Scott McCabe

Published: Tue, Apr 2, 2013

On this day, April 3, in 1987, convicted murderer Willie Horton raped a Prince George's County woman and beat and tied up her boyfriend after escaping from prison while out on a weekend pass. Horton became a major issue during the 1988 presidential race. Michael Dukakis, the Democratic...

Scott McCabe

Published: Mon, Apr 1, 2013

On this day, April 2, in 1992, flamboyant mob boss John Gotti was convicted of murder in a stunning blow to organized crime. Dubbed the Dapper Don for his stylish appearance, or the Teflon Don because authorities had trouble making charges stick to him, Gotti rose through the ranks of the...

Scott McCabe

Published: Sun, Mar 31, 2013

On this day, April 1, in 1800, America's original legal dream team, Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr, won an acquittal in the infamous Manhattan Well Murder Mystery. Before the men fired shots in America's most famous duel, Hamilton and Burr partnered to defend Levi Weeks, a young carpenter...

Scott McCabe

Published: Sat, Mar 30, 2013

On this day, March 31, in 1995, Latina superstar Selena was fatally shot by the president of her fan club. Born Selena Quintanilla-Perez in Lake Jackson, Texas, Selena won Best Female Vocalist at the Tejano Music Awards in 1987 and dominated the award for the next seven years. In 1995, the...

Scott McCabe

Published: Thu, Mar 28, 2013

On this day, March 29, in 1973, eight Ohio National Guardsmen were indicted on civil rights charges for shooting at war protesters at Kent State University, killing four students and wounding nine others. On May 4, 1970, students at campuses across the country were angered after President...

Scott McCabe

Published: Wed, Mar 27, 2013

On this day, March 28, in 1884, vigilantes stormed the courthouse in Cincinnati in one of the most destructive riots in American history. The rioters were outraged that a jury returned a verdict of manslaughter in the slaying of their employer, a livery stable owner. The mob wanted a murder...

Scott McCabe

Published: Tue, Mar 26, 2013

On this day, March 27, in 1991, New Kids on the Block star Donnie Wahlberg was charged with setting a fire at a historic hotel in Louisville, Ky. Authorities said Wahlberg, the band's 21-year-old "bad boy," was partying with co-Kid Danny Wood and fans early in the morning when Wahlberg dumped...

Scott McCabe

Published: Mon, Mar 25, 2013

On this day, March 26, in 1970, Peter Yarrow, of the folk-singing trio Peter, Paul and Mary, pleaded guilty to taking immoral liberties with the 14-year-old president of his fan club in the District. The incident occurred in 1969 while the trio was on tour, performing hits like "Puff, the...

Scott McCabe

Published: Sun, Mar 24, 2013

On this day, March 25, in 1975, Sheila Lyon, 12, and her 10-year-old sister Katherine vanished on their way home from Wheaton Plaza. Their disappearance gripped the Washington region, leading to one of the largest police investigations in the area's history. Witnesses saw Sheila and...

Scott McCabe

Published: Thu, Mar 21, 2013

On this day, March 23, in 1908, D.C. native and U.S. diplomat Durham Stevens was fatally shot in San Francisco by a Korean immigrant angered over comments Stevens made regarding Japan's presence in Koreans' home country. Stevens, an American adviser to Japan, returned to the United States and...