April in Cold Case History
45 documented cases began in April, listed by the day of the incident or disappearance (for a series, the first incident). 23 are still unsolved. Further down, 266 other dated developments recorded in April: arrests, verdicts, identifications and discoveries. For today's date, see on this day.
April 1
- 1982Matthew Isaac Doe (Northfield Baby Boy Doe)No ConvictionOn April 1, 1982, schoolchildren waiting for a bus in Northfield, Vermont, found a deceased newborn boy inside a plastic garbage…
- 1988April TinsleyConvictionApril Tinsley, an 8-year-old girl, was abducted, raped, and murdered in Fort Wayne, Indiana, in 1988, in a case made more…
- 2014Lisanne Froon & Kris KremersUnsolvedTwo Dutch tourists disappeared while hiking near Boquete, Panama. Their backpack was found weeks later with phones, camera, and…
- 2019RJR Maintenance MurdersConvictionFour employees of RJR Maintenance and Management in Mandan, North Dakota, were shot and stabbed to death on April 1, 2019.
April 3
- 1994Heidi AllenConvictionEighteen-year-old Heidi Allen disappeared from the D&W Convenience Store in New Haven, New York, where she was working alone on…
- 2004Alonzo BrooksUnsolvedAlonzo Brooks, a 23-year-old man, disappeared after a party at a rural farmhouse near La Cygne, Kansas, in April 2004; his body…
April 4
- 1991Angela HammondUnsolvedAngela 'Angie' Hammond, a 20-year-old pregnant woman, was abducted from a pay phone in Clinton, Missouri in April 1991 while…
- 1997Anthony MartinezConvictionTen-year-old Anthony Martinez was abducted while playing outside his Beaumont, California, home in 1997 and found murdered in…
- 2015Walter ScottConvictionWalter Scott, 50, was shot in the back and killed while running from North Charleston police officer Michael Slager after a…
April 6
- 1986Anthonette Christine CayeditoUnsolvedNine-year-old Anthonette Cayedito vanished from her family's apartment in Gallup, New Mexico, in the early hours of April 6…
April 7
- 1975David Williams & Steven AndersonUnsolvedDavid Williams, 12, and his roommate Steven Anderson, 17, disappeared on April 7, 1975, from the New Lisbon State School, a…
April 8
- 1911Elsie ParoubekUnsolvedElsie Paroubek, a Chicago girl of four or five, disappeared on April 8, 1911, while walking to her aunt's house.
- 1992I-70 Killer VictimsUnsolvedSix store workers were shot dead at five small businesses near Interstate 70 in Indiana, Kansas and Missouri between April 8 and…
- 2016Ingrid LyneConvictionForty-year-old nurse Ingrid Lyne was killed in her Renton, Washington, home on April 8, 2016, after a date.
April 10
- 1997Judy SmithUnsolvedJudy Smith, a 50-year-old nurse from Newton, Massachusetts, vanished from a Philadelphia hotel in April 1997.
- 1998Diane AugatUnsolvedDiane Augat, 40, walked away from a home in Pasco County, Florida, on April 10, 1998 and has not been found.
- 2001Mary, Bobby & Brittney FisherWantedMary Fisher and her children Brittney and Bobby were found dead after their Scottsdale, Arizona home exploded on April 10, 2001.
April 11
- 1981Barbara Louise CottonUnsolvedFifteen-year-old Barbara Louise Cotton vanished on the evening of April 11, 1981, after leaving a restaurant on Main Street in…
- 1981Keddie Cabin MurdersUnsolvedGlenna "Sue" Sharp, her son John, and his friend Dana Wingate were bound, stabbed, and bludgeoned in Cabin 28 at the Keddie…
- 2001Branson PerryUnsolvedBranson Kayne Perry, 20, vanished from his family's home in Skidmore, Missouri, on the afternoon of April 11, 2001, after…
April 13
- 2011Holly BoboConvictionTwenty-year-old nursing student Holly Bobo was abducted from her home in Darden, Tennessee, on April 13, 2011.
- 2012Brittany KillgoreConvictionTwenty-two-year-old Marine wife Brittany Killgore disappeared from Fallbrook, California, on April 13, 2012, after being picked…
April 15
- 1992Lisa ZiegertConvictionLisa Ziegert, 24, who worked at a middle school, was abducted from her evening job at a card shop in Agawam, Massachusetts, on…
- 2004Patrice EndresUnsolvedPatrice Endres, a 38-year-old salon owner, vanished from her Cumming, Georgia, business within a roughly 13-minute window in 2004.
- 2005Ray GricarUnsolvedRay Gricar, the longtime district attorney of Centre County, Pennsylvania, vanished on April 15, 2005, after telling his…
April 16
- 1988Randy LeachUnsolvedRandy Wayne Leach, a 17-year-old high school senior from Linwood, Kansas, disappeared in the early morning hours of April 16…
- 2022Orsolya GaalConvictionOrsolya Gaal, 51, was stabbed more than 50 times in her Forest Hills, Queens home on April 16, 2022, and her body was left in a…
April 18
- 2016Terri 'Missy' BeversUnsolvedFitness instructor Missy Bevers was found dead in a church where she was preparing for an early morning boot camp class.
April 19
- 1995Oklahoma City Bombing VictimsConvictionThe bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building killed 168 people and injured hundreds more.
- 2015Freddie GrayNo ConvictionFreddie Gray died of spinal cord injuries sustained while in Baltimore police custody.
April 20
- 1989Patricia Bernadette MeehanUnsolvedPatricia Meehan, 37, walked away on foot into the Montana prairie after causing a head-on car crash near Circle on April 20…
- 1990Christopher KerzeUnsolvedChristopher Kerze, 17, has been missing since April 20, 1990, when he left his family's home in Eagan, Minnesota, in the family…
April 21
- 1975Myrna OpsahlConvictionMyrna Opsahl, 42, was fatally shot on April 21, 1975, while depositing church collection money during a Symbionese Liberation…
April 22
- 2020Vanessa GuillenSolvedArmy specialist Vanessa Guillen was bludgeoned to death by fellow soldier Aaron Robinson at Fort Hood.
April 24
- 1891Carrie BrownUnsolvedCarrie Brown, known on the Bowery as "Old Shakespeare," was found strangled and mutilated in Room 31 of the East River Hotel in…
- 1981Marcia King (Buckskin Girl)IdentifiedMarcia King, 21, of Arkansas, was found strangled beside Greenlee Road near Troy, Ohio, on April 24, 1981.
April 25
- 2002Jahi Marques TurnerNo ConvictionTwo-year-old Jahi Turner was reported missing from a San Diego park by his stepfather in April 2002 and was never found.
- 2009Brittanee DrexelConvictionSeventeen-year-old Brittanee Drexel disappeared from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina during spring break in 2009.
April 26
- 1993Sophie SergieConvictionSophie Sergie, 20, of Pitkas Point, Alaska, was found sexually assaulted, stabbed and shot in a dormitory bathroom at the…
- 1999Jill DandoUnsolvedBBC presenter Jill Dando, 37, was shot once in the head outside her home in Fulham, London, on April 26, 1999.
- 2008Josef Fritzl CaseConvictionJosef Fritzl imprisoned his daughter Elisabeth in a cellar for 24 years, fathering seven children with her.
April 29
- 2003Tabitha TudersUnsolvedTabitha Danielle Tuders, 13, vanished on the morning of April 29, 2003, while walking roughly one block from her East Nashville…
April 30
- 2003Tamara GreeneUnsolvedTamara Greene, 27, a mother of three who danced under the name "Strawberry," was shot in her car in a drive-by shooting at…
- 2007Lisa StebicUnsolvedLisa Stebic, a 37-year-old mother of two, was last seen at her home in Plainfield, Illinois, on the evening of April 30, 2007…
- 2019Maleah DavisConvictionFour-year-old Maleah Davis was reported missing in Houston on May 4, 2019, by her mother's former fiance, Derion Vence, who said…
Other developments recorded in April
Show 266 dated developments
April 1
- 1922Hinterkaifeck Farm VictimsCoffee salesmen call at the farm and find nobody.
- 1940Amelia EarhartBones are discovered on Nikumaroro (formerly Gardner Island); a 1941 examination by D.W.
- 1949Somerton ManThe 'Tamám Shud' scrap and the Rubaiyat with coded letters are discovered.
- 1977Nicole MorinNicole Louise Morin is born.
- 1984Christopher Wilder VictimsMichelle Korfman, 17, disappears in Las Vegas.
- 2006Brian ShafferA security camera records Shaffer outside the Ugly Tuna Saloona; he then walks off-camera.
- 2006Brian ShafferThe bar closes; no footage ever shows Shaffer leaving the building.
- 2019Maura MurrayInvestigators excavate the basement of the A-frame house near the crash site and find nothing conclusive.
- 2019Texas Killing Fields VictimsGenetic-genealogy DNA analysis identifies the two 'Jane/Janet Doe' victims as Audrey Lee Cook, 30, and Donna…
- 2021Jaylen FleerSentenced to 12 years.
- 2022Sandra BirchmoreFarwell resigns from the Stoughton police department.
- 2024Maggie & Paul MurdaughMurdaugh is sentenced to 40 years in federal prison for financial crimes.
- 2026Texas Killing Fields VictimsJames Dolphs Elmore Jr., 61, is charged via Galveston County grand jury indictment with manslaughter in…
April 2
- 1932Charles Lindbergh Jr.Intermediary Dr. John F. Condon ("Jafsie") delivers $50,000 in ransom, partly in recorded gold certificates…
- 1973The Alphabet Murders (Double Initial Murders)Wanda Walkowicz, 11, vanishes after an errand; her body is found near Webster, New York.
- 2004Ariel Castro VictimsGina DeJesus, 14, disappears while walking home from school.
- 2008Tristan BrübachThe case is featured on the ZDF programme Aktenzeichen XY ... ungelöst, according to German Wikipedia.
- 2012Israel Keyes VictimsFBI divers recover Koenig's body from Matanuska Lake.
- 2013Joanna Dennehy VictimsRobin Bereza and John Rogers are stabbed in Hereford and survive; Dennehy and Gary Stretch are arrested.
- 2017Macin SmithThe case is featured on Investigation Discovery's Disappeared, according to Wikipedia.
- 2019Nipsey HussleEric R. Holder Jr. is detained by sheriff's deputies in Bellflower after a public tip and taken into LAPD…
- 2020Daniel PearlThe Sindh High Court overturns Sheikh's murder conviction and death sentence and acquits the co-accused…
- 2024Ruby GarciaDonald Trump refers to the case at a campaign event in Grand Rapids and says he spoke with Garcia's family…
- 2026Gannon StauchColorado Court of Appeals reverses the convictions over a biased juror and orders a new trial.
April 3
- 1936Charles Lindbergh Jr.Hauptmann is executed in the electric chair at the New Jersey State Prison, still professing his innocence.
- 1967Richard Speck VictimsSpeck's murder trial opens in Peoria, Illinois, after a change of venue due to pretrial publicity.
- 1974Patty Hearst KidnappingHearst declares on an audiotape that she has joined the SLA and taken the name "Tania."
- 2006Brian ShafferShaffer misses a planned flight to Miami and is reported missing to Columbus police.
- 2006Jessie FosterPeter Todd tells police Foster left the apartment for a dentist appointment and that he found her gone with…
- 2013Joanna Dennehy VictimsThe bodies of Slaboszewski and Chapman are found near Thorney.
- 2019Hart FamilyCoroner's inquest opens in Willits, California.
- 2020Holly MadduxEinhorn dies of natural causes at SCI Laurel Highlands, aged 79.
- 2024Heidi AllenFamily holds a vigil in New Haven marking 30 years since the disappearance.
April 4
- 1922Hinterkaifeck Farm VictimsNeighbours Lorenz Schlittenbauer, Michael Pöll and Jakob Sigl discover the bodies.
- 1974BTK Killer VictimsKathryn Bright, 21, is fatally stabbed; her brother Kevin is shot but survives.
- 1974Otero Family MurdersKathryn Bright is killed in Wichita, a crime later attributed to the same offender.
- 1984Christopher Wilder VictimsTina Marie Risico, 16, is abducted in Torrance, California; she is held for nine days and survives.
- 1984Texas Killing Fields VictimsFye's skull is discovered off Calder Road after a dog carries it to a nearby home.
- 1988April TinsleyHer body is found in a DeKalb County ditch; she had been raped and strangled.
- 2011Valerie MackAdditional remains of the same woman are found along Ocean Parkway near Gilgo Beach.
- 2016Kitty GenoveseThe New York Times, in his obituary, describes its 1964 article as flawed.
- 2018Rebecca ZahauA civil jury finds Adam Shacknai liable for Zahau's death by 9-3 votes and awards about $5.17 million; he…
- 2019Hart FamilyInquest jury unanimously finds the adults died by suicide and the six children at the hands of another.
- 2025Asha DegreeInvestigators search additional properties tied to the case.
April 5
- 1922Hinterkaifeck Farm VictimsCourt physician Johann Baptist Aumüller performs the autopsies at the farm.
- 1991Angela HammondAngela's abandoned car is found near the pay phone; a search and investigation begin.
- 2013Jill MeagherBayley pleads guilty to rape and murder in the Supreme Court of Victoria.
- 2017Peter Boy KemaPeter Kema Sr. pleads guilty to manslaughter and hindering prosecution.
- 2023Cleo SmithKelly is sentenced in Perth District Court to 13 years and six months in prison.
April 6
- 1970Marilyn SheppardSam Sheppard dies at age 46; the reported cause is liver failure.
- 1970Mary Jo KopechneA grand jury returns no indictments.
- 1978Oklahoma Girl Scout Murders (Lori Farmer, Michele Guse, Doris Milner)Hart is captured in Cherokee County after nearly ten months on the run.
- 2009Sandra CantuHer body is found in a suitcase recovered from an irrigation pond on a dairy farm near Tracy.
- 2011The Notorious B.I.G. (Christopher Wallace)The FBI releases hundreds of heavily redacted pages from its case file under the Freedom of Information Act.
- 2020Anthonette Christine CayeditoThe FBI, Navajo Nation and Gallup police issue a 34th-anniversary appeal for information.
- 2021Anthonette Christine CayeditoThe FBI marks the 35th anniversary with a renewed request for public help.
- 2023XXXTentacionBoatwright, Williams and Newsome are sentenced to life in prison.
April 7
- 1972D.B. CooperRichard McCoy Jr. carries out a similar parachute hijacking; he is arrested and convicted, and is later…
- 1978Kimberly LeachKimberly's remains are found in a shed near Suwannee River State Park, west of Lake City.
- 1998Macin SmithMacin Smith is born.
- 2013Katelyn MarkhamSkeletal remains later identified as Markham's are found in Cedar Grove, Indiana; the death is ruled a…
- 2015Walter ScottSlager is charged with murder and dismissed from the North Charleston Police Department after the video…
- 2017Freddie GrayA federal judge approves a DOJ consent decree requiring sweeping reforms of the Baltimore Police Department.
- 2026Tyre NicholsSixth Circuit dismisses the defendants' cross-appeals; the government's appeal of the new-trial order…
April 8
- 1912Virginia Christian CaseChristian's trial begins before an all-white, all-male jury.
- 1922Hinterkaifeck Farm VictimsThe victims are buried at Waidhofen cemetery.
- 1930Judge Joseph Force CraterGovernor Franklin D. Roosevelt appoints Crater to the New York Supreme Court.
- 1964Jack the Stripper VictimsIrene Lockwood's body is found on the riverbank at Duke's Meadows, Chiswick.
- 2009Israel Keyes VictimsDebra Feldman, 49, is last seen at her home in Hackensack, New Jersey; the FBI later says it believes she…
- 2014Lisanne Froon & Kris Kremers90 mysterious nighttime photos are taken on Lisanne's camera.
- 2021Pamela ButlerHe is sentenced to 40 years in prison in Virginia for the 1989 killing.
- 2022Susan NegersmithRosado is arrested and charged with second-degree sexual assault; he is not charged in her death.
- 2026Long Island Serial Killer VictimsHeuermann pleads guilty to all seven charged murders and admits in court to killing an eighth woman, Karen…
- 2026Patrick Warren Sr.The family files a notice of appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.
- 2026Shannan GilbertRex Heuermann pleads guilty to seven Gilgo Beach murders; sentenced June 17, 2026 to seven consecutive life…
- 2026Valerie MackHeuermann pleads guilty to seven murders, including Mack's.
April 9
- 1912Virginia Christian CaseThe jury convicts Christian of first-degree murder after 23 minutes of deliberation; she is sentenced to…
- 1997Judy SmithJudy travels to Philadelphia with Jeffrey for a conference and checks into the DoubleTree hotel.
- 2001Mary, Bobby & Brittney FisherRobert Fisher is recorded by a surveillance camera withdrawing cash from an ATM, the last confirmed sighting…
- 2005Rachel & Lillian EntwistleLillian Rose Entwistle is born, according to Wikipedia.
- 2011Shawn HornbeckDevlin is stabbed by another inmate at Crossroads Correctional Center and survives.
- 2016Ingrid LyneLyne fails to pick up her daughters and is reported missing.
- 2018Marcia King (Buckskin Girl)Identity confirmed as Marcia L. King through a relative's DNA.
- 2018Sergei & Yulia Skripal PoisoningYulia Skripal is discharged from hospital.
- 2026Dylan RedwineThe Colorado Court of Appeals affirms a restitution order in the case.
April 10
- 1984Christopher Wilder VictimsDawnette Wilt, 16, is abducted in Indiana; she is later stabbed and left in New York State but survives.
- 1984Night Stalker VictimsNine-year-old Mei Leung is raped and murdered in the basement of a San Francisco apartment building; the…
- 1988Colonial Parkway MurdersRichard Keith Call, 20, and Cassandra Hailey, 18, disappear after a party; Call's car is recovered at the…
- 2003Branson PerryJack Wayne Rogers is arrested in an unrelated case; investigators later examine whether he is connected to…
- 2009Sandra CantuPolice arrest neighbor Melissa Huckaby, 28, in connection with the killing (date per Wikipedia).
- 2014Bradford Bishop FamilyThe FBI places Bishop on its Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list and releases an age-progressed bust; reward of…
- 2016Ingrid LyneHuman remains later identified as Lyne are discovered in a recycling bin in Seattle, about 10 miles from her…
- 2019Shele CovlinCovlin is sentenced to 25 years to life in prison; he maintains his innocence and pursues appeals.
- 2024Nicole Brown Simpson & Ron GoldmanSimpson dies of cancer in Las Vegas at age 76.
- 2025Deanna CreminMiddlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan is scheduled to update the council; the case remains open.
- 2025Jennifer PanSupreme Court of Canada upholds the order for a new trial on the first-degree murder counts; attempted…
- 2026Katelin AkensJames Branton is arrested on child sex-offense charges in which Akens and her sister are the alleged…
- 2026Richard Glossip (case)District Judge Natalie Mai denies a defense motion to enforce a claimed 2023 plea agreement.
April 11
- 1974Wayne Nance VictimsDonna Pounds, 39, is shot dead in her home near Missoula; Nance is later suspected.
- 1989Mark KilroyPolice discover the ranch and the remains of 15 victims including Kilroy.
- 1992I-70 Killer VictimsPatricia Magers, 32, and Patricia Smith, 23, are shot dead at a bridal shop in Wichita, Kansas.
- 1997Sara Anne WoodJudge Patrick Kirk sentences Lent to 25 years to life in prison.
- 1998Diane AugatHer mother reports her missing; a witness reports seeing her walking north on U.S. 19 in Hudson.
- 2016Ingrid LyneJohn Robert Charlton is arrested.
April 12
- 1922Virginia RappeArbuckle is acquitted; the jury issues a written statement in his favor.
- 1972Kathleen McCormack DurstKathleen McCormack and Robert Durst marry in Manhattan.
- 1974Barbara GibbonsA jury convicts Reilly of first-degree manslaughter.
- 1981Barbara Louise CottonHer mother, Louise Cotton, files a missing person report with the Williston Police Department.
- 1981Keddie Cabin MurdersSheila Sharp, returning home, discovers the three bodies; three younger children in an adjacent bedroom are…
- 1985Vicki Lynne HoskinsonA hiker finds Vicki's remains in the desert northwest of Tucson; identification is made through dental…
- 1990List Family MurdersA New Jersey jury convicts List of five counts of first-degree murder; he receives five consecutive life…
- 2000Marilyn SheppardA Cuyahoga County civil jury rejects the Sheppard estate's wrongful-imprisonment claim against the State of…
- 2015Freddie GrayFreddie Gray, 25, is arrested by Baltimore police and transported in a police van without being secured by a…
- 2021Florence OkpealukOkpealuk's NamUs missing person case (MP73491) is created.
- 2021Karla BrownThe Illinois Appellate Court, Fifth District, allows his due process claim to proceed.
- 2026Branson PerryPerry's brother announces a $100,000 reward on the 25th anniversary of the disappearance.
April 13
- 1981Barbara Louise CottonLouise tells police Barbara may be in Scobey, Montana, with a young man from Williston; Montana authorities…
- 1984Christopher Wilder VictimsWilder dies of a gunshot wound during a struggle with New Hampshire state troopers in Colebrook; a trooper…
- 1991Mr. Cruel VictimsKarmein Chan, 13, is abducted from her home in Templestowe by an intruder armed with a knife.
- 1998Diane AugatA call from Augat asking for help is recorded on her mother's answering machine, according to the Charley…
- 2003Laci PetersonThe remains of a male fetus wash ashore along San Francisco Bay; a woman's partial remains are found nearby…
- 2010Haleigh CummingsDeputies and divers begin a multi-day search of the St. Johns River south of Satsuma.
- 2016Ingrid LyneCharlton is charged with first-degree murder and auto theft and held on $5 million bail.
- 2021Kristin SmartPaul Flores is arrested for murder and his father, Ruben Flores, is arrested as an accessory after the fact.
- 2021Saronno Hospital Patient Deaths (Leonardo Cazzaniga case)The Court of Assizes of Appeal in Milan upholds the life sentence, confirming ten convictions and acquitting…
- 2023Shanquella RobinsonU.S. federal prosecutors announce they will not bring charges.
- 2024Dau MabilFishermen find a body in the Pearl River in Lawrence County, about 60 miles south of Jackson.
April 14
- 1946Texarkana Moonlight MurdersPaul Martin and Betty Jo Booker are found shot dead near Spring Lake Park.
- 1997Tsutomu Miyazaki VictimsThe Tokyo District Court sentences Miyazaki to death.
- 2025Rachel MorinA jury convicts Martinez-Hernandez of first-degree murder, first-degree rape, a third-degree sex offence and…
April 15
- 1941Beverly PottsBeverly Rose Potts is born in Cleveland.
- 1967Richard Speck VictimsA jury convicts Speck of all eight murders after brief deliberation; he is sentenced to death.
- 1974Patty Hearst KidnappingHearst is filmed carrying a carbine during the SLA's armed robbery of the Hibernia Bank in San Francisco.
- 1980Ben McDanielBen McDaniel is born in Memphis, Tennessee.
- 1986The Connecticut River Valley KillerLynda Moore, 36, is stabbed to death inside her home in Saxtons River, Vermont.
- 1988Randy LeachLeach leaves his Linwood home at about 6:30 p.m. in his mother's gray 1985 Dodge 600 sedan and, after…
- 1998Diane AugatThe severed tip of her right middle finger is found beside U.S. 19 in Hudson and later matched by fingerprint.
- 2004Brianna MaitlandPolice search a house in Berkshire, Vermont, after a tip; no sign of Maitland is found.
- 2005Lori HackingMark Hacking pleads guilty to first-degree felony murder.
- 2010Haleigh CummingsSheriff Jeff Hardy says investigators believe Haleigh is most likely dead and that the case is a homicide…
- 2015Laquan McDonaldThe Chicago City Council approves a $5 million settlement with McDonald's family.
- 2016Ingrid LyneAdditional remains are found by a garbage collector.
- 2021Kara KopetskyA jury convicts Yust of voluntary manslaughter (Kopetsky) and second-degree murder (Runions).
- 2024Halyna Hutchins (Rust trial)Gutierrez-Reed is sentenced to 18 months in prison.
April 16
- 1970Mared Malarik & Karen Ferrell (WVU Coed Murders)National Guard members find the two students' decapitated bodies in makeshift graves in a wooded area about…
- 1981Clifford Olson VictimsColleen Daignault, 13, disappears in Surrey; Daryn Johnsrude, 16, disappears days later.
- 1992Lisa ZiegertThe shop's day clerk finds the store open and unattended and reports her missing.
- 1992Paul Bernardo & Karla Homolka VictimsKristen French kidnapped and murdered.
- 2005Ray GricarHis red Mini Cooper is found abandoned near the Susquehanna River in Lewisburg, with his cell phone inside…
- 2007The Notorious B.I.G. (Christopher Wallace)The Wallace family files a renewed federal wrongful-death lawsuit against the City of Los Angeles.
- 2010Amber DuboisGardner pleads guilty to the first-degree murders of both Amber Dubois and Chelsea King, plus a 2009 assault.
- 2010Chelsea KingGardner pleads guilty to the murder and rape of Chelsea King, the murder of Amber Dubois, and a separate…
- 2024Elijah VueJesse Vang pleads not guilty to felony chronic child neglect.
- 2026Katelin AkensA sheriff's office official tells the Fredericksburg Free Press that Branton is the primary suspect in the…
April 17
- 1969Robert F. Kennedy AssassinationSirhan is convicted of first-degree murder; he is sentenced to death later that month.
- 1974Ted Bundy Washington VictimsSusan Elaine Rancourt, 18, disappears in Ellensburg.
- 1977Son of Sam VictimsValentina Suriani and Alexander Esau are killed in the Bronx; a note signed 'Son of Sam' is left at the scene.
- 1981Barbara Louise CottonThe Williston Herald publishes a short notice that 15-year-old Barbara Cotton is missing.
- 2001Branson PerryPerry is reported missing.
- 2004Dru SjodinSjodin's body is found in a ravine near Crookston, Minnesota, ending a months-long search.
- 2007Cassie Jo StoddartA jury convicts Brian Draper.
- 2012Brittany KillgoreKillgore's body is found in a rural area near Lake Skinner in Riverside County.
- 2016Kyle FleischmannWRAL reports the case remains unsolved with a $50,000 reward on offer.
- 2016Terri 'Missy' BeversAmid severe weather forecasts, Bevers tells her Camp Gladiator students the next morning's class will be…
- 2023Darlene HulseWNDU reports that a partial male DNA profile has been recovered from Hulse's clothing and that the Marshall…
- 2023Michael Joseph VaughanThe charge against Sarah Wondra is dismissed without prejudice at the prosecutor's request, citing an Idaho…
- 2024Wendy JeromeJudge Alex Renzi sentences Williams to concurrent terms of 25 years to life in prison on each count.
April 18
- 1922Virginia RappeWill H. Hays bars Arbuckle from films; the ban is lifted in December 1922.
- 1976Jason Callahan ("Grateful Doe")Jason Patrick Callahan is born.
- 1984Lauren GiddingsLauren Teresa Giddings is born.
- 1990Joan WebsterSkeletal remains are found in a shallow grave off Chebacco Road in Hamilton, Massachusetts.
- 1997Blair AdamsThe case is featured on Unsolved Mysteries.
- 1999Anthonette Christine CayeditoAnthonette's mother, Penny Cayedito, dies (date per Wikipedia).
- 2000Robert Lee Yates VictimsYates is arrested and charged with the murder of Jennifer Joseph.
- 2002Bonny Lee BakleyBlake is arrested and charged with murder and solicitation of murder.
- 2003Girly Chew HossencofftHenning is sentenced.
- 2003Laci PetersonDNA confirms the remains are Laci and her unborn son Conner; Scott Peterson is arrested near La Jolla and…
- 2012Israel Keyes VictimsA federal indictment charging Keyes with kidnapping resulting in death is made public.
- 2016Ingrid LyneMore remains are recovered at a third location.
- 2017Etan PatzHernandez is sentenced to 25 years to life in prison.
- 2019Mallory BeachPaul Murdaugh is charged with three felony counts of boating under the influence; he pleads not guilty.
- 2023Terri 'Missy' BeversOn the seventh anniversary, police reaffirm the case is active and unsolved with no arrests.
- 2024Dau MabilOfficials confirm the body is Dau Mabil; Judge Dewayne Thomas issues a restraining order preventing release…
- 2024Steve Branch, Michael Moore & Christopher ByersThe Arkansas Supreme Court allows Echols to pursue further DNA testing of remaining evidence under state law.
- 2026Terri 'Missy' BeversOn the tenth anniversary, Midlothian police say the case remains active, report more than 3,000 tips…
April 19
- 1966Moors Murders VictimsThe trial opens at Chester Assizes.
- 1985Wah Mee Club MassacreTony Ng is convicted of 13 counts of first-degree robbery and assault but acquitted of murder.
- 1992Lisa ZiegertHer body is found in woods off Suffield Street, about four miles from the shop.
- 1997Anthony MartinezAnthony's body is found in Berdoo Canyon in the desert; he had been sexually assaulted and killed.
- 2000Oklahoma City Bombing VictimsThe Oklahoma City National Memorial is dedicated on the fifth anniversary of the bombing.
- 2022Suzanne MorphewDistrict Attorney Linda Stanley moves to dismiss the charges and a judge dismisses the case without…
- 2023Tyre NicholsNichols's family files a $550 million civil lawsuit.
April 20
- 1925Percy Fawcett ExpeditionFawcett, his son Jack, and Raleigh Rimmell depart Cuiabá, Brazil.
- 1994Grissom Family Murders (Danny Rolling Confession)Rolling is sentenced to death in Florida.
- 2001Mary, Bobby & Brittney FisherThe family's SUV and dog are found in the Tonto National Forest near Young, Arizona.
- 2011Michelle Moore-BoskoThe Fourth Circuit upholds the ruling vacating Tice's conviction.
- 2020Jeremy GuilloryThe U.S. Supreme Court denies Langley's petition for certiorari.
- 2021George FloydA Hennepin County jury convicts Derek Chauvin of second-degree murder, third-degree murder, and…
- 2021Walter ScottA judge declines to toss out Slager's 20-year sentence, upholding it after his appeal.
- 2023Lina Sardar KhilLina's father takes a polygraph examination at the FBI's San Antonio office.
April 21
- 1975Patty Hearst KidnappingThe SLA robs a Crocker National Bank branch in Carmichael, California; customer Myrna Opsahl is shot and…
- 1984Toni Gordon & Sheila Cummings (Charlotte Avenue Jane Does)The date James Shaffer later told detectives he picked up Sheila Cummings near Broadway and 4th Avenue North…
- 1990Christopher KerzeHis parents receive a farewell letter postmarked Duluth.
- 1992Latasha HarlinsA California appeals court upholds the sentence.
- 1995Oklahoma City Bombing VictimsMcVeigh is identified as the bombing suspect and formally charged; Terry Nichols surrenders to police in…
- 1995Waneta Hoyt ChildrenJury convicts Hoyt of five counts of second-degree murder.
- 2003Ariel Castro VictimsAmanda Berry, 16, goes missing the day before her 17th birthday.
- 2011Recy TaylorThe Alabama Legislature formally apologizes for the state's failure to prosecute.
- 2022Madeleine McCannPortuguese prosecutors announce that Brückner has been made an arguido; he is not charged.
- 2022Orsolya GaalPolice announce the arrest of David Bonola, 44, on charges including second-degree murder.
- 2026Katelin AkensAt a bond hearing Branton pleads not guilty and is denied bail; prosecutors say for the first time in court…
April 22
- 1985Jacqueline MartarellaA man searching for golf balls finds Martarella's nude body in high grass near the 17th hole of a golf…
- 1990Christopher KerzeThe van is found abandoned on Highway 38 north of Grand Rapids, Minnesota; searches of the area find nothing.
- 2008Penney SerraThe Connecticut Supreme Court affirms Grant's conviction on appeal.
- 2009Brittanee DrexelBrittanee Drexel, 17, travels from the Rochester, New York area to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, for spring…
- 2013April JonesDyfed-Powys Police announce the end of the search for April's remains.
- 2019Abigail Williams & Liberty GermanPolice release a revised suspect sketch and new video/audio guidance.
April 23
- 1891Carrie BrownCarrie Brown checks into the East River Hotel in Manhattan with an unidentified man.
- 1948Dorothy Jane ScottDorothy Jane Scott is born.
- 1971Alice CrimminsSecond trial ends with convictions for murder (Eddie) and manslaughter (Missy).
- 2025Tanya Jackson ("Peaches")Nassau County police announce that the woman is Tanya Denise Jackson and the child is her daughter, Tatiana…
April 24
- 1944Betty June Binnicker & Mary Emma ThamesStinney is tried, convicted and sentenced to death in a single day.
- 1964Jack the Stripper VictimsHelen Barthelemy's body is found in an alley in Brentford.
- 1975Carlene BrownJayleen Banker's remains are found outside Rawlins; her death from a skull fracture is ruled a homicide.
- 2008Denise Amber LeeThe Florida Legislature unanimously passes the Denise Amber Lee Act calling for improved 911 dispatcher…
- 2018Golden State Killer VictimsJoseph James DeAngelo, a 72-year-old former police officer, is arrested near Sacramento after being…
- 2019James Byrd Jr.King is executed by lethal injection in Huntsville, Texas.
April 25
- 1971The Freeway PhantomCarol Denise Spinks, 13, disappears while running an errand; her body is found May 1 beside I-295.
- 1984Robert Hansen VictimsRemains later known as 'Horseshoe Harriet' are found near Horseshoe Lake.
- 2002Rilya WilsonA DCF caseworker discovers Rilya has been missing for roughly 15 months, sparking a national scandal.
- 2006Girly Chew HossencofftThe New Mexico Supreme Court reverses Henning's perjury convictions and affirms her other convictions.
- 2007Teresa HalbachDassey is convicted of homicide, sexual assault, and corpse mutilation, and sentenced to life with parole…
- 2014Dulce Maria AlavezDulce Maria Alavez is born.
- 2016Tamir RiceThe City of Cleveland settles the Rice family's wrongful-death lawsuit for $6 million, with no admission of…
- 2018Golden State Killer VictimsProsecutors publicly announce murder charges against DeAngelo, identifying him as the Golden State Killer.
- 2022Yeardley LoveA civil wrongful-death trial against Huguely begins in Charlottesville.
- 2023Emmett TillCarolyn Bryant Donham dies at age 88.
April 26
- 1872William Desmond TaylorTaylor is born William Cunningham Deane-Tanner in Carlow, Ireland.
- 1990Joan WebsterDental records confirm the remains are Joan Webster's; her death is ruled a homicide by blunt-force trauma.
- 2009Brittanee DrexelLaw enforcement launches an intensive search along the Grand Strand after she is reported missing.
April 27
- 1992I-70 Killer VictimsMichael McCown, 40, is shot dead at a ceramics store in Terre Haute, Indiana.
- 1997Gianni VersaceJeffrey Trail, a former Navy officer, is beaten to death in Minneapolis, Minnesota — Cunanan's first known…
- 2015Freddie GrayAfter Gray's funeral, protests escalate into rioting, looting, and arson; a state of emergency is declared…
- 2021Amina and Sarah SaidHis son, Islam Said, who pleaded guilty to the same charges, is sentenced to 10 years in federal prison.
- 2026Jam Master JayJay Bryant pleads guilty to a firearm-related murder charge.
April 28
- 1982Dorothea Puente VictimsRuth Munroe, a business associate of Puente, dies of a codeine overdose; later considered one of Puente's…
- 2005Samantha RunnionAn Orange County jury convicts Avila of kidnapping, first-degree murder, and two counts of lewd and…
- 2007Kara KopetskyKopetsky reports to Belton police that Kylr Yust kidnapped her.
- 2008Nina ReiserA jury convicts Hans Reiser of first-degree murder, though no body has been found.
- 2011Jaycee DugardPhillip and Nancy Garrido plead guilty in El Dorado County Superior Court.
- 2026Laci PetersonA San Mateo County Superior Court judge denies the defense's habeas petition; Peterson's attorneys announce…
April 29
- 1986The Honolulu StranglerLinda Pesce, 36, disappears on her way to work; her body is later found on Sand Island, and the killings…
- 1992Latasha HarlinsRioting begins in Los Angeles after the verdicts in the Rodney King case; Du's store is later burned.
- 2002Wah Mee Club MassacreWillie Mak is resentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
- 2010Russell Williams VictimsWilliams is charged with 82 additional offences connected to break-ins in Ottawa, Belleville and Tweed.
- 2013April JonesTrial begins at Mold Crown Court.
- 2022Connie RidgewayWhite escapes from the Lauderdale County jail with the help of corrections official Vicky White.
- 2022Dawn Olanick (Princess Doe)The identification of Princess Doe as Dawn Olanick is confirmed, according to CBS News.
- 2023Tabitha TudersOn the 20th anniversary, Metro Nashville's Cold Case Unit says tips continue to come in and her family…
- 2024Jennifer ServoThe Abilene Reporter-News reports that detectives will seek charges through the district attorney; no…
- 2026Madeline KingsburyThe Minnesota Supreme Court affirms the convictions.
- 2026Tabitha TudersOn the 23rd anniversary, authorities reissue a plea for information; the FBI continues to offer a reward of…
April 30
- 2001Chandra LevyChandra Levy, a 24-year-old Federal Bureau of Prisons intern, is last known to have used her apartment…
- 2003Amber HagermanThe PROTECT Act is signed into law, establishing federal coordination and national standards for AMBER Alerts.
- 2007Kara KopetskyA Cass County court issues an order of protection against Yust; it is served on May 1.
- 2018Emma WalkerGaul's trial begins in Knox County Criminal Court, according to Wikipedia.