May in Cold Case History
49 documented cases began in May, listed by the day of the incident or disappearance (for a series, the first incident). 27 are still unsolved. Further down, 248 other dated developments recorded in May: arrests, verdicts, identifications and discoveries. For today's date, see on this day.
May 1
- 1990Pamela Smart (case)ConvictionGregg Smart, 24, was shot dead in his Derry, New Hampshire, condominium on May 1, 1990.
- 1994Victor Dwight Shoemaker Jr. ("J.R.")UnsolvedFive-year-old Victor Dwight Shoemaker Jr., known as "J.R.," vanished on May 1, 1994, while visiting his grandfather's home near…
- 2001Chandra LevyUnsolvedFederal intern Chandra Levy disappeared from Washington, D.C., in 2001. Her remains were found in Rock Creek Park a year later.
- 2010Shannan GilbertUnsolvedShannan Gilbert disappeared at Oak Beach, Long Island on May 1, 2010; the search for her led to the discovery of the Gilgo Beach…
- 2023Jordan NeelyNo ConvictionJordan Neely, a 30-year-old homeless man experiencing a mental health crisis on a New York City subway train, died after being…
May 2
- 1995Kiplyn DavisPartially SolvedKiplyn Davis, 15, vanished from her Spanish Fork, Utah high school in 1995.
May 3
- 2002Alexis PattersonUnsolvedSeven-year-old Alexis Patterson vanished on the morning of May 3, 2002, after her stepfather walked her toward Hi-Mount…
- 2007Madeleine McCannUnsolvedThree-year-old Madeleine McCann disappeared on May 3, 2007, from a holiday apartment in Praia da Luz, Portugal, while her…
- 2010Yeardley LoveConvictionUniversity of Virginia lacrosse player Yeardley Love was beaten to death in her Charlottesville apartment by her ex-boyfriend…
May 4
- 1984Vernon County Jane DoeUnsolvedOn May 4, 1984, three teenagers found the body of an unidentified middle-aged woman beside a rural road near Westby, Wisconsin.
- 2001Bonny Lee BakleyUnsolvedBonny Lee Bakley, 44, was shot on May 4, 2001, while sitting in a parked car near Vitello's restaurant in Studio City, Los…
- 2007Kara KopetskyConvictionKara Kopetsky, 17, disappeared after leaving Belton High School in Missouri on May 4, 2007.
May 5
- 1993Steve Branch, Michael Moore & Christopher ByersPartially SolvedThree eight-year-old boys were murdered in West Memphis, Arkansas, in May 1993.
May 6
- 1966Moors Murders VictimsConvictionIan Brady and Myra Hindley killed five children and teenagers in the Manchester area between July 1963 and October 1965, burying…
May 8
- 1981Tammy MahoneyUnsolvedTammy Mahoney, a 19-year-old SUNY Morrisville student, vanished on May 8, 1981 after hitchhiking near Route 46 in Oneida, New…
May 10
- 1986Kimberly Ann MoreauUnsolvedSeventeen-year-old Kimberly Moreau vanished after a night out with acquaintances in the Jay and Livermore Falls area of Maine in…
- 2020Suzanne MorphewPending TrialSuzanne Morphew, 49, disappeared on Mother's Day, May 10, 2020, in Chaffee County, Colorado.
May 11
- 2011Timmothy PitzenUnsolvedSix-year-old Timmothy Pitzen vanished after his mother pulled him out of school in Aurora, Illinois, and took him on a multi-day…
May 14
- 2008Brandon Victor SwansonUnsolvedBrandon Swanson, 19, drove his car into a ditch on a rural gravel road in the early hours of May 14, 2008, while driving home to…
May 15
- 1930Mary Agnes MoroneyUnsolvedTwo-year-old Mary Agnes Moroney was taken from her family's South Side Chicago apartment on May 15, 1930 by a woman using the…
May 16
- 2003Blue Ridge Savings Bank MurdersUnsolvedThree people were shot dead during a robbery of the Blue Ridge Savings Bank in Greer, South Carolina, on May 16, 2003: teller…
- 2006Rey RiveraUnsolvedRey Rivera, a 32-year-old writer and videographer, vanished from his Baltimore home in May 2006 after a phone call and was found…
May 17
- 1968Barbara Ann Hackmann Taylor ("Tent Girl")UnsolvedOn May 17, 1968, a well digger found the decomposing body of a young woman wrapped in a green canvas tarp along U.S.
- 2001Alissa TurneyNo ConvictionAlissa Turney, 17, disappeared in Phoenix on May 17, 2001, the last day of her junior year at Paradise Valley High School, and…
May 19
- 1983Diane Downs ChildrenConvictionSeven-year-old Cheryl Downs was shot dead and her siblings Christie, 8, and Danny, 3, were badly wounded on a rural road near…
- 2003Jason Johnson (Camoflauge)UnsolvedRapper Jason Akeil Johnson, 21, who performed as Camoflauge, was shot on May 19, 2003, outside the Pure Pain Records studio on…
- 2004Sarah FoxUnsolvedSarah Fox, a 21-year-old drama student at the Juilliard School, disappeared on May 19, 2004, after leaving her Inwood apartment…
May 21
- 1924Bobby FranksConvictionFourteen-year-old Bobby Franks was abducted and killed in Chicago on May 21, 1924, by Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb, two…
May 22
- 2004Oakey 'Al' KiteUnsolvedOakey Albert "Al" Kite Jr., a 53-year-old engineering consultant, was found bound and stabbed to death in the basement of his…
May 23
- 1918New Orleans Axeman VictimsUnsolvedAn unidentified attacker known as the Axeman struck homes in and around New Orleans between May 1918 and October 1919, killing…
May 24
- 1990Paige Marie RenkoskiUnsolvedPaige Renkoski, a 30-year-old substitute teacher from Okemos, Michigan, vanished on May 24, 1990.
- 1996Julianne Williams & Lollie WinansSolvedJulianne "Julie" Williams, 24, and Laura "Lollie" Winans, 26, were found dead at their campsite near Skyland Resort in…
- 2012Jun LinConvictionLuka Magnotta murdered Chinese international student Jun Lin in Montreal, dismembered him, and mailed body parts to political…
- 2019Jennifer DulosConvictionJennifer Dulos, 50, disappeared from New Canaan, Connecticut, on May 24, 2019, amid a contentious divorce.
May 25
- 1975Frank HilleyConvictionFrank Hilley died on May 25, 1975, in a death first attributed to infectious hepatitis.
- 1979Etan PatzConvictionSix-year-old Etan Patz was one of the first missing children to appear on a milk carton when he disappeared walking to school in…
- 1991Timothy WiltseyNo ConvictionFive-year-old Timothy Wiltsey vanished from a carnival in Sayreville, New Jersey, in May 1991, and his skeletal remains were…
- 1996Kristin SmartConvictionCal Poly freshman Kristin Smart disappeared after a party near campus. Fellow student Paul Flores was the last person seen with…
- 2013Officer Jason EllisUnsolvedBardstown police officer Jason Ellis, 33, was ambushed and killed with a 12-gauge shotgun in the early morning of May 25, 2013…
- 2020George FloydConvictionGeorge Floyd died on May 25, 2020, after Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin knelt on his neck for more than nine minutes…
May 27
- 1990Susan NegersmithUnsolvedSusan Negersmith, 20, of Carmel, New York, was found dead behind a Wildwood, New Jersey, restaurant on May 27, 1990.
- 1994Jenny LinUnsolvedFourteen-year-old Jenny Lin was stabbed to death in her family's home in Castro Valley, California, on May 27, 1994; her father…
- 2000Claudia KirschhochUnsolvedClaudia Kirschhoch, a 29-year-old New York travel writer and editor with Frommer's Travel Guides, disappeared in Negril…
- 2003Derrick Todd Lee VictimsConvictionDerrick Todd Lee was convicted in 2004 of murdering Geralyn DeSoto and Charlotte Murray Pace and was sentenced to death for the…
May 28
- 1980Dorothy Jane ScottUnsolvedDorothy Jane Scott, 32, vanished from the parking lot of UC Irvine Medical Center in Orange County, California, on the night of…
May 29
- 1925Percy Fawcett ExpeditionUnsolvedBritish explorer Colonel Percy Fawcett, his son Jack, and friend Raleigh Rimmell disappeared in the Brazilian Amazon while…
May 30
- 2005Natalee HollowayNo ConvictionNatalee Holloway, 18, of Alabama, disappeared in Aruba on May 30, 2005, after leaving a nightclub with Joran van der Sloot and…
- 2012Brittney WoodUnsolvedBrittney Nicole Wood, 19, was last seen on May 30, 2012, leaving west Mobile, Alabama, with her uncle Donnie Holland, who was…
May 31
- 1985Shari SmithConvictionSeventeen-year-old Shari Faye Smith was abducted at gunpoint from the end of her family's driveway in Lexington County, South…
Other developments recorded in May
Show 248 dated developments
May 1
- 1919New Orleans Axeman VictimsLouis Besumer is acquitted of murdering Harriet Lowe.
- 1984Helen BrachHelen declared legally dead.
- 1991Peter Boy KemaPeter Kema Jr. is born.
- 1997Sofia Silva, Kristin Lisk & Kati LiskKristin Lisk, 15, and Kati Lisk, 12, are abducted from the front yard of their home.
- 200116th Street Baptist Church Bombing VictimsBlanton is convicted of four counts of first-degree murder.
- 2004Etan PatzA civil court awards Etan's parents a $2 million wrongful-death judgment against early suspect Jose Ramos…
- 2007Lisa StebicA neighbor reports her missing, according to ABC7 Chicago.
- 2013Lauren SpiererRobert and Charlene Spierer file a civil negligence lawsuit in Indiana against three men who were with their…
- 2014Alexis MurphyTaylor's trial begins in Nelson County Circuit Court.
- 2015Freddie GrayThe medical examiner rules the death a homicide, and State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby announces charges…
- 2016Terri 'Missy' BeversPolice release images of a Nissan Altima seen driving suspiciously near the church around 2 a.m.
- 2017Lisa StebicOn the tenth anniversary, the family says a $75,000 reward remains on offer.
- 2024Dau MabilThe judge rules that wife Karissa Bowley is next of kin with authority over the remains and dismisses Bul…
May 2
- 1949James Byrd Jr.James Byrd Jr. is born.
- 2005Jessica LunsfordFlorida Governor Jeb Bush signs the Jessica Lunsford Act ('Jessica's Law') into law, establishing 25-year…
- 2017Walter ScottSlager pleads guilty in federal court to deprivation of rights under color of law; in exchange, the state…
- 2019Ashley EllerinGargiulo's trial opens in Los Angeles Superior Court; Kutcher testifies later that month.
- 2019Maleah DavisSurveillance video shows Derion Vence leaving the apartment with two boys but not Maleah, according to ABC13.
- 2022Yeardley LoveA jury finds Huguely liable and awards Love's family $15 million in compensatory damages.
May 3
- 1946Texarkana Moonlight MurdersVirgil Starks is shot dead at his farmhouse in Miller County, Arkansas; his wife Katie is wounded and…
- 1992I-70 Killer VictimsNancy Kitzmiller, 24, is shot dead at a boot store in St. Charles, Missouri.
- 1997Gianni VersaceThe body of architect David Madson is found near Rush Lake, Minnesota; he had been shot.
- 2000Diane SuzukiHonolulu Star-Bulletin reports the case stalled for lack of evidence.
- 2022Alexis PattersonFamily and supporters gather at Hi-Mount to mark 20 years since the disappearance.
May 4
- 1971Erin Marie GilbertErin Marie Gilbert is born in Everett, Washington.
- 1997Gianni VersaceReal-estate developer Lee Miglin is killed at his Chicago home; his vehicle is stolen.
- 2010Yeardley LoveGeorge Huguely V, a UVA men's lacrosse player and Love's former boyfriend, is charged with murder.
- 2018Martha MoxleyThe Connecticut Supreme Court vacates Skakel's conviction, finding his trial lawyer failed to present an…
- 2019Maleah DavisVence reports Maleah missing, saying she was taken after he was attacked on a roadside.
- 2022Brittanee DrexelRaymond Moody is taken into custody as the investigation reaches a breakthrough.
May 5
- 1992Hanna HarrisHanna Harris is born; May 5 is later chosen as the MMIW awareness date in honor of her birthday.
- 2016Grim Sleeper VictimsA jury convicts Franklin of 10 counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder.
- 2017Chandra LevyGuandique, released into immigration custody after the dismissal, is deported to El Salvador.
- 2017Diane AugatPatch reports that Pasco County cold-case detectives are seeking new leads and that a reward is offered.
- 2019Maleah DavisAn Amber Alert is issued.
- 2020Ahmaud ArberyCellphone video of the shooting is released publicly.
- 2021Suzanne MorphewBarry Morphew is arrested and charged in connection with his wife's death, including first-degree murder…
- 2022Brittanee DrexelMoody confesses during an FBI interview and leads authorities toward Brittanee's remains.
- 2022Sharon Lee GallegosAuthorities identify her as Sharon Lee Gallegos through DNA genealogy.
- 2023Connie RidgewayWhite pleads guilty to first-degree escape and is sentenced to life.
- 2026Tanya Jackson ("Peaches")A judge orders Dykes to provide a new DNA sample for comparison, Newsday reports.
May 6
- 1885The Servant Girl Annihilator (Austin Axe Murders)Servant Eliza Shelley is killed in a nighttime attack.
- 1925Dr. John Bayard BrittonJohn Bayard Britton is born in Boston, Massachusetts.
- 1974Ted Bundy Washington VictimsRoberta Kathleen Parks, 20, disappears from Oregon State University in Corvallis.
- 1989Mark KilroyAdolfo Constanzo killed during a police standoff in Mexico City.
- 1993Steve Branch, Michael Moore & Christopher ByersThe boys' bodies are found bound and beaten in a drainage ditch in the Robin Hood Hills woods.
- 1997Sofia Silva, Kristin Lisk & Kati LiskThe sisters' bodies are found in the South Anna River, about 40 miles away.
- 2001Chandra LevyLevy's parents, unable to reach her, prompt D.C. police to open a missing-person investigation.
- 2013Ariel Castro VictimsAmanda Berry escapes with her daughter and calls 911; police free Knight and DeJesus and arrest Castro the…
- 2020Barbara BlatnikCuyahoga Falls police arrest James Zastawnik, 67, of Cleveland.
- 2022Beverly Lynn SmithThe Prime Video docuseries 'The Unsolved Murder of Beverly Lynn Smith' is released.
- 2024Keeshae JacobsRichmond Police inform the family that Keeshae is dead; a memorial service is held days later.
- 2026Harmony MontgomeryA judge enters a $15.5 million default judgment against him in a wrongful death lawsuit.
- 2026Maddie CliftonPhillips files notice withdrawing his sentence review application, citing a need for professional counseling.
May 7
- 1992I-70 Killer VictimsSarah Blessing, 37, is shot dead at a gift shop in Raytown, Missouri.
- 2009Stacy PetersonDrew Peterson is indicted for the murder of Kathleen Savio; bail is set at $20 million.
- 2019Mary Edith Silvani (Sheep's Flat Jane Doe)The Washoe County Sheriff's Office publicly identifies Silvani and names James Richard Curry as her killer…
- 2020Ahmaud ArberyThe GBI takes over the case and arrests Travis and Gregory McMichael.
- 2020Barbara BlatnikZastawnik pleads not guilty at arraignment in Stow Municipal Court; bond is set at $1 million.
- 2025Tyre NicholsState jury acquits Bean, Haley and Smith of all charges.
May 8
- 1911Elsie ParoubekHer body is recovered from the drainage canal near the Lockport power plant (some accounts give May 9).
- 1963Boston Strangler VictimsBeverly Samans, 23, is found dead, continuing the series of Greater Boston killings.
- 1978Son of Sam VictimsBerkowitz pleads guilty to the shootings after being found competent to stand trial.
- 1987Vicki Lynne HoskinsonAtwood is sentenced to death.
- 2013Ariel Castro VictimsBerry and DeJesus return to their families amid crowds of supporters.
- 2014Alexis MurphyA jury convicts Taylor of first-degree murder in the commission of an abduction and abduction with intent to…
- 2015Etan PatzHernandez's first trial ends in a mistrial after the jury deadlocks, reportedly 11-to-1 for conviction.
- 2018"Lyle Stevik" (John Doe)Authorities announce "Lyle Stevik" has been identified; his real name is withheld at the family's request.
- 2018Emma WalkerA jury finds Gaul guilty of first-degree murder and other counts; he is sentenced to life with parole…
- 2023Eric RichinsKouri Richins arrested and charged with aggravated murder.
- 2023Gannon StauchJury rejects the insanity defense and finds Stauch guilty on all counts; she is sentenced to life without…
- 2023Tammy MahoneyFBI and New York State Police announce additional investigators and resources for the case.
- 2026Dan & Linda BroderickBetty Broderick dies at an outside hospital while still in state custody, aged 78.
May 9
- 1997Gianni VersaceCemetery caretaker William Reese is shot dead in Pennsville Township, New Jersey; his red pickup truck is…
- 2000Bear Brook Murders (Allenstown Four)A second drum is discovered about 300 feet from the first site, containing the remains of two more young…
- 2006Cecilia ZhangChen pleads guilty to second-degree murder in Brampton; the agreed facts describe a ransom plot.
- 2022Connie RidgewayThe pair are caught in Evansville, Indiana; Vicky White dies of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
- 2024Harmony MontgomeryHe is sentenced to a minimum of 56 years in prison on the murder and related charges.
- 2024Lily Janelle (Frenchville Baby Jane Doe)Daigle's appeal of her sentence is argued before the Maine Supreme Judicial Court.
May 10
- 1928Mary Agnes MoroneyMary Agnes Moroney is born in Chicago.
- 1994John Wayne Gacy VictimsGacy is executed by lethal injection at Stateville Correctional Center.
- 2002Tristan BrübachPolice begin a voluntary fingerprint screening of men from six western Frankfurt districts.
- 2004Emmett TillThe DOJ reopens the case; Till's body is later exhumed and autopsied.
- 2010Sandra CantuHuckaby pleads guilty to first-degree murder and kidnapping under an agreement that removes the death…
- 2021Wayne Nance VictimsMissoula County Sheriff's Office announces 'Christy Crystal Creek' is Janet Lee Lucas, 23, of Spokane.
- 2022Orsolya GaalBonola is arraigned in Queens Supreme Court on a 13-count indictment including murder and burglary charges.
- 2023Sarah YarboroughNicholas is convicted of first- and second-degree murder with sexual motivation.
May 11
- 1990Lisa BiancoMatheney is sentenced to death for murder and burglary.
- 1999Lena ChapinGary McCullough, Lena Chapin's stepfather, disappears from a ranch outside Cassville, Missouri.
- 2012Darnell Donerson, Jason Hudson & Julian KingA Cook County jury finds Balfour guilty on all seven counts, including three counts of first-degree murder…
- 2012Sherri RasmussenLazarus is sentenced to 27 years to life in prison.
- 2016Abigail HernandezKibby pleads guilty to seven felony counts, including kidnapping and aggravated felonious sexual assault…
- 2016Abigail HernandezKibby is sentenced to 45 to 90 years in state prison with mandatory sex-offender treatment; Abby delivers a…
- 2016Walter ScottA federal grand jury indicts Slager on civil-rights and related charges, including deprivation of rights…
- 2019Maleah DavisVence is arrested and charged with tampering with evidence, namely a human corpse.
- 2022Brittanee DrexelHuman remains are recovered from a buried site near Georgetown, about 30 miles from where Brittanee…
May 12
- 1911Elsie ParoubekHer funeral is held at the family home, attended by thousands; she is buried at Bohemian National Cemetery.
- 1932Charles Lindbergh Jr.The child's body is discovered in woods a few miles from the Lindbergh home; an autopsy attributes death to…
- 1975The DoodlerFrederick Elmer Capin, 32, is found stabbed to death.
- 2009Serenity June DennardSerenity June Dennard is born; she later passes through multiple foster placements before adoption.
- 2009Susan ReinertJay C. Smith dies at age 80.
- 2020Scott JohnsonScott White is arrested and charged with murder.
- 2023Tylee Ryan & Joshua 'JJ' VallowAn Idaho jury finds Lori Vallow Daybell guilty of murdering Tylee and JJ and conspiring to murder Tammy…
May 13
- 1963Julie Doe (Pamela Leigh Walton)Pamela Leigh Walton is born in Kentucky; she is later adopted as a young child and given the name Lee Allen…
- 1972Marc AllenMarc James-Warren Allen II is born.
- 1977Lisa Christine StaesThe victim is positively identified through dental records as Lisa C. Staes of Leawood, Kansas.
- 2008Brandon Victor SwansonSwanson celebrates the last day of the semester at gatherings in Canby, Minnesota, then leaves for the…
- 2011Timmothy PitzenTimmothy is last seen on surveillance video at the Kalahari Resort in Wisconsin Dells around 10:00 a.m.
- 2014Claudia LawrenceA 59-year-old man is arrested on suspicion of murder; he is bailed and later released without charge.
- 2014Wah Mee Club MassacreTony Ng, paroled in October 2013 after about 28 years, is deported to Hong Kong.
- 2025Emily PikeGovernor Katie Hobbs signs House Bill 2281, 'Emily's Law,' creating the Turquoise Alert system for missing…
- 2025José & Kitty MenéndezJudge Michael Jesic resentences both brothers to 50 years to life, making them eligible for parole.
- 2026Eric RichinsKouri Richins sentenced to life in prison without parole.
- 2026Maggie & Paul MurdaughThe South Carolina Supreme Court unanimously overturns the murder convictions and orders a new trial.
May 14
- 1966Diane SuzukiDiane Yayoe Suzuki is born in Hawaii.
- 2010Amber DuboisGardner is sentenced to two consecutive terms of life without the possibility of parole, plus additional…
- 2010Chelsea KingJudge David Danielsen sentences Gardner to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the two…
- 2011Timmothy PitzenAmy Fry-Pitzen is found dead by suicide at a motel in the Rockford, Illinois area, leaving a note saying…
- 2012Emanuela OrlandiTomb in Sant'Apollinare basilica excavated; no remains found.
- 2026Richard Glossip (case)Judge Mai sets bond at $500,000 and Glossip is released from the Oklahoma County jail.
May 15
- 2007Madeleine McCannPortuguese police give Robert Murat arguido (formal suspect) status.
- 2008Brandon Victor SwansonUsing cell phone records, investigators narrow his location and find his undamaged Chevrolet Lumina near…
- 2014Garrett PhillipsOral "Nick" Hillary, a Clarkson University soccer coach and former boyfriend of Garrett's mother, is…
- 2017Moors Murders VictimsIan Brady dies at Ashworth Hospital aged 79.
- 2026Peter Nygard VictimsThe Ontario Court of Appeal unanimously dismisses Nygard's appeal of his convictions and sentence.
- 2026Young DolphCornelius Smith pleads guilty to second-degree murder and is sentenced to 20 years.
May 16
- 1974Patty Hearst KidnappingHearst fires a weapon outside Mel's Sporting Goods in Los Angeles to aid the escape of SLA members William…
- 1999Lena ChapinMcCullough's truck is found on a dead-end road.
- 2002Daniel PearlPearl's remains are discovered buried on the outskirts of Karachi.
- 2005Samantha RunnionThe jury returns a verdict recommending the death penalty.
- 2012Susan PowellSteven Powell is convicted of voyeurism for secretly photographing two young neighbor girls; he is later…
- 2019Angie DodgePolice announce the arrest of Brian Leigh Dripps Sr. after a genetic genealogy lead and a DNA match from a…
- 2022Brittanee DrexelThe remains are confirmed to be Brittanee Drexel through DNA and dental records; Moody is charged with…
- 2024Lily Janelle (Frenchville Baby Jane Doe)The Maine Supreme Judicial Court upholds the manslaughter sentence.
May 17
- 1945Jane BrittonJane Britton is born.
- 1974Patty Hearst KidnappingSix SLA members, including leader Donald DeFreeze, die in a televised police shootout and fire at a Los…
- 1996Megan KankaPresident Bill Clinton signs the federal Megan's Law.
- 1999Elizabeth Short (The Black Dahlia)George Hodel, a long-discussed suspect who was never charged, dies at age 91.
- 2007Anthony Sowell VictimsCrystal Dozier, the earliest identified victim, is last seen; her disappearance is among those relatives say…
- 2021Mollie TibbettsTrial begins in Davenport after a change of venue and pandemic delays.
- 2023Idaho Student MurdersA grand jury indicts Kohberger on the murder and burglary charges.
- 2023Officer Jason EllisAhead of the 10th anniversary, Bardstown police announce the reward for information leading to an arrest has…
May 18
- 2004Oakey 'Al' KiteA man calling himself Robert Cooper meets Kite, pays rent and moves in.
- 2018Lynette Dawson'The Teacher's Pet' podcast launches, attracting millions of listeners.
- 2018Sergei & Yulia Skripal PoisoningSergei Skripal is discharged from hospital.
- 2023Dru SjodinRodriguez is resentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
- 2023Karla BrownThe Illinois Supreme Court rejects the due process and actual innocence claims and remands three other claims.
- 2026Elijah VueA judge denies Vang's request for a change of venue or an outside jury.
- 2026Jennifer DulosA judge denies Michelle Troconis's habeas petition seeking a new trial on ineffective-counsel grounds; her…
May 19
- 1953Debra Jan Masters BakerDebra Jan Masters is born in San Angelo, Texas.
- 1977Rico HarrisRico Omarr Harris is born in Los Angeles; he later becomes a standout junior-college basketball player and…
- 1996Julianne Williams & Lollie WinansWilliams and Winans enter Shenandoah National Park for a camping trip.
- 2021Somerton ManThe body is exhumed for DNA testing.
- 2025Teekah LewisActing on a tip, Tacoma police spend three days searching a home in the 3200 block of South Gunnison Street…
May 20
- 1937Amelia EarhartEarhart and navigator Fred Noonan depart Oakland, California, in a Lockheed Electra 10E to attempt a…
- 2005Jeff Davis 8 VictimsLoretta Lynn Chaisson Lewis, 28, is found floating in a canal on the outskirts of Jennings, the first of the…
May 21
- 2013Susan PowellWest Valley City police end the active investigation, release case files, and state their belief that Josh…
- 2020Ahmaud ArberyWilliam "Roddie" Bryan is arrested.
May 22
- 1885The Servant Girl Annihilator (Austin Axe Murders)Irene Cross is attacked and murdered.
- 1924Bobby FranksThe body is discovered; a ransom letter demanding $10,000 reaches the family; eyeglasses are found near the…
- 1981Atlanta Child Murders VictimsPolice staking out a bridge over the Chattahoochee River report hearing a splash; Wayne Williams is stopped…
- 1981Barbara Louise CottonFrank Delapeña, later named a person of interest, dies by suicide in a Colorado jail after being arrested…
- 1981Yorkshire Ripper (death)He is convicted at the Central Criminal Court of 13 murders and seven attempted murders and given 20…
- 1994Ivan Milat (Backpacker Murders)Police arrest Ivan Milat at his home in Eagle Vale, Sydney.
- 1997Denise HuberAn Orange County jury convicts Famalaro of first-degree murder with special circumstances; he is later…
- 200216th Street Baptist Church Bombing VictimsCherry is convicted of four counts of first-degree murder.
- 2002Chandra LevyA man walking his dog discovers Levy's skeletal remains in Rock Creek Park; they are identified through…
- 2018Ebby Jane SteppachCold case investigators conducting follow-up work discover skeletal remains in an underground drainage pipe…
May 23
- 1908Bobby DunbarRobert Clarence 'Bobby' Dunbar is born in Opelousas, Louisiana.
- 1982Coral Eugene Watts VictimsWatts is arrested in Houston after attacking two women, who survive.
- 1988Phoenix ColdonPhoenix Coldon is born, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol bulletin.
- 2012Phoenix ColdonHuffPost reports on her 24th birthday that the family has exhausted its savings searching for her.
- 2016Freddie GrayOfficer Edward Nero is acquitted on all charges in a bench trial.
- 2017Officer Jason EllisFigo, Ellis' retired K-9 partner who had been living with the family, dies two days before the fourth…
- 2018Ebby Jane SteppachThe Arkansas State Crime Lab confirms the remains are Steppach's; her death is later classified as a homicide.
- 2023Madeleine McCannPortuguese, German and British police begin a search at the Arade dam, about 30 miles from Praia da Luz.
- 2025Halyna Hutchins (Rust trial)Gutierrez-Reed is released from prison on parole.
May 24
- 1974Barbara GibbonsReilly is sentenced to six to sixteen years in prison.
- 1981Alisha Heinrich (Delta Dawn)Alisha Ann Heinrich is born in Missouri.
- 1981Atlanta Child Murders VictimsThe body of Nathaniel Cater, 27, is recovered from the Chattahoochee River downstream from the bridge.
- 2000Claudia KirschhochKirschhoch arrives in Jamaica from New York with a group of travel writers bound for Cuba; the Cuba trip is…
- 2004Oakey 'Al' KiteCo-workers alert police after he misses work; officers find his body.
- 2006Rey RiveraRivera's decomposed body is discovered in a Belvedere Hotel annex conference room beneath a hole in the roof.
- 2011Caylee AnthonyOpening statements begin in Casey Anthony's murder trial in Orlando.
- 2012Etan PatzPolice announce the arrest of Pedro Hernandez, who they say confessed to killing Etan in 1979.
- 2017Cari FarverA judge finds Golyar guilty of first-degree murder and second-degree arson at a bench trial.
- 2019Jayme ClossPatterson sentenced to two consecutive life sentences.
- 2022Kelly (El Dorado Jane Doe)Forensic specialist Yolanda McClary announces the identification; only the first name, Kelly, is released.
- 2022Vicki Lynne HoskinsonArizona's clemency board unanimously denies clemency.
May 25
- 1966Mary Ellen DeenerEubanks is convicted of murder committed during the perpetration of rape.
- 1983Etan PatzPresident Ronald Reagan designates May 25 as National Missing Children's Day, marking the anniversary of…
- 2000Jill DandoBarry George is arrested; he is charged with murder days later.
- 2004Sarah FoxA volunteer searcher finds Fox's body in a secluded wooded area of Inwood Hill Park; she had been strangled.
- 2005Robert Pickton VictimsPickton stands charged with the first-degree murder of 27 women.
- 2010Etan PatzManhattan DA Cyrus Vance Jr. officially reopens the investigation.
- 2011Elizabeth SmartMitchell is sentenced to life in federal prison without the possibility of parole.
- 2022Daniel BrophyNancy Brophy convicted of murder.
- 2026Officer Jason EllisThirteen years after the ambush, the murder of Officer Jason Ellis remains unsolved and the FBI continues to…
May 26
- 1990Susan NegersmithSusan Negersmith spends the evening with friends in Wildwood during Memorial Day weekend.
- 2005Natalee HollowayNatalee Holloway arrives in Aruba with classmates on a graduation trip.
- 2017Todd Kohlhepp VictimsKohlhepp pleads guilty to seven counts of murder plus kidnapping and sexual assault; he is sentenced to…
- 2020George FloydThe four officers are fired; protests over Floyd's death begin in Minneapolis and spread nationally and…
May 27
- 1960James KinneThe body of Patricia Jones, wife of a man Sharon Kinne had been seeing, is found outside Kansas City; Sharon…
- 1966Mary Ellen DeenerEubanks is sentenced to death.
- 1968Alice CrimminsFirst trial ends with a first-degree manslaughter conviction; sentence of 5 to 20 years.
- 1984Jessie FosterJessica Edith Louise Foster is born; she grows up in Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada.
- 1988New Bedford Highway Killer VictimsDebra Medeiros, 29, disappears from New Bedford.
- 2021Maleah DavisVence pleads guilty to injury to a child and tampering with a corpse and is sentenced to 40 years in prison.
- 2025Mary Ellen DeenerU.S. Marshals release updated age-progression images of Eubanks.
May 28
- 1998Angie DodgeA jury finds Tapp guilty of murder and rape.
- 2002Chandra LevyThe medical examiner officially rules Levy's death a homicide.
- 2002Penney SerraA New Haven jury convicts Grant of murder based on fingerprint and DNA evidence.
- 2012Jessica RidgewayAustin Sigg, 17, attempts to abduct a 22-year-old woman jogging near Ketner Lake in Westminster; she escapes…
- 2020Dean Corll VictimsDavid Brooks dies in prison of complications from COVID-19 at age 65.
- 2020Valerie MackSuffolk County police announce that the remains are those of Valerie Mack.
- 2021Mollie TibbettsThe jury finds Bahena Rivera guilty of first-degree murder.
May 29
- 1931Starr FaithfullFaithfull is removed from the liner Franconia at a New York pier before it sails.
- 1980Dorothy Jane ScottHer Toyota station wagon is found burning in an alley at about 4:30 a.m.
- 2002Donnah WingerMark Winger convicted of two counts of first-degree murder; later sentenced to life without parole.
- 2009Chris Benoit Family MurdersDr. Phil Astin, Benoit's physician, was sentenced in federal court after pleading guilty to illegally…
- 2024Laci PetersonA judge grants limited new DNA testing on a piece of duct tape associated with the case while denying…
- 2024Matthew Isaac Doe (Northfield Baby Boy Doe)Vermont State Police announce the case is resolved. Washington County State's Attorney Michelle Donnelly…
- 2025Holly BranaganNBC10 reports that the district attorney and Bethlehem police, working with the Cold Case Foundation, have…
May 30
- 1943Josef Mengele (fugitive)Mengele is assigned to Auschwitz as a camp physician, according to the US Holocaust Memorial Museum.
- 1946Nancy Leichner & Pamela NaterPamela Ann Nater is born; she later lives in Clearwater, Florida, and is engaged to be married after…
- 1977Son of Sam VictimsA letter signed 'Son of Sam' is sent to Daily News columnist Jimmy Breslin, intensifying media coverage.
- 1997Megan KankaA jury finds Timmendequas guilty of murder, kidnapping and aggravated sexual assault.
- 2010Natalee HollowayVan der Sloot kills Stephany Flores, 21, in a hotel in Lima, Peru.
- 2013April JonesJury finds Bridger guilty of abduction, murder and perverting the course of justice; he is given a…
- 2013Officer Jason EllisEllis' funeral is held at Parkway Baptist Church in Bardstown, followed by burial at Highview Cemetery in…
- 2017Philando CastileYanez's criminal trial begins in Ramsey County District Court before Judge William H. Leary III.
- 2017Tamir RiceThe Cleveland Division of Police fires Timothy Loehmann, citing omissions and inaccuracies in his job…
- 2023Jam Master JayJay Bryant is charged as a third defendant.
- 2024Brittney WoodOn the 12th anniversary, local media report no new clues; the case remains unsolved.
- 2024Tammy DaybellA jury finds Chad Daybell guilty on all counts, including the first-degree murder of Tammy Daybell.
- 2024Tylee Ryan & Joshua 'JJ' VallowChad Daybell is convicted of first-degree murder in the deaths of Tylee, JJ, and Tammy Daybell, plus related…
May 31
- 1924Bobby FranksRichard Loeb and Nathan Leopold confess.
- 1985Josef Mengele (fugitive)West German police search the home of family associate Hans Sedlmeier and find letters referring to…
- 1996Julianne Williams & Lollie WinansWilliams's father reports the women missing.
- 2000The Rainbow Murders (Vicki Durian and Nancy Santomero)A Braxton County jury acquits Jacob Beard at his retrial.
- 2002Derrick Todd Lee VictimsCharlotte Murray Pace is found murdered in her Baton Rouge apartment.
- 2016Liam FeeBoth women are found guilty of murder and of offences against two other children.
- 2016Michele HarrisAt a fourth trial, a judge acquits Cal Harris of all charges; Michele remains missing and presumed dead.
- 2016Stacy PetersonPeterson is convicted of soliciting the murder of Will County State's Attorney James Glasgow.
- 2019Maleah DavisA child's remains are found in a trash bag along a road in Hempstead County, Arkansas.
- 2024Dau MabilCapitol Police Chief Bo Luckey says an FBI analysis found nothing suspicious in a rumored 'abduction' video…
- 2024Jennifer DulosTroconis is sentenced to 20 years, suspended after 14 and a half years, plus five years of probation.
- 2024Robert Pickton VictimsPickton dies of injuries from a May 19 assault by another inmate at Port-Cartier Institution, Quebec.