Births

Sam Giancana

1908Sam Giancana – Salvatore “Momo” Giancana, better known as Sam, was born in Chicago’s rough West Side in 1908. His Italian immigrant parents provided little shelter from the allure of the city’s criminal underworld. As a teenager, Giancana led the “42s,” a street gang involved in petty crime, catching the eye of the Chicago Outfit, led by the infamous Al Capone. Giancana’s ruthlessness and efficiency earned him a role as a getaway driver for Capone, quickly progressing to “triggerman” by his early 20s. Despite escaping convictions for several suspected murders, he served time for burglary and larceny. By the late 1930s, he was fully integrated into the Outfit, climbing the ranks through cunning and violence. 1957 saw Giancana ascend to the top of the Outfit, known for his flamboyant charisma and political connections, including rumors of ties to the Kennedys. He controlled illegal gambling operations, prostitution rings, and labor racketeering, amassing wealth and notoriety. Giancana’s involvement with the CIA’s alleged plot to assassinate Fidel Castro landed him in the Senate’s crosshairs. Days before his scheduled testimony, he was gunned down in his Oak Park home in 1975. The murder’s motive remains shrouded in mystery, fueling conspiracy theories to this day.

1944Robert Keppel – was an American law enforcement officer and detective, known for his significant contributions to the investigations of notorious serial killers Ted Bundy and Gary Ridgway. Keppel was raised in Spokane, Washington, and attended Central Valley High School. Inspired by his father to pursue criminal justice, he went on to attend Washington State University, where he competed in the high jump. He received his master’s degree in police science and administration. Keppel began his career as a detective with the “Ted Murders”. He narrowed down a large list of suspects, including Ted Bundy. After moving on from the “Ted Murders,” Keppel returned to a doctorate program at the University of Washington and took the position of chief investigator for the Washington State Attorney General’s office. He was asked to assist in the Green River Task Force for the investigation of a set of murders in Washington. This correspondence led to interviews between him and Bundy, which resulted in Bundy confessing to his unidentified crimes days before his execution. Keppel retired as chief criminal investigator for the Washington State Attorney General’s Office in 1995. He joined the faculty of Seattle University and later became an associate professor of criminal justice at Sam Houston State University and the University of New Haven. He authored “The Riverman: Ted Bundy and I Hunt for the Green River Killer”, which was made into a made-for-TV movie in 2004. Keppel passed away on June 14, 2021.

1949Joe Clarence Smith Jr – is a significant figure in the United States criminal justice system. He holds the record for being on death row longer than any other inmate in Arizona and is among the longest-serving death row inmates in the country. Smith was sentenced to death in 1977 for the sexual assault and murder of two young girls in Arizona. He was convicted of the 1975 murder of 18-year-old Sandy Spencer and pleaded guilty to the 1976 murder of 14-year-old Neva Lee. After Smith’s death sentence was overturned in 1979, he was resentenced to death. Smith’s second death sentence was overturned in 1999. He was resentenced to death again in 2004. In 2007, Smith sought to overturn his death sentence, arguing that it would be cruel and unusual to execute him after so much time had passed. The Supreme Court of the United States denied that petition and Smith filed another one 10 years later. The high court denied review once again. Smith’s case has been a point of discussion regarding the constitutionality of the death penalty and the conditions of death row inmates. Associate Justice Stephen Breyer of the Supreme Court has pointed out the exceptionality of Smith’s case and raised concerns about the constitutionality of capital punishment.

1950Leonard Uresti Rojas – was a man with a troubled past. Born on June 15, 1950, he lived in Alvarado, Texas, with his common-law wife, Jo Ann Reed, and his brother, David Rojas. Rojas had a history of drug offenses, having served three prison sentences for drug-related crimes. His first sentence was in Germany, where he was stationed while serving in the U.S. Army. He was later convicted of selling heroin in California in 1976 and selling cocaine in Nevada in 1990. On December 27, 1994, Rojas was convicted in the shooting deaths of his 34-year-old common-law wife, JoAnn Reed, and his 43-year-old brother, David Rojas. The crime occurred in their mobile home after a night of drinking and using drugs. Rojas shot Reed between the eyes with a .32 caliber revolver after she told him she wanted him to move out because she had found a new boyfriend. He then shot his brother three times in the bathroom. After the killings, Rojas hitchhiked to the bus station in Fort Worth and bought a ticket to Atlanta, Georgia. When he reached Dallas, he confessed to security guards at the bus station. He later confessed to Dallas County sheriff’s deputies, including taking them on a videotaped walk-through of the crime scene. Rojas was executed by lethal injection on December 4, 2002, in Huntsville, Texas.

1971Chadwick D. Banks – was a Florida man who gained notoriety for committing a heinous crime. Born in 1971, Banks spent more than 20 years in prison after being convicted of a double murder. In 1992, Banks was arrested just four days after he fatally shot his wife, Cassandra Banks, while she was sleeping. The tragic incident took place in Florida. But the horror didn’t end there. Banks later confessed to raping and killing his 10-year-old stepdaughter, Melody Cooper, soon after the shooting. His actions shocked the community and led to his eventual conviction. On November 14, 2014, Chadwick Banks, aged 43, was executed by lethal injection at the Florida State Prison. His execution marked the 89th in Florida since the U.S. reinstated the death penalty in 1976.

Deaths

Alexander Komin

1812Hester Rebecca Nepping – was a Dutch woman whose life took a tragic and infamous turn, leading her to become one of the Netherlands’ most notorious serial killers. Although details surrounding her early life remain scarce, her story paints a complex picture of hardship, desperation, and ultimately, violence. Born in Amsterdam in 1774, Hester was the only child of a master painter. At 19, she married Jan Brummelkamp, a tobacco retailer. However, financial struggles plagued their union, forcing them to move from Amsterdam to the countryside in search of opportunities. Despite their efforts, both their tobacco shop and later work at a paper mill failed, further deepening their financial woes. The exact details of when and how Hester began poisoning people remain unclear. However, historical accounts suggest she started with her husband, Jan, in 1801. He suffered from prolonged illness before succumbing, with suspicions of foul play arising but ultimately dismissed. This pattern then continued with subsequent partners and acquaintances, including lodgers and friends. Over a decade, several individuals reportedly fell ill and died under Hester’s care, raising even stronger suspicions. In 1811, with mounting evidence and growing community fear, Hester was finally arrested. Authorities exhumed the bodies of her deceased victims, finding traces of arsenic, a common poison at the time. Despite initially denying the accusations, Hester eventually confessed to poisoning nine people, driven by financial gain and a desire to inherit their possessions. Found guilty in June 1812, Hester received the ultimate punishment of the era: execution by guillotine. On June 15th, at the age of 37, she became the first woman in the Netherlands to be executed by this method.

1957Gaspare Messina – was born on August 7, 1879, in Salemi, Sicily. In 1905, he and his wife, Francesca Riggio, embarked on a journey that would alter the course of their lives. Leaving their homeland, they immigrated to Brooklyn, where they settled and began anew. Messina dabbled in various activities, including opening a bakery. However, it was his involvement with the local mafia that would shape his destiny. Over time, this mafia would evolve into the infamous Bonanno crime family. Around 1915, Messina and his family relocated to Boston, where he established himself as a prominent figure in the local Sicilian-based mafia. The specifics of his rise to power remain shrouded in mystery, but he became a central player in the criminal underworld. In 1921, he hosted a banquet in his honor, a testament to his influence within the Boston mafia. In 1923, the U.S. Secret Service uncovered evidence linking Messina to a counterfeiting operation. Although he was never formally charged, he decided to take an extended trip back to his native Sicily. He returned to the United States in December 1924, his activities during this period veiled in secrecy. Notably, Messina was also involved in a wholesale grocery business known as G. Messina & Company. Around 1927, Messina and his family moved to the nearby suburb of Somerville. During the Castellammarese War, a pivotal moment in organized crime history, Messina was temporarily designated as the capo di capi (boss of bosses) during a December 1930 meeting in Boston. His influence extended far beyond the city limits. In 1932, he retired as the head of the Boston Mafia, leaving behind a legacy that would echo through the annals of criminal lore. On June 15, 1957, Gaspare Messina passed away in Somerville, Massachusetts. His life journey—from Sicily to Brooklyn and Boston—mirrors the intricate tapestry of organized crime during the early 20th century. Gaspare Messina’s story intertwines with the rise and fall of powerful crime families, forever leaving an indelible mark on the underworld .

1993Mahfoud Boucebi – a psychiatrist, was a remarkable individual whose life was tragically cut short. Born in Algeria, he dedicated himself to both his profession and his passion for literature. His contributions to the field of psychiatry were invaluable, but it was his untimely death that left an indelible mark on those who knew him. In the tumultuous landscape of Algeria, where writers and intellectuals faced immense challenges, Mahfoud Boucebi stood out. He was not only a healer of minds but also a seeker of truth through words. His clinic, where he provided care to those in need, became a sanctuary for both physical and emotional healing. Tragically, Mahfoud’s life was brutally extinguished. One fateful day, as he arrived at his clinic, he encountered a blocked driveway. Two assailants forced their way into his car, stabbing him in the chest and abdomen. Despite the efforts of medical professionals, he succumbed to his injuries during surgery. His loss was deeply felt by the literary community and beyond. In Assia Djebar’s poignant memoir, “Algerian White”, Mahfoud Boucebi is remembered alongside two other friends: M’Hamed Boukhobza, a sociologist, and Abdelkader Alloula, a dramatist. Each of these men was a writer in addition to their primary professions. Their deaths, occurring within a year of each other, serve as emotional anchors in Djebar’s narrative. Through their stories, she reflects not only on their lives but also on the broader context of Algerian writers who met tragic ends—some at the hands of political extremists, others in the struggle for independence.

1998Johnny Dean Pyles – was convicted of capital murder for the shooting death of Dallas County Sheriff Ray Kovar on June 20, 1982. The incident involved a close-range shooting with a .38 caliber revolver. After a seven-week jury trial in the First Criminal District Court of Dallas County, Mr. Pyles was found guilty of capital murder. The jurors answered the special issues affirmatively, and he was executed on June 15, 1998. In his final statement, Johnny expressed remorse for the pain and heartache he had caused the victim’s family. He also shared his faith, stating that Jesus Christ was his Lord and Savior. Despite the circumstances, he hoped for reconciliation and peace for those affected by his actions.

1999Alexander Komin – was born on July 15, 1953, in the town of Vyatskiye Polyany, Russia. Little did anyone know that this unassuming man would later become one of the most notorious serial killers and enslavers in Russian criminal history. Komin’s crimes centered around an underground bunker he constructed beneath his garage. Initially, he and his accomplice, Alexander Mikheev, had seemingly innocuous intentions: they planned to create a greenhouse with electric heating. Their goal was to grow vegetables for sale. However, the sinister turn of events would soon reveal their true intentions. Komin lured homeless women into his clutches. Once ensnared, he chained them in the cramped 100-square-foot underground space. The conditions were deplorable—starvation, beatings, and sexual abuse became their daily reality. These unfortunate victims endured unimaginable suffering, trapped in a living nightmare. Of the six prisoners held captive by Komin, four met a tragic fate. He murdered them, leaving behind a trail of horror. Their lives were extinguished within the confines of that dark, subterranean prison. Komin’s story captured public attention and was documented in several films. “Cooperative Prisoner” (1998), part of the “Criminal Russia” series, delved into his crimes. Another documentary titled “Bunker: The Investigation Was Conducted…” (2015) shed light on the chilling details. Even Japanese television featured a program titled “Maniacs of the 20th Century,” further cementing Komin’s notoriety. Komin’s reign of terror came to an abrupt halt when he was arrested on July 21, 1997, 2 years later in June 1999 Komin would take his own life in prison. His crimes remain a haunting chapter in criminal history, revealing the depths of human depravity and cruelty. The tale of Alexander Komin serves as a grim reminder of the darkness that can reside within seemingly ordinary individuals and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of unimaginable horror.

2004Li Pingping – was a Chinese serial killer responsible for the murders of four women in Beijing between 2002 and 2003, aided by his wife Dong Meirong. Born in 1960, Li led an introverted life with minimal social interactions. His criminal history began in 1980 with a robbery conviction, followed by a six-month prison sentence for theft in 1985. After being released from prison in the early 1990s, Li secured employment as a boiler worker for Beijing’s Gaotlan Health Food Company. However, he was fired in 1995 due to poor performance and hostile behavior, fueling his resentment towards society. Seeking revenge, he committed arson in Fragrant Hills Park, burning down nine houses. Unsatisfied, he targeted his former manager, Song Shutian, killing him, his wife, and his daughter in 1995. Li then worked as a taxi driver for Wanquansi Taxi Company. Between November 2002 and April 2003, Li used his taxi to pick up prostitutes from karaoke halls, negotiating prices for sexual services. He lured them to his house, where he stabbed them to death with a fruit knife. Li and his wife disposed of the corpses in a nearby garbage dump after mutilating three of the victims. In 2003, Li and Dong Meirong were arrested. During the investigation, Li calmly directed authorities to the garbage dumps containing the victims’ remains. He confessed to murdering the “karaoke ladies” due to jealousy over their higher earnings. Li was found guilty of seven murders, arson, and theft, receiving a death sentence. Dong Meirong was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment for her role in disposing of the bodies. On June 15, 2004, Li Pingping was executed in Beijing with a single gunshot to the head. His execution was reported by Radio Free Asia, revealing undisclosed mental abnormalities observed in Li during psychological examinations conducted before his trial at the Shandong Psychological Counseling Center.

2007Michael Allen Lambert – Muncie Police Officers responded to a traffic accident where they discovered an abandoned utility truck. Upon towing the truck, they encountered Lambert, who was found crawling under another vehicle nearby. Lambert, who had spent most of the night drinking, informed the officers that he was attempting to sleep. However, Officer Kirk Mace arrested Lambert for Public Intoxication. Lambert was subjected to a pat-down and placed in the back of a police car driven by Officer Gregg Winters for transportation to jail. Shortly after, the police vehicle slid off the road into a ditch. Lambert remained handcuffed in the backseat, and Officer Winters was discovered with five gunshot wounds to the back of the head and neck. A .25 handgun was found on the floorboard, later revealed to have been stolen by Lambert from his employer. In the course of the trial, a demonstration/re-enactment video illustrating how a gun could be retrieved and fired while handcuffed was presented as evidence. Despite Lambert’s blood alcohol content of .18, a statement from the defendant was also admitted into evidence.

2010David Lee Powell – a name etched in infamy, was at the center of a tragic and violent incident that shook the city of Austin, Texas. Born with promise and potential, his life took a dark turn, leading to a fateful encounter that would forever alter the course of history. On May 18, 1978, Powell committed an act that would haunt him for the rest of his days. Armed with an AK-47, a .45-caliber pistol, and even a hand grenade, he opened fire on police officer Ralph Ablanedo near Live Oak Street and Travis Heights Boulevard. The gunbattle left Ablanedo mortally wounded, and he tragically succumbed on the operating room table. Ablanedo was only 26 years old at the time. Before this dark chapter, Powell had been voted “most likely to succeed” at Campbell High School, located northeast of Dallas. Despite skipping his junior year, he emerged as the valedictorian of his 15-member graduating class. His potential seemed boundless, but fate had other plans. Following the shooting, Powell engaged in a desperate standoff with law enforcement. Eventually, he was captured at Travis High School. The legal proceedings that followed were intense and emotionally charged. Powell faced trial, conviction, and sentencing, including two death sentences. For more than three decades, Powell resided on death row—a place where time seemed to stretch infinitely. His life became intertwined with the legal system, the weight of his actions hanging heavily over him. In 1999, Powell sought a third trial, hoping for a different outcome. His case had become emblematic of the complexities of capital punishment. Yet, despite the twists and turns, the specter of Officer Ralph Ablanedo’s murder loomed large.

Events

OJ Simpson tries on the gloves

1924 – J. Edgar Hoover assumes leadership of the FBI

1932 – Gaston Means is sentenced to 15 years for fraud in the Lindbergh baby kidnapping

1962 – South Africa passes a bill setting the death penalty for many crimes

1970 – Charles Manson goes on trial for the Sharon Tate murders

1983 – Serial killer Ottis Toole is apprehended

1985 – Rembrandt’s painting Danae is attacked by a man later judged insane, he throws sulfuric acid on the canvas & cuts it twice

1994 – David Lawson is executed in North Carolina, he wanted his execution shown on “Donahue”

1995 – OJ Simpson tries on the gloves

1999 – Kathleen Ann Soliah is arrested, she had been wanted since 1976

2017 – Scotland Yard launches a criminal inquiry & British Prime Minister Theresa May announces a public inquiry a day after the Grenfell Tower fire

2017 – Australian actress Rebel Wilson wins a defamation case against Bauer Media at the Supreme Court of Victoria in Melbourne

2018 – Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes is charged with fraud over the company’s blood tests

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