August 15, 2010 Boston, Massachusetts Philip Hayes Markoff, known as the “Craigslist Killer,” kills himself in prison Markoff had been arrested for the armed robberies of two women and the murder of a third, all of whom he came in contact with through Craigslist. The women offered services of a personal nature: one offered escort… Continue reading Man accused of robbing or killing women he met on Craigslist kills self in prison
Teenager steals car, accidentally kills man after hitting man’s car
August 15, 1958 Chicago, Illinois A 14-year-old accidentally kills a man after stealing a car The teen had come across an empty vehicle and impulsively stole it for a joyride. The boy, James L. Moore, struck another vehicle belonging to Sebastian Wiedemer. When Wiedemer exited his car to assess the damage, Moore reversed the stolen… Continue reading Teenager steals car, accidentally kills man after hitting man’s car
Man murders nine members of family, sparing a single child
August 15, 1967 Shell Lake, Saskatchewan, Canada Victor Ernest Hoffman murders nine members of the Peterson family in a random attack Hoffman had been diagnosed with schizophrenia and was released from a mental health facility — where he was given electric shock therapy and medication — a few weeks before the murders. Hoffman claimed during… Continue reading Man murders nine members of family, sparing a single child
Vintage crime scene: Victim of suicide
August 15, 1953 University Park, Los Angeles, California An unidentified man is found after appearing to have hanged himself
Unidentified woman found murdered, grave erected in her memory
August 15, 1821 Bedfordshire, England An unidentified woman is found with her throat sliced The well-dressed woman’s body was found under a tree in Blackgrove Wood, “her throat cut in two places, and otherwise much mangled and bruised” (Jackson’s Oxford Journal. August 25, 1821). An impromptu stretcher was fashioned from a door to bring her… Continue reading Unidentified woman found murdered, grave erected in her memory
