The human obsession with mysteries has been absolutely fantastic for genre writers who can produce text after text of crimes being solved. Unfortunately, some real life crimes remain cold cases, but there is a fine line between “unsolved” and an inability for the authorities to actually prosecute.
Someone asked “What are some crimes that will most likely never get solved but are 99% sure who is responsible?” and people online gave their best examples. So get comfortable as you scroll through, upvote the most interesting and be sure to share your own ideas in the comments below.
#1
Personal, but my Aunt.
Lived with s*****g boyfriend after leaving strict conservative upbringing. She was paying her way through nursing school by dancing at less than reputable establishments.
Boyfriend was older and a*****e. She was packing a bag one night, supposedly to leave. There's two 911 calls, one of her saying he was threatening to shoot her, which got cut off. One a few minutes later of him saying she shot herself.
My dad and grandpa cleaned out the apartment, holes with hair in the wall from where he slammed her, and the half packed suitcase on the bed.
She was shot in the temple, and was braindead, removed from life support a week later. No one did anything, not the cops or family. No one pursued it and dude just dipped town. My mom was deeply upset and went to the cops a few times for records, trying to push the case, got blown off. They even ended up asking how (boyfriend) was. They were all buddies.
She was only 20.
Lived with s*****g boyfriend after leaving strict conservative upbringing. She was paying her way through nursing school by dancing at less than reputable establishments.
Boyfriend was older and a*****e. She was packing a bag one night, supposedly to leave. There's two 911 calls, one of her saying he was threatening to shoot her, which got cut off. One a few minutes later of him saying she shot herself.
My dad and grandpa cleaned out the apartment, holes with hair in the wall from where he slammed her, and the half packed suitcase on the bed.
She was shot in the temple, and was braindead, removed from life support a week later. No one did anything, not the cops or family. No one pursued it and dude just dipped town. My mom was deeply upset and went to the cops a few times for records, trying to push the case, got blown off. They even ended up asking how (boyfriend) was. They were all buddies.
She was only 20.
9points
#2
I'm never going to stop saying Cody Haynes.
His dad k****d him. Shoddy small town police work let him walk free. Cody went missing in September 2004. His father died January 2019 and we'll likely never know where Cody's body is.
His dad k****d him. Shoddy small town police work let him walk free. Cody went missing in September 2004. His father died January 2019 and we'll likely never know where Cody's body is.
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9points
#3
Kristine Kupka. Pregnant Brooklyn college student missing since 1998, last seen with the father of her child—also her professor—who wanted her to have an abortion (she refused).
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8points
#4
Jonbenet Ramsey. Pretty sure it was a family member (I'm leaning towards the son, followed by parents covering it up). The ransom note is definitely written by mom or dad. I think they'll all take whatever really happened to the grave.
zighawk:
I think this one was the dad. Many years ago I took a week-long class on handwriting analysis, specifically for written statements. It is far from an exact science, but it's meant to find "tells" in the statements to use in follow-up questioning. Anyway, the instructor used the father's statement as an in-class example for talking us through the process. The instructor, this old Israeli guy (wonder what he used to do) kept making these coy remarks about the father's choice of phrase and stuff. By the end we were all like WTF? It was the dad? And the instructor just gave this shrug, like, ho-hum, who can say? Problem is, this kind of analysis isn't usually persuasive in court, but this old dude had been doing it so long we were convinced.
zighawk:
I think this one was the dad. Many years ago I took a week-long class on handwriting analysis, specifically for written statements. It is far from an exact science, but it's meant to find "tells" in the statements to use in follow-up questioning. Anyway, the instructor used the father's statement as an in-class example for talking us through the process. The instructor, this old Israeli guy (wonder what he used to do) kept making these coy remarks about the father's choice of phrase and stuff. By the end we were all like WTF? It was the dad? And the instructor just gave this shrug, like, ho-hum, who can say? Problem is, this kind of analysis isn't usually persuasive in court, but this old dude had been doing it so long we were convinced.
8points
#5
Sandra Lynn Kerby, school teacher from my hometown who disappeared in 1999. Her husband is the prime suspect, as he stopped cooperating, and proposed to his girlfriend, with whom he’d been having an affair for years, not long after his wife’s “disappearance”. My best friend of 22 year’s dad is a police sgt and he says they all know it’s her husband.
8points
#6
Patricia Adkins. Had an affair with co-worker. Lent him close to $100k. Asks for it back. He invites her on a camping trip. She never comes back. When questioned he claims to not even know her, though it's proven he does. No body, no case. He walks away a richer m******r. Not even shamed publicly, because police withhold his identity. Screwy case.
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7points
#7
Susan Powell. It's so infuriating that we will never get definitive answers on this, but all signs point to her husband Josh Powell k*****g her. I highly recommend Dave Cawley's podcast Cold about the case, even if you're familiar with the case. It sheds a lot of light onto the Powell family and how most of them probably covered for Josh before he took his life and the lives of his children.
anon:
I don’t think her husband would’ve blown the house up with both him and his kids in it if he wasn’t guilty. Plus the sketchiness of his side of the family... I feel horrible for her parents losing their daughter and grandkids. I just hope they find her someday.
anon:
I don’t think her husband would’ve blown the house up with both him and his kids in it if he wasn’t guilty. Plus the sketchiness of his side of the family... I feel horrible for her parents losing their daughter and grandkids. I just hope they find her someday.
7points
#8
The Doodler was a serial killer in the 70s who k****d up to 14 people, mostly gay men. He was named that because sketches of the victims would often be found near their bodies.
The police at the time had one suspect that they were convinced was responsible, and after he was arrested the murders stopped. However, because some of his surviving victims were still in the closet and therefore unwilling to out themselves by testifying against him, he was never charged and to this day his name has never been released.
The police at the time had one suspect that they were convinced was responsible, and after he was arrested the murders stopped. However, because some of his surviving victims were still in the closet and therefore unwilling to out themselves by testifying against him, he was never charged and to this day his name has never been released.
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7points
#9
Dottie Caylor case. A shy, agoraphobic home-sitting woman is dropped off at a train station by her husband never to be seen again.
The husband was interviewed in one of the earliest episodes of UnresolvedMysteries and he is guilty as f. I never seen so "who cares?" guy speaking about disappearance of his wife. It is a known fact he had an affair while she disappeared and shortly after he married the other woman. I am skeptical in 99% of cases, but here I am certain that a husband is involved. Anyway he is an official POI, just no-one has enough evidence to make a case.
The husband was interviewed in one of the earliest episodes of UnresolvedMysteries and he is guilty as f. I never seen so "who cares?" guy speaking about disappearance of his wife. It is a known fact he had an affair while she disappeared and shortly after he married the other woman. I am skeptical in 99% of cases, but here I am certain that a husband is involved. Anyway he is an official POI, just no-one has enough evidence to make a case.
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7points
#10
Rebecca Zahau. Her body was found n**e, bound at the wrists and ankles and hanging by the neck from her balcony. Police ruled it a s*****e. The only other person at the mansion was her brother in law. At the scene of the crime they found two knives and a cryptic message written on the wall, along with men's boot prints on the balcony.
Bailey Sarian made a really informative video covering the case.
Bailey Sarian made a really informative video covering the case.
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7points
#11
Kathleen McCormack Durst
Blind Freddy in a cellar full of water can see that her husband Robert Durst was 100% responsible. A truly vile human being; a serial killer and dog killer, only acquitted of m****r because of his wealth and social status.
Blind Freddy in a cellar full of water can see that her husband Robert Durst was 100% responsible. A truly vile human being; a serial killer and dog killer, only acquitted of m****r because of his wealth and social status.
7points
#12
Sherese Walker Bingham. Walking her two GSDs when she was shot with her own pistol which was then left at the scene. All evidence points to her husband who was having a 14 year affair that involved property ownership with his mistress. They have been trying to nail him for years, but much of the evidence is circumstantial.
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7points
#13
Kathy Page. It is so obvious her p.o.s. husband m******d her and the police are letting him get away with it. I'd hate to perpetuate a stereotype but I am surprised her family hasn't had an "accidental" hunting or fishing accident and gotten rid of him.
7points
#14
Sandra Bertolas. Teenager in Wisconsin who vanished in 1988. She told friends she was pregnant and had told her boyfriend, although the pregnancy wasn't confirmed. Sandra then found out her boyfriend was in another long-term relationship. She had his license plate run, and found out he wasn't even using his real name and address. After the fallout, he begged her to meet him so they could talk, and she reluctantly agreed. She drove to a bowling alley, a half-way point where they'd meet, and disappeared.
In the investigation, the cops met with the boyfriend, who is never publicly named. The night she disappeared, the boyfriend called out sick for his work shift of 4pm-midnight. He admits to calling Sandra a couple times that day, but denies ever meeting with her. After his initial interview with police, he refused to cooperate further in the investigation. Police and family are sure he is responsible, but there wasn't enough evidence to pursue the case. His father worked on the grounds of a local cemetery, and the boyfriend had worked there temporarily. Dogs tracking Sandra's scent from a hairbrush led them to that same cemetery. It is assumed the boyfriend and/or his father buried Sandra on the cemetery grounds. They even exhumed a local cemetery plot that was open at the time Sandra disappeared, but didn't find her body. This is a case of no-body, no-crime.
From The Charley Project: *Police believe foul play was involved in Bertolas's case, possibly at the hands of her boyfriend, who now works as a firefighter. Prosecutors conducted a 21-month John Doe probe into the case in 2002 and over fifty witnesses testified before a grand jury, but the probe concluded without any indictments being issued.*
Her family is still looking for Sandra, and answers. J-S News Article: *"Was she buried alive? Did she lie there in pain? How were those final moments? You don't know how it happens. Every scenario is the last chapter written in your mind, you want the closure that you need."*.
In the investigation, the cops met with the boyfriend, who is never publicly named. The night she disappeared, the boyfriend called out sick for his work shift of 4pm-midnight. He admits to calling Sandra a couple times that day, but denies ever meeting with her. After his initial interview with police, he refused to cooperate further in the investigation. Police and family are sure he is responsible, but there wasn't enough evidence to pursue the case. His father worked on the grounds of a local cemetery, and the boyfriend had worked there temporarily. Dogs tracking Sandra's scent from a hairbrush led them to that same cemetery. It is assumed the boyfriend and/or his father buried Sandra on the cemetery grounds. They even exhumed a local cemetery plot that was open at the time Sandra disappeared, but didn't find her body. This is a case of no-body, no-crime.
From The Charley Project: *Police believe foul play was involved in Bertolas's case, possibly at the hands of her boyfriend, who now works as a firefighter. Prosecutors conducted a 21-month John Doe probe into the case in 2002 and over fifty witnesses testified before a grand jury, but the probe concluded without any indictments being issued.*
Her family is still looking for Sandra, and answers. J-S News Article: *"Was she buried alive? Did she lie there in pain? How were those final moments? You don't know how it happens. Every scenario is the last chapter written in your mind, you want the closure that you need."*.
7points
#15
The "Dupont de Ligonnès" case, France, 2011. The whole family was found d**d, burried under the terrace, *except the dad.* He had written an email 1 year before, stating that he had financial & professional issues and was considering a collective s*****e of his family. Weeks before the m****r he had inherited his dad's 22 long Rifle and started going to the shooting range. The week before the m****r, he had bought lime, big trash bags, shovels, a silencer, rifle bullets. The bank accounts were closed, the lease on the house ended, etc.
He was last seen on a surveillance footage in the Var, and was never ever heard of again.
About a month ago a man was seized at Glasgow airport, they believed it was him, but no.
So yeah, and the crime remains "unsolved".
He was last seen on a surveillance footage in the Var, and was never ever heard of again.
About a month ago a man was seized at Glasgow airport, they believed it was him, but no.
So yeah, and the crime remains "unsolved".
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6points
#16
The 1981 mystery d***h of actress Natalie Wood (there's actually an easter egg in Trantino's *Once Upon A Time In Hollywood* ).
"She drowned off the coast of Catalina Island in California in November 1981 after she went missing from the Splendour, her family's yacht. Also aboard that night were Captain Dennis Davern, Natalie Wood's husband Robert Wagner and her friend, fellow actor Christopher Walken. The next day, the actress was found floating in the water wearing a red down jacket and flannel nightgown. After a two-week investigation, the d***h was ruled an accident. But in 2011 the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department reopened the d***h investigation. And in 2012, the Los Angeles Coroner's Office amended the d***h certificate, changing the manner of d***h **from an accidental drowning to "drowning and other undetermined factors.**
In 2018, after a seven-year investigation, Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Detective Ralph Hernandez and Lieutenant John Corina told "48 Hours" exclusively that they now **had enough new evidence to officially name Wood's then-husband, actor Robert Wagner, often called RJ, a "person of interest" in the d***h of his wife. Wagner has refused to speak with investigators since the case was reopened. "
"She drowned off the coast of Catalina Island in California in November 1981 after she went missing from the Splendour, her family's yacht. Also aboard that night were Captain Dennis Davern, Natalie Wood's husband Robert Wagner and her friend, fellow actor Christopher Walken. The next day, the actress was found floating in the water wearing a red down jacket and flannel nightgown. After a two-week investigation, the d***h was ruled an accident. But in 2011 the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department reopened the d***h investigation. And in 2012, the Los Angeles Coroner's Office amended the d***h certificate, changing the manner of d***h **from an accidental drowning to "drowning and other undetermined factors.**
In 2018, after a seven-year investigation, Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Detective Ralph Hernandez and Lieutenant John Corina told "48 Hours" exclusively that they now **had enough new evidence to officially name Wood's then-husband, actor Robert Wagner, often called RJ, a "person of interest" in the d***h of his wife. Wagner has refused to speak with investigators since the case was reopened. "
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6points
#17
Casey Anthony.
RunTheWatchOver:
Living in Orlando, I remember staying late at work with coworkers so we could watch the verdict. She did it. 100%. The DA should not have gone for capital murder and the death penalty. No jury was going to convict a 22 year old, pretty, middle class white girl to death. Especially in the south. Edit: Should be called the murder of Caylee Anthony
RunTheWatchOver:
Living in Orlando, I remember staying late at work with coworkers so we could watch the verdict. She did it. 100%. The DA should not have gone for capital murder and the death penalty. No jury was going to convict a 22 year old, pretty, middle class white girl to death. Especially in the south. Edit: Should be called the murder of Caylee Anthony
6points
#18
Linda Sherman's disappearance and m****r.
Her husband clearly k****d her. Her daughter clearly saw her body. Don clearly placed her skull outside of his favorite restaurant and sent anonymous letters to the police so she could be legally declared d**d.
It's so clear what happened, which makes it all the more infuriating that no one has been charged.
Her husband clearly k****d her. Her daughter clearly saw her body. Don clearly placed her skull outside of his favorite restaurant and sent anonymous letters to the police so she could be legally declared d**d.
It's so clear what happened, which makes it all the more infuriating that no one has been charged.
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6points
#19
JESSICA CHAMBERS- she was set on fire in her car after a late night rendezvous with Quinton Tellis who was tried twice but ended up in hung jury both times.
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5points
#20
Not sure if this meets the 99% sure criteria but I was left with cold chills after listening to S2 of Someone Knows Something. Either way the boyfriend (Michael Lavoie) has never been arrested.
From Wikipedia...
The story covers the disappearance of Sheryl Sheppard in Hamilton, Ontario. Sheppard went missing on January 2, 1998, two days after her boyfriend, Michael Lavoie, offered a proposal of marriage on a live TV broadcast. With some assistance from Sheppard's mother, Odette Fisher, Ridgen looks into the case as well as the backgrounds of both Sheryl and Michael, who has been the only person the Hamilton Police Service has named as a suspect in Sheryl's disappearance.
From Wikipedia...
The story covers the disappearance of Sheryl Sheppard in Hamilton, Ontario. Sheppard went missing on January 2, 1998, two days after her boyfriend, Michael Lavoie, offered a proposal of marriage on a live TV broadcast. With some assistance from Sheppard's mother, Odette Fisher, Ridgen looks into the case as well as the backgrounds of both Sheryl and Michael, who has been the only person the Hamilton Police Service has named as a suspect in Sheryl's disappearance.
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5points