February in Cold Case History
71 documented cases began in February, listed by the day of the incident or disappearance (for a series, the first incident). 32 are still unsolved. Further down, 251 other dated developments recorded in February: arrests, verdicts, identifications and discoveries. For today's date, see on this day.
February 1
- 1922William Desmond TaylorUnsolvedFilm director William Desmond Taylor, 49, was shot in the back at his bungalow in the Alvarado Court Apartments in Los Angeles…
- 1995Richey EdwardsUnsolvedManic Street Preachers lyricist and guitarist Richey Edwards, 27, left the Embassy Hotel in London on February 1, 1995, the day…
- 2002Daniel PearlNo ConvictionWall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl was kidnapped in Karachi, Pakistan, on January 23, 2002, and murdered.
- 2002Danielle van DamConvictionSeven-year-old Danielle van Dam was abducted from her Sabre Springs home on the night of February 1-2, 2002, and murdered by…
- 2004Carlie BruciaConvictionEleven-year-old Carlie Brucia was abducted from a car wash in Sarasota on Super Bowl Sunday while walking home.
- 2012Israel Keyes VictimsPartially SolvedIsrael Keyes confessed to killing Samantha Koenig, 18, abducted in Anchorage on February 1, 2012, and Bill and Lorraine Currier…
- 2021Sandra BirchmorePending TrialSandra Birchmore, 23, was found dead in her Canton, Massachusetts, apartment on February 4, 2021, and the state medical examiner…
February 2
- 1964Jack the Stripper VictimsUnsolvedBetween February 1964 and February 1965, the bodies of six women who worked as prostitutes were found undressed in or near the…
- 2009The West Mesa Murders (West Mesa Bone Collector)UnsolvedIn February 2009, the buried remains of 11 women and one unborn child were discovered on Albuquerque's West Mesa, victims of an…
- 2018Gloria SatterfieldSolvedMurdaugh family housekeeper Gloria Satterfield died after a fall at the Murdaugh home.
February 3
- 2019Serenity June DennardUnsolvedNine-year-old Serenity Dennard ran away from the Black Hills Children's Home near Rockerville, South Dakota, on the frigid…
February 4
- 1974Patty Hearst KidnappingConvictionNewspaper heiress Patty Hearst, 19, was abducted from her Berkeley apartment by the Symbionese Liberation Army on February 4…
- 1990Deborah PoeUnsolvedDeborah Deann Poe, 26, vanished in the early hours of February 4, 1990, while working alone on the night shift at a Circle K…
- 2003Sofia Lucerno JuarezUnsolvedFour-year-old Sofia Juarez disappeared near her Kennewick, Washington, home the night before her fifth birthday in February…
- 2013Kelsie SchellingConvictionKelsie Schelling, a 21-year-old woman who was eight weeks pregnant, vanished in 2013 after driving from Denver to Pueblo…
February 5
- 1981Deanie PetersUnsolvedDeanie Peters, 14, disappeared from a wrestling meet at Forest Hills Central Middle School near Grand Rapids, Michigan in…
- 2002Robert Pickton VictimsConvictionRobert Pickton, a pig farmer from Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, was convicted in December 2007 of the second-degree murders…
February 6
- 2020Cieha TaylorUnsolvedCieha Taylor, 28, was last seen about 4 p.m. on February 6, 2020 in Plant City, Florida, after dropping her boyfriend at a home…
February 7
- 1979Josef Mengele (fugitive)SolvedJosef Mengele, an SS physician at Auschwitz from 1943 to 1945, fled Germany in 1949 and lived in Argentina, Paraguay and Brazil…
- 1992Jeremy GuilloryConvictionSix-year-old Jeremy Guillory was strangled on February 7, 1992, in a house near Iowa, Louisiana, where Ricky Langley rented a…
- 2010Russell Williams VictimsConvictionCol. Russell Williams, commander of Canadian Forces Base Trenton, pleaded guilty in October 2010 to the first-degree murders of…
February 8
- 1986Diane ElsrothUnsolvedDiane Elsroth died after taking a cyanide-laced Tylenol capsule in Yonkers, New York—a copycat of the 1982 Chicago Tylenol…
February 9
- 1978Kimberly LeachConvictionTwelve-year-old Kimberly Leach was abducted from Lake City Junior High School in Florida on February 9, 1978.
- 1989Tiffany SessionsUnsolvedTiffany Sessions, a 20-year-old University of Florida student, disappeared on February 9, 1989, after leaving for an afternoon…
- 2004Maura MurrayUnsolvedUMass Amherst student Maura Murray crashed her car on a remote road in New Hampshire and vanished before help arrived.
- 2009Haleigh CummingsUnsolvedFive-year-old Haleigh Cummings was last seen on the evening of February 9, 2009, at her father's mobile home in Satsuma…
February 11
- 1987Peggy HettrickUnsolvedPeggy Hettrick, 37, was found stabbed and mutilated in a field in Fort Collins, Colorado, on February 11, 1987.
- 2023Brianna GheyConvictionBrianna Ghey, a 16-year-old transgender girl, was stabbed to death in Culcheth Linear Park near Warrington, England, on February…
February 12
- 2009Pamela ButlerConvictionPamela Butler, 47, a supervising analyst at the Environmental Protection Agency, vanished from her home in Washington, D.C., in…
February 13
- 2009Amber DuboisConvictionFourteen-year-old Amber Dubois disappeared while walking to Escondido High School in February 2009.
- 2017Abigail Williams & Liberty GermanConvictionThirteen-year-old Abigail Williams and fourteen-year-old Liberty German were murdered while hiking the Monon High Bridge Trail…
February 14
- 1982Carolyn Celeste Eaton ("Valentine Sally")IdentifiedA teenage girl's body was found beside Interstate 40 near Williams, Arizona, on Valentine's Day 1982, and she was known for…
- 2000Asha DegreeUnsolvedNine-year-old Asha Degree left her family home in the early morning hours during a storm and was last seen walking along Highway…
- 2006Lena ChapinUnsolvedLena Chapin, 20, was last seen on February 14, 2006, at her apartment outside Steelville, Missouri.
- 2013Reeva SteenkampConvictionReeva Steenkamp, a 29-year-old model and law graduate, was shot dead through a locked toilet door at the Pretoria home of her…
- 2018Parkland Shooting VictimsConvictionNikolas Cruz killed 17 people and wounded 17 others at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.
February 15
- 1976Oakland County Child Killer VictimsUnsolvedA serial killer known as the 'Babysitter' abducted and murdered four children in Oakland County, Michigan.
- 1999Yosemite Sightseer MurdersConvictionCarole Sund, 42, her daughter Juli, 15, and family friend Silvina Pelosso, 16, were killed in February 1999 while staying at…
- 2024Audrii CunninghamConvictionEleven-year-old Audrii Cunningham of Livingston, Texas, disappeared on February 15, 2024, after failing to board her school bus.
February 17
- 1974Carla WalkerConvictionCarla Walker, 17, was abducted at gunpoint from a Fort Worth bowling-alley parking lot in February 1974 and found murdered three…
- 1977Helen BrachUnsolvedCandy heiress Helen Brach vanished after a visit to the Mayo Clinic. Her disappearance was linked to a horse-related fraud ring.
February 18
- 1965Jimmie Lee JacksonConvictionJimmie Lee Jackson, 26, a church deacon and voting rights activist, was shot by Alabama state trooper James Bonard Fowler in…
February 19
- 1971Little Miss Lake Panasoffkee (Maureen "Cookie" Rowan)UnsolvedOn February 19, 1971, hitchhikers found the body of a young woman beneath the Interstate 75 bridge over Lake Panasoffkee in…
- 1983Wah Mee Club MassacreConvictionThirteen people were robbed and murdered at the Wah Mee private gambling club in Seattle's Chinatown-International District on…
- 2005Danielle Imbo and Richard Petrone Jr.UnsolvedDanielle Imbo, 34, and Richard Petrone Jr., 35, a dating couple, vanished after leaving a bar on South Street in Philadelphia on…
- 2013Elisa LamUnsolvedCanadian tourist Elisa Lam was found dead in a rooftop water tank at the Cecil Hotel in Los Angeles.
- 2020Pop SmokeConvictionRapper Pop Smoke (Bashar Barakah Jackson), 20, was shot dead during a home-invasion robbery at a rented house in the Hollywood…
February 20
- 2024Elijah VuePending TrialThree-year-old Elijah Vue was reported missing from Two Rivers, Wisconsin, on February 20, 2024, and his remains were found in a…
February 21
- 2001Ashley EllerinConvictionMichael Gargiulo was convicted in August 2019 of murdering Ashley Ellerin, a 22-year-old fashion design student who was stabbed…
February 22
- 1946Texarkana Moonlight MurdersUnsolvedFive people were killed and three wounded in four nighttime attacks in and around Texarkana, on the Texas-Arkansas border…
- 1968Bible John VictimsUnsolvedPatricia Docker, 25, Jemima MacDonald, 31, and Helen Puttock, 29, were each strangled after nights out at Glasgow's Barrowland…
- 1985Cherrie MahanUnsolvedCherrie Mahan, an 8-year-old girl, vanished on February 22, 1985, after getting off her school bus about 50 feet from her home…
- 2024Laken RileyConvictionLaken Riley, a 22-year-old Augusta University nursing student, was killed on February 22, 2024 while running on a trail on the…
February 23
- 2018Adea ShabaniSolvedActing student Adea Shabani, 25, was last seen leaving her Hollywood apartment on February 23, 2018.
- 2020Ahmaud ArberyConvictionAhmaud Arbery, 25, was chased by three men in pickup trucks and fatally shot in the Satilla Shores neighborhood near Brunswick…
- 2020Jorge Torres Jr.ConvictionJorge Torres Jr., 42, died of asphyxiation after being zipped into a suitcase at the Winter Park, Florida, home he shared with…
February 24
- 1978Yuba County FiveUnsolvedFive men from the Yuba City area vanished after attending a college basketball game in Chico, California, on February 24, 1978.
- 1986Sherri RasmussenConvictionSherri Rasmussen, a 29-year-old nursing director at Glendale Adventist Medical Center, was beaten and shot in her Van Nuys…
- 2005Jessica LunsfordConvictionNine-year-old Jessica Lunsford was abducted from her Homosassa home and murdered by registered sex offender John Couey.
- 2019Mallory BeachNo ConvictionMallory Beach, 19, died when a boat carrying six young people struck a bridge at Archers Creek near Beaufort, South Carolina…
February 25
- 1957Joseph Augustus ZarelliUnsolvedA young boy's battered, naked body was found in a cardboard box in Fox Chase, Philadelphia.
- 1983Jeanine NicaricoConvictionJeanine Nicarico, 10, was abducted from her Naperville, Illinois home and murdered in February 1983.
- 2010Chelsea KingConvictionSeventeen-year-old Chelsea King of Poway, California, vanished on February 25, 2010, while running at Rancho Bernardo Community…
- 2024Sebastian RogersUnsolvedSebastian Wayne Drake Rogers, a 15-year-old boy with autism, vanished overnight from his family's home on Stafford Court in…
February 26
- 1980Jeannie Mills FamilyUnsolvedPeoples Temple defectors Jeannie Mills, 40, and Al Mills, 51, were shot dead with their daughter Daphene, 15, at their Berkeley…
- 1984Christopher Wilder VictimsPartially SolvedInvestigators attribute the abduction of at least twelve young women and girls, eight of whom died, to Christopher Wilder during…
- 2024Madeline SotoConvictionThirteen-year-old Madeline Soto of Kissimmee, Florida, disappeared on February 26, 2024, and her body was found in woods in…
February 27
- 1967Wharlest JacksonUnsolvedWharlest Jackson, treasurer of the Natchez NAACP and a 12-year employee of the Armstrong Rubber and Tire Company, was killed on…
- 1981Sebastian RussoUnsolvedDr. Sebastian Russo, 56, a Baltimore family physician known for charging patients $5 or less, was shot dead in his Harford Road…
February 28
- 1983St. Louis Jane Doe (Precious Hope)UnsolvedOn February 28, 1983, the decapitated body of an African-American girl, estimated to be 8 to 11 years old, was found in the…
- 1986Olof PalmeUnsolvedSwedish Prime Minister Olof Palme was shot dead on February 28, 1986 while walking home from a cinema in Stockholm without…
Other developments recorded in February
Show 251 dated developments
February 1
- 1908Stanford WhiteThe jury finds Thaw not guilty by reason of insanity; he is committed to Matteawan State Hospital.
- 1974Ted Bundy VictimsUniversity of Washington student Lynda Ann Healy disappears from Seattle, among the first known victims in a…
- 1974Ted Bundy Washington VictimsLynda Ann Healy, 21, disappears from her room in Seattle's University District.
- 1979Janet ChandlerHer body, having been gang-raped and strangled, is found by a snowplow driver about 35 miles south of Holland.
- 1979Patty Hearst KidnappingPresident Jimmy Carter commutes Hearst's sentence after she served about 22 months in prison.
- 1997Damon and Devon RoutierThe jury convicts Routier of capital murder.
- 2002Amber HagermanThe Federal Communications Commission formally endorses the AMBER Alert system.
- 2012Leigh MatthewsThe last of Moodley's attempts to overturn his conviction or sentence is dismissed.
- 2017Sarah SternMcAtasney and Preston Taylor are arrested.
- 2018Beaumont ChildrenPolice excavate a Castalloy factory site based on new information; nothing found.
- 2021Dulce Maria AlavezInvestigators search a location in Austintown, Ohio, following leads; nothing conclusive is found.
- 2025Beaumont ChildrenA privately funded week-long excavation at the former Castalloy factory site in North Plympton finds no…
February 2
- 1922William Desmond TaylorHenry Peavey finds Taylor's body in the morning; the scene is disturbed before police secure it.
- 1960Paige Marie RenkoskiPaige Marie Renkoski is born.
- 1976Vicki Lynne HoskinsonVicki Lynne Hoskinson is born.
- 1986Texas Killing Fields VictimsLaura Miller's remains and those of a second woman (later identified as Audrey Lee Cook) are found off…
- 2002Danielle van DamDanielle is discovered missing; her family reports her disappearance to police at about 9:39 a.m.
- 2018Savanna LaFontaine-GreywindBrooke Crews is sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
- 2021Daniel PearlPakistani authorities keep Sheikh in detention under public-order measures despite the release order…
- 2023Natalie McNallyMcCullagh is charged with murder at Lisburn Magistrates' Court and remanded in custody.
- 2024Brianna GheyBoth are sentenced to detention at His Majesty's pleasure, with minimum terms of 22 years (Jenkinson) and 20…
February 3
- 1922Virginia RappeThe second trial ends in a hung jury.
- 1947Bobby GreenleaseBobby Greenlease is born.
- 1980Margaret Mary KilcoyneDog walkers find her passport, savings book, sandals and a wallet holding a $100 bill neatly stacked in a…
- 1990Robert Ben Rhoades VictimsRegina Walters, 14, is last seen at her mother's apartment in Pasadena, Texas.
- 2004Carlie BruciaJoseph P. Smith is arrested on an unrelated parole violation.
- 2015Deborah PoeOrlando Sentinel reports on the 25th anniversary; the case is still unsolved.
- 2016Sandra RivettA High Court judge rules Lord Lucan presumed dead and a death certificate is issued.
- 2022Laquan McDonaldVan Dyke is released from prison after serving roughly three years and three months of his sentence.
- 2022Susan Lund ("Ina Jane Doe")Redgrave Research uploads a DNA profile to GEDmatch, and genetic genealogy points toward Susan Lund's family.
- 2024Serenity June DennardFive years after her disappearance, officials say leads still arrive regularly, more than 350 tips have been…
February 4
- 1948Cheri Jo BatesCheri Jo Bates is born in Omaha, Nebraska.
- 1960Margaret Ellen FoxMargaret Ellen Fox is born.
- 1972The Santa Rosa Hitchhiker MurdersMaureen Sterling (12) and Yvonne Weber (13) disappear after hitchhiking from a roller rink; found off Franz…
- 1997Damon and Devon RoutierRoutier is sentenced to death.
- 2002Danielle van DamPolice place neighbor David Westerfield under surveillance as a person of interest.
- 2008Jessie DavisCutts's trial begins in Stark County Common Pleas Court.
- 2021Sandra BirchmoreCanton police find Birchmore dead in her apartment during a well-being check after she misses work.
- 2021Tammy DaybellThe Fremont County Sheriff's Office announces the autopsy is complete; results are withheld.
February 5
- 1971Isdal WomanThe woman is buried in a zinc coffin in Bergen; she is never identified.
- 1994Medgar EversBeckwith is convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison.
- 2004Carlie BruciaCarlie Brucia's body is found behind the Central Church of Christ on Proctor Road; she had been sexually…
- 2012Susan PowellDuring a supervised visit in Washington, Josh Powell kills sons Charlie and Braden and himself in a…
- 2016Nique LeiliThe jury convicts him of malice murder and five other counts; he is sentenced to life in prison without…
- 2021Alexis MurphyThe Office of the Chief Medical Examiner positively identifies the remains as Alexis Murphy.
- 2025Ahmaud ArberyCharges against former DA Jackie Johnson are dismissed.
- 2025Pop SmokeWalker pleads guilty to voluntary manslaughter and two counts of home-invasion robbery.
February 6
- 1960Sheree WarrenSheree Warren is born; she later settles in Roy, Utah, and works for the Utah State Employees Credit Union.
- 1980John Wayne Gacy VictimsGacy's trial opens in Cook County Criminal Court on 33 counts of murder.
- 2002Robert Pickton VictimsA joint RCMP and Vancouver police task force seals off the farm and begins an extended search.
- 2004Carlie BruciaPolice publicly identify Joseph Smith as the primary suspect after tips from people who recognized the…
- 2013Elisa LamThe LAPD publicizes Lam's disappearance, seeking help to find her.
- 2019Elizabeth BarrazaCrime Stoppers announces a reward (initially reported at $20,000) for information leading to an arrest.
- 2019Rebecca ZahauThe family's settlement with Shacknai's insurer is announced; the judgment is vacated and the case dismissed.
- 2024Eliza FletcherAbston pleads guilty; sentenced to life without parole.
February 7
- 1983Circleville Letter WriterMary Gillispie finds a box containing a rigged handgun attached to a roadside sign.
- 1988Adam WalshJohn Walsh debuts as host of the Fox television program America's Most Wanted.
- 199416th Street Baptist Church Bombing VictimsSuspect Herman Cash dies, never having been charged.
- 2004Maura MurrayMurray crashes her father's car into a guardrail on Route 9 in Hadley, Massachusetts, two days before she…
- 2022Aundria BowmanBowman is sentenced to 35 to 50 years in prison, consecutive to his Virginia life sentences.
- 2023David Carrick VictimsMrs Justice Cheema-Grubb imposes 36 life sentences with a minimum term of 30 years and 239 days.
February 8
- 1990Amy MihaljevicA jogger finds Amy's body in a farm field in Ruggles Township, Ashland County; she had been stabbed to death.
- 2007Dru SjodinU.S. District Judge Ralph R. Erickson sentences Rodriguez to death.
- 2010Russell Williams VictimsPolice find Jessica Lloyd's body off a road in Tweed.
- 2021Anthony Sowell VictimsAnthony Sowell dies at age 61 in a Columbus prison medical facility from a terminal illness.
- 2024Maura MurrayThe New Hampshire Cold Case Unit releases an FBI age-progression photo ahead of the 20th anniversary and…
February 9
- 1978FSU Chi Omega MurdersKimberly Leach, 12, is abducted in Lake City, Florida.
- 1978Ted Bundy VictimsBundy abducts and murders 12-year-old Kimberly Leach in Lake City, Florida; her remains are found in April…
- 1980Kimberly LeachBundy, found guilty of kidnapping and murder, is sentenced to death.
- 1993Dorothea Puente VictimsPuente's murder trial opens in Monterey following a change of venue.
- 1999Hae Min LeeLee's body is found buried in Leakin Park, Baltimore; she had been strangled.
- 2006Rachel & Lillian EntwistleNeil Entwistle is arrested at Royal Oak Underground station in London.
- 2020Cieha TaylorHer family files a missing person report with the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.
February 10
- 1980D.B. CooperEight-year-old Brian Ingram finds about $5,800 of the ransom money buried at Tena Bar on the Columbia River…
- 1980Ted Bundy VictimsBundy is convicted of the murder of Kimberly Leach and sentenced to death a third time.
- 1986Diane ElsrothA second contaminated bottle is found in Bronxville, New York.
- 1991Charles Albright VictimsSusan Peterson, 27, is found shot dead near the location where Pratt was found.
- 2002Claudia KirschhochHer parents meet Jamaica's police commissioner in Kingston for an update; a US$50,000 reward remains on offer.
- 2009Haleigh CummingsShe is reported missing at about 3 a.m.; an AMBER Alert is issued and searches begin.
- 2020Bianca DevinsClark changes his plea to guilty of second-degree murder.
- 2020Teresa SieversWright is sentenced to 25 years in prison under his plea agreement.
- 2021Elisa LamNetflix releases the docuseries 'Crime Scene: The Vanishing at the Cecil Hotel,' renewing public attention…
- 2022Sophie SergieThe jury finds Downs guilty of first-degree murder and first-degree sexual assault.
February 11
- 1979Brian ShafferBrian Shaffer is born in the Columbus, Ohio area.
- 2004Maura MurrayFred Murray arrives in Haverhill and, with New Hampshire Fish and Game, begins organized searches for his…
- 2011Chandra LevyGuandique is sentenced to 60 years in prison.
- 2013Susan PowellMichael Powell, Josh's brother, dies by suicide in Minnesota; police later said they believed he helped…
- 2019Dana Lynn Dodd (Lavender Doe)Gregg County Sheriff's Office officially identifies Lavender Doe as Dana Lynn Dodd, 21, of Jacksonville…
February 12
- 1969Robert F. Kennedy AssassinationOpening statements begin in Sirhan's trial.
- 1987Peggy HettrickPolice question 15-year-old Tim Masters, who denies involvement.
- 2008Chris Benoit Family MurdersThe Fayette County Sheriff's Office formally closed the investigation, concluding no one other than Chris…
- 2013Rilya WilsonGraham is sentenced to 55 years in prison; Rilya's body has never been found.
- 2023Brianna GheyScarlett Jenkinson and Eddie Ratcliffe, both 15, are arrested.
- 2025Sherri RasmussenParole is denied again; next eligibility is set for 2028.
- 2026Asha DegreeOn the 26th anniversary period, authorities confirm no arrests or charges have been made; the case remains…
February 13
- 1935Charles Lindbergh Jr.Hauptmann is convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death.
- 2009Chelsea KingAmber Dubois, 14, disappears while walking to Escondido High School; the case remains unsolved for a year.
- 2009Pamela ButlerAccording to prosecutors, Rodriguez-Cruz kills Butler during an argument in her basement.
- 2013Elisa LamPolice release elevator surveillance footage from January 31 showing Lam behaving erratically; the video…
- 2015Hanna HarrisEugenia Ann Rowland is sentenced to 22 years in prison after pleading guilty to second-degree murder.
- 2018Alex Batty (found)Greater Manchester Police issue a new appeal and say the two adults are wanted over the alleged abduction.
- 2025Asha DegreeCleveland County Sheriff's Office executes three additional search warrants, seizing cellphones and…
- 2025Dau MabilThe independent autopsy by Dr. Daniel Schultz is released, again finding drowning with manner undetermined…
- 2025Evelyn BoswellA jury finds Megan Boswell guilty on all 19 counts; she receives life in prison for the murder convictions.
- 2026Denise Amber LeeFlorida Governor Ron DeSantis signs Michael King's death warrant, scheduling his execution.
February 14
- 1945Recy TaylorA second grand jury also refuses to indict.
- 1994Andrei Chikatilo VictimsChikatilo is executed in a prison near Rostov-on-Don.
- 1995Richey EdwardsHis Vauxhall Cavalier is noticed at the service station by the Severn crossing.
- 2003Jennifer LevinChambers is released after serving the full 15 years.
- 2003Myrna OpsahlThe four are sentenced to terms of six to eight years.
- 2017Abigail Williams & Liberty GermanThe girls' bodies are found about half a mile from the bridge.
- 2017Etan PatzAfter a retrial, a jury finds Hernandez guilty of murder and kidnapping.
- 2018Maëlys de AraujoLelandais admits killing the girl, saying it was unintentional, and leads investigators to her remains in a…
- 2023Lamar Johnson (Exoneration)Judge Mason vacates the conviction and Johnson is released.
- 2024Lina Sardar KhilA tip prompts a search of a wooded area near Interstate 10 and Wurzbach Road; police later call the tip not…
- 2025Emily PikeHuman remains are found in trash bags off US Highway 60 near Globe in Gila County, Arizona.
February 15
- 1939Robert Hansen VictimsRobert Christian Hansen is born in Estherville, Iowa.
- 1950Elizabeth Short (The Black Dahlia)A DA/LAPD task force begins electronic surveillance of suspect Dr.
- 1978FSU Chi Omega MurdersBundy is arrested in Pensacola after a traffic stop.
- 1978Kimberly LeachTed Bundy is arrested in Pensacola, Florida, while driving a stolen vehicle.
- 1978Ted Bundy VictimsBundy is arrested in Pensacola, Florida, after a traffic stop, ending his time as a fugitive.
- 1990Tabitha TudersTabitha Danielle Tuders is born in Nashville, Tennessee.
- 1992Jeffrey Dahmer VictimsA jury finds Dahmer legally sane and guilty on 15 counts of murder, rejecting the insanity defense.
- 1994Gainesville Ripper VictimsOn the day his trial is set to begin, Rolling pleads guilty to all charges, including five counts of…
- 2000Asha DegreeSearchers recover candy wrappers, a pencil, a marker, and a hair bow in a nearby shed that her parents…
- 2003Patty Hearst KidnappingSLA members, including Sara Jane Olson (Kathleen Soliah) and the Harrises, are sentenced for the 1975 murder…
- 2006Rachel & Lillian EntwistleEntwistle is returned to Massachusetts to face charges.
- 2008Jessie DavisA jury convicts Cutts of murder in Davis's death and aggravated murder in the death of her unborn daughter.
- 2014Jordan DavisFirst trial ends: Dunn is convicted on three counts of attempted second-degree murder and firing into an…
- 2017Abigail Williams & Liberty GermanPolice release a still image of the suspect known as "Bridge Guy" from Libby German's cellphone video.
- 2022Sandy Hook VictimsFamilies of nine victims settle their lawsuit against Remington for $73 million.
- 2023Brianna GheyBoth are charged with murder.
February 16
- 1965Jack the Stripper VictimsBridget O'Hara's body is found on the Heron Trading Estate, Acton; the series ends.
- 2005BTK Killer VictimsThe killer mails a floppy disk to a Wichita TV station; its metadata points to 'Dennis' at Christ Lutheran…
- 2005Otero Family MurdersA computer disk is sent to KSAS-TV; its metadata points to Dennis Rader.
- 2024Audrii CunninghamDon Steven McDougal is arrested on an unrelated aggravated assault charge and named a person of interest.
- 2026Natalie McNallyTrial opens at Belfast Crown Court.
February 17
- 1978Hillside Strangler VictimsCindy Hudspeth, 20, the tenth and final Los Angeles victim, is found in the trunk of her car, ending the…
- 1986Diane ElsrothJohnson & Johnson permanently discontinues all capsule medications.
- 1992Jeffrey Dahmer VictimsDahmer is sentenced to 15 consecutive life terms in prison.
- 1995Richey EdwardsThe car is reported abandoned; no trace of Edwards is found in searches of the area.
- 2021Alexis MurphyAuthorities publicly announce that Murphy's remains have been found and identified, more than seven years…
- 2023Mary Agnes MoroneyThe Chicago Sun-Times reports DNA results linking the Moroney family to relatives of Jeanette Burchard, who…
- 2026Tara Louise BakerA Clarke County jury finds Edrick Faust guilty on all 12 counts; on February 19 Judge Lisa Lott sentences…
February 18
- 1972Charles Manson VictimsThe California Supreme Court's People v. Anderson ruling voids the state's death penalty; the sentences are…
- 1984Eklutna AnnieHansen pleads guilty to four counts of first-degree murder, including the murder of Eklutna Annie, and…
- 2020Evelyn BoswellEvelyn is reported missing to the Sullivan County Sheriff's Office.
- 2022Maëlys de AraujoThe Isère assize court in Grenoble sentences Lelandais to life imprisonment with a 22-year minimum term for…
February 19
- 1968Mary DayMary Louise Day is born in Little Falls, New York.
- 1973Christopher KerzeChristopher Kerze is born.
- 1976Oakland County Child Killer VictimsMark Stebbins's body is found in a parking lot in Southfield.
- 2014Blake and Mary Jo HadleyHadley pleads no contest to two counts of first-degree murder.
- 2018Erica ParsonsA Rowan County grand jury indicts both adoptive parents on first-degree murder and related charges.
- 2020Evelyn BoswellThe Tennessee Bureau of Investigation issues an AMBER Alert.
- 2023Kyle ClinkscalesDNA analysis confirms the remains are Kyle Clinkscales; his cause and manner of death are ruled undetermined.
- 2026Austin Yogurt Shop VictimsJudge Dayna Blazey declares Scott, Springsteen, Welborn and Pierce innocent and dismisses the charges with…
- 2026Tara Louise BakerA Clarke County jury convicts Faust on all 12 counts; he is sentenced to consecutive life terms.
February 20
- 1974Carla WalkerHer body is found in a culvert near Lake Benbrook, having been raped and strangled.
- 1992Jeremy GuilloryA Calcasieu Parish grand jury indicts Langley for first-degree murder.
- 2004Carlie BruciaSmith is indicted for first-degree murder, with kidnapping and capital sexual battery charges also filed.
- 2005Danielle Imbo and Richard Petrone Jr.Family members report the couple missing after they fail to return home or answer their phones.
- 2020Tylee Ryan & Joshua 'JJ' VallowLori Vallow is arrested in Hawaii on charges related to abandoning her children.
- 2024Audrii CunninghamPolk County Sheriff Byron Lyons announces that Audrii's body has been found in the Trinity River near US…
- 2024Ruby Franke ChildrenJudge John J. Walton sentences each woman to four consecutive terms of one to 15 years; Utah law caps the…
February 21
- 1958Diane AugatDiane Louise Augat is born.
- 2002Daniel PearlA video showing Pearl's beheading is released, confirming his death.
- 2008Stacy PetersonA forensic pathologist concludes Savio's death was a homicide staged to look like an accident, leading to…
- 2013Elisa LamAn initial autopsy is performed but is inconclusive as to manner of death; a preliminary accidental-drowning…
- 2013Stacy PetersonPeterson is sentenced to 38 years in prison for Savio's murder.
- 2014Heather ElvisSidney and Tammy Moorer are arrested and charged with murder, kidnapping and other offences.
- 2020Grace MillaneThe defendant is sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum non-parole period of 17 years.
- 2025Pop SmokeWalker is sentenced to 29 years in state prison.
- 2025The Notorious B.I.G. (Christopher Wallace)Voletta Wallace, the rapper's mother, dies after decades seeking justice; the murder remains officially…
February 22
- 1947Stanford WhiteThaw dies in Miami, Florida.
- 1998Monster of Florence VictimsPacciani dies before the new appeal trial is held.
- 2001Ashley EllerinEllerin's roommate finds her body in the morning.
- 2002Danielle van DamDavid Westerfield is arrested after forensic evidence, including blood matching Danielle, is linked to him.
- 2002Marilyn SheppardAn Ohio appeals court rules the wrongful-imprisonment civil case should not have gone to the jury; the…
- 2002Robert Pickton VictimsPickton is charged with two counts of first-degree murder; further counts follow.
- 2012Yeardley LoveA Charlottesville jury convicts Huguely of second-degree murder and grand larceny.
- 2017Abigail Williams & Liberty GermanInvestigators release cellphone audio of a man saying "down the hill."
- 2021Carolyn Celeste Eaton ("Valentine Sally")Genetic genealogy identifies "Valentine Sally" as Carolyn Celeste Eaton; her killer remains unknown.
- 2022Ahmaud ArberyFederal jury convicts all three of hate crime and attempted kidnapping charges.
- 2023Nipsey HussleHolder is sentenced to 60 years to life in prison.
- 2024Harmony MontgomeryA jury finds Adam Montgomery guilty of second-degree murder, second-degree assault and witness tampering.
February 23
- 1968Bible John VictimsDocker's body is found in a lane in the Battlefield district of Glasgow.
- 2017Tara GrinsteadThe GBI announces the arrest of Ryan Alexander Duke for her murder and concealment of her death.
- 2023R. Kelly (sentencing)Sentenced to 20 years in the Chicago case, with only one year consecutive to the New York sentence (combined…
- 2023Scott JohnsonWhite pleads guilty to manslaughter.
- 2024Laken RileyUniversity of Georgia police arrest Jose Antonio Ibarra and charge him with murder and related offences.
- 2026Cheryl GrimmerNSW DPP Sally Dowling offers the family a review of the decision to discontinue the prosecution.
February 24
- 1976Anna Mae AquashHer body is found near Wanblee on the Pine Ridge Reservation.
- 1981Herman TarnowerThe trial ends with Harris found guilty of second-degree murder; she is later sentenced to 15 years to life.
- 1994Fred & Rose West VictimsPolice begin searching 25 Cromwell Street; Fred West is arrested.
- 2012Israel Keyes VictimsA ransom demand is sent by text message from Koenig's phone.
- 2017Kathleen PetersonPeterson enters an Alford plea to manslaughter, maintaining his innocence, and is sentenced to time served.
- 2020Jorge Torres Jr.Sarah Boone calls 911 to report that Torres is dead.
- 2020Michelle MartinkoA jury convicts Jerry Burns of first-degree murder; he is sentenced to life without parole.
- 2022George FloydA federal jury convicts Tou Thao, J. Alexander Kueng, and Thomas Lane of violating Floyd's civil rights.
- 2024Laken RileyA judge denies bond for Ibarra.
- 2026Teresa SieversLee Circuit Judge Bruce Kyle denies Sievers' post-conviction motion to vacate his conviction and sentence.
February 25
- 1983Circleville Letter WriterPaul Freshour gives handwriting samples to the Pickaway County sheriff.
- 2000Hae Min LeeAfter a first trial ended in mistrial, a jury convicts Syed of first-degree murder; he is sentenced to life…
- 2005BTK Killer VictimsDennis Rader is arrested near his Park City home, identified via the disk metadata and a familial DNA match.
- 2005Otero Family MurdersRader is arrested.
- 2010Amber DuboisChelsea King, 17, disappears while jogging near Lake Hodges; her case triggers a massive search.
- 2010Robin SamsoeJury convicts Alcala of the Samsoe murder and four other murders.
- 2018Adea ShabaniShe is reported missing, according to KABC.
- 2019Danielle van DamThe California Supreme Court unanimously affirms Westerfield's conviction and death sentence in People v.
- 2020Evelyn BoswellMegan Boswell is arrested and charged with false reporting.
- 2020Jorge Torres Jr.Orange County deputies arrest Boone; she is charged with second-degree murder.
- 2022Susan Berman, Kathleen Durst & Morris BlackA Los Angeles Superior Court judge vacates the Berman conviction because Durst died while his appeal was…
- 2025Hae Min LeeBaltimore prosecutors withdraw the motion to vacate the conviction, ending efforts to overturn it.
- 2025Richard Glossip (case)The U.S. Supreme Court vacates the conviction in Glossip v. Oklahoma and orders a new trial.
- 2025Sebastian RogersOne year after the disappearance, the AMBER Alert remains active; the TBI reports more than 240 tips…
February 26
- 1965Jimmie Lee JacksonJackson dies at Good Samaritan Hospital in Selma.
- 1987Frank HilleyFound unconscious on a porch in Anniston, she dies of hypothermia and exposure.
- 1988Kevin Ives & Don Henry (Boys on the Tracks)After a three-day hearing and second autopsies by Georgia medical examiner Dr.
- 1992Dan & Linda BroderickShe arrives at the California Institution for Women.
- 1994Fred & Rose West VictimsHeather West's remains are found in the garden; eight more sets of remains are recovered at the house by…
- 2004Maura MurrayRipped women's underwear found near a trail is later shown by DNA testing not to belong to Murray.
- 2014Avonte OquendoThe Medical Examiner rules the cause and manner of Avonte's death undetermined; authorities report no…
- 2014Relisha RuddRelisha is last seen by relatives; she was in the care of shelter janitor Kahlil Tatum.
- 2016Teresa SieversMark Sievers is arrested; Wright has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and agreed to cooperate.
- 2018Gloria SatterfieldSatterfield dies; death ruled accidental.
- 2022Abigail HernandezThe Lifetime film "Girl in the Shed: The Kidnapping of Abby Hernandez," on which Abby served as an executive…
- 2024Sebastian RogersSebastian is discovered missing from his bedroom in the morning and reported missing; the TBI issues an…
February 27
- 1982Atlanta Child Murders VictimsA jury convicts Williams of murdering two adult men, Nathaniel Cater and Jimmy Ray Payne; he is sentenced to…
- 1983Jeanine NicaricoHer body is found along the Illinois Prairie Path near Eola Road; she had been sexually assaulted and beaten…
- 1984Eklutna AnnieHansen is sentenced to 461 years plus life in prison without the possibility of parole.
- 2002Danielle van DamSearchers find Danielle's remains in a remote area along Dehesa Road near Harbison Canyon, east of San Diego.
- 2008Jessie DavisCutts is sentenced to life in prison with parole eligibility after 57 years.
- 2012Christine Sharrock & Marianne SchmidtABC News reports that a bloodstain on a victim's clothing yielded a weak male DNA profile, not sufficient to…
- 2023Baby Victoria (daughter of Constance Marten & Mark Gordon)Marten and Gordon are arrested in Brighton without the baby.
- 2024Jam Master JayA jury convicts Washington and Jordan of murder while engaged in narcotics trafficking and firearm-related…
- 2024Madeline SotoThe Orange County Sheriff's Office asks the public for help finding her.
- 2024Sebastian RogersThe TBI upgrades the alert to a statewide AMBER Alert based on additional investigative information…
- 2025Claudia LawrenceDet Supt Jon Sygrove is confirmed as the new senior investigating officer.
- 2025Emily PikeThe Gila County Sheriff's Office announces the remains have been identified as Emily Pike and opens a…
- 2025Tara GrinsteadThe Georgia Court of Appeals throws out additional charges against both men, citing the statute of…
February 28
- 1978Yuba County FiveMadruga's car is found abandoned on a mountain road in Plumas National Forest (one account says February 27).
- 1984Diane Downs ChildrenDiane Downs is arrested and charged with murder, attempted murder and assault.
- 1999Hae Min LeeAdnan Syed, her 17-year-old ex-boyfriend, is arrested and charged with her murder.
- 2010Amber DuboisJohn Gardner is arrested after DNA from King's discarded clothing is matched to him.
- 2010Chelsea KingJohn Albert Gardner III, a registered sex offender, is arrested after his DNA matches evidence recovered…
- 2012Tina SmithEasley pleads no contest to capital murder in Roanoke County Circuit Court and is sentenced to life without…
- 2014Joanna Dennehy VictimsDennehy receives a whole-life order; Stretch gets life with a 19-year minimum, Layton 14 years and Robert…
- 2021Roger Kibbe VictimsKibbe is found dead in his cell at Mule Creek State Prison; his death is ruled a homicide by strangulation.
- 2023Sebastian RussoColumnist Dan Rodricks publishes a retrospective noting the case remains open but inactive.
February 29
- 2024Marion BarterCoroner finds Marion Barter is deceased; cause, place and manner of death undetermined.
- 2024Sarah EverardThe Angiolini Inquiry publishes its Part 1 report.