The Las Vegas Massacre Connections: Finding Strength Through Tragedy After America's Deadliest Mass Shooting

On October 1, 2017, Mary Jo von Tillow’s world changed forever.
Her husband, Kurt, was killed in the Route 91 Harvest Festival mass shooting in Las Vegas, the deadliest in U.S. history. In just eleven minutes, her life—and the lives of thousands of others—were shattered.
But what followed was more than grief. Out of devastation came unexpected bonds with other survivors, advocates, and families who knew the same kind of loss. From a 9/11 firefighter who turned his pain into kindness, to a victims’ rights attorney who changed national law, to fellow widows and survivors who refused to give up, Mary Jo discovered what it means to carry tragedy together.
The Las Vegas Massacre Connections is both a deeply personal account and a collective portrait of resilience. Through Mark Gray’s in-depth reporting and Mary Jo’s courage to share her story, this book captures the enduring impact of Route 91 and the human strength that rises after unimaginable loss.