Dark Stories: On This Day In True Crime History - Dark Stories True Crime Tours

1985: Night Stalker Richard Ramirez Captured by an Angry Mob in East Los Angeles

For months in 1985, Richard Ramirez, the Night Stalker, terrorised California, breaking into homes while families slept to assault, mutilate, and murder. His reign of terror ended not with a police operation but with a newspaper front page: once his mugshot was published across California media, his anonymity was gone.

On 31 August 1985, Ramirez attempted to carjack vehicles in the Boyle Heights neighbourhood of East Los Angeles. Residents recognised him, chased him down the sreet, and beat him to the ground before police arrived to take him into custody. Facing the mob, Ramirez reportedly confessed to officers, preferring arrest to the alternative.

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Boyle Heights California Capture East Los Angeles Los Angeles Murder Organised Crime Serial Killer Trial USA

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1997: Princess Diana Killed in Paris Tunnel Crash

In the early hours of 31 August 1997, Diana, Princess of Wales, died after a high-speed car crash in the Pont de l’Alma tunnel beside the River Seine in Paris. The Mercedes carrying her struck a concrete pillar while being pursued by press photographers. Diana was 36. Dodi Fayed and driver Henri Paul were also killed; bodyguard Trevor Rees-Jones was the sole survivor.

French investigators concluded that Paul had been driving at excessive speed while affected by alcohol and prescription drugs. The crash nevertheless became the subject of numerous conspiracy theories, including claims that Diana and Dodi were deliberately killed, that British intelligence or members of the Royal Family were involved, and that the collision had been engineered to prevent an alleged marriage or pregnancy.

These allegations were examined in detail by Britain’s Operation Paget investigation, which found no evidence of a conspiracy to murder Diana. A subsequent British inquest, concluded in 2008, returned a verdict of unlawful killing caused by the grossly negligent driving of Henri Paul and the pursuing paparazzi.

Princess Diana smile, circa 1997. vintage post stamp,. LIBERIA - CIRCA 1997: canceled stamp printed in Liberia dedicated to the memory of princess Diana, circa 1997. vintage post stamp isolated on black background. princess Diana with silver crown | ID 98306680 © Fmua | Dreamstime.com — ID 98306680 © Fmua | Dreamstime.com

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Accident Disaster Europe France Inquest Paris

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1905: Pearl Trader Lured Aboard and Murdered in Broome for a Stolen Pearl

Mark Liebglid, a commercial traveller who bought and sold pearls in Perth-region waters for Freedman and Co. and Falk and Co., was lured aboard the abandoned schooner Mist in Broome harbour on 30 August 1905 under the pretence of viewing a stolen pearl. Known for flashing a large money clip, a gold signet ring, and a willingness to buy pearls of questionable provenance, Liebglid was beaten with a slingshot and oars by Charles Hagen, Pablo Marquez, and Simeon Espada, then drowned. His body was found floating near the vessel the following morning.

The stolen pearl at the centre of the plot was believed to have been hidden by a crew member in a coil of rope with its whereabouts never conclusively confirmed.

Schooner Mist showing where Mark Leibglid was thrown overboard

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Australia Broome Execution Murder Organised Crime WA

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1875: An Gaa Hanged at Melbourne Gaol for the Murder of a Mining Partner at Vaughan

In June 1875, a Chinese miner was found dead at a hut near the goldfields of Vaughan, central Victoria. An Gaa, who shared the hut with the deceased, was found calmly eating rice by candlelight when Constable King and a Chinese interpreter arrived to investigate.

The scene was disturbing: the body lay on its side, a used opium pipe in the hand, blood soaked through the straw bunk and into the wood beneath, and a wet towel stained with blood and water nearby. An Gaa claimed to know nothing of how his housemate had died.

Tried before Justice Sir Redmond Barry in July 1875, An Gaa was convicted of murder. He was hanged at Melbourne Gaol on 30 August 1875.

Workers washing mining tailings in the 1870s

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Australia Castlemaine Execution Melbourne Murder Trial Vaughan VIC

1985: Night Stalker Richard Ramirez Captured by an Angry Mob in East Los Angeles

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1997: Princess Diana Killed in Paris Tunnel Crash

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1905: Pearl Trader Lured Aboard and Murdered in Broome for a Stolen Pearl

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1875: An Gaa Hanged at Melbourne Gaol for the Murder of a Mining Partner at Vaughan

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