CHICAGO, July 22 (UPI) -- John Dillinger was killed 70 years ago Thursday outside Chicago's Biograph Theater, and a new book says the gangster's girlfriend lured him to his death.
"John Dillinger -- The Life and Death of America's First Celebrity Criminal" is the work of author Dary Matera, who spent 50 years researching the villain and revealing new facts about the notorious criminal's life, Chicago Sun-Times reported Thursday.
"This book both enhances and corrects what really happened to Dillinger. It turns out the truth is better than fiction," Matera said.
Through interviews with witnesses and combing newsreels and published articles, Matera discovered many details of Dillinger's life, including the fact his last girlfriend, Polly Hamilton, was bait to lure him into a death trap.
Hamilton reportedly was a dead ringer for Dillinger's beloved Billie Frechette, who was serving time in prison for aiding and abetting.
Matera also discovered East Chicago, Ind., police helped Dillinger escape the Crown Point jail. In return, Dillinger arranged, and may have committed, the assassination of a rival police detective.
