Why-Dunnit? Trivia Quiz

Answer: His neighbor's dog ordered him to do it.

David Berkowitz initially confessed to killing six people and wounding eight in New York City shootings in 1976 and 1977, although he later said that he was the shooter in only two of these incidents. He is known as the "Son of Sam" killer, as he claimed that his neighbor's demon-possessed dog, Sam, made him do it. Sure, David -- a likely story!

Answer: He was growing it only to cure his hemorrhoids.

This news item made "News of the Weird". However, a web search for "marijuana hemorrhoids" turned up 639,000 results. Who knew?

Answer: He had abused her for thirteen years.

Dansville, Michigan, housewife Francine Hughes set fire to her husband's bed on March 9, 1977, after enduring thirteen years of physical abuse at his hands. She was acquitted by the jury. The 1984 movie, "The Burning Bed",based on a book of the same name by Faith McNulty, starred Farrah Fawcett as Francine and Paul LeMat as her husband, James Berlin "Mickey" Hughes.

Answer: He wanted to impress actress Jodie Foster.

John Hinckley, Jr., shot and wounded President Ronald Reagan and three members of Reagan's entourage on March 30, 1981, in Washington, D.C. Hinckley was obsessed with the movie "Taxi Driver", in which Jodie Foster plays a young prostitute. He wrote Foster a love letter explaining that he was doing this to impress her; he was later irked to find that she did not appreciate what he called "the greatest love offering in the history of the world." Hinckley was declared "not guilty by reason of insanity".

The outcry after this verdict led to legislation that made the insanity defense more difficult.

Answer: The defendant's change in diet was a symptom of depression.

Contrary to popular misconception, no one ever argued that Twinkies themselves caused a crime. In the case of Dan White, who assassinated San Francisco mayor George Moscone and city supervisor Harvey Milk, lawyers pointed to junk food as symptomatic of White's slide into depression.

They argued that White had previously eaten health food and had recently abruptly switched to a diet of junk food. White's depression, they contended, was what made him incapable of distinguishing right from wrong. A jury agreed, and White was convicted of voluntary manslaughter rather than first-degree murder. See the following website: http://www.snopes.com/legal/twinkie.asp .

Answer: She wanted to save the giant redwood trees from polluters.

Squeaky Fromme tried to shoot President Ford on Sept. 5, 1975, in Sacramento, California; however, the gun failed to discharge. Fromme, desperate to save the trees she felt were in imminent danger, had tried to get the government's attention in a dramatic way: by striking down its top leader. It didn't work.
For more details, see the following website: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerald_Ford_assassination_attempt_in_Sacramento .

Answer: She was preparing for a movie role.

Although she now admits to having been troubled at the time (some sources indicate insomnia and painkiller addiction may have been factors), Ryder initially claimed that a director told her to shoplift to prepare for the role of a shoplifter in a movie.

For anyone desiring to read more, here is an article about the trial: http://www.theguardian.com/culture/2002/nov/08/artsfeatures .

Answer: All of these

After hearing the testimony, the jury absolved Lorena Bobbitt of culpability for severing the penis of her husband, John Wayne Bobbitt. She was found not guilty by reason of insanity. (Unsurprisingly, the Bobbitts later divorced.)

Answer: "I don't like Mondays."

Brenda Ann Spencer, age 16, killed two people and injured nine others. She attempted to justify her crime with the statement, "I don't like Mondays", providing inspiration for the Boomtown Rats' song of the same name. Snopes gives an overview here: http://www.snopes.com/music/songs/mondays.asp .

Answer: He was raped to death by 5 wives who were jealous of the 6th.

Yes, Mr. Onoja, a wealthy Nigerian businessman, had six wives -- at least one too many, apparently! The first five, jealous of the sixth, burst in on his sex session with her, armed with knives and sticks, and all demanded...um...satisfaction, leaving Mr. Onoja quite literally breathless. Oh my!