Valentine's Day is a day of romance - but it's violent and gory origins are a far cry away from the world of chocolates, teddy bears and flowers.
Celebrated on February 14 each year, couples will often exchange gifts, cards, go out for dinner or just spend some quality time together.
Saint Valentine was a Roman priest and physician who is said to have been beheaded for helping Christian couples get married in 270 AD.
It's widely believed that the Christian emperor Claudius II Gothicus had banned marriage because he thought it was bad for soldiers, so the martyr was killed on February 14 for marrying people in secret.
This isn't the only tragedy to happen on Valentine's Day. Here we take a look at some of the other famous and shocking murders to happen on the day where people should be showing each other love.
Oscar Pistorius shoots girlfriend in their home
South African former professional sprint runner Oscar Pistorius was convicted of murdering his model girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine's Day 2013.
The former Olympic star, known as Blade Runner because both his feet were amputated when he was 11 months old, shot his girlfriend four times.
He initially denied murder, claiming that they were both madly in love, and that he had mistaken her for a burglar at his home in Pretoria, South Africa.
The disabled athlete faced one of the most high-profile trials in recent history, and in 2014 he was found guilty of culpable homicide, which is a similar charge to manslaughter.
His initial five-year sentence was overturned, and he ended up being handed a 13 years and five months sentence, which he is halfway through serving. He could soon be granted parole which could see him walk free in a matter of weeks.
Speaking on the 10th anniversary of their daughter's death, Barry and June Steenkamp said they had forgiven Pistorious initially.
However, because he refused to admit that he deliberately shot his girlfriend, they told the MailOnline they are vehemently opposed to his early release.
Doctor Death killed his wife
Mild-mannered and trusted Dr John Hamilton was known for being romantic and adoring his wife Susan.
They had been married for 14 years and often bought her lavish gifts, such as a Porsche on their wedding day, and luxury holidays.
Dr Hamilton was a talented obstetrician-gynaecologist in Oklahoma City in the US, and on Valentine's Day in 2001 he left his house early for surgery to exchange cards with his wife.
However, the Valentine's Day turned into in a bloody nightmare. The 53-year-old doctor strangled and bludgeoned his wife to dead and left her in a pool of blood on the bathroom floor.
He then called 911 and cried: "Please send police. Please send an ambulance, please. I think my wife is dead."
When paramedics arrived they discovered that Susan had been strangled with two neck ties and her head had been smashed with such force, part of her brain were exposed.
Police initially didn't find a murder weapon, but the pair's Valentine's cards gave away that their relationship wasn't what it seemed. Susan had written: "I bought this two weeks ago, so I guess maybe it doesn't seem as appropriate. But I do love you. Have a good day. Susan."
It later emerged that John had been having an affair, and Susan was considering a divorce.
Dr Hamilton was found guilty of first-degree murder. He was later sentenced to life in prison without the chance of parole. He continues to appeal the conviction but has so far been denied a retrial.
The Saint Valentine's Day Massacre
The Saint Valentine's Day Massacre is one of the most bloodiest acts of violence ever to occur on this day. On February 14, 1929, seven gang members of the Chicago North Side gang were murdered.
The men were standing at a garage at Lincoln Park, Chicago. They were lined up against a wall and shot by four unknown assailants, two of which were dressed as police officers.
Although the crime remains unsolved officially it is believed the killers were members of rival gang South Side Italian gang, led by Al Capone, who was widely assumed to have ordered the massacre.
Gang warfare was commonplace in the 1920s, and chief gangster Al Capone was regularly trying to eliminate his rivals in the illegal trades of bootlegging, gambling and prostitution.
Christian missionary killed his wife
Nathan Leuthold, 39, and his wife Denise were on a missionary trip to Eastern Europe when he allegedly fell in love with a 21-year-old Lithuanian student they met.
Denise and Nathan had sponsored the girl to study in the United States, according to the prosecution.
Back in Peoria, Illinois in the US, he was believed to have murdered his wife on Valentine's Day in 2013 so they could be together.
Police were called to the scene at around 3.40pm and they found the lifeless body of the 39-year-old just inside the door. She had been killed with a single gunshot wound to the head.
Prosecutors argued that Leuthold had staged a break-in at his in-laws home to cover his tracks. Police found he had Googled how to silence a weapon and strike someone to leave them unconscious.
He was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to 80 years in prison.
Wife hired 'Mr Results' hitman to kill husband
Head administrator for a medical practice in Dekalb, in Georgia in the US, Stacey Schoeck, 38, was believed to be having an affair with a man she met at work.
She was having second-thoughts about marrying her husband Richard, 46, who adopted two of Stacey's children.
Stacey told her husband she wanted to meet him in a park in Snellville, a city east of Atlanta, on Valentine's Day in 2010 to exchange cards, but that was far from what was on her mind.
She was believed to have hired personal trainer Reginald Coleman, also known as Mr Results, for $10,000 (£8.3k) to shoot her University facilities manager husband.
Richard, who was Stacey's fifth husband, was shot to death five times, including two gunshot wounds straight to his face.
According to reports, Richard had a life insurance policy worth $500,000 (£413k), which is something his wife stood to gain from his death.
She admitted the plot against her husband and testified against her co-accused to avoid the death penalty. She was sentenced to life imprisonment.
Do you have a story to share? Email us at yourmirror@mirror.co.uk
