Births
Michael Ryan
1927 – Harvey Carignan – Carignan, also known as “The Want-Ad Killer,” was a convicted serial killer who terrorized the United States in the 1970s. Carignan grew up in a troubled home and had a difficult childhood, experiencing physical and emotional abuse from his father. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1945, where he served until 1948. After his military service, Carignan worked a series of odd jobs and was arrested several times for petty crimes. In 1955, Carignan was arrested and convicted for the rape of a woman in Minnesota. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison but was released after serving only five years. After his release, Carignan moved to California, where he committed a series of rapes and murders. Carignan’s killing spree began in 1972 and lasted until 1974. During this time, he placed advertisements in newspapers seeking young women for modeling or secretarial jobs. Once he had lured them to a secluded location, he would torture, rape, and kill them. Carignan was finally caught in 1974 after he was recognized by a victim who survived one of his attacks. He was convicted of three murders in Minnesota and was sentenced to life in prison without parole. Despite his imprisonment, Carignan continued to exhibit violent and erratic behavior. He was involved in several prison riots and attempted to escape multiple times. Carignan died on March 5, 2021, at the age of 93, while still serving his sentence at the Minnesota Correctional Facility in Oak Park Heights.
1942 – Keith Hellawell – life is a testament to resilience and reinvention. Born in 1942 and raised in Yorkshire, England, he started his working life down in the coal mines, a tough experience that would shape his grit and determination. However, the pull of a different kind of service led him to join the Huddersfield Borough Police in 1962. Hellawell’s rise through the ranks was meteoric. He became Britain’s youngest police sergeant at 23 and the youngest inspector at 26. Driven by ambition and intellectual curiosity, he pursued an MSc in Social Policy and an external law degree while navigating the complexities of criminal investigations and police administration. His career saw him tackle some of the UK’s most challenging policing issues. He served in Northern Ireland during the Troubles, witnessing firsthand the brutality of armed conflict. He played a key role in the investigations of the infamous Yorkshire Ripper serial killings, a time of intense pressure and public scrutiny. In 1993, Hellawell became Chief Constable of West Yorkshire Police, taking on the leadership of a force burdened by the Ripper’s shadow. He implemented major reforms, focusing on community policing and intelligence-led operations. Under his leadership, crime rates began to fall, restoring public confidence in the police. His success attracted national attention, and in 1998, Tony Blair’s New Labour government appointed him the UK’s first “Drugs Tsar.” The role thrust him into the heart of a contentious policy debate, with his tough stance on enforcement earning him both praise and criticism. He resigned in 2002, citing differences in direction with the government. But Hellawell’s energy and ambition couldn’t be contained by retirement. He turned his attention to the business world, becoming chairman of Sports Direct plc and later heading the Huddersfield Giants Rugby League club. He also penned an autobiography, “The Outsider,” that offered a candid and often controversial portrayal of his life and career. Keith Hellawell’s story is far from over. He remains a prominent figure in British public life, a voice of experience on policing, drugs, and social issues. His journey from miner’s son to Chief Constable, “Drugs Tsar,” and business leader is a testament to the power of hard work, intellect, and a willingness to challenge the status quo.
1946 – Mikey Coppola – Coppola, also known as “Mikey Cigars,” was an American mobster who was associated with the Gambino crime family. He was born on May 18, 1946, in Newark, New Jersey, and grew up in a family with a long history of involvement in organized crime. Coppola became involved in the criminal underworld at a young age and quickly rose through the ranks of the Gambino crime family. He became known for his sharp wit, street smarts, and ruthless tactics. He was involved in a variety of criminal activities, including loan-sharking, extortion, and racketeering. Coppola’s criminal career was not without its setbacks, however. He was arrested multiple times and served several stints in prison. Despite this, he maintained a powerful position within the Gambino crime family and was considered to be one of the most respected and feared members of the organization. Coppola’s criminal activities eventually caught up with him, and he was indicted on several charges in the early 1990s. In 1992, he was sentenced to 21 years in prison for racketeering and extortion. While in prison, he continued to maintain his connections with the Gambino crime family and was suspected of ordering the murder of a fellow inmate who had cooperated with law enforcement.
1952 – David Augustus Burke – Burke was the perpetrator of a mass murder onboard Pacific Southwest Airlines flight 1771. Pacific Southwest Airlines Flight 1771 was a commercial flight from Los Angeles, California to San Francisco, California, on December 7, 1987. The flight was operated by Pacific Southwest Airlines (PSA) using a British Aerospace 146-200A aircraft. Shortly after takeoff, a disgruntled former employee of USAir, the parent company of PSA, named David Burke, boarded the aircraft through the rear stairs and entered the cockpit. Burke was armed with a .44 Magnum revolver, which he used to shoot both the pilot and co-pilot, causing the aircraft to crash into a remote hillside near Cayucos, California. All 43 passengers and crew members on board were killed in the crash. The incident shocked the aviation industry and led to several changes in security protocols and procedures for commercial airlines. Investigators later determined that Burke had a history of mental illness and had been fired from his job at USAir for stealing from the company. It was speculated that his motive for the attack was to seek revenge against his former supervisor, who was a passenger on the flight. The incident remains one of the deadliest single-aircraft crashes in American history and is considered a tragic example of the potential danger of workplace violence.
1958 – John Walker Turnbull – was a Lance Corporal in the British 4th Royal Tank Regiment. He was born in Durham, England, to British parents Jack and Jenny Turnbull. In his early teens, he worked as an apprentice welder alongside his father. In his late teen years, he joined the British Army and served for nine years. After leaving the Army, he moved back to Kent with his wife, Marion Jane Turnbull, and their son, Aaron John Turnbull. He worked as a heavy goods vehicle driver. In 1996, he was involved in a severe road accident, which led to a period of hospitalization and surgery. During this time, he became an avid supporter of the Shooters’ Rights Campaign. In 1998, Turnbull became the head of security at Valence School for disabled children, where he worked until September 20, 1999. It was known that he left his job after discovering a love affair between his wife and a man named David Battle. On September 26, 1999, he arranged to meet with them both in the family home in Kemsing, Kent, where he killed both Mrs. Turnbull and Mr. Battle with a shotgun. His son was staying with his grandparents at the time. Turnbull later died on September 27, 1999, from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head on a hill near his home in Durham.
1960 – Michael Ryan – Ryan was a British spree killer who is infamous for committing the Hungerford massacre, one of the deadliest shooting sprees in British history. He was born on May 18, 1960, in Hampshire, England, and grew up in the town of Hungerford. Ryan was a loner who struggled with mental illness and had a fascination with guns and violence. In August 1987, he went on a killing spree in Hungerford, using a semi-automatic rifle and a handgun to shoot and kill 16 people, including his mother, before taking his own life. The incident shocked the nation and led to several changes in UK gun laws, including a ban on the ownership of most handguns. Ryan’s motives for the massacre remain unclear, but investigators discovered that he had a history of mental illness and had been expelled from the army for stealing. Ryan’s actions had a profound impact on the community of Hungerford, and the victims and their families continue to be remembered and honored by the town. The Hungerford massacre remains one of the deadliest mass shootings in British history and is considered a tragic reminder of the devastating effects of gun violence.
1962 – Donald Keith Newbury – Newbury was an American criminal who was convicted of multiple murders and sentenced to death for his role in the infamous “Texas Seven” prison escape. He was born on May 18, 1962, in Arkansas and grew up in a troubled home environment. Newbury had a long history of criminal activity and had been in and out of prison for much of his adult life. In December 2000, he and six other inmates escaped from the John B. Connally Unit in Texas, where they were serving time for various crimes, including murder and robbery. During the escape, the group committed several robberies and other crimes, leading to a massive manhunt. After several weeks on the run, the group was finally caught in Colorado, and Newbury and several of his accomplices were sentenced to death for their crimes. Newbury spent the next decade on death row, appealing his sentence and attempting to have his conviction overturned. He maintained his innocence in the murders he was accused of committing, but his appeals were ultimately unsuccessful. Newbury was executed by lethal injection on February 4, 2015, more than 14 years after his escape and crime spree. His case remains one of the most high-profile prison escapes and manhunts in Texas history, and his death has reignited debates over the use of the death penalty in the United States.
1969 – Sean Richard Sellers – Sellers was an American man who gained notoriety for being the youngest person to be executed in the United States in the 20th century. He was born on May 18, 1969, in California, and grew up in Oklahoma. At the age of 16, Sellers was convicted of the murders of his mother, father, and stepfather in separate incidents. He claimed that he had been influenced by Satanism and that demonic possession had led him to commit the crimes. Sellers was sentenced to death and spent nearly a decade on death row, during which time he became a born-again Christian and maintained his innocence in the murders. He appealed his sentence several times, but his appeals were unsuccessful. In 1999, Sellers was executed by lethal injection at the age of 29, becoming the youngest person to be executed in the United States in over 40 years. His case has been widely debated and has raised questions about the use of the death penalty, especially in cases involving minors and those with mental illness.
Deaths
Dalton Prejean
1871 – Edward Howard Ruloff – also known as John Edward Howard Ruloffson, Ruloff, Rulofson, or Rulloffson, was born in 1819 or 1820 in New Brunswick, Canada. Despite possessing exceptional intelligence, his life was marked by a duality of academic pursuits and criminal activity. Ruloff displayed an aptitude for learning early on. He became a doctor, lawyer, schoolmaster, photographer, inventor, carpet designer, phrenologist, and philologist. Notably, he learned multiple languages while serving a two-year prison sentence for embezzlement. This linguistic prowess led him to the lecture circuit, where he captivated audiences with his knowledge. Ruloff’s criminal career was as extensive as his academic pursuits. He engaged in burglary, robbery, and even murder. In 1845, he was suspected of killing his wife and child in Ithaca, New York, though the lack of bodies prevented a conviction. He was, however, convicted of abducting his wife and served ten years in prison. Following his release, Ruloff’s criminal activities escalated. He was accused of murdering his daughter, though the conviction was later overturned. In 1871, he shot and killed Fred Merrick, a store clerk, during a robbery in Binghamton, New York. This crime, along with his intellectual achievements, earned him the moniker “The Genius Killer.” Ruloff’s trial for the Merrick murder attracted significant public attention. He was found guilty and sentenced to death. On May 18, 1871, he became the first and only person to be publicly hanged in Binghamton. Ruloff’s life remains a fascinating and unsettling reminder of the potential for human contradiction. His intelligence and academic accomplishments stood in stark contrast to his violent crimes. His story continues to captivate researchers and the general public alike. Adding to the intrigue, Ruloff’s massive brain, weighing in at 1673 cubic centimeters, was one of the largest ever recorded, sparking endless speculation about the link between intellect and his dark side. He even chronicled his duality in his 1871 autobiography, “The Man of Two Lives!”, leaving behind a controversial legacy, with some even positing his innocence and potential framing by adversaries.
1927 – Andrew Kehoe – Kehoe was an American farmer and treasurer of his local school board who became infamous for carrying out a deadly act of terrorism in 1927. He was born on February 1, 1872, in Michigan. Kehoe had a reputation as a difficult and irascible person, who was known to have conflicts with his neighbors and other members of his community. In 1927, he became embroiled in a dispute with the school board over his failure to pay his taxes, leading to his removal from the board. In retaliation, Kehoe carried out a horrific act of violence on May 18, 1927, when he detonated a series of bombs at the Bath Consolidated School in Michigan, killing 38 children and six adults, including himself. The bombing was the deadliest act of school violence in American history, and Kehoe’s actions shocked the nation. The tragedy led to significant changes in the way schools were built and operated in the United States, including the implementation of stricter safety regulations and more rigorous background checks for school employees. Kehoe’s motives for the bombing remain unclear, although some have speculated that his anger over the tax dispute and his financial problems may have played a role.
1935 – Milka Pavlovic – was a Croatian peasant woman who became known as the “Bjelovar Poisoner” for her serial killings in the early 1930s. She was convicted of killing six people and poisoning ten others, all to inherit their property. Pavlović was born in the small village of Kokinac, near Bjelovar, in 1905. She was the youngest of six children, and her father was a poor peasant farmer. Pavlović received little education and was forced to work on the family farm from a young age. In 1929, Pavlović married a man named Ivan Pavlović, who was also a peasant. The couple had two children together, but the marriage was unhappy. Ivan was a violent man who often beat Pavlović. In 1934, Pavlović began to poison her family and neighbors. Her first victim was her husband, whom she killed with arsenic. She then went on to kill her father, her mother, her brother, her sister-in-law, and two of her neighbors. She also poisoned ten other people, but they survived. Pavlović’s crimes were eventually discovered, and she was arrested and put on trial. She was convicted of murder and sentenced to death. She was executed by hanging in Bjelovar on May 18, 1935. Pavlović’s case was a sensation in the Croatian media, and she became a national figure. She was portrayed as a greedy and ruthless woman who was willing to kill for money. Her case also raised questions about the social and economic conditions that led to her crimes. Pavlović’s motives for her crimes are still debated. Some believe that she was simply a greedy and ambitious woman who wanted to inherit her victims’ property. Others believe that she was also motivated by a desire for revenge against her husband, who had abused her. Pavlović herself never admitted to any motive for her crimes. She maintained her innocence throughout her trial, and she refused to confess even after she was sentenced to death.
1937 – Christine Papin – Papin was a French domestic servant who became infamous for her involvement in a brutal murder case that shocked France in the 1930s. Born in Le Mans, France in 1905, Papin was one of five children of a poverty-stricken family. In 1926, she and her younger sister, Léa, were hired as maids by the Lancelin family, who lived in a luxurious house in the town of Le Mans. On February 2, 1933, Christine and Léa brutally murdered their employer, Madame Lancelin, and her daughter, Geneviève, with a hammer and a knife. The murder was so savage that it shocked the entire country and became a major scandal. The sisters were quickly apprehended and confessed to the crime. The case gained notoriety due to the extreme violence of the murder and the fact that it was committed by two seemingly docile and subservient women. The trial was heavily covered by the media, and the sisters were eventually found guilty and sentenced to death by guillotine. However, the sentence was later commuted to life imprisonment due to public outcry. Christine Papin died in prison in 1937, reportedly from self-starvation.
1990 – Dalton Prejean – was born on December 10, 1959, in Lafayette, Louisiana, U.S. He was one of 22 people in the United States executed for crimes committed as a juvenile before the decision Roper v. Simmons in 2005. Prejean was the second of four children. When he was two weeks old, his parents sent him from their home in Lafayette to live with his aunt and uncle in Houston, Texas. He was unaware of his true parentage until the age of eleven. In June 1974, Dalton was arrested for the killing of John Doucet, a taxi driver. He was tried, convicted, and executed in the electric chair in Louisiana for the murder of Louisiana State Police Trooper Donald Cleveland. The case received international attention because the defendant was a black man convicted by an all-white jury; had brain damage and tested just above mental retardation; and was age 17 at the time of the crime. Prejean’s son, Dalton Prejean Jr., born while his father was awaiting execution, was himself convicted of the 2001 death of a 14-month-old baby. Prejean Jr. is currently serving a 60-year sentence in the same prison where his father was executed. Dalton Prejean died on May 18, 1990, at the age of 30, at Louisiana State Penitentiary, West Feliciana Parish, Louisiana, U.S.
1993 – John Christopher Sawyers – An American thief who went to the home of 67-year-old Ethyl Delaney with the intention of robbery, when he got there he was disturbed by Ms. Delaney and he proceeded to slap her and then beat her to death using a cast iron skillet, he hit her so ferociously that the handle snapped off the skillet. He then stole her car and some jewelry which he later pawned, he later crashed the vehicle and was arrested, he confessed to his crimes and was given the death sentence.
2004 – Kelsey Patterson – Patterson was a mentally incompetent American man who on August 25th, 1992 walked to the Oates Oil Co. and shot and killed the owner Louis Oates, when Mr. Oates’s secretary came out to see what the noise was and started screaming Patterson shot her as well. No motive was ever given, however, a friend of Patterson’s stated that Mr. Oates and Patterson had once argued over who was the better football player.
2017 – Roger Ailes – Ailes was an American television executive and political consultant who was best known as the founder and former CEO of Fox News Channel. Born on May 15, 1940, in Warren, Ohio, Ailes began his career in television as a production assistant on The Mike Douglas Show in the 1960s. Ailes went on to work as a media consultant for several prominent political figures, including Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan, and George H.W. Bush. He was widely regarded as a master of political messaging and image-making and was credited with helping to shape the modern conservative movement in America. In 1996, Ailes founded Fox News Channel, which quickly became one of the most influential and widely watched cable news networks in the United States. Under Ailes’ leadership, Fox News became known for its conservative editorial stance and for its confrontational style of journalism. Despite his success, Ailes was also a controversial figure. In 2016, he was forced to resign as CEO of Fox News amid allegations of sexual harassment that came about due to the #MeToo movement.
Events
Aimee Semple McPherson
1652 – Rhode Island enacts first law declaring slavery illegal
1812 – John Bellingham, the assassin of Spencer Perceval is hung
1926 – Evangelist Aimee Semple McPherson vanishes in Venice, California – she shows up 5 weeks later
1927 – Bath school disaster, Bath, Michigan – Andrew Kehoe blows up Bath consolidated school killing 38 children & 2 teachers.
1967 – The Butler Act, a Tennessee statute prohibiting the teaching of evolution is repealed after 42 years
1971 – Vampire rapist Wayne Boden’s last victim was found in Calgary, Alberta
1982 – Unification church founder Reverend Sun Myung Moon is convicted of tax evasion
1990 – Judy Carne is arrested at JFK airport on an 11-year-old drug warrant
1992 – US Supreme Court rules that states could force mentally unstable criminal defendants to take anti-psychotic drugs
1993 – Italian police arrest Mafia boss Benedetto “Nitto” Santapaola
2010 – Police officer James Crooker is asked to leave the Red & Black cafe in Portland, Oregon after co-owner John Langley claimed Crooker’s uniform presence made him uncomfortable
2018 – Santa Fe high school shooting – 17-year-old Dimitrios Pagourtzis kills 10 people and injures a further 10 in Santa Fe, Texas
2018 – All of Chile’s 34 Roman Catholic bishops offer their resignation to Pope Francis in the wake of the child sexual abuse scandal