Births

The poster that was created for the disappearance of Laci Peterson

1970 – Karla Homolka – also known as Karla Leanne Teale, Leanne Teale, and Leanne Bordelais, was born on May 4, 1970, in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. She is a Canadian serial killer who acted as an accomplice to her husband, Paul Bernardo. They took an active part in the rapes and murders of at least three minors in Ontario, including her own sister, Tammy Homolka, between 1990 and 1992. Homolka attracted worldwide media attention when a controversial plea bargain with Ontario prosecutors meant she was only convicted of manslaughter, and served only twelve years for the torture, rapes, and murders of two teenage girls, Leslie Mahaffy and Kristen French. Videotapes of the crimes surfaced after the plea bargain and before Bernardo’s trial, proving that Homolka was a more active participant than she had originally claimed. As a result, the deal that she had struck with prosecutors was dubbed in the Canadian press the “Deal with the Devil”. Following her release from prison, Homolka settled in Quebec, where she married the brother of her lawyer. She briefly lived in the Antilles and Guadeloupe, but by 2014, had returned to Quebec.

1973 – Marlon DeWayne Williams – is known for his involvement in a murder-for-hire case. He was a drug dealer who was hired by Clark Bedsole to kill his wife, Helen Bedsole. The murder took place on November 11, 1993, in Chesapeake, Virginia, USA. Williams shot Helen Bedsole twice in the head while she was in her kitchen. Williams had a troubled childhood marked by abuse and abandonment. When he was two, his mother joined the army, and he was sent to live with an aunt. At the age of five, his mother reclaimed custody, after which he was subjected to repeated brutality. He was taken into the care of the Department of Social Services and was diagnosed with major depression at 13. Williams was sentenced to death in 1995 and was executed by lethal injection in Virginia on August 17, 1999. His case is notable for the disparity in sentencing between him and Clark Bedsole, who received a life sentence.

1975 – Laci Peterson – (née Rocha) was born on May 4, 1975, in Modesto, California. Her life, though sadly brief, was marked by warmth, kindness, and a deep love for family. Her story, however, is often overshadowed by the tragic events that unfolded in December 2002, forever etching her name in the annals of American true crime. Laci grew up on a dairy farm west of Escalon, California, alongside her older brother, Brent. Described as a cheerful and bubbly child, she enjoyed tending to the farm animals and helping her mother with gardening. Despite her family’s divorce when she was young, Laci found stability and love in her mother’s remarriage to Ron Grantski, who became a constant presence in her life. After graduating from high school, Laci pursued her education at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo. It was there that she met the man who would become her husband, Scott Peterson. The couple married in 1997 and settled in Modesto, where they built a seemingly picture-perfect life. In May 2002, Laci’s life blossomed with the news of her pregnancy. She and Scott were ecstatic about the impending arrival of their first child, a son they lovingly named Conner. Laci embraced motherhood with characteristic enthusiasm, decorating the nursery and eagerly preparing for her new role. However, fate had a cruel twist in store. On December 24, 2002, Christmas Eve, Laci vanished from her Modesto home. Scott reported her missing, sparking a nationwide search that gripped the nation. The weeks that followed were a whirlwind of media frenzy and agonizing hope, ultimately culminating in the discovery of Laci’s remains and those of her unborn son Connor on the shores of San Francisco Bay in April 2003. The investigation into Laci’s disappearance quickly turned toward Scott, who was ultimately arrested and charged with her murder. The ensuing trial, televised nationally, became a spectacle of grief and intrigue. In November 2004, Scott Peterson was found guilty and sentenced to death for the murders of Laci and Conner. Laci Peterson’s life, though tragically cut short, is a testament to the enduring power of love, family, and the human spirit. Her story serves as a stark reminder of the fragility of life and the devastating impact of violence. While the events of 2002 forever changed the lives of those who knew and loved her, Laci’s memory continues to be cherished by her family and friends, who remember her warm smile, infectious laughter, and unwavering devotion to her loved ones. It is important to remember that Laci Peterson was more than just a victim of a sensational crime. She was a daughter, a sister, a wife, and a mother-to-be. Her life, though cut short, held joy, dreams, and aspirations. By keeping her memory alive, we honor not just her tragic fate, but the life she lived and the light she brought to those around her.

1975 – James Patrick Malicoat – was a man from Oklahoma, USA. He was sentenced to death in 1998 for the murder of his 13-month-old daughter, Tessa Leadford, in 1997. On February 21, 1997, Malicoat and his girlfriend brought their daughter to the county hospital emergency room, where it was determined that the child had been dead for several hours due to a head injury and internal bleeding from abdominal injuries. Malicoat admitted to the police that he had caused the injuries, stating that he had not realized that his actions would seriously hurt or kill his child. In Oklahoma, first-degree murder by child abuse is a “general intent” crime, meaning the prosecution was not required to prove that Malicoat intended to kill or injure his child, but only that he intended to commit the abusive act. The jury convicted Malicoat and sentenced him to death. His sentence was upheld by the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals (OCCA) in 2000, despite finding numerous instances of prosecutorial misconduct at the sentencing phase. Malicoat was executed in Oklahoma on August 31, 2006. In his final statement, he reportedly expressed remorse for causing the death of another human.

Deaths

Thomas Jeffries

1684 – John Nevison – a flamboyant outlaw who straddled the line between daring criminal and Robin Hood figure, was one of Britain’s most notorious highwaymen during the Restoration era. Born in Yorkshire around 1639, his life was a whirlwind of adventure, escapes, and ultimately, tragedy. Nevison’s early years were shrouded in petty theft and a stint in a Dutch prison. He served in the English regiments in Flanders, but deserted, drawn to the thrill and freedom of the open road. Back in Yorkshire, he became an extortionist and eventually a highwayman, known for his cunning tactics and polite demeanor. He targeted the wealthy, earning the nickname “Swift Nick” for his legendary 200-mile dash from Kent to York to establish an alibi for a robbery. The feat, though likely apocryphal, cemented his reputation as a Robin Hood-esque figure, redistributing wealth from the privileged to the less fortunate. Nevison’s charm and notoriety captured the public imagination. Ballads chronicled his exploits, portraying him as a chivalrous rogue who never used violence. He allegedly levied “quarterly tribute” on drovers, protecting them from other thieves while plundering the purses of nobility. However, Nevison’s life on the edge inevitably caught up with him. Despite numerous escapes and reprieves, betrayal by an innkeeper led to his final capture. Tried for murder, he was hanged in 1684 at Knavesmire near York. John Nevison’s legacy is a mix of romanticized legend and historical fact. He remains a symbol of rebellion against authority, a charismatic outlaw who captured the imagination of England in a turbulent era. His story reminds us of the allure of the outlaw life, the thin line between hero and villain, and the enduring power of a well-spun tale.

1826 – Thomas Jeffries – Jeffries was working as a painter and glazier and had a previous history as a petty criminal when he and three accomplices committed a burglary in Nottingham, he was arrested shortly after, and when convicted he was sentenced to transportation for life.  Once he arrived in Sydney, Australia, Jeffries continued to get into trouble, his first crime was stealing oranges for which he received 100 lashes and 2 years of hard labor in the coalmines, a short while later he and several other convicts escaped and went on the run, during this time two of the convicts were murdered and parts of them were eaten by the remaining men presumably to keep themselves alive.  Jeffries was then transported to Van Diemen’s Land (modern-day Tasmania), from then on Jeffries went off the rails carrying out varying crimes left, right, and center including drunk and disorderly, theft, murder, and more cannibalism. In newspaper reports at the time that Jeffries was roaming the land, he was described as a monster, and he was convicted of various crimes and sentenced to death on the 4th of May 1826 Jeffries was executed along with some other cohorts. 

2000 – Tommy Ray Jackson – Jackson and his accomplice James Otis Clary were a pair of thieves and they had decided that they needed to get some wheels for their future crime breaking and for this, they staked out the parking lot at the University of Texas, after a while, they saw 24-year-old Rosalind Robison get into her car, immediately the men got into her car and forced her to drive away, they stopped at a bank atm on the way and withdrew $50 from Robison’s account, they then continued on their way whilst taking it in turns to rape her, at some point during the proceedings Clary called Jackson by his name and the two men believed they had no choice but to kill Robison.

2006 – Jackie Barron Wilson – was born on February 12, 1967, in Texas, USA. He was convicted and sentenced to death for the murder of Lottie Margaret Rhodes, a 5-year-old girl. The child was discovered missing from her bed in her bedroom by her mother, in the Arlington Village Apartment Complex. On November 30, 1988, Toni Rhodes awoke to find that her daughter, Maggie, was missing. The window above the child’s bed was raised, and the glass was broken from the outside. Maggie’s body was found that morning in Grand Prairie, on the side of the road. The medical examiner found that in addition to being run over, Maggie had been vaginally and anally raped while alive, then strangled and suffocated. Wilson was executed by lethal injection on May 4, 2006, in Huntsville, Texas. He was on Death Row for 18 years. Wilson never admitted to being Maggie’s murderer, although he did not dispute the evidence against him.

2007 – David Leon Woods – Greg Sloan, Pat Sweet, and Woods conspired to burglarize Juan Placencia’s residence in Garrett, Indiana, to steal a television. Armed with a knife, Woods and Sloan approached the home, leaving Sweet in the yard. Upon ringing the doorbell, Placencia answered, and without hesitation, Woods attacked him with the knife. As Placencia pleaded for assistance, Woods continued his assault, repeatedly stabbing him and pilfering money from his wallet. Subsequently, Woods and Sloan successfully removed the television, concealed it, and later sold it. To cover their tracks, they laundered their clothes and disposed of the weapon in a nearby creek. The following morning, responding to a distress call, the police found Woods on the porch of Placencia’s apartment complex, feigning innocence and claiming to have discovered the body while attempting to use the telephone. During questioning, Woods’ mother arrived at the scene and expressed suspicions about her son’s involvement in the murder. Consenting to a search of her residence, she inadvertently revealed a knife sheath and a stained towel. Woods was subsequently taken to the police station, where, as preparations for a polygraph were underway, he broke down and provided a comprehensive confession. Sloan, having entered a guilty plea for Aiding in Murder, testified against Woods during the trial.

2012 – Jieming Liu – was a 79-year-old man who emigrated from China and resided in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts. He was charged with the murder of his 73-year-old wife, Yuee Zhou. The case was particularly gruesome as Liu was found in their apartment covered in blood, with his wife’s mutilated body nearby. It was reported that part of her left arm was missing and Liu was suspected of cannibalism. Liu claimed he acted in self-defense. His attorney suggested that Liu might have been suffering from Alzheimer’s or dementia, as he appeared confused and unaware of his actions. Liu was sent to Bridgewater State Hospital for psychiatric evaluation following his arraignment. However, he was later transferred to Lemuel Shattuck Hospital due to serious medical problems, where he died of natural causes. This case was a disturbing event that shocked the quiet New England town of Shrewsbury. The couple had moved to the United States from China’s Hunan Province the previous year. Their son, who checked on them daily, had brought them to the U.S. for better care.

Events

Richard Ramirez

1436 – The assassination of the Swedish rebel and later a national hero, Engelbrekt Engelbrektsson

1847 – The US State of Michigan ends the death penalty

1886 – The Haymarket Affair

1932 – A 32-year-old prostitute was found murdered in her apartment in the Atlas area of Stockholm, Sweden.  A police spokesman claimed that the killer had drunk the victim’s blood and the press nicknamed the murderer “The Atlas Vampire” As a result, the case was never solved.

1932 – Al Capone enters Atlanta penitentiary convicted of income tax evasion

1946 – In San Francisco Bay, the US Marines stop a two-day riot at Alcatraz, five people are killed in the riot

1973 – Richard Ramirez watched his cousin Mike fatally shoot his wife Jessie in the face during a domestic argument

1994 – Singer Courtney Love is cleared of drug charges

1998 – A Federal Judge in Sacramento, California gives the “Unabomber” Ted Kaczynski four life sentences plus 30 years after Kaczynski accepts a plea agreement sparing him from the death penalty

2012 – 14 decapitated bodies including 9 hung from a bridge are found in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico

2022 – The world’s most dangerous trafficker, Colombian drug kingpin Dairo Antonio Usuga (known as Otoniel) is extradited to the US for drug charges.