Every year, there are a growing number of murder cases that remain unsolved. It might be because of the little or lack of information or evidence that is required to make an arrest. The lack of interest in the criminal case can also be a detriment to solving it and serving justice as quickly as possible.

However, there are some murder cases that gain much infamy and stay in the minds of the public for years. To this day, these cases continue to gain attention and raise an echoing outcry to pursue the investigation and bring the criminals to justice. Even regular people clamor to solve these murder mysteries.

Here are the top ten most popular unsolved murder cases in history:

10. Oscar Romero

Oscar Romero was a famous archbishop in San Salvador, El Salvador during the 70s and 80s. Archbishop Romero was very active in lobbying and advocating against human rights violation. He was also known to embrace a non-violent liberation stand and spoke on behalf of the poor, tortured and those who were victims of social injustice.

Unfortunately, his beliefs proved to be so strong that they cost him his life. On March 24, 1980, while Fr. Romero was celebrating Catholic Mass, he was shot right in the heart and died instantly.

According to some accounts, Romero was giving a homily about stopping government repression and violation of human rights. Right after his homily, a single gunshot was heard. The next thing that people remembered was his blood spilling over the altar.

Although it is still unproven to this day, many supporters of Fr. Romero believed that the assassins were from the Salvadorian death squad that included two graduates from the School of the Americas.

9. Olof Palme

Even men of power cannot escape death; such was the fate of Swedish Prime Minister Olof Palme.

Palme was known for his campaign against the proliferation of nuclear weapons, his opposition of apartheid and his harsh criticism of the United States because of the war it was waging in Vietnam.

On February 28, 1986 after going to the cinema, Palme and his wife were attacked by an unknown gunman. Findings would then report that Palme was fatally shot in the back. He was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital where he and his wife were taken.

The Palme murder case was never solved, even though there were a number of theories proposed and leads followed.

8. The Boy in the Box

On February 25, 1957 an unidentified boy was found dead in a cardboard box in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania USA.

According to reports, the boy was found inside what used to be a baby bassinet’s box. He was naked and wrapped in a blanket with his arms folded across the stomach. The boy’s hair was also cut near the head in a hurried manner. The boy’s finger nails were trimmed neatly. His entire face and body was full of bruises.

There have been several speculations regarding the boy’s death and identity. Among the most probable theories is one that involves a foster home located about a mile away from the dump site. This foster home had a similar box where the boy was found as well as identical blankets in which his body was wrapped.

7. Jack the Stripper

Between 1964 and 1965, there was a series of murders that happened in London; nude bodies were dumped in the Thames River or some parts of London. Because the killer was still unidentified, he was given the nick name Jack the Stripper. He had a similar modus operandi to Jack the Ripper.

Jack the Stripper was reported to have killed around six to eight prostitutes. The prominent cause of death was asphyxiation. The victims were all known to engage in various pornographic film and features.

The killings ceased, and the identity of the killer was never discovered. .

6. The Axeman of New Orleans

This was a pseudonym used to refer to a serial killer who brought terror to New Orleans, Louisiana from 1918 to 1919. The victims were chosen randomly and no apparent connection was found between the eight victims.

The Axeman’s first victims were the couple Joseph and Catherine Maggio. The two were attacked while sleeping in their home on the evening of May 22, 1918. In the reports, Catherine suffered several blows to her head and her throat was completely severed with a deep cut. Joseph survived the initial attack but died minutes after the scene was discovered.

5. Andrew and Abby Borden

On the August 4, 1892 Andrew Borden and his second wife Abby Borden were found lying in their own blood inside their home. According to many reports, Andrew’s body was found on the couch. His head was severed by a hatchet. This crushed Mr. Borden’s skull and split his left eyeball. Abby’s body was severely mutilated.

The daughter of Andrew, Lizzie Borden was a primary suspect in the gruesome murders. However, she was acquitted because of insufficient evidence.

4. Black Dahlia

Black Dahlia, whose real name was Elizabeth Short, was a victim of a hideous crime in 1947. The 22-year old American was found dead in Leimert Park in Los Angeles, USA. Short displayed signs of severe mutilation. Her body was cut in half and her face was slit from her mouth to her ears.

Because of the horrendous manner of Short’s death, her case received much publicity. It was reported and followed up for several weeks in many of the major, local and national broadsheets. It was even adapted by many books and movies. But even in the face of rapt attention and publicity, Short’s murder has remained a mystery up to this day.

The nickname Black Dahlia was inspired from the then-popular movie Blue Dahlia.

3. Jon Benet Ramsey

Jon Benet Ramsey was a six year old girl who was popular for her active participation in a number of beauty contests across the United States. On December 26, 1996, Ramsey was found dead in the basement of her parent’s home.

According to the autopsy, Ramsey suffered from strangulation with a nylon cord. The skull of the child also suffered blunt trauma. There were also suspicions of sexual abuse as it was discovered that the girl’s underwear had some dried blood on it and there was a distinct swelling of the vaginal wall.

There were many speculations that surrounded the death of Ramsey. But until today, there have been no new suspects presented or new evidence brought to court for this crime.

2. Zodiac Killer

The Zodiac Killer was a nickname given to the serial murderer who committed a killing spree during the late 60s. This killer murdered five victims by either shooting or stabbing them to death.

The zodiac killer was also known to leave letters that included different signs and cryptograms. He even sent letters to the San Francisco Examiner. He demanded that his letters be printed in their next issues.

In 1969, one of the zodiac’s letters was cracked by Donald and Bettye Harden. It contained lines like “I like killing people because it is so much fun” and “the best part is when I die, I will be reborn in paradise and they (who I) have killed will become my slaves”.

1. Jack the Ripper

Jack the Ripper was a very popular alias given to a serial killer who roamed the streets of London, England during the later part of 19th century.

This murderer was said to have killed around eight women who engaged in prostitution. Most of his victims suffered gruesome and torturous fates such as severed throats and mutilated bodies. Some victims were found with their internal organs removed, breasts cut off and necks cut and heads almost decapitated.

Although there were many investigations conducted, the identity of Jack the Ripper was never found out. From then on, he became a legend and a paragon for other murderers like Jack the Stripper.

Gruesome? Cold blooded? Yes. But one thing remains true about these unsolved cases: these killers and perpetrators will forever be remembered for the horrific acts they committed, and brought to justice at least in the minds of the masses.

 

(Be a detective and try to decipher the Top Ten Unsolved Mysteries know to human, or know how criminals do the Most Horrifying and Gruesome Murders, and these murderers could be the models of the Top Ten Comic Book Villains.)