Chasson's Run: The Prison Break That Captivated America And the Love Story That Fueled It

“Sorry folks, but I gotta go.”

CHASSON’S RUN: The Prison Break That Captivated America And The Love Story That Fueled It is a gripping true crime tale that will leave you on the edge of your seat. On September 6, 1982, convicted murderer Leroy James Chasson made a daring break for freedom from the Massachusetts Correctional Institute-Walpole—one of the most infamous, escape-proof prisons in the country. But this wasn't just any prison break. It was a meticulously planned, five-year effort, made possible by an unlikely accomplice—Kathleen MacDonald, Chasson's former pen-pal turned wife.

In this riveting account, true crime author Daniel Zimmerman (SHOTS IN THE DARK) brings the shocking escape to life, detailing how Chasson, wounded and bleeding from self-inflicted wounds was first transferred to a hospital for treatment. Then, using a .45 automatic smuggled to him by his wife who was disguised as a nurse, took hospital guards and staff hostage, before fleeing under a hail of gunfire.

Dubbed the "Bonnie and Clyde" of Massachusetts, the couple’s daring run across the country captivated the nation and they would evade capture for years. Living under assumed identities, they nearly made it—until a tip from America's Most Wanted led to their eventual capture in 1989.

In CHASSON’S RUN, Zimmerman creates a true crime masterpiece. A story of passion, crime, and a love that defied the law.

Daniel Zimmerman, the author of the action-packed saga Shots in the Dark, has added a highly anticipated second book to his True Crime resume. In Chasson's Run, Zimmerman chronicles the notorious escape of convicted killer Leroy James Chasson from Massachusetts Walpole State Prison. Armed with equal parts ingenuity, guile and a .45 automatic, Chasson took flight from a hospital ER with his accomplice wife at his side, leading authorities on a seven-year pursuit.As a former Emergency Medical Technician, working for the ambulance firm tasked with treating and transporting prison inmates, Zimmerman had direct access to a number of first-hand eyewitness accounts of the escape.When he's not working area ice rinks and sidelines writing sports for local newspapers, Zimmerman enjoys travel and spending time with his two grandchildren. He lives on the North Shore of Boston with his wife of forty years.