Nothing is more inviting than peeping into the darkest corners of an unsolved mystery. Something is ultimately exciting when it’s mysterious, isn’t it? Today, several television series like ‘CSI’ or ‘Crime Scene Investigation’ and ‘Criminal Minds’ feature countless murder scenarios and investigations. You are offered the chance to probe into the mind and workings of a killer and you get to see how their victims have died.

Aside from known serial killings and murders, the world of unsolved mysteries involves strange unexplainable happenings and unconfirmed legends. At the center of these cases are the faces of mysteries—the famous characters of the story. They can be known political figures, scientists, celebrities, and ordinary people. Here is a list of the top ten most famous characters involved in unsolved mysteries.

Top 10: The Drowning of Natalie Wood

In November 1981, news broke out that sexy Oscar-nominated actress Natalie Wood has died from drowning. The incident happened on Saint Catalina Island where Wood, her husband Robert Wagner, and movie co-star Christopher Walken were having a party. Investigations showed that Wood was drunk and that she accidentally fell from the 60-foot yacht.

Wood was reportedly angry over a fight between Wagner and Walken, which prompted her to either leave the yacht or secure a small boat when she suddenly slipped and fell off the yacht. An account from a woman who said to have heard cries that fateful night said that there were cries from a woman around midnight. Another voice was replying, telling her to take it easy and gave assurance that she will be rescued.

However, according to the woman, the “help me” voice was unemotional so she dismissed what she heard. Days after, when she learned it was Wood who drowned, she felt guilty for not being able to help her.

Official reports said that Wood was intoxicated and she slipped off the yacht while boarding a dinghy or small boat. Until this day, rumors still surround her “mysterious” death.

Top 9: The Unknown Landing of D. B. Cooper

This is the story of a hijacker who jumped off from an airplane and hasn’t been seen since. D. B. Cooper or Dan Cooper is the pseudonym of a hijacker who leapt from a Boeing 727 on November 24, 1971. When the aircraft was passing Pacific Northwest, he jumped off the rear air stair wearing a parachute.

He was able to make off with ransom money of $200,000. Nine years later, a boy reportedly found a $5,800 worth of soggy twenty dollar bills in the Columbia River. The serial numbers were exactly those of the ransom money. Did he survive that fatal jump? Nobody knows.

Top 8: The Existence of Pope Joan

An Englishman by the name of John Anglicus was unanimously elected as head of Roman Catholicism when Pope Leo IV died in 853 A.D. He was known as Pope John VIII, who ruled for about two years.

Then one day, as he was riding to Lateran, he stopped by the side of the road and gave birth! He was a she. She was in fact Pope Joan.

Some say that upon discovering the truth, the people of Rome stoned her to death and dragged her behind a horse. Some say she was sent to a convent and her child became a bishop. At first, the Catholic Church seemed to recognize this account, especially with some 15th century documents as evidences. However, in the 16th century, the existence of Pope Joan was denied.

What is the truth behind this? You be the judge, as no one has been able to unearth the truth to this day.

Top 7: The Journey of Amelia Earheart`

On July 2, 1937, Amelia Earheart attempted to travel around the globe and land back in California. However, this plan was not successful as her plane mysteriously disappeared after leaving New Guinea. She lost communication with her co-pilot and she was never seen again.

There were various theories about Amelia’s disappearance. For instance, a famous theory stated that her plane may have crashed in the Pacific due to lack of gas or aircraft malfunction. This theory has not been proven and to this day there have been no plane remains found.

Another theory stated that she was held captive by the Japanese in the Marshall Islands. These people were said to believe she was a spy, which may have prompted them to imprison or possibly kill her. Today, a new theory says that Amelia’s remains were found on Gardner Island in the Pacific Ocean.

Top 6: The Identity of the Babushka Lady

When former President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in 1963, a woman who was wearing a brown overcoat and a scarf was spotted near the car of President Kennedy. She was called “The Babushka Lady” because her attire resembled the style of Russian grandmothers called babushkas.

The lady was holding something believed to be a camera. She took a lot of photos of the crime scene and she reportedly even remained in the area though others had already fled the area. After some time, she reportedly went towards Elm Street.

When the Federal Bureau of Investigation saw her in many photographs, she was asked to show what pictures she has taken. She never did.

Seven years after, someone named Beverly Oliver claimed to be the Babushka Lady. Her stories, however, had a lot of inconsistencies. She was a fake. The real Babushka Lady’s refusal to come out and offer her evidence proved to be a great mystery for all.

Top 5: The Sick Zodiac Killer

The Zodiac Killer was the sickest, scariest and most horrendous serial killer there was in the late 1960s. He left Northern California shocked, traumatized and forever haunted. He claimed the lives of at least five people. There are also other suspected victims.

What was distinct about The Zodiac Killer is his signature symbol, a crosshair-like sign. He would always affix this to his letters. This person sent a series of mocking letters to the press, such as to editors and lawyers. These included four cryptograms. Among these, three have yet to be studied.

One of his letters stated how he followed his victims, who were mostly girls. He pretended to be a nice guy until he had the chance to bring the girl to a dark area where he implemented his dark plans. Her throat was slit open as she was helpless. More letters from him followed in which he recounted and told in detail what was happening to his hostages.

In March 2007, the case of The Zodiac Killer was reopened in San Francisco and in other jurisdictions as well.

 

(Think this is gruesome… then read about the Top Ten Most Horrifying And Gruesome Murders.)

Top 4: The Fate of Pharaoh Tutankhamen

When the remains of King Tutankhamen were recovered, it was first thought that he was murdered. The young king had been dead for more than 3,000 years already. However, his death remains one of the most controversial in archeology. An x-ray analysis of his mummy 28 years ago revealed that he may have died because of a blow to the back of his skull. Who was the murderer? This mystery has persisted even until today.

The theory that he was murdered was challenged by a director of an Egyptian Museum. He suggested that the boy might have died of lung disease or a brain tumor. One of these could have caused the lump on the back of his head. Much historical research and historical studies have been done through the years about King Tut. However, they led to no conclusions.

Top 3: The Breakdown of Bruce Lee

When the famous martial artist Bruce Lee was dubbing some sounds for his film Enter the Dragon on May 10, 1973, he felt exhausted. He went to the bathroom and when he returned, he collapsed, vomited, and suffered convulsions. The doctor at once gave him a drug to reduce the swelling in his brain.

He gained consciousness and was able to return to work.

Bruce Lee accomplished a lot before the fateful night of July 20, 1973. He was at the house of a Taiwanese actress named Betty Ting-Pei. Bruce Lee had developed a headache and wanted to rest. The actress gave him Equagesic, a strong type of aspirin. He fell asleep around 7:30 p.m.

When Bruce was not able to attend a gathering at 9 p.m., actor and friend Raymond Chow went to Betty’s house as the actress told him she couldn’t wake up the actor. In the Intensive Care Unit, Bruce Lee received electric shocks, drugs, and other types of emergency applications, but nothing worked. He was pronounced dead.

A lot of speculations surfaced regarding his death. Some people said that he was killed by jealous film rivals, while others maintained that he was killed in a fight. Medical experts concluded that he died from hypersensitivity to the drug Equagesic. Some even felt that Betty purposely gave him the drug so that he will never wake up.

Top 2: The Siren Marilyn Monroe

In August 1962, the sexiest and the most alluring Hollywood siren Marilyn Monroe shocked the world. She slipped into a coma that night due to an overdose of sleeping drugs. She never woke up again.

Some witnesses said at that night, they saw an ambulance secretly taking Monroe to a nearby hospital before they returned her to her Los Angeles home. Her house companion Eunice Murray was said to have discovered her body and then called her psychiatrist Dr. Greenson. The doctor arrived at the actress’ home and found her nude, lying face down. In her right hand was a phone. Upon examination, the doctor found that she was dead.

Allegedly, some things were removed from house, such as her diary, and some notes that could have helped solve the case. There are actually several theories about her death. Some believed it was a suicide. Apparently, Robert Kennedy, John F. Kennedy’s brother, delivered the message of JFK saying he has rejected her. Murder was also speculated.

Top 1: Jack the Ripper

His victims were mostly prostitutes whose throats were cut off and whose bodies were mutilated. Just minutes after the ‘Ripper’ left the crime scene, their bodies were found. Through a letter sent to a newspaper, the killer claimed to be “Jack the Ripper.” All of these murders happened in 1888 at the East End of London.

Since then, there have been lots of stories, movies and books about this criminal. As he has been a symbol of great terror and mystery, ‘Jack the Ripper’ is the classic whodunit character—the center of an enduring quest to find the face of one of history’s unsolved mysteries.

This terrifying character suddenly came out of the fog, killed on a rampage, and disappeared faster than dust. He then increased his criminal intensity and destroyed his next victim more violently.

Today, around 120 years later, the police still haven’t been able to identify or convict anyone for the ‘Ripper’s’ crimes. The tales of how he killed his victims as well as the photographs are still alive, but the case is still open.

All of these cases remain clouded in mystery to this day. Whether or not these cases are solved, they will forever leave the trauma, fear and questions of people who have witnessed them or have researched them. These characters gave color to these ongoing unsolved mysteries.

 

(Truly there is so much in the universe we can’t even begin to understand. And if these Unsolved Murders are any indication, it would be best if we started with the human mind. )