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"In Cold Blood" by Truman Capote is written
This marks the beginning of the true crime genre.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_Cold_Blood -
The Zodiac Killer
The Zodiac Killer begins his killing spree, ending with a suspected 37 victims (only 5 confirmed). He continues taunting police with letters and calls through the 70's, but was never caught.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zodiac_Killer -
"The Zodiac Killer" hits theaters, based on the serial killer of the same name.
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John Wayne Gacy (Killer Clown)
Gacy begins his murder campaign, which totaled 33-34 victims, mostly men.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Wayne_Gacy -
Ted Bundy
Bundy begins his killing spree, which totals in 14+ murders.
http://murderpedia.org/male.B/b1/bundy-ted.htm -
"Texas Chainsaw Massacre"
Movie is released, and is based on the crimes of serial killer Ed Gein.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Texas_Chain_Saw_Massacre -
David Berkowitz (aka the Son of Sam or .44 Caliber Killer)
Son of Sam begins his murder spree, which totals 6 victims.
http://murderpedia.org/male.B/b/berkowitz.htm -
"The Town that Dreaded Sundown"
The movie comes out. Based an a serial killer referred to as the "Phantom Killer" who was never apprehended. -
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Hillside Strangler(s)
These men begin the torture, rape and murder of their victims (10 total).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hillside_Strangler -
Ted Bundy is captured by the police.
He is executed in 1989.
http://murderpedia.org/male.B/b1/bundy-ted.htm -
Jeffrey Dahmer
Dahmer begins his murder and cannibalism spree. He also permanently preserves some body parts including heads and genitals. Remember him...he won't be caught till much later.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeffrey_Dahmer -
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Strangler Capture
The Hillside Strangler turned out to be 2 men (Kenneth Alessio Bianchi and Angelo Anthony Buono, Jr.). Bianchi was captured first, then Buono on October 22, 1979.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hillside_Strangler -
The Original Nightstalker
The Original Nightstalker begins his attacks. He murders 10-13 people, and rapes over 50. He is never captured.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Original_Night_Stalker -
Mark David Chapman kills John Lennon
His actions were strongly influenced by "Catcher in the Rye."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_David_Chapman#Murder_of_John_Lennon -
John Hinckley Jr.
Hinckley attempts to assassinate Ronald Reagan outside the Washington Hilton Hotel. Reagan is hit, but is not fatally wounded.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/bonus-video/presidents-crisis-reagan/ -
Chicago Tylenol murders begin
People in the Chicago area begin dying after taking Tylenol. This is a result of drug tampering, and the capsules are filled with cyanide. 7 people die, and no one is ever convicted.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago_Tylenol_murders -
Richard Ramirez (The Night Stalker) begins breaking into California homes and killing those inside. He kills 14 people, and attempts to kill 5 more.
The Nightstalker begins breaking into California homes and killing those inside. He kills 14 people, and attempts to kill 5 more.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Ramirez -
"The Burning Bed" premiers
It follows the story of Francine Hughes, who was abused by her husband. She burned his bed down with him in it.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087010/ -
The Night Stalker is captured
The trial becomes highly publicized for Ramirez's Satanic references and the fact that a juror died (thought to be Ramirez's work, but disproved). He also smuggles a gun into the courtroom in an attempt to shoot the prosecutors.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Ramirez -
Patrick Sherrill
Sherrill attacks the Edmond post office where he works. He shoots 20 of his coworkers, killing 14 of them and himself. This inspires the phrase "going postal".
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edmond_post_office_shooting -
Gary Heidnik
Heidnik begins kidnapping women and keeping them in a pit in his basement. He kidnaps 6 and kills 2.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary_M._Heidnik -
Gary Heidnik is captured
He is executed by lethal injection in 1999.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary_M._Heidnik -
"48 Hours" debuts
This weekly journalistic show explores different crimes and "real life dramas".
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0271894/ -
Central Park Jogger Case
Trisha Meili was attacked while jogging, and was left in a coma for 12 days. 5 males, 4 being African Americans, were arrest for the crime in 1990. In 2002, Matias Reyes confessed to the rape, and DNA evidence confirmed it. He was serving a life sentence for another crime, and was not charged with this case because of the statute of limitations. The 5 who were prosecuted before sued NYC for malicious prosecution and racial discrimination.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Park_jogger_case -
Aileen Wuornos
Wuornos begins her serial killings, eventually killing 7 men.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aileen_Wuornos -
Gardner Heist
A pair of theives dressed as Boston Police break into the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston and steal 13 works. They are still missing and the robbers have not yet been found.
http://www.gardnermuseum.org/resources/theft -
"Assassins" the musical comes out
Its main characters are people who attempted to, or succeeded in, assassinating presidents.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assassins_(musical) -
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"Silence of the Lambs" is released
The killers are loosely based on Ted Bundy, Ed Gein and Gary M Heidnik.
http://www.gamesradar.com/50-horror-movies-based-true-stories/
http://www.moviefone.com/2011/02/14/silence-of-the-lambs-true-story/ -
Rodney King
Following a high speed chase, cab driver Rodney King is brutally beaten by LA Police on camera. This sparks questions about the police force and racial profiling. Violent riots break out across the country when the cops are acquitted.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rodney_King -
Jeffrey Dahmer is finally captured after 14 years of killings
He kills and rapes 17 people in that time, with his last victim killed the day before he was caught.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeffrey_Dahmer -
"To Catch a Killer" airs
The movie is a made for TV movie about John Wayne Gacy.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0105604/ -
World Trade Center Bombings
A truck bomb is detonated in the parking garage below the World Trade Center's North Tower. 6 are killed and 1042 injured.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1993_World_Trade_Center_bombing#Investigation -
Standoff in Waco Texas begins
The police take siege against the Branch Davidians and David Koresh (accused of statutory rape and domestic violence).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Koresh#Raid_and_siege_by_federal_authorities -
Mahmud Abouhalima, Mohammad Salameh, Nidal A. Ayyad, Abdul and Ahmed Ajaj are convicted of the World Trade Center Bombing
They are connected to a terrorist group, along with Ramzi Yousef and Abdul Rahman Yasin.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1993_World_Trade_Center_bombing#Investigation -
Standoff in Waco ends violently
80 of the Branch Davidians inside are killed. David Koresh's right hand man shoots him before the fire, as he discovers Koresh is a fraud.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Koresh#Raid_and_siege_by_federal_authorities -
"The Secret Life: Jeffrey Dahmer" comes out to capitalize on the popularity of the case.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0244782/ Comes out in 1993, but exact date not known -
"Natural Born Killers" comes out
It is based on the crimes of Caril Fugate and Charles Starkweather. The pair murder 11 people in 2 months. Charles also murders Caril's parents without her knowledge. Caril is only 14 at the time making her the youngest female to ever stand trial for 1st degree murder.
http://allday.com/post/3951-the-real-life-murderers-who-inspired-natural-born-killers/ -
The OJ Simpson murder trial begins
Simpson was charged with killing his ex-wife Nicole Brown and her friend Ron Goldman. The jury found him not guilty. He was later found responsible for the deaths in a civil suit, paying the families $33.5 million.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/O._J._Simpson_murder_case -
Jeffrey Dahmer is killed by prison inmate Christopher Scarver
The details surrounding his death are extremely questionable and raise lots of questions.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeffrey_Dahmer -
Oklahoma City Bombing
Timothy McVeigh detonates a car bomb at the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City killing 168 people and wounding over 650. He cites the Waco Siege as his primary motivation in doing this.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timothy_McVeigh -
McVeigh is caught
McVeigh is arrested for having no license plates on his car. 3 days later, it is discovered he is the bomber. He is executed on June 11, 2001, after a much shorter wait than most death row inmates.
http://www.news-star.com/article/20090225/NEWS/302259941/?Start=3 -
"The Forensic Files" airs
It uncovers how crimes and diseases were solved through forensic science.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0247882/ -
Matthew Shepard
Shepard, a gay teen, is beaten and left for dead. Aaron McKinney and Russell Henderson were arrested charged with his murder. Questions come up about whether Shepard's sexual orientation influenced the crime.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthew_Shepard -
Columbine Shooting
Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold attack Columbine high school, planting multiple bombs (which failed to detonate) and shooting 12 students and one teacher while injuring 23 others. They kill themselves after terrorizing the school for almost an hour.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School_massacre -
Wakefield Massacre
Michael McDermott opens fire in Edgewater Technology in Wakefield, Massachusetts, where he worked killing 7 coworkers. He was caught that day by police, and claimed he was tasked by God to travel back in time and kill Nazis.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wakefield_massacre -
9/11
Al Qaeda targets US landmarks with passenger plans, including the Pentagon and the Twin Towers.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/September_11_attacks -
"Bowling for Columbine" is released
Michael Moore releases a documentary that explores the main causes of the Columbine shooting, It explores other shootings, the availability of guns in the US and the culture of violence as well.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bowling_for_Columbine -
"Nightstalker" movie comes out
The movie is based on Richard Ramirez and his crimes.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0342835/ -
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"Chapter 27" releases
This movie attempts to explore the psyche of Mark David Chapman and the influence of "The Catcher in the Rye" when he killed John Lennon.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chapter_27 -
"Zodiac" hits theaters
The movie is based on the Zodiac killer of the 60s-70s era. It focuses mostly on the detective work behind the case. It doesn't stay completely true to the case in terms of detective work, but does incorporate actual quotes from the killer and stays pretty true to the killings.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0443706/?ref_=tt_rec_tt -
Virginia Tech Shooting
Seung-Hui Cho, a senior at Virginia Tech, opens fire on students in two separate attacks. He kills 33 (including himself) and wounds over 17. Its the deadliest mass shooting by a single attacker in US history.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virginia_Tech_shooting -
Nidal Hasan Attacks Fort Hood
Nidal Hasan, a U.S. Army major and psychiatrist, fatally shot 13 people and injured more than 30 others at Ford Hood. He is caught that day after being shot by police.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009_Fort_Hood_shooting -
"I Almost Got Away With It" premiers
This show explores the (failed) lengths criminals go to to stay out of jail.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1420152/ -
Trayvon Martin Is Shot
Unarmed Trayvon Martin is fatally shot by neighborhood watch George Zimmerman. Zimmerman is acquitted by a jury, which sparks riots.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shooting_of_Trayvon_Martin -
Aurora Shooting
James Holmes opens fire on a midnight showing of Batman in a Century 16 theater in Aurora Colorado. He kills 12 and wounds over 70.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Holmes_(mass_murderer) -
James Holmes is caught by the police outside the theater
He is sentenced to life in prison, and his trial becomes highly publicized because of his dazed looks and overall lack of emotion. He states multiple times that he hoped someone would stop him, and took measures to be stopped. He also professes extreme sorrow for killing children, as he specifically picked a midnight show because he thought no kids would be there.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Holmes_(mass_murderer) -
"The Central Park Five" comes out
This documentary explores what the 5 boys who were wrongfully convicted of the Central Park Jogger case endured. After having spent between 6 and 13 years in prison, a serial rapist confesses to the crime and DNA evidence confirms. The documentary exposes flaws in the legal system.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2380247/ -
Sandy Hook Shooting
Adam Lanza opens fire on Sandy Hook elementary school. He kills 20 children, 7 staff members, his mother and himself.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandy_Hook_Elementary_School_shooting -
Boston Bombing
Dzhokhar Tsarnaev and Tamerlan Tsarnaev plant bombs at the Boston marathon, killing 3 and injuring 280 in an act of terrorism. 2 police officers are also killed in a shootout along with Tamerlan Tsarnaev.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston_Marathon_bombing -
Dzhokhar Tsarnaev is captured
He is captured by police after he is found on a boat in a Watertown backyard. He is sentenced to the death penalty.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston_Marathon_bombing#Trial_and_sentencing -
Fort Hood Attack
Army Specialist Ivan Lopez opens fire on Fort Hood killing 4 people (including himself) and injuring 14.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_Fort_Hood_shooting -
Michael Brown Killing
Unarmed Michael Brown, a black man, is shot in Ferguson by white police officer Darren Wilson. Wilson is not found guilty. This event sparks extremely violent riots in Ferguson.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shooting_of_Michael_Brown -
Charleston Church Shooting
Dylan Roof takes siege on a prayer service at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston. He killed 9 African Americans and injured one additional person.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dylann_Roof -
Roof is captured
His deep hatred for African Americans quickly becomes evident.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dylann_Roof#Manhunt_and_capture -
San Bernadino Shooting
Syed Rizwan Farook and Tashfeen Malik attack the Inland Regional Center in San Bernadino as part of a terrorist plot. They kill 14 and wound 22. Police kill the attackers in a shootout.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2015_San_Bernardino_attack -
"Making A Murderer" comes out on Netflix
It explores the Steven Avery case, and brings to light major flaws in all levels of the criminal justice system.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt5189670/ -
"The People v. OJ Simpson: American Crime Story" airs
It explores the race issues and trial proceedings of the OJ case. It also brings to light flaws in the criminal justice system.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2788432/ -
Kalamazoo Shooting
6 people were killed and 2 wounded in a seemingly random shooting in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Jason Brian Dalton is a strong suspect at this point.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2016_Kalamazoo_shootings -
Kansas Shooting
Cedric Larry Ford kills kills 3 and injures 14 in Newton and Hesston, Kansas. He is then killed by a responding officer.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2016_Hesston_shooting#Perpetrator
