Births
Jim Jones
1869 – Herbert Rowse Armstrong – was a British solicitor and convicted murderer. He was born in 1869 in the town of Clearwell in Gloucestershire, England. He studied law at the University of Birmingham and later set up his practice in the town of Hay-on-Wye. Armstrong’s life took a dark turn in 1921 when he was charged with the murder of his wife, Catherine, who died after ingesting arsenic. During his trial, it was revealed that Armstrong had also poisoned a fellow solicitor, Oswald Martin, who had previously accused him of stealing money from a client. Martin survived the poisoning, but Armstrong was convicted of his attempted murder as well as the murder of his wife. Armstrong was sentenced to death and hanged in 1922, becoming the first solicitor in England to be executed for murder. The case attracted widespread media attention at the time and has since been the subject of books, television shows, and films. Despite the overwhelming evidence against him, Armstrong maintained his innocence until his death. Some have speculated that he may have been the victim of a miscarriage of justice, but this remains a controversial topic to this day. Regardless, the case of Herbert Rowse Armstrong continues to fascinate and intrigue people over a century later.
1931 – Jim Jones – Jones was an American cult leader who founded the Peoples’ Temple in the 1950s. He was born in Indiana in 1931 and grew up in a tumultuous household, where his father was an alcoholic and his parents frequently fought. Jones became interested in religion at a young age and was particularly drawn to the social justice teachings of the Bible. Jones established the Peoples Temple in the 1950s, and it grew rapidly over the next two decades, attracting a diverse group of followers. He preached a message of racial and social equality and attracted a large number of African American members. In the 1970s, Jones moved the Peoples Temple to Guyana in South America, where he established a compound known as Jonestown. The Peoples Temple came under increasing scrutiny in the 1970s, with reports of abuse, financial mismanagement, and other questionable practices. In 1978, a delegation of concerned relatives of Peoples Temple members visited Jonestown, and Jones ordered their murder. In response, he then ordered the mass suicide of his followers, which resulted in the deaths of over 900 people, including children. The events at Jonestown became one of the most notorious mass killings in history and shocked the world. The tragedy led to a renewed focus on cults and their leaders and prompted greater regulation of religious organizations in the United States. Jim Jones remains a controversial figure, with some viewing him as a charismatic leader who drew in followers with his message of social justice, while others see him as a manipulative cult leader who used fear and coercion to control his followers. Regardless, the legacy of Jonestown and the Peoples Temple continues to be felt to this day.
1943 – Donald Jay Beardslee – was an American convicted murderer who spent over 20 years on death row before being executed in 2005. He was born in California in 1943 and had a troubled upbringing, which included physical and emotional abuse. Beardslee’s criminal record began in his teens and included multiple convictions for robbery and assault. In 1981, he was convicted of the brutal murder of two young women in California and was sentenced to death. He spent over two decades on death row, during which time he maintained his innocence and appealed his sentence multiple times. Beardslee’s case became a cause célèbre for anti-death penalty activists, who argued that he had been wrongfully convicted and sentenced to death. They pointed to alleged flaws in the prosecution’s case and argued that Beardslee had not received a fair trial. However, despite these efforts, Beardslee’s appeals were denied, and he was executed by lethal injection in 2005. The controversy surrounding Beardslee’s case continues to this day, with some still arguing that he was innocent and wrongly put to death. However, others maintain that he was a violent criminal who received a fair trial and was justly punished for his crimes. Donald Jay Beardslee’s life and death highlight the complex and divisive nature of the death penalty and its place in American society. His case is one of many that have raised questions about the fairness and effectiveness of capital punishment, and it continues to be studied and debated by legal scholars and activists alike.
1946 – Waneta Hoyt – also known as Waneta Holt, was an American woman who gained notoriety for the murder of her five children. She was born in 1946 in New York State and married Tim Hoyt in 1963. The couple had five children, all of whom died before the age of two. Waneta was initially suspected of suffocating her first child, but the case was dismissed due to lack of evidence. Over the next several years, four more of her children died, all from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Waneta was later found to have been responsible for the deaths, having smothered each child to death. In 1994, after years of suspicion, Waneta confessed to the murders and was convicted of second-degree murder in the deaths of her three youngest children. She was sentenced to 75 years in prison and died of natural causes while still incarcerated in 1998. The case of Waneta Hoyt drew significant attention at the time and has since been studied by medical professionals and researchers studying SIDS. The case highlighted the difficulties in diagnosing and treating SIDS and raised questions about the role of medical professionals in detecting cases of child abuse.
1952 – Nancy Ann Seamen – is an American woman who gained notoriety for the murder of her husband in 2004. She was born and raised in Michigan and worked as a high school English teacher before retiring in 2003. In May 2004, Nancy’s husband, Robert Seaman, was found dead in the garage of their home in Farmington Hills, Michigan. He had been bludgeoned to death with a hatchet, and Nancy was arrested and charged with his murder. During her trial, Nancy claimed that she had killed her husband in self-defense, alleging that he had been abusive towards her for many years. She also stated that she had been suffering from depression and anxiety at the time of the murder. Despite her defense, Nancy was found guilty of second-degree murder and sentenced to 20-40 years in prison. She has since maintained her innocence and has appealed her conviction multiple times, arguing that the trial was unfair and that new evidence has emerged that could exonerate her. The case of Nancy Ann Seaman drew significant attention at the time and has since been the subject of numerous books, documentaries, and news articles. Her case highlights the complexities of domestic violence and the challenges faced by victims of abuse, as well as the difficulties in determining guilt or innocence in cases of murder.
1968 – James Lee Clark – An intellectually disabled American who was convicted of capital murder after he and his friend James Brown killed Jesus Garza and they both took part in the rape, robbery, and murder of 17-year-old Catherine Crews. Clark was sentenced to death which was massively controversial due to a US Supreme Court ruling that stated the execution of intellectually disabled people would be classed as cruel and unusual punishment. Nevertheless, on the 11th of April 2007 at the age of 38, Clark was executed at the Huntsville unit in Texas.
1969 – Angelica Vazquez – In a moment of complete madness or possibly a psychotic break Vazquez murdered her 44-year-old husband, Marcelo, and their two children, 18-year-old Alejandro and 21-year-old Paulina. After taking the lives of her husband and children Vazquez then turned the gun on herself, despite investigations no motive has ever been found.
1970 – Richard Tipton – Tipton along with his associates was involved in a major drug trafficking ring and between January and February 1992, Tipton and co wiped out 8 people, these people were either competitors of Tiptons or he believed that people from within his organization were plotting against him and so they were dealt with.
1977 – Demetrius Wayne Smith – An American man who had a previous record for possession for which he received a 5-year sentence. He had been dating Tammie White for a short period but White had decided she no longer wanted the relationship, so ended it. On 24th March 2005, Smith went to White’s home and when he saw her he shot her three times at close range killing her instantly, White’s 11-year-old daughter Kristina had witnessed her mother’s murder and ran from the house, Smith ran after her and when he had closed in he shot her as well.
1977 – Edward Brian Capetillo – At the time of his crime, Capetillo was a 17-year-old juvenile, Capetillo and a small group of friends went to the home of 19-year-old Matthew Vickers intending to sell him a scale and a gun, for reasons unknown Vickers decided to renege on the sale and Capetillo immediately shot him in the head and back. Vicker’s 20-year-old girlfriend Kimberly Williamson witnessed this and Capetillo shot her but his gun jammed and she ran, Capetillo then grabbed a rifle and chased Williamson throughout the house and shot her 3 times execution style.
1979 – Sid Ahmed Rezala – was a French serial killer who was born in Algeria on May 13, 1979. He moved to France with his family in 1994, when he was 15 years old. Rezala had a troubled childhood. He was described as a shy and withdrawn child who was often bullied by his peers. He also had a history of behavioral problems, including truancy and petty crime. In early 1995, Rezala was arrested for the rape of a 14-year-old boy. He was sentenced to four years in prison but was released after 18 months. After his release from prison, Rezala began living a transient lifestyle. He traveled around France, often riding trains without paying. He also became involved in drug use and petty theft. In October 1999, Rezala began a series of murders that would come to be known as the “Train Murders.” His victims were all young women, and they were all killed in or near train stations. The first victim was 21-year-old Marie-Christine Hoarau. She was found strangled to death in a train station bathroom in Marseille on October 15, 1999. The second victim was 19-year-old Isabelle Mesnage. She was found strangled to death in a train station bathroom in Paris on November 2, 1999. The third victim was 22-year-old Christelle Blétry. She was found strangled to death in a train station bathroom in Lyon on December 13, 1999. Rezala was eventually caught in Portugal on January 10, 2000. He confessed to the murders to a reporter from the Figaro Magazine. Rezala was extradited to France, but he committed suicide on June 28, 2000, before he could stand trial. He died of asphyxiation after he intentionally set fire to the mattress in his cell. Rezala’s murders caused widespread fear and panic in France. He was dubbed the “Killer of the Trains” because of his modus operandi of targeting young women in train stations. Rezala’s case remains a mystery. His motives for the murders are unknown, and there is no clear explanation for his sudden suicide.
Deaths
Mickey Spillane
1806 – Polly Barclay – In December 1905, Polly Barclay shot and killed her husband, several motives have been floated but the more popular one is that Polly wanted to be with her lover. On Friday the 13th of May 1906, Barclay became the first white woman to be hung in Georgia when she was executed.
1977 – Michael J. Spillane – also known as Mickey Spillane, was a notable figure in the world of organized crime. Born on July 13, 1933, in Hell’s Kitchen, Manhattan, New York City, Spillane was an Irish-American mobster who controlled Hell’s Kitchen in the 1960s and 1970s. Known as the “Gentleman Gangster”, Spillane was a marked contrast to the violent Westies mob members who succeeded him in Hell’s Kitchen. He started his criminal career as a numbers runner for various organized crime figures in Hell’s Kitchen. In 1960, he took over the rackets left to him by his predecessor Hughie Mulligan. Despite his criminal activities, Spillane was known for his gentlemanly demeanor, which earned him his nickname. He passed away on May 13, 1977, leaving behind a legacy that continues to be remembered in the annals of organized crime history.
1997 – Anthony Ray Westley – was born on July 18, 1960. He had an education level up to the 8th grade and worked as a laborer. On April 13, 1984, Westley, along with two accomplices, was involved in a robbery at a bait shop in northeast Harris County, Texas. The store owner, Chester Frank Hall, interrupted the robbery and a gunfight ensued. Both Hall and one of the accomplices were killed in the incident. Westley was arrested the next day and was convicted for the murder of Chester Frank Hall. He was executed by lethal injection in Texas on May 13, 1997. His last statement was, “I want you to know that I did not kill anyone. I love you all.”. Two lives were destroyed and two lives wasted, all for $75!
2005 – Michael Bruce Ross – was an American serial killer known as the “Roadside Strangler” for a series of murders he committed in Connecticut and New York during the 1980s. He was born in Putnam, Connecticut in 1959 and grew up in a middle-class family. Ross was known to have a difficult childhood, experiencing physical and emotional abuse from his father. He struggled with mental health issues and was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder and schizophrenia. Ross’s first known murder was in 1981 when he raped and killed a 25-year-old woman in Connecticut. He went on to commit several more murders, targeting young women and teenage girls. In 1984, Ross was arrested and convicted of four of the murders. He was sentenced to death and spent over 18 years on death row, appealing his sentence multiple times. During this time, he confessed to several other murders and was eventually linked to a total of eight killings. In 2005, Ross was executed by lethal injection, becoming the first person to be executed in New England in over 45 years.
2013 – Luciano Lutring – Lutring, also known as “the Machine Gun Soloist”, was an Italian criminal who became infamous for his daring and violent robberies in the 1960s and 1970s. Born in Milan in 1937, Lutring grew up in poverty and turned to crime at a young age. Lutring gained notoriety in Italy and Europe for his skillful use of firearms during his heists. He was known for carrying a machine gun and using it to intimidate both his victims and law enforcement officers. Lutring’s criminal career came to an end in 1965, when he was arrested in Paris for armed robbery. He was extradited to Italy and sentenced to 22 years in prison. He later escaped from prison and fled to South America, where he lived under a false identity for several years before being captured and extradited to Italy. In total, Lutring served over 20 years in prison for his crimes. After his release, he became a writer and artist, using his experiences to create art and literature that explored the dark side of human nature. Lutring’s life and crimes have been the subject of several books and films, including his autobiography, “The Machine Gun Soloist”. His bold and violent robberies, along with his dramatic escapes from prison, have made him a legendary figure in the world of Italian organized crime.
Events
Johan Van Oldenbarnevelt
1619 – Dutch statesman Johan Van Oldenbarnevelt is executed in The Hague after being convicted of treason.
1787 – Arthur Phillip sets sail with 11 ships of criminals to Botany Bay, Australia.
1985 – Police release a bomb on MOVE HQ in Philadelphia, to end a standoff, killing 11 MOVE members and destroying the homes of 250 city residents.
1996 – OJ Simpson appears on British TV discussing his not-guilty verdict.
2012 – Forty-nine dismembered bodies are discovered by Mexican authorities on Mexican federal Highway 40
2013 – American physician Kermit Gosnell is found guilty of murdering three infants.
2019 – Actress Felicity Huffmann pleads guilty for her part in the US college admissions scandal.