Built in 1215, Dragsholm Castle is one of the oldest non-religious buildings in Denmark. It was the only castle in Zealand to survive the Count’s Feud of 1534. From 1536-1664, it was used as a prison for the highest-ranking prisoners, mostly noblemen and clergy. The former owner, Joachim Rønnow, was imprisoned there. The castle was … Continue reading James Hepburn
Also called The Boats, Scaphism is a form of torturous execution. The most famous account of Scaphism is the story of Mithridates. In 401 BC, Mithridates, a Persian soldier, killed Cyrus the Younger. The king was pleased by this because Cyrus had claim to the throne. Mithridates had killed a threat to the king and … Continue reading Scaphism
In Elizabethan England, if you needed to torture a man, there was a cheap and easy method available. The Tower of London was right there. Just let the Thames River flow into a window and create something called the Rat Room. Rats were washed into the room and when the water went down, the rats … Continue reading Rat Torture
Romell Broom’s execution by lethal injection was scheduled for 1:30pm on September 15, 2009. On the phone with his brother the night before, Romell told him that he was ready for it to be over and he was tired of being told what to do all the time. The execution drugs were delivered at 1:31pm … Continue reading Romell Broom
At approximately 12:30am on May 17, 1891, 36 year old George Painter came running out of the room he rented at 86 South Green Street in Chicago, Illinois and told fellow boarders that his wife had been murdered. He ran out the front door, looking for a police officer. At the crime scene, police found … Continue reading George Painter
December 22, 1987 in Dover, Arkansas... 46 year old Ronald Simmons woke up 3 days before Christmas with a plan to kill his family. He stabbed and shot his 47 year old wife, Rebecca. He then turned his .22 caliber pistol on his 29 year old son, Gene. Lastly, he strangled his 3 year old … Continue reading Ronald Simmons
March 27, 2004 in Sherman, Texas... Andre Thomas broke into the home of his estranged wife, 20 year old Laura Boren. Andre's 4 year old son, Andre Lee Thomas Jr, and Laura's 13 month old daughter, Leyha Hughes, were also in the apartment. Andre had 3 knives in his pocket. He stabbed Laura, Andre Jr. … Continue reading Andre Thomas
January 6, 1939 in Canon City, Colorado... 23 year old Joe Arridy walked between Warden Roy Best and Father Albert Schaller on his way to the gas chamber. Joe had been convicted as an accomplice for the murder of 15 year old Dorothy Drain and the attempted murder of 12 year old Barbara Drain. Joe … Continue reading Joe Arridy
