13 Famous People Who Died On Friday 13th

13. Kitty Genovese (March 13, 1964) - Murdered In Front Of 38 Witnesses Who Failed To Call The Police On Friday 13th

On Friday March 13, 1964, Catherine "Kitty" Genovese was reportedly murdered in front of 38 people - all of who failed to call the police. Winston Moseley viciously raped and stabbed bar manager Ms Genovese in New York City - supposedly in front of 38 neighbours and passers-by, although these initial reports have been downplayed and it appears the number of witnesses could have been far less. However, despite this, "Kitty Genovese syndrome" or "bystander effect" has become a psychological syndrome that has since been studied as a result of this murder. The social-psychological phenomenon refers to cases in which witnesses do not offer help to the victim of a crime when other people are present because they expect someone else to do something - a problem which is magnified by the greater number of individuals present. Moseley was sentenced to death on June 15, 1964, for the murder and rape of Ms Genovese - although this was later reduced to life imprisonment due to the fact he argued "medical insanity". He escaped, however, and committed further crimes including kidnapping a woman and her daughter - and he remains in prison to this day as one of the longest-serving inmates in New York State.