Births
Willie Sutton
1901 – Willie Sutton – is one of America’s most notorious and charismatic bank robbers. His criminal career spanned over four decades, during which he became infamous for his numerous bank heists and prison escapes, earning the nickname “Slick Willie.” Sutton grew up in a working-class Irish-American family and had a troubled youth. He turned to a life of crime at an early age, beginning with small thefts before graduating to more elaborate schemes. His first major criminal activity began in the 1920s when he started robbing banks, a pursuit he found both lucrative and thrilling. What set Sutton apart was not just the scale of his robberies but the cunning and charm with which he executed them. He was known for his meticulous planning and the ability to blend in and deceive those around him. Often using disguises, Sutton earned the moniker “The Actor” for his skill in impersonation and theatricality during heists. One of his most famous quotes, when asked why he robbed banks, was reportedly, “Because that’s where the money is.” Sutton’s criminal exploits led to multiple arrests and several daring prison escapes. One of his most notable escapes was from the Eastern State Penitentiary in 1945, where he and a group of fellow inmates tunneled through the prison walls. Despite numerous incarcerations, Sutton continued to elude the authorities, enhancing his legend as an escape artist. His career as a bank robber came to an end in 1952 when he was finally captured after a long manhunt. He was sentenced to life imprisonment but was later paroled in 1969 due to declining health. After his release, Sutton lived a relatively quiet life, working as a consultant on prison reform and security measures, even becoming a minor celebrity. He authored his autobiography, “Where the Money Was,” in which he recounted his criminal exploits and reflections on his life. Willie Sutton passed away on November 2, 1980, in Spring Hill, Florida. His life, marked by audacious crimes and remarkable escapes, left an indelible mark on American criminal history. Despite his notorious career, Sutton is often remembered for his wit, charm, and the colorful stories of his legendary heists.
1933 – Derek Bentley – was a young British man whose controversial conviction and execution played a significant role in the movement toward the abolition of the death penalty in the United Kingdom. Born in Southwark, London, Bentley had a difficult upbringing, marked by poor health and limited educational opportunities. He suffered from severe epilepsy and was classified as educationally subnormal, which today would be recognized as a learning disability. On November 2, 1952, at the age of 19, Bentley accompanied 16-year-old Christopher Craig in an attempted burglary at the Barlow & Parker warehouse in Croydon. The police were alerted, and during the confrontation that ensued, Bentley was detained while Craig, who was armed, continued to resist. According to police testimony, Bentley allegedly shouted “Let him have it, Chris,” which Craig later interpreted as a signal to shoot. Craig fired, fatally wounding Police Constable Sidney Miles. Despite Bentley’s compromised mental state and the fact that Craig was the one who pulled the trigger, Bentley was charged with murder under the legal doctrine of “joint enterprise.” At the time, Craig was too young to face the death penalty, but Bentley, having turned 19, was sentenced to death. His trial and subsequent execution on January 28, 1953, sparked public outcry and debate over the fairness of his treatment by the legal system, particularly given his intellectual disabilities and ambiguous involvement in the crime. Bentley’s case became a symbol of the miscarriage of justice, leading to decades of campaigning by his family and various advocacy groups. Their efforts were eventually successful; in 1993, Derek Bentley received a posthumous pardon, and in 1998, the Court of Appeal quashed his conviction, acknowledging the profound flaws in the judicial process that led to his execution. Bentley’s tragic story remains a poignant example of the complexities and potential injustices inherent in the criminal justice system, and it continues to resonate as a significant moment in the history of British legal reform.
1944 – Robert Ira Peede – On March 30, 1983, Robert Ira Peede drove his motorcycle from Hillsboro, North Carolina to Jacksonville, Florida with the intention of convincing his estranged wife, Darla Peede, to return to North Carolina with him. His ultimate plan was to use Darla as a decoy to lure his former wife, Geraldine, and her boyfriend, Calvin Wagner, to a motel where he intended to kill them. Upon arrival in Florida, Peede sold his motorcycle and flew to Miami. Around 5:15 p.m., he called Darla and asked her to pick him up at the airport. Darla agreed but took precautions before leaving. She instructed her daughter to contact the police if she did not return by midnight and provided her with the car’s license plate number. She also gave her daughter the phone numbers for Geraldine and the Hillsboro Police Department, fearing that she might be forced to return to North Carolina and be killed alongside the others. Taking only her purse, Darla left to pick up Peede. According to Peede, Darla picked him up at the airport, and he directed her to drive north on Interstate 95. They mistakenly ended up on the turnpike heading towards Orlando. At some point, the song “Swinging” played on the radio, which triggered Peede due to his belief that Darla and Geraldine had placed an ad for sexual partners in the magazine “Swinger.” He superficially cut Darla’s side with a knife. While heading to Orlando, they picked up a hitchhiker who drove the car while Peede and Darla had intercourse in the back seat. After dropping the hitchhiker off in Orlando, Peede drove towards Daytona Beach on I-4. As they discussed the advertisement in “Swinger,” Peede stopped the car about five or six miles outside of Orlando. He jumped into the back seat and stabbed Darla in the neck, causing a wound that led her to bleed to death within five to fifteen minutes. Peede then continued driving to North Carolina, discarding Darla’s body in a wooded area in Camden, Georgia, and throwing the knife out of the car window. Despite Darla’s murder, Peede still intended to kill Geraldine and Calvin; he was found with a loaded shotgun by the door when he was arrested at his home in Hillsboro, North Carolina. Darla’s bloodstained car was parked outside his residence. Peede confessed to stabbing Darla in the throat and expressed a desire for the death penalty to be carried out as soon as possible.
1947 – Richard Michael Rossi – Around 12:30 p.m. on August 29, 1983, Rossi visited Harold August’s Scottsdale home, ostensibly to sell a typewriter. Instead, he shot Mr. August twice. Despite his injuries, Mr. August pleaded, “You’ve got my money and you’ve shot me—what more do you want?” Rossi then shot him in the mouth, killing him. A neighbor, hearing the commotion, entered the August home. Rossi struck her on the head with a blackjack and shot her twice in the chest using exploding bullets. Remarkably, she survived.
1950 – Donna Jean Wilmott – is an American activist known for her involvement in radical political movements during the late 20th century. She gained national attention for her affiliation with the United Freedom Front (UFF), a leftist organization that engaged in a series of bombings and other illegal activities aimed at opposing U.S. foreign policy and domestic social injustices. Born in 1950, Wilmott grew up during a time of significant social and political upheaval in the United States. Influenced by the civil rights movement, the anti-Vietnam War protests, and the rise of various radical left-wing groups, she became deeply committed to activism. Her political convictions led her to join the UFF, a group that believed direct action was necessary to combat what they saw as systemic oppression and imperialism. Throughout the early 1980s, the UFF was responsible for multiple bombings, targeting government buildings and military installations, among other sites. The group’s actions were designed to draw attention to their causes and disrupt the operations of what they considered oppressive institutions. As a member of the UFF, Wilmott played a significant role in planning and executing these activities, although she managed to evade capture for many years. Wilmott’s life as a fugitive ended in 1984 when she was arrested after a lengthy investigation by federal authorities. She was subsequently convicted of various charges related to her activities with the UFF. Her trial and incarceration highlighted the broader national debate over the methods and motivations of radical political activists. After serving her prison sentence, Donna Jean Wilmott emerged as a symbol of resistance and the complexities surrounding radical activism. Her story has been examined in various academic and media analyses, contributing to discussions about the ethics of political violence and the role of dissent in democratic societies. Today, Wilmott’s legacy is a subject of both criticism and admiration. Some view her actions as misguided and harmful, while others see her as a passionate advocate who was driven by a profound sense of justice. Regardless of perspective, Donna Jean Wilmott remains a notable figure in the history of American political activism, embodying the fervent and often contentious spirit of her era.
1950 – Ethel Mae Franken – She is known for a tragic event that took place in Aplington, Butler County, Iowa, USA on January 18, 1983. On this day, at the age of 33, Ethel Mae Franken shot her husband, Darrell John Franken, 37, and their three children, Troy Vance, 13, Valerie May, 11, and Dustin Jon, 7, before taking her own life. This incident is considered a murder-suicide. Prior to the incident, Ethel Mae Franken had been under psychiatric care for several weeks and had been hospitalized for several days at a time in the psychiatric ward at Allen Memorial Hospital in Waterloo. She had an appointment with a psychiatrist on the day of the incident. The family was described by neighbors as “good hard-working people with nice kids”. The incident was the largest multiple homicide in Iowa since December 1980. Ethel Mae Franken, her husband, and their children were found in the bedrooms of their home. The mother was found lying in bed with the gun on the bed, and the father was lying within 8 to 10 feet of the bed. One of the children was in bed in one room, two others were in an adjoining room on the floor. All of the victims were in night clothes, suggesting the deaths could have occurred Monday night. This tragic event left a deep impact on the community and is remembered as one of the most tragic incidents in the history of Iowa. Ethel Mae Franken’s life and the unfortunate end of it serve as a stark reminder of the importance of mental health care and support. Ethel Mae Franken was buried in Pleasant View Cemetery, Aplington, Butler County, Iowa, USA. Her life and the tragic incident continue to be a subject of study and discussion in the field of criminology and mental health.
1951 – Olga Hepnarova – was a Czechoslovak rampage killer. She was born in Prague to Czech parents. Her father was a bank clerk and her mother was a dentist. As a child, she developed psychiatric problems, which manifested in an inability to communicate with people. In 1964, she attempted suicide by overdosing on her medication. She spent a year in a psychiatric ward at a hospital in Opařany, where she was beaten and abused after an attempted escape. Hepnarová later worked at various jobs but was usually fired shortly after being hired. She ended up working as a truck driver. Gradually she lost contact with her family, especially her father and older sister. On 10 July 1973, Hepnarová killed eight people with a truck in Prague. She was convicted and sentenced to death, and was executed in 1975, becoming the last woman executed in Czechoslovakia. Prior to the incident, she mailed letters to newspapers, claiming she had been “destroyed” by people and would definitely not leave the world by committing suicide. She claimed that she would instead pay back to her haters. Her intention was very clear. She wished to kill as many people as possible and did not show a hint of guilt while confessing the same after her arrest. She was executed by short-drop hanging.
1955 – Horacio Alberto Reyes-Camarena – is a convicted criminal who has been on Oregon’s death row since 1996. He was convicted of repeatedly stabbing two sisters, aged 32 and 18, whom he met in a farm-labor camp. The older woman survived 17 stab wounds to testify against him. Reyes-Camarena, who was 47 years old at the time of his conviction, has been a subject of controversy due to his medical condition. He has been on dialysis, costing the state of Oregon a reported $121,000 a year. His prison doctor determined that he was a good candidate for a kidney transplant, which led to debates about whether a death-row inmate should be placed on a transplant waiting list ahead of others who did not commit any crimes. As of 2020, Reyes-Camarena was housed at Two Rivers Correctional Institution in Umatilla for medical reasons. Despite the controversies surrounding his case, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 1976 that prisoners were entitled to the same medical and dental treatment as everyone else in their community. This ruling has posed a conundrum for law enforcement officials, who must balance the need to punish the convicted and ensure their care behind bars.
1958 – Clifton Eugene Belyeu – He is known for his involvement in a series of crimes that led to his conviction and subsequent execution. Belyeu, along with his accomplice Ernest Ray Moore, embarked on a burglary spree in McLennan County, Texas. They would knock on doors to see if people were home. If the residents were absent, they would burglarize the home, and if they were present, they would leave. On December 10, 1985, they spotted the home of Melody Bolton, who was part owner and secretary-treasurer of a local dealership. Bolton was home alone when Belyeu and Moore approached her in her garage. Despite her cooperation, Bolton was brutally murdered. Belyeu was arrested and convicted for the robbery and murder of Melody Bolton. His trial took place in Waco, Texas, and the jury returned a verdict on August 8, 1986. Belyeu was sentenced to death. While on death row, Belyeu was represented by a team of lawyers, one of whom mentioned him in a book about America’s relationship with the death penalty. Belyeu was executed by lethal injection on May 16, 1997. In his last statement, he expressed gratitude for the support and encouragement he received from his family and his wife Nora. He also expressed his belief in his impending freedom from pain and suffering and his journey to heaven.
1959 – Michael Eugene Thompson – Maisie Carlene Gray, 57, had been working at the Attalla convenience store for about three weeks when, on December 10, 1984, Thompson entered the store armed with a .22 caliber pistol. He forced Gray to empty the cash register and then, at gunpoint, compelled her to get into the trunk of his car. After driving around for a while, Thompson took Gray to a well and forced her into it, shooting into the well multiple times until he ran out of ammunition. Thompson then drove to his girlfriend’s home to get more bullets. Returning to the well with his girlfriend, Shirley Franklin, who held a homemade torch, Thompson fired seven or eight more shots into the well to ensure Gray was dead. Franklin’s husband later contacted the police, and her confessions led to the discovery of Gray’s body and Thompson’s arrest. Thompson later confessed to the police but claimed at trial that his confession was coerced and that Franklin was the actual killer. The jury rejected Thompson’s claims.
1962 – Samuel Villegas Lopez – was a death-row inmate who gained notoriety for being the first person executed in Arizona while witnesses other than prison officials saw catheters inserted into an inmate’s veins. His execution took place on June 27, 2012, just three days before his 50th birthday. Lopez was convicted of the brutal rape and murder of 59-year-old Estafana Holmes in Phoenix approximately 26 years prior to his execution. During the execution, witnesses watched on television screens as the execution team inserted catheters into Lopez’s veins behind a curtain. He blinked often and showed no signs of pain during the process. When asked if he had any last words, Lopez replied in a clear voice, “No, I do not.” Before entering the execution chamber, Lopez ordered a Southwestern-inspired last meal, which included two chilli burritos con carne (one red chilli and one green chilli), Spanish rice, a jalapeño, an avocado, cottage cheese, and french fries.
1965 – Glennon Paul Sweet – also known as “Glen”, was a notable figure in the history of drug manufacturing in the United States. He was born on June 30, 1965, and passed away on April 22, 1998. Sweet was a local member of the Hell’s Angels-affiliated Galloping Goose motorcycle club. He is most infamously known for his involvement in a tragic incident that occurred on February 8, 1987. On this day, Sweet shot and killed Highway Patrol Trooper Russell Harper during a routine traffic stop near farm route 189 in Greene County. This crime led to his execution by the State of Missouri. In addition to his criminal activities, Sweet was indirectly linked to a significant shift in the production of methamphetamine in the United States. His name is often mentioned in connection with Bob Paillet, the man who is credited with reinventing the method of meth production. This new method, which did not require the complex glassware traditionally associated with meth labs, led to a surge in the drug’s availability and use. Despite his notorious reputation, Sweet managed to avoid public scrutiny and further trouble with the law in the later years of his life. He died at the age of 72 in Texas on January 1, 2016. His life serves as a stark reminder of the devastating impact of drug-related crimes on individuals and communities.
1970 – Patrick Dils – At the age of 16, he became embroiled in a tragic miscarriage of justice. On April 30, 1987, two boys, Cyril Beining and Alexandre Beckrich, were found dead near an SNCF track in Montigny-lès-Metz, Moselle. Dils, who lived on the same street as the victims, was questioned due to an anonymous tip. His timetable didn’t align with the coroner’s estimated time of death, leading to his initial release. However, following a new testimony that reconsidered the time of death, Dils was taken in for questioning. After 36 hours in custody and days of police interrogation, he confessed to the murders, despite not knowing the reasons behind the crimes. On April 30, 1987, he was charged with voluntary homicides and sent to Metz-Queuleu prison. His parents later revealed that he didn’t fully comprehend the significance of the procedure. The investigation was fraught with issues. Dils’ parents described the lead investigator, Bernard Varlet, as aggressive and relentless. Varlet had already obtained confessions from two other suspects, both of whom were eventually exonerated. Dils’ case was marked by inconsistencies, including confessions from three different individuals with low education levels. Despite these flaws, Dils was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment on January 27, 1989. Thankfully, in 2002, after spending 15 years behind bars, Patrick Dils was exonerated. The French government acknowledged the grave judicial error and awarded him one million euros, including compensation. His case remains one of the most serious miscarriages of justice recognized in France and the first involving a minor sentenced to life imprisonment for murder. Dils’ story serves as a stark reminder of the importance of a fair and thorough legal system, as well as the devastating consequences of wrongful convictions. His resilience and eventual exoneration stand as a testament to the fight for justice and truth. 🌟
1973 – Robert Bales – He is known for his involvement in the Kandahar massacre, a tragic event that took place on March 11, 2012, in the Panjwayi District, Kandahar Province, Afghanistan. In this incident, Bales, a former U.S. Army soldier and sniper, killed 16 Afghan civilians. Bales was raised in Norwood, near Cincinnati, and was the youngest of five brothers. He attended Norwood High School, where he played football and was named class president. After high school, Bales briefly enrolled at the College of Mount St. Joseph, then transferred to Ohio State University, where he studied economics for three years but left without graduating in 1996. After leaving college, Bales worked as a stockbroker at five financial services firms in Columbus, Ohio. In 2003, an arbitration panel found both Bales and his employer liable for financial fraud related to the handling of a retirement account and ordered them to pay $1.2 million in civil damages. Bales joined the U.S. Army at age 28, just 18 months after the long-running arbitration case was filed. During his time in the army, Bales was involved in the Kandahar massacre. To avoid the death penalty, Bales pleaded guilty to 16 counts of murder, six counts of attempted murder, and seven counts of assault in a plea deal. On August 23, 2013, he was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
1976 – Christine Schurrer – She is known for a tragic incident that occurred in Arboga, Sweden, on 17 March 2008. Schürrer had a challenging early life. Her father left the family when she was just 11 years old, and she had very little contact with him thereafter. She spent some time in New York as an exchange student and lived with relatives in Manhattan. During her stay in the United States, she also studied in Oklahoma. After returning to Germany, she settled in Göttingen, where she studied history for six years. Schürrer then moved to Athens, Greece, where she worked at a hostel and also worked as a historian. After a year, she returned to her hometown in Germany but soon moved back to Greece, this time to the island of Crete. It was here that she met and had a romantic relationship with a Swedish man, who would later become the stepfather of her future victims. In the summer of 2007, Schürrer arrived in Sweden and settled in Södermalm, in central Stockholm. She later found an apartment in Skarpnäck, a suburb of Stockholm. During this period, Schürrer attempted suicide for the third time. The crime for which Schürrer is most known occurred on 17 March 2008. She attacked a mother and her two children in their home in Arboga, Sweden. The mother, 23-year-old Emma Jangestig, was struck over the head 15 times with a hammer. Schürrer then attacked the woman’s two children, 3-year old Max and 1-year old Saga, causing fatal trauma to their heads. The motive for the murders has been identified as jealousy, as Schürrer had dated the children’s stepfather in 2006. Schürrer was arrested in Germany on 22 March 2008, but was released the same day. On 24 March, German police sent DNA samples from the suspect to Swedish police for testing. The mother had begun to wake up from her coma in a hospital at about the same time, and could identify Schürrer as her attacker. Christine Schürrer was convicted of double murder and attempted murder, and she is currently serving a life sentence.
1980 – Christopher Allen Hargrave – is a convicted criminal currently serving on death row in Arizona. His life took a dark turn when he was involved in a heinous crime that shocked the community. Hargrave was convicted in 2006 for a crime that occurred in May 2002. The crime scene was a fast-food restaurant where Hargrave had previously been employed. Late on the evening of May 19, 2002, Hargrave and an accomplice, Steve Boggs, robbed the restaurant and committed a triple murder. The victims were Beatriz Alvarado, Kenneth Brown, and Fausto Jimenez, all employees of the restaurant. The crime and subsequent trial received significant media attention due to the brutal nature of the murders and the fact that Hargrave had recently been fired from the restaurant. The case served as a stark reminder of the potential consequences of workplace disputes escalating to violence. Hargrave’s conviction and sentencing to death row have been a source of ongoing debate about the death penalty and the justice system. Despite the severity of his crimes, some argue that life imprisonment would be a more appropriate punishment.
Deaths
Mart Ringmaa
1704 – John Quelch – was an English pirate known for his lucrative but very brief career of about one year. Born in London in 1666, Quelch’s life took a turn towards piracy when he was elected captain of the ship Charles after a mutiny. In July 1703, the Charles was sent out with a privateering license to attack French and Spanish ships off the coast of Newfoundland and Arcadia. However, under Quelch’s command, the Charles turned south and plundered nine Portuguese ships off the coast of Brazil. This was despite England and Portugal being at peace at the time. The Charles returned with a large haul, including Brazilian sugar, hides, cloth, guns, gold dust, and coins. The total value of the loot is estimated at over £10,000 sterling. Legend says some of the gold was buried on Star Island off the coast of New Hampshire. Upon the Charles’ return to Marblehead, Massachusetts, the crew scattered with their plunder. However, Quelch was soon arrested as the Portuguese were not included in his letter of marque, and England and Portugal had just become allies. Quelch’s trial was significant as it was the first for piracy outside England under Admiralty Law and thus without a jury. He was hanged on 30 June 1704. His last words reportedly warned others about bringing money into New England only to be hanged for it. John Quelch’s story is a stark reminder of the harsh realities of piracy during the Golden Age of Piracy. His brief but impactful career continues to intrigue historians and pirate enthusiasts alike.
1936 – Frederick Field – was a notorious criminal born in 1905, known for his chilling crimes in London, England. Field worked for a firm of signboard fixers. His criminal activities came to light when the strangled body of a 20-year-old prostitute, Annie Louisa Upchurch, better known as Norah, was found by workmen in a passageway of an empty shop on London’s Shaftesbury Avenue on October 2, 1931. Field later confessed to the crime. On April 5, 1936, 48-year-old Beatrice Sutton was found dead in her London apartment, with several pillows stacked over her face. Field, an airman stationed at nearby Hendon, was charged with the murder on April 25. He confessed his crime to the police, stating, “I had not seen the woman before in my life, and had not the least ill intentions toward her. I just murdered her because I wanted to murder someone.” Field was convicted of murder and sentenced to death on May 13, 1936. He was executed by hanging at Wandsworth prison on June 30, 1936. After his execution, he was generally acknowledged as the killer of Nora Upchurch, a crime for which he had been previously tried and acquitted at the Old Bailey.
1944 – Raymond Plunkett – was a native of Holly Pond, Alabama. He was born in the early 20th century and lived a life that ended in tragedy and crime. At the age of 30, he was executed in the Nevada State Prison on June 30, 1944. Plunkett’s life took a dark turn when he was convicted for the murder of his 5-month-old baby. The circumstances surrounding this horrific event are not well-documented, but it is known that following the act, Plunkett attempted to take his own life by slitting his wrists with a straight razor. His actions led to his arrest and subsequent trial, where he was found guilty. He was sentenced to death and executed at the Nevada State Prison.
1993 – Darrell V. Schlatter – was born on April 29, 1952. He is known for his involvement in a series of criminal activities that took place in Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA. Schlatter is suspected to have been involved in the disappearance of his wife, Terri Schlatter, and their son Nathan, who had been missing since 1985. He was also linked to the murder of Erika Hartwick in September 1992. Despite these suspicions, Schlatter was never convicted as he committed suicide by hanging himself in prison before his trial on June 30, 1993. His actions have led to him being classified as a suspected serial killer, with the number of his victims estimated to be between 0 and 3. His methods of murder, however, remain unknown.
1999 – Robert Allen Walls – On the night of December 5, 1985, Robert Walls, Terry Wilson, and Tommy Thomas were drinking together and discussing ways to leave St. Louis. Wilson mentioned that he had recently burglarized an elderly man’s house and suggested they could get a car and some money from the same victim. The trio took a cab to Maplewood, Missouri, in St. Louis County, to the home of Mr. Fred Harmon. Wilson and Thomas entered the house through a window, while Walls stayed outside initially. Walls later entered through a side door. Mr. Harmon, recognizing Wilson, pleaded with them, saying he would give them anything if they would just leave him alone. Walls witnessed Thomas kicking Mr. Harmon in the head, telling him to be quiet. The three men attempted to tie Mr. Harmon up with neckties, but he resisted fiercely. During the struggle, Walls held Mr. Harmon’s head down with his foot and suggested they tie his feet together. They then dragged Mr. Harmon to the kitchen and decided to put him into the freezer. Wilson began placing Mr. Harmon in the freezer and asked for help. Together, they lifted Mr. Harmon into the freezer upside down. When Walls later opened the freezer, Mr. Harmon reportedly said, “I’m already dead, let me die.” Walls went to the bedroom to get the car keys and returned to find a television and typewriter placed on top of the freezer. Wilson and Thomas had also added a chair on top of the freezer to prevent any escape attempts. The trio drank some sodas, took Mr. Harmon’s money, and left the scene in his car. Three days later, on December 18, 1985, the Maplewood Police Department found Mr. Harmon in the freezer after neighbors reported they hadn’t seen him recently. The police discovered that the four stove burners were on and the pilot lights were extinguished. They observed that the telephone cord had been ripped from the wall and found blood on Mr. Harmon’s bed and on the bedroom floor and walls. Mr. Harmon’s nude body was found in the freezer, covered with a sheet. An autopsy revealed numerous blunt trauma injuries to his head and limbs, broken ribs, and a bruise on his spleen. The cause of death was determined to be a combination of blunt injuries, hypothermia, and suffocation. Walls was arrested on December 20, 1985, in Santa Monica, California, for burglary alongside Terry Wilson. The victim’s car was found near the scene of the burglary, and both Walls and Wilson were charged with Mr. Harmon’s murder. While in California, Walls made a statement to the police about the crime.
2004 – David Ray Harris – was a notorious figure whose actions had significant implications in the American justice system. He gained notoriety for his false testimony in the 1976 murder case of Dallas police officer Robert Wood. Harris, then 16, was driving a stolen vehicle involved in the murder. However, he accused Randall Dale Adams, a hitchhiker he had met and given a ride earlier that day. The police believed Harris, and prosecutors granted him immunity for his testimony. Harris was the prosecution’s chief witness at Adams’ trial. Adams, who had no previous criminal record, was convicted of capital murder and sentenced to death. Adams served 12 years in prison and came within three days of execution in 1979 before his sentence was commuted to life in prison. Adams was released from prison in 1989, a year after the release of Errol Morris’ 1988 documentary “The Thin Blue Line,” which suggested he had been wrongly convicted. In an unrelated case, Harris was sentenced to death for a 1985 shootout that killed Mark Mays after Harris tried to abduct the victim’s girlfriend. Harris was executed by lethal injection on 30 June 2004 in Huntsville, Texas. Harris had a history of criminal activities, including convictions in California for robbery, burglary, larceny, and other crimes. He was also found in possession of a deadly weapon while incarcerated in California. Harris had also been court-martialed and dishonorably discharged from the U.S. Army for a series of burglary and theft offenses.
2021 – Mart Ringmaa – was an Estonian criminal, infamously known as the “Bomb man of Pae Street.” He was an engineer by profession, having completed his education in industrial electrical devices at Tallinn Polytechnic in 1957 and later specializing in electrical drives and industrial automation at Tallinn Technical University in 1968. Ringmaa’s notoriety stemmed from a series of improvised explosive device (IED) bombings in Lasnamäe, Tallinn, Estonia. Over a decade, he was responsible for twelve IED explosions in public places, resulting in the deaths of seven individuals and injuries to six others. His criminal activities led to his conviction on 23 March 2009, when Harju County Court found him guilty of unlawful handling of explosive devices and fraud. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison, which he began serving from his arrest on 11 November 2005. Ringmaa was released from prison in November 2020 after serving his sentence.
Events
Charles J. Guiteau
1882 – Charles J. Guiteau is hanged in Washington DC for the assassination of US President James Garfield
1914 – Mahatma Gandhi’s first arrest after campaigning for Indian rights in South Africa
1937 – The world’s first emergency telephone number, 999 is introduced in London
1938 – King D. Gray, an American cinematographer was shot & killed in front of a post office in Hollywood
1963 – Ciaculli Bombing: A car bomb intended for Mafia boss Salvatore Greco kills 7 police officers and military personnel near Palermo
1974 – Alberta King, American mother of Martin Luther King Jr is assassinated in church at the age of 69
1974 – Petty thief Peter Leonard sets fire to hide his burglary at a bowling alley, the fire spreads next door to “Gullivers” nightclub killing 24 in Port Chester, New York
1989 – US Congressman Donald Lukens is found guilty of having sex with a 16-year-old girl
1994 – Pre Trial hearings open in Los Angeles against OJ Simpson
2007 – A Jeep Cherokee filled with propane canisters drives into the entrance of Glasgow airport, Scotland in a failed terrorist attack. This was linked to the 2007 London car bombs that had taken place the day before
2014 – Australian entertainer Rolf Harris is convicted of indecent assault in London, England
