On June 16, 2018, Scott Engelbrecht fatally shot his wife, Joyce, and her daughter, Rachel, during a domestic dispute at their Minnesota home. Their son, Dillion, survived and called emergency services. Prosecutors charged Scott with multiple murders and assault, while his defense claimed Rachel caused Joyce’s death and Rachel’s death was accidental. The jury rejected his account, leading to convictions.
On November 26, 2017, Officer Luna responded to a single-vehicle crash where a man was found with 10 stab wounds to the neck, chest, and eye. Police initially suspected a drug-induced accident but the case escalated to homicide. Cameron, the last person seen with the victim, became a suspect in the investigation.
In 2019, a violent attack in Detroit killed three LGBTQ+ individuals—Alunte Davis, Timothy Blancher, and Paris Cameron—along with injuring others. Prosecutors linked the attack to bias against the victims' identities, sparking national attention for its impact on the LGBTQ+ community and families. Devon Robinson was convicted and sentenced to three life terms, with the case highlighting prejudice's role in tragic loss and enduring trauma.
Tynesha Evans, a 45-year-old mother of four from Alpharetta, Georgia, died in a 2019 violent incident outside a Wells Fargo branch. Police reported a confrontation in the parking lot during an argument. Othniel Inniss, her estranged partner with a troubled history, was identified as the suspect. The case, delayed for years, concluded in 2025 with Inniss pleading guilty to a multi-year prison sentence. Her family expressed relief at the legal resolution but grief over the irreversible loss.
Austin Harrouff, 19, fatally stabbed a couple, ate their faces, and injured a neighbor on August 16, 2016. Deputies arrested him after the attack. His mother's account explores his potential insanity defense.
Marie Fowler was murdered on December 24, 2014, in Anderson County, South Carolina, after hitchhiker John Villarreal shot her and her friend James Dobson during a drive to Georgia. Villarreal left them on the roadside, stole their vehicle, and fled. Fowler died, while Dobson survived with severe injuries. Villarreal pleaded guilty and received a life prison sentence in 2017.
On January 18, 2022, 20-year-old Iyanna Colon turned herself in to police, who later found her boyfriend, Maan Saleh Alblowi, dead in a closet. Iyanna claimed self-defense, but inconsistencies emerged: an autopsy showed strangulation, she had no injuries, and she stayed with the body. Her calm demeanor, memory gaps, and prior violent history raised suspicion. Parents later revealed the argument started over loud music. She was convicted of first-degree murder in 2023 and sentenced to life in prison.
In 2019, off-duty Madison County deputy Winford Adams confronted University of Georgia graduate student Benjamin Cloer at his home after tracking his wife via GPS, leading to Cloer's fatal injuries. Adams was arrested, lost his job, and in 2022 pleaded guilty to felony murder and aggravated assault, receiving a life prison sentence.
In November 2023, Theodore A. Gullia, 65, died at his home in Solon, Ohio. His son, Robert J. Gullia, was arrested and later indicted for his role in the death. After a year, Robert pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter, felonious assault, and mishandling remains, receiving a 20 to 25.5-year prison sentence.
In January 2020, authorities found Anthony Todt’s family deceased in their Florida home after weeks of silence. Todt initially confessed to killing his wife, children, and dog but later claimed his wife was responsible. Financial struggles and a federal healthcare fraud investigation were linked to the case. He was convicted in 2022 of multiple killings and animal cruelty, receiving a life sentence with no parole. As of 2024, he remains incarcerated and has filed a civil lawsuit over prison correspondence mishandling.
On June 7, 2017, 81-year-old Howard Biederman, recovering from colon cancer surgery, was found dead in his home. His daughter-in-law, Kathy, called 9-1-1 after he failed to answer calls. Law enforcement arrived to a scene with severe bloodshed, including his broken glasses, purple eye, and open mouth, though the offender remains unidentified.
In 2017, TerriLynne Collins, a 54-year-old Arizona woman, was killed at her family’s property during a confrontation with an intruder. Her death sparked court proceedings and public debate, with her husband expressing grief and frustration over the case’s handling. The incident underscores the devastating impact of violent crime on families and communities.