January 13, 2004Wakefield, West Yorkshire, EnglandHarold Shipman hangs himself in prison Shipman graduated medical school in 1970. In 1975, Shipman was fired from his practice after he forged pain medication prescriptions for his patients. Though he was fired, Shipman did not lose his license and was instead given a fine. By the late 1990s undertakers…
Teen fatally shoots mother; the press blames the killing on jazz music, white bread, and movies featuring kissing
January 12, 1925San Francisco, California16-year-old Dorothy Ellingson shoots her mother Anna to death following an argument Anna confronted Dorothy regarding her delinquent behavior, including her habitual patronage of speakeasies — illegal bars established during the Prohibition of the United Stated. An argument broke out culminating with Dorothy shooting her mother and taking $45 (approx. $660…
Man kills wife, infant son, and step-daughter in 2-day spree
January 11, 1920Simmondley Moor, Glossop, Derbyshire, EnglandAlbert Burrows kills his wife Hannah Calladine and their infant son before throwing their bodies down a mine shaft; Burrows kills his step-daughter the next day Burrows, described in the Nashville Tennessean rather unflatteringly (as was the custom in newspapers covering a murder trial during that age) as “a…
Man’s body found weeks after his murder, hidden at his place of employment
January 10, 1929 Southampton, England The body of Vivian Messiter (pictured) is found 10 weeks after his murder Messiter had been the manager of the Wolfe Oil Company when he suddenly disappeared on October 30, 1928. When it became clear he would not be returning to work, the company hired a new manager. The new…
Woman fatally stabbed by son in her home
January 9, 2018 Downers Grove, Illinois Patricia James (pictured) is fatally stabbed in her home On the afternoon of January 9, neighbors called police upon seeing a man — later identified as Patricia’s son Kevin (23) — wandering in the street near Patricia’s home. Police responding to the scene found Kevin covered in blood in…
