Births
David Sweat
1933 – Edward Edwards – was an American serial killer and former fugitive, born on June 14, 1933, and died on April 7, 2011. His life of crime began with a series of gas station hold-ups after escaping from jail in Akron, Ohio, in 1955. His criminal activities escalated to the point where he was listed on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives by 1961. He was eventually captured and arrested in Atlanta, Georgia on January 20, 1962. After his release from prison on parole in 1967, Edwards’s crimes took a darker turn. He murdered at least five people between 1977 and 1996, although he is suspected of several additional killings. His crimes spanned across multiple states and decades, making him one of the most notorious serial killers in American history. Despite his criminal past, Edwards managed to evade capture for many years, demonstrating a chilling ability to blend into society. His life and crimes have been the subject of numerous books and documentaries, exploring the mind and motives of this infamous killer.
1951 – Roger Lee Cherry – also known as “Johnny L. Hill”, is a convicted criminal known for his involvement in a tragic incident that took place on June 28, 1986. Cherry was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder, one count of burglary with an assault, and one count of grand theft. His crimes involved the murder of an elderly couple, Leonard Wayne and Esther Wayne, during the commission of a burglary. On the night of the crime, Cherry left his shared apartment stating that he needed some money. He returned an hour later with two or three rifles and a wallet containing a bank card and a license identifying a man named Wayne. The following day, the son of Leonard and Esther Wayne arrived at his parents’ home in Deland for a visit, only to discover that their car was gone and the door to the house was ajar. Upon entering the bedroom, he found his parents lying on the floor, dead. Autopsies revealed that Mrs. Wayne died of multiple blows to the head and that Mr. Wayne died of cardiac arrest. Cherry was sentenced to death on September 26, 1987. His convictions and sentences were upheld on appeal.
1962 – Terry Lynn King – On the afternoon of July 31, 1984, the petitioner and his cousin, Don King, were driving around Cherokee Lake when they encountered the victim, Diana K. Smith. The trio proceeded to Don King’s trailer, with the petitioner accompanying the victim in her car. Subsequently, the petitioner acquired LSD, and both he and the victim consumed it. Meanwhile, Don King had ingested one or more Quaalude tablets and had been consuming beer throughout the day. The victim, who had been drinking wine, continued to do so upon reaching Don King’s trailer. The evidence established that the petitioner engaged in sexual activity with the victim, after which they drove around in her car. At a certain point, she confronted him, asking, “Why did you all rape me?” Subsequently, King compelled her to enter the trunk of her car and drove to the residence of his friend and co-defendant, Randall Joe Sexton. King conferred with Sexton, obtaining Sexton’s rifle. Returning to the victim’s car, King drove away, with Sexton following in his vehicle. Ultimately, they reached a wooded area near a creek where King instructed the victim to exit the trunk and lie facedown on the ground. He then fatally shot her in the back of the head. King and Sexton returned the following day to dispose of the body, wrapping it in a tent, securing it with cinder blocks, and ultimately tossing it into a quarry lake. The discovery of the body occurred several days later. After their arrests, both Sexton and King provided statements to the police, having waived their rights. Subsequently, both men faced joint trial proceedings.
1965 – Rory Enrique Conde – also known as “The Tamiami Trail Strangler”, was born on June 14, 1965, in Barranquilla, Colombia. After his mother’s death from tetanus when he was six months old, he was raised by his paternal grandmother. At the age of twelve, he moved to Miami to live with his father, Gustavo Conde. Rory married Carla Conde in 1987 when he was 21 and she was 15, and they had two children together. However, their relationship was troubled, with Rory being an abusive husband. In July 1994, Carla moved out with their two children. Rory Enrique Conde is infamous for his criminal activities. He killed six prostitutes in Florida, U.S. over 5 months from September 1994 to January 1995. His victims were strangled to death and then sodomized. He was arrested on June 19, 1995, and was sentenced to death on March 7, 2000. Since then, he has been on Florida’s death row.
1967 – Kathleen Megan Folbigg – She is an Australian woman who was wrongfully convicted in 2003 of murdering her four infant children. She maintained her innocence throughout, claiming the children had died from natural causes. Folbigg’s early life was marked by tragedy. Her biological father, Thomas John “Taffy” Britton, murdered her mother, Kathleen May Donovan, by stabbing her 24 times when Folbigg was just 18 months old. She was made a ward of the state and placed into foster care. She left school at the age of fifteen and married Craig Gibson Folbigg in 1987. The couple had four children, all of whom died in early infancy. After their deaths, entries from Folbigg’s diary led to her arrest in 2001. She was convicted in 2003 and sentenced to 40 years with a non-parole period of 30 years. In 2023, after 20 years in jail, Folbigg was pardoned following a long campaign for justice by her supporters. Her convictions were overturned on appeal a few months later. The pardon came after research demonstrated that all four deaths could be explained as the effects of very rare genetic factors.
1969 – Elroy Chester – He committed five murders in Texas between 1997 and 1998, during a series of burglaries and fatal shootings in Port Arthur, Texas. The victims were John Henry Sepeda (78), Etta Mae Stallings (87), Cheryl DeLeon (40), Albert Bolden Jr. (35), and Willie Ryman III (38). Chester also confessed to four non-fatal shootings. He was convicted and sentenced to death for the murder of Willie Ryman III and the assault of Ryman’s two nieces. The jury took only 11 and a half minutes to agree on a death sentence for Chester. Despite scoring below 70 on IQ tests and being previously placed in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice’s Mentally Retarded Offenders Program, the Texas court system ruled that Chester was legally competent to be executed. Chester was executed by lethal injection on June 12, 2013, two days before his 44th birthday.
1973 – Shad Daniel Armstrong – is a convicted murderer currently on death row. In late August 1996, Armstrong, his sister Farrah, and a friend burglarized a home in Texas. Over the next couple of years, Farrah’s relationship with Armstrong deteriorated. In January 1998, Armstrong knew that Farrah was considering turning herself in for the 1996 burglary. Armstrong conspired with David Doogan to murder Farrah and her fiancé, Frank Williams. On February 19, 1998, Armstrong and Doogan invited Farrah and Williams to their house in Tucson, AZ, under the guise of returning borrowed money. When Farrah and Williams arrived, Armstrong retrieved a shotgun and shot Farrah and Williams in the midsection and head. After stripping the bodies of valuables and burying the bodies in the shallow grave, Armstrong left with his girlfriend, Rusty Medina, to Texas, where they were eventually apprehended and extradited to Arizona. Armstrong was on the run until he was finally arrested in January 1999. He was charged with two counts of first-degree murder and one count of conspiracy to commit murder. His trial started January 24, 2000, and lasted 33 days, at which point he was convicted by a jury on all charges. Armstrong was sentenced to death on both of the First Degree Murder charges and 25-to-life on the Conspiracy charge.
1973 – Ivan Abner Cantu – is a man who has been on death row in Texas for over two decades. He was born on June 14, 1973. He was convicted in 2001 for the murders of his cousin, James Mosqueda, and Mosqueda’s fiancée, Amy Kitchen. The crime took place in Dallas, Texas, on November 4, 2000. Cantu was sentenced to death on November 8, 2001. Cantu’s conviction was largely based on the testimony of his then-girlfriend, who claimed he was covered in blood on the night of the murders. However, apart from some blood-smeared jeans found in a bin in his home in Dallas, no evidence ever linked Cantu to the crime scene. Cantu maintains his innocence and believes that the victims were killed by rival drug dealers out to frame him. Cantu’s execution was initially scheduled for February 28, 2024, but it was later canceled after new evidence suggested his innocence. His case continues to be a subject of legal proceedings and public interest.
1980 – David Sweat – is an American felon who gained notoriety for his escape from the Clinton Correctional Facility in June 2015. Raised in the Binghamton metropolitan area by his single mother, Pamela Sweat, along with his two sisters, Sweat had a troubled childhood characterized by violent tendencies. Sweat became involved with marijuana in his teens and was subsequently sent to Florida to be raised by relatives. However, his criminal activities escalated, and he was arrested and convicted for many robberies he carried out along with his cousin Jeffrey A. Nabinger Jr. in the late 1990s. On July 4, 2002, after burglarizing a gun shop in Pennsylvania, Sweat and his cohorts returned to New York. While in the state, Broome County Sheriff’s Deputy Kevin Tarsia spotted him while transferring the stolen pistols and ammunition from one car to another. To avoid getting caught, Sweat opened fire on the cop before running him over with a car. Nabinger then shot Tarsia two more times right in the face. Therefore, within a short period, they were arrested, and Sweat pled guilty to first-degree murder to evade the death penalty. Instead, he was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. While serving his sentence at the Clinton Correctional Facility, Sweat met Richard Matt, who had kidnapped, robbed, killed, and dismembered his former boss in 1997. Their friendship blossomed in 2010, and they planned their escape by 2015. On June 5, 2015, with the help of Joyce Mitchell, whom they’d seduced over the years, and a correctional officer who unknowingly supplied them the tools they needed to break out, Sweat and Richard escaped. However, they had to abandon their original idea of fleeing to Mexico as Joyce failed to arrive with the getaway car near the manhole they’d successfully dug from their cells. So, they headed towards Canada before separating. Eventually, the hunt for them ceased when Richard was shot and killed on June 26, 2015, and Sweat was shot and arrested on June 28 near the border.
Deaths
Anna Slesers
1856 – William Palmer – also known as the Rugeley Poisoner or the Prince of Poisoners, was an infamous figure in 19th-century England. Born in Rugeley, Staffordshire, Palmer trained as a doctor and established a medical practice in his hometown. However, his life took a dark turn as he became embroiled in gambling, debt, and ultimately, murder. Palmer’s first suspected victim was his brother Walter, who died suddenly in 1850 after Palmer had taken out a life insurance policy on him. Over the next five years, several other people close to Palmer, including his mother-in-law, wife, and four of his children, died under suspicious circumstances. Each time, Palmer benefited financially, either through inheritances or insurance payouts. The case that led to his downfall was the death of his friend, John Cook, in 1855. Cook died after a dinner at Palmer’s house, and a post-mortem examination revealed traces of strychnine in his system. Palmer was arrested and charged with murder. The trial of William Palmer was a sensation, attracting attention across Britain. The evidence against him was largely circumstantial, but it was enough to convince the jury of his guilt. Palmer was found guilty and sentenced to death. He was hanged in public outside Stafford Prison on June 14, 1856. The case of William Palmer has lived on in infamy, serving as a chilling reminder of the potential for evil that can lurk beneath a veneer of respectability. His story has been the subject of numerous books and films, ensuring his place in the annals of British criminal history.
1962 – Anna Slesers – was a 56-year-old seamstress and mother, known for her dedication to her work and her family. She was born in Latvia and later immigrated to the United States, where she settled in Boston’s Back Bay neighborhood. Slesers led a quiet and unassuming life until her tragic death on June 14, 1962. She was found strangled in her apartment, becoming the first victim of the infamous Boston Strangler. Her death marked the beginning of a horrifying spree that would claim the lives of 12 more women over the next 19 months. Despite the tragedy of her death, Slesers’ story serves as a reminder of the countless innocent lives affected by violent crime. Her memory continues to be honored in discussions about the Boston Strangler case.
1986 – Tony & Michael Spilotro – Anthony “Tony” Spilotro and Michael “Micky” Spilotro were brothers who were deeply involved in organized crime in the United States. Born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, they were part of a family of six children. Tony, the older of the two, was a high-ranking member of the Chicago Outfit in Las Vegas during the 1970s and ’80s. He was responsible for managing the Outfit’s illegal casino profits, known as the “skim” when four of the casinos were under the management of Frank Rosenthal. Tony moved to Las Vegas in 1971 and formed the “Hole in the Wall Gang”. However, his violent activities eventually led to his downfall. He was murdered on June 14, 1986. His life served as the basis for the character Nicky Santoro in Martin Scorsese’s 1995 film Casino. Michael, Tony’s younger brother, was also an associate of the Chicago Outfit. He followed in his older brother’s footsteps into organized crime. Michael was involved in the activities of Tony’s “Hole in the Wall Gang”. Like his brother, his involvement in organized crime led to his murder. He was killed alongside Tony on June 14, 1986. Michael’s life was also portrayed in the movie Casino, where he was represented by the character Dominick Santoro. The brothers were found dead in a cornfield in Indiana, having been beaten to death. Their lives and deaths remain a notorious chapter in the history of American organized crime. The story of the Spilotro brothers serves as a stark reminder of the dangerous and violent world of organized crime. Their legacy continues to be a subject of fascination and study for those interested in the history of crime in the United States.
1997 – Tesslynn O’Cull – was born on June 8, 1994. Her life was tragically cut short on June 14, 1997, at the tender age of three. Her case is known as one of the worst instances of child abuse in Oregon’s history. Tesslynn was subjected to severe physical and emotional abuse by her mother’s boyfriend, Jesse Compton, and her mother, Stella Kiser. The abuse included beatings, burns, and sexual assault. Tesslynn’s back was broken 2-3 weeks before her death, and rubbing alcohol had been poured into open wounds on her body. Despite the horrific circumstances of her life and death, Tesslynn’s story has served as a rallying cry for child abuse prevention efforts. Her image was used in the “Stop the Abuse” poster for Oregon, and her memory continues to inspire advocacy for the rights and protection of children. It’s important to remember Tesslynn’s story not just for the tragedy it represents, but also for the awareness it raises about the urgent need to prevent child abuse and protect the most vulnerable among us.
2001 – Jay D. Scott – was an American convicted murderer who was executed by the state of Ohio for the 1983 murder of a delicatessen owner in Cleveland. He was the second man put to death by Ohio since it reinstated capital punishment in 1981 and the first to be executed involuntarily. Scott was born on August 21, 1952, in Cleveland, Ohio, the sixth of eleven children born to Willie and Sadie Scott. Both his parents were alcoholics who spent most of their income on alcohol and gambling. Scott grew up in an impoverished neighborhood on Cleveland’s East Side and slept in a bedroom with up to four of his siblings sharing the same bed as him. By the age of nine, he had been arrested on charges of truancy, theft, and breaking and entering. He was later placed in the Cleveland Boys School for troubled youth at the age of 13. On May 6, 1983, Vinnie M. Price, owner and operator of the V & E Delicatessen in Cleveland, was shot and killed during an attempted armed robbery of her establishment. The day after Price’s murder, Scott participated in the robbery-slaying of Alexander Jones, a security guard at a restaurant. He was later sentenced to death in that case, but the sentence was reduced to life on appeal. Scott’s execution generated attention as he was diagnosed with schizophrenia, with his lawyers arguing he was too mentally ill to be executed.
Events
Donald Neilson
1648 – Margaret Jones is hanged in Boston for witchcraft in the first such execution for the Massachusetts colony
1962 – Albert DeSalvo murders Anna Slesers, his first victim
1976 – The trial begins at Oxford Crown Court of Donald Neilson, the killer known as the Black Panther
1989 – Zsa Zsa Gabor is arrested for slapping Beverly Hills motorcycle patrolman
1994 – The 1994 Stanley Cup riots occurred after the New York Rangers won the Stanley Cup from Vancouver causing an estimated CA$1.1 million of damage and leading to 200 arrests and injuries
1996 – The Montana freemen surrendered after an 81-day standoff with FBI agents
2013 – The US government charges Edward Snowden with violating the Espionage Act and theft of government property
