True Crime Cases from 1996
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
JonBenét Ramsey
Cold CaseBoulder, CO · 1996
On December 25, 1996, six‑year‑old JonBenét Patricia Ramsey was killed in her family's home at 755 15th Street in Boulder, Colorado. She was reported missing early on December 26, and her body was found about seven hours later in the basement of the house. Her skull had been fractured, and a garrote was tied around her neck. The autopsy determined that the cause of death was asphyxia by strangulation associated with craniocerebral trauma, and the case was ruled a homicide.
Murder of Tupac Shakur
Cold CaseLas Vegas, NV · 1996
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 Case
ConvictedRowlett, TX · 1996
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.
Kristin Smart Disappearance and Murder
ConvictedSan Luis Obispo, CA · 1996
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.