On this day December 16 1989 Appeals Court Judge Robert Smith Vance was killed at his home in Alabama when he opened a mail bomb sent by Walter Leroy Moody Jr. The explosion caused fatal injuries and marked one of the most shocking acts of domestic terrorism of the decade. The attack triggered a broad federal investigation as authorities worked urgently to identify the source of the bombs and prevent further violence.
The killing drew national attention and led to increased concern about...
