Editing Lin Newborn (section)

== Life ==
Newborn spent much of his adult life campaigning against [[racism]]. He specialized in de-programming young, newly recruited Nazi Skinheads, convincing them that they could be a part of a greater family that didn't discriminate against religion, ethnic background or sexual orientation. He taught that love and unity were stronger than hatred. A native of [[Pomona, California]], he lived in [[Las Vegas Valley|Las Vegas]], [[Nevada]], where he was a member of the Las Vegas Unity Skins and sang in the band Counter Culture (a local Las Vegas punk band) and later in Life of Lies <ref>https://myspace.com/lifeoflieslol Life Of Lies Official myspace page</ref> which ended around 1996.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lasvegascitylife.com/articles/2003/07/02/scorched_earth/guest_commentary/sguestcommentary.txt |title=R.I.P. Spit & Dan |publisher=Las Vegas CityLife |date=2003-07-02 |accessdate=2014-09-04 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20030725152029/http://www.lasvegascitylife.com/articles/2003/07/02/scorched_earth/guest_commentary/sguestcommentary.txt |archivedate=July 25, 2003 }}</ref> 

On July 4, 1998, [[White supremacy|white supremacists]] murdered Newborn at the age of 24 along with his friend, [[Daniel Shersty]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://lasvegassun.com/news/2000/nov/24/neo-nazi-charged-in-slaying-of-anti-racist-activis/ | title=Neo-Nazi charged in slaying of anti-racist activists - Las Vegas Sun Newspaper | date=24 November 2000 }}</ref> On July 6, 1998, Newborn's body was found three miles west of [[U.S. Highway 95]] near Rome Boulevard, within {{convert|150|yd}} of Shersty's body. Police state that the victims were lured by two women, under the pretext of attending a party. Newborn and Shersty were taken to a northwest part of the valley, where they were beaten and possibly tortured before being shot to death. Police speculate that Newborn may have been trying to escape when he was killed.

John "Polar Bear" Butler (then 26), a known [[Neo-Nazism|neo-Nazi]], was convicted of the murders and sentenced to death. He was allegedly the leader of a group called the Independent Nazi Skins. After appealing, Butler's death sentence was vacated and he was given four life terms without parole. He is registered with the [[Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department]]'s gang unit as a white supremacist. He is currently housed at [[High Desert State Prison (Nevada)|High Desert State Prison]] in Nevada.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2001/Jan-11-Thu-2001/news/15207485.html |title=Las Vegas Review-Journal: Butler sentenced to die for slayings |publisher=Las Vegas ReviewJournal |date= |accessdate=2012-02-29}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.splcenter.org/intel/intelreport/article.jsp?aid=246 |title=Racist Skinheads - Nazi Skinhead gets death in murder of antiracists |publisher=Splcenter.org |date=2003-09-28 |accessdate=2012-02-29}}</ref> In 2014, four other people, Melissa Hack, her brother Ross Hack, Ross's ex-girlfriend Mandie Abels, and Leland Jones were arrested for their involvement in the murders. They were tried in federal court since the crime had occurred on federal land. In 2012, Mandie Abels was sentenced to 15 years in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit murder and agreeing to testify against Ross and Jones. Melissa entered a similar plea agreement and also received a 15-year sentence in 2014. However, both Ross Hack and Leland Jones were acquitted at trial.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-11-21 |title=Pair Acquitted in Infamous Double Murder of Anti-Racist Skins |url=https://www.splcenter.org/resources/reports/pair-acquitted-infamous-double-murder-anti-racist-skins/ |access-date=2025-04-17 |website=Southern Poverty Law Center |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-11-10 |title=Woman gets 15-year federal prison term in skinhead murder case |url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/local/local-las-vegas/woman-gets-15-year-federal-prison-term-in-skinhead-murder-case/ |access-date=2025-04-17 |website=Las Vegas Review-Journal |language=en-US}}</ref> Another suspect, Daniel Hartung, approached federal authorities in 2011 and confessed to his role in the murders out of remorse for his actions. He was killed in a car crash in [[Utah]] in April 2012.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-09-06 |title=Guilty conscience brings confession in skinhead murder case |url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/local/local-las-vegas/guilty-conscience-brings-confession-in-skinhead-murder-case/ |access-date=2025-04-17 |website=Las Vegas Review-Journal |language=en-US}}</ref>