Tag: today in history

menendez brothers
Today In History

Menendez brothers murder their parents

On this evening in 1989, Lyle and Erik Menendez brutally murdered their parents, José and Kitty Menendez, in the den of their Beverly Hills mansion after years of supposed sexual abuse.

Today In History

“West Memphis Three” released from prison

On August 19, 2011, Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin, and Jessie Misskelley, who had been convicted as teenagers in 1994 for the murders of three young boys in Arkansas, were released from prison as part of a unique legal agreement.

Today In History

Seattle judge commits suicide amidst sex scandal

On this day in 1988, Judge Gary M. Little tragically took his own life just hours before the Seattle Post-Intelligencer was set to publish a damning article accusing him of abusing his judicial authority by sexually exploiting juvenile defendants who appeared before him.

Today In History

Billy the Kid kills his first man

On this day in 1877, Billy the Kid, as a teenager, fatally wounded an Arizona blacksmith, who succumbed to his injuries the following day, marking the infamous outlaw’s first known killing.

DeLorean
Today In History

John Z. DeLorean acquitted on drug charges

After nearly 30 hours of deliberation, a jury of six men and six women in Los Angeles, California, unanimously acquitted former automaker John Z. DeLorean on eight counts of drug trafficking on August 16, 1984.

Today In History

Kabul falls after disastrous Biden withdrawal

On August 15, 2021—just two weeks before the planned withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan—the Taliban swiftly seized control of Kabul, encountering minimal resistance as they reasserted their power.

Today In History

Japan surrenders

On August 14, 1945, an official announcement was made public, declaring Japan’s unconditional surrender to the Allies—a moment that would later be commemorated as Victory Day. Due to time-zone differences, this significant event occurred on August 15 in Japan. The formal written surrender was completed two weeks later on September 2, 1945.

berlin wall
Today In History

Berlin is divided

In the early hours of August 13, 1961, East German soldiers initiated the construction of a barrier of barbed wire and bricks, separating Soviet-controlled East Berlin from the democratic western part of the city.

Today In History

Spanish‑American War ends in armastice

On this day in 1898, the swift and lopsided Spanish-American War concluded when Spain officially agreed to a peace protocol on terms set by the United States, resulting in the cession of Cuba, Puerto Rico, and Manila in the Philippines to the U.S., pending a final peace agreement.

Today In History

First civilian prisoners arrive at Alcatraz

On August 11, 1934, a group of federal prisoners deemed the “most dangerous” were transferred to Alcatraz Island, a 22-acre rocky outpost located 1.5 miles off the coast in San Francisco Bay. These inmates were the first civilian prisoners to occupy the newly established high-security penitentiary.

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