Top 10 Unsolved Murder Mysteries
Top 10, Unsolved, Murders, Mysteries, Crimes, Death, Serial Killer, Killing, Famous, Infamous, History, Nicole Brown, Ron Goldman, OJ Simpson, Bob Crane, West Mesa Bone Collector, JonBenet Ramsey, Tupac Shakur, Notorious BIG, Black Dahlia, Jack The Ripper,Top 10 Unsolved Murder Mysteries
These slayings have triggered countless theories and accusations. Welcome to WatchMojo.com and today we will be counting down the top 10 unsolved murder mysteries.
#10 – The Nicole Brown/Ron Goldman Double Murder (1994)
When Nicole Brown Simpson and her lover were found slain at her LA home, everyone suspected her ex-husband, former NFL star O.J. Simpson. His was one of history's most highly publicized trials; but circumstantial forensics and an ill-fitting glove meant he was found not guilty. O.J. later penned a book titled “If I Did It,” and vowed to spend his life hunting down the real killer.
#9 – Bob Crane (1978)
When “Hogan's Heroes” star Bob Crane was found bludgeoned in his Arizona home, police quickly turned to his photographer friend John Henry Carpenter as a suspect, and even found blood in his car that matched Crane's type. However, insufficient evidence meant he was let go. The case was reopened in 1990, and Carpenter went to trial four years later, but was acquitted. Bob Crane's killer has never been located.
#8 – West Mesa Bone Collector (2009)
Discovered by a woman and her dog, the remains of 11 women and an unborn fetus were retrieved from the Albuquerque, New Mexico desert. Many of these women were Hispanic, and most were caught up in drugs and prostitution at the time of their disappearances 3-6 years earlier. Police linked these serial murders with the area's yearly state fair, which drew prostitutes to the area in large numbers, but the crimes remain unsolved.
#7 – Long Island Serial Killer (2010 – ?)
A present-day Jack the Ripper, this unidentified serial killer is said to have killed over ten people associated with sex work, and dumped them all along Long Island's Ocean Parkway. Often choosing people who advertized themselves on Craigslist, this murderer may have had ties with police due to his superior knowledge of their procedures. The so-called Gilgo Killer has remained nameless since the first victims surfaced in late-2010.
#6 – JonBenét Ramsey (1996)
When this six-year-old pageant queen went missing the day after Christmas, a ransom demand was made. But, she was found dead later that day in the basement of her Colorado home. Authorities immediately suspected her family, but forensics cleared them of involvement. Some believe the case remains unsolved thanks to shoddy police work, even after a known pedophile admitted to JonBenét's murder in 2006. He was proven innocent.
#5 – Tupac Shakur (1996) and the Notorious B.I.G. (1997)
A fierce rivalry between East Coast and West Coast rappers caused two of their biggest stars to be gunned down. Tupac was shot at a red light on a Las Vegas street after leaving a Mike Tyson boxing match with Death Row Records CEO Suge Knight. Months later, Biggie met a similar fate while traveling in California. Thanks to inconclusive leads and uncooperative witnesses, police are stumped.
#4 – The Black Dahlia (1947)
Perhaps the most striking detail about 22-year-old Elizabeth Short's gruesome murder was that her mouth was slashed at either edge, giving the false impression of a wide smile. Coverage was sensational, and even accused Short herself of asking for trouble by dressing and acting provocatively. She became known as the Black Dahlia, and her unsolved murder sparked theories, books and films in the years after her death.
#3 – The Tylenol Poisonings (1982)
Chicago was gripped with fear in late-1982 when seven locals died after taking Tylenol capsules that were laced with cyanide. Johnson & Johnson was applauded for its response to the tragedy, and tamper-proof seals became common practice when copycat crimes occurred afterward. However, even with the support of the government and a huge corporation, the person or people behind the poisonings were never found.
#2 – The Zodiac Killings (1960s – ?)
Serial killers thrive on attention and the thrill of getting away with murder. The Zodiac Killer began taunting authorities in the 1960s, when a string of similarly-murdered victims surfaced in Northern California. He sent letters and cryptic puzzles to police and media, naming himself Zodiac and daring them to catch him. While there were suspects, and even a Hollywood movie, the Zodiac Killer's identity still remains a mystery.
#1 – Jack The Ripper (1888)
Five prostitutes found with their throats slashed and their abdomens mangled in London's Whitechapel district caused one of the longest-lasting murder mysteries. Intense worldwide media attention, plus letters purportedly from the offender, led many to believe one serial killer was behind all the deaths. Whether it was one or many murderers, failure to identify Jack the Ripper was considered disgraceful, and resulted in a legend that lives on today.
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