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Explore the unique history, culture, and attractions of all 50 US states. Find travel guides, must?see landmarks, and fun facts to plan your perfect American journey
Sarah T. Hughes, a U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of Texas, played a pivotal role in the immediate aftermath of President John F. Kennedy’s assassination on November 22, 1963. At 2:38 p.m. CST, aboard Air Force One at Dallas Love Field, she administered the presidential oath of office to Lyndon B. Johnson, making…
Mork & Mindy, which aired from 1978 to 1982, was a hit sitcom that launched Robin Williams into stardom. It was a spin-off of Happy Days. The show followed Mork, an alien from the planet Ork. Mork tried to understand human life with the help of Mindy, a young woman in Boulder, Colorado. Robin Williams’ wild…
On a chilly December morning in 1927, the small town of Cisco, Texas, became the site of one of the most infamous—and strangely festive—bank robberies in American history. What began as a stunt involving a man in a Santa suit quickly spiraled into a deadly shootout, a massive manhunt, and a tale that still haunts…
For decades, no one knew the true identity of Sharon Marshall. She was beautiful, intelligent, and full of dreams. Yet her life ended tragically in her early twenties, surrounded by mystery and lies. It would take more than twenty years to uncover the truth—Sharon Marshall was actually Suzanne Marie Sevakis. This revelation exposed a devastating story of abduction, abuse, and stolen…
In the dusty heat of August 1932, a small Oklahoma town became the unlikely backdrop for a deadly encounter. This event would set the tone for one of America’s most infamous crime sprees. The town was Stringtown, and the outlaws were Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow — two names that would soon strike fear across…
A modest gas station once stood at 1221 Singleton Boulevard in West Dallas. It played a small but memorable role in the Bonnie and Clyde story. Known as the Barrow Family Filling Station, it was built in the early 1930s by Clyde Barrow’s father, Henry Barrow. He moved the family’s house to the site. He…
Geronimo bank murders were a tragic and brutal crime that occurred on December 14, 1984, in Geronimo, Oklahoma. Jay Wesley Neill entered the First Bank of Chattanooga armed with a pistol and a knife. He forced the three bank tellers—Kay Bruno (42), Jeri Bowles (19), and Joyce Mullenix (25, who was six months pregnant)—into the…
On the night of June 29, 1984, Abdelkrim Belachheb, then 39 years old, had an argument with a woman at Ianni’s Restaurant and Club. After being insulted, he left, retrieved a Smith & Wesson 459 handgun from his car, and returned to the bar. He shot and killed six people, including the woman he had…
The Oklahoma City bombing occurred on April 19, 1995, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States. It was a domestic terrorist attack that remains one of the deadliest incidents of its kind in U.S. history. Timothy McVeigh, an American extremist, detonated a truck bomb outside the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, which housed several federal agencies.…
The Dalton Gang was a notorious American outlaw group that operated in the late 19th century. The gang was formed by the Dalton brothers, Bob, Emmett, and Grat, along with several other associates. They were active primarily in the state of Oklahoma and Kansas. The Dalton Gang initially started out as lawmen. Bob Dalton served…
Nannie Doss, also known as “The Giggling Granny,” was a notorious American serial killer who terrorized the nation in the mid-20th century. Born on November 4, 1905, in Blue Mountain, Alabama, Nannie Doss led a seemingly ordinary life as a wife and grandmother, concealing her dark and sinister tendencies behind a facade of kindness and…
Death of Gloria Leathers Seven years after the tragic death of Dedra Pettus, Wanda Allen resided with her girlfriend Gloria Jean Leathers. Their relationship, which began in prison, was characterized by turmoil and violence. On December 2, 1988, a domestic event unfolded as Leathers, aged 29, was shot in front of The Village Police Department…
THE BLACK WIDOW: AMERICA’S DEADLY DECEIVER The Judy Buenoano Story Judy Buenoano, born Judias Welty, was an American murderer who gained notoriety for committing multiple crimes, including murder and fraud. She was born on April 4, 1943, in Quanah, Texas, and died on March 30, 1998. Buenoano was married several times and had children from…
Monstrous Appetites: The Life and Crimes of Jeffrey Dahmer DAHMER’S CHILDHOOD HOME 1966 – JULY 1979 THEN Dahmer lived here with his parents, Lionel and Joyce, and his younger brother, David. During his childhood, Dahmer purportedly nurtured a peculiar obsession with animal bones, which gradually escalated into him actively amassing collections of them as he…
On a cloudy morning rush hour in Chicago on October 30, 1972, the city experienced its worst train crash to date. The collision occurred between Illinois Central Gulf Train 416, comprised of newly bought Highliners, and the express Train 720 on what is now the Metra Electric Line. Train 416 overshot the 27th Street station…
Haunted by a harrowing encounter with a tornado, Kate Cooper finds herself drawn back to the open plains by her friend, Javi, to field test a revolutionary new tracking system. Along the way, she crosses paths with Tyler Owens, a charismatic yet reckless social media sensation who revels in documenting his storm-chasing escapades. As storm…
Gacy met McCoy at a bus terminal in Chicago while McCoy was returning home after a Christmas celebration with friends in Michigan. His body was discovered along with many other victims of Gacy in December 1978 after the police executed a search warrant for Gacy’s house as part of the investigation into the whereabouts of Robert Piest,…
On May 25, 1950, a tragic event known as the 1950 CTA Streetcar Crash, or the Green Hornet Streetcar Disaster, occurred in Chicago, Illinois. A Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) streetcar collided with a gasoline truck at the intersection of 63rd and State Streets, resulting in a devastating explosion. The crash claimed the lives of 34…
On December 28, 1956, sisters Barbara and Patricia Grimes, two of Joseph Cornelius and Lorretta Marcela’s seven children, decided to watch Elvis Presley’s Love Me Tender at a Brighton Park theater. Barbara, 15, and Patricia, 12, were not only close sisters but also diligent students at Thomas Kelly High School and St. Maurice’s Catholic School,…
In 1992, around 7 p.m. on the Sunday after Thanksgiving, at least 40 people packed the Drake Diner in Des Moines as a line trailed out the front door into the cool, drizzly night. A man wearing a hooded sweatshirt rushed passed the crowd and grabbed the manager, Cara McGrane, 25, by the neck. The…
Edward Kriz, 43 — a World War II veteran who served in the U.S. Army — was shot outside the Hamburg Inn No. 2 in Iowa City on November 10, 1962, when he startled a would-be robber. After closing George’s Buffet early on November 10, 1962, owner Edward Kriz, his wife Bernice, and a bartender…
Bobby Franks was a 14-year-old boy from Chicago who was tragically and brutally murdered in 1924. He was kidnapped and killed by two wealthy University of Chicago students, Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb, in what became known as the infamous Leopold and Loeb case. The motive for the murder was said to be a want…
Six people were killed and four wounded in July 23rd, 2011 when a man pulled out a gun during his son’s birthday party at a Grand Prairie, TX. skating rink and opened fire on his estranged wife and other family members. The gunman, Tan Do, 35, and his estranged wife Trini Do, 29, had rented…
Paul Dedrick Gray, better known simply as Paul Gray, was the bassist and founding member of the popular metal band Slipknot. On May 24, 2010, tragically, Gray was found dead in a hotel room in Urbandale, Iowa. He was only 38 years old. The cause of Gray’s death was determined to be an accidental overdose…
June 11, 2021 Super 8 Motel – Location: 5900 Sutton Pl, Urbandale, IA 50322Rachel Reuter checked into the Super 8 Motel. There is video of both Rachel Reuter and James Klever at the hotel. Reuter was also in contact with the Des Moines Police Department on this day. It is not known why she was…
A teenager was charged with murder in the deaths of four people found fatally shot in a Wichita house, and another man was charged with helping the teen avoid arrest. Cornelius Oliver, 19, killed his girlfriend, Raeshawnda Wheaton, 18, at her house, as well as her roommate Dessa Ford, and friends Jermaine Levy and Quincy Williams,…
June 2026 Update: Potential Suspect Identified Jodi Huisentruit was a television news anchor from Mason City, Iowa, who disappeared on her way to work on June 27, 1995. Her case garnered national attention and has remained unsolved. Huisentruit was declared legally dead in 2001. The circumstances surrounding her disappearance, including the discovery of personal items…
Between 1984 and 1986, Faryion Wardrip preyed on vulnerable women in Wichita Falls and Fort Worth, Texas, ultimately leading to the murders of five women. He targeted his victims based on their vulnerability and sometimes lured them to secluded areas where he would then kill them. The killings shocked the community and sparked fear among…
The Von Erich family is a wrestling dynasty known for their success and tragedy in the world of professional wrestling. Patriarch Fritz Von Erich (real name: Jack Adkisson) was a wrestler and promoter who founded World Class Championship Wrestling in Texas. He had five sons who followed in his footsteps and became wrestlers: Kevin, David,…
The Iowa City Sueppel murders were a family annihilation. Steven Stepper, a 42-year-old former banker, committed them. He did this at his residence in Iowa City, Iowa, USA. It happened on Easter Sunday night, March 23, 2008. On Monday morning at 6:31 a.m., Sueppel called 9-1-1 from his mobile phone. He requested that police visit his house right away. He then hung up without identifying…
While working at Mi-T-Fine Car Wash in Irving, Robert Harris masturbated in front of a female customer and was fired from the job he had held for about ten months. Four days later, he borrowed a car from a friend, borrowed a handgun from another friend, then drove to the carwash on a Monday morning…
“Election is a 1999 dark comedy film directed by Alexander Payne and based on the novel by Tom Perrotta. The story revolves around the intense and controversial campaign for student body president at a high school in suburban Omaha. The film delves into themes of ambition, morality, and the chaos of human relationships while portraying…
Ashley Okland, a 27-year-old Iowa Realty agent, was shot twice and killed shortly before 2 p.m. on Friday, April 8, 2011, while working inside a West Des Moines model townhouse. A Rottlund Homes employee heard a commotion inside the model townhouse at 558 Stone Creek Court — part of the Stone Creek Villas subdivision near…
The Osage Indian murders, also known as the Osage Reign of Terror, were a series of brutal killings that targeted members of the Osage Nation in Oklahoma during the 1920s. The Osage people had become incredibly wealthy due to the discovery of oil on their land, which led to their being dubbed the “richest people…
The Sam Pritchard family, which consisted of Mr. and Mrs. Pritchard, their daughter and son-in-law, Gladys and Alonzo Cartwright, and their son and daughter-in-law, Jack and Irene Pritchard were sitting on the east porch of their home in 1933 when suddenly a new Ford coupe roared over the hill in front of their house. The…
Dexfield Park is an abandoned amusement park located in Dexter, Iowa. It opened in 1915 and was once a major attraction for residents and visitors in the area. The park featured standard amusement rides, picnic areas, a dance pavilion, and other recreational activities. It had a significant regional following during its peak years. One of…
In The Beginning The Barker–Karpis Gang was one of the longest-lived criminal gangs during the Depression Era, spanning from 1931 to 1935. The gang was founded by Fred Barker and Alvin Karpis and later joined by Fred’s brother Arthur “Doc” Barker. Along with the three core members, the gang’s network spanned up to 25 members…
Caylee Anthony was a 2-year-old girl who disappeared in 2008 in Orlando, Florida. Her mother, Casey Anthony, waited 31 days before reporting her missing to the authorities. Caylee’s disappearance sparked a massive search effort and a media frenzy. Casey Anthony was arrested and charged with first-degree murder in connection with Caylee’s disappearance. However, in 2011,…
In the summer of 1970, Cedar Rapids resident Paula Jean Oberbroeckling was 18 years old. She had long blonde hair and blue eyes, and she worked with developmentally disabled children and at Younker’s Department Store. One night in July, she went on a date with her boyfriend Lonnie Bell, and when they returned home, they…
Rocky Marciano, the legendary undefeated heavyweight boxing champion, tragically died in a plane crash on August 31, 1969. The small private aircraft, a Cessna 172, registration N3149X, encountered stormy weather conditions and crashed in Iowa, claiming the lives of all three occupants on board. The sports world mourned the loss of a true icon, whose…
Michelle Marie Martinko was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on October 6, 1961. She was the younger of two daughters of Albert F. Martinko and Janet Martinko (nee Zillig). Michelle attended Cedar Rapids Kennedy High School, where she was considered an above-average student and highly respected by school officials. She was known for her talent…
On February 3, 1959, rock and roll musicians Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J.P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson tragically lost their lives in a plane crash near Clear Lake, Iowa. This event, immortalized as “The Day the Music Died” by Don McLean in his song “American Pie,” marked a significant and somber moment in music…
The Villisca ax murders were a series of unsolved homicides that occurred in 1912 in the town of Villisca, Iowa. The gruesome event took place during the night of June 9-10, when six members of the Moore family and two houseguests were found bludgeoned to death with an axe. The victims included Josiah and Sarah…
The 1919 World Series was a highly significant event in the history of Major League Baseball. It featured a championship matchup between the American League (AL) champion Chicago White Sox and the National League (NL) champion Cincinnati Reds. Regrettably, this particular World Series became infamous due to the subsequent revelation of the “Black Sox Scandal,”…
Amber’s case drew widespread media coverage, highlighting the urgent need for better systems and protocols to respond to child abductions. This tragedy served as a catalyst for change, leading to the creation of the AMBER Alert system, named in honor of Amber Hagerman.The AMBER Alert system was established to quickly notify the public about abducted…
Belle Starr, born Myra Maybelle Shirley on February 5, 1848, in Carthage, Missouri, was an infamous American outlaw of the Old West. She is often referred to as the “Bandit Queen.” Belle Starr is remembered for her association with notorious outlaws and her own criminal activities, which included horse theft, robbery, and consorting with other…
On November 22, 1963, shortly after President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas, Police Officer J.D. Tippit (Pictured Below) was shot and killed in the Oak Cliff neighborhood of Dallas. Lee Harvey Oswald was charged with the murder of Officer Tippit, however, Oswald was never able to stand trial for the murder of…
Darlie Routier is a Texas woman. She was convicted in 1997 for the murder of her two young sons, 5-year-old Damon and 6-year-old Devon. The boys were fatally stabbed in their home in Rowlett, Texas in June 1996. During the trial, prosecutors argued that Darlie Routier staged the crime scene. They claimed it was staged…
On July 26, 1973 at 01:00am 38-year-old Veda Woodson left her janitorial job at First National Bank in Tulsa, heading for her residence in Sperry, Ok. At 02:00 AM Woodson’s vehicle, a 1958 Chevrolet was found by Sperry Police at 8800 N. Cincinnati with the lights on and the driver’s door open. Woodson’s body was…
Tragedy in Oklahoma City: The Sirloin Stockade murders refer to a tragic incident. This event occurred on May 20, 1978, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. It took place at a Sirloin Stockade restaurant. It involved a mass shooting perpetrated by four armed robbers. During the robbery, the perpetrators, armed with shotguns and handguns, entered the restaurant…
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