Births
Lena Baker
1859 – Frank Dalton – was a complex figure who straddled the line between law and outlaw in the Wild West. His life, though short, was a whirlwind of action, marked by bravery, tragedy, and the shadow of his notorious younger brothers. Frank started his career on the side of the law, serving as a Deputy U.S. Marshal under the infamous “Hangin’ Judge” Isaac C. Parker in Oklahoma Territory. He earned a reputation for his fearlessness and efficiency, tackling dangerous jobs with unwavering resolve. However, fate intervened in the form of family ties. His younger brothers, Grattan, Emmett, and Bill, became increasingly drawn to outlaw life, culminating in a series of robberies that tarnished Frank’s name by association. Despite his loyalty to the badge, Frank found himself torn between duty and family. He eventually resigned from his position as deputy and attempted to steer his brothers away from the outlaw path. His efforts were unfortunately in vain. In 1887, the Dalton Gang made a disastrous attempt to rob two banks simultaneously in Coffeyville, Kansas. The shootout that ensued was bloody and chaotic, leaving four outlaws dead, including Frank, and dozens of citizens wounded. Frank Dalton’s legacy remains a captivating enigma. He was admired for his courage and dedication to the law, yet his family ties to the notorious Dalton Gang cast a long shadow. While history primarily remembers him as the older brother of the outlaws, Frank’s own story deserves recognition. He was a man caught in a tumultuous era, navigating the treacherous terrain between justice and family loyalty. His life and death serve as a reminder of the complex realities and moral ambiguities that defined the Wild West.
1900 – Lena Baker – was an African American woman whose story is etched in the annals of American injustice. Born in 1900 in rural Georgia, Lena faced the harsh realities of racial discrimination and economic hardship from a young age. She worked as a maid for a white man, Ernest Knight, but their relationship soon turned into a nightmare of abuse and exploitation. In 1944, Lena was accused of murdering Knight. Her trial, held in a segregated courtroom before an all-white jury, was a sham. Despite her claims of self-defense against Knight’s physical and sexual assault, Lena was convicted and sentenced to death. On March 5, 1945, Lena Baker became the first and only woman to be executed by electric chair in the state of Georgia. Her death marked a tragic culmination of systemic racism and the denial of basic human rights. But Lena’s story is not just one of tragedy. It is also a testament to her resilience and the enduring fight for justice. Even after her execution, her case continued to draw attention and fuel calls for reform. In 2005, Lena was posthumously pardoned by the state of Georgia, acknowledging the flaws in her trial and the injustice she suffered. Lena’s story serves as a powerful reminder of the dark chapters in American history. It is a call to action to confront racial injustice and ensure that everyone, regardless of race or gender, has access to a fair and equal justice system.
1949 – David Gail Meirhofer – was an American serial killer who confessed to four murders in rural Montana between 1967 and 1974 — three of them children. Meirhofer killed himself shortly after confessing and was never tried in court. Meirhofer was born in Bozeman, Montana, in 1949. He had a troubled childhood, marked by his parents’ divorce and his father’s alcoholism. Meirhofer dropped out of high school and joined the United States Marine Corps in 1967. He served in Vietnam for two years and was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, and the Vietnam Campaign Medal. Meirhofer’s time in Vietnam was troubled. He witnessed the horrors of war and developed a drinking problem. He was also accused of rape by a fellow Marine, but the charges were never filed. After returning to Montana in 1971, Meirhofer worked as a carpenter and handyman. He was also married and had two children. However, his marriage was troubled, and he eventually divorced his wife. Meirhofer’s first murder victim was 8-year-old Brenda Wright, who was abducted from her home in Manhattan, Montana, in 1967. Her body was never found. In 1973, Meirhofer abducted and murdered 12-year-old Wayne Lindsey in Bozeman. Lindsey’s body was found in the Gallatin River. The following year, Meirhofer abducted and murdered 10-year-old Susie Sunnquist in Manhattan. Sunnquist’s body was also found in the Gallatin River. Meirhofer’s final victim was 18-year-old Janet Kay Turner, who was abducted from her home in Bozeman in 1974. Turner’s body was found in a field near Belgrade, Montana. The murders of Wright, Lindsey, Sunnquist, and Turner sent shockwaves through Montana. The FBI was called in to help investigate the crimes. The FBI’s Behavioral Science Unit (BSU) developed a profile of the killer, which was based on the details of the crimes. The profile led the FBI to Meirhofer. Meirhofer was arrested in September 1974. He initially denied any involvement in the murders, but he eventually confessed to all four crimes. Meirhofer was being held in the Gallatin County Jail when he hanged himself on September 29, 1974. He was never tried for the murders. Meirhofer’s case was one of the first to be investigated using criminal profiling. It also helped to establish the BSU as a leading force in criminal investigation. Meirhofer’s crimes continue to haunt Montana. His victims are remembered in memorials throughout the state.
1956 – James Ronald Meanes – He is known for his conviction of capital murder in the first offense of shooting an armored security guard during a robbery when he was 25. This crime led to his execution from Death Row at Huntsville Prison in Texas by lethal injection at the age of 42. His last statement was philosophical, stating, “As the ocean always returns to itself, love always returns to itself. So does consciousness, always returns to itself. And I do so with love on my lips. May God bless all mankind”. He passed away on December 15, 1998, and was buried at Captain Joe Byrd Cemetery in Huntsville, Walker County, Texas, USA.
1959 – Anton Joseph Krawczuk – is known for his involvement in a high-profile criminal case in Florida. He was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death. The case revolved around the murder of David Staker, whose decomposing body was found in a rural wooded area of Charlotte County. According to court documents, Krawczuk had known Staker for about six months and had a casual relationship with him. Krawczuk and an accomplice, Billy Poirier, decided to rob and kill Staker. They visited Staker’s house, where they watched television before moving to the bedroom. There, Krawczuk started roughing up Staker and eventually began choking him, a process that lasted almost ten minutes. After the murder, Krawczuk and Poirier stole several items from Staker’s house, including two television sets, stereo equipment, a video recorder, five rifles, and a pistol. They put the stolen goods and Staker’s body in Staker’s pickup truck and drove to a rural location that Krawczuk had scouted earlier, where they dumped Staker’s body. Krawczuk was later identified by Gary Sigelmier, who reported that he may have bought the property stolen from Staker’s home. Krawczuk and Poirier were taken to the Lee County Sheriff’s office, where Krawczuk confessed to killing Staker after waiving his Miranda rights.
1964 – Jesse Joe Hernandez – was a registered sex offender known for his grim crimes. In April 2001, he was left in charge of two young children, Melodi and Karlos, while their mother, Misty Leverett, was away. During this time, Hernandez beat both children with a flashlight, causing severe injuries. Karlos, who was only 11 months old, suffered a skull fracture and bruising to his forehead, temple, ear, abdomen, thighs, and groin area. He was rushed to the hospital but unfortunately did not survive. Hernandez was arrested the following day on misdemeanor traffic charges. He was later executed by the state of Texas in 2012. His final words were reportedly “Go Cowboys!” and he maintained a cheerful demeanor until the end.
Deaths
Orlando Sabino
1866 – Anton Probst – Anton Probst’s story begins in a shroud of uncertainty. His exact birthdate is unknown, but it’s estimated to be around 1842 in Bavaria, Germany. He arrived in the United States sometime in the early 1860s, driven by the hopes and ambitions of many immigrants seeking a better life. However, Probst’s path took a dark turn. In America, Probst became a drifter, bouncing between odd jobs and failing to find his footing. He enlisted in the Union Army during the Civil War but quickly deserted, highlighting his volatility and lack of commitment. He moved throughout Pennsylvania, leaving a trail of petty crimes and broken promises in his wake. Probst’s fateful encounter with the Dearing family in 1866 would forever mark him and the city of Philadelphia. He briefly worked as a farmhand for the Dearings, a seemingly ordinary family living on their South Philadelphia farm. However, resentment and greed festered within Probst. On April 7, 1866, he brutally murdered all eight members of the Dearing family – parents, children, and even a guest and farmhand – with an axe and hammer. His motive remains unclear, possibly a combination of revenge for perceived mistreatment and the desire for their meager valuables. The city was gripped by horror and outrage. Probst’s capture and trial became a media spectacle, drawing crowds eager for retribution. He was convicted and sentenced to death. On June 8, 1866, Probst became the first person executed for murder in Philadelphia’s Moyamensing Prison.
1989 – Susan Smith – was an American FBI informant born in 1961 in Matewan, West Virginia. She was the fifth of nine children born to Sidney “Sid” Daniels, an unemployed former coal miner, and Tracy Daniels, a housekeeper. Her family moved to Freeburn, Kentucky, when she was an infant. She dropped out of school in 7th grade due to financial problems within her family. In 1977, at the age of 15, she met Kenneth Smith, a local dealer of methamphetamine, PCP, and cocaine. They married and had two children. However, their relationship was troubled, largely due to Kenneth’s substance abuse. They eventually divorced but continued to share their home. In 1987, Susan became an informant for FBI agent Mark Putnam, who was investigating a bank robber and friend of Kenneth Smith. She helped Putnam crack the case, leading to the robber’s arrest and a 57-year prison sentence. For her contribution, Susan received $5,000. However, Susan and Putnam’s relationship turned romantic and then tragic. By mid-1988, they had begun an active sexual relationship. In 1989, Susan told Putnam she was pregnant with his child. Later that year, Susan was strangled to death. Putnam was charged with her murder, becoming the first FBI agent to be convicted of homicide. He was sentenced to 16 years in prison.
2004 – William G. Zuerin Jr – was born on December 5, 1958 and died on June 8, 2004. He was an American convicted murderer who was executed by the state of Ohio for the murder of a Hamilton County sheriff’s deputy working as a corrections officer in the county jail. Zuern spent 19 years and 7 months on death row, with lawyers fighting his death sentence. His execution occurred on the day before the 20th anniversary of the crime for which he was condemned. Zuern was involved in two murders. The first was on May 12, 1984, when Zuern shot and killed 24-year-old Gregory Earls with a single shot to the chest from a pistol. The murder was a revenge killing. In 1979, Earls, who was a police informant, had helped convict Zuern’s father of drug trafficking. The second murder occurred while Zuern was awaiting trial for the murder of Earls. Zuern fatally stabbed Officer Phillip Pence in the chest with a metal shank. This occurred when officers arrived to search Zuern’s cell. Zuern’s life and crimes have left a lasting impact, and his case continues to be studied and discussed.
2013 – Orlando Sabino – also known as the “Monster of Capinópolis”, was born on September 4, 1946, in Arapongas, Brazil. He was a suspected serial killer charged with the murder of 12 people using revolvers and rifles. In addition to these crimes, he was also accused of beating and stabbing 19 calves to death with a sickle in the regions of Triângulo Mineiro, Alto Paranaíba, and in southern Goiás. Sabino was the oldest of seven children, born to a farmer couple, Jorge Francisco and Benedita Rodrigues. After witnessing his father being murdered by his boss, Sabino ran away from home to work on another farm in his early twenties. When he returned home, his family was nowhere to be found, leading him to become a drifter. His criminal activities began after he arrived at the Alto Paranaíba region, where he was accused of robbery in the region of Araxá and murder in Patrocínio and Coromandel in late 1971. Sabino was known for invading farms and spending long periods free of human contact, sneaking through the vegetation. Sabino was found dead on the morning of June 8, 2013, in the almshouse he had been admitted to two years before, in Barbacena. The cause of death was identified as a heart attack.
Events
Constance Naon
1896 – The world’s first recorded car theft takes place when Baron De Ruylen’ Peugeot is stolen by his mechanic in Paris
1900 – Lena Baker kills her sexually abusive boss
1949 – The celebrities Helen Keller, Dorothy Parker, Danny Kaye, Fredric March, John Garfield, Paul Muni & Edward G. Robinson are named in an FBI report as communist party members
1968 – James Earl Ray is arrested for the murder of Martin Luther King Jr
1983 – Constance Elizabeth Naon is murdered by the Green River killer
1994 – Mass murderer Joel Rifkin is sentenced to 27 years
2001 – Osaka school massacre takes place
2017 – US prisoner Richard Anthony Jones is freed after 17 years in Roeland Park, Kansas when his lookalike is discovered
2018 – WhatsApp rumors of child kidnappers in India prompt two men to be beaten to death by a mob in Karbi Angong District, Assam
