Births
Trevor Hamilton
1918 – Evelle Jansen Younger – embarked on a legal journey that would see him traverse various roles. Starting as a judge, he even dabbled in the world of television, hosting a crime drama. But it was his 1964 election as Los Angeles County District Attorney that truly propelled him into the national spotlight. His tenure was marked by two highly publicized cases that garnered immense attention: the prosecution of Charles Manson and his followers for the Tate-Labianca murders, and the trial of Sirhan Sirhan, who assassinated Robert F. Kennedy. Although these cases cemented his reputation as a relentless prosecutor, his methods sometimes stirred controversy. Capitalizing on his name recognition, Younger successfully ran for Attorney General of California in 1970. Throughout his two terms, he prioritized tackling organized crime, protecting consumers, and safeguarding the environment. He also spearheaded reforms within the justice system, such as establishing the Bureau of Criminalistics. Although he made substantial contributions, his conservative views and certain prosecutorial practices continued to draw criticism. After an unsuccessful gubernatorial bid in 1978, Younger retired from politics in 1979. Still active in public life, he penned a book and offered legal expertise. In 1989, he passed away, leaving behind a legacy that is multifaceted and complex. While lauded for his commitment to law enforcement and public safety, his methods and perspectives faced opposition. Nonetheless, his life and career offer a valuable lens through which to examine the evolution of California’s legal and political landscape, particularly during the turbulent 1960s and 1970s.
1953 – Richard E. Lynch – entered a guilty plea in connection with the murders of Roseanna Morgan and her 13-year-old daughter, Leah Caday, on March 5, 1999. Lynch acknowledged having an extramarital affair with Roseanna Morgan from August 1998 to February 1999, during which they accumulated substantial credit card debt. When Morgan terminated the affair, Lynch requested her assistance in addressing the financial obligations they had incurred together. Preceding the tragic events of March 5, 1999, Lynch composed a letter to his wife confessing to the affair and directed her to send letters and pictures from Morgan to her family. This letter was considered by a state doctor as evidence of a potential murder-suicide plot. On March 5, 1999, Lynch went to Morgan’s apartment armed with three handguns, intending to compel her to settle the outstanding credit card bills. Upon arrival, Morgan was absent, but Caday was present. Lynch, brandishing a gun, coerced Caday to remain with him until her mother returned. Lynch initially claimed he only intended to display the firearms to Morgan to initiate a conversation. However, he later confessed to shooting her multiple times with one gun, moving her into the apartment, and subsequently shooting her in the back of the head with a different firearm. Lynch also admitted to shooting Caday in the back, resulting in the fatal injuries of both victims. Lynch made a 911 call during the incident, detailing the aforementioned events and expressing his intention to take his own life. He called his wife three times, with her testifying to hearing a woman screaming in the background. During the second call, Lynch admitted to shooting someone. Several of Morgan’s neighbors testified about the events of March 5, 1999. One neighbor reported witnessing Morgan being dragged into her apartment after the initial gunshots, screaming, and appearing injured. This neighbor also attested to hearing three additional gunshots after Lynch closed the door. Another neighbor confirmed hearing three more shots minutes after the initial gunfire. Following a standoff with the police, Lynch was apprehended. During post-arrest interviews, he confessed to all the events described.
1954 – Lou Pearlman – was an American talent manager and scam artist. Born on June 19, 1954, in Queens, New York, he played a pivotal role in shaping the boy band phenomenon of the 1990s. Pearlman was the mastermind behind the formation and financial backing of two iconic boy bands: the Backstreet Boys and NSYNC. These groups achieved massive success and left an indelible mark on pop culture. Before his involvement in the music industry, Pearlman dabbled in aviation. As a teenager, he managed a band but later shifted his focus to launching a helicopter taxi service in New York City based on a business plan he developed during college. His entrepreneurial spirit and ambition led him to create a successful business with helicopters. However, it was his work with boy bands that truly defined his legacy. The Backstreet Boys and NSYNC became global sensations, selling millions of records and captivating audiences worldwide. Pearlman’s influence extended beyond their music careers; he was a powerful kingmaker in the entertainment industry. Unfortunately, his success was marred by financial misdeeds. In 2006, he faced accusations of orchestrating one of the largest and longest-running Ponzi schemes in U.S. history, leaving debts exceeding $300 million. After evading capture for a while, Pearlman was apprehended in Bali, Indonesia in June 2007. He eventually pled guilty to conspiracy, money laundering, and making false statements during bankruptcy proceedings. In 2008, he received a 25-year prison sentence for his crimes. Pearlman passed away in federal custody in 2016
1963 – Luis L. Ramirez – was executed by lethal injection in the U.S. state of Texas. He was convicted of hiring Edward Bell to kill the boyfriend of his former wife. Ramirez became the 15th person executed in Texas in 2005. The tragic events unfolded when Ramirez’s wife, Dawn, divorced him in 1995. Two years later, she began dating Nemecio Nandin, a fireman and part-time repairman. In early April 1998, Ramirez was seen meeting with Bell. A paid police informant, Tim Hoogstra, testified that Bell claimed he had been offered $1,000 to kill Nandin. On April 8, 1998, Bell lured Nandin to his home in Miles, Texas, where he was handcuffed and fatally shot. Nandin’s body was discovered three weeks later after he failed to show up for work. Bell was arrested, and evidence linked him to Ramirez. Ramirez maintained his innocence until the end, asserting that he was in Brady, Texas on the day of the murder. Despite new evidence placing him elsewhere, the Supreme Court denied his appeals, emphasizing that he was convicted for remuneration, not for pulling the trigger. He was pronounced dead at 6:18 p.m. CDT on October 20, 2005.
1965 – Phillip McCollum – Hal and Margaret Fuller were found lifeless in their residence, both bearing multiple stab wounds. A bloodied serrated steak knife was discovered in the driveway, and Mr. Fuller’s wallet lay open at his feet. Two days later, the Fuller’s abandoned car was located. Statements from the girlfriends of Phillip McCollum and Johnny Townsend revealed that they had driven in a similar vehicle with the accused duo, allegedly to sell a radio. The girlfriends further noted that Townsend had a cut hand. Subsequent investigations led to the recovery of bloody clothing from the residence shared by McCollum and Townsend. Notably, both suspects provided strikingly similar accounts to the police. According to their statements, they visited the Fuller home and engaged in conversation for a while. When Mr. Fuller began using the phone, Townsend allegedly stabbed him in the back. McCollum then proceeded to stab Mrs. Fuller, who pleaded, “Please don’t kill me.” Disregarding her pleas, McCollum instructed her to be silent and continued the brutal assault. When Townsend sought assistance with Mr. Fuller, McCollum reportedly delivered a fatal stab to his chest. Despite their search, no money was found, but they made off with a radio, stole the Fullers’ car, and made a hasty escape.
1966 – Perry Alexander Taylor – stands convicted and sentenced to death in connection with the murder of Geraldine Birch. Taylor has confessed to the crime, asserting that Birch propositioned him for money or crack cocaine while he was in the company of friends. Claiming a lack of transportation, Taylor recounts that Birch called him back, expressing her intention to reach Sulphur Springs. Allegedly, an agreement was struck for a transaction involving ten dollars, leading them to the dugout of a local Little League field. Witnesses Otis Allen and Adrian Mitchell testified to observing Taylor and Birch in conversation before entering the dugout area. According to Taylor, a brief consensual encounter took place, but Birch abruptly ended it. Taylor contends that during an ensuing act of oral sex, Birch bit his penis, prompting him to use force to make her release him. He admits to hitting Birch in a fit of anger. The medical examiner’s testimony revealed the severity of Birch’s injuries, indicating a minimum of ten forceful blows causing extensive damage to internal organs, including the brain, larynx, heart, lungs, spleen, and ribs. Additionally, Birch exhibited a bite mark on her arm, along with bruising on her face, chest, and stomach, as well as patches of missing hair. Notably, Taylor’s injuries did not align with his reported version of events.
1982 – Trevor Hamilton – He gained notoriety as a Northern Irish murderer hailing from Sion Mills, County Tyrone. His heinous crime involved the abduction and murder of Attracta Harron, a 65-year-old recently retired librarian. On December 11, 2003, Attracta was returning from Mass in Murlog, Lifford, County Donegal when she tragically encountered Hamilton. What makes this case even more chilling is that just four months prior, Hamilton had been released from prison on licence after serving half of a seven-year sentence for rape and other offenses, including threats to kill. His risk to the public, especially adult women, was assessed as high (level 3). Attracta Harron’s body was discovered on April 5, 2004, hidden in a river bank less than 50 yards from Hamilton’s home. Hamilton faced trial and was found guilty of her murder on April 12, 2006. The trial judge, in an unprecedented move for Northern Ireland, recommended that he should never be released from prison. However, the Court of Appeal later ruled that he would have to serve 35 years before parole could be considered. As a result, Hamilton is now expected to remain in prison until at least 2040, when he would be 58 years old. His crimes were the subject of a serious case review in 2006. Despite maintaining his innocence of the Harron murder, Hamilton has been held in Maghaberry Prison since his conviction.
Deaths
Teresa Cormack
1953 – Ethel & Julius Rosenberg – were an American married couple who became internationally known for their espionage activities. They were convicted of spying for the Soviet Union during the Cold War. Their actions included providing top-secret information about American radar, sonar, jet propulsion engines, and nuclear weapon designs. In 1951, they were found guilty of espionage and subsequently executed by the federal government of the United States in 1953 at Sing Sing Correctional Facility in Ossining, New York. Their execution marked a significant moment in history: they were the first American civilians to be executed for such charges and the first to be executed during peacetime. Other individuals involved in the spy network were also sentenced, including Ethel’s brother, David Greenglass, who had made a plea agreement, as well as Harry Gold and Morton Sobell. Klaus Fuchs, a German scientist working in Los Alamos, was convicted in the United Kingdom. For decades, many people, including the Rosenbergs’ sons, Michael and Robert Meeropol, maintained that Julius and Ethel were innocent victims of Cold War paranoia. However, after the fall of the Soviet Union, declassified information revealed Julius’s role as a courier and recruiter for the Soviets, and Ethel’s role as an accessory who helped recruit her brother David into the spy ring. Ethel also performed clerical tasks, such as typing up documents that Julius then passed to the Soviets. In 2008, the National Archives of the United States published most of the grand jury testimony related to the prosecution of the Rosenbergs.
1975 – Sam Giancana – born Gilormo Giangana on May 24, 1908, in the Patch neighborhood of Chicago, was an American mobster and a prominent figure in organized crime. His roots traced back to Italian immigrant parents. Giancana’s rise to power led him to become the boss of the Chicago Outfit from 1957 to 1966. As a young man, Giancana joined the 42 Gang, a street crew associated with political boss Joseph Esposito. His reputation in organized crime caught the attention of the Chicago Outfit leaders, and he officially joined their ranks in the late 1930s. During the 1940s and 1950s, Giancana controlled various illegal activities, including gambling, liquor distribution, and political rackets in Louisiana. Notably, Giancana was involved in Chicago’s black American lottery payout system for the Outfit. In 1957, he ascended to the position of boss within the Chicago Outfit. Some sources even suggest that Giancana and the Mafia played a role in John F. Kennedy’s victory in the 1960 presidential election. During the 1960s, Giancana’s life took an intriguing turn. He was recruited by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) as part of a plot to assassinate Cuban leader Fidel Castro. Conspiracy theories link Giancana, along with Mafia leaders Santo Trafficante Jr. and Carlos Marcello, to the assassination of John F. Kennedy. In 1965, Giancana faced legal trouble and was convicted of contempt of court, serving a year in prison. After his release, he fled to Cuernavaca, Mexico. However, in 1974, he was deported back to the United States and returned to Chicago. Tragically, Giancana was murdered on June 19, 1975, in Oak Park, Illinois, just before he was scheduled to testify before the Church Committee.
1987 – Teresa Cormack – was a young girl from Napier, New Zealand, whose life was tragically cut short at the age of six. Born on June 18, 1981, Teresa is remembered for her innocence and bright spirit. Teresa’s life ended on June 19, 1987, the day after her sixth birthday. Her murder sent shockwaves through the Napier community and became a cold case for over fifteen years. Thanks to advancements in DNA technology, Teresa’s murderer was eventually identified and brought to justice in 2002. While her life was short, Teresa’s memory lives on as a symbol of innocence lost and a reminder of the importance of perseverance in seeking justice.
1989 – William Paul Thompson – was a notorious American criminal, spree killer and self-proclaimed serial/contract killer. Born in 1938, Thompson’s upbringing was marked by violence. His father’s alcoholism and abusive behavior fueled resentment in Thompson, leading him down a path of crime by the age of 12. He was sent to reform school for early offenses like stealing and drinking. Throughout his life, Thompson became a fixture in the prison system, accumulating convictions for burglary, forgery, and counterfeiting. In 1984, Thompson embarked on a murderous spree across California and Nevada, claiming three lives. He was apprehended and convicted for these killings, receiving a sentence of death in Nevada and life imprisonment in California. Additionally, Thompson confessed to three more murders in other states, though these claims remain unverified. William Paul Thompson’s crimes stand as a chilling reminder of the destructive potential of a troubled upbringing and a life steeped in criminal activity. His execution in 1989 closed the book on his violent life.
1996 – Igor Mirenkov – was a Soviet-Belarusian serial killer who terrorized the town of Svietlahorsk and surrounding areas between 1990 and 1993. Known as “The Svietlahorsk Nightmare,” Mirenkov preyed on young boys, targeting six victims between the ages of 9 and 13. Details about Mirenkov’s early life are scarce. Born in 1969, he committed his first murder in 1990. Over the next three years, he would abduct, murder, and dispose of six boys. The disappearances cast a shadow over the community, and the crimes went unsolved for a significant period. In 1994, Mirenkov was arrested for unrelated charges of theft and fraud. While imprisoned, he was questioned about the disappearances of the boys. He eventually confessed to the murders, revealing a chilling pattern of predatory behavior. The Belarusian authorities took extraordinary measures in response. Mirenkov’s case was classified (only being declassified in 2007) and he was placed in solitary confinement. Heightened security surrounded the investigation and trial. Mirenkov was convicted of murder with aggravating circumstances. He received the death penalty and was executed by shooting in 1996.
2013 – Dale Hausner – was a convicted serial killer along with his partner Samuel Dieteman. Between 2005 and 2006, they terrorized Phoenix, Arizona with a series of random drive-by shootings and arsons. Hausner, who previously worked as a janitor and dabbled in freelance photography, is believed to have been the mastermind behind the violence. Hausner and Dieteman targeted unsuspecting people and animals on the streets, fueled by methamphetamine use. They also committed acts of arson. Investigators believe they were responsible for eight murders and at least 29 other shootings. After their capture, Hausner was convicted of six murders and sentenced to death. He committed suicide in prison in 2013.
2019 – Willem Van Eijk – was a convicted Dutch serial killer known as “Het Beest van Harkstede” (The Beast of Harkstede). He was convicted twice for a total of five murders. Willem van Eijk was born in 1941 in the small village of Korteraar, South Holland, during the German occupation of the Netherlands. Growing up in a working-class family, he faced a difficult childhood marked by bullying and rejection. At an elementary school in Ter Aar, he was an outcast and earned the nickname “Gekke Willempie” (Dutch for “crazy little Willem”). His troubled upbringing left lasting scars, and he developed a fascination with morbid items, collecting dead insects and dried frogs. Van Eijk’s criminal career began with petty crimes, as his school performance suffered. However, his dark fantasies escalated, and he started dreaming about raping and killing women. His violent tendencies became evident when he tortured animals, including dogs, cats, and ducks. His brothers described him as “evil personified.” In 1971, he picked up 15-year-old Cora Mantel from Uithoorn. After missing her bus ride home, she hitchhiked, and van Eijk strangled her with her own shawl, raped her, and dumped her body in a ditch near Uithoorn. He expressed regret but justified his actions by saying he finally had his chance. In 1974, the lifeless body of 43-year-old Aaltje van der Plaat was found near a road inside a cornfield. She had suffered multiple stab wounds, her stomach was ripped open, and her left nipple was cut off. Van Eijk lived in a small white houseboat with the words “De Vrijheid” (the freedom) written in dripping blood-red paint. Witnesses saw him riding his moped in the same area where her body was found. Van Eijk was arrested and confessed to both murders. In 1975, he was sentenced to 18 years imprisonment and TBS (terbeschikkingstelling, a form of psychiatric detention). The gruesome details of the murders shocked the public, leading some judiciary guards to vomit during the trial. Psychiatric reports highlighted severe childhood trauma resulting from bullying and rejection by women.
Events
Antwon Rose
1603 – Merga Bien is arrested for witchcraft in Fulda, Germany, as part of the Fulda witch trials. She and about 250 people were later burned at the stake.
1829 – Sir Robert Peel introduces the Metropolitan Police Act 1829 into Parliament to establish a unified police force for London
1953 – Convicted spies Ethel & Julius Rosenberg are executed
1977 – The Sex Pistols Johnny Rotten & Paul Cook are beaten and robbed outside a London pub
1991 – Two of Mia Farrow’s daughters are arrested for shoplifting lingerie
1991 – Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar surrenders to the police
2012 – A man is beheaded for witchcraft & sorcery in Saudi Arabia
2018 – Antwon Rose II is fatally shot
2019 – US NXIVM sex cult leader Keith Raniere found guilty of racketeering, sex trafficking and child pornography
