Historical Events tagged with "murder"

Turns out history loves a label—battles, breakthroughs, and the occasional disaster, all neatly tagged for your browsing pleasure. Because sometimes you just need every weird invention in one place.

Crime & Law

Murder of Hilkka Saarinen in Krootila

December 23rd, 1960 64 years ago

Hilkka Saarinen, formerly Pylkkänen, was murdered in Krootila, Kokemäki, Finland, in an unsettling crime that shocked the local community. Her body was discovered in an unusual manner, which later became known as the 'oven homicide.' This term emerged due to the peculiar circumstances surrounding her death, where the investigation revealed chilling details of the crime. Various motives were explored regarding her murder, leading to an extensive police investigation that drew significant public attention and media coverage.

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Crime & Law

Murder of the Clutter Family in Kansas

November 15th, 1959 65 years ago

Four members of the Clutter family were brutally murdered in their home near Holcomb, Kansas, by Perry Smith and Richard Hickock. The crime was methodically planned, inspired by the promise of money from a supposed safe in the Clutter household. However, the murders shocked the small community and garnered national attention due to the senselessness and brutality of the act, marking a significant moment in true crime history.

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Crime & Law

John Bodkin Adams Arrested for Patient Deaths

December 19th, 1956 68 years ago

Irish-born physician John Bodkin Adams was arrested in connection with the suspicious deaths of over 160 patients, raising significant public concern and media attention. The cases of these patients, many of whom were elderly and in hospice care, were deemed unusual by authorities. Adams became notable for his practices, which included administering large doses of drugs to terminally ill patients. Throughout the investigation and trial, Adams maintained his innocence, claiming that he acted ethically in the interest of his patients and provided them with necessary relief. Ultimately, Adams was convicted on much lesser charges.

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Crime & Law

Discovery of Elizabeth Short's corpse

January 15th, 1947 78 years ago

The remains of Elizabeth Short, known as the Black Dahlia, were found in a vacant lot in Los Angeles. Her body was severed at the waist and extensively mutilated, stirring public intrigue and media frenzy. Short had been reported missing prior to the discovery of her body, and her untimely death quickly became a sensational story that captivated the nation, leading to one of the most infamous unsolved murder cases in American history.

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Crime & Law

Mass Execution of Stutthof Inmates at Baltic Sea

January 31st, 1945 80 years ago

About 3,000 inmates from the Stutthof concentration camp were forcibly marched to the Baltic Sea near Palmnicken. Under orders from the Nazis, many were executed in a mass shooting as the camp was being evacuated in the face of advancing Soviet troops. This brutal act aimed to eliminate witnesses to the atrocities committed in the camp.

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Crime & Law

Rayleigh Bath Chair Murder Investigation

July 23rd, 1943 81 years ago

In Rayleigh, Essex, the brutal murder of a local resident revealed an unexpected connection to a crime wave across the region. The victim was found in a bath chair, raising immediate concerns about safety and community integrity. The investigation quickly drew public attention, as the police sought to unravel a complex web of motives and suspects linked to the crime. Local residents were shocked, sparking numerous rumors and a heightened sense of vigilance in the area amidst the growing fear.

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Crime & Law

Final Execution by Guillotine in France

June 17th, 1939 85 years ago

Eugen Weidmann was publicly executed by guillotine in Versailles, outside Saint-Pierre prison. This event marked the end of public executions in France and was attended by a sizable crowd. Weidmann, convicted of multiple murders, had made headlines for his gruesome crimes, leading to significant public interest. The execution was performed by the authorities in a spectacle intended to serve as a deterrent to crime.

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Crime & Law

Walter Liggett Murdered in Chicago Gang Conflict

December 9th, 1935 89 years ago

Walter Liggett, a prominent newspaper editor and muckraker, was murdered in a gangland shooting in Chicago. Known for his investigative reporting on organized crime and corruption, Liggett faced numerous threats due to his vocal opposition to mob violence and political corruption. His death marked a significant moment in the tensions surrounding organized crime in the United States during the Great Depression, drawing attention to the dangers faced by journalists exposing powerful interests.

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Crime & Law

Guilty Verdict in Lindbergh Baby Case

February 13th, 1935 90 years ago

Bruno Hauptmann was found guilty of kidnapping and murdering the Lindbergh baby, Charles Augustus Lindbergh Jr., the son of famed aviator Charles Lindbergh and his wife Anne Morrow Lindbergh. The two-year-long saga captivated the nation, starting with the child's abduction from the family's home in Hopewell, New Jersey, in 1932. The trial revealed extensive evidence, including physical evidence from the scene linked to Hauptmann, leading to a swift decision by the jury in Flemington. The verdict was delivered after just over 13 hours of deliberation.

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