Friday 12th of December 1777

Anatomist, physiologist, naturalist and poet Albrecht von Haller aka The Father of Modern Physiology dies of excessive opium abuse at the age of 69 in Bern, Mittelland, Switzerland.

von Haller supported his failing strength by means of opium since 1973.

Wednesday 12th of December 1821

Writer Gustave Flaubert known for his novel ‘Madame Bovary’ is born in Rouen, Haute-Normendie, France.

Sunday 12th of December 1847

Criminologist Hans Gustav Adolf Gross is born in Graz, Steiermark, Austria.

Saturday 12th of December 1863

Artist Edvard Munch is born in Ådalsbruk, Hedmark, Norway.

Sunday 12th of December 1875

War leader Gerd Karl Rudolf von Rundstedt is born in Aschersleben, Sachsen-Anhalt, Germany.

Wednesday 12th of December 1883

Mien Frankenhuizen-Van Der Linden is poisoned with arsenic by serial poisoner Maria Swanenburg aka Goeie Mie in Leiden, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands.

Wednesday 12th of December 1900

45-year-old Bigamist and multiple murderer Johann Otto Hoch aka The Bluebeard Murderer marries Amelia Hohn as John Healy in Chicago, Illinois, United States.

Thursday 12th of December 1901

27-year-old Inventor and electrical engineer Guglielmo Giovanni Maria Marconi known for inventing radio realizes the first radio transmission across the Atlantic using a 150m kite-supported antenna for reception-signals in Signal Hill, St John's, Newfoundland, Canada.

Friday 12th of December 1913

25-year-old Alice Burnham is drowned by serial killer George Joseph Smith aka The Brides in the Bath Murderer in 16 Regent Road, Blackpool, Lancashire, United Kingdom.

Sunday 12th of December 1915

Singer and actor Frank Francis Albert Sinatra aka Ol’ Blue Eyes aka The Voice is born in 415 Monroe Street, Hoboken, New Jersey, United States.

Wednesday 12th of December 1917

675 die in train crash and subsequent fire in Saint-Michel-de-Maurienne, Rhône-Alpes, France.

After continuing at dangerous and uncontrolled speeds of up to 135 kilometres per hour for nearly 6.5 kilometres the first coach derailed, causing a pile-up and resultant fire. Because of the fire and impact only 425 of the 675 troops killed could be identified.

Wednesday 12th of December 1917

Serial killer Edward Joseph Leonski aka The Singing Strangler is born in Kenvil, New Jersey, United States.

The Leonski family moved to East 77th Street, New York during Edward's infancy.

Wednesday 12th of December 1934

64-year-old Serial killer, child rapist and cannibal Albert Hamilton Howard Fish aka The Cannibal aka The Werewolf of Wysteria aka The Moon Maniac is arrested in a rooming house in 200 East 52nd Street, New York, New York, United States.

Tuesday 12th of December 1939

Actor Douglas Fairbanks dies of a heart attack at the age of 56 in Santa Monica, California, United States.

Fairbanks' last words were reportedly "I've never felt better."

Thursday 12th of December 1940

Singer Dionne Marie Warwick is born in East Orange, New Jersey, United States.

Saturday 12th of December 1942

99 die in hostel fire in Knights of Columbus Hostel, Harvey Road, St John's, Newfoundland, Canada.

An estimated 400 people were attending a barn dance in the auditorium. Taking place during World War II the fire is believed by many to have been an incident of enemy sabotage orchestrated by agents of Nazi Germany.

Thursday 12th of December 1946

55-year-old Lucie S. is robbed and beaten by serial killer Rudolf Pleil aka Der Großten Todmacher in Nordhausen, Thüringen, Germany.

S. survived and later was a crucial witness in the trial.

Monday 12th of December 1949

Xenophobic serial bomber Franz Fuchs is born in Gralla, Steiermark, Austria.

Friday 12th of December 1952

Spree killer Billy William Edward Cook aka Billy Boy Cockeyed Cook is executed by the gas chamber at the age of 24 in San Quentin State Prison, San Quentin, California, United States.

Sunday 12th of December 1965

Victim of Jeffrey Dahmer aka The Milwaukee Cannibal Richard Guerrero is born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States.

Sunday 12th of December 1965

57-year-old Irena Szrek is strangled by serial killer Zdzisław Marchwicki aka The Zagłębie Vampire in Czeladź, Województwo Sląskie, Poland.

Thursday 12th of December 1974

18-year-old Margret Schäfer is beaten and strangled by serial killer Jack Unterweger aka Jack the Writer aka Der Häfenpoet aka The Pug Dumper in Ewersbach, Hessen, Germany.

Wednesday 12th of December 1984

Murderer Alpha Otis O'Daniel Stephens is executed by Old Sparky at the age of 39 in Georgia Diagnostic and Classification State Prison, Highway 36, Jackson, Georgia, United States.

After the first jolt of electricity failed to kill him Stephens struggled for eight minutes before a second charge finished the job. The first jolt took two minutes and there was a six minute pause so his body could cool before physicians could examine him (and declare that another jolt was needed). During that six-minute interval Stephens took 23 breaths. He was declared dead 19 minutes after the first surge of electricity hit his body.

Thursday 12th of December 1985

256 die in Arrow Air Flight 1285 McDonnell Douglas DC-8-63CF crash in Gander International Airport, Gander, Newfoundland, Canada.

Monday 12th of December 1988

4-year-old Erika Namba is abducted and strangled by serial killer, cannibal and necrophile Tsutomu Miyazaki aka The Little Girl Murderer in Naguri, Saitama, Japan.

Miyazaki sent a postcard to her family assembled using words cut out of magazines: "Erika. Cold. Cough. Throat. Rest. Death."

Tuesday 12th of December 1995

Double murderer James Michael Briddle is executed by lethal injection at the age of 40 in Huntsville Prison, 815 12th Street, Huntsville, Texas, United States.

The flow of solution was so low in Briddle's left arm that after eight minutes the needle was removed and placed in his left hand. Eight minutes later the needle had to be placed into his left forearm due to further complications. Twelve minutes later Briddle was pronounced dead.

Thursday 12th of December 1996

Multiple murderer Lem Davis Tuggle is executed by lethal injection at the age of 44 in Mecklenburg Correctional Center, Boydton, Virginia, United States.

Sunday 12th of December 1999

Writer and playwright Joseph Heller known for his novel ‘Catch-22’ dies of a heart attack at the age of 76 in East Hampton, New York, United States.

Sunday 12th of December 1999

A fine traffic jam in Bangkok, Central Thailand, Thailand.

Tuesday 12th of December 2000

41-year-old Performance artist Danny Devos aka DDV performs 'DDV en Danger' in Ecole Supérieure d'Art, 25 Rue Lesdiguières, Grenoble, Rhône-Alpes, France.

A double glass door with a long piece of wood attached to both sides. Inside two benches are placed on a heap of concrete bricks. On one bench stands a fine selection of art books from the school’s library I am stretched out on the other bench. The spectators can choose to open a door and push forward the piece of wood and make the bench tumble over. At first the books go down on the floor after that I go down on the floor.

Wednesday 12th of December 2001

Cop killer Vincent Edward Cooks is executed by lethal injection at the age of 37 in Huntsville Prison, 815 12th Street, Huntsville, Texas, United States.

Wednesday 12th of December 2007

Singer-songwriter and musician Ike Izear Luster Turner known from Ike & Tina Turner dies of a cocaine overdose at the age of 76 in 905 Viewpoint Drive, San Marcos, California, United States.

The San Diego County Medical Examiner's Office reported that Turner had died from a cocaine overdose. "The cause of death for Ike Turner is cocaine toxicity with other significant conditions, such as hypertensive cardiovascular disease and pulmonary emphysema."

Saturday 12th of December 2020

Writer John le Carré dies of pneumonia at the age of 89 in Royal Cornwall Hospital, Truro, Cornwall, United Kingdom.