Births

Mikhail Popkov

1816 – James Donnelly – was the patriarch of the infamous Black Donnellys, an Irish Catholic immigrant family that settled in Biddulph Township, Upper Canada (now Ontario), in the 1840s. He married Johannah Magee in Ireland in 1840, and together they immigrated to Canada with their first child, James Jr., in 1842.  Upon arriving in Canada, the Donnellys initially settled as squatters in southwestern Ontario. The family grew to include seven more children: William, John, Patrick, Michael, Robert, Thomas, and Jennie “Jane” Donnelly, as well as James’s niece, Bridget Donnelly.  The Donnellys were involved in a land title dispute over the property they settled on, which originally belonged to the Canada Company and was sold to James Grace. A court eventually split the lot, awarding James Donnelly the north 50 acres due to the improvements he had made during his ten-year occupancy.  James Donnelly’s life was marked by conflict and violence, including a notorious incident in 1857 when he killed Patrick Farrell with a handspike during a barn-raising bee. He went into hiding, and a $400 reward was offered for his capture. Eventually, he turned himself in and was convicted of murder but had his death sentence commuted to seven years in Kingston Penitentiary after community petitions.  Tragedy struck the Donnelly family on February 4, 1880, when a vigilante mob attacked their homestead, resulting in the deaths of James, Johannah, and three of their sons, and the burning of their farm. The event remains one of the most notorious episodes in Canadian folklore, with no one ever convicted for the murders.  James Donnelly’s legacy is a complex one, intertwined with themes of immigration, frontier justice, and community conflict, leaving an indelible mark on Canadian history.

1901 – Rita Gorgonowa – whose real name was Emilia Margerita Gorgon, née Ilic, was a central figure in one of the most sensational crime stories of the Second Polish Republic. She became infamous for her role as the defendant in a high-profile murder trial.  Gorgonowa’s early life was marked by tragedy and upheaval. Her father, a physician, died when she was just three years old, and her mother later remarried. At the age of 15, Gorgonowa married a Colonel in the Austro-Hungarian Army, Erwin Gorgon, and gave birth to a son. However, her marriage was troubled, and after her husband emigrated to the United States in search of work, she was forced to leave her in-laws’ house due to false accusations of immoral behavior.  To support herself and her children, Gorgonowa worked as a governess. In 1924, she took a position with the family of Henryk Zaremba, a 41-year-old architect living near Lwów. Zaremba had separated from his wife, who suffered from mental health issues, and had two children, Elzbieta and Stanislaw. Gorgonowa not only cared for the children but also managed the household. She and Zaremba eventually began an affair, which led to the birth of their daughter, Romana, in 1928.  The crime that brought Gorgonowa to notoriety occurred on the night of December 30, 1931. Elzbieta Zaremba, who was then 17 years old, was found murdered in her bed, having been struck in the head with a blunt object. The case quickly became a media sensation, with Gorgonowa as the prime suspect. She was found guilty of Elzbieta’s murder and her trial was widely followed, becoming known as the “loudest court trial of the Second Polish Republic.”  The details of Gorgonowa’s life after the trial are shrouded in mystery. Her fate following the outbreak of World War II remains unknown, adding a final layer of intrigue to her already dramatic story. Her case continues to fascinate and is often discussed in the context of early 20th-century Polish legal history. Rita Gorgonowa’s life story is a blend of personal tragedy, scandal, and the complexities of justice during a tumultuous period in history.

1930 – James Barney Hubbard – became known for his criminal activities, which led to his conviction as a murderer. His life took a dark turn when he was first incarcerated in 1957 for the second-degree murder of David Dockery in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama. After serving 19 years, he was released in 1976.  Tragically, Hubbard’s freedom was short-lived as he committed another heinous crime the following year. In January 1977, he murdered 62-year-old Lillian Montgomery, whom he had been living with after his release from prison. Montgomery had befriended Hubbard and helped him gain his release. The murder was particularly brutal, with Montgomery being shot three times and robbed of her valuables, including a gold and diamond wristwatch and about $500 in cash and checks.  Hubbard’s actions led to his conviction for first-degree murder, and in October 1977, he was sentenced to execution by lethal injection. Despite the gravity of his crimes, his case garnered attention due to the lengthy delay in carrying out his sentence. It wasn’t until August 5, 2004, over 27 years after Montgomery’s murder, that Hubbard was executed at Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore, Alabama. At the age of 74, he was the oldest inmate to be executed in the United States since the reinstatement of the death penalty in 1976.  Hubbard’s life story is a grim reminder of the consequences of crime and the long-lasting impact it has on the victims’ families and the community at large. His execution was witnessed by both his son and daughter, marking the end of a life overshadowed by violence and loss

1947 – Bert Leroy Hunter – His life took a dark turn when he became involved in criminal activities at a young age. His first known crime was a burglary charge in 1963 when he was just 16 years old. This early encounter with the law resulted in a lenient sentence due to his juvenile status.  However, Hunter’s criminal behavior escalated, and on June 15, 1968, he committed a more heinous crime. Along with an accomplice named Carl W. Paxton, Hunter robbed a tavern in Amazonia, Missouri, during which they shot and killed the owner, John Montford Lyle. The murder and subsequent theft marked a turning point in Hunter’s life, leading to his arrest and trial.  Despite attempts to appeal his conviction and sentence, Hunter was found guilty of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment under Missouri’s second offender law. While serving his sentence at the Missouri State Penitentiary, he befriended Tomas Grant Ervin, another convicted murderer.  In 1988, Hunter and Ervin committed a double murder of an elderly woman and her son in Jefferson City, Missouri. This crime led to both men being sentenced to death. Hunter was executed by lethal injection on June 28, 2000, at the age of 53, in Potosi Correctional Center, Mineral Point, Missouri, U.S. The lethal injection didn’t quite go according to plan, click the link to find out more.  His life story is a tragic example of how early criminal behavior can escalate into more serious offenses with devastating consequences.

1959 – Etheria Verdell Jackson – He became known for his involvement in a tragic and violent crime that occurred on December 3, 1985. The victim, Linton Moody, a 64-year-old furniture store owner, was assaulted and murdered by Jackson in a robbery gone wrong.  The incident took place when Moody visited Jackson’s residence to collect a monthly payment for a washing machine that had been sold on an installment plan. Jackson, along with his live-in girlfriend Linda Riley, who was also the mother of one of his children, carried out the attack. After Moody cashed Riley’s government check and gave her a receipt, Jackson assaulted him, holding a knife to his throat. Despite Moody’s pleas for mercy, he was bound, gagged, and choked to unconsciousness with a belt. When Moody regained consciousness, Jackson beat him with a cast on his forearm and then stabbed him multiple times in the chest.  The body was disposed of by rolling it up in a carpet and placing it in the back of Moody’s car, which Jackson then drove to another location and abandoned. The car with the body inside was discovered two days later by police. Linda Riley reported the murder on the same day the body was found, and she testified against Jackson during the trial.  Jackson was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death on August 8, 1986. His appeals and motions for postconviction relief were denied, and he remained on death row

1962 – Cathy Wood – is an American criminal known for her involvement in a series of murders that took place in 1987. Along with her partner, Gwendolyn Graham, Wood was convicted of killing five elderly women in Walker, Michigan, a suburb of Grand Rapids. The crimes were committed at the Alpine Manor nursing home, where both Wood and Graham worked as nurse’s aides.  The duo met at Alpine Manor shortly after Graham moved to Michigan from Texas. They quickly became friends and then lovers. In January 1987, they began a murder spree that would last for several months. According to Wood’s account, Graham smothered the first victim with a washcloth while Wood acted as a lookout. The victim’s incapacitated state due to Alzheimer’s disease made it appear as if she died naturally, and no autopsy was performed.  Wood claimed that the murders were part of a “love bond,” with each murder intended to cement their relationship by sharing a dark secret. Over the next few months, Graham allegedly murdered four more patients, with Wood’s assistance. The victims, aged between 65 and 97, were mostly incapacitated and suffered from Alzheimer’s disease.  The couple’s selection of victims was initially based on their initials to spell “M-U-R-D-E-R.” However, when that proved difficult, they began counting each murder as a “day,” as in the phrase, “I will love you for forever and a day.”  Their crimes came to light when Wood provided details to criminal justice authorities, leading to their arrest in December 1988. Wood’s murder charges were reduced in exchange for her testimony against Graham. However, the credibility of Wood’s accounts and her portrayal as Graham’s pawn were later questioned.  Graham received a life sentence and is incarcerated at Women’s Huron Valley Correctional Facility. Wood was sentenced to 20–40 years imprisonment and was released from the Federal Correctional Institution, Tallahassee, on January 16, 2020. The case of Gwendolyn Graham and Cathy Wood is a chilling reminder of the potential for evil that can exist behind a facade of caregiving.

1963 – David Russell Williams – is a former wing commander in the Royal Canadian Air Force and a convicted criminal. His military career was marked by his rise to the rank of colonel and his command of Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Trenton, Canada’s largest military airbase, which is a hub for the country’s foreign and domestic air transport operations.  Williams’ criminal activities came to light in 2010 when he was arrested and charged with a series of heinous crimes, including two first-degree murders, sexual assaults, forcible confinement, and numerous break-ins. The investigation revealed that between 2007 and 2010, Williams had broken into at least 82 houses to steal women’s and girls’ underwear, which later escalated to sexual assaults and ultimately to the rapes and murders of two women, committed in November 2009 and January 2010.  The case shocked the military and the country, as Williams had previously been a decorated Air Force pilot with an exemplary service record, including a tour of duty in the Middle East. He had also served as a pilot for VIP transport planes, carrying passengers such as Prime Minister Jean Chrétien, Queen Elizabeth II, and Prince Philip.  On October 21, 2010, Williams was sentenced to two life sentences for first-degree murder, two 10-year sentences for other sexual assaults, two 10-year sentences for forcible confinement, and 82 one-year sentences for breaking and entering, all to be served concurrently. The life sentence means Williams will serve a minimum of 25 years before parole eligibility. Due to the nature of his crimes, he is not eligible for early parole under the “faint hope clause” of the Criminal Code.  Williams is currently incarcerated at Port-Cartier Institution, serving his sentence for the crimes that ended his military career and marked him as one of Canada’s most notorious criminals.

1964 – Mikhail Viktorovich Popkov – also known as “The Werewolf” and “The Angarsk Maniac,” was born on March 7, 1964, in Norilsk, Krasnoyarsk Krai, Russian SFSR, USSR. He is a former police officer and one of Russia’s most prolific serial killers, convicted of the sexual assault and murder of seventy-eight girls and women between 1992 and 2010 in Angarsk, Irkutsk, Siberia, and Vladivostok in the Far East.  Popkov’s crimes were particularly brutal, involving extensive mutilation of the bodies and performing sexual acts on them post-mortem. His motive was reportedly a hatred of prostitutes and a belief that he was cleansing the streets of immoral women. He would often use his police uniform and car to lure his victims, offering them a ride before assaulting and murdering them.  He was apprehended on June 23, 2012, after a DNA match linked him to the crimes. In 2015, Popkov was convicted of 22 murders and sentenced to life imprisonment. He later confessed to an additional 59 killings, and on December 10, 2018, he was convicted for 56 of these additional murders, bringing his total confirmed victim count to 78.  Despite calls for his execution, capital punishment in Russia is under a formal moratorium, and thus Popkov received a second life sentence

1966 – Robert Earl Carter – He is most infamously known for the tragic events that occurred on August 18, 1992, in Somerville, Texas. On that day, a horrific crime took place resulting in the deaths of six individuals, one of whom was Carter’s 4-year-old son, Jason Davis. The other victims included Bobbie Davis, 45, Nicole Davis, 16, Lea Erin Davis, 5, Brittany Davis, 6, and Denitra Davis, 9. The investigation revealed that the victims had been stabbed multiple times and the house set ablaze to cover the crime.  Carter, who worked as a state prison guard, was quickly linked to the murders and arrested on the same day. The motive was believed to be related to a paternity suit filed by Lisa Davis, the mother of his son, which sought child support. Carter’s subsequent trial resulted in a conviction for mass murder and arson, and he was sentenced to death. He was executed by lethal injection in Texas on May 31, 2000.  His case drew significant attention due to the severity of the crime and the fact that one of the victims was his child. The events of that day left an indelible mark on the community and remain a somber chapter in the history of Burleson County, Texas.

1971 – Todd Kohlhepp – is an American convicted serial killer and sex offender. His criminal activities spanned from 1986 to 2016, during which he was found guilty of murdering seven people in South Carolina. Kohlhepp’s troubled childhood was marked by aggression and cruelty towards animals, and he was described as “explosive” and “preoccupied with sexual content” from a young age.  Kohlhepp’s first known crime occurred at the age of 15 when he kidnapped and sexually assaulted a 14-year-old girl in Arizona. He served 15 years in prison for this crime. After his release in 2001, Kohlhepp moved to South Carolina, where he worked as a realtor. However, his criminal behavior continued, and between 2003 and 2016, he murdered seven individuals. His arrest in November 2016 revealed the extent of his crimes, including kidnapping and sexual assault.  Kohlhepp is currently serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole at the Lieber Correctional Institution in Ridgeville, South Carolina. His case has garnered significant media attention due to the heinous nature of his crimes and the number of victims involved.

1994 – David Gene Housler Jr – is known for his involvement in a tragic case that took place in Clarksville, Tennessee. On January 30, 1994, four employees were found shot to death inside a Taco Bell restaurant. The crime shocked the community and led to an extensive investigation.  Housler, who was a soldier stationed at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, became entangled in the case when he was arrested for a separate robbery. Initially, he claimed to not know about the Taco Bell murders. However, after being offered leniency for his robbery charge, Housler provided information to the police, implicating himself and Courtney Mathews, another soldier, in the Taco Bell murders.  In a turn of events, Housler’s convictions were later overturned due to ineffective counsel during his first trial. After spending 15 years in prison, he was released and his case was dismissed, concluding a legal battle that spanned over two decades.

Deaths

Sarah Malcolm

1733 – Sarah Malcolm – was born around 1710 in County Durham, Great Britain, and is remembered for her infamous role in a multiple murder case that led to her execution in early March 1733. She grew up in an Anglo-Irish family in Dublin before moving to London, where she worked as a laundress for residents above the Inns of Court.  Malcolm became acquainted with Lydia Duncomb, an elderly lady around 80 years old, who lived with two maids, Elizabeth Harrison, who was about 60 and infirm, and Ann Price, a young maid of about 17. In February 1733, a tragic event unfolded when all three women were found murdered and their apartment burgled. Malcolm was brought in for questioning and confessed to being involved in the robbery, which was itself a capital crime. She claimed to be part of a group of four, but investigators were not convinced by her story.  The key evidence against her included bloodstains on her clothing, which Malcolm argued were from her menstrual blood, and the discovery of 45 guineas hidden in her hair. Despite her defense, which some considered convincing, she was sentenced to be hanged after the jury deliberated for just 15 minutes.  Sarah Malcolm’s legacy is particularly marked by the fact that the renowned artist William Hogarth visited her in Newgate Prison a few days before her execution. He sketched her and later arranged for both an engraving and an oil painting to be made, which contributed to her notoriety. Her story remains a grim reminder of the harsh realities of the criminal justice system in 18th-century Britain.

1842 – Wiremu Kingi Maketu – also known as Maketū Wharetotara or Waretotara, was a significant figure in New Zealand’s history as the first person executed under British rule in the country. He was born around 1824 and was the son of Ruhe, a chief of the Ngāpuhi iwi (tribe). Maketū’s actions and subsequent trial highlighted the complex interplay between Māori customary law and the newly imposed British legal system.  On November 20, 1841, Maketū was accused of committing a brutal crime on Motuarohia Island in the Bay of Islands, where he allegedly murdered five people, including his employer Elizabeth Roberton, her two children, a servant named Thomas Bull, and Isabella Brind, the granddaughter of a Ngāpuhi leader. The murders were said to be motivated by the mistreatment Maketū had suffered at the hands of Bull.  Initially, the Ngāpuhi were reluctant to surrender Maketū to colonial authorities, but after considerable debate and the influence of other chiefs, his father Ruhe consented, partly due to the killing of Rewa’s grandchild, which demanded utu (an act of reciprocation). Maketū’s trial took place on March 1, 1842, in Auckland, and he was executed on March 7, 1842.  Maketū’s case is notable for being the first application of British justice to a Māori and for the broader implications it had for the relationship between Māori and the British Crown, especially in the context of the Treaty of Waitangi and the sovereignty of New Zealand.

1910 – Cordelia Botkin – was born in 1854 in Polk County, Missouri, and later moved to California. She became infamous for her role in a tragic and scandalous crime at the turn of the 20th century. Cordelia was married to Welcome Aplin Botkin and had one son. In 1895, she met John Preston Dunning, a reporter for the Associated Press, and they began an affair.  Cordelia’s life took a dark turn when, in 1898, she sent a box of poisoned candy to her ex-lover’s wife, Mary Elizabeth Dunning, in Delaware. The act resulted in the deaths of Mary Elizabeth and her sister, Ida Harriet Deane, from arsenic poisoning. This case was notable as it was the first American prosecution for a crime that took place across two different jurisdictions.  Cordelia Botkin’s actions not only ended lives but also marked a significant moment in legal history, highlighting the complexities of jurisdictional law in the United States. She passed away on March 7, 1910, in San Quentin, California.

1930 – Refugio Macias – was born in 1886 in Mexico. His life took a tragic turn when he became involved in a violent crime that led to his execution. On January 17, 1929, Refugio Macias committed a double homicide in Greenlee County, Arizona, USA. The victims were Pedro Ornelas and Julian De Luna, who were the uncles of his sweetheart, Paula Medina.  The events leading up to the crime suggest that Macias had been forcing his attention upon Paula Medina, which was met with resistance from her family. On the evening of the crime, Macias shot and wounded Antonio Lerma, a sweetheart of Paula, and attempted to shoot Cepriana Delgado, a brother-in-law. Later that night, he returned to the house where Paula lived, and when Pedro Ornelas and Julian De Luna came out to investigate the disturbance, they were both fatally shot by Macias.  Refugio Macias was apprehended shortly after the crime and was found to have planned his escape by packing a suitcase and leaving it with a friend. At the time of his arrest, he still possessed the pistol used in the shootings. Refugio Macias was executed by hanging on March 7, 1930, at the age of 43 or 44, and was buried in the Arizona State Prison Cemetery in Florence, Pinal County, Arizona.

1932 – Fredrik Von Sydow – was born on June 4, 1908, and became known for his involvement in one of Sweden’s most notorious criminal cases, the von Sydow murders, which occurred on March 7, 1932. He was a law student from an upper-class family in Stockholm and studied at Uppsala University.  On the fateful night, Fredrik’s father, Hjalmar von Sydow, a conservative member of parliament and the managing director and chairman of the Swedish Employers’ Federation, along with two maids employed in the household, were found dead in the family residence in Stockholm. All victims were bludgeoned to death with an iron bar.  The police soon suspected Fredrik of the murders, and after a few hours, located him in Uppsala. Fredrik and his wife Sofie had taken a taxi to Uppsala, where they entered the restaurant Hotel Gillet and ordered Champagne, caviar, and oysters. When the police arrived at the restaurant, Fredrik took up a gun and shot his wife and then himself to death.  The motives behind Fredrik von Sydow’s actions have never been clarified, but the prominence and public position of his family made the murders a significant scandal and the subject of much speculation. The case has inspired plays, films, and books, reflecting its impact on Swedish society and culture.

2002 – Gerald Wayne Tigner Jr – was born on December 27, 1972, in McLennan County, Texas, USA. He became known for a tragic and violent crime that led to his execution. On August 31, 1993, Tigner, then 20 years old, was involved in a fatal shooting in a Waco suburb. Accompanied by his friend Guan Scott, 21, and Scott’s brother Timothy, who was driving, Tigner encountered Michael Watkins, 32, and James Williams, 22, in another car. An argument ensued, and Tigner fired shots from two guns into the car, fatally wounding both men.  After running out of ammunition, Tigner returned to his truck to retrieve another gun and continued the assault. Witnesses reported that Tigner straddled Watkins, who had fallen out of the car and was attempting to crawl away and shot him in the head. Both Watkins and Williams suffered multiple gunshot wounds and died at the scene. Cocaine was found in the car, and the murders were described as a drug-related robbery attempt.  Tigner was arrested the following day and gave a tape-recorded confession. In his confessions, he described the weapons he used, which were later confirmed by a ballistics investigation. Before this incident, Tigner had a criminal history dating back to at least 1989 and had used aliases such as Gerald Tigmon, Jerry Lewis, and Tony Simmons. He was also indicted for the murder of Bobby Ray Harris, a former boyfriend of Tigner’s mother, which he claimed was in self-defense.  Gerald Wayne Tigner Jr. was executed by lethal injection on March 7, 2002, at the age of 29, in Huntsville, Texas, for the murders of Michael Watkins and James Williams. His last statement maintained his wrongful conviction for the crime. Tigner is buried in Zion Hill Cemetery, Chalk Bluff, McLennan County, Texas.

2007 – Joseph Bennard Nichols – was born on October 10, 1961. He became known for his involvement in a crime that led to his execution. On July 13, 1980, Nichols, along with Willie Ray Williams, robbed a Houston grocery store. During the robbery, Claude Shaffer Jr., a 70-year-old store clerk, was shot and killed.  Nichols was 18 years old at the time of the crime and was initially sentenced to death in 1982. However, his conviction was overturned in 1986 due to issues with jury selection. He was retried, convicted, and again sentenced to death in 1987.  Throughout his time on death row, Nichols maintained his innocence, claiming that he was not the shooter. His case drew attention to issues of racial bias and the fairness of the death penalty system.  Joseph Bennard Nichols was executed on March 7, 2007, at the age of 45, by lethal injection in Texas.

2012 – Keith Steven Thurmond – was born on October 31, 1959. He became known for a tragic and violent incident that occurred on September 25, 2001, in Magnolia, Texas. On that day, Thurmond murdered his estranged wife, Sharon Anne Thurmond, and her boyfriend, Guy Sean Fernandez. The murders took place after Thurmond was served with a protective order placing his son in Sharon’s custody and barring him from having contact with her.  The incident was particularly harrowing as the couple’s 8-year-old son witnessed the events. Thurmond, dressed in a black karate outfit, chased his wife around the yard with a gun while Fernandez ran into the mobile home. Thurmond shot his wife outside the residence and then entered the mobile home, where he shot Fernandez.  Following the murders, Thurmond barricaded himself and his son inside his home, armed with at least one pistol and another firearm. After a couple of hours, officers persuaded Thurmond to surrender peacefully. He was arrested on the same day as the murders.  Thurmond was sentenced to death on November 14, 2002, and was executed by lethal injection in Texas on March 7, 2012. His final words were a proclamation of his innocence in the killing of his wife.  Thurmond’s life and the events leading up to the murders were marked by anger and a contentious custody dispute. Before the murders, he had no prior felony convictions and was described as a master mechanic, air conditioning technician, and laborer. The case and Thurmond’s execution received attention due to the nature of the crimes and the involvement of his young son as a witness.

Events

Gravestone of Mel Yorba, the victim of Disneylands 1st homicide

1827 – The Shrigley abduction took place when Edward Gibbon Wakefield abducted 15-year-old heiress Ellen Turner, he took her to Gretna Green in Scotland where he forced her to marry him, this caused all sorts of issues, click the link to find out more

1932 – Fredrik Von Sydow bludgeoned his father & 2 maids to death with an iron bar

1965 – Over 600 marchers cross the Edmund Pettus bridge in Selma, Alabama, and faced brutal attacks from state troopers

1967 – Teamster President Jimmy Hoffa begins 8-year jail sentence for defrauding the union & jury tampering (the sentence was commuted on December 23, 1971)

1978 – Belgian Baron Charles Bracht is kidnapped

1981 – The first homicide at Disneyland, an 18-year-old is stabbed to death

1993 – Diff’rent Strokes actor Todd Bridges is arrested for stabbing a tenant