Births

Margaret Pereira

1849 – Thomas W. Piper – The life of Thomas W. Piper, better known as the “Boston Belfry Murderer,” is a macabre tapestry woven with threads of piety and depravity. Born in Nova Scotia in 1849, Piper arrived in Boston with his family in 1866, harboring dreams beyond the confines of farm life. A semblance of respectability followed: church attendance, clerking jobs, even becoming a sexton at the Warren Avenue Baptist Church. But beneath the surface lurked a darkness fueled by laudanum and alcohol, twisting his pious facade into a mask for monstrous deeds. Piper’s descent into infamy began in 1873 with the disappearance of Minnie Dean, a 9-year-old girl. Her strangled body was later found in the belfry of the church, marking the gruesome start of a reign of terror. Two years later, another young girl, Harriet Ware, met a similar fate in the same desolate bell tower. Though arrested, Piper initially eluded conviction, only to confess to both murders upon his recapture. The chilling admission included a third victim, Agnes Gougen, solidifying his place as one of Boston’s most notorious killers. His trial, one of the first widely sensationalized in American history, captivated the nation. Piper’s conflicting persona – the seemingly devout church worker harboring such monstrous secrets – fueled public fascination and fear. Ultimately, he was convicted and hanged in 1876, the gallows erected near the very church where his evil unfolded. But Piper’s story transcends the simple narrative of a villain. His life exposes the fault lines of a Victorian society grappling with the dark underbelly of religion, poverty, and mental illness. He became a cautionary tale, a symbol of the lurking shadows that could corrupt even the most seemingly sanctified. Even in death, Piper’s legacy endures. His name remains etched in the history of Boston, a chilling reminder of the duality that can consume human hearts. The steeple, once a symbol of faith, now serves as a stark monument to the depths of human depravity, forever intertwined with the shadow of the Boston Belfry Murderer.

1853 – Alphonse Bertillon – was a French police officer and biometrics pioneer who revolutionized criminal identification with his anthropometric system. Before Bertillon, identifying criminals relied solely on eyewitness accounts and often inaccurate photographs. His system, based on detailed physical measurements and photographs, offered a scientific and reliable method for tracking repeat offenders and solving crimes. Born in Paris to a family of academics, Bertillon’s path to police work wasn’t conventional. He struggled in formal education and bounced between various jobs before landing a clerical position at the Paris Prefecture of Police in 1879. It was there, amidst stacks of criminal files, that his fascination with identification was sparked. Frustrated by the limitations of existing methods, Bertillon drew inspiration from his father’s work in statistics and his own interest in anthropology. He devised a system of recording 11 detailed bodily measurements, including head length, earlobe width, and arm span. These measurements, combined with a unique system of classifying physical features like scars and tattoos, created a “portrait parlé,” a spoken portrait that could uniquely identify an individual. Bertillon’s system also standardized the use of mugshots. He implemented front and profile photographs, taken under controlled lighting conditions, ensuring consistency and accuracy in facial recognition. This marked a significant shift in forensic photography, laying the foundation for its continued use in criminal investigations today. Bertillon’s anthropometric system quickly gained international recognition. It was adopted by police forces across Europe, the United States, and beyond, revolutionizing criminal identification for decades. Bertillon’s contributions extended beyond police work. He played a crucial role in exposing the wrongful Dreyfus Affair, using anthropometry to prove the innocence of Captain Alfred Dreyfus. While ultimately superseded by fingerprinting in the early 20th century, Bertillon’s legacy remains significant. He laid the scientific foundation for modern forensic identification, establishing the importance of meticulous data collection and analysis in criminal investigations. His work continues to inspire ongoing research and development in biometrics, a field he helped shape with his ingenuity and dedication.

1891 – Ferdinando Nicola Sacco – He was the third of seventeen children born to Michele Sacco, a farmer, and Angela Moscatelli. Sacco’s childhood was marked by poverty and hard work. He helped his father on the farm from a young age, and he also worked as a laborer in the local town. In 1908, Sacco emigrated to the United States with his older brother, Sabino. They settled in Massachusetts, where Sacco worked as a shoemaker. He became involved in the labor movement and joined the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW), a radical union. Sacco was also an anarchist, and he believed in the overthrow of capitalism and the establishment of a socialist society. In 1920, Sacco and his friend, Bartolomeo Vanzetti, were arrested for the robbery and murder of two men, Alessandro Berardelli and Frederick Parmenter, during a payroll robbery at the Slater and Morrill Shoe Company in Braintree, Massachusetts. The two men were convicted of the murders and sentenced to death. Sacco and Vanzetti’s trial was highly controversial. Many people believed that they were innocent victims of political persecution. The prosecution’s case was based on circumstantial evidence, and several witnesses testified that Sacco and Vanzetti were not involved in the robbery. Sacco and Vanzetti’s appeals were denied, and they were executed in the electric chair on August 23, 1927. Their deaths sparked international protests and led to a reexamination of their case. In 1977, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled that Sacco and Vanzetti had been wrongly convicted. Sacco and Vanzetti’s story has become a symbol of the struggle for justice and equality. They are remembered as martyrs of the cause of anarchism and as victims of political persecution.

1929 – Margaret Pereira – nicknamed “Miss Murder” and “Maggie of the Yard,” was a British forensic scientist who revolutionized the field and tackled some of the most notorious criminal cases of her time. Born in 1928, her inquisitive mind and fascination with “seeing what things were made of” led her to a career that shattered glass ceilings and changed the course of criminal investigations. Pereira started her journey in 1947, entering the Metropolitan Police Forensic Science Laboratory as a lowly laboratory assistant. Undeterred by the male-dominated world, she climbed the ranks with dedication and brilliance. One of her early achievements was the “Nicholls and Pereira (N&P)” method, a highly sensitive technique for determining a person’s blood type from even the faintest of stains. This method became a critical tool for investigators worldwide, earning Pereira international recognition. In the 1950s, Pereira became one of the first women to regularly appear as an expert witness in court, often facing skepticism and prejudice. Her calm demeanor, meticulous analysis, and unwavering honesty earned her the respect of judges and juries, paving the way for future generations of female forensic scientists. In 1976, Pereira became the first woman to lead the Home Office Forensic Science Service, overseeing a network of laboratories and hundreds of scientists. She championed modernization and training, recognizing the potential of new technologies like DNA profiling. Her forward-thinking vision ensured the agency remained at the forefront of forensic science. Throughout her career, Pereira worked on countless high-profile cases, including the infamous Lord Lucan nanny murder, where her bloodstain analysis helped expose the truth. She received numerous awards, including the prestigious Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE), and became a role model for aspiring scientists, particularly women. Margaret Pereira’s legacy extends far beyond her own groundbreaking work. She shattered stereotypes, opened doors for countless others, and left an indelible mark on the field of forensic science. “Miss Murder” wasn’t just a nickname; it was a testament to her dedication to solving crimes and bringing justice to victims. Her story is an inspiration to anyone who dares to challenge the status quo and leave their mark on the world.

1952 – Gerardo Marten Manso – There is very little information about Gerardo Manso but from what I have been able to find out I can say that he was 39 years old man who was married but there were obvious problems and he and his wife were separated.  In the middle of August 1991, Manso shot and killed his estranged wife’s lover Luis Gutierrez, he was not caught for this crime until he murdered a co-worker 2 years later, he was eventually convicted for both crimes and sentenced to life in prison.

1959 – David M. Brewer – He was convicted of the 1985 murder of 21-year-old Sherry Byrne, the wife of a college fraternity brother. After his indictment by a grand jury, Brewer waived his right to a jury and elected to be tried by a three-judge panel. He was found guilty on September 19, 1985, and sentenced to death in October 1985. His subsequent appeals at the state and federal levels were unsuccessful, as was his request for executive clemency. Brewer was the seventh person executed by the state of Ohio since it reinstated the death penalty in 1981. He died by lethal injection on April 29, 2003, after spending 17 years and six months on death row. At 10:00 a.m. on April 29, 2003, Brewer was led into the execution chamber at the state prison in Lucasville, Ohio. He was declared dead at 10:20 a.m.

1962 – Marco Antonio Montez – An American rapist and murderer who had met his friend and accomplice Timothy Aikens whilst they were working as strawberry pickers.  On 20th June 1987, the two men abducted 26-year-old Candice Straub and took her to a Portland motel room where they beat, raped & sodomized Straub before strangling her with a bed sheet, once she was dead they set the body on fire in an attempt to destroy evidence. Montez was sentenced to death whereas Aiken is serving a life sentence.

1966 – Ernest Marvin Carter Jr – also known as “Baby Boy”, was born on April 22, 1966, in Chandler, Lincoln County, Oklahoma. He is known for his involvement in a crime that took place on January 28, 1990. Carter was convicted of the murder of Eugene Manowski, a 35-year-old night watchman for Oklahoma Auto Auction. Manowski was working his first night on the job when he was killed. The crime occurred while Carter was attempting to steal a wrecker from the auto auction lot. Carter had been an employee of the auto auction but was fired about two weeks before the slaying. Two acquaintances said Carter had told them he’d killed a man while trying to steal the wrecker. Despite pleas made by his attorneys and criticisms of Gov. Frank Keating’s rejection of a clemency recommendation by the state Pardon and Parole Board, Carter was executed by lethal injection on December 17, 2002, at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester, Oklahoma.

1992 – Adam Lanza – He lived with his mother, Nancy Lanza, in Newtown, Connecticut, which is about 5 miles from Sandy Hook Elementary School. He was described as a quiet, friendless boy who was socially uncomfortable. Some of his classmates suggested he might have had autism or Asperger’s syndrome. On December 14, 2012, Lanza shot and killed his mother at their home before driving to Sandy Hook Elementary School. There, he committed a mass shooting, killing 20 children between six and seven years old, and six adult staff members. Lanza then died by suicide, shooting himself in the head. The incident is the deadliest mass shooting in Connecticut history and the deadliest at an elementary school in U.S. history. The shooting prompted renewed debate about gun control in the United States. Despite investigations, Lanza’s motive remains unknown. A report issued by the Office of the Child Advocate in November 2014 said that Lanza had Asperger syndrome and as a teenager had depression, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. However, the report concluded that these conditions had “neither caused nor led to his murderous acts”.

Deaths

Daniel Lee Siebert

1842 – John Lynch – also known as John Dunleavy, was an Irish-born Australian who lived from around 1812 to April 22, 1842. He was born in Cavan, County Cavan, Ireland. Lynch was convicted of a crime in Ireland and was sentenced to life transportation to Australia. He arrived in Australia as a convict and was assigned to a farm in the Berrima district. Lynch is infamous for confessing to the killing of ten people between 1836 and 1842, making him possibly the most prolific individual serial killer in Australian history. His crimes, known as The Berrima Axe murders, included the murder of three children. After a period in a convict gang, he absconded, and by July 1841, he had made his way back to the Berrima district. On two occasions, Lynch murdered carriers along the road between Berrima and Camden, stealing their drays and teams. In the latter half of 1841, Lynch murdered the farmer John Mulligan and his family and took possession of their farm in the Berrima district using the name John Dunleavy. He was convicted in March 1842 of the murder of Kearns Landregan, sentenced to death, and executed by hanging in April 1842. His crimes have left a dark mark on Australian history.

1884 – Hugo Schenk – also known as The Viennese Housemaids Killer, was born on 11 February 1849 in Čechy pod Kosířem, Margraviate of Moravia, Austrian Empire (present-day Czech Republic). He was a notorious Austrian serial killer and imposter who, with the help of an accomplice named Karl Schlossarek, murdered at least four maids, although the actual number could be six or more. Schenk was born into a well-off family. His father, Wilhelm Schenk, was a judge working in Moravia and Cieszyn, and his mother, Barbara, was the daughter of a burger of Olomouc. His criminal life began in 1869 and 1870 when he was tried as a marriage swindler to get the dowry of the alleged brides. He was sentenced on December 5, 1870, to a five-year stay at the Mírov detention center for several serious frauds, but was pardoned and released after two years. At the age of 32, he was once again convicted of marital fraud for two years in a heavy dungeon at the Stein Prison. After his release in January 1883, Schenk met the 34-year-old Josefine Timal, who worked as a maid in Vienna, where he worked as a railway engineer, and promised her marriage. However, he raped her near the Hranice Abyss. With the help of Schlossarek, he gagged and tied Timal, robbed her of valuables, and sank her with a heavy stone into the abyss. Schenk’s crimes continued, and he was finally apprehended on 10 January 1884. He was executed by hanging on 22 April 1884.

1925 – John Norman Holmes Thorne – A British murderer who killed his girlfriend after becoming romantically attached to another lady, his girlfriend had sent him a letter telling him she was pregnant, he was shocked by the news and not ready, his girlfriend insisted that they get married before the child was born and Thorne told her he didn’t want to marry and that he had been sexually attached to another. His girlfriend had been extremely clingy and needy during their relationship and the news that Thorne would be going with someone else was the last straw for her, she arrived at his home and told him she would not leave until they were married, the girlfriend then went missing!

1930 – William Henry Podmore – An English thief & murderer who was found to have killed an agent from the Wolf’s Head Oil Company, Vivian Messiter. Messiter had been reported missing nine weeks previously and his decomposing body was found by two men visiting a storage unit that Messiter used. A hammer was found close by and after examination by legendary pathologist Sir Bernard Spilsbury a small hair believed to be an eyebrow hair. After a lengthy investigation, Podmore was arrested and his type was matched to the eyebrow hair found on the hammer. He was convicted and sentenced to death.

1994 – Roy Allen Stewart – was an American man who was executed in 1994. He was convicted of first-degree murder in Dade County Circuit Court and sentenced to death. The crime for which he was convicted involved the brutal rape and murder of 77-year-old Margaret Haizlip of Perrine in south Dade County during a robbery of her home on February 22, 1979. Stewart was a neighbor of Haizlip’s. Testimony at his trial showed she had invited him into her home for a sandwich. They argued when she found him trying to steal a watch. Stewart severely beat the woman, breaking eight of her ribs, strangled her with an electrical cord, and raped her. Stewart had confessed three times to police that he killed Haizlip – once on tape and twice in writing. He later tried to recant those confessions. Despite numerous appeals and stays of execution, Stewart was put to death on April 22, 1994, in Florida’s electric chair. He became the 33rd inmate to be executed in the state since capital punishment was reinstated in 1976.

1998 – Jose Roberto Villafuerte – was born on December 2, 1952. He is known for his involvement in a serious crime that took place in Maricopa County, Arizona, USA. In February 1983, Villafuerte was involved in the murder of Amelia Schoville, whom he referred to as his girlfriend. The crime was characterized by particularly cruel and depraved conditions. Villafuerte beat Schoville and left her bound and gagged in a trailer. She was later found dead due to asphyxiation. Villafuerte was arrested on February 22, 1983, and was admitted to prison on September 19, 1983. He was sentenced to death for first-degree murder and the theft of Schoville’s car. After spending more than 14 years on death row, Villafuerte was executed by lethal injection on April 22, 1998.

1998 – Glennon Paul Sweet – An American man who was stopped on a traffic violation by 18-year veteran Trooper Russell W. Harper, before Harper could approach Sweet’s car, Sweets exited the vehicle and shot several times at the windshield of Trooper Harper killing him. Once the Trooper was discovered a huge manhunt began throughout Missouri with the cooperation of several law enforcement agencies, Sweet was soon found, convicted, and sentenced to death

2006 – Richard Michael Rossi – was an American man born on June 30, 1947. He was involved in a tragic incident that took place on August 29, 1983, in Scottsdale, Arizona, USA. Rossi had gone to the home of Harold August, supposedly to sell a typewriter, but instead, he shot Mr. August three times. After the first two shots, Mr. August asked, “You’ve got my money and you’ve shot me, what more do you want?” Rossi then shot August in the mouth, killing him. A neighbor heard the shots and walked into the August home. Rossi hit her over the head with a blackjack and shot her twice in the chest. Rossi used exploding bullets on both victims, but she survived. Rossi was sentenced to death on June 25, 1984. He was resentenced to death in 1986 and 1988. Rossi died on April 22, 2006, at Arizona State Prison Complex prison hospital in Florence, Arizona.

2008 – Daniel Lee Siebert – was an American serial killer who was on Alabama’s death row. He was born on June 17, 1954, in Mattoon, Illinois, and died on April 22, 2008, in Holman Correctional Facility, Atmore, Alabama. Siebert was convicted of three murders and confessed to at least five. During questioning, he indicated that he was responsible for at least 12 deaths. His crimes spanned from 1979 to 1986 across multiple states including Alabama, California, Nevada, and New Jersey. Siebert’s first known killing took place in Las Vegas, Nevada, for which he was convicted of manslaughter. In 1985, he was charged with the murders of two women in Los Angeles, California. In 1986, he murdered a student at the Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind in Talladega, Alabama, and her two children. He was also charged with the murder of Linda Odum, a waitress he had been dating. Siebert was charged with the death of Beatrice McDougall in Atlantic City, New Jersey, in 1986. Siebert was apprehended in Hurricane Mills, Tennessee, after placing a phone call to a friend who reported him to the police. His execution date was set for October 25, 2007, for the murders of Weathers and her children. Siebert died on April 22, 2008, in Holman Prison near Atmore of complications from cancer.

2010 – William Josef Berkley – was born in Germany, where his father was posted with the US Army. His family moved to El Paso when he was in the fourth grade. He dropped out of high school in 10th grade. Berkley is known for a heinous crime that took place on March 10, 2000. He robbed and abducted Sophia Martinez, an 18-year-old girl after she stopped at a cash point to withdraw some money. The teenager’s body was abandoned outside El Paso, Texas. She had been shot in the head five times. There was also evidence she had been raped. Berkley was convicted of the crime and sentenced to death in 2002. As he was born in Germany and had dual citizenship he was hoping that Germany might step in to stop his execution…they didn’t! He was executed by lethal injection on April 22, 2010.

Events

Luis Garavito

1692 – Edward Bishop is jailed for proposing flogging as a cure for witchcraft in Salem, Massachusetts

1934 – The US Division of Investigation (FBI) under Melvin Purvis botch an operation to capture John Dillinger and his gang at Little Bohemia Lodge, Manitowish Waters, Wisconsin with 2 dead and 4 injured

1971 – Charles Manson admitted to 7 counts of 1st-degree murder and 1 count of conspiracy to commit murder

1972 – An 11-year-old boy is killed with a rubber bullet by the British Army in Belfast

1981 – More than $3.3 million is stolen from First National Bank of Arizona in Tucson in the then-largest US bank robbery in history

1999 – Luis Garavito is apprehended

2013 – 6 people are killed in a shooting rampage in Belgorod, Russia

2018 – A gunman opens fire at Waffle House in Nashville killing 4 people

2020 – Sudan bans Female Genital Mutilation