Births

Mark Orrin Barton

1897 – Soghomon Tenlirian – was an Armenian revolutionary and soldier, born on April 2, 1896, in the village of Nerkin Bagarij (now known as Çadırkaya, Tercan, Turkey) during the time of the Ottoman Empire. His life was marked by significant events and actions. In June 1915, the Ottoman local police ordered the deportation of all Armenians in Erzinjan. Tehlirian lost 85 family members to the Armenian Genocide, including his mother, three sisters, his sister’s husband, two brothers, and a two-year-old niece. His mother and older brother died during the genocide, while his father was fighting in the war in Russia, and his other two brothers were in Serbia. Tehlirian joined the Russian army as a volunteer during World War I, serving on the Caucasus Front against the Turks. He became part of Operation Nemesis, a revenge plan by the Armenian Revolutionary Federation against those responsible for the Armenian genocide. His mission was to assassinate Talaat Pasha, the former Grand Vizier of the Ottoman Empire, who had been convicted and sentenced to death in absentia by Turkish courts-martial. On March 15, 1921, in Berlin, Tehlirian successfully carried out the assassination. After a two-day trial, a German court found Tehlirian not guilty, considering his act as a response to the atrocities committed during the genocide. He was released, and his actions were seen as a form of justice. Talaat Pasha had been viewed as the main orchestrator of the Armenian genocide, making Tehlirian a national hero among Armenians. In 1917, Tehlirian met a 15-year-old Armenian girl named Anahit, who became the great love of his life. Tehlirian’s legacy remains intertwined with the struggle for justice and remembrance of the Armenian Genocide. He rests at Ararat Cemetery in Fresno, California, having left an indelible mark on history.

1924 – Leslie Irvin – was an American serial killer whose killing spree in the early 1950s terrorized residents of southwestern Indiana. His case also set a precedent for ensuring a fair trial for defendants even in the wake of a great deal of pretrial publicity.  Irvin’s violent spree began on December 2, 1954, and continued until March 28, 1955. During this time, he committed six murders across Indiana and Kentucky. His victims included Mary Holland, who was shot in the head at close range at work on December 2, 1954; she was three months pregnant and the motive was robbery. Wesley Kerr was shot in the head at close range at work on December 23, 1954; this was also a robbery. Wilhelmina Sailer, a housewife, was killed at home and shot in the head during a burglary on March 21, 1955. Goebel Duncan was killed during a burglary in Henderson, Kentucky on March 28, 1955. On the same day, Raymond Duncan, Goebel’s son, and Maple Elizabeth Duncan, Dorris Ray’s (Raymond’s brother) wife, were also killed.  In the last incident, Goebel’s wife, Mamie, was shot but survived, albeit permanently blinded. Elizabeth’s two-year-old daughter was spared.  Irvin had a criminal history before this spree. He had previously received a sentence of 10 to 20 years for armed robbery in Indianapolis in 1945, served nine years, and later moved to Evansville in May 1954.  He was ultimately captured after someone recalled seeing his car near the Duncan property before the murders. Weapons and loot that tied him to one of the murders were later found.

1947 – William Wilton Morrisette III – is a white male who gained notoriety for his heinous crimes that forever changed the lives of those involved. In 1980, the life of Dorothy “Dottie” White, a 47-year-old bank worker, was brutally cut short when she was found stabbed to death in her Hampton mobile home. The investigation revealed that she had also been raped. For 19 years, her murder remained unsolved, casting a shadow of fear and uncertainty over the community. However, advancements in DNA testing eventually led to a breakthrough. Evidence from the crime scene was linked to William Morrisette, a man who had once done yard work for White. His DNA matched that found at the scene, and justice was finally within reach. In August 2001, a jury in the Circuit Court for the City of Hampton convicted William Wilton Morrisette III of capital murder and rape in connection with Dorothy M. White’s death. The jury recommended the death penalty for Morrisette. Circuit Judge William C. Andrews III affirmed this sentence on October 30, 2001. However, legal twists and turns followed. The Virginia Supreme Court initially upheld Morrisette’s conviction and death sentence. But later, they vacated the death sentence due to a faulty verdict form during the penalty phase. A new sentence hearing was ordered, and the case continued to unfold. Despite the passage of time, the memory of Dorothy White lives on. Her tragic fate serves as a reminder of the impact of violence and the pursuit of justice.

1955 – Mark Orrin Barton – was a former day trader and manufacturing company president who became a notorious spree killer in 1999. He murdered his second wife and two children, then went on a shooting rampage at two Atlanta-area day trading firms, killing nine more people and injuring 13 others. He later committed suicide in Acworth, Georgia, before he could be arrested by the police.  Barton was born in Stockbridge, Georgia, to an Air Force family and lived in Europe for most of his childhood. He attended Clemson University and the University of South Carolina, where he earned a degree in chemistry despite an ongoing drug habit. He moved to Atlanta after graduating and met his first wife, Debra Spivey, whom he married and had two children with. However, their marriage deteriorated due to Barton’s paranoia and controlling behavior. He was fired from his job at Momentum Securities in 1990 for sabotaging the company’s data files. He then started an affair with Leigh Ann Lang, who was also married to another man.  On July 27, 1999, Barton woke up early in the morning at his home in Stockbridge and bludgeoned his second wife to death as she slept. The next night, he also beat his children to death with a hammer and left notes on their bodies explaining his motives. He then drove to Atlanta and went to the offices of Momentum Securities and All-Tech Investment Group, where he shot and killed four people each before fleeing the scene. The police searched his house and found the bodies of his family members as well as the notes that he had left with them. Barton also left a note at one of the crime scenes saying that he did not plan to live very much longer and that he wanted to kill as many people who greedily sought his destruction.  Barton’s rampage lasted for about 12 hours before he reached Acworth, where he shot himself in the head after being cornered by police officers. His motive for the killing was never fully understood by the authorities or the media, but some speculated that it was related to financial losses that he suffered during the previous two months or that it was driven by mental illness or drug addiction. His case remains one of the deadliest mass shootings in Georgia history as well as one of the most tragic examples of the family annihilator-turned-workplace shooter phenomenon.

1955 – Darryl Elroy Stewart – was a convicted murderer who was executed through lethal injection in Texas on May 3, 1993. At the time of his execution, Stewart was 38 years old, but he was only 24 when he committed the crime that led to his death sentence. Stewart, a high school graduate or GED, broke into an apartment in the Scarsdale area of Harris County, Texas, in 1980 with the intention of burglary. When Donna Kate Thomas, a 22-year-old woman, refused to engage in sexual activity with him, Stewart resorted to violence and shot her, resulting in her tragic death.  The incident was particularly tragic as Donna Kate Thomas had left her apartment door open to keep an eye on her young daughter, also named Donna, who was playing outside. Stewart, along with his accomplice Kelvin Kelley, entered the apartment looking for something to steal so they could buy drugs. Stewart attempted to rape Mrs. Thomas, but when she resisted, he put a pillow over her head and shot her twice in the head. Donna’s daughter witnessed the horrifying act, hiding in a closet as her mother was killed.  In the legal proceedings that followed, Kelvin Kelley testified against Stewart in exchange for a 20-year prison sentence. Stewart was convicted and sentenced to death. His execution on May 3, 1993, marked the 200th execution in the United States since the Supreme Court reinstated the death penalty in 1976.

1965 – Rodney King – was an African-American man who became a symbol of police brutality. He was born on April 2, 1965, in Sacramento, California, and tragically passed away on June 17, 2012, in Rialto, California at the age of 47. In 1991, King’s life took a fateful turn when he was severely beaten by officers of the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) during his arrest. The incident occurred after a high-speed pursuit for driving while intoxicated on the I-210. A nearby resident, George Holliday, captured the brutal beating on film from his balcony and shared the footage with local news station KTLA. The shocking video spread worldwide, sparking public outrage and condemnation. King’s injuries were evident: a broken right leg, a badly cut and swollen face, bruises on his body, and a burn area on his chest where he had been jolted with a stun gun. He described how he knelt, spread his hands out, and tried to move slowly to avoid any “stupid moves,” but was met with violence. Guns were drawn, and he feared for his life. The subsequent trial of the four officers involved in the beating resulted in three acquittals and a hung jury on one charge. The verdicts triggered the 1992 Los Angeles riots, fueled by outrage over racial tensions and longstanding social issues. The riots lasted six days, claiming 63 lives and injuring 2,383 people. Only after reinforcements from the California Army National Guard, the Army, and the Marine Corps did the city regain control. King advocated for peace during the unrest. In a separate civil rights case, the federal government secured indictments against the officers for violating King’s civil rights. Two officers were found guilty and sentenced to prison, while the other two were acquitted. The City of Los Angeles was also found liable and awarded King $3.8 million in damages. King’s story remains a powerful reminder of the fight against injustice and the need for police reform.

1969 – Leo Edward Perry Jr – According to a statement by Perry, he met his 75-year-old victim, John Johnson whilst they were hitchhiking in Alabama, Johnson offered him a ride and the two went to Florida, when they arrived Johnson booked a hotel room and told Perry he could stay over.  Perry went out and drank copious amounts of alcohol and smoked crack and when he got back he just collapsed in a heap and fell asleep, a short time later he awoke to find Johnson standing over him masturbating, he states he did not know what happened next he just remembers Johnson’s body on the bed covered in blood

1971 – Lorenzo Fayne – had a challenging upbringing marked by poverty, crime, and family instability. His parents struggled with legal issues and substance dependencies, and he suffered physical abuse and sexual assault at a young age. As a teenager, he was frequently on the streets, leading to a criminal record that included robbery, burglary, assault, and auto theft. His time in juvenile prisons was marred by further assaults, and he was identified as having a borderline intellectual disability. In 1989, after his release, he moved to East St. Louis, Illinois, to live with his grandmother, Nelly Willis, but his criminal behavior continued. He became a suspect in the 1993 murder of 17-year-old Faith Davis, who was raped and stabbed in her apartment. Witnesses identified Fayne, and blood stains were found in his home. Further investigation linked him to the 1989 murder of 6-year-old Aree Hunt. Fayne was convicted and sentenced to death in 2001, but his sentence was commuted to life imprisonment in 2002 due to concerns about miscarriages of justice. He remains incarcerated at the Menard Correctional Center in Chester, Illinois, for his crimes.

1973 – Jason James Mahn – was convicted of a brutal crime that deeply affected the community in Escambia County, Florida, USA. On April 1, 1993, he violently attacked his father’s long-time girlfriend, Debra Shanko, and her teenage son, Anthony Shanko, stabbing them with a kitchen knife. The crime scene was discovered by Mahn’s father when he returned home late one night to find Debra’s lifeless body and her severely injured son, who tragically succumbed to his injuries shortly after. Despite his desperate attempt to identify Mahn as the assailant, Anthony passed away. On February 23, 1994, Mahn was convicted on two counts of first-degree murder and one count of armed robbery. He received the death penalty for both murders and an additional 17 years for the armed robbery. Mahn’s life had taken a dark turn after his parents’ divorce when he was just a toddler. He had no further contact with his father, Michael Mahn, until he turned 18 and moved from Texas to Florida to live with him and Debra Shanko. However, frustration and hatred led him down a dark path, resulting in the tragic loss of two lives. His actions left a lasting scar on the community, serving as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of hate and violence.

1973 – Marcus Reymond Robinson – was an African-American who faced a tumultuous legal journey. He was convicted and sentenced to death in Cumberland County Superior Court for the June 1991 death of Erik Tornblom. In addition to this grave charge, Robinson received additional sentences: 40 years for robbery with a dangerous weapon, 10 years for larceny, and five years for possessing a weapon of mass destruction. Robinson successfully appealed against the death sentence under North Carolina’s 2009 Racial Justice Act, which allowed prisoners under a death sentence to appeal for commutation to life imprisonment if racism was proven to be a factor in their original trial. A study from Michigan State University revealed that qualified black jurors were systematically excluded from jury service, both generally in North Carolina and during his trial. Consequently, he was removed from death row, becoming the first death row inmate to utilize this legislation. However, the Racial Justice Act was repealed in 2013, and later, the North Carolina Supreme Court vacated the ruling on procedural grounds. Despite these legal twists, Robinson’s case persisted. A new trial court dismissed his case, leading him to file an appeal with the state’s Supreme Court in May 2017. Tragically, Robinson died by apparent suicide. He was found unresponsive in his cell on June 9, 2022, and despite efforts by prison first responders, he was pronounced dead shortly after. His life and legal battles remain a poignant chapter in the complex tapestry of justice and racial bias.

1973 – Jennifer Womac – On September 19, 2009, Jennifer was involved in a shocking act of parricide that deeply affected her community. Just six days after her 36th birthday, she plotted with her accomplice, James Louis “Louie” Landers, to murder her father, Grady Nichols Jr., in Meigs County, Tennessee, USA. The crime took place at Nichols’ home while Jennifer was reportedly out shopping with her stepmother. Landers, pretending to be a lost hunter seeking directions and armed with a .410-gauge shotgun, ended Nichols’ life. Nichols’ body was found on the porch upon Jennifer and her stepmother’s return. The investigation led to Landers, who confessed and implicated Jennifer in the crime. The motive was a substantial inheritance from the Nichols estate. In a recorded conversation, Jennifer promised Landers full payment for the murder. Both Jennifer Womac and James Landers were indicted for capital murder, pleaded down to second-degree murder, and received sentences well beyond the norm. They are currently serving 40 years in prison for their actions.

1974 – Richard Lee Adams – was convicted on March 29, 2000, for the brutal murder of his six-year-old stepdaughter, Kayla V. McKean, in Clermont, Lake County, Florida. The tragic events unfolded when Kayla allegedly soiled herself, leading to a violent outburst from Adams who mercilessly beat her to death and then transported her lifeless body to the Ocala National Forest in Marion County, Florida, where he buried her in a shallow grave. Kayla McKean’s untimely demise followed a series of reported incidents of child abuse and beatings. Her tragic case catalyzed change within Florida’s child protective services. In 1999, the Florida Legislature unanimously passed the Kayla McKean Child Protection Act, which aimed to safeguard abused and neglected children. The act mandated that the Department of Children and Families (DCF) maintain a master file for each child reportedly living in an abusive home. Adams faced justice when he was sentenced to life imprisonment for first-degree murder on May 15, 2000. He remains incarcerated in Escambia County, Florida, with no possibility of parole.

1977 – Patrick Wade Bearup – was convicted of a heinous crime that shook the Crown King area north of Phoenix. His life took a dark turn when he became involved in a violent incident in February 2002 that would forever alter his fate. Along with accomplices Sean Gaines, Jeremy Johnson, and Jessica Nelson, Bearup orchestrated a brutal attack on Mark Mathes, a 40-year-old man. Mathes was beaten, shot, and thrown off a cliff in the remote wilderness. The motive behind this gruesome act was suspicion: Jessica Nelson believed that Mathes had stolen money from her and enlisted the help of Bearup and the others to “take care of this matter.” The situation escalated dramatically when Gaines, Johnson, and Bearup, armed with weapons, set out to confront Mathes. Bearup chillingly declared, “Let’s go play, boys,” indicating their intention to “cause trouble.” When Mathes returned home that evening, the violent confrontation unfolded, resulting in Mathes’ tragic demise. Bearup faced justice in court and was convicted of murder and sentenced to death on February 5, 2007. His role in this brutal crime forever tied his name to a dark chapter in Arizona’s history. Despite co-defendants describing him as a “weekend warrior” with no strong ideological leanings, Bearup’s actions left an indelible mark on the lives of those involved.

1984 – Richard Aaron Cobb – In a tragic and horrifying incident, Richard Aaron Cobb and his accomplice, Beunka Adams, committed a violent robbery at a convenience store in Rusk, Texas. On the day of the incident, Candace Driver and Nikki Dement were working at the store, and Kenneth Vandever was the only customer present. Adams and Cobb, masked and armed, demanded cash from the register and then forced the employees and the customer into a Cadillac parked outside. They drove the victims to a remote location where their intentions turned even darker.  After forcing Driver and Vandever into the trunk of the car, Adams and Cobb sexually assaulted Dement. In a shocking turn of events, they made all three victims kneel on the ground and shot them with a shotgun. Believing their victims were dead, Adams and Cobb fled the scene, leaving behind a trail of horror.  Tragically, Kenneth Vandever succumbed to his wounds. However, Candace Driver and Nikki Dement miraculously survived the brutal attack and later testified against Adams and Cobb. In separate trials, Cobb was convicted and sentenced to death eight months before Adams. Evidence linked the two criminals, who had a history of robberies during the same period.  The outcome saw Beunka Adams executed on April 26, 2012, paying the ultimate price for his heinous actions. Richard Aaron Cobb’s fate was also sealed, serving as a grim reminder of the devastating consequences of violence and criminality.

Deaths

Daniel Lee Zirkle

1997 – David Lee Herman – a former owner of a topless nightclub in Arlington, Texas, committed a heinous crime that led to the tragic death of a young woman. On December 20, 1989, he confronted club manager Clay Griffin and two female employees at gunpoint, demanding $11,200. When his attempt to rape bookkeeper Jennifer Burns failed, he shot all three victims with a .357 caliber gun, resulting in Burns’ death. Herman was arrested ten days later, with a significant portion of the stolen money recovered. The two surviving victims testified against him during the trial, leading to his swift conviction of capital murder by the jury. After years on death row, Herman was executed by lethal injection on April 2, 1997. His last statement expressed remorse for his actions and the pain he had caused, hoping his death would bring peace and closure to the victims’ families.

2002 – Daniel Lee Zirkle – Zirkle was an abusive asshole who had previously had a relationship with Barbara Schifflett however due to his abuse she had taken out several protective orders which he had violated and therefore was sent to prison, furious he plotted revenge and when he was released he murdered his 14-year-old stepdaughter, Jessica Shifflett, and 4-year-old Christina Zirkle, who he shared with Barbara

2004 – Douglas Donald Moore – A Canadian serial killer & pedophile who was convicted of the murders of 22-year-old Robert Grewal, 20-year-old Joseph Manchisi & 15-year-old Rene Charlebois

2013 – Charles Oliver Shuler – In September 1999, Charles O. Shuler of Elloree was charged with the murder of his ex-girlfriend Linda Williams, her mother Dorothy Gates, and her daughter Stacy, after he broke into Linda’s home near Cordova and opened fire with a 12-gauge shotgun. During his trial, the prosecution presented a 911 recording where 13-year-old Stacy identified Shuler as her shooter. The Orangeburg County Sheriff’s Office investigators charged Shuler with the shooting deaths of the three women. After deliberating for just over an hour, the jury found Shuler guilty and he was subsequently sentenced to death in March 2001.

Events

Robert Berdella

1884 – The London prison for debtors is closed

1932 – Charles Lindbergh turns over $50,000 as a ransom for his kidnapped son

1988 – Serial killer Robert Berdella is arrested after his last victim escapes

1992 – John Gotti is convicted of murder and racketeering

2012 – Mass shooting at Oikos University in California

2013 – Nine mutilated bodies are found in an SUV in Tamaulipas, Mexico

2014 – Spree shooting at Fort Hood

2015 – 147 people are killed after gunmen attack Carissa University College in Kenya

2015 – Hatton Garden Raid