Decades Archives

Decades Later: Waupaca County Prepares for Long-Awaited Murder Trial Beginning Monday

WAUPACA, Wis. — A murder trial that has been long anticipated is set to commence on Monday, more than three decades after the crime that shocked the small community. The case revolves around the 1992 killing of a local woman, which has remained unsolved until recent developments brought new evidence to light, prompting authorities to take action. The defendant, who was arrested last year based on fresh findings, is facing charges that could result in …

Decades Later: 70-Year-Old D.C. Man Charged With First-Degree Murder in Cold Case Stabbing

Washington, D.C. — A 70-year-old man has been charged with first-degree murder in connection with a stabbing that occurred more than two decades ago. The suspect’s arrest last week has reopened a chilling chapter in the city’s history, drawing attention to the challenges of solving long-cold cases. In the summer of 1999, the victim was found fatally wounded in a neighborhood that was slowly grappling with urban renewal and change. Detectives had worked tirelessly on …

Life Behind Bars: Smugglers Sentenced to Decades for Tragic Loss of 53 Lives in Texas Human Trafficking Case

AUSTIN, Texas — Two men linked to one of the deadliest human smuggling operations in U.S. history were sentenced to lengthy prison terms on Friday, coinciding with the third anniversary of the tragedy that claimed 53 lives in 2022. Felipe Orduna-Torres and Armando Gonzales-Ortega each faced the consequences of their actions in a federal courtroom in San Antonio, marking a significant development in the ongoing fight against human trafficking along the U.S.-Mexico border. A federal …

Notorious ‘Starved Rock Killer’ Chester Weger Passes Away at 86 After Decades of Controversy

Chester, Illinois – Chester Weger, known for his notorious conviction in the slaying of a woman at Starved Rock State Park in 1960, has died at the age of 86. His passing, reported on June 22 in Clay County, Missouri, concludes a life entangled in a complex legal saga that spanned over six decades. Weger gained notoriety as the so-called “Starved Rock Killer” after the murder of Lillian Oetting, one of three women found tragically …

N.H. Cold Case from 2003 Takes Shocking Turn: Son Charged with Father’s Murder After Two Decades

Milford, New Hampshire — A new development in a long-unsolved murder case has led to the arrest of a man in connection with his father’s death nearly two decades ago. Douglas Herlihy, 39, was apprehended in Saugus, Massachusetts, on Tuesday after New Hampshire authorities issued a warrant for his arrest on charges of second-degree murder. The victim, Paul Herlihy, was discovered dead at his home in Milford during a welfare check on Aug. 27, 2003. …

Decades Later, Hartford Police Offer $20,000 Reward in Unsolved Murder of Raquel Ramirez

HARTFORD, Conn. — Almost four decades after the tragic murder of 29-year-old Raquel Ramirez, local authorities are renewing efforts to solve the case, offering a $20,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest and conviction. Ramirez, who was known to friends and family by the nicknames “Shorty” or “Tiny,” was murdered on June 30, 1985. She resided on Ward Street in Hartford at the time of her death. Authorities discovered Ramirez’s body near Charter …

Tennessee Man Faces Execution After Decades of Legal Turmoil and New DNA Evidence Raises Doubts

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Oscar Smith, a 75-year-old man convicted for the brutal murders of his estranged wife and her two teenage sons, faced execution on Thursday morning, three years after a last-minute reprieve spared his life. Scheduled for a lethal injection at 10:10 a.m., Smith has long maintained his innocence and criticized the judicial system for failing him. Smith was found guilty of killing his estranged wife, Judith Smith, and her sons, 13-year-old Jason Burnett …

Repeat Offender in Butte County Denied Bail After Third Violent Assault, Faces Decades in Prison

PALERMO, Calif. — A local man is being held without the possibility of bail after being charged with a violent assault, marking his third felony offense in just over a year. Timothy Bahadar, 36, faced serious allegations in a Butte County courtroom on Thursday including assault with a deadly weapon and committing a felony while already out on bail for prior charges. The incident leading to the latest charges occurred on April 7, when deputies …

Florida Executes Man for 2000 Murder of Miami Herald Employee After Two Decades on Death Row

STARKE, Fla. — A man convicted of abducting and killing a Miami Herald employee over two decades ago was executed in Florida State Prison, officials confirmed. Michael Tanzi, 48, received a lethal injection and was pronounced dead at 6:12 p.m. on Tuesday, following his conviction for the murder of Janet Acosta in April 2000. The execution marked the third in Florida this year, with another scheduled for early May. Tanzi, who was 23 at the …

Parole Denied for Yolanda Saldívar, Convicted in 1995 Selena Murder, After Three Decades Behind Bars

Gatesville, TX — Thirty years after the tragic shooting of Tejano music icon Selena Quintanilla-Pérez, her convicted murderer, Yolanda Saldívar, remains behind bars with her recent bid for parole denied. Saldívar, who was once the president of Selena’s fan club as well as her boutique manager, is serving a life sentence after being found guilty in 1995. The Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles declined Saldívar’s request for parole on November 3, a decision that …