13. The Trial of Leopold and Loeb (1924)
In 1924, Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb, two wealthy Chicago teenagers, kidnapped and murdered 14-year-old Bobby Franks, aiming to commit the “perfect crime.” Their arrest and subsequent trial captivated the nation, raising profound questions about criminal psychology, the insanity defense, and the death penalty. Defense attorney Clarence Darrow’s impassioned plea for mercy led to life imprisonment sentences, setting precedents for considering mitigating factors in sentencing. (britannica.com)
