Let’s be real: most of us already know about these cases, thanks to how the media turns unsolved crimes into binge-worthy shows and the talk of all murder-mystery podcasts. Personally, I love diving into crime stories and murder mysteries that do not have closure, which is one of the primary reasons why I decided to study criminology. There is something about the unknown that hooks me, and I am sure it is the same for a lot of people who enjoy the suspense and curiosity. So today, we are going to talk about three unsolved crimes where the leads ran cold, leaving the entirety of mankind to ask the recurring question, “What really happened?”
1. Black Dahlia
Set in 1947s Los Angeles, this case circulates around the murder of Elizabeth Short, whose horribly mutilated body was found on January 15th. I will spare you the details of how her body was dismembered, left in a grotesque pose with her insides spilling out and her face completely disfigured. When she was found, she was unrecognizable. Prior to her death, she had been missing for a week, her whereabouts being a mystery even after 50+ years. This case received immense coverage due to its gruesome nature, her being young and attractive, and the media’s overwhelming culture of victim-shaming, with public opinions either sympathizing with or blaming her alleged promiscuous way of life. Despite her line of work never being explicitly disclosed, the police investigations had led the District Attorney to determine that she had not worked as an escort, although the media had portrayed this murder as an unfortunate death that had resulted from her insecure and dangerous call-girl job. This had earned her the name “Black Dahlia” given by the press. What was even more strange was that 60 people had confessed to this crime; however, investigations led to no convictions and, thereby, an unsolved case.
The psychological effect this crime had on people during the 1940s was widespread- no one had seen a murder that had such a dark, gruesome, and almost sadistic nature, and when things like this happen to a pretty young woman, the media and public are left to wonder, “What happened and why did it happen?” This question not only led to scrutiny of Short’s life and personal choices but also instilled paranoia amidst the hearts of people. If such a brutal act of violence against a woman could have enormous coverage and receive no justice despite putting tons of resources into the investigation, were women really safe in the United States of America?
2. The Zodiac Killer
These murders took place ranging from the late 1960s until the 1970s in Northern California, documenting five confirmed killings and the mysterious killer claiming responsibility for a total of 37 killings. He had not only displayed his sadistic violence through his murders, but also used them as an avenue to embarrass and toy with the police force and media. He had left behind traces and encrypted messages that illustrated his motive and psychological thought-process. He also engaged in sending cryptic messages, ciphers, and phone calls to the police and newspaper, baffling them all while keeping his true identity a mystery. He had a pattern of targeting teenage couples but displayed deviations when he ended up attacking a cab driver, mostly in the process of concealing his identity. One cipher was decoded, revealing that the Zodiac Killer targeted his victims in order to satiate his desire to hunt for human beings, an action that gave him pleasure. There were a few suspects, but the police had no concrete evidence to arrest and convict someone.
The media was very involved in this case because the killer wanted to get popular through his crimes and therefore involved the newspaper by sending them cryptic messages. The killer’s ability to outwit the police and continue on his killing spree was shocking to the audience who followed this case. It also gave rise to mistrust in law enforcement due to the killer evading arrest and detection by the police, making the audience lose their faith in the effectiveness of the Criminal Justice System. The media frenzy and public panic grew into fear and paranoia amidst the community because they knew that there was someone among them who was committing murders and lurking unnoticed and unpunished.
3. Hinterkaifeck Murders
Taking place in a Bavarian farmstead, north of Munich, in March of 1922, a family of five and their maid were brutally murdered, slaughtered in the barn and their bedchambers. This region was considered a serene and safe place to bring up a family; thus, this case threw everyone who heard or read about it in utter shock. The entire household had been massacred, not even leaving the baby grandson breathing. Despite this being an anomaly case in the area, the oncoming danger had displayed its warning signs through strange noises in the attic, a hint that was dismissed as a supernatural cause, and footsteps that led into the back of the farm but none tracing out away from it. The father, Andreas Gruber, had also stumbled upon a newspaper in his farmstead, one that he had not bought and heard noises creaking in the attic, but his search had uncovered no one. Due to the place being isolated from the rest of the neighborhood, it took 3-4 days for locals to realize that the entire family had gone missing, with their mail piling up and their absence from pro-social community programs such as schools and church. The investigation that followed was tainted as the locals’ intervention had contaminated the crime scene, making it hard for police to find DNA evidence and to determine anything except the lack of a motive and the killer’s calmness, which had led him to remain in the house a few days after he had slaughtered the six occupants of the house. Although it has been a decade since the commission of this crime, the police were unable to pinpoint a motive behind the killings or narrow down to a suspect(s). Many conspiracies had risen from this particular case as people unveiled more details about the family and the circumstances the crime took place in, but one thing is certain: the Hinterkaifeck Murders shook the audience to its core.
When a safe place like Bavaria had such a brutal case take place within a close-knit and remote community, it made the public wonder whether someone amongst them was the culprit, fostering a sense of paranoia and mistrust. It had also spiked the distrust people held towards the legal agents and law enforcement because of their inability to solve the case and keeping the community safe. The media had vast coverage of this case because of the horrific manner in which the crime was committed, contributing to an even heightened anxiety and fear.
That brings us to the end of several cases that remain, yet to this day, unsolved, and the perpetrators remain uncuffed. Sometimes, due to various contributing factors, cases get closed, and crimes remain unsolved, making us now wonder whether we are even safe at night? When are we out walking with a friend? In our own house? Therefore, stay skeptical and stay safe, and keep asking, “What really happened?”
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