March 4, 1944 Ossining, New York American mobster and head of Murder, Inc. Louis “Lepke” Buchalter is executed Lepke began his life of crime as a teenager, which was when he met Jacob “Gurrah” Shapiro. The duo soon established an extortion business. Eventually the two formed a larger gang with Jacob “Little Augie” Orgen and… Continue reading Head of Murder, Inc. executed
Tag: 1940s
Unsolved: Gangster killed in car by machine gun
February 17, 1943 St. Louis, Missouri Politician, plumber, and gangster William “Dinty” Colbeck is killed by machine gun fire Colbeck led a group of gangsters called “Egan’s Rats,” specializing in robberies, bootlegging, and pin-ball (at the time, pinball was illegal and used as a form of gambling). The group was founded by Constable William T.… Continue reading Unsolved: Gangster killed in car by machine gun
Five children are killed or disappear after house fire
December 24, 1945 Fayetteville, West Virginia Five children from the Sodder family die in or disappear following a house fire On Christmas Eve, George and Jennie Sodder awoke to find their home engulfed in flames. They brought their 2-year-old daughter Sylvia, whose crib was in her parents’ room, from the house, and three other children… Continue reading Five children are killed or disappear after house fire
Actress kills self rather than seek an abortion when the child’s father refuses to marry her
December 14, 1944 Los Angeles, California Actress Lupe Vélez dies from an intentional overdose of sleeping pills Vélez was four months pregnant at the time of her suicide. She left behind two suicide notes, one to her former lover and father of her child Harald Ramond, and the to her secretary and close friend Beulah… Continue reading Actress kills self rather than seek an abortion when the child’s father refuses to marry her
Flight 19’s disappearance in the Bermuda Triangle
December 5, 1945 Bermuda Triangle A group of five torpedo bombers known collectively as Flight 19 disappear without a trace The bombers were returning from a navigation training flight to Fort Lauderdale, Florida when United States Navy Lieutenant Charles Carroll Taylor informed base his compasses were not functional and he did not know his location.… Continue reading Flight 19’s disappearance in the Bermuda Triangle
