Births
Eunice Hunton Carter
1899 – Eunice Hunton Carter – was a remarkable woman who shattered multiple barriers throughout her life. She was one of the first African-American female lawyers in New York and one of the first Black prosecutors in the entire United States. Born in Atlanta, Georgia, Carter’s family instilled in her a strong sense of social justice. Her parents, both active in social causes, relocated to New York City seeking a more progressive environment after the Atlanta race riot of 1906. Carter excelled academically, graduating from Smith College with both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in just four years. She then went on to become a social worker before pursuing a law degree at Fordham University, becoming the first Black woman to graduate from the program in 1932. Carter’s legal career began in New York’s “women’s court,” prosecuting cases primarily involving women, especially those caught in prostitution. This experience proved valuable when she was appointed an assistant district attorney under Thomas Dewey. Dewey, a special prosecutor determined to take down organized crime, assembled a team known as the “Twenty Against the Underworld.” Carter, the only Black woman and one of the few women on the team altogether, played a pivotal role in building the case against mob boss Charles “Lucky” Luciano. Her meticulous investigation into prostitution rackets provided key evidence that helped bring down Luciano’s criminal empire. While Carter’s work on the Luciano case garnered national attention, her contributions extended far beyond that single prosecution. She remained active in legal and social justice circles throughout her life. She was a leader in organizations like the National Association of Women Lawyers and the National Council of Negro Women. Additionally, Carter was a strong advocate for women’s rights on the international stage. She served in prominent roles at the United Nations, working to advance the status of women globally. Eunice Hunton Carter’s legacy is one of intelligence, perseverance, and dedication to justice. She defied racial and gender barriers to become a successful lawyer and a champion for social change.
1929 – Charles Ray Hatcher – was an American serial killer who terrorized victims across several states. While only convicted of one murder in Missouri, he confessed to killing 16 people between 1969 and 1982. Born in Mound City, Missouri, Hatcher’s life was marked by hardship from the beginning. His father, an abusive alcoholic and ex-convict, cast a long shadow. Bullied at school, Hatcher displayed a capacity for violence early on. Tragedy struck in 1936 when a childhood game with a kite ended in his brother’s death by electrocution. Hatcher’s criminal record began with auto theft in his teens. This spiraled into a pattern of arrests and incarcerations. In 1959, a violent attempt to abduct a teenager marked a disturbing escalation. After several failed attempts at escape from custody, the darkness within Hatcher seemed to solidify. The details of Hatcher’s crimes remain murky. He was definitively linked to murders in Missouri, Illinois, and California, but his confessions suggest a wider range of victims. Targeting vulnerable individuals, he often strangled his victims. Earning the nickname “Crazy Charlie,” Hatcher’s crimes instilled fear in communities. Convicted in Missouri, Hatcher received a life sentence without parole. He died by suicide in his cell in 1984. Though the exact number of his victims remains unknown, Charles Ray Hatcher’s life serves as a chilling reminder of the destructive potential that can fester in a troubled soul.
1947 – Assata Shakur – born JoAnne Deborah Byron in 1947, is a figure whose life story sparks both controversy and admiration. She was a prominent activist in the Black Power movement of the 1960s and 70s, becoming involved with the Black Panther Party (BPP) and later the Black Liberation Army (BLA). Shakur’s early life was marked by movement between New York City and Wilmington, North Carolina. In the late 1960s, she became politicized and joined the BPP, working on social programs in Harlem. However, she grew critical of the BPP’s approach and left to join the BLA, considered a more militant group by the FBI. In 1973, Shakur was involved in a shootout on the New Jersey Turnpike with police. A state trooper was killed, and Shakur was subsequently charged with murder. She maintains her innocence, claiming she was the victim of a political prosecution. Convicted in 1977, Shakur escaped from prison two years later and has been living in exile ever since. Assata Shakur’s story is complex. She is viewed by some as a courageous freedom fighter, a symbol of resistance against racial injustice in the United States. Others see her as a criminal who fled justice. Her autobiography, “Assata: An Autobiography,” offers her perspective on her experiences.
1957 – David Earl Miller – His early life was marked by severe abuse and neglect. His mother, who drank throughout her pregnancy, later married an alcoholic who subjected Miller to frequent physical abuse. Miller’s childhood was filled with trauma, including sexual abuse by family members and others. At 17, Miller joined the Marine Corps but deserted after learning he wouldn’t be sent to Vietnam. By 1979, he was a drifter in Knoxville, Tennessee, where he eventually committed the murder of Lee Standifer, a 23-year-old woman with a mental disability. He was convicted of her murder and sentenced to death. Miller spent 36 years on death row, the longest time a prisoner had waited for execution in Tennessee. He chose to be executed by the electric chair, arguing that lethal injection was inhumane. Miller was executed on December 6, 2018.
1958 – Michael Woodmansee – is an American convicted murderer known for the 1975 killing of five-year-old Jason Foreman in South Kingstown, Rhode Island. Michael Woodmansee grew up in South Kingstown, Rhode Island. Not much is publicly known about his early childhood, but by his teenage years, he was described as a quiet and somewhat reclusive individual. He attended the local high school and was 16 years old at the time of the crime. On May 18, 1975, five-year-old Jason Foreman disappeared while playing near his home. Despite extensive searches and investigations, the case went cold for several years. It wasn’t until 1982 that the truth came to light. Woodmansee, then 23, was arrested for attempting to strangle another boy. During the investigation, he confessed to the murder of Jason Foreman and led police to the boy’s remains, which he had kept in his home. Woodmansee was charged with second-degree murder. In a plea deal to avoid a trial, he was sentenced to 40 years in prison. The case shocked the local community and drew significant media attention due to the gruesome nature of the crime and the young age of both the victim and the perpetrator. Woodmansee served 28 years of his 40-year sentence. His release in 2011, due to good behavior, sparked outrage and concern among the public and the victim’s family. Upon his release, he was committed to a psychiatric hospital for further evaluation and treatment. The case of Michael Woodmansee remains a haunting memory for many in Rhode Island. The Foreman family, in particular, has been vocal about their grief and the impact of the crime on their lives. The case has also been cited in discussions about the criminal justice system, parole, and the treatment of violent offenders.
1958 – Maurizio Minghella – is a convicted Italian serial killer responsible for the murders of at least fifteen women. Born in Genoa, Italy in 1958, Minghella’s early life was marked by hardship. His mother separated from his father when he was young, and later remarried to a man who abused the family. In 1978, at the age of twenty, Minghella committed his first murders, taking the lives of five women in Genoa. He was eventually apprehended and convicted of these crimes. Paroled in 1997, Minghella’s violent tendencies reemerged. Between 1997 and 2001, he targeted and murdered ten sex workers in Turin, Italy. Maurizio Minghella was again arrested and convicted for these murders. Due to the severity of his crimes, he was sentenced to life in prison. The brutality of Minghella’s crimes shocked Italy and made him a notorious figure.
1967 – Christophe Rocancourt – was a French con artist who gained notoriety in the 1990s for successfully masquerading as a wealthy socialite, most famously claiming to be a member of the Rockefeller family. Details about Rocancourt’s early life are murky. According to some accounts, he had a difficult childhood with a troubled family [IMDb]. However, these claims are unverified and may have been part of his elaborate cons. Rocancourt arrived in the United States in the early 1990s. There, he perfected his craft, meticulously researching the lives of wealthy individuals like the Rockefellers and Hollywood producers. He then used this knowledge to convincingly impersonate them, often targeting affluent social circles. His charm and meticulous attention to detail were key to his success. Rocancourt’s most famous impersonation was claiming to be Christopher Rockefeller. He weaved elaborate stories about his supposed family lineage, exploiting the public’s limited knowledge about certain periods in the Rockefeller family history. This persona allowed him to secure large sums of money through loans and investments, many of which went unpaid. Rocancourt’s schemes eventually unraveled. He faced legal repercussions in various countries, including the United States and Canada. His story has been featured in documentaries, television shows, and even a film, solidifying his place as a notorious con artist.
1974 – Jermaine Robert Lebron – also known as “Bugsy,” is a convicted murderer from Osceola County, Florida. Born on July 16, 1974, Lebron was involved in a high-profile criminal case in the late 1990s. On November 24, 1995, he committed armed robbery and first-degree murder, leading to his conviction on February 25, 1998. Lebron’s crime involved luring Larry Neal Oliver to a house under the pretense of selling truck accessories. Once Oliver arrived, Lebron forced him to lie face-down and shot him at close range with a sawed-off shotgun. Following the murder, Lebron and his accomplices stole money, checks, and stereo equipment from Oliver’s truck. Lebron was sentenced to life imprisonment for armed robbery and received the death penalty for first-degree murder. His case went through multiple appeals and resentencing phases, but his conviction for the murder remained.
1979 – Shonda Dee Walter – is a convicted murderer from Lock Haven, Pennsylvania. On March 25, 2003, she brutally killed her 83-year-old neighbor, James Sementelli, a Pearl Harbor survivor, by striking him 66 times with a hatchet. Walter’s motive was reportedly to steal and sell Sementelli’s car to pay off court debts and gain entry into the Bloods street gang. Walter was sentenced to death in 2005 and remains on death row. Her case has been featured in various media, including an episode of the TV show “Deadly Women.”
1979 – Jacquline Nicole Reynolds – also known as Nikki Reynolds, was born in 1979. At three months old, she was adopted by Robert and Billie Jean Reynolds, a deeply religious couple who provided her with a loving and supportive upbringing in Coral Springs, Florida. Nikki’s childhood was described as idyllic, filled with love and opportunities. She excelled academically, participated in afterschool programs, and was active in her church. However, as she entered her teenage years, Nikki’s relationship with her adoptive parents became strained, particularly due to her growing interest in boys, which clashed with her parents’ conservative values. This tension culminated in a tragic event in May 1997, when Nikki, then 18, fatally stabbed her mother, Billie Jean, during an argument. Nikki’s case drew significant media attention, highlighting the complexities of her seemingly perfect life and the underlying issues that led to the crime. She was subsequently convicted and sentenced for the murder of her mother.
1979 – Brandon Joseph Rhode – was an American convicted criminal who gained notoriety due to the circumstances surrounding his execution. Born in 1979, Rhode was convicted in 2000 for the brutal murders of Steven Moss, a trucking company owner, and his two children, Bryan (11) and Kristin (15), during a burglary in Jones County, Georgia, in 1998. Rhode’s case drew significant attention due to his suicide attempt just days before his scheduled execution. On September 21, 2010, despite being under constant observation, he attempted to take his own life by slashing his arms and neck with a razor blade. This led to a series of delays in his execution as legal battles ensued over his mental competency and the state’s responsibility to protect him from self-harm. Ultimately, Rhode was executed by lethal injection on September 27, 2010, at the Georgia Diagnostic and Classification State Prison in Jackson, Georgia. His case remains a poignant example of the complexities and controversies surrounding the death penalty in the United States.
Deaths
Mary Frances Creighton
1676 – The Marquise de Brinvilliers – was a French aristocrat whose name became synonymous with poisoning. Accused and convicted of murdering her father and brothers for their inheritance, her case sparked a major scandal in 17th century France known as the Affair of the Poisons. Born into a wealthy Parisian family, Marie-Madeleine married Antoine Gobelin de Brinvilliers, a military officer, in 1651. Their marriage soured, and rumors of affairs swirled around both partners. This discontent, coupled with financial difficulties, may have been the seeds of her alleged crimes. The details remain murky, but accusations point to Marie-Madeleine becoming involved with a Captain Godin de Sainte-Croix. Together, they are believed to have obtained and experimented with poisons. The discovery of letters detailing these activities after Godin’s death exposed the alleged plot. Fleeing to England, Marie-Madeleine was eventually captured and brought back to France. Torture, a common practice at the time, was used to extract a confession. Convicted of murder, she was beheaded and her body burned in 1676. The Marquise de Brinvilliers’ case became a sensation, titillating the public with its themes of aristocratic depravity, forbidden love, and the dark arts. It unraveled a network of suspected poisoners, leading to further arrests and trials, gripping France for years. Her story has been immortalized in literature, opera, and popular culture, forever etching her name in infamy. While historical consensus leans towards Marie-Madeleine’s guilt, some aspects of the case remain debated. The extent of her involvement, the number of victims, and the influence of Godin are all points of ongoing discussion.
1934 – Alaska P. Davidson – carved her name in history as the first female Special Agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), then known as the Bureau of Investigation (BOI). Born in 1868 in Ohio, details about Davidson’s early life are scarce. We know she had limited formal education but came from a prominent family. Her brothers, James Ward Packard and William Doud Packard, co-founded the Packard automobile company. Despite her background, Davidson forged her own path, entering the world of law enforcement at the age of 54. In 1922, Director William Burns of the BOI sought to expand the agency’s reach in addressing issues like interstate sex trafficking. This led to the hiring of Davidson, likely due to her focus and maturity. Though some questioned her suitability for undercover work due to her refined demeanor, Davidson’s perseverance prevailed. After training in New York City, Davidson was assigned to the Washington D.C. field office. While details of her specific cases remain elusive, her role as a trailblazer for women in the FBI is undeniable. Her short tenure, however, ended with the appointment of J. Edgar Hoover as Director in 1924. Hoover, known for his conservative views on gender roles, did not renew Davidson’s contract. It wouldn’t be until the 1970s that women would again be welcomed into the ranks of FBI Special Agents. Despite the brevity of her FBI career, Alaska P. Davidson’s legacy lives on. She is a symbol of progress, reminding us of the long road towards equality in traditionally male-dominated fields.
1936 – Mary Frances Creighton – was an American woman who achieved notoriety for a crime as shocking as her nicknames: “The Long Island Borgia” and the “Black-Eyed Borgia.” Creighton gained this infamy through her conviction and execution for the arsenic poisoning murders of multiple people. Born Mary Frances Avery in Rahway, New Jersey, Creighton’s early life was marked by loss. Orphaned as a child, she was raised by her grandparents. Described as introverted and with few friends, she moved to Newark as a teenager and graduated from high school there. In 1917, she met and married John Creighton, a sailor who had served in World War I. The details of Creighton’s life after her marriage are murky, but it is known that she became involved in a scheme with Everett Appelgate, a man described as having seduced her teenage daughter. Together, they plotted to murder Appelgate’s wife, Ada, using arsenic. Ada’s death in 1935 sparked an investigation that eventually unraveled the plot and led to Creighton’s arrest. Creighton’s trial became a media sensation. Nicknamed for the infamous Borgia family known for their ruthlessness and suspected poisoning, Creighton was found guilty and sentenced to death by electric chair. On July 16, 1936, she was executed at Sing Sing Prison in New York. Reports indicate she fainted before the execution was complete, raising questions about the process. Mary Frances Creighton’s story stands as a chilling reminder of the potential for calculated cruelty. The case itself serves as a historical footnote to the use of arsenic in poisoning and the lengths to which people can go for perceived gain.
1991 – Frank Rizzo – a towering figure in Philadelphia’s history, was a man who carved his name into the city through law enforcement and politics. Born in 1920, the son of a police officer, Rizzo was practically destined for a career in law. He joined the Philadelphia Police Department in 1943, quickly rising through the ranks with a reputation for being both fearless and effective. Nicknames like “Fearless Frank” and “The Cisco Kid” reflected his hands-on approach and willingness to take charge. This aggressive style of policing became a hallmark of his career, serving him well as he ascended to the position of Police Commissioner (1967-1971). Rizzo’s time as commissioner coincided with a period of social unrest in Philadelphia. He implemented a hard-line approach to crime control, which garnered him support from some who felt it brought order to a chaotic time. However, this approach also drew criticism, particularly from minority communities who felt unfairly targeted by the police department’s heavy hand. These accusations of racial bias would continue to plague Rizzo throughout his career. Leveraging his image as a tough-on-crime cop, Rizzo successfully transitioned from commissioner to mayor in 1972. He served two terms (1972-1980) as a Democrat, though he switched parties later in life. As mayor, Rizzo remained focused on crime control, but his administration also oversaw some improvements to Philadelphia’s infrastructure. Despite these achievements, Rizzo’s legacy remains a subject of debate. His supporters hail him as an effective crime fighter who brought down crime rates. However, his critics point to the allegations of police brutality and racial tension that festered under his watch.
2008 – Lucien Leger – a French citizen born in Paris in 1937, led a life marked by both hardship and crime. Growing up in a modest family, Léger served in the military and later married. He even embarked on a path towards becoming a nursing student. However, his life took a dramatic turn in 1964 when he was convicted of murdering a child. This heinous act landed him a life sentence, making him the longest-serving prisoner in France at the time. The press dubbed him “The Strangler” due to the chilling signature found in anonymous letters sent to the police. Léger’s eventual release in 2005, after spending a staggering 41 years behind bars, sparked significant debate. The sheer length of his sentence ignited discussions about punishment, rehabilitation, and the effectiveness of the justice system. Even after his release, Léger continued to grapple with the consequences of his actions. He attempted to reintegrate into society by working for the Red Cross. Interestingly, he also challenged his conviction in the European Court of Human Rights, though his appeal was unsuccessful. Lucien Léger’s story serves as a stark reminder of the enduring impact of crime. It not only affects the victims and their loved ones, but also leaves a lasting mark on the perpetrator. His case continues to raise important questions about societal responses to crime and the potential for redemption.
Events
The Romanov Family
1439 – Kissing was temporarily made illegal: to stop the Black Death from spreading
1918 – The Russian imperial Romanov family was shot & bayoneted to death
1935 – The first automatic parking meter in the United States is installed in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
1967 – A prison brawl ignites a barracks, killing 37 people in Jay, Florida
1990 – The ANC sent a report on police violence to President FW de Clerk and demanded an end to “the shocking inhumanity” of police action in rural areas of South Africa
1998 – Reginald Sublet killed his ex-girlfriend, their son, 2 others, and himself in a closed garage with a running car
2004 – Martha Stewart is sentenced to five months in prison plus five months in home confinement for lying to Federal investigators
2015 – Four US Marines & one gunman die in a shooting spree targeting military installations in Chattanooga, Tennessee
