In the summer of 2003, a grim discovery was made in the quiet community of Kingston Township, Pennsylvania, when investigators unearthed a makeshift graveyard on a residential property. Among the remains of five individuals found buried were those of a 29-year-old man from New York City named Frank James, who was also known as 'Rudy.' The search of the property, which belonged to a man named Hugo Selenski, was initially prompted by a tip regarding the disappearance of a local pharmacist and his girlfriend. However, the scope of the investigation quickly broadened as more bodies were uncovered, revealing a far more sinister situation.
The investigation into the deaths led authorities to focus on Hugo Selenski, the 30-year-old resident of the home, and his associate, 33-year-old Patrick Russin. Police alleged that Selenski, with Russin present, had carried out the execution-style shooting of Frank James and another man, Adeiye Keiler. Investigators believed the motive for the killings was related to drugs and robbery, as both victims were identified as drug dealers. In October 2003, Selenski and Russin were arrested, and Selenski was charged with the murders of James and Keiler. The case took a dramatic turn when, just days after his arrest, Selenski managed to escape from the Luzerne County prison by using a rope made of bedsheets, though he turned himself in a few days later.
In February of 2006, Hugo Selenski stood trial for the murders of Frank James and Adeiye Keiler. During the trial, Patrick Russin testified against Selenski, detailing the slayings. However, despite Russin's testimony, the jury found Selenski not guilty of the murder charges. He was, however, convicted on charges of abusing the corpses of James and Keiler, as evidence showed that their bodies had been burned after they were killed. While he was acquitted of the murders of James and Keiler, Selenski was subsequently tried and convicted for the murders of the pharmacist, Michael Kerkowski, and his girlfriend, Tammy Fassett, whose bodies were also found on his property. For these crimes, Hugo Selenski was sentenced to life in prison, bringing a close to the disturbing case of the Kingston Township buried bodies.
