January in Cold Case History
56 documented cases began in January, listed by the day of the incident or disappearance (for a series, the first incident). 21 are still unsolved. Further down, 297 other dated developments recorded in January: arrests, verdicts, identifications and discoveries. For today's date, see on this day.
January 1
- 2008Amina and Sarah SaidConvictionSisters Amina Said, 18, and Sarah Said, 17, were found shot to death in a taxi outside a hotel in Irving, Texas, on January 1…
- 2009Oscar GrantConvictionOscar Grant was shot by BART police officer Johannes Mehserle on the Fruitvale station platform in Oakland on January 1, 2009…
- 2023Ana WalsheConvictionAna Walshe, 39, was last seen at her Cohasset, Massachusetts home in the early hours of January 1, 2023; her body has never been…
January 2
- 1999Mikelle BiggsUnsolvedEleven-year-old Mikelle Biggs disappeared on January 2, 1999, while riding a bicycle near her home in Mesa, Arizona, as she…
- 2000Zebb Wayne QuinnConvictionZebb Wayne Quinn, an 18-year-old Walmart employee, disappeared in Asheville, North Carolina, on January 2, 2000, after leaving…
January 3
- 2022Lacey FletcherConvictionLacey Fletcher, 36, was found dead on January 3, 2022 on a couch in her parents' home in Slaughter, Louisiana, after years of…
January 4
- 1989Junko FurutaConvictionJunko Furuta, a 17-year-old high school student from Misato, Saitama, was abducted on November 25, 1988, and held for about 40…
- 2019Savannah SpurlockConvictionSavannah Spurlock, a Madison County, Kentucky, mother of four, disappeared after leaving a Lexington bar with three men on the…
January 7
- 1946Suzanne DegnanConvictionSix-year-old Suzanne Degnan was abducted from her bedroom in Chicago's Edgewater neighborhood on January 7, 1946, and killed.
- 1969Jane BrittonSolvedJane Britton, 23, a Harvard graduate student in anthropology, was sexually assaulted and beaten to death in her Cambridge…
- 1997Richard Glossip (case)Pending TrialMotel owner Barry Van Treese was beaten to death at the Best Budget Inn in Oklahoma City in January 1997 by Justin Sneed, who…
- 2023Tyre NicholsPartially SolvedTyre Nichols, 29, died on January 10, 2023, three days after he was beaten by Memphis police officers following a traffic stop…
January 8
- 1982Lynette DawsonConvictionLynette Dawson vanished from her Sydney home. Her husband Chris Dawson, a former rugby league player and teacher, was convicted…
January 10
- 2002Rachel Louise CookeUnsolvedRachel Louise Cooke, 19, left her parents' home near Georgetown, Texas, for a run at about 9:30 a.m.
- 2021Patrick Warren Sr.No ConvictionPatrick Warren Sr., 52, was shot and killed by Killeen, Texas police officer Reynaldo Contreras on January 10, 2021, after his…
January 11
- 1965Christine Sharrock & Marianne SchmidtUnsolvedFifteen-year-old friends Christine Sharrock and Marianne Schmidt of West Ryde were killed at Wanda Beach, near Cronulla in…
- 2013Kendrick JohnsonUnsolvedKendrick Johnson, a 17-year-old student, was found dead inside a rolled-up gym mat in the gymnasium at Lowndes High School in…
January 12
- 1970Cheryl GrimmerUnsolvedThree-year-old Cheryl Grimmer disappeared from outside a shower block at Fairy Meadow Beach, Wollongong, on January 12, 1970…
- 1981Dean and Tina ClouseUnsolvedThe remains of Harold Dean Clouse Jr. and his wife, Tina Linn Clouse, were found in woods in the Houston area on January 12…
January 13
- 1988Debra Jan Masters BakerConvictionDebra Masters Baker, 34, was beaten to death in her bed by an intruder at her Austin, Texas, home in January 1988.
- 1996Amber HagermanUnsolvedNine-year-old Amber Hagerman was abducted while riding her bicycle in the parking lot of an abandoned grocery store in…
- 1999Hae Min LeeConvictionHigh school student Hae Min Lee was strangled and her body found in Leakin Park, Baltimore, in 1999.
- 2024Anthony "Big Jook" MimsUnsolvedAnthony "Big Jook" Mims, a 47-year-old music executive and the older brother of Memphis rapper Yo Gotti, was fatally shot on…
January 14
- 1977Thera WilsonUnsolvedThera Wilson, 26, was found stabbed to death on January 14, 1977, in the garage of the then-Statler Hilton Hotel at 10 Ford…
January 15
- 1947Elizabeth Short (The Black Dahlia)UnsolvedThe mutilated body of 22-year-old Elizabeth Short was found in a vacant lot in Los Angeles.
- 1974BTK Killer VictimsConvictionDennis Rader, known as BTK (Bind, Torture, Kill), murdered 10 people in and around Wichita, Kansas between 1974 and 1991.
- 1974Otero Family MurdersConvictionJoseph and Julie Otero and two of their children, Josephine, 11, and Joseph II, 9, were killed in their Wichita home on January…
- 1978FSU Chi Omega MurdersConvictionMargaret Bowman, 21, and Lisa Levy, 20, were killed and two sorority sisters badly injured when Ted Bundy attacked the Chi Omega…
January 16
- 1987Lita McClinton SullivanConvictionLita McClinton Sullivan, an Atlanta socialite, was shot dead at her Buckhead townhouse in January 1987 by a hit man disguised as…
- 1997Ennis CosbyConvictionEnnis Cosby, 27, the son of entertainer Bill Cosby, was shot dead on January 16, 1997, while changing a flat tire beside…
- 2023David Carrick VictimsConvictionFormer Metropolitan Police officer David Carrick admitted 49 offences, including 24 counts of rape, against 12 women between…
January 17
- 2008Denise Amber LeeConvictionTwenty-one-year-old Denise Amber Lee was abducted by Michael King from her North Port, Florida home on January 17, 2008, and…
January 18
- 1970Mared Malarik & Karen Ferrell (WVU Coed Murders)ConvictionWest Virginia University freshmen Mared Malarik, 19, and Karen Ferrell, 18, vanished on January 18, 1970, after leaving a movie…
- 1971Christine Marie EastinUnsolvedChristine Marie Eastin, 19, vanished in Hayward, California, on the night of January 18, 1971, after driving her former…
- 2001Rilya WilsonConvictionRilya Wilson, a 4-year-old Miami foster child, disappeared while in the care of Geralyn Graham but was not reported missing by…
January 19
- 2001Tara Louise BakerConvictionTara Louise Baker, a 23-year-old University of Georgia law student, was killed in her Athens apartment in 2001, the crime…
January 20
- 1982Lisa AuUnsolvedLisa Au, a 19-year-old Kailua hairdresser, disappeared on Oahu in January 1982; her abandoned car was found the next day and her…
- 2006Rachel & Lillian EntwistleConvictionRachel Entwistle, 27, and her nine-month-old daughter Lillian Rose were shot dead in their rented home in Hopkinton…
January 23
- 1999Teekah LewisUnsolvedTwo-year-old Teekah Lewis vanished from the arcade of a Tacoma, Washington, bowling alley while her family bowled nearby in…
January 24
- 1976Lisa Christine StaesUnsolvedOn January 24, 1976, a fisherman found the nude, frozen body of a young woman under the Mirror Lake Road bridge near Lake Delton…
- 2006Jennifer KesseUnsolvedTwenty-four-year-old Jennifer Kesse disappeared from her Orlando condominium complex.
January 25
- 2019Elizabeth BarrazaUnsolvedElizabeth Barraza, 29, was shot in the driveway of her Tomball-area home at about 6:52 a.m.
January 26
- 1966Beaumont ChildrenUnsolvedThree siblings—Jane (9), Arnna (7), and Grant Beaumont (4)—vanished from Glenelg Beach in Adelaide, Australia on Australia Day…
- 1980Margaret Mary KilcoyneUnsolvedDr. Margaret 'Peg' Kilcoyne, a 50-year-old Columbia University hypertension researcher, vanished overnight from her vacation…
January 27
- 1976Kyle ClinkscalesPartially SolvedKyle Clinkscales, a 22-year-old Auburn University student, vanished while driving from LaGrange, Georgia, back to campus in 1976.
- 1977Dagmar HagelinConvictionSwedish-Argentine teenager Dagmar Hagelin, 17, was shot and abducted by an Argentine Navy task group in El Palomar, Buenos Aires…
- 1993Susan Lund ("Ina Jane Doe")IdentifiedIn 1993, the severed head of a woman was found in a state park near Ina, Illinois, and she remained unidentified for nearly 30…
- 1996Claremont Serial MurdersConvictionThree women vanished from the upscale suburb of Claremont in Perth, Australia between 1996-1997.
- 2020Gannon StauchPending TrialGannon Stauch, 11, was reported missing from his home near Colorado Springs on January 27, 2020; his remains were found in…
- 2025Emily PikeUnsolvedEmily Pike, a 14-year-old member of the San Carlos Apache Tribe, disappeared from a Mesa, Arizona group home on January 27, 2025.
January 28
- 2001Jill-Lyn EutoUnsolvedJill-Lyn Euto, 18, was stabbed to death in her sixth-floor apartment at 600 James Street in Syracuse, New York, on Super Bowl…
- 2012Amore Wiggins ("Opelika Jane Doe")Pending TrialSkeletal remains of a young girl found at an Opelika, Alabama, mobile home park on January 28, 2012, went unidentified for…
January 29
- 2022John O'Keefe (Karen Read)No ConvictionBoston police officer John O'Keefe, 46, was found dead in the snow outside a home in Canton, Massachusetts, on January 29, 2022.
January 30
- 1989Ilene Beth MisheloffUnsolvedThirteen-year-old Ilene Misheloff vanished on January 30, 1989, while walking home from Wells Middle School in Dublin, California.
January 31
- 1979Janet ChandlerConvictionJanet Chandler, a 22-year-old Hope College student working a motel night shift, was abducted, gang-raped, and strangled in…
- 1982Kathleen McCormack DurstNo ConvictionKathleen McCormack Durst, a 29-year-old medical student, disappeared on January 31, 1982 from South Salem, New York, and has…
Other developments recorded in January
Show 297 dated developments
January 1
- 1892Jack the Ripper VictimsMetropolitan Police close the Whitechapel murders file.
- 1927Percy Fawcett ExpeditionFirst rescue expedition is mounted after no word from Fawcett.
- 1947Paula Jean WeldenVermont State Police is created partly in response to the case.
- 1949Sodder ChildrenGeorge Sodder excavates the site himself; still no remains found.
- 1951Percy Fawcett ExpeditionKalapalo people produce bones they claim are Fawcett's; forensics disprove this.
- 1964Michael RockefellerMichael is declared legally dead.
- 1968Sodder ChildrenJennie Sodder receives a photograph allegedly showing her son Louis as an adult.
- 1973Beaumont ChildrenThe case is linked to other South Australian child disappearances.
- 1976Latasha HarlinsLatasha Harlins is born.
- 1980Hillside Strangler VictimsBianchi pleads guilty to Los Angeles and Washington murders and agrees to testify against Buono in exchange…
- 1986Dorothea Puente VictimsEverson Gillmouth's remains are discovered along the Sacramento River but go unidentified for years.
- 1989Sodder ChildrenThe billboard erected by the family is finally taken down after Jennie's death.
- 1991Georgi MarkovAfter communism falls, Bulgarian files reveal KGB involvement.
- 1991Zodiac Killer VictimsSurvivor Michael Mageau identifies Arthur Leigh Allen from a photo lineup as his attacker; Allen is never…
- 1993Texas Killing Fields VictimsRobert Abel, a retired NASA engineer who leased adjacent land, is publicly named a person of interest and…
- 1995Fred & Rose West VictimsFred West, charged with 12 murders, is found dead in his cell at a Birmingham prison before trial.
- 1995Helen BrachRichard Bailey sentenced to 30 years for defrauding Brach; not convicted of her murder.
- 2002The Notorious B.I.G. (Christopher Wallace)Randall Sullivan's book LAbyrinth, drawing on former detective Russell Poole, publicizes allegations of a…
- 2002Zodiac Killer VictimsA partial DNA profile developed from Zodiac letters is reported as not matching Arthur Leigh Allen.
- 2003Brian CarrickA prayer vigil for Carrick draws more than 1,000 people.
- 2003Rui PedroAfonso Dias convicted of kidnapping.
- 2005Amber HagermanAll fifty U.S. states have operational AMBER Alert programs.
- 2005Texas Killing Fields VictimsRobert Abel dies after being struck by a train; Tim Miller had earlier apologized to him for accusing him.
- 2005The Notorious B.I.G. (Christopher Wallace)The FBI closes its investigation into the murder without arrests.
- 2007Grim Sleeper VictimsJanecia Peters is found dead, the final confirmed victim in the series.
- 2009Maura MurrayThe case is transferred to New Hampshire's newly established Cold Case Unit and handled as a criminal…
- 2009Percy Fawcett ExpeditionDavid Grann's 'The Lost City of Z' renews international interest.
- 2011Lori Erica RuffInvestigation reveals identity was built on a deceased child's records.
- 2012Brittanee DrexelRaymond Douglas Moody, a registered sex offender, is identified by investigators as a person of interest.
- 2012Denise Amber LeeThe Florida Supreme Court affirms King's convictions and death sentence in King v. State.
- 2012Oakland County Child Killer VictimsAuthorities report DNA testing does not link deceased person of interest Christopher Busch to the killings.
- 2012Phoenix ColdonThe family learns that the vehicle has been in an East St. Louis impound lot since December 18.
- 2013Georgi MarkovBulgarian prosecutors close the case due to statute of limitations.
- 2015Elisa LamThe wrongful-death lawsuit is dismissed, the court finding the death was not foreseeable.
- 2016Night Stalker VictimsSan Francisco officials disclose a second DNA profile from the Mei Leung crime scene, suggesting another…
- 2017Isdal WomanNorwegian police and BBC reopen the investigation using modern forensics.
- 2017Maura MurrayOxygen airs the six-part series 'The Disappearance of Maura Murray'; investigators later say wood chips near…
- 2019Joseph Augustus ZarelliDNA is extracted from exhumed remains for genetic genealogy.
- 2020Oakland County Child Killer VictimsBarry King, Timothy King's father and a longtime advocate, dies without resolution of the case.
- 2021Terri 'Missy' BeversThe reward for information leading to an arrest is reported at $150,000.
- 2021Zodiac Killer VictimsA private investigative group names Gary Francis Poste as a suspect; law enforcement expresses skepticism…
- 2023Brianna GheyRatcliffe buys the hunting knife later used in the attack, according to the Court of Appeal.
- 2024Amelia EarhartDeep Sea Vision releases a sonar image of a plane-shaped anomaly about 100 miles from Howland Island.
January 2
- 1935Charles Lindbergh Jr.Hauptmann's trial opens at the Hunterdon County Courthouse in Flemington, New Jersey.
- 1977Oakland County Child Killer VictimsKristine Mihelich, 10, is reported missing in Berkley.
- 1981Yorkshire Ripper (death)Sutcliffe is arrested in Sheffield.
- 2016Otto WarmbierWarmbier detained in North Korea.
- 2026Christine Marie EastinPatch lists the case among unresolved FBI missing-person cases in California.
- 2026Joey Lynn OffuttExplore Jefferson reports that state police are still investigating and offering a reward of up to $5,000.
January 3
- 1970Catherine CesnikHunters find Cesnik's body at an informal dump in Lansdowne; she had died of blunt-force trauma to the head.
- 1972John Wayne Gacy VictimsGacy commits his first known murder, killing 16-year-old Timothy McCoy at his Norwood Park Township home.
- 1990Carol StuartMatthew Stuart tells Boston homicide detectives that his brother's carjacking account was false.
- 2003Danielle van DamJudge William Mudd sentences Westerfield to death.
- 2012Holly PiirainenThe Hampden District Attorney announces that evidence found near the remains has been linked to Pouliot; no…
- 2018Duran BaileyLobato is released from custody.
January 4
- 1952Christine Marie EastinChristine Marie Eastin is born in Hayward, California.
- 1964Boston Strangler VictimsMary Sullivan, 19, is raped and strangled in her Charles Street apartment; she is the last of the 13 victims…
- 1974Ted Bundy Washington VictimsAn 18-year-old University of Washington student is bludgeoned in her Seattle bedroom and survives.
- 1988Jennifer LevinChambers' trial begins in Manhattan.
- 1990Carol StuartCharles Stuart dies after jumping from the Tobin Bridge; he is never charged.
- 2023Ana WalsheAna Walshe is reported missing by both her employer and her husband, Brian Walshe, who tells police she left…
- 2023Idaho Student MurdersKohberger is extradited from Pennsylvania to Idaho.
- 2023Officer Jason EllisCommonwealth's Attorney Shane Young's appointment as special prosecutor over the Ellis, Crystal Rogers, and…
January 5
- 1889Judge Joseph Force CraterJoseph Force Crater is born in Easton, Pennsylvania.
- 1939Amelia EarhartAmelia Earhart is declared legally dead in absentia.
- 1989Junko FurutaHer body is placed in a concrete-filled drum and left on vacant land in Wakasu, Koto ward.
- 2017Timothy WiltseyLodzinski is sentenced to 30 years in prison without parole.
- 2018Ingrid LyneCharlton is sentenced to 27 years and 9 months in prison.
- 2019Savannah SpurlockAccording to Kentucky State Police, Spurlock is at David Sparks' residence in Garrard County in the morning…
- 2023Baby Victoria (daughter of Constance Marten & Mark Gordon)A placenta is found in the couple's burning car on the M61 near Bolton; police begin a national search.
- 2024Reeva SteenkampPistorius is released on parole from Atteridgeville Correctional Centre.
January 6
- 1969Jane BrittonBritton has dinner with classmates and goes ice skating before returning home.
- 1982Atlanta Child Murders VictimsWilliams's murder trial begins in Atlanta.
- 1983Mary Edith Silvani (Sheep's Flat Jane Doe)James Richard Curry is arrested in California in connection with San Jose-area killings and confesses to…
- 1986Emma FillipoffEmma Fillipoff is born.
- 1997Damon and Devon RoutierThe trial begins in Kerrville, limited to the charge concerning Damon's death.
- 2005James Chaney, Andrew Goodman & Michael SchwernerA Neshoba County grand jury indicts Killen for murder.
- 2005Yates ChildrenThe Texas First Court of Appeals reverses the conviction because of erroneous expert testimony.
- 2016Sandra BlandThe grand jury indicts Encinia on a misdemeanor perjury charge; DPS begins termination proceedings and he is…
January 7
- 1952Lita McClinton SullivanLita LaVaughn McClinton is born into a prominent Atlanta family.
- 1980Kimberly LeachBundy's trial for Kimberly's kidnapping and murder begins in Orlando.
- 1982Philip TestaFrank Narducci, alleged in published accounts to have helped plan the bombing, is shot dead.
- 1983Mary Edith Silvani (Sheep's Flat Jane Doe)Curry dies by suicide in the Santa Clara County jail, one day after his arrest, before facing trial.
- 2009Oscar GrantGrant's funeral is held; a peaceful protest begins at Fruitvale Station.
- 2013Cornelia CrilleyHe is sentenced in Manhattan to 25 years to life.
- 2013Robin SamsoeAlcala is sentenced in New York for two murders to which he pleaded guilty in December 2012.
- 2019Marion Barter'The Lady Vanishes' podcast launches, uncovering new leads.
- 2020Jennifer DulosFotis Dulos is charged with murder, capital murder, and kidnapping; Troconis and Kent Mawhinney are charged…
- 2022Ahmaud ArberyState sentences: life without parole for both McMichaels; life with parole eligibility after 30 years for…
January 8
- 2007Shawn HornbeckBen Ownby, 13, is abducted in Franklin County; a schoolmate reports seeing a white pickup truck.
- 2009Oscar GrantEvening protests in downtown Oakland escalate into rioting, with over 100 arrests.
- 2016Brittany KillgoreJessica Lynn Lopez is sentenced to life in prison without parole.
- 2023Ana WalsheBrian Walshe is arrested and charged with misleading a police investigation as authorities question his…
- 2023Baby Victoria (daughter of Constance Marten & Mark Gordon)The couple reach East Sussex and begin living in a tent on the South Downs with the baby.
- 2024Colonial Parkway MurdersThe FBI and Virginia State Police announce that DNA evidence links Wilmer to the 1987 Knobling-Edwards…
- 2026Madeline KingsburyThe Minnesota Supreme Court hears arguments in Fravel's appeal.
January 9
- 1908Stanford WhiteThaw's second trial begins.
- 1947Elizabeth Short (The Black Dahlia)Short is last reliably seen; Robert "Red" Manley reports dropping her at the Biltmore Hotel in downtown Los…
- 1984Hillside Strangler VictimsBuono is sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
- 1991Aileen Wuornos VictimsWuornos is arrested at a biker bar in Volusia County, Florida, after being linked to the crimes through…
- 2021Patrick Warren Sr.According to the family, a mental health officer responds to a call at the Warren home and Patrick Warren Sr.
- 2023Emanuela OrlandiVatican announces its own investigation into the disappearance.
- 2023Katherine Ann Alston (Bedford Jane Doe)The New Hampshire Attorney General's Office and DNA Doe Project announce the identification of the Bedford…
- 2023Kent HeitholtErickson is released on parole from Boonville Correctional Center.
- 2026Katelyn MarkhamThe judge denies Carter's early release request.
January 10
- 1965Christine Sharrock & Marianne SchmidtA planned beach outing is postponed because of rain, according to ABC News.
- 1987The Connecticut River Valley KillerBarbara Agnew, 38, is found stabbed to death near Hartland, Vermont.
- 2019Jayme ClossJayme escapes captivity after 88 days; Jake Patterson arrested.
- 2020Rachel Louise CookeThe Williamson County Sheriff's Office Cold Case Unit releases new sketches of persons of interest.
- 2022Kathleen McCormack DurstDurst dies in custody in California before he can be tried on the New York charge.
- 2022Susan Berman, Kathleen Durst & Morris BlackDurst dies in custody in California at age 78, before the New York case is tried.
- 2023Tyre NicholsNichols dies at St. Francis Hospital.
January 11
- 1922Virginia RappeThe second trial begins.
- 1946Suzanne DegnanSuzanne Degnan's funeral is held.
- 1962James KinneSharon Kinne is convicted of murdering James Kinne and sentenced to life in prison.
- 1980Frank HilleyMarie Hilley is indicted for the murder of Frank Hilley.
- 2018James Chaney, Andrew Goodman & Michael SchwernerKillen dies in prison.
- 2021Rachel Louise CookeThe sheriff's office describes an unnamed person it is seeking, connected to the cattle or horse industry; a…
- 2022Young DolphSmith is indicted for first-degree murder; Justin Johnson is arrested in Indiana by U.S. Marshals.
January 12
- 1951Thera WilsonThera Wilson is born in Hartford, Connecticut, according to Cold Connecticut.
- 1965Christine Sharrock & Marianne SchmidtThe girls' bodies are found partly buried in the sand dunes at Wanda Beach.
- 1979Hillside Strangler VictimsKenneth Bianchi is arrested in Bellingham, Washington, in connection with two local murders, and is soon…
- 1995Bonnie GarlandHerrin is released from prison.
- 1999Mikelle BiggsA neighborhood block watch event for Mikelle is held about ten days after the disappearance, according to…
- 2004Terrance Williams & Felipe SantosTerrance Williams, 27, is last seen in North Naples after being placed in Calkins' patrol car.
- 2007Shawn HornbeckPolice find Shawn Hornbeck and Ben Ownby alive in Michael Devlin's St. Louis-area apartment and arrest Devlin.
- 2012Natalee HollowayAn Alabama court declares Natalee Holloway legally dead.
- 2022Sophie SergieTrial begins in Fairbanks.
- 2023Peter & Joan PorcoDefense attorneys file a CPL 440.10 motion to vacate the conviction.
- 2024Natalie McNallyMcCullagh pleads not guilty.
- 2025Christine Sharrock & Marianne SchmidtOn the 60th anniversary relatives speak to ABC News; NSW Police confirm the case remains open and the reward…
January 13
- 1953Joseph Augustus ZarelliJoseph Augustus Zarelli is born in the Philadelphia area.
- 1976Lisa Christine StaesLisa Staes, staying with a cousin in Oak Park, Illinois, is last seen alive after a night out in Chicago.
- 1987Helle CraftsThe state medical examiner issues a death certificate and Richard Crafts is arrested for murder.
- 1989Jacob Wetterling12-year-old Jared Scheierl is abducted and sexually assaulted in Cold Spring, Minnesota, in a case later…
- 1995Melissa WittHunters find her body on a logging trail in the Ozark National Forest, Franklin County; she had been…
- 2009Oscar GrantMehserle is arrested in Nevada after Alameda County prosecutors file a murder charge.
- 2012Natalee HollowayA Peruvian court sentences van der Sloot to 28 years for the murder of Stephany Flores, two days after his…
- 2014April JonesJudicial Office confirms Bridger has abandoned his application to appeal against sentence.
- 2017Laquan McDonaldThe U.S. Department of Justice issues a report finding a pattern of civil rights violations by the Chicago…
- 2021Amber HagermanOn the 25th anniversary, Arlington police renew their public appeal and announce plans to submit original…
- 2021Bobbie Jo StinnettAfter lengthy appeals and competency challenges, Montgomery is executed by lethal injection, the first…
- 2022Robert F. Kennedy AssassinationGovernor Gavin Newsom reverses the parole grant.
- 2026Amber HagermanOn the 30th anniversary, Arlington police issue a renewed plea for information; the case remains unsolved…
January 14
- 1940Mary Shotwell LittleMary Shotwell is born; she later works as a secretary at Citizens & Southern National Bank in Atlanta.
- 1949Somerton ManA suitcase belonging to the man is found at Adelaide Railway Station.
- 1955Carlene BrownCarlene Brown is born; she is adopted and raised in Rawlins, Wyoming.
- 1976Lisa Christine StaesA missing persons report is filed with Illinois authorities.
- 1986The Honolulu StranglerRegina Sakamoto, 17, disappears after missing her school bus in Waipahu and is later found strangled.
- 1992Aileen Wuornos VictimsWuornos's trial for the murder of Richard Mallory begins in Florida.
- 1997Daniel RobinsonDaniel Robinson is born; he later earns a geology degree from the College of Charleston in 2017.
- 2002Derrick Todd Lee VictimsGeralyn DeSoto is found killed in her home.
- 2013April JonesBridger pleads not guilty at Mold Crown Court.
- 2024Anthony "Big Jook" MimsMemphis police confirm the deceased victim as 47-year-old Anthony Mims and say surveillance video shows…
January 15
- 1976Barbara GibbonsA hearing on a motion for a new trial begins before Judge John Speziale.
- 1978Ted Bundy VictimsBundy attacks the Chi Omega sorority house at Florida State University in Tallahassee, killing Margaret…
- 2021Samantha Ann ClarkeOrange Police announce the case has been reclassified as an active abduction and murder investigation.
- 2025Teresa HalbachThe Wisconsin Court of Appeals again rejects Avery's request for an evidentiary hearing on his…
January 16
- 1991Aileen Wuornos VictimsWuornos confesses to the killings, maintaining that they were committed in self-defense against men who…
- 1998Roy Allen TsatokeRoy Allen Tsatoke is born; he grows up in Redding, California, and attends Shasta High School.
- 2002Myrna OpsahlWilliam Harris, Emily Montague and Michael Bortin are arrested; murder charges are filed against five former…
- 2007Lisa SteinbergA New York appellate court upholds a $15 million civil judgment for Lisa's birth mother.
- 2014Avonte OquendoHuman remains are found along the East River shoreline in College Point, Queens, near Powell Cove Boulevard.
- 2024Elizabeth Short (The Black Dahlia)On the case's 77th anniversary, reporting confirms it remains open but unlikely to be solved, with no…
- 2025Elizabeth BarrazaThe case is featured on the Crime Junkie podcast, renewing national attention.
- 2025Faith HedgepethAt a Durham homicide status hearing, the district attorney moves the case from administrative status into…
January 17
- 1996Amber HagermanAmber's body is found near an apartment complex in north Arlington, about four to five miles from the…
- 1999Anne Marie FaheyCapano convicted of murder; sentenced to death.
- 2006Tsutomu Miyazaki VictimsThe Supreme Court of Japan rejects his final appeal.
- 2019Laquan McDonaldOfficers David March, Joseph Walsh, and Thomas Gaffney are acquitted of conspiracy and related cover-up…
- 2023Amore Wiggins ("Opelika Jane Doe")Lamar and Ruth Vickerstaff are arrested in Jacksonville, Florida.
- 2024Lamar Johnson (Exoneration)Johnson sues the City of St. Louis and former police officers.
- 2025Audrii CunninghamMcDougal pleads guilty to capital murder and is sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
January 18
- 1967Boston Strangler VictimsDeSalvo is convicted and sentenced to life in prison for the earlier 'Green Man' sexual assaults, not for…
- 2001Tara Louise BakerTara Baker is last seen at the UGA law library and makes a final phone call around 9:46 p.m.
- 2008Peggy HettrickA special prosecutor announces that new DNA results point away from Masters and recommends his release.
- 2019Laquan McDonaldVan Dyke is sentenced to 81 months (about six years, nine months) in prison.
- 2023Ana WalsheBrian Walshe is charged in connection with Ana's death (murder and improper conveyance/disinterring a body)…
- 2023XXXTentacionJury selection begins in the trial of Boatwright, Williams and Newsome.
January 19
- 1991BTK Killer VictimsDolores Davis, 62, becomes BTK's tenth and final known victim, after Shirley Vian (1977), Marine Hedge…
- 1991Otero Family MurdersDolores Davis becomes the last of the ten victims.
- 2008Denise Amber LeeDenise Amber Lee's body is found in a shallow grave near a North Port canal; she had been sexually assaulted…
- 2013Oscar Grant'Fruitvale Station,' directed by Ryan Coogler, premieres at the Sundance Film Festival and wins the U.S.
- 2021Joe AndrianoThe U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona denies the habeas petition.
- 2023Amore Wiggins ("Opelika Jane Doe")Opelika police publicly identify the girl as Amore Joveah Wiggins and announce the charges.
- 2024Halyna Hutchins (Rust trial)A grand jury indicts Baldwin again on an involuntary manslaughter charge.
January 20
- 1931Judge Joseph Force CraterStella Crater finds envelopes with checks, securities and a note from her husband in their apartment.
- 2001Patty Hearst KidnappingPresident Bill Clinton grants Hearst a full pardon on his last day in office.
- 2006Oklahoma City Bombing VictimsMichael Fortier is released from federal prison after serving part of his 12-year sentence and enters the…
- 2009Darnell Donerson, Jason Hudson & Julian KingBalfour pleads not guilty to all charges.
- 2010Brian CarrickShane Lamb gives prosecutors a videotaped statement under an immunity agreement.
- 2021Sandra BirchmoreA friend of Birchmore's calls the Stoughton police department to report the relationship.
- 2026Colonial Parkway MurdersThe FBI Norfolk Field Office announces it has resolved the 1986 murders of Cathleen Thomas and Rebecca…
January 21
- 1947Elizabeth Short (The Black Dahlia)A caller claiming to be the killer contacts newspaper editor James Richardson, promising to turn himself in.
- 1965Jam Master JayJason Mizell is born.
- 1977Oakland County Child Killer VictimsKristine Mihelich's body is found on a rural road in Franklin Village.
- 1982Lisa AuHer abandoned Toyota is found on Kalanianaole Highway near Maunawili, apparently wiped clean.
- 2001Medgar EversBeckwith dies in custody at age 80.
- 2006Rachel & Lillian EntwistleNeil Entwistle flies from Boston to London on a one-way ticket; a first police check of the house that…
- 2014Avonte OquendoThe NYC Medical Examiner confirms via DNA testing that the remains are Avonte Oquendo's.
- 2016Alexander LitvinenkoInquiry concludes Putin probably approved assassination.
- 2016Daniel Holtzclaw VictimsHoltzclaw is sentenced to 263 years in prison.
- 2016Derrick Todd Lee VictimsLee dies at a hospital while under a death sentence.
- 2021Mia ZapataMezquia dies in a Washington hospital at age 66 while incarcerated.
- 2021Sumter County Does (Pamela Buckley & James Freund)At a press conference, the Sumter County Sheriff's Office announces the victims are Pamela Mae Buckley of…
- 2022Gabrielle PetitoFBI states that Laundrie's notebook contained written statements claiming responsibility for Petito's death.
- 2022James KinneShe dies of natural causes in Taber, Alberta, Canada, where she had lived since 1973 under the alias Diedra…
January 22
- 1957Barbara & Patricia GrimesThe sisters' bodies are found beside German Church Road near Willow Springs.
- 2006Rachel & Lillian EntwistlePolice find the bodies under bedding in the master bedroom.
- 2007Mickey & Trudy ThompsonGoodwin is convicted and sentenced to two consecutive life terms.
- 2007Robert Pickton VictimsThe jury trial on six counts begins.
- 2008Peggy HettrickA judge vacates the conviction and Masters is freed; charges are dismissed days later.
- 2015Garrett PhillipsA St. Lawrence County grand jury indicts Hillary a second time on a charge of second-degree murder.
- 2015Jessica DishonStanley Dishon enters Alford pleas to first-degree manslaughter and to sexual assault counts.
- 2018Barbara & Patricia GrimesCBS Chicago reports the Cook County Sheriff's Office is still investigating.
January 23
- 1907Stanford WhiteThaw's first murder trial begins in New York.
- 2002Daniel PearlDaniel Pearl, WSJ South Asia bureau chief, is abducted in Karachi, Pakistan, while going to a purported…
- 2006Jennifer KesseJennifer Kesse, 24, is in contact with family on the evening before her disappearance from her Orlando…
- 2022Lauren Smith-FieldsFamily and supporters march in Bridgeport on what would have been her 24th birthday.
- 2023Patricia Ann Tucker ("Granby Girl")Othram's genealogy work identifies a likely relative in Maryland, leading to Tucker's adult son, whose DNA…
- 2023Suzanne SevakisFloyd dies on Florida's death row, never having been charged in Suzanne Sevakis's death (date per Wikipedia).
- 2025John F. Kennedy AssassinationPresident Trump signs an executive order to declassify remaining files.
- 2025Meredith KercherThe Court of Cassation upholds Knox's conviction for falsely accusing Patrick Lumumba.
- 2025Robert F. Kennedy AssassinationAn executive order directs declassification of federal assassination records.
January 24
- 1947Elizabeth Short (The Black Dahlia)An envelope arrives at a newspaper containing Short's birth certificate, photos, and an address book…
- 1956Emmett TillBryant and Milam confess to the murder in a paid Look magazine interview, shielded by double jeopardy.
- 1980Dean and Tina ClouseTheir daughter, Holly Marie, is born.
- 1980Margaret Mary KilcoyneKilcoyne buys roughly $645 in groceries and about $200 in liquor on Nantucket, telling store staff she is…
- 1989Ann Marie BurrTed Bundy denies involvement before his execution.
- 1989FSU Chi Omega MurdersBundy is executed at Florida State Prison.
- 1989Kimberly LeachBundy is executed in the electric chair at Florida State Prison.
- 1989Ted Bundy VictimsBundy is executed in the electric chair at Florida State Prison in Raiford after confessing to about 30…
- 1989Ted Bundy Washington VictimsAfter confessing to investigators, Bundy is executed in Florida.
- 1995Nicole Brown Simpson & Ron GoldmanThe criminal trial opens in Los Angeles County Superior Court.
- 2011Anna Mae AquashGraham is sentenced to life without parole.
- 2022Cleo SmithKelly pleads guilty to child stealing.
- 2022Lauren Smith-FieldsThe Chief Medical Examiner rules the death an accident caused by fentanyl, promethazine, hydroxyzine and…
January 25
- 1971Charles Manson VictimsManson, Atkins, Krenwinkel and Van Houten are found guilty of first-degree murder.
- 1980Margaret Mary KilcoyneShe dines at her Tom Nevers home with her brother Leo and friends Richard and Grace Coffin — the last…
- 1990Ivan Milat (Backpacker Murders)British backpacker Paul Onions escapes from an armed driver on the Hume Highway near the Belanglo State…
- 2013Caylee AnthonyA Florida appellate court overturns two of the four false-information convictions on double jeopardy grounds.
- 2013Jill DandoThe High Court rejects George's claim for compensation.
- 2016Nique LeiliTrial begins in Gwinnett County.
- 2018Flora Fire VictimsIndianapolis Fire Department completes an outside review that agrees the fire was arson.
- 2021Elizabeth BarrazaOn the two-year anniversary, investigators release enhanced surveillance video showing the disguised suspect…
- 2022Elizabeth BarrazaThe reward is increased to $50,000; a detective says a person of interest was interviewed in Miami, Florida.
- 2023Maggie & Paul MurdaughThe murder trial begins in Walterboro, Colleton County.
January 26
- 1936Cleveland Torso MurdersRemains of Florence Polillo are discovered.
- 1947Elizabeth Short (The Black Dahlia)A note signed the "Black Dahlia Avenger" says the sender will turn himself in on January 29.
- 1965Waneta Hoyt ChildrenEric Hoyt dies at about three months old.
- 1977Dagmar HagelinHer friend Norma Burgos is detained by an ESMA task group, which then waits at the Burgos family home in El…
- 1994Steve Branch, Michael Moore & Christopher ByersJessie Misskelley Jr.'s trial begins.
- 2006Jennifer KesseHer 2004 Chevrolet Malibu is found at the Huntington on the Green apartment complex, about a mile from her…
- 2010Morgan HarringtonHarrington's remains are found at Anchorage Farm in southern Albemarle County.
- 2013Elisa LamElisa Lam, traveling alone, arrives in Los Angeles as part of a West Coast trip.
- 2019Elizabeth BarrazaBarraza is pronounced dead at a hospital from her injuries.
- 2023Tyre NicholsFive former officers are charged with second-degree murder and other state charges.
January 27
- 1957Barbara & Patricia GrimesEdward Bedwell is charged after signing a confession.
- 1966Beaumont ChildrenMassive police search begins; no trace of the children is found.
- 1974The DoodlerGerald Earl Cavanagh, 49, is stabbed to death at Ocean Beach, the first confirmed victim.
- 1992Aileen Wuornos VictimsWuornos is convicted of first-degree murder in Mallory's death.
- 2010New Bedford Highway Killer VictimsKenneth Ponte dies; he was never convicted of any crime connected to the killings.
- 2016Daniel PelkaKrezolek is found dead in his cell at HMP Full Sutton.
- 2020Saronno Hospital Patient Deaths (Leonardo Cazzaniga case)The Court of Assizes in Busto Arsizio convicts Cazzaniga on twelve of fifteen murder counts and sentences…
January 28
- 1936Bobby FranksLoeb dies after being attacked by another inmate at Stateville Penitentiary; the inmate is later acquitted.
- 2010Russell Williams VictimsJessica Lloyd, 27, of Belleville is last heard from in a late-evening text message; she does not arrive at…
- 2013Elisa LamLam checks into the Cecil Hotel (Stay on Main) in downtown Los Angeles.
- 2016Lauren SpiererThe FBI searches a property near Martinsville, Indiana, using cadaver dogs and excavation, but the search…
- 2017Flora Fire VictimsThe cause, first listed as undetermined, is reclassified as intentionally set, according to WRTV.
- 2020Jennifer DulosFotis Dulos attempts suicide by carbon monoxide poisoning at his Farmington home.
- 2021Daniel PearlPakistan's Supreme Court, 2-1, upholds the acquittals and orders the men released, dismissing government and…
- 2021Randy LeachRandy's father, Harold Leach, dies without learning his son's fate.
- 2021Serenity June DennardThe Pennington County Sheriff's Office formally suspends the physical search after some 220 operations by…
- 2023Tyre NicholsMemphis police disband the SCORPION unit.
- 2026Jill-Lyn EutoOn the 25th anniversary, police say the case remains unsolved and that no DNA profile was obtained from the…
January 29
- 1947Elizabeth Short (The Black Dahlia)The purported killer fails to appear; a follow-up note says he has changed his mind.
- 2001Jill-Lyn EutoHer mother finds her body in the apartment.
- 2019Dana Lynn Dodd (Lavender Doe)DNA Doe Project announces a tentative identification through genetic genealogy.
- 2024Jam Master JayThe trial of Washington and Jordan opens.
- 2024Maggie & Paul MurdaughA motion for a new trial based on alleged jury tampering by the court clerk is denied.
- 2025Leigh Marine OcchiThe MBI Cold Case Unit, Tupelo police, and FBI search near Leigh's former home with dogs, digging near a…
January 30
- 1977Son of Sam VictimsChristine Freund is shot and killed in Queens.
- 1989Lisa SteinbergJury acquits Steinberg of second-degree murder and convicts him of first-degree manslaughter.
- 1992Jeffrey Dahmer VictimsDahmer's trial begins in Milwaukee after he pleads guilty but insane; the jury must decide whether he was…
- 2014Meredith KercherA Florence appeal court convicts Knox and Sollecito again.
- 2019Ilene Beth MisheloffThirtieth anniversary; family and community hold the annual walk and Dublin police say the case is open and…
- 2020Jennifer DulosFotis Dulos dies without ever standing trial.
- 2024Ilene Beth MisheloffOn the 35th anniversary Dublin police state that the investigation continues; a $95,000 reward is reported.
- 2025Elizabeth BarrazaA memorial bench honoring Barraza is dedicated at Burroughs Park in Tomball, six years after her death; the…
January 31
- 1982Lisa AuA jogger finds her nude, decomposed body in a ravine off Tantalus Drive.
- 1982Susan Berman, Kathleen Durst & Morris BlackKathleen McCormack Durst, 29, disappears; she has never been found.
- 1992Aileen Wuornos VictimsWuornos is sentenced to death for Mallory's murder; further death sentences follow as she pleads to…
- 2008Sneha Anne PhilipA New York appeals court reverses a 2006 ruling and declares Philip a victim of the September 11 attacks.
- 2013Elisa LamLam is last seen alive on her scheduled checkout date; she fails to make her daily contact with her parents.
- 2017Sarah SternCurry meets McAtasney in Bradley Beach; the conversation is secretly recorded on video for investigators.
- 2019Laquan McDonaldA federal judge approves a consent decree mandating court-supervised reforms of the Chicago Police Department.
- 2026Richey EdwardsMissing Persons Support and his sister issue an anniversary appeal for information.