Willowbrook State School, Staten Island

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The original author talked about Willowbrook before, but its story is so shocking and sad that it bears repeating. In the '60s, Robert Kennedy toured Willowbrook and was appalled at its "zoo-like" conditions. But it wasn't until reporter Geraldo Rivera investigated Willowbrook and uncovered the truly terrible conditions that the asylum came under fire. Patients were left to wander around, often covered in their own urine and feces, and some were sexually assaulted by staff. You can watch Geraldo's Peabody Award-winning investigation here. Willowbrook lives on – it was partially the inspiration for American Horror Story: Asylum and may have housed the legendary killer Cropsey, who killed children and buried them near the Willowbrook property.

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