Births
Linda Kasabian
1884 – Arthur Lloyd James – was a Welsh scholar whose life unfolded in contrasting chapters. A renowned phonetician, James dedicated himself to the study of speech sounds, leaving his mark on the field through research in English, French, and even African languages like Hausa and Yoruba. His expertise garnered him a professorship at the School of Oriental and African Studies and the prestigious role of linguistic advisor to the BBC, shaping pronunciation standards on their broadcasts. However, a tragic turn in 1941 saw James convicted of murdering his wife, the violinist Elsie Winifred Owen. This act of violence resulted in his confinement at the high-security Broadmoor Criminal Lunatic Asylum, where he ultimately took his own life in 1943. Arthur Lloyd James’ life thus stands as a complex narrative, one of academic distinction forever marred by a grave personal tragedy.
1939 – Luiz Bau – is a Brazilian figure who gained notoriety as The Monster of Erechim in the 1970s. His gruesome crimes involved committing five murders in the towns of Erechim and Itatiba do Sul. Baú’s early life was marked by humble beginnings. He was born to farmers Florindo and Vitória in the district of Sete Lagoas, Itatiba do Sul. As a farm worker, Baú was known for his physical strength and also posed as a medicine man, offering blessings with herbs and teas. However, Baú’s life took a dark turn. After the deaths of his parents, he had a violent altercation with his brother João, resulting in permanent scars for both. Baú then moved to Chapecó, Santa Catarina, where he worked on his uncle Júlio’s farm and eventually married Nilde Pinto de Quadros. His crimes began with the murder of a young boy in a particularly cruel fashion. Diagnosed as a schizophrenic, Baú was imprisoned but managed to escape. Between February 12 and 16, he committed four more murders, repeatedly stabbing his victims to death. The community mobilized to arrest him, and he was finally apprehended after a struggle with the city’s chief police officer. Despite being considered an exemplary prisoner, Baú escaped again in June 1980, and his whereabouts remain unknown. His chilling legacy as a serial killer continues to haunt the region where he once terrorized innocent lives.
1968 – Demetrius Flenory – is a significant figure in the world of organized crime. He co-founded the notorious Black Mafia Family (BMF), which became one of the largest drug trafficking and money laundering organizations in the United States from 1990 to 2005. Demetrius and his brother, Terry Lee “Southwest Tee” Flenory, started their criminal journey during high school in the late 1980s. They began selling small bags of cocaine on the streets of Detroit, and their original group was known as the “50 Boyz” due to the $50 bags they distributed. By 2000, the Flenory brothers had expanded their operation significantly. They oversaw multi-kilogram cocaine distribution sales across several U.S. states, including Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, and Tennessee. The Black Mafia Family entered the hip-hop music business as BMF Entertainment in the early 2000s. It served as a front organization to launder money from cocaine sales and legitimize itself. BMF Entertainment promoted high-profile hip-hop artists and operated as a record label for their sole artist, Bleu DaVinci. Demetrius Flenory and BMF became famous in hip-hop culture for their extravagant lifestyles. In 2005, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) indicted members of BMF. Demetrius and Terry Flenory were targeted under the Continuing Criminal Enterprise Statute and were both sentenced to 30 years imprisonment. Prosecutors alleged that BMF made over $270 million during their operations. Demetrius Flenory’s story is one of crime, wealth, and influence, leaving an indelible mark on the criminal underworld and hip-hop culture alike. His legacy continues through his son, Demetrius Flenory Jr., who portrays him in 50 Cent’s BMF series adaptation.
1981 – Carlos Lamont Ordway – is a convicted murderer from the United States. He was involved in a tragic incident in Lexington, Kentucky. On August 11, 2007, Ordway fatally shot two men, Patrick Lewis (21 years old) and Rodriques Turner (25 years old), both from Louisville. The shooting occurred while the victims were inside a car on Appian Way. The case resulted in Ordway’s conviction, and he was sentenced to death on October 29, 2010. However, in a retrial, he was re-sentenced to life in prison without parole for 25 years. During the trial, the defense argued that Ordway acted in self-defense, claiming that one of the victims had put a gun to his head and taken drugs from him. Despite this defense, the jury recommended the death penalty, and the judge upheld their decision, stating that the evidence supported the finding of intentional murder. Ordway’s case highlights the complexities of criminal justice and the weight of such life-altering decisions.
1983 – Edward Snowden – is an American-born computer specialist who became a globally recognized figure in 2013. While working as a contractor for the National Security Agency (NSA), Snowden leaked classified documents revealing the existence of widespread government surveillance programs. Born in 1983, Snowden came from a family with a history of government service. He enlisted in the U.S. Army but was discharged due to injury. This led him to pursue a career in intelligence, working for the CIA and then the NSA. Snowden, disillusioned by what he perceived as an overreach of government surveillance, leaked highly classified documents to journalists. These leaks exposed programs like PRISM and XKeyscore, which collected vast amounts of data on phone calls and internet activity. The disclosures sparked a global debate about privacy, security, and the role of government in the digital age. Snowden became a controversial figure, hailed as a hero by some for exposing government overreach, and condemned by others as a traitor who jeopardized national security. Fearing prosecution in the U.S., Snowden fled to Hong Kong and then to Russia, where he was granted asylum. He continues to advocate for privacy rights and criticize government surveillance practices. Edward Snowden’s actions remain a source of contention. Whether he is a whistleblower or a traitor is a matter of ongoing discussion. However, there is no doubt that his actions ignited a critical conversation about the balance between national security and individual privacy in the digital age.
1989 – Alexander James Letkemann – was an 18-year-old from Westland, Michigan. He gained notoriety for his involvement in a gruesome murder case that shocked the community. Until then, he had been a popular student at Churchill High School in Livonia. However, he dropped out in 2006 after being charged with minor possession of alcohol. Despite this setback, he continued to lead a seemingly ordinary life. In November 2007, Letkemann, along with Jean Pierre Orlewicz, was charged in the killing of 26-year-old Daniel Sorensen in a suburb of Detroit, Michigan. The crime was brutal: Sorensen’s torso was stabbed 12 times, his hands and feet were burned with a blowtorch, and his head was found nearly 15 miles away. Prosecutors labeled it a “thrill killing” due to the gruesomeness of the crime and the apparent lack of a serious motive. Although Sorensen was a registered sex offender, police stated that his past had nothing to do with his killing. Letkemann pleaded guilty to second-degree murder as part of a deal to avoid a mandatory life sentence for first-degree murder. He denied directly killing Sorensen, claiming he was only there to help clean up after the murder committed by Orlewicz. On April 23, 2008, Letkemann was sentenced to 20 to 30 years in prison for his role in the murder. His life took a dark turn, and he became a part of a chilling chapter in Michigan’s criminal history. Despite the tragedy, Letkemann’s story serves as a reminder of the complexities of human behavior and the consequences of our choices. His involvement in the thrill killing left a lasting impact on the community and the victim’s family.
Deaths
Gilberto Reyes
2003 – Jason Moran – was born on September 22, 1967, in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. His parents were Lewis Moran and Judy Moran. Growing up, he attended Penleigh and Essendon Grammar School. At the age of 15, he met his future wife, Trisha Kane, whose father, Les Kane, was a reputed criminal. During the 1990s, Moran became a prominent figure in Melbourne’s criminal underworld. He was involved in drug trafficking, particularly dealing in “party” drugs. However, his notoriety extended beyond drug-related activities. Moran was a key player in the violent turf wars known as the Melbourne gangland killings. One of the most significant incidents associated with Moran was the murder of fellow mobster Alphonse Gangitano. A coroner’s report indicated that both Moran and Graham Kinniburgh were present during Gangitano’s fatal shooting in 1998. On June 21, 2003, tragedy struck. Jason Moran and Pasquale Barbaro were at Cross Keys Reserve in Essendon, watching Moran’s young children play football. A lone gunman approached and shot them dead. The murders added to the already intense violence in Melbourne’s underworld war. Moran’s criminal legacy remains intertwined with the dark chapters of Melbourne’s history, leaving behind a scarred city and a tale of violence, betrayal, and tragedy.
2007 – Gilberto Guadalupe Reyes – He was convicted for the abduction, rape, robbery, and murder of his ex-girlfriend, Yvette Barraz. The tragic events unfolded as follows: Reyes and Barraz dated for about eight months before their relationship ended in January 1998. After their breakup, Reyes continued to harass and stalk Barraz, leading to a series of disturbing incidents. On March 11, 1998, Barraz left her parents’ house for her job as a waitress at Leal’s Restaurant. After her shift, Reyes abducted her from the parking lot, wielding a knife. He forced her into her car, a gray Mitsubishi, and drove to a remote area behind a business. There, he raped her, strangled her, and brutally attacked her with a claw hammer, ultimately taking her life. Reyes then drove about 400 miles south to Presidio, near the Mexican border, with Barraz’s lifeless body in the car. He left the car behind a building and attempted to cross the border on foot. Border officers stopped him and found incriminating evidence, including keys, currency, and change. Although initially unrelated to Barraz’s disappearance, Reyes was allowed to cross into Mexico. When Barraz failed to return home from work, her parents reported her missing. Police discovered blood at the restaurant, along with loose change. Reyes became the prime suspect, and a bulletin connected him to the case. His arrest followed, and the tragic details of Barraz’s fate came to light. Gilberto Guadalupe Reyes faced justice for his heinous actions, and Yvette Barraz’s memory lives on as a victim of senseless violence.
Events
Marcus Garvey
1734 – In Montreal, in New France (Quebec) a slave known by the French name of Marie-Joseph Angelique is put to death, having been convicted of setting the fire that destroyed much of the city
1919 – The RCMP fire a volley into a crowd of unemployed war veterans, killing 2 during the Winnipeg general strike
1923 – Black nationalist Marcus Garvey sentenced to 5 years for using mail to defraud
1964 – Three civil rights workers, Andrew Goodman, James Chaney & Mickey Schwermer are murdered in Neshoba County, Mississippi, United States by members of the Ku Klux Klan
1964 – Byron De La Beckwith is arrested for the murder of civil rights activist Medgar Evers, he is found guilty 30 years later.
1977 – Former White House Chief of Staff H.R. Haldeman enters prison
1982 – John Hinckley is found not guilty by reason of insanity for the attempted assassination of President Ronald Reagan
1987 – Boxer Mike Tyson sexually harasses a parking lot attendant
1990 – New York City’s zodiac killer shoots his 4th victim, Larry Parham
2000 – Section 28 (outlawing the “promotion” of homosexuality in the UK) is repealed in Scotland with a vote of 99 to 17
2005 – Edgar Ray Killen who had previously been unsuccessfully tried for the murders of James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, and Mickey Schwermer is convicted of manslaughter 41 years after the case had been reopened in 2004
2019 – UK police called to Boris Johnson over alleged altercation with his girlfriend
