November 08

Events - Other

1973day.year

The right ear of John Paul Getty III is delivered to a newspaper outlet along with a ransom note, convincing his father to pay US$2.9 million.

In 1973, kidnappers delivered John Paul Getty III’s severed ear to demand ransom from his family.
Italian oil heir John Paul Getty III was kidnapped in July 1973 in Rome, triggering a complex ransom negotiation. On November 8, 1973, the kidnappers sent his right ear to a newspaper to pressure his grandfather, billionaire J. Paul Getty, to pay US$2.9 million. The shocking delivery made international headlines and highlighted the lengths criminals would go for ransom. Despite initial reluctance, J. Paul Getty agreed to pay part of the ransom under strict conditions and loan terms. Getty III was eventually released after five months in captivity, suffering lasting physical and psychological trauma. The incident became infamous for its grisly details and Getty’s controversial response.
1973 John Paul Getty III
1999day.year

Bruce Miller is killed at his junkyard near Flint, Michigan. His wife Sharee Miller, who convinced her online lover Jerry Cassaday to kill him (before later killing himself) was convicted of the crime, in what became the world's first Internet murder.

In 1999, Sharee Miller conspired with an online acquaintance to murder her husband Bruce Miller, marking what became known as the world's first Internet-facilitated homicide.
On November 8, 1999, Bruce Miller was fatally shot in his junkyard near Flint, Michigan. His wife, Sharee Miller, had met Jerry Cassaday online and persuaded him to kill Bruce. After carrying out the murder, Cassaday also died by suicide. Investigators determined this was the first known case of a crime planned and executed through Internet communication. The case raised public awareness of the dark possibilities of online relationships. Sharee Miller was later convicted of second-degree murder and conspiracy. The trial highlighted challenges law enforcement faced in digital forensics.
1999 Sharee Miller