The Earth Day Killer

The self-proclaimed founder of Earth Day, Ira Einhorn, killed his girlfriend and stuffed her in a steamer trunk in his closet.

Every April 22nd I think of the Unicorn.

My girlfriend said, “You have to meet the Unicorn Brian! He’s really smart and funny! He’s the guru of West Philly”.

My introduction to Ira Einhorn (Einhorn means unicorn in German) took place in the foyer of the apartment house in which my girlfriend resided. Ira lived there too, a floor above her and just down a short hallway.

He was a one man intellectual circus. A personality that made his red bearded visage seem even bigger than it was. If anyone was unique — Ira was.

Not only was he whip smart he also spoke in activist riddles that seemed to fly over everyone’s head.You’d step back and say, “ Wow, maybe I’m just too slow to keep up intellectually.”

Ira Einhorn was born into a Jewish middle-class family. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania then returned to a neighborhood close to Penn (Powelton Village) to continue on a graduate degree.

It was there he became involved in ecological groups and was an activist leader in the large counter culture that had formed in West Philly. He referred to himself as the Unicorn, a planetary enzyme, a far-watcher, and an advance-man for the culture in which he was immersed.

I never saw Ira without a following of worshipful college and post college young men and women.

Mostly women.

Although not particularly movie star attractive, he had an aura of energy that made him uniquely compelling.

He ran for mayor of Philadelphia (unsuccessfully), organized be-ins, Sun Week, even mediated disputes between students and police.

Earth Day:

The first Earth Day was held in Philadelphia on April 22, 1970. There were smaller events held on campuses in other areas as well, but the Philadelphia spectacle, held on Belmont Plateau in Fairmont Park, was the largest by far with attendance of over 30,000.

Ira Einhorn was instrumental in organizing the well attended event and was the featured speaker. He gave his usual electric performance.

It was generally accepted by the attendees of that first Earth Day, the soon to become an iconic celebration, was entirely Ira’s idea.

Holly Maddox:

She grew up in Tyler, Texas the oldest of 5 siblings. Cheerleader in high school and an excellent student she came to the Philadelphia area to attend prestigious Bryn Mawr College. When she graduated with a degree in English she remained in the area — because she loved it.

Holly moved into the city of Philadelphia and soon met the Unicorn. She was immediately intrigued by his energy and charm.They became a couple in 1972- the guru and the small-town girl from Texas.

Two brilliant people; opposites in every other way.

A tempestuous relationship ensued and in 1977 Holly Maddox disappeared.

Eighteen months later, on a tip from a neighbor who smelled a strong odor and observed liquid leaking from the apartment above, police found Holly’s partially mummified corpse stuffed in a steamer trunk in a closet in an apartment in Powelton Village — Ira Einhorn’s

Arrested and charge with murder, Ira’s friends in high places were able to set bail ridiculously low and Ira skipped.

A 22 year chase leading from Ireland to England, to Sweden and finally to France followed. Einhorn was finally captured living a domestic life in the Charente region of France, about 100 miles north of Bordeaux. The, now much older, planetary enzyme was living with his beautiful Swedish companion whom he made his wife in 1987.

He was held by French officials who refused to turn him over to the Americans for extradition because of legal differences in the 2 countries.

Einhorn was tried in a Philadelphia court in a very unusual way— in abstentia.

An empty chair was left next to his lawyer who argued the case without the physical presence of his client. Ira was convicted of first degree murder.

The problem now was to retrieve the Unicorn from France who refused to turn him over to American authorities because of a French law barring trials where the defendant can’t speak for himself.

After receiving promises that Einhorn would be granted a new trial where he could defend himself, the French eventually extradited Einhorn with the proviso he would not be executed (also opposed by French law).

On the run for 16 years and protected by the French government for 4 more years, Einhorn was, at last back in the City of Brotherly Love.

Ira was again tried for murder in a Philadelphia court; an unprecedented legal action.

He was again convicted. This time sentenced to life in prison without hope of parol.

Einhorn continued his activism on social media while in prison until he died of natural causes in prison at the age of 79.

Earth Day:

Although recognized by many who attended that first Earth Day celebration as the founder of this positive ecological event held world wide on April 22 for over 50 years, organizers quickly disassociated Ira Einhorn’s name from the celebration.

Instead, an environmental conscious junior senator from Wisconsin, Gaylord Nelson, was given credit for founding Earth Day by introducing legislation at the end of 1970 creating the Environmental Protection Act.

Now close to 1,000,000,000 people throughout the world recognize Earth Day each year.

“Preserve and cherish the pale blue dot, the only home we’ve ever known.” —

Carl Sagan

This article was self published 4/20/22

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