February 13, 1979Cedartown, GeorgiaRhonda Joan Tanner (8) is kidnapped, assaulted, and killed by her uncle On the afternoon of February 13, Tanner’s mother waited for her daughter to arrive home from school, though the child was not on the school bus. Her mother called the school to ask about Tanner’s whereabouts and was informed a…
Man hanged for assault and murder of 4-year-old
February 13, 1915 Chicago, Illinois Roswell Smith (27) is hanged for the murder of 4-year-old Hazel Weinstein On July 7, 1914, Smith lured Weinstein into a vacant building where he sexually assaulted her and either smothered or strangled her to silence her cries. Smith then carried Weinstein’s body into a house “with the pose of…
Man executed by hanging, the noose held by jail officials when the rope proved to be too long
February 13, 1906 St. Paul, Minnesota Convicted killer William Williams is hanged during an execution so botched the state never hangs another inmate again Williams was convicted of killing 16-year-old Johnny Keller and his mother, Mrs. F. S. Keller. Williams and Johnny had befriended each other two years before the murders while both were hospitalized…