Births
Charles Whitman
1941 – Charles Whitman – was an American mass murderer infamous for the University of Texas at Austin tower shooting in 1966. Nicknamed the “Texas Tower Sniper,” Whitman’s rampage left 14 people dead and 31 wounded, marking one of the deadliest mass shootings in US history at the time. Born in Florida, Whitman had a seemingly normal childhood. He excelled in academics, becoming an Eagle Scout and attending prestigious institutions. However, his upbringing was marred by a domineering father and potential signs of mental illness. Whitman enlisted in the Marines and served honorably. He married and entered the University of Texas, where his mental state deteriorated. He complained of headaches and blackouts, even visiting a university counselor about violent thoughts. On August 1, 1966, Whitman killed his wife and mother before taking an arsenal of weapons to the university tower. From his vantage point, he opened fire on the campus, terrorizing the community for hours. Police eventually stormed the tower, killing Whitman and ending the bloodshed. The Texas Tower shooting sent shockwaves through the nation. Whitman’s motive remains unclear, with a possible brain tumor discovered during autopsy offering a potential explanation. The tragedy sparked conversations about gun violence and mental health, leaving a lasting mark on American history.
1946 – William “Big Billy” D’ella – is a former American mobster who rose to become the head of the Bufalino crime family. D’Elia’s roots trace back to Pittston, Pennsylvania. In the mid-1960s, he started his association with the Bufalino family, working as a driver and gofer for its namesake, Russell Bufalino. D’Elia’s low-key approach helped him climb the ranks while avoiding unwanted law enforcement attention for many years. D’Elia’s reputation suggests he played a crucial role as a mediator between various mafia families. He reportedly had frequent meetings with gangsters from Philadelphia, Los Angeles, and even New York City. His adeptness at staying out of the limelight left many questions unanswered concerning his involvement in the Bufalino family’s activities. When Russell Bufalino faced imprisonment in 1979, D’Elia effectively became the leader of the Bufalino family. He officially took the reins after Bufalino died in 1994. However, his reign ended in 2006 with his arrest on charges of money laundering and attempted murder of a witness. D’Elia eventually pleaded guilty to money laundering and witness tampering, serving a federal prison sentence until his release in 2012. William D’Elia’s story is intertwined with the Bufalino crime family and its reputed involvement in organized crime throughout the United States, including the unsolved disappearance of Jimmy Hoffa. D’Elia, however, has never been charged in connection with Hoffa’s case. He did collaborate with investigative journalist Matt Birkbeck on a book titled “The Life We Chose,” which offered a glimpse into the world of the Bufalino family from D’Elia’s perspective.
1958 – Victor Manuel Gerena – a former Wells Fargo employee in Connecticut, became infamous for orchestrating the largest cash robbery in U.S. history at the time in 1983. While working as a trusted guard, Gerena allegedly took two security personnel hostage, incapacitated them with an unknown substance, and absconded with a staggering $7 million (roughly $18 million today). Believed to be a member of the Puerto Rican nationalist group, the Boricua Popular Army (BPA), authorities suspect the stolen funds were used to support the organization’s activities. Gerena’s disappearance triggered a decades-long manhunt, landing him on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list in 1984. He held the record for the longest time on the list, surpassing 32 years before his removal in 2016. Though presumed to be living in Cuba, Gerena remains at large with a $1 million reward for his capture, making his case a persistent reminder of a daring heist and a fugitive who continues to evade authorities.
1958 – Kenneth L. Biros – was an American man convicted and executed for the brutal murder of a young woman. In 1991, Biros was found guilty of aggravated murder, attempted rape, aggravated robbery, and felonious sexual penetration of 22-year-old Tami Engstrom. Reports indicate Biros tortured, raped, and murdered Engstrom before dismembering her body [WFMJ.com]. Prosecutors believed Biros may have had disturbing personality traits, with some speculation he could be a serial killer, but this was never proven. Biros was sentenced to death and became the first person in the United States to be executed by a single-drug lethal injection method in 2007. This method was intended to be less painful than previous three-drug executions. Biros’ execution sparked controversy, with some arguing for clemency. The death penalty case of Kenneth Biros remains a part of American capital punishment history, being the first instance of the single-drug lethal injection method. However, it is important to remember this case involved a horrific crime that took the life of a young woman.
1960 – Walter E. Ellis – Born in 1960 in Holmes County, Mississippi, Walter Earl Ellis was one of six children. In the mid-1960s, the family relocated to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Ellis exhibited signs of anti-social behavior from a young age, displaying aggression and impulsivity towards others. This earned him a reputation as a bully and resulted in frequent disciplinary actions. Ellis’s dark path escalated into violence in the late 1980s. Between 1986 and 2007, he became responsible for a series of brutal murders that shocked Milwaukee. Targeting at least seven women, Ellis would lure them, often sex workers, before raping and strangling them. The crimes, initially thought to be unconnected, earned Ellis the chilling moniker “The Milwaukee North Side Strangler” due to the victims’ locations. Ellis’s ability to blend in and the marginalized status of some victims hampered investigators for years. A key break in the case came in 2009 with the use of DNA profiling, which linked the murders together. Ellis was apprehended that same year and eventually convicted in 2011, receiving multiple life sentences without parole. Walter Ellis died in prison in 2013. While his capture brought some closure to the families of the victims, Ellis never revealed a motive for his crimes. Several unsolved murders remain linked to him, leaving a trail of unanswered questions and highlighting the tragic impact of his actions.
1960 – Trisha Meili – life took a dramatic turn in 1989. Then a 28-year-old investment banker was brutally attacked while jogging in Central Park. The attack left her in a coma for weeks and with significant physical and emotional trauma. The case, known as the Central Park Jogger case, became a media sensation. Meili’s identity was initially protected, but the attack sparked fear and outrage. Five teenagers, later known as the Central Park Five, were wrongly convicted based on coerced confessions. Meili’s story is one of incredible resilience. Against all odds, she recovered from her physical injuries and learned to walk and talk again. She returned to work but eventually left the financial world. In 2003, Meili chose to share her experience by publishing a memoir, “I Am the Central Park Jogger: A Story of Hope and Possibility.” She emerged from the shadow of anonymity and reclaimed her narrative. Today, Trisha Meili is a dedicated advocate for survivors of sexual assault. She works with organizations that provide support and healing. Married since 1996, she prioritizes a private life but continues to inspire others with her courage and strength.
1962 – Sean Vincent Gillis – was a seemingly ordinary man who harbored a dark secret. This American serial killer stalked and murdered eight women in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, between 1994 and his arrest in 2004. Born in 1962, Gillis’s early life was marked by his father’s abandonment. Raised by his mother and grandparents, he seemed unassuming, with a minor criminal record for traffic violations and petty offenses. However, beneath the surface, a monstrous darkness festered. Gillis’s killing spree began in 1994. He targeted vulnerable women, often strangling them and engaging in necrophilia. He dismembered and mutilated his victims, taking trophies and even photographing the scenes. The brutality shocked even seasoned investigators. Gillis’s crimes remained unsolved for a decade, with some killings attributed to another serial killer active in the area. However, in 2004, a traffic stop led to his arrest and a horrifying discovery – photos of a murdered woman in his car. Gillis readily confessed to this murder and, with chilling detail, revealed five others. Gillis’s wife, unaware of his monstrous life, was left reeling. He received multiple life sentences without parole, escaping the death penalty. The case highlighted the chilling reality that evil can lurk behind an unassuming facade.
1963 – Melvin Lee Parrish – is known for his involvement in a tragic crime that took place on December 5, 1997. On this day, Parrish stabbed and killed his cousin, Rhonda Allen, who was six months pregnant at the time, and her 8-year-old son, LaShawn. He also stabbed Allen’s 5-year-old son nine times, who miraculously survived the attack. The crimes were committed during an attempted robbery. Earlier that day, Parrish and others had spent time smoking crack cocaine. Parrish had asked his cousin to return the money he had paid her earlier that day for crack cocaine. When she refused, he stabbed her multiple times and took the money. After attacking Rhonda in the living room of her apartment, Parrish went to a back bedroom where he assaulted the children. The surviving child was able to testify that Parrish had attacked him and his brother. Parrish was sentenced to death on February 1, 2001, in Jefferson County for two counts of murder, criminal attempted murder, robbery I, and persistent felony offender I.
Deaths
Patsy Ramsey
1806 – Richard Hemming – The year is 1806. In the idyllic village of Oddingley, Worcestershire, simmered a deep resentment towards the local rector, Reverend Parker. His ruthless collection of tithes, a tax on villagers’ produce, earned him the title of “the most hated man in Oddingley.” One fateful June day, a gunshot shattered the village peace. Reverend Parker was found dead in the rectory garden. A brave villager chased the fleeing killer, recognizing him as Richard Hemming, a local wheelwright. Despite the chase and Hemming’s identification, fear or loyalty kept villagers from claiming the hefty reward offered for his capture. The murder remained unsolved for a quarter of a century. Free from the Reverend’s oppressive taxes, Oddingley flourished. But for one villager, Thomas Clewes, prosperity turned into a pitfall. He gambled and drank away his newfound wealth, forcing him to sell his farm. The new owner, during renovations, unearthed a chilling secret – a skeleton beneath the barn floor. Richard Hemming’s remains were identified by his widow, the weight of years finally bringing some closure. With the discovery, the truth began to unravel. Clewes, under arrest, confessed. Hemming, hired by six farmers to eliminate the hated Reverend, had tasted power and demanded more money. Facing blackmail, the farmers silenced him permanently. However, with only three of the original conspirators alive, all prominent figures in the village, the authorities decided to let the past lie buried – a chilling reminder that justice can be delayed, but not always denied.
1938 – Linda Hazzard – also known as the “Starvation Doctor,” was a dark figure in early 20th-century American medicine. Far from a healer, she was a dangerous quack who preyed on the sick and desperate. Hazzard, born Linda Burfield in 1867, lacked any real medical qualifications. Despite this, she managed to exploit loopholes to operate a sanitarium near Seattle. Her “treatments” were barbaric, consisting of prolonged fasting, brutal massages, and hours-long enemas. These methods not only failed to cure patients but resulted in their deaths. Hazzard promoted fasting as a cure-all, claiming it rid the body of toxins. She preyed on wealthy hypochondriacs, convincing them her starvation techniques were the answer to their ailments. Tragically, at least 15 people died under her care, though the true number may be higher. In 1911, Hazzard was finally arrested and charged with murder. While found guilty of manslaughter, not murder, she served only two years. Astonishingly, she was later pardoned by the governor. Hazzard’s story serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of medical misinformation and the importance of genuine medical qualifications. Her legacy is one of suffering and death, a cautionary tale for anyone seeking alternative health treatments.
1941 – Della Sorenson – was a notorious figure from Nebraska, USA, who confessed to the poisoning and killing of eight people, including two of her children and her husband, between 1918 and 1924. Her first victim was her sister-in-law’s infant daughter, Viola Cooper. Over the next seven years, friends, relatives, and acquaintances of Sorenson died under mysterious circumstances before anyone finally realized that it had to be more than a coincidence. Two years after little Viola met her demise, Wilhelmina Weldam, Sorenson’s mother-in-law, was poisoned. Sorenson then went after her own family, killing her daughter, Minnie, and husband, Joe, over two weeks in September. After remarrying and settling in Dannebrog, Nebraska, Sorenson continued her killing spree. In August 1922, she poisoned her former sister-in-law’s infant, Clifford, with a piece of candy. Early in 1923, Sorenson killed her daughter, Delia, on her first birthday. When Sorenson’s friend brought her infant daughter for a visit only a week later, the tiny infant was also poisoned. Finally, in 1925, Sorenson was arrested when she made an unsuccessful attempt at killing two children in the neighborhood with poisoned cookies. She confessed to the crimes, saying, “I like to attend funerals. I’m happy when someone is dying.” Sentiments like this convinced doctors that Sorenson was schizophrenic, and she was committed to the state mental asylum. She died on June 24, 1941.
2006 – Patsy Ramsey – was an American beauty pageant winner who won the Miss West Virginia Pageant at age 20 in 1977. She was born in Gilbert, West Virginia, U.S., into the middle-class family of Donald Ray Paugh, an engineer and a manager at Union Carbide, and Nedra Ellen Ann, a homemaker. She grew up with two sisters, Paulette and Pamela. Patsy is best known as the mother of JonBenét Ramsey, a six-year-old child beauty pageant queen who was found dead in her family’s home in Boulder, Colorado, on December 26, 1996. Patsy began enrolling JonBenét in children’s beauty pageants when she was a toddler. The case of JonBenét’s murder remains unsolved and Patsy and her husband, John Ramsey, remained under suspicion for many years. Patsy Ramsey passed away in 2006 after a 13-year battle with ovarian cancer.
Events
Silvio Berlusconi
1922 – Adolf Hitler begins a month-long prison sentence for a paramilitary operation, he rails against the “Jewish sell out” of Germany to the Bolsheviks
1949 – A. M. de Jong’s murderer, Ton Van Gog is arrested in Scheveningen, Netherlands
1964 – In South Africa, the 90-day act commences, providing for any person to be detained, without trial for 90 days, further, the person could be re-arrested under the same law for another 90 days
1993 – Jennifer Ertman & Elizabeth Pena were strangled to death by a gang of boys who had raped them
1993 – Yale computer science professor, Dr. David Gelernter loses the sight in one eye, the hearing in one ear, and part of his right hand after receiving a mailbomb from the Unabomber
1997 – Melissa Drexler, 18, is charged with killing her baby during her prom
2004 – In New York, capital punishment is declared unconstitutional
2013 – Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is found guilty of abusing his power and engaging in sex with an underage prostitute & sentenced to 7 years in prison
2019 – Greek Cypriot army officer Nicos Metaxas is given 7 life sentences for the murder of five women & 2 children in Nicosia
