Valentine’s Day is supposed to be a celebration of love, passion, and romance. But what happens when that love turns dark? When jealousy, greed, and betrayal take over, February 14 becomes a day of terror instead of affection. Would you ever expect a simple gift exchange, a romantic date, or even a quiet night at home to end in murder? In this article, we uncover 5 Real-Life Valentine’s Day Crimes that prove love can be just as deadly as it is sweet. These shocking true crime stories will leave you questioning whether Valentine’s Day is really about love—or something far more sinister.
A 7-Eleven Heist Turns Deadly
On February 14, 1996, what should have been a simple store robbery turned into a tragic murder. Anthony Williams and Kareem Brock entered a 7-Eleven in Las Vegas, disguised in women’s clothing, intending to rob the store.
Inside the store was Sara Keynejad, a 19-year-old pregnant woman who was waiting for her husband. In a senseless act of violence, Keynejad was shot. She was rushed to the hospital but did not survive. Her unborn child also died.
For 24 years, the case went unsolved. Then, in July 2020, new evidence led authorities to arrest Williams and Brock. Both were formally charged with murder and manslaughter.
A “Valentine’s Day Gift” No One Expected
On February 14, 2013, Illinois resident Nathan Leuthold, a former missionary, reported a burglary at his home. His wife, Denise Leuthold, was found dead—shot in the head. The house appeared ransacked, but something was off.
Police noticed the crime scene was too neat, almost staged. Suspicion quickly fell on Nathan. The motive? Prosecutors claimed he wanted to be with Aina Dobilaite, a 21-year-old Lithuanian exchange student the couple had taken in.
Authorities uncovered damning evidence:
- Leuthold had searched online how to silence a .40 caliber Glock—the same gun used in the murder.
- He had been financially supporting Dobilaite, even paying for her education.
- His cold, detached behavior after Denise’s murder raised red flags.
The prosecution called the murder “a Valentine’s Day present” from Nathan to Aina. Though both denied any romantic involvement, a jury wasn’t convinced. Leuthold was sentenced to 80 years in prison.
A crime of passion—or a cold, calculated plan to start a new life? Either way, Denise never saw it coming.
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A Restraining Order Ignored
By all accounts, Tiana Notice was a promising young woman with a bright future. But her ex-boyfriend, James Carter II, refused to let go.
After their breakup, Carter harassed Notice relentlessly. In January 2009, she took action, filing for a restraining order against him. But when she begged police to enforce it, her pleas went unanswered.
Then, on February 14, 2009, Carter violated the order again—this time with deadly consequences. He ambushed Notice outside her Connecticut apartment, stabbing her 20 times. She bled out two hours later.
In 2012, Carter was sentenced to 60 years in prison. He refused to attend his sentencing, showing no remorse.
Notice’s family channeled their grief into action. They started a foundation to fight for stricter domestic violence laws, ensuring other victims wouldn’t be ignored like Tiana.
Would things have been different if the police had listened? The tragedy of Tiana Notice serves as a painful reminder that restraining orders alone don’t always save lives.
A Murder-for-Hire Gone Wrong
Valentine’s Day 2010 should have been a day of love for Richard and Stacey Schoeck. Instead, it became the day Richard was murdered.
Stacey had arranged to meet her husband at a park in Georgia to exchange Valentine’s gifts. But when she arrived, she found him shot to death near his truck.
For months, investigators searched for answers. Then, they uncovered the shocking truth—Stacey had planned his murder all along.
She had hired Reginald Coleman, a personal trainer, to kill Richard in exchange for $10,000. A co-worker, Lynitra Ross, helped set up the hit.
By May 2010, all three were arrested. Each received a life sentence.
What drove Stacey to orchestrate her husband’s murder? Investigators believe she simply wanted to move on with her life—without Richard. But instead of divorce, she chose murder. And that was one of the most shocking Valentine’s Day Crimes in Lula, Georgia.
A Twisted Love Triangle Ends in Horror
This case is one of the most disturbing Valentine’s Day crimes in recent history. It involves incest, torture, and a gruesome murder.
In 2019, Amanda Michelle Naylor McClure and her boyfriend, John Thomas McGuire, traveled to West Virginia to visit Amanda’s recently reunited biological father, Larry McClure, and her sister, Anna Choudhary.
At first, everything seemed fine. But after a few days, things took a horrific turn.
On February 14, the trio attacked McGuire, hitting him over the head with a wine bottle. They injected him with meth, tied him up, and strangled him to death.
But the horror didn’t stop there.
- They buried his body in the backyard.
- Six days later, they dug him up, dismembered him, and reburied him.
- Three weeks after the murder, Amanda and her father got married in a bizarre and illegal incestuous union.
In September 2019, McGuire’s body was discovered. Soon after, all three were arrested.
- Larry McClure received a life sentence.
- Amanda and Anna were sentenced to 40 years in prison.
These five crimes will forever be remembered as Valentine’s Day horrors that no one saw coming.
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