Births
Madeleine Hamilton Smith
1835 – Madeleine Hamilton Smith – Born into an upper-middle-class family, Madeleine Hamilton Smith defied conventions as a 19th-century Glasgow socialite. Engaging in a secret love affair with Pierre Emile L’Angelier, an older apprentice nurseryman, their clandestine meetings and extensive correspondence unfolded late at night, concealed from her parents. Despite Madeleine’s family arranging a match with William Harper Minnoch, a suitable suitor, she sought to sever ties with L’Angelier. When he threatened exposure and forced marriage, desperation took hold. In February 1857, L’Angelier succumbed to arsenic poisoning. His lodgings revealed Madeleine’s letters, leading to her arrest. The subsequent trial, marked by circumstantial evidence, gripped the public. The jury delivered a verdict of not guilty on the first count and “not proven” on the second. Madeleine Hamilton Smith’s life stands as a captivating chapter in Scotland’s history—a tale of passion, secrecy, and a courtroom drama that intrigues us to this day.
1915 – John Etter Clark – led a dual life as a part-time school teacher and farmer, inheriting a substantial 1,000-acre farm from his father. In 1947, he married Margaret Dinwoodie, and together they raised four children. Clark’s entry into politics occurred in the 1952 Alberta general election. Running as a Social Credit candidate, he contested the Stettler district seat. Despite a fierce race, Clark emerged victorious on the second vote count, securing his place in the Legislative Assembly of Alberta. His success continued in the 1955 election, where he won a sizable majority, firmly establishing himself as a provincial politician. On June 3, 1956, a horrifying discovery shook the community. Clark’s neighbor, Pete Parrott, visited Clark’s farm in Erskine, Alberta, only to find a gruesome scene: six lifeless bodies, each shot at least once through the head with .22 caliber bullets. Among the dead were Clark’s wife, son, three daughters, a hired farmhand, and a visitor. The wounded victim, also shot, was rushed to a local hospital but tragically succumbed to the injuries. The murder weapon—a single-shot .22 caliber rifle borrowed from his uncle—was found at the scene. Clark himself was missing, having fled the area. He was expected to manage the Social Credit campaign in the 1956 Saskatchewan general election but failed to appear without explanation. A massive search ensued, involving 32 RCMP officers on horseback and a team of tracking dogs. An aerial search by three Mounties in a Royal Canadian Air Force Otter eventually spotted Clark’s lifeless body lying near a dugout, approximately 600 yards from the farmhouse. He had taken his own life with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. Clark’s previous hospitalization for a nervous breakdown in 1954 added a tragic layer to this grim tale. John Etter Clark’s name remains etched in Alberta’s history, forever linked to one of the worst mass murders the province has ever witnessed. His promising political career was abruptly cut short by an unimaginable act of violence—a tragedy that continues to haunt those who remember his story.
1928 – Vincent Gigante – Also known as “The Chin,” Vincent Gigante was a prominent American mobster who held sway over the Genovese crime family in New York City from 1981 to 2005¹. Born on March 28, 1928, in New York City, Gigante initially pursued a career in professional boxing, participating in 25 matches between 1944 and 1947. However, his path took a darker turn when he became a Mafia enforcer for the Luciano crime family, which eventually evolved into the Genovese family. Three of his brothers—Mario, Pasquale, and Ralph—also followed him into the criminal underworld, while his brother Louis chose a different path, becoming a Catholic priest. Gigante’s criminal journey was marked by significant events. He was the triggerman in the failed assassination attempt on Frank Costello, a longtime boss of the Luciano family, in 1957. Later, in 1959, he received a seven-year prison sentence for drug trafficking. During his incarceration, he shared a cell with Vito Genovese, a rival of Costello, and eventually rose to the position of caporegime within the Genovese family. Vincent Gigante ascended to power during the 1960s and 1970s, and in 1981, he officially became the boss of the Genovese crime family. While Anthony “Fat Tony” Salerno served as the front boss during the early 1980s, Gigante wielded immense influence. He even orchestrated the failed murder attempt on John Gotti, the boss of the Gambino crime family, in 1986. However, what truly set Gigante apart was his long-running charade of insanity. Dubbed “The Oddfather” and “The Enigma in the Bathrobe” by the media, he roamed the streets of Greenwich Village clad in a bathrobe and slippers, muttering incoherently to himself. This elaborate act was an effort to evade prosecution. Despite being indicted on federal racketeering charges in 1990, he was deemed mentally unfit to stand trial. Eventually, in 1997, he faced trial, was convicted of racketeering and conspiracy, and sentenced to 12 years in prison. In 2003, he pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice, admitting that his supposed insanity was a clever ploy to avoid legal consequences. Vincent Gigante’s life remains a captivating tale of cunning, power, and the thin line between sanity and deception.
1948 – Karl Lee Myers – An American murderer, rapist, and suspected serial killer, Karl Lee Myers’ life was marked by a dark and violent trajectory, leaving a chilling legacy that continues to intrigue and horrify. Born in Picher, Oklahoma, Myers faced adversity from the very beginning. Organic brain damage afflicted him since birth, and a childhood car accident resulted in a blood clot that plagued him with severe headaches and nervousness throughout his life. His mother, a possessive woman who dictated his decisions, introduced various abusive boyfriends into their home, subjecting young Karl to emotional and physical torment. Illiteracy and learning difficulties further isolated him, leading to bullying by peers and even teachers. Myers’ criminal journey began in 1965 with a grand larceny charge in Miami, Oklahoma. Subsequent arrests followed, including a 1969 burglary charge in Sedalia, Missouri, and a 1976 sexual assault on a 12-year-old girl in his hometown. He later assaulted a 13-year-old relative, leading to a 20-year prison sentence for rape¹. In 1977, he encountered 23-year-old Ellen Deann Rowden at a bar in Picher. Rowden mysteriously vanished, and her skeletal remains were discovered near Treece, Kansas, in 1978. Blunt-force trauma to the head caused her demise. Myers implicated two individuals in Rowden’s murder: her brother-in-law, Leslie, and a friend named Imogene Butterbaugh. He claimed they killed Rowden and slept near her body on the night of her disappearance. Despite Myers’ testimony, doubts about his reliability arose, prompting further analysis of his statements. The case remained unresolved, and Myers escaped conviction for Rowden’s death. However, Myers’ sinister path continued. In 1993 and 1996, he committed two separate murders in Oklahoma, leading to his conviction and subsequent death sentences. Yet, his criminal history extended further. In 1978, he was acquitted of a killing in Kansas, and he remained a suspect in several other unsolved murders. His life played out on death row, where he ultimately died behind bars in 2012, escaping execution. Karl Lee Myers remains a haunting figure—a man whose twisted actions left scars on the lives of those he harmed and a legacy that continues to intrigue criminologists and storytellers alike.
1949 – John Arthur Spenkelink – An American convicted murderer, John Arthur Spenkelink’s life and tragic fate are intertwined with the complexities of capital punishment in the United States. Born in Le Mars, Iowa, Spenkelink’s criminal journey began when he escaped from a California prison in 1972, serving a five-years to life sentence for armed robbery. His reckless spree of violence and theft led him to cross paths with another man, Joseph J. Szymankiewicz. On February 4, 1973, the 24-year-old Spenkelink picked up hitchhiker Joseph, and the two checked into a hotel in Tallahassee, Florida, apparently on a robbery spree. A heated argument escalated into tragedy, with Spenkelink leaving the hotel room only to return, shooting Szymankiewicz in the back and brutally beating him with a hatchet. Less than a week later, on February 9, Spenkelink was arrested in Buena Park, California, suspected of armed robbery, with the murder weapon found in an apartment belonging to one of Spenkelink’s associates. During his trial, Spenkelink claimed self-defense, stating that Szymankiewicz had stolen his money, forced him to play Russian roulette, and sexually assaulted him. Despite this claim, Spenkelink turned down a plea bargain for second-degree murder, opting for a first-degree murder conviction and a death sentence in 1973. His co-defendant, Frank Brumm, was acquitted. The legal landscape surrounding capital punishment was in flux during this time. In the landmark 1972 case Furman v. Georgia, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down death penalty schemes across states, deeming them unfairly applied. Spenkelink’s case became a national cause célèbre, encompassing broader debates about the morality of the death penalty. Governor Reubin Askew signed Spenkelink’s first death warrant in 1977. His successor, Governor Bob Graham, signed a second death warrant in 1979. Spenkelink continued to appeal, earning stays from both the U.S. Court of Appeals and the U.S. Supreme Court. However, these stays were eventually overturned. Spenkelink became the first man involuntarily executed since capital punishment’s reinstatement in the U.S. in 1976. (Note: Gary Gilmore, who insisted on his execution, was the first.) John Arthur Spenkelink remains a poignant figure in the annals of American justice—a man whose life and death were entangled in the moral complexities of the death penalty. His execution at Florida State Prison on May 25, 1979, marked a somber chapter in the nation’s history, leaving behind questions that continue to echo through time. May his story serve as a reminder of the weighty decisions society faces when it grapples with matters of life and death.
1956 – Andrzej Kunowski – Known as “The Beast of Mława,” Andrzej Kunowski was a Polish murderer, serial rapist, and suspected serial killer with a criminal history spanning both Poland and England, where he committed heinous acts that terrorized communities. Andrzej Kunowski was born in Warsaw, Poland, on March 29, 1956. His father worked as a respected builder, while his mother was a homemaker. Despite his parents’ decency, Andrzej exhibited troubling behavior from a young age. He struggled at school, had difficulty connecting with peers, and even stole money from his parents’ savings book before running away from home. Kunowski’s criminal record began early. At just 17 years old, he faced his first arrest for rape. The court sentenced him to a mere three years, believing he wouldn’t reoffend. However, this optimism proved misplaced. Kunowski continued his criminal activities, including theft, and soon escalated to more violent offenses. Working as an ambulance driver, Kunowski preyed upon young girls and women in towns around Warsaw. His modus operandi was chilling: he would spot women picking strawberries by the roadside, stop the ambulance, drag his victims into nearby bushes, and brutally rape them. In one instance, he lured a victim by asking for directions, only to assault her when she leaned into the car. In 1980, Kunowski faced trial in Ciechanów, charged with attempted murder, 25 counts of rape, robberies, and escape from custody. The prosecutor, Waldemar Smardzewski, expressed concern that Kunowski’s crimes would escalate if he were released. Despite this, the court sentenced him to 15 years. He was later paroled in 1991 due to good behavior. Illegally relocating to England, Kunowski continued his reign of terror. In 1997, he murdered 12-year-old Macedonian girl Katerina Koneva in West London. His actions shocked the community, and he was subsequently found guilty of her murder at the Old Bailey in 2004. He received a whole life order for this heinous crime. Kunowski remains the prime suspect in the disappearances of three girls between 1992 and 2000 in Poland. Despite never being charged for these cases, the haunting possibility of his involvement lingers. Andrzej Kunowski spent his final years detained at HM Prison Frankland in England until he died in 2009.
1959 – Charles Laverne Singleton – An American convicted murderer, Charles Singleton, experienced a life marked by tragedy, legal battles, and the consequences of a heinous crime. He was born on March 29, 1959, in Hamburg, Arkansas. Singleton’s life took a dark turn on June 1, 1979, at the age of 20, when he brutally attacked 19-year-old Mary Lou York, the owner of York’s Grocery Store in Hamburg. Mary Lou York suffered two stab wounds to her neck during the assault and, despite being rushed to the hospital, succumbed to severe blood loss. Witnesses, including a relative of Singleton, identified him as the assailant. Even in her dying moments, York pointed to Singleton as her attacker. Singleton’s journey through the legal system was complex. After his conviction, he was diagnosed with schizophrenia, a mental illness that played a significant role in subsequent legal battles. In 1986, the Supreme Court of the United States deemed the execution of mentally insane individuals unconstitutional. Singleton’s case gained global attention because he was considered legally sane only when medicated. His attorney argued against artificially altering his mental state with medication to make him fit for execution. Despite numerous appeals and stays, Singleton’s execution was scheduled for January 6, 2004. His final words, written rather than spoken, were filled with religious references. In those moments before his death, he identified himself as “Charles Singleton, anointed by God, Victor Ra Hakim.”
1959 – Allen R. Holman Sr – was a man whose life took a dark and tragic turn, leading him down a path of violence and ultimately to death row. Born on an unspecified date, Holman’s existence became forever intertwined with the events that unfolded on July 28, 1997, a fateful day that would alter the course of many lives. Holman’s crime was one of extreme brutality. On that summer day, in the parking lot of a convenience store, he committed an act that would forever stain his name: he shot and killed his wife, Linda Holman. The couple had been married for seven years, but their union ended horrifyingly. Linda’s desperate plea for help echoed through the phone lines as she called 911, her voice trembling with fear: “Help me! My husband is trying to kill me!” The chilling call lasted for five agonizing minutes as Linda raced away from her husband, their cars hurtling at speeds exceeding 85 mph. But escape eluded her. Holman caught up with Linda, parked next to her car, and fired two fatal shots into her back using a pump-action shotgun. The violence didn’t end there. Returning home, Holman engaged in a gunfight with the police before turning the weapon on himself, shooting himself in the stomach. His actions left a trail of devastation and shattered lives. Holman’s trial resulted in a guilty plea, and he was sentenced to death on April 7, 1998. His former lawyers, however, sought to delay the execution. They requested a psychiatric evaluation to assess Holman’s mental competency and urged the judge to wait until legal challenges over lethal injection procedures in North Carolina were resolved. Holman himself expressed a desire for closure, writing to a judge, “I’m requesting the state of North Carolina’s justice system to do their jobs of seeing my sentence carried out to the fullest!!” Despite his appeals, Holman’s stepdaughter, Deborah Hartless, hoped for his execution. She was surprised by his consideration of the family members affected by his actions. “He wants to give some kind of peace to the families,” she said. But the legal process continued, and Holman remained on death row. In a twist of fate, Allen R. Holman Sr. did not meet his end through execution. Instead, he died of natural causes on April 19, 2023, at an outside medical center. His life, marked by violence and tragedy, came to a close, leaving behind a legacy of pain and unanswered questions.
1960 – Michael Ray Lambrix – a convicted murderer, spent 33 years on Florida’s death row following a tragic and violent incident in 1983. On February 5, 1983, Lambrix and his roommate, Frances Smith, invited Clarence Moore (also known as Lawrence Lamberson) and Aleisha Bryant to their trailer after encountering them at a tavern. What began as a normal dinner turned dark when Lambrix took Moore outside for twenty minutes before asking Bryant to join them. Forty-five minutes later, Lambrix returned alone with a bloody shirt and a tire iron, confessing to Smith that he had killed Moore and Bryant. Moore died from a blow to the head, while Bryant was strangled. Smith assisted Lambrix in cleaning up the crime scene, burying the bodies, and disposing of evidence. On March 29, 1983, Cary Michael Lambrix was indicted on two counts of first-degree murder for the deaths of Aleisha Bryant and Clarence Moore. Following a trial, on February 27, 1984, the jury delivered guilty verdicts on all counts. Subsequently, on February 29, 1984, the jury recommended the imposition of the death penalty, voting 10-2 for Bryant and 8-4 for Moore. On March 22, 1984, Lambrix was officially sentenced to death for the murder of Aleisha Bryant. Following his conviction, Lambrix pursued legal avenues to challenge the outcome of his trial. In 1984, he initiated a direct appeal to the Florida Supreme Court, highlighting errors during the guilt phase of his proceedings. Despite his efforts, the court upheld Lambrix’s convictions and sentence in 1986. Undeterred, Lambrix continued to seek legal recourse by filing a petition for a Writ of Certiorari with the United States Supreme Court in 1987. However, these appeals proved unsuccessful. Despite three rescheduled execution dates, Michael Ray Lambrix met his fate on October 5, 2017, when he was executed at the Florida State Prison near Starke. His case stands as a solemn reminder of the intricate and weighty nature of capital punishment.
1962 – John Martin Crawford – a Canadian serial killer, left a chilling mark on the annals of criminal history with heinous crimes that claimed the lives of four women in Saskatchewan and Alberta between 1981 and 1992. Born in Steinbach, Manitoba, Crawford’s life took a dark turn as he embarked on a spree of violence. In 1981, Crawford was sentenced to ten years imprisonment for manslaughter in the killing of Mary Jane Serloin in Lethbridge, Alberta. However, his release in 1989 proved to be a grave mistake, as he continued his malevolent path, preying on vulnerable women. The haunting saga unfolded further in 1992 when Crawford sexually assaulted Theresa Kematch, leading to her arrest. Crawford, however, remained elusive until October 1994 when a hunter stumbled upon the remains of several women concealed in dense brush outside Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. These victims, their lives brutally cut short, would forever be etched into the collective memory. In 1996, justice finally caught up with Crawford as he was convicted of one count of first-degree murder and two counts of second-degree murder for the deaths of three Indigenous women: Eva Taysup, Shelley Napope, and Calinda Waterhen. The court handed down three concurrent life sentences. The tragedy of these lives lost was compounded by the indifference of society, particularly because Crawford’s victims were Aboriginal women. Warren Goulding’s book, “Just Another Indian: A Serial Killer and Canada’s Indifference,” delves into the chilling details of Crawford’s crimes, shedding light on how crimes against marginalized minorities often go unnoticed by an uncaring society at large. Crawford’s case serves as a stark reminder of the need for empathy, vigilance, and justice for all, regardless of their background. On December 16, 2020, John Martin Crawford’s dark chapter came to an end. He passed away while serving his sentence at the Regional Psychiatric Centre in Saskatoon. The cause of his death remains undisclosed, leaving behind a legacy of horror and sorrow.
1965 – John Loveman Reese – became a convicted murderer whose heinous actions left a lasting impact. Reese’s life took a dark turn when he committed a brutal crime that would forever alter the lives of those involved. Reese’s victim was Sharlene Austin, a woman he knew through his sometimes girlfriend, Jackie Grier. The relationship between Austin and Grier was close, fueling Reese’s jealousy and animosity toward Austin. His feelings escalated to a point where he harbored a deep dislike for her. On January 28, 1992, tragedy struck. Sharlene Austin was found raped and murdered in her bedroom. Concerned about her well-being, Grier and a neighbor entered Austin’s home, only to discover her lifeless body covered with a sheet. The police investigation revealed a damning piece of evidence: a print of Reese’s hand on the waterbed in Austin’s bedroom. When questioned by the police, Reese confessed to the crime. His chilling account unfolded: He had broken into Austin’s home, waiting for her to return. When she finally arrived, he hid in the closet out of fear. As Austin fell asleep on the couch, Reese emerged from his hiding place. Panic set in when she started moving, and he dragged her into the bedroom. There, he raped her and used an electrical cord to strangle her. Reese faced trial for his horrific actions, indicted on several charges, including first-degree murder, sexual battery, burglary with assault, and kidnapping. Ultimately, he was found guilty on counts I, II, and III. The jury, by an 8 to 4 majority, voted for the death penalty. On June 25, 1993, John Loveman Reese was sentenced to death for the murder of Sharlene Austin. His case went through various legal proceedings, including appeals and resentencing. Despite these efforts, the gravity of his crime remained unchanged.
1967 – Ricky Kasso – he became a notorious figure in the dark annals of true crime. His chilling monikers, The Acid King and The Say You Love Satan Killer, evoke a sense of malevolence that lingers even decades after his gruesome deeds. Kasso’s life was marked by tragedy, rebellion, and a descent into darkness. Growing up in Huntington, New York, he was the son of a local high school history teacher and football coach. However, Kasso’s path diverged sharply from the conventional. He was a high school dropout, a restless soul who found solace not in textbooks but in the intoxicating haze of drugs. The Acid King was no stranger to the streets. Often cast out of his home, he roamed the suburban landscape of Northport, New York, seeking refuge in the woods or the homes of friends. His existence was a precarious balance between survival and self-destruction. Marijuana, hashish, LSD, and purple “microdots” (which he believed to be mescaline but were likely low-grade LSD) fueled his days and nights. Kasso’s life intersected with a loosely knit group known as the “Knights of the Black Circle,” who dealt marijuana. However, sensationalized reports inaccurately labeled them as a “satanic cult.” Occult ceremonies, including a Walpurgis Night celebration at the infamous Amityville Horror house, added to the mystique surrounding Kasso. In the year leading up to the fateful event, Kasso’s behavior grew increasingly erratic. He was arrested for desecrating a colonial-era grave in a local cemetery. Hospitalized for pneumonia, his parents sought involuntary psychiatric care, but the psychiatrists deemed him antisocial yet not psychotic or violently dangerous. June 19, 1984, forever etched in infamy, witnessed Kasso’s darkest act. Under the influence of what they believed to be mescaline (but was likely LSD), Kasso and three friends ventured into the Aztakea Woods of Northport. There, he brutally murdered his 17-year-old friend Gary Lauwers. The alleged torture and occult aspects of the killing sent shockwaves through New York City and the nation during the height of the “Satanic panic.” Kasso’s love for heavy metal bands like Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, and Ozzy Osbourne added another layer of intrigue. His AC/DC T-shirt became an emblem of his twisted psyche. The murder trial exposed the raw underbelly of suburban existence, where darkness lurked beneath manicured lawns and picket fences. On July 7, 1984, Kasso’s life ended by suicide, a tragic epilogue to a tale of malevolence and madness. The legend of The Acid King persists—a chilling reminder that evil can thrive even in the most ordinary corners of our world.
1970 – Arthur Lee Burton – An American rapist and murderer who attacked and attempted to rape Nancy Adleman, who was out jogging, whilst Burton was attacking her, Adleman heard someone and started to scream, to keep her quiet, Burton strangled her with her own shoelaces
1973 – Edward George McGregor – Between 1990 and 2006, a notorious American serial killer struck fear into the Greater Houston area through a series of gruesome crimes involving the rape and murder of four women. Let’s delve into the chilling details of these dark deeds. On April 17, 1990, Kim Louis Wildman made a frantic 911 call, claiming to have been stabbed multiple times in her Missouri City home. Despite officers finding her nude body on the kitchen floor, the prime suspect, 17-year-old Edward McGregor, remained elusive, and the case went cold. Four years later, on May 25, 1994, Edwina Latriss Barnum’s neighbors discovered her lifeless body when her apartment door was found slightly ajar. The killer had used a belt to strangle her, and investigators suspected he had followed her home from work. The case remained unsolved until 2004 when Edwina’s mother urged the Houston Police Department to reopen it. The horror continued on August 5, 2005, when Danielle Subjects’ roommates returned home to find her raped and murdered. The only evidence left behind by the killer was his DNA. On February 4, 2006, Mandy Rubin became another victim when friends visiting her noticed an unlocked door. The elusive killer was finally connected to the crimes through DNA evidence. In 2010, Edward George McGregor was convicted for one of these murders and sentenced to life imprisonment. His reign of terror had come to an end, a testament to the relentless pursuit of justice by law enforcement, aided by advances in forensic science that allowed closure for the victims and their grieving families. The chilling details of these cases underscore the persistence of investigators in the face of cold leads and years of unresolved mysteries.
1974 – Paul Wayne Slater – Also known by the state of Texas as number 999208, Slater is an African American male inmate currently on Texas death row, born on March 29, 1974. Slater’s life took a dark turn when he became embroiled in a violent incident leading to his conviction for capital murder. In 1995, he was involved in a drug deal that turned deadly on July 19, resulting in the deaths of two men, Roddriek Martin and Glenn Andrews, during an escalated disagreement. Despite substantial evidence suggesting self-defense, Slater faced serious charges and a long legal battle. His legal struggles included ineffective representation, with his attorney failing to investigate crucial facts and the judge denying his right to present the case as self-defense. In 1996, Slater was sentenced to death, highlighting flaws in the justice system. He maintains that he never intended to take lives but was forced to defend himself. Over the years, Slater’s case has seen legal battles, appeals, and challenges, with points of contention including his brain damage, low IQ, and the circumstances surrounding the incident. Despite efforts to challenge his sentence, the courts have upheld his death penalty.
1980 – China P. Arnold – is an American woman whose life took a tragic and horrifying turn, becoming infamous for a heinous crime that shook the nation. Her name is forever linked to the heartbreaking story of her 28-day-old daughter, Paris Talley. In the quiet city of Dayton, Ohio, where dreams and hopes intertwine, China’s life took a dark twist with a history marked by brushes with the law, including convictions for abduction in 2000 and forgery in 2002. However, it was her actions in late August 2005 that would etch her name into the annals of infamy. The tragic events unfolded within the confines of a housing complex where China lived with her boyfriend, Terrell Talley, and their children. On that fateful day, an argument erupted—a tempest fueled by questions about Paris’s paternity. The tension escalated, and anger morphed into violence. In a moment of unimaginable horror, China placed her 28-day-old daughter Paris into a microwave oven and turned it on. The tiny infant endured unimaginable suffering as her temperature soared to 107–108°F (41.7–42.2°C). Within seconds, Paris’s life was extinguished by the intense heat, leaving no external burns but inflicting high-heat internal injuries. The next day, China and Terrell discovered their precious baby girl cold, stiff, and marked by burn scars. Rushing her to the hospital, they received the devastating confirmation: Paris was gone. Medical experts confirmed the unthinkable—she had died from the microwave’s heat. China, in her intoxicated state, had committed an unspeakable act of violence against her own flesh and blood. The legal system grappled with the enormity of the crime. China faced trial, and her defense attorney, John Paul Rion, argued that she had been so intoxicated that she blacked out during the tragedy. The courtroom drama unfolded, revealing the chilling details of Paris’s final moments. The first trial ended in a mistrial due to conflicting testimonies, but the second trial brought clarity. Witnesses testified, and the truth emerged: China Arnold was found guilty of aggravated murder. On September 8, 2008, she received a sentence that would echo through eternity—life in prison without the possibility of parole. However, the legal saga continued. In 2010, the Ohio Second District Court of Appeals reversed China’s conviction, citing prosecutorial misconduct and errors in witness testimony. A third trial ensued, and on May 13, 2011, she was once again found guilty of aggravated murder. Despite arguments that the evidence pointed equally to Terrell Talley, the jury remained unmoved. China Arnold’s fate was sealed—another life sentence, this time reaffirmed by both the jury and the judge. China P. Arnold’s name now stands as a chilling reminder of the darkest corners of human nature. Her actions forever scarred the memory of a tiny, innocent life lost too soon—a life that Paris Talley never had the chance to fully live. Behind prison walls, China grapples with her past, while the world grapples with the haunting legacy of her crime.
1989 – Taylor M. Marks – An American woman experienced a dark and tragic turn in her life. Born in Ohio, she grew up in the quiet suburbs, seemingly leading an ordinary life. However, behind the facade of normalcy lay a chilling secret that would shatter her family forever. The woman attended Copley High School, where she excelled academically and was involved in various extracurricular activities. Her intelligence and charm masked the turmoil brewing within her. Little did anyone suspect that she harbored a deep resentment toward her mother, Kristie E. Marks. In 2009, the unthinkable happened. The woman orchestrated a plot to end her mother’s life. The details are chilling: on October 24, 2009, Kristie Marks was brutally stabbed to death in a parking lot at an apartment building in Akron, Ohio. The motive? Inheritance. The woman sought to inherit her mother’s wealth, and her twisted plan involved eliminating the one person who stood in her way. The investigation revealed that she was the driving force behind the murder. She manipulated others, pulling the strings from the shadows. Her intelligence and cunning allowed her to evade suspicion until the truth unraveled. The pain inflicted on her family was immeasurable, as they grappled with the loss of both Kristie and the woman. In court, she faced the consequences of her actions. She tearfully pleaded guilty to aggravated murder, sealing her fate. The judge sentenced her to life in prison without parole. The weight of her decision hung heavy in the courtroom, affecting not only the woman but also those who loved her. Life behind bars has not softened her resolve. She denies being the mastermind behind her mother’s murder, yet she claims to know who was. Her prison interview reveals a complex and troubled individual, forever marked by her heinous crime. The tragedy of Kristie Marks’ death echoes through the years, a reminder of the darkness that can lurk within even the most ordinary lives.
Deaths
Charles Nicoletti
1917 – Leo George O’Donnell – was a 26-year-old Sergeant in the Royal Army Medical Corps. He was convicted of the murder of Lieutenant William F Watterton, who was the father of O’Donnell’s girlfriend. The crime took place in Aldershot on January 1, 1917. On the day of the murder, O’Donnell had proposed to Watterton’s daughter. Watterton was found dead in a trench with head injuries and his pockets had been searched. It was believed that O’Donnell had robbed him to obtain a pass key to the quartermaster’s office, where patients’ valuables were kept, intending to steal them. O’Donnell was known to have visited the hospital on the night of the murder, asking to be let into the store and claiming that Watterton had sent him. However, his request was denied. Watterton had a key to a safe known to contain hundreds of pounds, but the key was missing the following day. O’Donnell visited his girlfriend at Watterton’s bungalow around 11:30 pm that night. He told her that Watterton had gone out earlier on an urgent appointment, which aroused her suspicion as it implied that O’Donnell had been to the bungalow earlier. While in jail, O’Donnell offered a friend £250 if he would provide him with an alibi. He claimed that the real killer was a blackmailer who was blackmailing Watterton over a relationship he had with a Spanish girl. O’Donnell was executed by hanging on March 29, 1917, in Winchester. The execution was carried out by John Ellis.
1977 – Charles Nicoletti – also known as “Chuckie the Typewriter”, was an American mobster of the Chicago Outfit. He was born on December 3, 1916, in Chicago, Illinois. Nicoletti was the second son of two sons to Philip Nicoletti and Grace Alessi, Italian immigrants from Santa Caterina Villarmosa, Sicily, Italy. His family lived in Near West Side, Chicago. At the age of 12, Nicoletti shot his father four times, allegedly in self-defense. His father, who was a drunkard, attacked Charles and pursued him with a knife. Nicoletti ran into his father’s room, where a gun was kept in a bureau drawer. Two days later, Nicoletti was exonerated by the Cook County coroner. He dropped out of school in eighth grade and soon joined the Forty-Two Gang. At the time, the gang’s members included such future Outfit members as Sam Giancana, Sam “Teets” Battaglia, Lew Farrell, “Mad Sam” DeStefano, and William “Willie Potatoes” Daddano. By the late 1950s, along with Felix Alderisio, Nicoletti was one of the most feared triggermen in Chicago. Several times Nicoletti and Alderisio teamed up for a “hit”, including one occasion on which they were discovered by police sitting on the floor in a car later dubbed “the hitmobile” by reporters. This car had special compartments where guns were stored and special switches to turn lights off at certain times. In 1962, Nicoletti took part in an infamous torture case. He, Alderisio, Carlo “Duke” Olandese, and Tony “the Ant” Spilotro, had kidnapped 24-year-old Billy McCarthy, a thug who had killed two Outfit associates with the help of Jimmy Miraglia, also age 24. The three men started torturing McCarthy to find out the name of his accomplice. Spilotro had placed the man’s head in an industrial vise and started squeezing it tighter and tighter. Suddenly, McCarthy’s eye popped completely out of its socket. At that point, he revealed his accomplice’s name; then both men were killed. Nicoletti served as a hitman under boss Sam Giancana before and after Giancana’s rise and fall. He was murdered on March 29, 1977, in Northlake, Illinois, due to multiple gunshot wounds.
2006 – Kevin Christopher Kincy – was born on January 31, 1968, in Houston, Texas. He was involved in a crime that took place on March 26, 1993, when he and his cousin, Charlotte Kincy, went to the Houston home of Jerome Harville, a former boyfriend of Charlotte’s. Kincy shot Harville with a .25-caliber semiautomatic pistol and stabbed him several times. They then stole some of Harville’s possessions, including stereo equipment, appliances, furniture, and a Ruger 9mm pistol, and fled in Harville’s car. Nine days after the murder, an FBI agent spotted Kincy driving the victim’s Honda Accord on Interstate 10. After a high-speed chase, Kincy was apprehended in Louisiana. Evidence against Kincy included the .25-caliber pistol used to shoot Harville, a .25-caliber magazine, and three gloves with raised dots on the fingertips found in Kincy’s apartment, which matched the dot pattern left on Harville’s furniture. Kincy was put on trial, where witnesses testified against him, including Terkisha Dawson, who stated that Kincy and Charlotte had planned the robbery and murder, and Keenan Mosley, another cousin of Kincy’s, who testified that Kincy had displayed the stolen gun and mentioned having worn gloves during the crime. Kincy was convicted for the robbery and murder of Jerome Harville. He was executed by lethal injection on March 29, 2006, in Huntsville, Texas.
2007 – Roy Lee Pippin – was born on April 30, 1955, in Houston, Texas, USA. He owned and operated an air conditioning business in southwest Houston. Pippin was a member of a Colombian drug ring and admitted to his role in laundering drugs and money. He expressed remorse for his actions, stating, “I ask forgiveness for all of the poison I helped bring into the U.S., the country I love.” In 1994, Pippin was involved in the kidnappings and fatal shootings of Miami cousins Elmer and Fabio Buitrago. While he admitted to helping kidnap the men, he maintained that he was not present when they were killed. The victims were suspected of pocketing almost $2 million from the drug operation. Despite his claims of innocence in the killings, Pippin was convicted and sentenced to death. He was executed on March 29, 2007, at the age of 51, in the Walls Correctional Facility at Huntsville, Texas. In his final moments, Pippin continued to proclaim his innocence, stating, “I charge each and every one of you with the murder of an innocent man. You will answer to your maker when you find out you have executed an innocent man.” His final words were, “Jesus, take me home.”
2011 – Eric John King – was a convicted criminal who was executed in Arizona. He was found guilty of killing two people during a robbery at a Phoenix convenience store in 1989. The robbery reportedly netted only $72. King was executed on March 29, 2011, despite last-minute appeals by his attorneys who raised questions about the lethal injection drugs used and claimed to have “substantial doubt” about his guilt. King had maintained his innocence since his arrest and his lawyers fought until the last minute to get his sentence reversed or delayed. They argued that the two key witnesses who testified against King at his trial had changed their stories, that no physical evidence existed, and that the surveillance video used at trial was of extremely poor quality. Before the convenience store incident, King had been released from a seven-year prison term on kidnapping and sexual assault charges. His execution was the first in the state since October and one of the last expected to use a three-drug lethal injection cocktail. At the time of his execution, King was 47 years old. He reportedly smiled broadly at someone he knew and waved with a hand covered by a sheet when the death chamber’s curtains opened. When asked if he had any last words, he calmly and firmly said, “No.” He was declared dead at 10:22 a.m. on the day of his execution.
2012 – Yasuaki Uwabe – was born in 1964 in Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan. His parents, Masakazu and Keiko Uwabe, were both teachers. He was a good student until high school, and after initially failing his university entrance exam, he passed it on his second attempt. In 1989, he graduated from the Faculty of Engineering at Kyushu University with a degree in architecture. After graduation, he worked for an architecture firm in Fukuoka until 1991, when he received his certification as a first-class architect. He then worked for another architectural firm but quit due to his social phobias. In 1993, he got married and opened his architectural firm, but quit in 1997 due to his social phobias. As he ran out of money, he received a loan to buy a light truck and began work in the delivery service industry, a job that did not require interpersonal relationships. At the same time, he began to increasingly isolate himself and got a divorce in June 1999. His delivery company was successful until September of that year, when his truck was lost in a flood due to Typhoon Bart, and his loan was recalled. He asked his parents to pay for the loan but they refused. On September 29, 1999, Uwabe drove a rented car into Shimonoseki Station and then stabbed passers-by at random, killing five people and injuring 10 others, before being arrested at the scene. He was sentenced to death in 2002 and executed in 2012. After his arrest, Uwabe said “No matter what I did, it never turned out well, which made me bitter toward society”. He also stated that he decided to use a car in order to “kill more people”.
Events
Emmett Till
1961 – After a 4 1/2 year trial Nelson Mandela is acquitted of treason in Pretoria
2009 – 45-year-old Robert Stewart killed a nurse and 7 elderly patients at a nursing home
2021 – The trial begins for Derek Chauvin regarding the death of George Floyd
2022 – US President Joe Biden signs the Emmet Till anti-lynching act into law, making lynching a federal hate crime after over 200 attempts to pass similar legislation since 1900