Births
Bonnie Emily Heady
1906 – William Alfred Bayly – led a life that started off seemingly ordinary. He moved around New Zealand with his family, working on farms. In 1925, he settled in Papamoa and even started a family, marrying Phyllis Dorothy Palmer and having two sons. However, a dark turn came in 1928. His 17-year-old cousin, Elsie Walker, was found dead under suspicious circumstances. While no charges were ever filed, this event marked a significant shift in Bayly’s life. The most notorious chapter unfolded in December 1933. A couple, Samuel and Christobel Lakey, vanished. Bayly quickly became the prime suspect. He attempted to throw the police off track with a staged suicide note, but his efforts were in vain. Incriminating evidence, including human remains, was discovered on his property. Authorities charged Bayly with the murders of both Samuel and Christobel Lakey in 1934. The subsequent trial, a highly publicized event, lasted for weeks. Found guilty, Bayly was sentenced to death. He was hanged in Auckland’s Mount Eden Prison in 1934, leaving behind a wife and two young children. William Alfred Bayly’s story serves as a chilling reminder. A seemingly normal life can mask a dark secret. While Bayly’s guilt in the Lakey murders was established through a legal process, the death of his cousin Elsie Walker remains an unsolved mystery.
1912 – Bonnie Emily Heady – Raised in a modest, working-class family, Heady experienced a difficult childhood marked by economic hardship and limited educational opportunities. Despite these challenges, she exhibited a resilient and determined spirit from a young age. As a young adult, Heady moved frequently in search of better opportunities. She married twice, with both marriages ending in divorce. Her turbulent personal life and financial instability led her to associate with individuals involved in criminal activities. It was during this period that she met Carl Austin Hall, a fellow troubled soul with a criminal background. In 1953, Bonnie Heady and Carl Hall orchestrated one of the most notorious crimes in American history—the kidnapping and murder of six-year-old Bobby Greenlease, the son of a wealthy automobile dealer in Kansas City, Missouri. The plan was to demand a ransom of $600,000, an enormous sum at the time. Heady and Hall successfully collected the ransom but tragically, Bobby Greenlease was killed shortly after being abducted. The crime shocked the nation and led to an intense manhunt for Heady and Hall. They were apprehended within days of the kidnapping and ransom collection. During their trial, both confessed to their roles in the crime, and their defense was unable to mitigate the overwhelming evidence against them. The trial was swift, and both were found guilty. Bonnie Heady and Carl Hall were sentenced to death. On December 18, 1953, they were executed in the gas chamber at the Missouri State Penitentiary in Jefferson City. Their case remains a significant part of American criminal history due to the heinous nature of the crime and the speed with which justice was administered. The story of Bonnie Heady serves as a chilling reminder of the consequences of a life steered by desperation and poor choices. Her involvement in the Greenlease kidnapping and murder left an indelible mark on American society and continues to be studied in discussions about criminal behavior and the justice system.
1940 – Ronald Gene Simmons – was an American mass murderer who holds the grim distinction of being the most prolific killer in Arkansas’ history. Over a week in December 1987, Simmons embarked on a brutal spree that claimed the lives of 16 people, wounding several others. Born in Chicago in 1940, Simmons’ early life was marked by instability. He lost his biological father young and his mother remarried. The family moved frequently throughout Arkansas. Simmons eventually joined the military, serving in both the Navy and the Air Force. During his 22-year career, he received decorations for his service, including a Bronze Star. Simmons retired from the military in 1979 and settled in Arkansas. On the surface, he appeared to be a normal citizen. However, cracks began to show. In 1981, he fled a New Mexico town amidst allegations of sexual abuse of his daughter. In December 1987, Simmons’ world unraveled completely. Over a week, he embarked on a horrifying rampage, primarily in Russellville, Arkansas. His victims included 14 members of his immediate family, encompassing a daughter he had previously abused and the child born from that abuse. Two former co-workers and a stranger were also murdered. Simmons’ killing spree ended in a shootout with police. He was apprehended, convicted on multiple counts of murder, and sentenced to death 16 times. In 1990, he was executed by the state of Arkansas. The Ronald Gene Simmons case remains a dark chapter in Arkansas history.
1953 – David Martin Long – was an American murderer convicted of killing three women in Texas. While the exact number of his victims remains unclear, he confessed to as many as seven murders. Born in 1953, Long’s upbringing was marked by hardship. Family members point to his mother’s death when he was ten as a turning point. Accounts describe an alcoholic father and a descent into delinquency. By 12, Long was in a reformatory and had begun abusing alcohol and drugs. Long’s criminal history included petty thefts and escalated to violence. In 1986, the bodies of three women were found murdered in Lancaster, Texas. The investigation led to Long, who confessed to the killings and claimed responsibility for two additional murders from previous years. Sentenced to death in 1987, Long’s case gained notoriety when he overdosed on drugs just two days before his scheduled execution. Medically revived, his execution was delayed. Long was eventually executed in 1999. The details of his crimes and the last-minute stay of execution continue to be a part of the true crime record.
1953 – Alvin Neelley – was part of a notorious American couple, alongside his wife Judith, responsible for a string of horrific crimes in the early 1980s. Born in 1953, details about Alvin’s upbringing are scarce. However, his criminal activity began early, with reports indicating car theft during his teenage years in Georgia. Alvin met Judith Ann Adams in 1980 when she was only 15 years old. Despite the significant age difference, they eloped shortly after. This union marked a descent into violence. Together, Alvin and Judith embarked on a crime spree that targeted young women. They are confirmed to have been responsible for the kidnappings, torture, and murders of Lisa Ann Millican and Janice Kay Chatman. There are also reports of a failed abduction attempt. The couple’s crimes came to an end with their capture in 1982. Both were convicted for their heinous acts. Judith received a death sentence, later commuted to life imprisonment. Alvin was sentenced to life as well. He died in prison in 2005. Alvin Neelley is remembered for his participation in these brutal crimes alongside his wife. The Neelley case is a chilling example of a seemingly ordinary couple capable of monstrous acts.
1961 – Nicholas Todd Sutton – a convicted serial killer, was born in Morristown, Tennessee in 1961. His upbringing was marked by tragedy. Abandoned by his mother at birth, Sutton was raised by a father battling mental illness and alcoholism. This environment fostered a troubled youth. Drugs were introduced to him by his father at a young age, leading to a dependency that would plague him for years to come. Sutton’s troubled life took a horrific turn in 1979. In a short span between the ages of 18 and 19, he committed a series of murders across North Carolina and Tennessee. The victims included two acquaintances and his own grandmother. These heinous crimes resulted in a life sentence for Sutton. While behind bars, Sutton became embroiled in another deadly incident. In 1985, on death row, he participated in the murder of a fellow inmate over drugs. This additional crime sealed his fate. Despite appeals from some of the original victims’ families and even prison staff who believed he had been rehabilitated, Sutton was executed by electric chair in 2020. This made him the last person to be executed in this manner in Tennessee. Sutton’s case became a source of controversy. While some viewed him as a deserving criminal who received his just punishment, others argued for his redemption. They pointed to his religious conversion and positive contributions through prison programs as evidence of a changed man.
1962 – Glen Edward Rogers – is an American serial killer also known as the “Cross Country Killer” or “Casanova Killer.” While only convicted of two murders, he is suspected in many others across the United States. Rogers’ early life painted a grim picture. One of seven children, he endured a chaotic and abusive household. Accounts detail neglect, physical abuse, and a strained relationship with his parents. These hardships manifested in behavioral problems at a young age, including expulsions from school and substance abuse. By his teens, Rogers was involved in petty crime with his brother. This progressed to burglaries and eventually led to time in reform school. His first marriage in his early twenties ended in divorce after allegations of physical abuse. In the 1990s, a string of murders across the country left investigators baffled. Rogers, a charismatic and manipulative man, preyed on women, often using his charm to gain their trust before killing them. He was eventually convicted of murdering Tina Marie Cribbs in Florida (1997) and Sandra Gallagher in California (1999). These convictions, however, only scratched the surface of the crimes he may have committed. Glen Edward Rogers sits on death row in Florida. His case serves as a chilling reminder of the dangers that can lurk beneath a seemingly harmless facade. A documentary, “My Brother the Serial Killer” (2012), explores the case from the perspective of his brother, offering a glimpse into the complex psychology of a killer.
1963 – Julio Perez Silva – was a Chilean taxi driver who committed a series of horrific crimes. Nicknamed “The Psychopath of Alto Hospicio,” he is known to have raped and murdered at least 14 women and girls between 1998 and 2001. His crimes took place in the Iquique and Alto Hospicio areas of Chile. Silva’s early life offers little in the way of clues to his future actions. Described as quiet and introverted in school, he married young and had children. However, by the mid-1990s, he had moved to Iquique for work. It was there that his monstrous deeds began.
1971 – Ponchai Wilkerson – was a convicted murderer executed by lethal injection in Texas. Born in Houston, Texas, Wilkerson was of African-American and Thai descent. He grew up in the Fort Bend-Houston area and graduated from Willowridge High School in 1990. On November 28, 1990, Wilkerson and an accomplice committed a robbery at a jewelry store in Houston, during which Wilkerson fatally shot the store owner, Chung Myong Yi. He was convicted of murder and sentenced to death in 1991. While on death row, Wilkerson was involved in several notable incidents, including a failed escape attempt on Thanksgiving Day in 1998 and a hostage situation in February 2000. Despite these actions, he maintained a defiant stance against the death penalty until his execution.
1973 – John Yancey Schmitt – He became widely known due to his involvement in a tragic incident that led to his conviction and subsequent execution. In 1999, Schmitt was involved in a bank robbery during which a security guard, Earl Shelton Dunning, was fatally shot. Schmitt was sentenced to death for this crime and was executed by lethal injection on November 9, 2006, at the Greensville Correctional Center in Jarratt, Virginia. He was 33 years old at the time of his death. Schmitt’s case drew attention due to his claims that the shooting was accidental and allegations of prosecutorial misconduct during his trial. Despite seeking clemency, his appeals were unsuccessful, and the execution proceeded as scheduled.
1979 – Quintin Phillipe Jones – was an American man from Fort Worth, Texas. His life was marked by severe hardships, including neglect by his parents, sexual assault by his siblings, and extreme poverty. He dropped out of school after the 9th grade and struggled with addiction from an early age. In 1999, Jones was convicted of the murder of his great aunt, Berthena Bryant, during a robbery attempt. Despite efforts by Bryant’s family and others to seek clemency, Jones was executed on May 19, 2021. His case drew attention to issues of mental illness, addiction, and the use of the death penalty.
Deaths
Charlotte Bryant
1936 – Charlotte Bryant – was born Charlotte McHugh on February 11, 1903, in Londonderry, Northern Ireland. She met her husband, Frederick Bryant, while he was stationed in Ireland with the Dorset Regiment during the period known as ‘The Troubles.’ They married in 1922 and moved to England, where they settled in Dorset. Charlotte and Frederick had five children, but their marriage became strained over time. Frederick worked as a farm laborer, and the family faced financial difficulties. Charlotte was known for having extramarital affairs, which further strained their relationship. In December 1935, Frederick fell ill with severe stomach pains and died shortly after. A post-mortem examination revealed that he had been poisoned with arsenic. Charlotte was arrested and charged with his murder. During the investigation, traces of arsenic were found in their home, and it was discovered that Charlotte had used arsenic-based weed killer to poison her husband. Charlotte Bryant was found guilty of murder and was executed by hanging at Exeter Prison on July 15, 1936, at the age of 33. Her case remains a notable example of early 20th-century criminal justice in the UK.
1949 – Jake Bird – also known as the “Tacoma Axe Murderer” or the “Axeman of the Rails,” was a prolific American serial killer who terrorized the country’s midwest and west during the 1930s and 40s. While the exact number of his victims remains unconfirmed, Bird himself confessed to a staggering 46 murders, though authorities only verified 12. Born in 1901 in Louisiana, Bird’s early life remains shrouded in mystery. He left home by his late teens and drifted across the country, working as a transient laborer, primarily on railroads. This nomadic lifestyle coincided with the beginning of his murderous spree. Bird primarily targeted single women, particularly those living alone. He often gained entry through burglary before attacking his victims with hatchets or axes, leaving a trail of brutal killings across twelve states. His motives were never fully established, though theories range from robbery gone wrong to a sadistic enjoyment of violence. In 1947, Bird’s reign of terror came to an end in Tacoma, Washington. He broke into the home of Bertha Kludt and her daughter Beverly, murdering them both with an axe. Alerted by screams, police apprehended Bird shortly after. Facing trial, Bird readily confessed to the Tacoma murders and offered details of his past killings. His chillingly specific descriptions lent some credence to his confessions, though the sheer number he claimed cast doubt. Ultimately, Bird was convicted and sentenced to death for the Tacoma murders. Before his execution in 1949, Bird became infamous for an alleged curse placed upon those who convicted him. Several individuals involved in his case died under unusual circumstances, fueling speculation and local legends. Jake Bird’s story remains a chilling reminder of the dark underbelly of American history. His crimes highlight the challenges of tracking transient criminals and the enduring fascination with the macabre.
1953 – John Christie – known as Reg to those close to him, was a prolific English serial killer and suspected necrophile active during the 1940s and early 1950s. His crimes are particularly notorious due to a miscarriage of justice and the disturbing nature of his killings. Born in Northowram, Yorkshire, in 1899, Christie had a troubled childhood. His father was strict and unemotional, while his mother and sisters alternated between coddling and bullying him. He left school at 15 and held various jobs, including police clerk and postal worker. World War I saw him enlisted and injured, suffering from gas attacks and temporary blindness. He married Ethel Simpson in 1920, but the relationship soured over time due to his criminal activities, including petty theft and violence. In 1938, Christie and his wife moved to 10 Rillington Place in London. This unassuming address became the scene of his horrific crimes. Over the next decade, Christie is believed to have murdered at least eight people, including his wife Ethel, by strangulation in his flat. He allegedly engaged in necrophilia with his victims. The bodies of some victims were hidden in a concealed alcove and the garden, while Ethel’s was buried under the floorboards. The murders remained undetected for a time. In fact, Christie even served as a witness for the prosecution in a case related to two of his murders. Timothy Evans, another tenant at 10 Rillington Place, was wrongly convicted and hanged for these murders. Christie’s crimes were finally exposed in 1953 when new evidence came to light. Arrested and subsequently convicted, John Christie was hanged at Pentonville Prison in 1953. The Christie case exposed severe flaws in British police work and justice procedures. It played a significant role in the eventual abolition of capital punishment in the UK.
1954 – Frank A. Pedrini – was born on July 28, 1907, in Santa Clara, California. His life was marked by criminal activities, leading to multiple offenses and time spent in various prisons. In 1953, Pedrini, along with Leroy L. Linden, committed a heinous crime. They murdered Clarence Dodd, a carpenter from Lancaster, California, who had picked them up while hitchhiking. The murder occurred on October 23, 1953, near Mustang Station in Nevada. Pedrini and Linden strangled Dodd with a piece of binder twine. Both men were convicted of the murder and were executed together in the Nevada State Prison gas chamber on July 15, 1954. This execution was notable as it was the first double execution in the Nevada gas chamber. Pedrini’s life and crimes are documented in various sources, including Murderpedia and Find a Grave.
1954 – Leroy L. Linden – was born on September 3, 1919, in Aurora, Illinois. His life was marked by criminal activities, which ultimately led to his execution. Linden, along with his accomplice Frank A. Pedrini, was convicted for the murder of Clarence Dodd, a carpenter from Lancaster, California. The crime took place on October 23, 1953, when Dodd picked up Linden and Pedrini while they were hitchhiking. They forced Dodd to drive to an isolated location where they strangled him with a piece of binder twine. Linden and Pedrini were both former cellmates at Folsom State Prison in California and had extensive criminal records. Their crime led to their execution by asphyxiation in the Nevada State Prison gas chamber on July 15, 1954. This execution was notable as it was the first double execution in Nevada’s gas chamber. Linden’s life and crimes serve as a stark reminder of the consequences of a life of crime and the severe penalties that can follow.
1993 – Bobby Kent – born Bobby Khayam on May 12, 1973, was a young man whose life was tragically cut short at the age of 20. Though not much is publicly known about his personal life, his story became entwined with a sensational murder case. Born to Iranian immigrants, Fred and Farah Kent (originally Khayam), Bobby attended South Broward High School in Hollywood, Florida. Details about his interests and aspirations are limited, but according to some reports, there were tensions between Bobby and his father, who desired a more academic path for his son. In July 1993, Bobby was murdered in Weston, Florida. The case garnered national attention due to the brutality of the crime and the shocking revelation that one of the seven perpetrators was Bobby’s best friend, Martin Puccio Jr. The motive behind the murder remains a subject of discussion, with reports suggesting bullying as a possible factor. Bobby Kent’s story became the basis for the 2001 film “Bully,” which explored the themes of teenage violence and revenge. While the film fictionalized some aspects of the case, it brought renewed attention to the tragic events surrounding Bobby’s life and death.
1997 – Gianni Versace – born Giovanni Maria Versace in 1946, was an Italian fashion designer who became a household name in the 1980s and 90s. He wasn’t afraid to take risks with his designs. Bold colors, luxurious fabrics, and daring cuts—Versace embraced sensuality and glamour. His creations were often form-fitting and eye-catching, with a touch of rebellion. This approach won him a loyal following among celebrities. Madonna, Princess Diana, Elton John – these are just a few of the famous faces who donned Versace creations. But Versace wasn’t just a designer, he was a business mastermind. He built a global fashion house that encompassed more than just clothing. Accessories, fragrances, even home furnishings – the Versace brand became synonymous with luxury and a certain flamboyant style. Versace’s life was tragically cut short in 1997. On the steps of his Miami Beach mansion, he was murdered by Andrew Cunanan, a spree killer responsible for the deaths of four other men. The fashion world was left reeling. Versace’s sister, Donatella, stepped up to take the creative reins of the Versace brand, ensuring his legacy continued. If you’re interested in learning more about Gianni Versace, there are documentaries available that explore his life and his shocking murder.
2010 – Seth Stephen Privacky – was an American mass murderer from Muskegon, Michigan. In 1998, at the age of 18, he committed a horrific crime, taking the lives of five people. On November 29, 1998, Privacky shot and killed his parents, Stephen and Linda, his brother Jedediah, his brother’s girlfriend April Boss, and his grandfather John. The motive for these killings remains unclear. Those who knew Privacky described him as a quiet and seemingly ordinary young man. He was a senior in high school with average grades. However, there were hints of trouble beneath the surface. In 1996, he was caught shoplifting and court documents mentioned arguments with his parents. A family friend even reported that Privacky’s parents expressed concern about his behavior. Privacky pleaded no contest to the murders and was sentenced to life in prison without parole. A friend who allegedly helped him dispose of the murder weapon was acquitted of accessory charges. Privacky’s case serves as a chilling reminder that violence can erupt even in seemingly ordinary settings. It raises questions about mental health, family dynamics, and the warning signs that might precede such tragedies.
Events
Justine Diamond
1381 – John Ball, a leader in the Peasants Revolt, is hung, drawn & quartered in the presence of King Richard II of England
1500 – Baglione family massacre
1963 – Paul McCartney is fined £17 for speeding
1974 – TV news reporter Christine Chubbuck shoots herself live on WXLT-TV Florida, she was the first person to commit suicide on a live broadcast
1976 – A 36-hour kidnap of 26 school children & the bus driver in California takes place
1982 – The body of Wendy Caulfield, the first Green River victim is found near Seattle
1994 – NJ Jets Derrek Coleman is accused of rape in Detroit
1997 – Andrew Cunanan assassinates fashion designer Gianni Versace on the steps of his Miami mansion
2017 – Australian Justine Diamond is killed by a Minneapolis police officer after calling 911 for a disturbance
