Ira Einhorn

Ira Samuel Einhorn (born May 15, 1940) was an activist in the 1960s and 1970s who is now serving a life sentence for the murder of Holly Maddux in 1977.

Related Topics:
May 15 - 1940 - 1960s - 1970s

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Einhorn was active in ecological and antiwar groups in the 1960s. At one time, he was a friend and contemporary of Jerry Rubin and Abbie Hoffman. He also claimed to have been instrumental in creating Earth Day in 1970. However, other organizers of Earth Day dispute his account. He was known to some of his supporters as "the Unicorn" ("Einhorn" is the German word for "unicorn").

Related Topics:
1960s - Jerry Rubin - Abbie Hoffman - Earth Day - 1970

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He studied in Pennsylvania and had a five-year relationship with Holly Maddux, who was from Tyler, Texas. In 1977, Maddux broke up with Einhorn. She went to New York and became involved with Saul Lapidus. When Einhorn found out about this, he angrily called Maddux to come back to Philadelphia, which she did on September 9.

Related Topics:
Pennsylvania - Tyler, Texas - Saul Lapidus - Philadelphia - September 9

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She was never seen in public again. When questioned, Einhorn stated to police that she left to make a call and never came back. His alibi began to crack, however, when neighbors began to complain about a foul smell coming from his apartment. Eighteen months later, Maddux's decomposing corpse was found by police in a trunk stored in a closet in Einhorn's apartment. Einhorn's bail was set at $40,000.00 at the request of his attorney, Arlen Specter; Einhorn was released from custody in advance of his trial by paying 10% of the bond's value, or $4,000.00.

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In 1981, days before his murder trial was to begin, Einhorn evaded bail and escaped to Europe. Einhorn traveled in Europe for the next 16 years, along the way marrying Annika Flodin. Back in Pennsylvania, the state convicted him in absentia in 1993 of the murder of Maddux. Einhorn was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Related Topics:
1981 - Bail - Europe - Annika Flodin - 1993

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