Cases from 2012 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 2012. 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.
3 cases found
In May 2012, Canadian pornographic actor Luka Magnotta murdered Chinese international student Jun Lin in Montreal, dismembered the body, and mailed severed limbs to political party offices and schools. He fled to Europe and was captured in Berlin. He was convicted of first-degree murder in 2014.
On February 26, 2012, 17-year-old Trayvon Martin was fatally shot by neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman in Sanford, Florida. Zimmerman was charged with second-degree murder but was acquitted by a jury on July 13, 2013, after claiming self-defense. The case sparked nationwide protests, intensified debates over racial profiling and stand-your-ground laws, and is widely credited with catalyzing the Black Lives Matter movement.
Israel Keyes was a methodical serial killer active from approximately 2001 to 2012, known for burying "murder kits" years in advance across the United States. He confessed to multiple murders before dying by suicide in his Anchorage jail cell in December 2012.