Births

Dee Dee Blanchard

1850 – Johnny Ringo – was an American Old West outlaw loosely associated with the Cochise County Cowboys in frontier boomtown Tombstone, Arizona Territory. He took part in the Mason County War in Texas during which he committed his first murder. He was arrested and charged with murder, but escaped from jail and fled to Arizona. Ringo was born in Greens Fork, Indiana, in 1850. His family moved to Missouri when he was a child, and then to Texas in 1860. Ringo served in the Confederate Army during the Civil War. After the war, he worked as a cowboy and schoolteacher. In 1877, Ringo became involved in the Mason County War, a range war in Texas between ranchers and sheepherders. He was accused of killing two sheepherders but escaped from jail before he could be tried. Ringo moved to Tombstone, Arizona, in 1881. He quickly became associated with the Cochise County Cowboys, a loose group of outlaws who opposed the Earp brothers and Doc Holliday. Ringo was suspected of participating in the attempted murder of Virgil Earp and the ambush and death of Morgan Earp. Ringo’s death is shrouded in mystery. Some believe he was killed by Wyatt Earp in a shootout, while others believe he committed suicide. His body was found in Turkey Creek Canyon, Arizona, on July 13, 1882, with a gunshot wound to the head. Johnny Ringo is a popular figure in Western lore. He has been portrayed in many movies and television shows, including “Tombstone” (1993), in which he was played by Michael Biehn. Ringo’s reputation as a gunfighter is largely based on hearsay and legend. There is no evidence that he was involved in many gunfights. However, he was certainly a dangerous man who was involved in some of the most famous events of the Old West.

1871 – Emmett Dalton – Born in Missouri in 1871, Emmett Dalton was far from the typical cowboy. He dreamt of law, not lawlessness, but life took a sharp turn when his family moved to Indian Territory, a hotbed of outlaw activity. Drawn to the excitement, Emmett and his brothers – Grat, Bill, and the infamous “Lucky Luke” – formed the Dalton Gang, notorious for their audacious train and bank robberies. The gang’s crowning (and ultimately catastrophic) feat occurred in Coffeyville, Kansas, in 1892. Attempting to rob two banks simultaneously, they were met with fierce resistance from townspeople and lawmen. Emmett, riddled with 23 bullet holes, miraculously survived, the only member of the quintet to do so. He faced a life sentence, but after 14 years, a pardon opened a new chapter. Capitalizing on his notoriety, Emmett penned several books, including his infamous memoir, “When the Daltons Rode.” He even found success in vaudeville and Hollywood, playing himself in silent films. Despite his attempts to reinvent himself, Dalton’s past haunted him. He struggled with alcoholism and financial troubles. Yet, he retained a certain charisma, earning the respect of lawmen like J. Edgar Hoover, who commended his honesty and intelligence. Emmett Dalton died in 1937, leaving behind a legacy both colorful and contradictory. He was an outlaw, yes, but also a complex figure yearning for redemption. His story offers a glimpse into the harsh realities of the Wild West, where survival often hinged on the quick draw of a gun, and the line between outlaw and folk hero was easily blurred.

1941 – Fred L. Robinson – Robinson, an angry and abusive man who controlled his partner Susan Hill, on several occasions, she had tried to leave him but he always forced her to return.  In February 1987, Hill told Robinson that she had to go and see her father in Yuma, she stayed with him and her stepmother for a short while before going to  California to meet up with other relatives, she did not tell Robinson about her change of whereabouts.  Four months later, Robinson decided it was time for her to return and he gathered a few friends and loaded his car with weapons, one of the men, Theodore Washington was easy to spot as he always wore a red bandana.  Just before midnight on June 8th the men entered the home of the Hills and tied them up as they emptied drawers and cupboards looking for valuables, for reasons unknown both of the Hills were shot, but only Mr. Hills survived. Robinson & Washington were tried jointly and given the death sentence.

1950 – Jeffrey Don Lundgren – born in 1950 in Independence, Missouri, was raised in the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (RLDS), a Mormon offshoot. Accounts of his childhood paint a picture of a loner suffering from severe abuse, particularly at the hands of his father. This may have planted the seeds for his later manipulation and control. By the 1980s, Lundgren, claiming prophetic insight, started attracting followers with his unconventional “chiastic” scriptural interpretations. He formed a small, tight-knit group centered around Kirtland, Ohio, promising revelations and spiritual ascension. This growing influence eventually led to his expulsion from the RLDS due to his unorthodox beliefs and questionable practices. Driven by paranoia and a warped sense of messianic calling, Lundgren’s leadership turned sinister. He became increasingly controlling, demanding absolute obedience and financial contributions from his followers. Dissension was met with threats and intimidation, creating a climate of fear and isolation within the group. In 1989, the chilling climax of Lundgren’s twisted ideology unfolded. He orchestrated the brutal murders of the Avery family, and five fellow members of his cult, based on unfounded suspicions of disloyalty. This horrific act, rooted in a blend of religious fanaticism and power hunger, exposed the dark underbelly of his charismatic facade. After a nationwide manhunt, Lundgren was apprehended and brought to justice. His 1990 trial revealed the manipulative tactics he used to ensnare his followers and the chilling details of the Avery family murders. Despite claiming divine sanction for his actions, he was found guilty of five counts of aggravated murder and sentenced to death. In 2006, Lundgren’s life came to an end through lethal injection. Jeffrey Don Lundgren’s story serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of unchecked religious fervor and the destructive potential of charismatic leadership. His case continues to be studied by criminologists and religious scholars, shedding light on the dynamics of cults and the devastating consequences of blind faith in manipulative individuals.

1951 – Jessie Derrell Williams – An American rapist, torturer, and murderer who was found responsible for the mutilation and murder of 18-year-old Karon Ann Pierce who after being raped many times by different men had been cut apart at the vagina and anus whilst still alive by Williams, mercifully she would be killed a short time later. Williams was sentenced to death and was executed in December 2002. 

1967 – Clauddine “Dee Dee” Blanchard – born in 1967, wasn’t the woman the world thought she was. Her life, woven into a tapestry of fabricated illness and manipulated narratives, took a tragic and shocking turn in 2015. To understand Dee Dee is to delve into the darkness of Munchausen syndrome by proxy, a parent or caregiver’s fabrication of illness in their dependence for attention or sympathy. Born in Louisiana, Dee Dee’s early life remains veiled. What is known is her marriage to Rod Blanchard, which yielded daughter Gypsy Rose in 1991. Soon after, Dee Dee embarked on a horrifying charade – subjecting Gypsy to an endless battery of medical procedures and portraying her as chronically ill with ailments ranging from leukemia to muscular dystrophy. Gypsy, allegedly unaware of the truth, became a symbol of resilience, showered with charity and goodwill based on a fabricated reality. Dee Dee’s web of deceit stretched far and wide. Hospitals, specialists, wheelchairs, medications, and surgeries became Gypsy’s daily reality, orchestrated by Dee Dee’s relentless manipulation. Social media became their platform, documenting Gypsy’s “struggles” and garnering sympathy and donations. The facade was flawless, earning them national attention and even appearances on national television. Behind the veil, however, Gypsy, trapped in a world of needles and wheelchairs, yearned for normalcy. In 2015, her online encounter with Nicholas Godejohn sparked a rebellion. The internet, once Dee Dee’s tool, became Gypsy’s escape route. In June 2015, Dee Dee was found murdered in their home, Godejohn was later convicted of the crime. Gypsy, initially implicated, eventually confessed to orchestrating the murder, desperate to escape her mother’s control. Dee Dee’s life and death left a legacy of profound ethical and psychological questions. Munchausen by proxy, a hidden and insidious act, came to light, sparking awareness and concern. Gypsy’s story, from victim to accomplice, challenged our understanding of manipulation and survival. Clauddine “Dee Dee” Blanchard’s biography is not a conventional one. It’s a cautionary tale, a reminder of the complexities of human behavior and the devastating consequences of deceit. It’s a story that compels us to question, seek truth, and remember that appearances can be deceiving, even in the face of seemingly unbearable medical realities.

1967 – Toribio Rodriguez Rodriguez – Rodriguez is a depraved and warped rapist and murderer who in my opinion should still be on death row. On August 25th, 1988, Rodriguez would attack Dawn Dearing whilst she was in her Arizona apartment, where he would rape her before stabbing her numerous times using knives he obtained from her butcher block when the handle broke off the knife he was using he grabbed the blade and slashed her throat.  To compound the agony for Ms. Dearing and add to Rodriguez’s sick desires he inserted the broken handle into her vagina and then pushed a curling iron in as well, he completed his disgusting attack by plugging the curling iron in and turning it on!

Deaths

Paul Rougeau

1913 – Alexander Howland Smith – also known as the “Antique Smith”, was a Scottish document forger in the 1880s. Born on March 16, 1859, he began his forging career in his native Edinburgh. Initially, he visited second-hand bookshops and bought old books with blank flyleaves. When these materials ran out, he resorted to modern paper. Smith started selling his forgeries in 1886 and continued for the next five years. He sold them to bookshops, auctions, and pawnshops, usually at modest prices. Smith forged manuscripts from various historical people, such as Mary, Queen of Scots; Oliver Cromwell; and Sir Walter Scott. He created poems, autographs, and historical letters. He made the documents appear old by dipping them in weak tea. Experts later said that the forgeries were very clumsy and should not have deceived anyone. In May 1891, manuscript collector James Mackenzie decided to sell some of the letters of his Rillbank Collection by auction in Edinburgh. Before the start of the auction, the auctioneer stated that some people had claimed that the items were forgeries and refused to personally vouch for them, which significantly decreased the prices. Mackenzie published two unpublished poems purporting to be by Burns in the paper. When Mackenzie was asked how he had acquired the letters, he claimed that he had found them in a secret drawer in an old cabinet. Contemporaries did not believe him. An American collector, who had bought 2020 letters from a manuscript seller, James Stillie, in Edinburgh, heard the rumors about forgeries and sent them to the British Museum to be verified. The museum’s handwriting experts found out that at least 201 of them were forgeries. His forgeries still surface today. Smith passed away on May 3, 1913.

1934 – Reginald Ivor Hinks – A British man who married Constance Anne Pullen who was a divorcee with a child, her 85-year-old senile father also lived with them but Hinks wanted an easy life and did everything he could think of to get rid of the old man but he was very resilient, on December 1st, 1933 Hinks had had enough and decided to murder the old man, he hit him over the head and whilst knocked out he laid him down with his head in a gas oven which was turned on.  When the old man was dead, Hinks called the fire brigade stating that he had come back and found the old man dead, he also pointed out that he had a bump to the head which Hinks stated was caused when he pulled him out of the oven.  When an autopsy was carried out, it was proven that the bump to the head happened before death so Hinks was arrested and charged with murder, he was later convicted and given the death penalty. 

1988 – Paul Vario – was an American mobster and made man in the Lucchese crime family. He was a caporegime and had his own crew of mobsters in Brooklyn, New York. Vario was a powerful figure in the New York underworld for decades, but his life and career came to an end after he was betrayed by his protégé, Henry Hill. Vario was born in New York City in 1914. He grew up in the tough South Brooklyn neighborhood of Old Mill. Vario got his start in crime at a young age, committing petty thefts and gambling. By his early twenties, he was a full-fledged member of the Lucchese family. Vario quickly rose through the ranks of the Lucchese family, thanks to his ruthlessness, intelligence, and business acumen. He took over a lucrative racetrack operation and expanded his crew’s activities to include loan sharking, extortion, and drug trafficking. Vario was also known for his violent temper and his willingness to use deadly force against anyone who crossed him. Vario became a mentor to a young Henry Hill, who was impressed by his wealth and power. Hill quickly became one of Vario’s most trusted lieutenants, and Vario even treated him like a son. However, their relationship would eventually take a tragic turn. In the 1970s, the FBI began to crack down on organized crime. Vario was arrested on several charges, including racketeering and tax evasion. He was eventually convicted and sentenced to prison. While in prison, Vario was betrayed by Hill, who became an FBI informant. Hill testified against Vario and several other Lucchese family members, leading to their convictions and long prison sentences. Vario was released from prison in 1985, but his health had been broken by his time behind bars. He died of respiratory failure in 1988. Vario’s life and career have been the subject of much fascination and speculation. He was a complex figure who was both a ruthless criminal and a devoted family man. His story is a cautionary tale of the dangers of a life of crime. Vario was the inspiration for the character Paul Cicero in the Martin Scorsese film Goodfellas. The film, which was based on Hill’s memoir, tells the story of the rise and fall of the Hill family in the Lucchese family.

1993 – Darryl Elroy Stewart – was born on April 2, 1955, in Harris County, Texas. He is known for his involvement in a tragic event that took place on February 6, 1980. On this day, Stewart broke into an apartment in the Scarsdale area to burglarize it. During the burglary, he encountered Donna Kate Thomas, a 22-year-old resident of the apartment. When she refused to comply with his demands, Stewart shot her. Stewart’s accomplice, Kelvin Kelley, was also charged with capital murder, but the charge was dropped when he pleaded guilty to the reduced charge of burglary. Kelley was given a 20-year sentence. Young Donna, the daughter of the victim, testified that she saw Stewart, who was thin while Kelley was tall and burly, holding the gun after her mother was shot. Stewart was executed by lethal injection in Texas on May 3, 1993. He was the 200th person executed since the 1976 Supreme Court ruling that allowed states to resume the use of the death penalty. His final resting place is in the Captain Joe Byrd Cemetery in Huntsville, Walker County, Texas.

1994 – Paul Rougeau – was an American criminal, born on December 22, 1947. He is most known for his involvement in a robbery at the Stock Exchange Lounge in southeast Houston on January 6, 1978. During this incident, Rougeau was convicted of killing Albert Wilkins, a 50-year-old off-duty Harris County deputy constable working as a security guard. Despite his claims of innocence, Rougeau was convicted of capital murder for the murder of a police officer during this aggravated robbery attempt. Rougeau, his brother Joe, and another man named Curtis Gillory were all involved in the robbery. Testimony showed that Rougeau cursed Wilkins as the officer begged for his life and then shot him in the head with a .38-caliber pistol. A shootout with the police ensued as they exited the club. Joe was killed, Rougeau managed to escape, and Gillory was arrested outside of the club. Rougeau was arrested about 12 hours later with an apparent gunshot wound to the buttocks. Rougeau was sentenced to death and was executed by lethal injection in Texas on May 3, 1994. His case garnered international attention, with a group of Italian citizens forming a committee to help him after his letter was printed on the front page of the Italian newspaper Il Manifesto. Despite several appeals and strong public mobilization, Rougeau was executed two years later.

2005 – Lonnie Wayne Pursley – was born on September 17, 1961. He was a former cook and laborer, and a ninth-grade dropout. On March 29, 1997, Pursley and a co-defendant were involved in the murder of Robert Earl Cook, a 47-year-old man, inside the Deer County Subdivision in Livingston, Texas. They took Cook into a wooded area where they beat him to death and robbed him. Authorities said Pursley used rings he took from Cook to buy drugs. Pursley was a three-time parolee. He was executed on May 3, 2005, for the robbery and fatal beating of Cook while he was on parole for a third time. In a final statement, Pursley thanked relatives of his victim for a statement delivered to him shortly before he was taken to the death chamber in which they offered their forgiveness. He expressed remorse for any pain he had caused. Pursley was pronounced dead at 6:23 p.m. CDT, eight minutes after the drugs began flowing. He became the sixth Texas prisoner executed that year.

2006 – Denny O’Dell Taylor Sr – was a 60-year-old man from Fernandina Beach, Florida. He was involved in a tragic incident that took place in a hospital parking lot. Taylor had been ordered to stay away from his former wife and her sister due to a history of domestic violence. Despite this, he shot three of his former relatives, critically injuring two and killing one. The victims were his ex-wife, Frances S. Taylor, her sister, Sara Rogers, and Sara’s husband, Roy E. Rogers. After the incident, Taylor committed suicide. This event had a significant impact on the local community and was widely reported in the media.

Events

Brittney Griner Arrested

1916 – The leaders of the Easter Rising are executed in Dublin

1932 – Six months after his conviction for tax evasion, Eliot Ness & Al Capone met for the first and only time

1946 – There was the first known incident of a failed execution when the electric chair failed to kill Willie Francis

1974 – Serial killer Daniel Camargo Barbosa is apprehended

1988 – 4,200kg of Colombian cocaine is seized at Tarpon Springs, Florida

1992 – Drew Peterson marries Kathleen Savio

2006 – Zacarias Moussaoui is sentenced to life in prison in Alexandria, Virginia

2007 – Three-year-old British girl Madeleine McCann disappears in Praia Da Luz, Portugal

2015 – Two gunmen launch an attempted attack on an anti-Islam event in Garland, Texas, which was held in response to the Charlie Hebdo shooting in Paris

2018 – AMPAS votes to expel Bill Cosby & Roman Polanski

2021 – German police announce an operation and arrests into “Boystown” the world’s largest child abuse image website with 400,000 members worldwide

2022 – The US Government says WNBA player Brittney Griner has been detained in Russia after being taken into custody when drugs were found in her luggage in February 2022