Cases from 1996 include criminal investigations, trials, and notable events that occurred during the year. Whether they involved new charges, breakthroughs in cold cases, high-profile trials, or tragic incidents that captured national attention, the cases documented here reflect the state of the criminal justice system in 1996. CaseSleuth provides detailed, chronological coverage of each case with timelines, evidence breakdowns, profiles of key people involved, and links to primary sources and media coverage.
4 cases found
The unsolved 1996 murder of six-year-old JonBenet Ramsey in Boulder, Colorado, one of the most scrutinized criminal investigations in American history, marked by a contaminated crime scene, a mysterious ransom note, a grand jury indictment the district attorney refused to sign, a controversial 2008 exoneration of the family, and ongoing DNA testing efforts nearly three decades later.
On September 7, 1996, rapper Tupac Shakur was shot in a drive-by in Las Vegas and died six days later on September 13, 1996. The case remained unsolved for 27 years until a suspect was arrested in 2023, though significant questions about the full scope of the conspiracy remain.
Darlie Routier was convicted and sentenced to death for the murder of her five-year-old son Damon in Rowlett, Texas in June 1996. Her six-year-old son Devon was also killed. Routier has maintained her innocence for nearly three decades, and her case has attracted significant controversy.
Cal Poly freshman Kristin Smart vanished in May 1996 after a party. Paul Flores, who walked her home that night, was convicted of her murder in 2022 after a 26-year investigation. Her body has never been found.