Some folks joke about Friday the 13th like it’s just a spooky little blip on the calendar—but not me. I’ve seen what this day can do.
My mama is a triplet born on Friday the 13th in October. Years later, my cousin was born on that exact same date. And as if that wasn’t enough, two of my grandsons—Isaiah and Eli—made their debut into this world on Friday the 13th too. If that don’t raise an eyebrow, I don’t know what will.
Now, in our family, it’s become a day we celebrate. But across history, Friday the 13th has been anything but kind. It’s shown up during unsolved murders, twisted crimes, missing persons cases, and straight-up disasters. Whether you believe in curses or just think bad luck’s got good timing, there’s no denying this date carries a strange kind of darkness.
Here’s a roundup of some of the most disturbing, unbelievable, and true crimes that happened on a Friday the 13th.
Tupac Shakur Dies After a Week in the ICU (1996)
Tupac Shakur died on Friday, September 13, 1996—six days after he was shot in a drive-by in Las Vegas. His murder shocked the world and still remains unsolved. Theories have swirled for decades, from gang retaliation to record label feuds to faked deaths. But officially, nobody has ever been held responsible.
And the fact that he died on Friday the 13th? Just adds fuel to the fire.
Kitty Genovese’s Killer Caught… on Friday the 13th
While the murder of Kitty Genovese in 1964 is infamous for how long it took people to respond to her cries for help, here’s what’s lesser known: her killer, Winston Moseley, was finally arrested… on Friday, March 13.
After a botched burglary attempt went sideways, he was caught and eventually confessed to Genovese’s murder—along with two others. The day he was finally taken off the streets? Yep. Another unlucky Friday the 13th.
The Deadly Shootout at Pine Ridge (1975)
This one hits close to home for anyone with a love of justice and a deep suspicion of government overreach.
On Friday, June 13, 1975, a violent shootout erupted at the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. Two FBI agents and one Native American man were killed. What followed was a long and controversial investigation that led to the arrest of Leonard Peltier—a man many still believe was wrongly convicted. His case became a symbol of Native rights and government mistrust.
And it all went down on—you guessed it—Friday the 13th.
The Oklahoma Tornado That Wasn’t Just a Storm (1951)
On Friday, July 13, 1951, parts of Oklahoma were hit by a powerful tornado. But what followed made it worse—looting, assaults, and at least one unsolved murder. As rescue teams struggled to help the injured, some folks took the chaos as a cover to commit crimes.
Weather can be scary, but what people do during a disaster? That’s the real horror story.
The Murder of Jesse Valencia (2004)
Jesse Valencia, a University of Missouri student, was found murdered on Friday, June 13, 2004. His throat had been slashed with military precision. As police dug into his life, they uncovered a hidden relationship between Jesse and a closeted police officer. That officer, fearing exposure, eventually confessed.
It was a crime built on secrecy, manipulation, and control—and it unfolded on a day already soaked in bad luck.
The Mass Murder in Buffalo, NY (1985)
On Friday, December 13, 1985, a man named Calvin Jones walked into two Buffalo offices and opened fire. He killed four people before taking his own life. His motive? A grievance against the Social Security Administration.
This tragic event became one of the first mass shootings tied to workplace violence in New York—and it happened on a Friday the 13th.
The Girl Who Survived a Killer—Only to Disappear (1996)
On Friday, September 13, 1996, 16-year-old Sofia Mendez survived a brutal home invasion in Georgia. She managed to escape and give police a partial description of the attacker. But just two weeks later, Sofia herself vanished without a trace.
To this day, she’s never been found. Some believe her attacker came back for her. Others think there’s more to her story than anyone realized. Either way, it all started on a cursed calendar square.
The Double Homicide That Shook Lubbock, Texas (1985)
Let’s bring it home to Texas.
On Friday, September 13, 1985, two bodies were found inside a Lubbock home—both victims had been shot execution-style. The murders sparked fear in the quiet West Texas town, and for weeks, police were baffled. Eventually, the killer turned out to be a close family friend with a gambling problem and a mean streak.
The town still remembers the silence that settled over that neighborhood, and how trust shattered overnight.
The Unlucky Date That Keeps Delivering
Friday the 13th might not cause bad things to happen, but it sure does seem to attract them. There’s something about that date—maybe it’s superstition, maybe it’s coincidence—but time and time again, it marks the moment when things go terribly wrong.
For true crime junkies like us, it’s more than just folklore. It’s a reminder that some dates carry weight. Some names stick in your throat. And some stories are too strange not to be true.
Lisa Crow contributed to this article. She is a true crime junkie and lifestyle blogger based in Waco, Texas. Lisa is the Head of Content at Gigi’s Ramblings and Southern Bred True Crime Junkie. She spends her free time traveling when she can and making memories with her large family which consists of six children and fifteen grandchildren.
