Some of the most infamous homicide cases have remained unsolved for years. Some of these cases are rumored to have been exaggerated by the media, some are claimed to have been staged and others are an all around baffling mystery to both police and the public alike.
These are 13 of the most infamous unsolved homicide cases in history:
1. The Black Dahlia
The Black Dahlia case is considered of the most infamous cold cases in history. Aspiring actress Elizabeth Short was 22 years old when she was murdered January 15, 1947, in Los Angeles, California.
Her body was found near Leimert Park, severely mutilated, nude, cut in half, drained completely of blood and scrubbed clean of evidence. Authorities and the public alike were absolutely shocked at the gruesome crime scene and overall brutality of the murder.
No arrests were made at the time or during following months due to faulty witnesses and no evidence. However, recently in 2013, Detective Steve Hodel pointed the finger at his own father, Dr. George Hill Hodel. Soil taken from his father's house was consistent with the same chemical in decomposing bodies; this also lead the detective to speculate his father was responsible for more than the murder of Elizabeth Short aka The Black Dahlia.
In addition, a person with medical training was believed to have committed the crime because of the accuracy of the dismemberment of the body and pictures of her were found amongst the doctor's possessions. It seems that Dr. George Hill truly did get away with murder.
2. Boy in the Box
The nude body of a boy believed to be between the ages of four to six years old was found wrapped in a flannel shirt inside a cardboard box on February 25, 1951. The child was dubbed "America's Unknown Child" and to this day, his identity remains unknown.
Despite the rarity of the particular box he was found in, one of only twelve sold by JC Penny in the Upper Darby area at the time, his killer remains unknown as well.
3. Bob Crane
Robert Crane was a well known DJ, comedian and actor, noted for his role in "Hogan's Heroes". His body was discovered June 28, 1978, by his cast mate and friend, actress Victoria Berry. He had been severely beaten and a cord was tied around his neck.
Police theorized he was attacked in his sleep and the cord was merely tied post partum to throw off the authorities and media regarding the identity and characteristics of the killer. Following his death, several sex scandals (particularly videos) began to surface involving both Crane and his friend John Carpenter.
Carpenter was indicted for Crane's murder in 1992 after police found brain matter in his car. Carpenter died in 1998, maintaining his innocence. He was ultimately found not guilty of the crime and was acquitted of all charges.
4. Raymond Washington
Raymond Washington is famous for founding the gang known as "Crips." He grew up in East Los Angeles, California. In 1969, he organized a clique of neighborhood youths in the area and called them "Baby Avenues" aka Avenue Cribs.
In 1974, he was arrested for second degree robbery and was sentenced to five years in prison. Washington used the set back to his advantage and recruited followers in prison. He was killed August 9, 1979, at the age of twenty five in a drive by shooting.
It is alleged that Washington knew the driver who murdered him.
5. JonBenet Ramsey
The murder of JonBenet Ramsey is one of the most controversial cases to date; between police investigations, to theories about her own family's involvement in her demise.
She was only six years old when her body was found in her family's basement in Boulder, Colorado on Christmas morning of 1996. The cause of death was ultimately strangulation, however she additionally suffered blunt force trauma.
Her family claimed an intruder entered the house and killed JonBenet; a ransom note was even left to substantiate the claim. Her parents stood behind the story of the intruder until it was publicly announced that the ransom note was fake and the entire crime scene was staged.
Police and the public both suspect her own family was responsible for her murder, specifically her nine year old brother Burke accidentally, and her mother Patsy covering it up. There unfortunately has not been enough evidence to support this claim and her killer remains free.
6. Tupac Shakur
Tupac Shakur was a famous rapper with affiliations to the "Bloods," a gang. He was shot four times in the chest September 7, 1996, at a red light on Flamingo Road in Las Vegas, Nevada and died six days later on the 13th after being hospitalized and put on life support.
His falling out with fellow rapper Notorious B.I.G. sparked an east-versus-west-coast rivalry. Shakur and his boss Suge Knight were in a car together after jumping Orlando Anderson, a member of rival gang the Crips, when Shakur was attacked.
Anderson was considered a suspect, as well as Knight on the basis of time and location. Due to uncooperative witnesses, police were never able to make any arrests.
It is even theorized that Shakur staged his own death to get out of the public eye and spend the rest of his life laying low, however no proof has been found that he is in fact alive.
7. Notorious B.I.G.
Christopher Wallace went by both the names "Biggie Smalls" and the "Notorious B.I.G." during his rap career. He was shot four times in a drive-by shooting in Los Angeles, California on March 9, 1997.
Because of the similarities and close time period, allegations have been made inferring his death was related to Tupac Shakur's. A popular theory that supports the claim is Shakur's boss Suge Knight collaborated with crooked LAPD officer David Mack to murder both Wallace and Shakur and blame it on the bi-coastal rivalry at the time.
Mack's associate Amir Muhammad is the suspected hit man. Two wrongful death claims were filed by Wallace's family against the LAPD for insufficient investigation; they were dismissed in 2010. The New York Times called it "one of the longest running and most contentious celebrity cases in history."
8. Jack the Ripper
East London was terrorized August 7 through September 10, 1888, by an unknown killer named "Jack the Ripper" by the media. His killings are also known as the "White Chapel Murders"; his victims were all prostitutes.
Due to the style of body mutilation and "sadistic butchery" of the victims, the killer was believed to have some kind of medical training. He also sent hand written letters to the London Metropolitan Police, also known as the Scotland Yard, taunting the police and foreshadowing more deaths to come.
More than 100 suspects have been named in the case, but no solid leads or suspects have come through.
9. The Zodiac Killer
The Zodiac Killer is linked to five murders in California in 1968 and 1969. He is known for targeting couples specifically. His first believed attacked was on December 20, 1968 when 17-year-old David Faraday and 16-year-old Betty Lou Jensen were attacked in their car.
His second attack was July 5, 1969 on 22-year-old Darlene Ferrin and her 19-year-old boyfriend Mike Mageau; Mageau miraculously survived the attack and was able to give police a general sketch of the killer's identity.
His third attack was September 27, 1969 on couple Cecilia Shephard and Bryan Hartnell; he tied up the couple and stabbed them repeatedly. Following the attack, the killer called the Napa police to inform them on the crime just committed.
His fourth attack on October 11, 1969 was originally not linked to him, due to the difference in the style of the murder; he shot and killed taxi driver Paul Stine. Similar to Jack the Ripper, the killer sent notes to the police taunting them, assuming responsibility for the murders, promises of more victims to come, and offering riddles as to his whereabouts.
One letter in particular that was sent to the "San Francisco Chronicle" even included a bloody scrap of one of the victims shirts, along with a conclusion containing the killer's intentions of massacring an entire school bus of children.
The letters abruptly stopped in 1974 and the Zodiac Killer remains unknown to present day.
10. Deanna Cremin
Deanna Cremin's body was found March 30, 1995, in Sommerville, Massachusetts at an apartment complex two blocks away from her family home a few days before turning 17. She was strangled to death.
Over 20 years have passed since the crime, and her family maintains their suspicions of her boyfriend at the time. He walked her halfway home instead of to the door like he usually did, didn't call her when he arrived home, was uncooperative with police, and was the last person to see her alive.
There has never been arrests made in the case, due to a lack of evidence. A $70,000 reward is still available for anyone with information related to her case.
11. Amber Hagerman
Amber Hagerman was only nine years old when she was kidnapped, while riding bicycles with her brother in Arlington, Texas. Her body was found on January 13, 1996, in a ditch with her throat slit.
She was kept alive for two days before her murder during which time her killer sexually assaulted her. Her brother was able to remember the kidnapper drove a black pick-up truck, but the knowledge of the vehicle came too late for Amber.
Her death eventually lead to the installation of the "Amber Alert" system, which has lead authorities to the discovery of more than 700 abducted children.
12. Suzanne Jovin
Suzanne Jovin was a German born student at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut. She was 21 years old when she was murdered on December 4, 1998. She was found in the middle of a street close to campus, stabbed 17 times.
Witnesses claimed to have overheard a couple arguing outside the Eli Whitney Luxury Apartments, a short walk from the discovery of her body; just twenty minutes before the police were notified of the murder.
She was last seen leaving Phelps Gate on campus. The case contained too many vague details for police to investigate any solid leads.
13. Natalee Holloway
The murder of beautiful high school senior Natalee Holloway drew media attention from across the world. She was 18 years old when she vanished May 30, 2005, on her senior trip in Aruba.
Her body has never been recovered; she was pronounced dead by police due to absence, however theories have been offered that she is still alive and was sold into sex trafficking.
The three main suspects in the case were all last seen leaving with Natalee the night of her disappearance – Jordan Van der Sloot and brothers Deepak and Satish Kalpoe.
All three suspects have not been tried for the crime, due to insufficient and circumstantial evidence, faulty confessions, lack of a body, and changing stories from that evening.
If you have knowledge that could help law enforcement solve any these cases, please call Crime Solvers Tip Line at: 1(800) 673-2777.
