19-years-old he joined the military so he could leave Wilkes-Barre, however he received a discharge in 1961, because he didn’t follow orders from higher-ranking officers. Upon returning to Wilkes-Barre, he discovered that factories were closing down, leaving him with only low-paying job options.

After coming back from the military and no longer having a government paycheck, he resorted to robbing a tavern with two other accomplices in Scranton, Pennsylvania. During the robbery, they shot the tavern’s co-owner, that was unarmed.

George Banks received 6 to 15 years for robbery and injuring the owner by shooting him in the chest. His time was being served at the State Correctional Institution in Graterford, Pennsylvania.

Even though George received an extended sentence for escaping from authorities while on farm detail, they granted him parole. On March 28, 1969, he would be free after serving only 7 years of his time.

After George got out of prison, he got married to Doris Jones on August 23rd, 1969, according to Luzerne County Court records. They had two daughters named Myrna and Daphne.

He eventually got hired by the Bureau of Water Quality’s regional Wilkes-Barre office in 1972, after working many jobs that were not paying well. Things were looking up for George, so well that his days on parole ended in 1974.

But George was unfaithful to Doris throughout their marriage, which resulted in ongoing arguments. Doris eventually found out about a pregnancy between George and one of his girlfriends, which led her to taking their daughters to Ohio. He filed for divorce on October 28th, 1976.

He later bought a house at 28 Schoolhouse Lane. This is when he began living a life with multiple girlfriends in one house and had many children.

The Events of The Spree Murder

On September 25, 1982, George Banks, drunk on gin and taking an array of prescription pills, took the lives of 13 people. But the victims weren’t strangers, they were people he knew, his so called “loved ones.”

Five of them were his own children. Can you even imagine what draws an individual to a point of taking their own children’s lives?

The carnage didn’t stop there. The total number of children murdered were 7 with 6 adults. What could’ve possibly been so horrible for someone to want to murder their family?

In the evening prior to the murders on September 24, 1982, George went to a birthday party, with Dorothy and Regina, who were 2 of his current girlfriends, where he seemed to have a great time. He was drinking beer and playing darts. However, he was obsessed with a girl’s t-shirt that said “Kill Them All and Let God Sort It Out.”

George liked the t-shirt so much he asked the girl if she would switch shirts with him? She agreed, however he was also upset about not having custody of his son and was letting everyone know how he felt about it.

He went home and changed into army fatigues and had the t-shirt on underneath the fatigues.

The next morning on the 25th is when it all began. Dorothy was still at the party, so George called her to let her know he was planning to go away to the mountains and needed his AR-15. He asked her if she and Regina would pick it up at Dorothy’s sister’s house on the way home. Unfortunately, they did as George requested.

Dorothy and Regina returned to the home they shared with George where Susan was as well. She stayed home to watch the children that evening. All girlfriends of George Emil Banks, who lived at 28 Schoolhouse Lane.

It was 1:30 am and George having some mental health issues, thinking his family was the target of racial issues, stood up and committed the unthinkable. He grabbed his AR-15 and loaded it, beginning to shoot his family one by one in the house.

After he finished murdering everyone at the Schoolhouse Lane address and shooting 2 individuals outside the house, he drove to 109 South Main Street in Pittston, Pennsylvania, with his rifle beside him. He did this in a stolen car. His mission there was to murder his former girlfriend, with whom he was in a custody battle with over their son.

Once he finished murdering everyone, he felt he completed his mission and saved his family from having to deal with race issues. He left the 109 South Main Street address by pointing the rifle at a guy’s head to steal his vehicle and drove around the streets of Wilkes-Barre.

After falling asleep on the ground until around 5:30 am, he woke up, and he headed to his mom’s house at 98 Metcalf Street and told her what he had done. Mary called the house at Schoolhouse Lane and the Chief County Detective Jim Zardecki answered the phone. That’s when she knew everything had really happened.

George then had his mom drive him to a building at 24 Monroe Street that a friend owns and rents. He knew it was currently vacant. When George’s mom returned to her home, law enforcement was waiting for her to arrive and she gave them George’s location.

George knew it was to either die at the hands of law enforcement or surrender and he choose the latter. Unfortunately for his victims, they did not receive the same choice.

Below I have listed the victims, the ones that were murdered, and those who have survived.

Victims of The Murder

Sharon Mazzillo - 24-years-old - She was a former girlfriend who was in a custody battle with George at the time of the murders over their son, Kissmayu Banks. Murdered by a gunshot wound to the chest.

Kissmayu Banks - 5-years-old - He’s the son of Sharon Mazzillo and George Banks. Murdered by a gunshot wound to the face.

Scott Mazzillo - 7-years-old - Scott is the nephew of Sharon Mazillo. Scott was kicked and hit with the rifle butt, then murdered with a gunshot wound to the face.

Alice Mazzillo - 47-years-old - She’s the mother of Sharon Mazzillo. Murdered by being shot in the face. She was on the phone with the police at the time she was shot.

Regina Clemens - 29-years-old - She was a current girlfriend of George. Murdered by a gunshot wound to the face.

Montanzima Banks - 6-years-old - She’s the daughter of Regina Clemens and George Banks. Murdered by a gunshot wound to the heart.

Susan Yuhas - 23-years-old - She was a current girlfriend of George and the sister of Regina Clemens. Murdered by a gunshot wound to the head.

Boende Banks - 4-years-old - He’s the son of Susan Yuhas and George Banks. Murdered by a gunshot would to the face.

Mauritania Banks - 20-months-old - She’s the daughter of Susan Yuhas and George Banks. Murdered by a gunshot wound to the face.

Dorothy Lyons - 29-years-old - She was a current girlfriend of George Banks. Murdered by a gunshot wound to the face.

Nancy Lyons - 11-years-old - She was the daughter of Dorothy Lyons. - Murdered by a gunshot wound to the head.

Foraroude Banks - 1-year-old - He was the son of Dorothy Lyons and George Banks. Murdered by a gunshot wound to the head.

Raymond F. Hall Jr. - 24-years-old - Someone who was attending a party across the street. When George came out of the house to go to the 109 South Main Street address, he encountered 2 men across the street. One was Raymond. Murdered by a gunshot wound to the liver and the kidney.

Survivors of the Event

Keith Mazzillo - 13-years-old - He hid in a closet where his grandmother was in the same area in the room. She was in the bedroom trying to protect him and Angelo. Unfortunately, he witnessed his grandmother being murdered by George.

Angelo Mazzillo - 10-years-old - Angelo hid under a bed in the same room where his grandmother Alice was murdered. Unfortunately, he witnessed his grandmother being murdered by George.

James Olsen - 22-years-old - He survived a gun-shot wound to the chest. He was the other man with Raymond outside across the street.

Unidentified man that George had stolen a car from.

Where is George Banks?

State Correctional Institute - SCI-GraterfordPhoto byPA Dept of Corrections

After committing the second worst familicide case in the history of the United States, George Emil Banks age 81-years-old was imprisoned at Graterford State Prison until 2018 when it closed. It housed the state’s worst criminals who sat on death row. He is now imprisoned at State Correctional Institution SCI Phoenix, which replaced SCI Graterford on the same grounds.

The location of SCI Phoenix is in Skippack Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania and has a Collegeville address. It’s just outside Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The reason the prison is so close to Philadelphia and has a large bed population of 3,830 is because it’s thought most prisoners would be from the Philadelphia metropolitan area. It is one of two prisons that houses Pennsylvania’s death row inmates, like George Emil Banks.

Additional Information

I did not mention this, but the state hired George as a prison guard at the Camp Hill State Prison outside Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. I live close to Harrisburg and have all my life even as a 13-year-old, so I asked my mom and aunt if they heard of this while I was writing this article. Just as I figured, they did not.

I said, “Do you know why?” They replied, “Why?” I said, “It’s really a simple reason. It’s how information reaches us today.” They said, “You are so correct.” Now keep in mind my mom and aunt are older. Notice I said older, not old. I would never say old. It’s the new young today at 76-years-old.

This goes to show you how many people know mass murderers or spree murderers existed way before we hear of them today. They existed before George Banks. In fact, the first mass murderer was Howard Unruh from Camden, New Jersey who committed his crime in downtown Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on Labor Day in 1949. Amazing, the first mass murder right here in Pennsylvania. Who would’ve guessed that one?

Timeline

September 1982 - George is fired at Camp Hill State Prison as a Correctional Officer. He is evaluated for mental-health issues.

September 25, 1982 - George commits the murders

March 1983 - A 3 day hearing takes place that states George is mentally competent to stand trial.

June 6, 1983 - The trial begins in Luzerne County Courthouse, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. George testifies and said he only wounded some victims and the police killed all the other ones.

June 21, 1983 - George’s attorneys argue he’s insane, however the jury finds him guilty.

June 22, 1983 - The jury recommends the death penalty.

November 1985 - After county appeals are exhausted, a judge formally rules on the death penalty.

February 1987 - State Supreme Court upholds all verdicts in the case against George Banks.

October 1987 - United States Supreme Court declines to take on the case.

February 1996 - Governor Tom Ridge signs George’s death warrant. George later receives a stay of execution.

August 1997 - An appeal is argued before the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.

March 1999 - Governor Ridge signs another death warrant, and a federal judge issues another stay.

October 2001 - The Third Circuit reverses the death sentences based on the wording.

May 2002 - Prison officials receive a court order to force-feed George. He went on a food strike and refused to eat or drink for over 16 days.

June 2002 - United States Supreme Court sends the case back to the Third Circuit that upholds its previous ruling in George’s favor.

October 2004 - Governor Ed Rendell signs George’s death warrant

December 1, 2004 - United States Supreme Court halts the execution and orders a county judge to rule whether George is mentally competent.

Comments Regarding This Article

The reason I wrote about a mass murder case is because a follower contacted me through my website contact form and asked me if I would please write about cases like this. The interesting thing is I know a lot about cases involving strange murders, mass murders, murder/suicides, etc. Why I don’t know?

It’s not as though I seek them out. I think it’s because I know people who work in the industry who are reporters on this very subject, so I know what happens, however to go back in time, I do not, so this was a challenging research project for me, but I will say it took a lot of time.

If you have a case you would like me to write about let me know by contacting me through my contact page on my website and I will look into it. Maybe the next story I write about will be one you suggest.

Thank you for reading this article!

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I’m a missing persons advocate, write about cold cases and various subjects such as: health issues and other Pennsylvania topics.