Births

Andras Pandy

1784Hendrikje Doelen – The daughter of a laborer and a farmer, Hendrikje had a tough childhood. Her parents were poor, and she had to help with the household chores at a young age. She was also lonely, not having any siblings. At the age of 21, Hendrikje married Aaldert Mulder, a poor farmer from De Wijk. The couple had no children. Aaldert was a gentleman, but Hendrikje was a strict and domineering woman. She was also very greedy and wanted to save as much money as possible. In 1845, several people in Hendrikje’s immediate vicinity suddenly died. First, on April 7th, her husband Aaldert and an old woman named Jantje Wichers who lived with the couple passed away. A few days later, three children of Arend Hut, who also lived in the almshouse, fell ill after eating oat porridge that Hendrikje had given them. Half a year later, on October 14, 1845, her neighbor Grietje van Buren died after eating pancakes made by Hendrikje. Grietje’s daughter Evertje also became seriously ill after eating the pancakes and died ten months later on August 9, 1846. The mayor of De Wijk, Klaas Jans Schiphorst, was informed of the suspicious circumstances surrounding the deaths. He put Hendrikje Doelen under surveillance and alerted the public prosecutor’s office in Assen. Two days later, on October 10th, a preliminary investigation was opened. A thorough examination by a doctor did not reveal any mental illness in the woman. She stubbornly maintained her innocence. The legal proceedings in those days were somewhat different from those of today. In those days, a suspect would not be assigned a lawyer until just before the trial. Hendrikje Doelen was tried for quadruple murder on January 28, 1847. The court in Zwolle sentenced her to death by hanging. The execution took place on January 10, 1848, in Gouda. Hendrikje Doelen was the first woman in the Netherlands to be sentenced to death for murder. Her case shocked Dutch society. It marked the beginning of a series of legal proceedings against serial killers in the Netherlands. Hendrikje Doelen’s motives for her crimes have never been fully understood. She may have been jealous of her husband, who was popular with the other residents of the almshouse. It is also possible that she wanted to save money by murdering the people who were caring for her. Hendrikje Doelen was a mysterious woman. She was lonely, greedy, and had a difficult childhood. These factors may have contributed to her crimes.

1843Henry Faulds – Faulds was a Scottish physician and scientist who made significant contributions to the fields of medicine and forensic science. Born in Beith, Scotland in 1843, Faulds studied medicine at the University of Edinburgh before embarking on a career that took him around the world. Faulds is perhaps best known for his pioneering work in fingerprinting, which he developed as a method of identifying criminals. In 1880, he first suggested that fingerprints could be used as a means of identification, and he went on to conduct extensive research on the subject. Faulds was the first person to successfully identify a suspect using fingerprints, a feat he accomplished in a case in Japan in 1890. In addition to his work on fingerprints, Faulds made significant contributions to the fields of tuberculosis research and leprosy treatment. He was a strong advocate for the use of antiseptics in medical practice, and he played an important role in establishing the Tokyo Women’s Medical College, where he served as a professor of pathology. Today, Henry Faulds is widely recognized as a pioneer in the field of forensic science, and his work on fingerprints remains an important part of criminal investigations around the world.

1854Ned Kelly – Kelly was an Australian bushranger who became a national icon in the late 19th century. Born in Victoria in 1854, Kelly grew up in a family of Irish immigrants who had a reputation for being involved in petty crime. Despite his difficult upbringing, Kelly was a skilled horseman and became a popular figure in his community. However, he became embroiled in a series of conflicts with the authorities, which led to his eventual outlawing. Kelly and his gang became notorious for their brazen robberies, including the theft of a large sum of money from a train in 1878. In 1880, Kelly and his gang engaged in a violent standoff with the police at Glenrowan. Kelly donned his now-famous suit of homemade armor and engaged in a gun battle that lasted for several hours. Although Kelly was eventually captured, he became a hero to many Australians who saw him as a symbol of resistance against the colonial authorities. Kelly was ultimately sentenced to death by hanging, and he was executed at the Melbourne Gaol in 1880. However, his legacy lived on, and he became an iconic figure in Australian folklore.

1886Daisy De Melker – born Daisy Hancorn-Smith in 1886, wasn’t your typical Johannesburg housewife. Beneath the veneer of respectability lurked a darkness that shocked the nation in the 1920s and 30s. Her story, a chilling blend of domesticity and deadly poison, remains a macabre chapter in South African history. Born into a large family in the Cape Colony, Daisy’s early life was marked by tragedy. Losing her mother young, she bounced between relatives, eventually training as a nurse. This training would prove a grim foreshadowing, the skills that should heal turned into tools of death. Daisy’s web of deceit began with marriage. First came Rhodes Cowle, a miner charmed by her beauty. Conveniently, Rhodes developed a mysterious stomach ailment and died shortly after taking out a sizable life insurance policy. Enter husband number two, Robert Sproat, who met a similar end. Whispers of foul play grew, but suspicion rarely fell on the meek, seemingly devoted wife. But Daisy’s ambition wasn’t limited to husbands. Tragedy struck again with the death of her young son, Cyril. Officially, it was pneumonia, but whispers, louder this time, hinted at arsenic poisoning. Her nephew, William, fueled by suspicion, demanded an investigation. Exhumations and autopsies confirmed the unthinkable – Daisy was a serial poisoner, her victim’s three souls intertwined with her life. The subsequent trial was a media sensation. The “Black Widow of the Rand” captured headlines, her seemingly mild façade shattered by the cold, calculating killer beneath. Despite accusations of multiple murders, Daisy was convicted only of Cyril’s poisoning. Sentenced to death, she met her end on the gallows in 1932, the second woman hanged in South African history.

1899William Raymond Nesbit – wasn’t your average jewel thief. He was a whirlwind of audacity, skill, and a touch of dark charisma that carved his name into the annals of criminal history. His life was a thrilling, yet cautionary tale, woven with glittering heists, daring escapes, and the chilling shadow of violence. Born in Marshalltown, Iowa, Nesbit’s early life remains shrouded in mystery. Some whisper of a restless spirit that craved excitement, while others hint at a brush with poverty that pushed him towards the underworld. Whatever the case, by the 1930s, Nesbit had established himself as a rising star in the world of jewelry thieves. His modus operandi was a blend of brute force and meticulous planning. He possessed an uncanny knack for safecracking, often employing homemade nitroglycerin explosives that earned him the nickname “Nitroglycerin Nesbit.” But beyond the technical expertise, Nesbit possessed a gambler’s swagger, pulling off audacious daylight robberies with a theatrical flair that captivated the public. He wasn’t a bloodthirsty villain, though. His targets were wealthy institutions, and although violence wasn’t absent, he rarely aimed it at people. Even his fellow criminals admired his audacity. One notable incident saw him steal a $25,000 diamond necklace from under the watchful eyes of a crowd at a Kansas City jewelry store. He vanished before their astonished gazes, leaving only a phantom whisper of his presence. In 1936, a dark turn came with the accidental death of fellow thief Harold Baker during a botched attempt. Nesbit was captured and sentenced to life imprisonment. Yet, even behind bars, he couldn’t resist the call of the criminal life. He befriended prison officials, becoming a “trusty” and even the warden’s chauffeur. In 1946, his sentence was commuted, and he was released back into a world that had changed in his absence. Nesbit tried to go straight, even marrying and starting a family. But the lure of the old life proved too strong. In 1950, he attempted a daring escape from a Minnesota jail, briefly making him one of the FBI’s most wanted men. He was eventually recaptured, his final heist marking the end of his criminal career. William Raymond Nesbit died in 1983, leaving behind a legacy of audacious crimes and a captivating personality. He was a master thief, a charming rogue, and a cautionary tale of the allure and perils of a life lived on the edge. Whether condemning him or grudgingly admiring his skill, one thing is certain: William Raymond Nesbit, the “Nitroglycerin Nesbit,” wasn’t easily forgotten.

1927Andras Pandy – a name that sends shivers down the spines of Belgians and beyond, was a Hungarian-born pastor who led a double life. On the surface, he was a respected religious figure, a pillar of the community. Beneath that facade, however, lurked a darkness so profound that it would stain his name forever. Born in 1927 in what is now Ukraine, Pándy’s early life was shrouded in a veil of secrecy. He served as a church councilor in Hungary before meeting his first wife, Ilona Sőrés. Following the failed Hungarian Revolution of 1956, the couple fled to Belgium, seeking refuge and a new beginning. In Belgium, Pándy’s life seemed idyllic. He became a pastor for a small Hungarian Protestant community in Brussels and a religious teacher, earning the trust and respect of his congregation. He married again, seemingly content with his new family. But behind the facade of piety and respectability, a sinister web was being woven. Between 1986 and 1990, a chilling pattern emerged. Pándy’s family members began to vanish without a trace. His first wife, Ilona, mysteriously disappeared in 1986. Then came his second wife, followed by his two biological sons and two stepchildren. Each disappearance was met with shrugs and whispers, attributed to their troubled family dynamics. In 1991, cracks began to appear in Pándy’s carefully constructed persona. His daughter, Ágnes, confessed to the police, revealing a story of horrific abuse and manipulation at the hands of her father. She implicated him in the disappearances, painting a picture of a family held captive in a web of fear and control. Pándy’s trial was a media sensation, captivating Belgium and beyond. Despite maintaining his innocence, the evidence against him was overwhelming. In 2002, he was convicted of the murders of six family members and sentenced to life imprisonment. His daughter, Ágnes, was found guilty of complicity and received a 21-year sentence. Pándy’s case remains etched in Belgian history as one of the most chilling examples of domestic evil. His life, a twisted blend of piety and brutality, serves as a stark reminder that darkness can lurk in the most unexpected places. Even within the hallowed halls of a church, a monster can hide in plain sight.

1934Ken McElroy – McElroy was born on June 1, 1934, and gained a reputation for criminal behavior from a young age. Throughout his life, he was involved in various crimes, including theft, assault, and arson. However, it was his ruthless behavior and ability to intimidate others that made him infamous. McElroy’s most notorious act occurred on July 10, 1981, when he was accused of shooting and injuring a local grocer named Ernest “Bo” Bowenkamp. Despite there being numerous witnesses, no one came forward to testify against McElroy, likely out of fear for their safety. Frustrated by the lack of justice, the people of Skidmore decided to take matters into their own hands. On July 10, 1981, as McElroy sat in his pickup truck parked in the town’s main street, a crowd of residents approached him. In a shocking act of vigilante justice, multiple gunshots were fired at McElroy, resulting in his death. Despite the presence of dozens of witnesses, nobody was ever charged or convicted for McElroy’s killing. The community of Skidmore remained silent, and the case remains officially unsolved. The story of Ken McElroy has since captured the public’s fascination, leading to documentaries, books, and even a made-for-television movie. The case raises complex ethical questions regarding vigilantism, the limits of the legal system, and the dynamics of small-town justice. Ken McElroy’s life and death continue to spark discussions and debates about the nature of justice, community self-defense, and the consequences of living outside the law.

1948Sahib Lateef Al-Mosawi – Al-Mosawi was a refugee who had escaped from the Persian Gulf War and made a life for himself in Oklahoma City, things were going well for him until he had to marry as part of a religious arrangement. He and his wife did not get along very well, however, his wife became pregnant and due to his aggressiveness toward her she moved in with her uncle and when the child was born a huge argument over the child’s name ensued with his wife applying for a protective order. The argument hit a boiling point which ended up with Al-Mosawi stabbing his wife, her sister, and their uncle, unfortunately only the sister would survive the attack. Al-Mosawi was arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree murder. His trial was lengthy and complex, as he did not speak English and required an interpreter. The jury convicted him of both murders and sentenced him to death. Al-Mosawi appealed his conviction and sentence, arguing that he did not receive a fair trial due to the language barrier and cultural differences. His appeals were unsuccessful, and he was executed by lethal injection on December 6, 2001.

1953David Berkowitz – Berkowitz, also known as the “Son of Sam,” is an infamous American serial killer who terrorized New York City in the late 1970s. His crimes and the subsequent investigation captured the attention of the nation and created a sense of fear and unease in the city. David Richard Berkowitz was born on June 1, 1953, in Brooklyn, New York. He had a troubled upbringing, marked by feelings of rejection, instability, and a sense of being an outsider. Berkowitz’s criminal behavior began to manifest itself in the mid-1970s when he started setting fires and eventually escalated to acts of violence. Between 1976 and 1977, Berkowitz embarked on a killing spree that targeted young couples, often sitting in parked cars. He would approach the vehicle and open fire with a .44 caliber revolver, leaving his victims with fatal or severe injuries. Berkowitz’s seemingly random attacks and his taunting letters sent to the police and the media created a climate of fear and panic throughout New York City. The nickname “Son of Sam” came from a letter Berkowitz left at one of the crime scenes, in which he referred to himself as such. This moniker became widely known and added to the public’s morbid fascination with the case. In August 1977, Berkowitz was apprehended after a vigilant neighbor reported his suspicious behavior to the police. He was convicted of multiple counts of murder and sentenced to six consecutive life sentences in prison. During his trial, Berkowitz claimed that he was commanded to commit the murders by a demon possessing his neighbor’s dog. However, this claim was largely dismissed as a fabrication, and he later recanted it, acknowledging that he acted alone. In the years following his imprisonment, Berkowitz has expressed remorse for his crimes and has sought religious redemption. He has become a born-again Christian and has worked with prison chaplains and counselors. David Berkowitz’s case has left an indelible mark on American criminal history. It sparked debates on the nature of evil, mental illness, and the influence of popular culture on criminal behavior. His crimes and the fear they generated have become a chilling reminder of the impact that serial killers can have on a community and the lasting trauma inflicted upon their victims and their families.

1956Anthony Keith Johnson – was a resident of Oak Ridge, Alabama. He was involved in a significant criminal case in 1984, where he was convicted for his role in the murder and robbery of Kenneth Cantrell, a jeweler from Hartselle. The crime occurred during a robbery attempt at Cantrell’s home on March 11, 1984. Despite the jury’s recommendation of life in prison, Circuit Judge L.R. Hundley sentenced Johnson to death. Johnson’s execution was carried out at the Holman Correctional Facility near Atmore, making him the first person to die by lethal injection in Alabama. This execution took place after the state legislature changed Alabama’s primary method of execution from the electric chair to lethal injection.

1959Richard Dean Hurles – is a convicted criminal known for his involvement in a high-profile murder case. Before the murder case, Hurles had served nearly fifteen years in prison for sexually assaulting two young boys. The murder case that brought him into the limelight occurred on November 12, 1992, when Hurles was observed in the Buckeye Public Library in Arizona. Later that day, the librarian was found in a pool of blood, having been stabbed 37 times. Hurles was identified as the suspect and was later arrested. Following his trial, Hurles was found guilty of first-degree murder, attempted sexual assault, and first-degree burglary. He was sentenced to death on October 13, 1994.

1962Gregory Van Cleave – Van Cleave along with three friends were in a car driving around whilst drinking alcohol and smoking marijuana looking for someone to rob when they came across 41-year-old Robert Falkner who was outside his property carrying out some maintenance. Two of the men including Van Cleave approached Falkner, Van Cleave was carrying a shotgun, and there were words between the men, and Falkner was shot. Following his conviction, he was sentenced to death on May 27, 1983. However, his sentence was later commuted to life imprisonment on November 22, 1994.

Deaths

Ike Clanton

1887Ike Clanton – Clanton was born on January 14, 1847, in Callaway County, Missouri. He came from a family of ranchers and was known to have a confrontational and volatile personality. Clanton, along with his brothers Phineas and Billy, was part of a loosely organized group of outlaws and cattle rustlers known as the “Cowboys.” The Cowboys had conflicts with the Earp family, which consisted of lawmen Virgil, Wyatt, and Morgan Earp, as well as their friend Doc Holliday. These tensions eventually escalated into a confrontation known as the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral on October 26, 1881. During the gunfight, Ike Clanton, along with his brother Billy, were present on the outskirts of the shootout but did not actively participate. The fight ended with three members of the Cowboys—Billy Clanton and the McLaury brothers—being killed, while the Earps and Holliday survived. After the gunfight, Clanton faced legal troubles, including charges related to his involvement in various criminal activities. However, he managed to avoid conviction and continued his involvement in illegal enterprises. Clanton’s life after the infamous gunfight is less well-documented, and details of his later years are sparse. Ike Clanton’s name has become synonymous with the violent era of the Wild West and the conflicts between ranchers, outlaws, and lawmen. He is often portrayed as a symbol of the lawless and tumultuous times of the American frontier, forever linked to the events of the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral in the public imagination.

1927Lizzie Andrew Borden – was born on July 19, 1860, in Fall River, Massachusetts. She lived a relatively quiet life with her father, Andrew Borden, her stepmother, Abby Durfee Gray Borden, and her older sister, Emma Borden. On August 4, 1892, the bodies of Andrew and Abby Borden were discovered in their home. They had been brutally attacked with an axe, resulting in their deaths. Lizzie Borden was the prime suspect in the murders, as she was the only person known to be in the house at the time of the killings. However, the case against her was circumstantial, and there were inconsistencies in the evidence presented. The highly publicized trial that followed became a media sensation. Lizzie Borden’s defense team argued that she was innocent, while the prosecution painted a picture of a troubled woman with a motive to commit the murders. The trial garnered significant attention and was closely followed by the public. In the end, the jury acquitted Lizzie Borden, and she was found not guilty of the crimes. Despite the verdict, the public perception of her guilt persisted, and the case left a lasting impact on popular culture, inspiring books, plays, movies, and numerous theories and speculations about what truly happened that fateful day. The exact details surrounding the Borden murders remain a subject of debate and speculation. To this day, the case continues to captivate the public imagination, and Lizzie Borden’s name is synonymous with the mysterious and unresolved nature of the crime.

1936Arnold Sodeman – Sodeman was born on October 19, 1900, in Australia. He had a troubled childhood, marked by a history of cruelty towards animals and instances of violence. Sodeman’s criminal activities escalated in the early 1930s when he began preying on young boys. Between 1930 and 1931, Sodeman lured and murdered at least four boys, whose ages ranged from four to twelve years old. His victims were often enticed with promises of money or candy, and once he gained their trust, he would sexually assault and strangle them. Sodeman’s crimes sparked widespread fear and panic throughout Melbourne. The police launched a massive manhunt to apprehend the killer, and the public was on high alert. The case garnered significant media attention, and the press dubbed Sodeman the “Schoolgirl Strangler” due to his preference for young victims. In February 1931, Sodeman was finally captured after attempting to abduct another boy. He was quickly identified by the authorities and confessed to his crimes. During his trial, he showed little remorse and seemed detached from the gravity of his actions. In October 1931, Sodeman was convicted and sentenced to death. On June 1st, 1936, Arnold Sodeman was executed by hanging at Pentridge Prison in Coburg, Victoria. His crimes and subsequent execution left a lasting impact on Australian society, leading to increased awareness of child safety and more stringent measures to protect children from potential predators. Arnold Sodeman’s case remains one of the most infamous and disturbing criminal episodes in Australian history. His actions and the tragic loss of innocent lives serve as a reminder of the need for vigilance and protection of the most vulnerable members of society.

1984Mark Anthony Tildesley – was born on August 31, 1976, in Berkshire, England. He was the youngest of three children, with an older brother, Christopher, and a sister, Christina. He was a year 3 pupil at the Palmer C of E Junior School in Norreys Avenue in Wokingham. On June 1, 1984, while visiting a funfair in Wokingham, Berkshire, seven-year-old Mark disappeared. Despite a widespread search of the Wokingham area involving both police officers and British Army soldiers, he was not located. Thames Valley Police initially suspected that his body was buried near Wellington Road in Wokingham, near the funfair from which he was abducted, but they now believe that he was probably buried in a shallow grave on abandoned farmland. In 1989, Mark’s disappearance was linked to the Operation Orchid investigation into missing children. In 1990, as part of this investigation, it emerged that on the night he disappeared, Mark had been abducted, drugged, tortured, raped, and murdered by a London-based pedophile gang led by Sidney Cooke. A member of the gang, Leslie Bailey, was charged with murder in 1991 and was given two life sentences after pleading guilty to manslaughter the following year. A memorial service for Mark was held, and a memorial bench was placed at the entrance to the fairground site. A headstone was also placed in a nearby burial ground.

1995Fletcher Thomas Mann – With a prior prison record for rape and robbery, Fletcher Mann was put to death on this day in 1995 for the September 11, 1980 shooting of Christopher Bates who was murdered after Mann and an accomplice had robbed Bates and raped his roommate.

1999William Hamilton Little – was a convicted criminal who was found guilty of a heinous crime that took place on December 3, 1983. On this day, two men arrived at the home of 28-year-old Marilyn Peter in Cleveland, about 30 miles northeast of Houston, to install a clothes dryer. They discovered her nude body on the living room floor, the room covered in blood, and her 2-year-old son crying on the kitchen counter. The medical examiner determined that Marilyn Peter was raped, stabbed 19 times until she was dead, and then raped again. A bloody handprint taken from the inside of Peter’s front door was matched to Little. He was convicted of capital murder by a Texas jury on April 5, 1985, and was executed by lethal injection on June 1, 1999, in Huntsville, Texas.

Events

Woody Harrelson

1660 – Mary Dyer is hanged for defying a law banning Quakers from the Massachusetts Bay colony.

1922 – The Royal Ulster Constabulary is founded.

1974 – Bundy victim Brenda Ball disappears from Burien, Washington.

1990 – Aileen Wuornos killed David Spears by shooting him six times.

1996 – Actor Woody Harrelson is arrested in Lee County, Kentucky after he symbolically planted 4 hemp seeds to challenge the state law which did not distinguish between industrial hemp & marijuana.

2001 – Nepalese Royal Massacre: Crown Prince Dipendra of Nepal shoots and kills several members of his family including his mother and father.

2004 – Oklahoma State prosecutors sentence Oklahoma City bombing co-conspirator Terry Nichols to 161 consecutive life terms without parole.

2007 – Jack Kevorkian is released from prison after serving eight years of his 10-25-year prison term for second-degree murder in the 1998 death of Thomas York.

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