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
Tag: 1960s
4-year-old dies after being stomped on by stepmother
August 11, 1961 Mascoutah, Illinois 4-year-old Michele LeAnn Morgan dies from injuries inflicted by her stepmother Michele had been beaten and stomped on by her stepmother, Mary Morgan, after Michele supposedly lied about something which the St. Louis Post-Dispatch (Dec. 5, 1996) reported was “so trivial [Michele’s brother] doesn’t remember what it was.” As Michele’s… Continue reading 4-year-old dies after being stomped on by stepmother
FLW: “French fries”
Famous Last Words James Donald French Oklahoma August 10, 1966 “How’s this for a headline? ‘French fries.’” (attributed) French was a convicted murderer, serving time for killing a hitchhiker in 1958 when he strangled his cellmate with a shoelace in 1961. He was executed in the electric chair, reportedly “without flinching or begging.” French’s last… Continue reading FLW: “French fries”
The Tate murders
August 9, 1969 Los Angeles, California Members of the Manson Family murder actress Sharon Tate in her home, three of her house guests, and a teenager who happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time Charles Manson had been an aspiring musician and attempted to get a recording contract with producer Terry… Continue reading The Tate murders
Woman executed for hiring men to kill her pregnant daughter-in-law
August 8, 1962 San Quentin, California Elizabeth Duncan becomes the fourth and last woman to be executed in California Duncan was executed for hiring two men to kill her pregnant daughter-in-law. Her son Frank had met nurse Olga Kupczyk while she cared for Elizabeth following an attempted suicide. The two married in secret; when Frank… Continue reading Woman executed for hiring men to kill her pregnant daughter-in-law
