Births
Jack “Legs” Diamond
1897 – Jack “Legs” Diamond – born Jack Moran on July 10, 1897, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was one of the most notorious and colorful gangsters of the Prohibition era. The son of Irish immigrants, he grew up in a tough neighborhood and quickly became involved in petty crime. Seeking a way out of poverty, he moved to New York City, where his criminal career would truly begin to flourish. Diamond’s nickname “Legs” was allegedly due to his remarkable ability to escape from trouble, but it also referred to his reputation for being a ladies’ man. His criminal activities began with bootlegging, the illegal production and distribution of alcohol, during Prohibition. Diamond’s charm and ruthlessness quickly earned him a place in the New York underworld. By the early 1920s, Legs Diamond was working with notable mobsters such as Arnold Rothstein and Dutch Schultz. His operations expanded to include extortion, narcotics trafficking, and other illicit activities. Despite numerous attempts on his life, Diamond survived and continued to thrive, earning a reputation as one of the most resilient gangsters of his time. During the late 1920s, Diamond’s influence and wealth grew substantially. He was known for his lavish lifestyle, frequenting nightclubs and speakeasies, and rubbing shoulders with celebrities. However, his success also brought numerous enemies and constant danger. He survived several assassination attempts, reinforcing his image as a man who was nearly impossible to kill. Diamond’s criminal empire extended beyond New York, with operations reaching Albany and other cities. His ability to evade law enforcement and survive multiple murder attempts added to his legendary status. Despite his knack for survival, Legs Diamond’s luck eventually ran out. His constant evasion of both law enforcement and rival gangsters couldn’t last forever. On December 18, 1931, Diamond was finally killed in a rooming house in Albany, New York. He was shot multiple times while he slept, marking the end of a tumultuous and violent career. The identity of Diamond’s killers remains a mystery, although theories abound, involving everyone from rival gangsters to corrupt law enforcement officers. His death was a significant event in the criminal underworld, symbolizing the dangers and eventual demise that awaited even the most cunning and resilient gangsters. Legs Diamond left behind a legacy as one of the most infamous gangsters of the Prohibition era. His life has been the subject of numerous books, films, and songs, capturing the imagination of the public and cementing his place in the annals of American crime history. Despite his criminal activities, Diamond’s story continues to fascinate as a tale of ambition, survival, and the ultimate price of a life lived on the edge.
1940 – Yasutoshi Kamata – infamously known as the “Osaka Ripper,” is a convicted Japanese serial killer who committed a series of gruesome murders in Osaka, Japan, during the late 1990s. Kamata’s early life was marked by a troubled childhood and a series of petty crimes that escalated over time. Kamata’s criminal activities began with minor thefts and assaults, but his actions grew increasingly violent and sadistic. His killing spree, which brought him notoriety as the Osaka Ripper, occurred between 1992 and 1998. During this period, Kamata targeted young women, luring them into secluded areas where he would brutally murder them. His modus operandi involved extreme violence, including dismemberment, which earned him the macabre nickname. The police launched an extensive investigation, but Kamata’s careful planning and ability to evade capture frustrated their efforts for years. It wasn’t until a breakthrough in forensic science and a concerted effort by law enforcement agencies that Kamata was finally apprehended in 1999. His arrest brought a sense of relief to the public, who had been living in fear of the mysterious and violent killer. During his trial, Kamata showed little remorse for his actions, and his cold demeanor in court shocked many. He was found guilty on multiple counts of murder and sentenced to death in 2000. Despite various appeals, his sentence was upheld, and Kamata remains on death row in Japan. The case of Yasutoshi Kamata remains one of the most chilling and infamous in Japan’s criminal history, highlighting the capabilities and limitations of law enforcement in dealing with serial offenders. His story serves as a grim reminder of the potential for human brutality and the ongoing need for vigilance and advancements in forensic science to protect society from such heinous crimes.
1951 – Donato Bilancia – also known by the alias “Walter,” was a ruthless serial killer who inflicted terror on the Italian Riviera (Liguria) and neighboring Basso Piemonte region. Bilancia’s reign of violence unfolded between October 1997 and April 1998. Born in Potenza, Italy in 1951, details about Bilancia’s early life are scarce. However, it’s evident that he led a troubled existence marked by a compulsive gambling habit and involvement in criminal activities. This volatile mix likely fueled the darkness that would consume him. Bilancia’s murderous rampage began in October 1997. While the exact number of victims remains unclear, authorities believe he committed at least 17 brutal killings. Initially, he targeted prostitutes, but his bloodlust grew, leading him to attack unsuspecting passengers on trains. This shift in modus operandi earned him the chilling nickname “The Monster of Liguria.” The Italian public lived in fear, desperate for the authorities to apprehend the elusive killer. Finally, in May 1998, Bilancia’s killing spree came to an end. He was arrested and brought to justice. The trial that followed revealed the depths of his depravity. Bilancia received a staggering sentence: 13 life sentences (known as ergastoli in Italy) for his heinous crimes. Donato Bilancia spent the rest of his days behind bars, a chilling reminder of the monstrous acts he committed. In December 2020, at the age of 69, Bilancia died from complications related to COVID-19 while still incarcerated. The case of Donato Bilancia stands as a dark chapter in Italian history.
1960 – Ariel Castro – is not remembered for any accomplishments, but for a horrific crime that stole years from three young women. Born in Puerto Rico in 1960, Castro moved to Cleveland, Ohio with his family as a child. Details about his early life are murky, but reports suggest a troubled upbringing marked by abuse. Despite this, Castro initially presented a facade of normalcy. He married, had children, and even worked as a school bus driver. However, this normalcy shattered in 2002. Over a two-year period starting in 2002, Castro abducted three young women: Michelle Knight, Amanda Berry, and Gina DeJesus. He held them captive in his own house for over a decade, subjecting them to physical and sexual abuse. A child, fathered by Castro, was also born during this horrific ordeal. In a remarkable act of courage, Amanda Berry managed to escape with her daughter in May 2013. The subsequent police investigation led to the discovery of the other two women, all finally free after years of unimaginable suffering. Castro was arrested and sentenced to life in prison, but tragically, his crimes had a final horrifying chapter. Just months into his sentence, Castro committed suicide by hanging in his cell. Ariel Castro’s life serves as a grim reminder of the darkness that can lurk beneath the surface. However, the story is ultimately one of the incredible resilience of the three women who survived his cruelty. Michelle Knight, Amanda Berry, and Gina DeJesus have become symbols of courage and hope for victims around the world.
1965 – Philip John Smith – a name synonymous with brutal violence, is a convicted murderer who terrorized Birmingham, England in late 2000. Born in Gloucester in 1965, details about Smith’s early life are limited. However, what is known is that he committed a string of horrific acts that left a lasting scar on the community. Working at a pub named Rainbow, Smith met his unsuspecting victims – Jodie Hyde, Rosemary Corcoran, and Carol Jordan. Over a four-day period in November, Smith unleashed his murderous rage. Jodie, struggling with addiction, was believed to have been strangled and set on fire. Mother-of-three Rosemary was savagely beaten to death in a secluded area. The final victim, Carol, was struck by Smith’s car in a seemingly accidental encounter. But fearing capture, Smith then inflicted a brutal assault that ended her life. The sheer barbarity of the crimes sent shockwaves through Birmingham. Overwhelming evidence swiftly led to Smith’s apprehension. He received a life sentence, with a minimum of 16 years before even being considered for parole. The Philip John Smith case serves as a stark reminder of the potential for evil to lurk in seemingly ordinary places. It tragically highlights the vulnerability of certain individuals and the ongoing need for stronger support systems. While this biography details the factual aspects of the case, the focus remains on the perpetrator’s actions, ensuring the spotlight stays on the victims and the impact this horrific event had on their loved ones.
1974 – Kimberly Emelyantsev – is a woman from Tooele, Utah, who gained notoriety for a tragic incident in 2008. Born on July 10, 1974, she was sentenced to one to 15 years in prison for the death of her adopted 14-month-old son, Nikolai, who had Down syndrome. The incident occurred on March 6, 2008, when Emelyantsev reported that her son was experiencing breathing problems. However, it was later revealed that the child had suffered blunt-force trauma to the head. Emelyantsev initially claimed that Nikolai had fallen, but during a psychological evaluation, she admitted to kicking and slamming him onto the floor out of frustration. This led to her pleading guilty to a lesser charge of second-degree felony child abuse homicide. The case highlighted the severe stress and challenges faced by Emelyantsev, who was caring for multiple children, including three with Down syndrome. Despite her actions, she expressed deep regret and shame for what happened.
1975 – Jessie L. Miskelley Jr – He is best known as one of the “West Memphis Three,” a group of three teenagers who were convicted in 1994 for the 1993 murders of three young boys in West Memphis, Arkansas. Miskelley was sentenced to life imprisonment plus two 20-year sentences. The case against the West Memphis Three was highly controversial, with many believing that the convictions were based on insufficient evidence and influenced by a moral panic over alleged satanic rituals. Miskelley, who had a low IQ, was interrogated for several hours without a lawyer or parent present, leading to a confession that he later recanted. In 2011, after new DNA evidence emerged that did not match any of the three men, Miskelley, along with Damien Echols and Jason Baldwin, entered Alford pleas, which allowed them to assert their innocence while acknowledging that prosecutors had enough evidence to convict them. They were released after serving 18 years in prison. Miskelley’s story has been the subject of several documentaries, including “Paradise Lost: The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills” and “West of Memphis.”
1977 – Schapelle Corby – is an Australian woman who gained international attention after being convicted of smuggling cannabis into Indonesia. Corby was born in Tugun, Queensland, Australia. She is the third of her mother’s six children. After dropping out of high school, she pursued a part-time beauty therapy course and worked in her family’s fish and chip shop and at a Coles supermarket. In October 2004, Corby was arrested at Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali after customs officers found 4.2 kg (9.3 lb) of cannabis in her bodyboard bag. She maintained that the drugs were planted and that she was unaware of their presence. Despite her claims, she was convicted on May 27, 2005, and sentenced to 20 years in prison. Corby served nine years in Bali’s Kerobokan Prison. Her case was a major focus of media attention in Australia, and she received a five-year sentence reduction in 2012 due to mental health issues. She was released on parole on February 10, 2014, and deported back to Australia on May 27, 2017. Corby was previously married to a Japanese man, Kimi Tanaka, but they divorced in 2003. Since her return to Australia, she has largely stayed out of the public eye. Corby’s story remains one of the most high-profile drug smuggling cases involving an Australian citizen, highlighting the severe penalties for drug offenses in Southeast Asia.
1978 – Melissa Drexler – is an American woman whose name became synonymous with a shocking crime in 1997. Nicknamed “The Prom Mom” by the media, Drexler’s story gained national attention due to the tragic and bizarre circumstances surrounding the death of her newborn baby. Drexler, an only child from a middle-class New Jersey family, attended Lacey Township High School and reportedly aspired for a career in fashion. However, her life took a drastic turn during her senior prom. Unbeknownst to most, Drexler was pregnant. On prom night, she gave birth to a baby boy in a bathroom stall. The story takes a heartbreaking turn. The newborn baby was later found dead in a trash bin, and Drexler admitted to placing him there after giving birth. An autopsy revealed the baby had been born alive but strangled. Drexler pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter and was sentenced to 15 years in prison. Drexler served a little over three years before being paroled. The case sparked national outrage and debate. Questions swirled about how Drexler could conceal her pregnancy and the reasons behind her actions.
Deaths
Albert Pierrepoint
1954 – Calogero Vizzini – was a legendary figure in the Sicilian Mafia. Hailing from Villalba, he rose to become one of the most influential Mafia bosses in post-WWII Sicily. Vizzini’s early exploits involved securing control of grain transportation and later, an entire fiefdom. This solidified his position within Cosa Nostra, and he eventually became the boss of the Caltanissetta Mafia, controlling a significant portion of the island. Nicknamed “boss of bosses” by the media, Vizzini’s true power remains debated. While undeniably influential, Cosa Nostra’s decentralized structure makes a singular leader unlikely. However, he’s credited by some with aiding the Allied invasion of Sicily in 1943, smoothing the path for American forces (though later Mafia turncoats contested this). Vizzini’s legacy extends beyond Cosa Nostra. He’s been featured in documentaries like “Il sasso in bocca” and video games like Mafia II. His influence on Sicilian organized crime is undeniable, and he continues to be a source of fascination and speculation.
1992 – Albert Pierrepoint – was a central figure in a dark chapter of British history – capital punishment. Born in 1905, execution was a family business for Pierrepoint. Both his father and uncle held the position of hangman, and from a young age, Albert expressed a desire to follow in their footsteps. In 1932, at the age of 27, Pierrepoint’s wish came true. He was appointed an assistant executioner, and by the end of that year, he had carried out his first hanging. Over the next 25 years, Pierrepoint became Britain’s most prolific hangman, overseeing the executions of an estimated 435 to 600 people. Pierrepoint was known for his efficiency and professionalism in a grim profession. He meticulously studied hanging techniques to ensure a swift and painless death for the condemned. However, his views on capital punishment evolved over time. Later in life, Pierrepoint expressed doubts about the effectiveness of deterrence through execution. His memoir, “Executioner: Pierrepoint,” published in 1974, reflected this change of heart. He stated that witnessing the final moments of hundreds of people convinced him capital punishment did not prevent murder. Albert Pierrepoint retired in 1956, just a few years before capital punishment was abolished in Britain. His life and career remain controversial, a stark reminder of a bygone era.
2007 – Marcus Shrader III – was a notorious serial killer active in 1974. Born in 1941 in Camden, New Jersey, Shrader was a Navy corpsman stationed at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, during his crimes. He was convicted of kidnapping and murdering 19-year-old Cheryl Potter Boyd and was also accused of killing 15-year-olds Karen Amabile and Cindy Howard, and 23-year-old Ginger Rader, although he was never tried for these additional murders. Shrader’s criminal activities included bank robbery, kidnapping, and murder. His modus operandi often involved using his stepdaughter to lure victims, whom he would then assault and kill. He was arrested on August 18, 1974, after a fellow corpsman recognized him from a wanted poster. Shrader was sentenced to death in 1974 but died of natural causes in Central Prison, Raleigh, North Carolina, in 2007.
2008 – Ahmad Suradji – also known by aliases like Dukun AS and Datuk Maringgi, was a notorious Indonesian serial killer. Suradji holds the grim possibility of being the most prolific killer in Indonesia’s history, confessing to the murders of 42 women between 1986 and 1997. Suradji was a cattle breeder by profession, but also held the title of “dukun,” a traditional Indonesian shaman believed to possess supernatural abilities. This dual role gave him access to many women seeking guidance and mystical solutions. A dark turn came in 1986, when Suradji claimed to have received a horrifying message in a dream. The spirit of his deceased father, he said, instructed him to kill 72 women as part of a black magic ritual. Suradji embarked on a twisted spree, luring his victims, aged 11 to 30, with promises of help. He would then strangle them after burying them up to their waists in a ritualistic manner. The bodies were found in a sugarcane plantation near his home, positioned to face his house in the belief it would bolster his power. Suradji’s crimes remained hidden for over a decade until the disappearance of a teenage girl in 1997 sparked a police investigation. A witness tip led them to Suradji’s property, where the horrifying truth was unearthed. Suradji confessed to his crimes and faced the death penalty in 2008. The case of Ahmad Suradji serves as a chilling reminder of the destructive power of unchecked belief and the importance of vigilance in protecting the vulnerable.
2008 – Carlton Akee Turner – was involved in a high-profile criminal case in the late 1990s. He was convicted for the murder of his adoptive parents, Carlton and Tonya Turner, in their home in Irving, Texas, in 1998. The case drew significant media attention due to the nature of the crime and Turner’s age at the time, as he was only 19 years old. Turner was sentenced to death and was executed by lethal injection in 2008. His case is often cited in discussions about the death penalty and juvenile offenders, as it raised questions about the appropriate punishment for young individuals who commit serious crimes.
Events
Chuck Berry
1873 – French poet Paul Verlaine wounds Arthur Rimbaud with a pistol
1925 – Jury selection takes place in the United States John T. Scopes evolution trial
1962 – Martin Luther King Jr is arrested during a demonstration in Georgia
1973 – John Paul Getty III, grandson of oil tycoon J. Paul Getty is kidnapped in Rome by Italian gangsters wanting a ransom
1979 – Chuck Berry sentenced to 4 months for $200,000 in tax evasion
1981 – Ken Rex McElroy, an American resident of Skidmore, Missouri who was known as the town bully was murdered at age 47 in an unsolved killing in front of a crowd of 30-46 in Skidmore’s main street
1984 – Prolific studio drummer Jim Gordon is convicted of murdering his mother and sentenced to 16 years to life in prison. He was diagnosed with schizophrenia after the killing, he is serving time in a medical/psychiatric prison and has been denied parole 10 times as of 2018
1997 – Louise Woodward’s trial begins in the Massachusetts nanny murder trial
1998 – The Diocese of Dallas agrees to pay $23.4 million to nine former altar boys who claimed they were sexually abused by the former priest, Rudolph Kos
