Births
Kathryn Johnston
1914 – Kathryn Johnston – was an African American woman from Atlanta, Georgia, whose life was tragically cut short in a police shooting in 2006. Born on June 26, 1914, details about her life before the incident are scarce. However, her story became a significant moment in the fight for police reform. Johnston lived alone for 17 years in her home on Neal Street in Atlanta’s northwest neighborhood. On November 21, 2006, her life took a devastating turn. Three undercover police officers, acting on a no-knock warrant for a drug raid, entered her home. According to reports, the officers did not announce themselves before breaking down the door. Feeling threatened in her own home, Johnston fired a single shot. In response, the officers unleashed a barrage of 39 rounds, fatally striking her multiple times. The incident sparked outrage, with many questioning the use of excessive force and the validity of the raid itself. Johnston’s death became a rallying cry for reform within the Atlanta Police Department. It highlighted the dangers of no-knock warrants and the importance of de-escalation tactics. Her story resonated with the Black Lives Matter movement years later, which continues to push for police accountability and justice.
1915 – Paul Castellano – also known as “Big Paulie” or “The Pope,” was a powerful American Mafia boss who ruled the Gambino crime family from 1976 to 1985. Born in 1915 to Sicilian immigrants in Brooklyn, Castellano’s path to organized crime began early. His father was a butcher and a member of the Mangano crime family, a precursor to the Gambino family. Castellano dropped out of school young and followed in his father’s footsteps, working as a butcher while also getting involved in the family’s criminal activities. Castellano’s rise in the Mafia was aided by his connection to Carlo Gambino, a rising mob figure who became his brother-in-law. Castellano proved to be a shrewd and cautious operator, earning a reputation for maintaining a low profile and avoiding violence. This approach, in contrast to the more flamboyant style of some mobsters, led him to be nicknamed “The White Collar Don.” When Gambino died in 1976, Castellano took over the Gambino family. He emphasized traditional Mafia values of secrecy and discipline, but his aversion to drug trafficking and focus on white-collar crime angered some within the organization, particularly the ambitious John Gotti. In 1985, Castellano’s reign came to a bloody end. In a brazen public assassination, Gotti orchestrated Castellano’s murder outside a Manhattan restaurant. This marked a shift in the American Mafia, with a new generation prioritizing violence and drug trafficking over the old guard’s conservatism. Paul Castellano’s life and death offer a glimpse into the changing dynamics of organized crime in the United States. Though a ruthless leader, his traditional approach clashed with the emerging trends that would reshape the Mafia in the years to come.
1923 – Barbara Graham – was an American woman whose life and death became a cause célèbre. Convicted of murder, she was the third woman executed by gas chamber in California. Her case raised questions about her guilt, the justice system, and the death penalty. Born Barbara Elaine Ford, Graham’s life was marked by instability from the start. Raised by a single mother who worked as a prostitute, Graham fell into petty crime and delinquency as a teenager. Marriages and motherhood offered little solace, and she drifted through a world of bars, brothels, and gambling dens. In 1953, Graham became entangled in a robbery-murder of an elderly widow. Nicknamed “Bloody Babs” by the sensationalist press, Graham was convicted alongside two accomplices. While they admitted their roles, Graham maintained her innocence. Her claims of coercion and a lack of alibi ultimately failed to sway the jury. Graham’s execution in 1955 was a spectacle. Last-minute appeals and stays of execution kept the public on edge. Her autobiography, “I Want to Live,” published posthumously, fueled the debate about her guilt. Some believed her a hardened criminal, while others saw a victim of circumstance, wrongly condemned. Barbara Graham’s story became a rallying cry for opponents of the death penalty. The film “I Want to Live” (1958) further enshrined her image as a possible innocent. Whether guilty or not, Graham’s case forced a national conversation about capital punishment and the treatment of women in the justice system.
1942 – Patrick Michael Mitchell – was a notorious bank robber and leader of the infamous “Stopwatch Gang”. Born in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, Mitchell’s criminal career spanned several decades, primarily during the 1970s and 1980s. Mitchell, along with fellow Canadians Stephen Reid and Lionel Wright, was responsible for stealing approximately $15 million from more than 140 banks and other sites across Canada and the U.S. The Stopwatch Gang was known for its speedy heists, often completed in less than two minutes. They were named after the stopwatch Reid wore around his neck during their robberies. In 1974, the gang completed a $750,000 gold heist from the Ottawa airport. However, they were arrested after this robbery and all members had escaped from prison by 1979. Despite their criminal activities, the gang was known for their non-violent methods and politeness to victims. Mitchell was an escape artist and master of disguise, changing identities frequently. He escaped from prison three times, once by inducing heart-attack-related symptoms by consuming enough nicotine from cigarettes. His case was featured on Unsolved Mysteries, and on November 23, 1990, he was added to the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s most-wanted list. After moving to the Philippines for 15 years, where he remarried and had a son, Mitchell was finally arrested on February 22, 1994, just after a solo robbery in Southaven, Mississippi. He was convicted of bank robbery and sentenced to a 65-year prison sentence. Mitchell was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2006 and died on January 14, 2007, in the Federal Medical Center in Butner, N.C. in the prison hospital at the age of 64.
1953 – Robert Maudsley – is a convicted British murderer notorious for the brutality of his crimes and the length of his solitary confinement. Maudsley’s upbringing was marked by violence and abuse. Sentenced for murder in 1974, he went on to kill three more people while incarcerated, solidifying his reputation as one of Britain’s most dangerous individuals. Details of Maudsley’s early life are limited, but accounts point to a difficult childhood. Incarcerated for the first time in 1974 for the murder of a fellow patient in a psychiatric hospital, Maudsley was later transferred to a high-security prison. Despite initial hopes for rehabilitation, Maudsley’s violent tendencies continued behind bars. He strangled two fellow inmates within a year of his arrival, both convicted murderers themselves. One of the murders involved unsubstantiated claims of cannibalism, leading to the media dubbing Maudsley “Hannibal the Cannibal” – a moniker he has always denied. National press briefings later clarified that these reports were untrue. Deemed too dangerous for interaction with other prisoners or staff, Maudsley has spent the majority of his imprisonment in solitary confinement. He holds the dubious distinction of being the longest-serving British prisoner in such conditions. Robert Maudsley’s case remains a chilling example of extreme violence. Confined for over four decades, his story raises questions about rehabilitation, the treatment of dangerous individuals, and the psychological impact of extended solitary confinement.
1955 – John Avalos Alba – was convicted of capital murder in Texas in 1992. In 1991, he reportedly shot and killed his wife, Wendy, during a confrontation at an acquaintance’s apartment. Legal documents show he purchased a gun earlier that day. The details of the case are based on court records.
1958 – Glen Stewart Godwin – is an American fugitive and convicted murderer. He was born in Miami, Florida. In the 1960s, his family moved to California and resided in Palm Springs, Riverside County, California. Godwin attended Palm Springs High School, where he graduated in 1975. He did well at school and played on trumpet for many years in the school brass band. In 1980, Godwin was living in Palm Springs, California, working as a self-employed tool salesman, a mechanic, and a construction worker, with no discernible criminal history. Godwin and his roommate, Frank Soto, Jr., planned to rob a drug dealer and pilot, Kim Robert LeValley, who was once a friend of theirs. Godwin and Soto lured LeValley back to their condominium where Soto held him, Godwin punched and kicked him, tried to strangle him, and then ultimately stabbed LeValley 26 times. After the murder, Godwin and Soto loaded the body into a truck and set off for the desert. Godwin tried to blow up the evidence by using homemade explosives strapped to the body. Godwin was sentenced for the murder and robbery to 26 years to life in prison in 1983. He was added to the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list on December 7, 1996, nine years after he escaped from Folsom State Prison in Folsom, California, where he was serving his sentence. However, he was dropped from the list on May 19, 2016. Later in 1987, Godwin was arrested for drug trafficking in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. After being convicted, he was sent to a prison in Guadalajara. In April of 1991, Godwin allegedly murdered a fellow inmate and then escaped five months later. He is considered armed extremely dangerous and an escape risk.
1968 – Fred Anderson Jr – was found guilty and sentenced to death for the murder of bank teller Heather Young during a robbery at United Southern Bank in Mount Dora, Florida. Before the robbery and murder, Anderson was under community control for grand theft and was ordered to pay $4,000 in restitution. However, by March 1999, he had only paid $100. Facing a year in a probation center for violating the terms of his community control, Anderson decided to rob the bank to get the money for his restitution. On March 18, 1999, Anderson stole a loaded revolver from a neighbor and then visited United Southern Bank the next day under the guise of a student researching for a finance paper. During his visit, he scoped out the bank’s layout and security measures. Returning to the bank on March 20, 1999, Anderson brought doughnuts and orange juice as a token of appreciation. With only Heather Young and Marisha Scott present, Anderson lured them into the vault under the pretext of retrieving his business cards. Once inside, he revealed two loaded guns and demanded money, ultimately shooting both women. Sherry Howard entered the bank with her children during the robbery and witnessed Anderson’s actions. She quickly left and alerted the authorities. The first responding officer caught Anderson in the act of trying to remove the bank’s security video. Anderson complied with the officer’s orders and was subsequently arrested. Paramedics arrived to attend to the victims, but Heather Young succumbed to her injuries while Marisha Scott was left paralyzed. This tragic event resulted in Anderson’s conviction and sentencing for his heinous crimes.
1973 – Lori Ryan Daybell – name is synonymous with a complex and tragic story. Once a seemingly ordinary woman, she became the central figure in a case that shocked the nation. Born Lori Cox in 1973, Vallow Daybell had a string of marriages. Details about her early life are limited, but public records show she was married five times. In September 2019, tragedy struck when her teenage daughter, Tylee Ryan, and adopted son, J.J. Vallow, vanished. The months that followed were marked by a desperate search and a growing list of suspicious deaths. Charles Vallow, Lori’s estranged fourth husband, was shot and killed by her brother, Alex Cox, who claimed self-defense. Questions arose surrounding the death of Lori’s fifth husband, Chad Daybell’s first wife, Tammy Daybell, whose remains were exhumed after inconsistencies emerged. As the investigation unfolded, a disturbing picture emerged. Lori and Chad Daybell reportedly shared doomsday beliefs, and prosecutors alleged they saw the children as possessed. In June 2020, the remains of Tylee and J.J. were discovered on Chad’s Idaho property. In May 2023, Lori Vallow Daybell was found guilty of murdering her children and conspiring to murder Tammy Daybell. She is currently serving a life sentence. Lori Vallow Daybell’s story serves as a chilling reminder of the devastating consequences of extremism and religious manipulation. It’s a story forever marked by the loss of innocent lives.
Deaths
Kimberly McCarthy
1855 – John Whelan – a hulking Irishman nicknamed “Rocky” for his scarred visage, stands as a grim figure in Tasmanian history. Born in Wexford, Ireland around 1800, his life spiraled into crime, leading him to become a feared bushranger in Van Diemen’s Land (now Tasmania) during the mid-1800s. Whelan’s criminal journey began in 1827 when he was convicted of theft and sentenced to transportation to the Australian colonies. He arrived in Sydney but soon escaped, turning to robbery. Recaptured, he faced harsher punishment – banishment to the notorious Norfolk Island penal colony. There, he spent a brutal 18 years, his violent streak evident in his involvement in a mutiny attempt. In 1854, with Norfolk Island closing, Whelan was sent to Port Arthur, another harsh penal colony. However, freedom proved too strong a lure. He escaped within days, vanishing into the rugged wilderness of Mount Wellington. This marked the beginning of his reign as a bushranger. For a year, Whelan terrorized the Huon Valley. Living in a cave (now known as Rocky Whelan’s Cave), he preyed on isolated homesteads, striking fear into the hearts of settlers. Unlike some bushrangers with a Robin Hood-like image, Whelan showed little mercy. His crimes escalated to murder, with several victims falling to his brutality. Whelan’s luck ran out in 1855. A discarded boot with a victim’s name led to his capture. Tried and convicted, he received the ultimate punishment – death by hanging. In a chilling display of defiance, he used his final moments to confess to more murders, reveling in the fear he’d instilled. John “Rocky” Whelan’s story serves as a stark reminder of the harsh realities of colonial Australia. His violence cast a long shadow, a testament to the desperation and brutality that could fester in the penal system of the time.
1916 – Ryuun Daimai – born Ryumoto Daimai, was a notorious Japanese serial killer and rapist active during the Taisho era (1912-1926). He targeted religious communities, particularly Buddhist nunneries, and earned the chilling nickname “The Nun Slayer” from the media. Details of Daimai’s early life are obscure. Born in Asakusa, Tokyo in 1872, his path took a dark turn sometime in his early adulthood. While imprisoned for unknown offenses, his behavior became increasingly violent. Upon release, he embarked on a reign of terror. From 1905 to 1915, Daimai invaded nunneries across Hyogo, Kyoto, Tokyo, and Kanagawa prefectures. He terrorized the nuns, committing rapes and robberies. Fearing identification by his screaming victims, he resorted to unspeakable brutality, mutilating and murdering those who resisted. To destroy evidence, he often set the nunneries ablaze after his crimes. The horrific nature of the crimes and the targeting of religious communities spurred a massive police manhunt. Finally apprehended in August 1915, Daimai could only account for a fraction of the atrocities he likely committed. The official record lists three murders, five rapes, thefts, and robberies, but the true number remains shrouded in darkness. Tried and convicted, Ryuun Daimai was sentenced to death. He was hanged in Tokyo Prison on June 26, 1916. While his reign of terror ended, Daimai’s crimes remain a chilling reminder of the capacity for evil that can lurk within humanity.
1996 – Veronica Guerin – was an Irish investigative journalist who shone a light on the dark underbelly of organized crime in Dublin. A former athlete, she turned her tenacity towards exposing drug trafficking rings and their devastating impact on Irish communities. Guerin’s career shift began in the early 1990s. Her hard-hitting articles for the Sunday Independent exposed the violence and social decay caused by the drug trade. She relentlessly named names, putting herself at odds with powerful criminals. This courage came at a heavy price. Guerin faced threats, intimidation, and even a shooting before her tragic assassination in 1996. Her brutal murder, believed to be ordered by a drug cartel, sparked national outrage and a renewed commitment to fight organized crime. Guerin’s legacy lives on as a symbol of press freedom and the importance of investigative journalism. Her story has been immortalized in film and continues to inspire journalists around the world.
2013 – Kimberly McCarthy – was a convicted murderer on death row in Texas. She was sentenced to death for the 1997 murder of her elderly neighbor, Dorothy Booth, in Lancaster, Texas. McCarthy was suspected of being a serial killer, but was only ever tried and convicted for the Booth murder. Born in Greenville, Texas in 1961, McCarthy had a seemingly normal life for a time. She worked as an occupational therapist and married briefly, having one son. However, her life took a downward turn as she developed a crack cocaine addiction. This led to a string of criminal convictions in the early 1990s, including forgery, prostitution, and theft of services. In 1997, McCarthy’s neighbor, 71-year-old Dorothy Booth, was found murdered in her home. Evidence linked McCarthy to the crime scene, and she was arrested. Prosecutors believed the motive was robbery. McCarthy was convicted and sentenced to death. Authorities also suspected McCarthy in the murders of two other elderly Texas women. Similarities in the crimes led investigators to believe she might be responsible, but she was never charged in those cases. After exhausting her appeals, McCarthy was executed by lethal injection in June 2013. She was the 500th person to be executed in Texas since the death penalty was reinstated in 1982.
2018 – Danny Paul Bible – was a notorious criminal known for a series of violent crimes spanning across several states in the United States. Born in 1951, Bible’s criminal activities began in earnest in 1979 when he raped and murdered Inez Deaton, a 20-year-old woman. The crime, committed with an ice pick, earned him the moniker “The Ice Pick Killer”. Deaton’s body was found dumped by a river in Houston. This crime remained unsolved for over two decades until Bible confessed to it. In addition to Deaton’s murder, Bible confessed to several other crimes, including the murders of two other women and a baby, and the rapes of five young relatives. His most recent violent crime, a rape, was committed when he was in his late forties. Bible was a drifter with a record of violence in several states when he was arrested in Fort Myers, Florida, in 1999 for a rape in Louisiana. After his arrest, he confessed to four Texas killings and at least nine rapes. In 2003, Bible was sentenced to death for Deaton’s murder. His lawyers argued against lethal injection, claiming that Bible’s veins were too weak and that he would likely choke laying on his back on the gurney due to multiple heart and lung conditions, as well as Parkinson’s Disease. Despite these claims, Bible was executed by lethal injection in Texas in 2018.
Events
John Holmes
1284 – The legendary Pied Piper leads 130 youths out of Hamelin, Germany
1907 – The 1907 Tiflis bank robbery took place in Yerevan Square, now Freedom Square in Tbilisi
1946 – William Heirens known as “The Lipstick Killer” is arrested
1975 – 2 FBI agents & a member of Air American Indian movements are killed in a shootout on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota; Leonard Peltier is later convicted of the murders in a controversial trial
1977 – The Yorkshire Ripper kills 16-year-old shop assistant Jayne MacDonald in Leeds changing the public’s perception of the killer as she is the first victim who is not a prostitute
1977 – 42 people die in a fire caused by an inmate at Maury County jail in Columbia, Tennessee
1979 – British drummer Nigel Olsson runs a stop sign, accidentally crashing and killing a man
1982 – Porn star John Holmes is acquitted on murder charges
1989 – The Supreme Court rules that 16-year-olds can receive the death penalty
1995 – Colombian-born serial killer Rory Enrique Conde is captured
1995 – Gunmen ambush Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak who escapes unharmed
1996 – Irish journalist Veronica Guerin is shot in her car while in traffic on the outskirts of Dublin
2015 – A gunman opens fire at a beach resort in Sousse, Tunisia killing 38 people
