March 17 is the 76th day of the year (77th in leap years). There are 289 days remaining.
- 1835 — Giorgio Orsolano died.
- 1921 — Clara Strandberg (victim) is born.
- 1942 — John Wayne Gacy is born.
- 1947 — Darlene Ferrin (victim) is born.
- 1962 — Timothy Wilson Spencer is born.
- 1964 — José William Aranguren died.
- 1976 — Angelo Howard is born.
- 1991 — John Fautenberry is apprehended.
- 1993 — Jeffrey Feltner died.
- 1998 — Anatoli Neželski is apprehended.
- 1999 — Andrew Kokoraleis died.
- 1999 — David Allen Gerard is apprehended.
- 1999 — Loren Herzog and Wesley Shermantine (the "Speed Freak Killers") are apprehended.
- 2012 — Jean-Marc Petroff died.