What stories should be featured on Unsolved Mysteries?

[Kane]

I'm sure that many of you viewers of Unsolved Mysteries have ideas for stories that should be featured on the show. What specific stories would you like Unsolved Mysteries to introduce in future episodes? (In other words, don't choose the ones that the series has already shown.)

[This message has been edited by Kane (edited 09-07-2001).]

[unsolvedfan19]

Good question. Though Im sure they'll never show the stories we want to see http://www.sitcomsonline.com/ubb/frown.gif But I really wish they would show a segment on Jack the Ripper. I dont think thats ever been an unsolved mysteries show. But the entire story of the ripper is strange. It would make good dinner conversation http://www.sitcomsonline.com/ubb/tongue.gif

------------------
Join me ... Perhaps you may be able to help solve a mystery :)

[TJ]

I'd like to see a segment on 'Mothman', actually I think they could do a whole episode on it. With a Richard Gere movie on Mothman from Sony coming out soon, I think there will be a lot of interest in it. If you're not familiar with the legend of Mothman, check out some of these links - http://dir.yahoo.com/Science/Alternative/Paranormal_Phenomena/Cryptozoology/Mothman/

[EJL]

I would like to see Unsolved Mysteries do a segment on rapper Notiorus B.I.G. death.

[Kane]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by EJL:
[B]I would like to see Unsolved Mysteries do a segment on rapper Notiorus B.I.G. death.

Actually, the slayng of Notorious B.I.G. was mentioned in the Tupac Shakur segment (which aired shortly after B.I.G's death).

[loreocookie]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Kane:
[B]I'm sure that many of you viewers of Unsolved Mysteries have ideas for stories that should be featured on the show. What specific stories would you like Unsolved Mysteries to introduce in future episodes? (In other words, don't choose the ones that the series has already shown.)

I would like to see one about the West Memphis Three case!

[Kane]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by loreocookie:

I would like to see one about the West Memphis Three case!

Could you tell me about that case?

[loreocookie]

Originally posted by Kane:
[QUOTE]Originally posted by loreocookie:

I would like to see one about the West Memphis Three case!

Could you tell me about that case?


It is about three now young men accused of killing three 8-year-old boys in West Memphis in 1993. The evidence presented against them was circumstantial. Many believe that the wrong people were convicted for the crime. There is more info about it at www.wm3.org (http://www.wm3.org) and hbo airs documentaries about it called "Paradise Lost." The sequel to the first documentary will air this week.

[Kane]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by loreocookie:
[B] It is about three now young men accused of killing three 8-year-old boys in West Memphis in 1993. The evidence presented against them was circumstantial. Many believe that the wrong people were convicted for the crime. There is more info about it at www.wm3.org (http://www.wm3.org) and hbo airs documentaries about it called "Paradise Lost." The sequel to the first documentary will air this week.

Oh yes, I've heard of that case. I knew there was a documentary about it, though I haven't seen it.

[Kane]

Thanks to all who responded to my question about what stories should be featured on Unsolved Mysteries. Now, I thought I'd share my ideas about potential stories.

1) I'd like UM to do a story about the Texas murder victim known as "Orange Socks," which was all she wore when her body was found in a ditch in October of 1979. Serial killer Henry Lee Lucas confessed (and later recanted) to the murder. (His death sentence for that crime was reduced to life in prison in 1998 due to increasing doubts about his guilt in that particular murder.) Sadly, the woman remains unidentified. Therefore, I think it would be nice to see Unsolved Mysteries do a segment on that.

2) I think it would also be interesting to see a "Final Appeal" segment on Jeffrey MacDonald. He was the Green Beret doctor who is incarcerated for the 1970 murders of his wife and two young daughters. He claims that some vital evidence (which could possibly acquit him) was suppressed.

3) The BTK Strangler. This unidentified serial killer terrorized the Kansas area during the 1970s. (BTK stands for "bind, torture, and kill.") He is responsible for at least seven murders.

If anyone can think of any more story ideas for Unsolved Mysteries to consider, I'd be happy to hear about them. Again, thanks for sharing your story ideas. And for those who may share theirs in the future, thank you all in advance. http://www.sitcomsonline.com/ubb/smile.gif

[Sir Rhosis]

I must confess that I didn't follow UM 100 percent, so I may have missed it... but did they ever do a segment on "Little Miss 1565," the young girl killed in the Hartford Circus Fire in 1944?

I know the case was "solved" in 1991, or so, but I have heard that there still are doubts--that perhaps the dental records of the burned girl did not match the girl who was identified as her.

I've seen morgue photos of Little Miss 1565, and really, her face was relatively unburned, so it seems so odd to me that this case could have remained a mystery so long, inspiring rock songs, and who knows what else.

Sir Rhosis

[rerungirl]

I'd like to see a segment about the murder of Jill Ann Weatherwax, the former "Miss Hollywood" who was found stabbed to death in Fresno, California about 5 years ago.

[Nanny Fine]

Did they air a segment on Cindy Song, a college student from Penn State in State College, PA?

If so I'd be interested in seeing it.

[Zebra 3]

;) - Madonna's success in showbiz.

[EyesoftheNile]

Well, I have one idea- but it is sort of an "old" one....taking place back in the late 70's/ early 80's.

You know the movie "The Serpent and the Rainbow"? I would like to see a segment on the experiences of Wade Davis, and his story. Could zombies be real? I know that its very very far fetched. This territory is more akin to science Fiction rather than science fact. But it would be captivating.....

[Dandy]

After reading the above post about Little Miss 1565, I found THE CIRCUS FIRE at the library. I understand that the story of Little Miss 1565 is interesting but there is another mystery connected to the fire that I have never heard discussed. Raymond Erickson was taken to a hospital by his uncle, who thought the 6 year old was dying and asked a priest to give him the last rites. Then the uncle went to check on other family members and was himself hospitalized because of injuries. When the family tried to locate Raymond, the hospital had no record of him. They never found him or his body....his shoes were located at the hospital and identified but nothing else. Probably he died and was wrongly identified by another family but nothing is certain. I'm surprised this story hasn't attracted more attention. Wish Unsolved Mysteries would take it on.

[FanfromES]

These are the ones that i want to see "UMied" the most, (dont know if some of them had been showed already):

1. JonBenet Ramsey.
2. Green River Killer. Gary Ridgway did it alone?
3. Zodiac
4. Robert Stack's secret for eternal life :)

[Kane]

Originally posted by FanfromES
These are the ones that i want to see "UMied" the most, (dont know if some of them had been showed already):

1. JonBenet Ramsey.
2. Green River Killer. Gary Ridgway did it alone?
3. Zodiac
4. Robert Stack's secret for eternal life :)

Actually, UM aired a segment about JonBenet Ramsey in January of 1997 (just one month after the murder took place). But to my knowledge, it has never been rerun on Lifetime.

A segment on the Green River Killer aired in February of 1996. It had an interview with a man who believed that his deceased stepbrother (or half-brother) may have been the killer. However, the name of Gary Ridgeway was unheard of to the public until his arrest in December of 2001. Nevertheless, generally speaking, there has always been speculation of more than one Green River Killer. (Ridgeway is slated to go on trial next year.)

In September of 1996, UM aired a segment about the Zodiac murders. The story dealt with arguments as to whether or not it was possible for Ted Kaczynski (aka the Unabomber) to have been the Zodiac killer as well.

Maybe they could do a segment on your fourth suggestion. :)

[Or So It Seems]

I'd like to see a segment on the 2 female hikers who were murdered at their campsite on the Appalachian Trail about 10 years ago. I think this case was profiled on AMW but it's tailor made for Unsolved. It's a very brutal case with no motive and no suspects. I can't believe they haven't used it yet.

[Rieder]

An episode could be dedicated to three unsolved serial murder cases. It could include the Zodiac Killer, the BTK strangler and the Capital City murders.

The segment dedicated to the Zodiac Killer could investigate the connection between the Zodiac's seven acknowledged murders in northern California and the Riverside connection. Several academics and law enforcement personnel believe the Riverside connection referring to the murder of Cheri Jo Bates was committed by a different person. An investigation of the possibility that Harvard graduate and UCLA Maths Professor Theodore Kaczynski is the Zodiac.

The BTK strangler bound, tortured and murdered 7 people in Wichita, Kansas between 1974 and 1979. After two decades of no success in solving the crimes, the Violent Crimes Institute was asked to create a profile of the strangler to further the investigation in 2000. It was believed the strangler was a white male in his late 20s, resided near one of the victims, quiet, conservative and highly intelligent.

The Capital City murders refers to the abduction and murder of eight young women who attended the University of Wisconsin in Madison between 1968 and 1984. All the victims were young, wore their hair long with a part in the centre and were found within a short distance of Madison. In 1984 Henry Lee Lucas confessed to several of the murders, but later recanted the confessions. Several original investigators believed that Lucas was responsible for some of the murders.

[Awsi Dooger]

http://www.zodiackiller.com/

That message board, in particular, is frequented by some absolute Zodiac zealots with every imaginable thesis. The host of the site posts himself, and is extremely hostile and condemning if he disagrees with the poster, or merely if he thinks the poster has committed the felonious act of not scrutinizing every square inch of his website.

I don't buy the Zodiac/Riverside connection, but I do believe he was responsible for the bizarre car ride given to Kathleen Johns that ended with her escape and the burning of her car. Also, the confirmed number of Zodiac killings is less than 7, since several of his victims survived.

[Rieder]

Awsi Dooger,

You are correct, The Zodiac Killer murdered five and injured two people.

An analysis of the 1966 Riverside murder undermines the understanding that the Zodiac Killer began his murderous odyssey in Riverside. Professor Michael Kelleher argued in his book, "This is the Zodiac Speaking": into the mind of a serial killer (2002) the murder of Cheri Jo Bates was not committed by the Zodiac Killer. Hand writing analysis and the writing style of the writer who sent the "The Confession letter" in November 1966 was different to the letters written by the Zodiac Killer in the late 1960s and 1970s. Footprints found at the Lake Berryessa crime scene were made by size 10.5 shoe compared to the largest estimation size 10 shoe at Riverside. The pair of gloves found in Paul Stine's taxi cab were extra large suggesting large hands and large wrists. The Timex watch found at Riveside had a band measuring 7 inches and would have been worn by a slender man or woman and undermines witness descriptions that the Zodiac was a heavier man. Kelleher believes a former boyfriend was responsible for the murder of Bates.

[Allierain]

If there are any new UM episodes made, I'd love to see them profile America's Unknown Child. That is, the boy in the box.

He was a young boy, between the ages of 4 and 6, discovered deceased in a cardboard box in 1957. He was nude and wrapped in a large, cheap blanket. To this day he has never been identified. The child was apparently malnourished and had been severely abused. They put posters up all over the place and even dressed his body for viewing so families who had missing children could view him and possibly identify him. But nobody claimed him. One investigator from the medical examiner's office traced a substantial amount of evidence to a foster family. That foster family had several children and used cut-up blankets for sleeping under. The blanket the boy was found in had also been cut in half. But the foster family was investigated and apparently cleared. There were many more leads but they went nowhere.

I am not sure why but I have always been facinated with this story. It might be because this poor child has never been indentified. He deserves an identity. The case is very interesting and you can read more about it here:

http://americasunknownchild.net/

I should warn you that there are some disturbing pictures at this site. The picture of the child on the main page isn't an original post-mortem photograph, but actually a sketch of what the child might have looked like while he was still alive. Nevertheless there are some other post-mortem photographs on the site, so be careful if that sort of thing disturbs you. The pictures aren't bad in my opinion but I am just warning you ahead of time. :)

[Silver Dark]

I'd like to see them study the unexplained, brilliant maps of most of the Earth's oceans that are dated at about 6,000 B.C., the Mary Celeste, the phenomena of timedoors, one on Kaspar Hauser, and companion episodes to the stories in the new book coming out about the 1,000+ disappearances in the Bermuda Triangle in the last 25 years. For starters, those.

[Suzie2]

The cold, unsolved murder of Valerie Percy would be a great story to view or discuss, even if it's over 30+ years old. She was the daughter of former Sen. Charles Percy....ILL.
She was murdered on Sept. 18.1966. There is hardly any information on this case. There were several suspects, but one stuck out more than any other. His name was Frederick "Freddie" Malchow. Malchow escaped from a jail in Pottsville, PA. and jumped to his death in the Schuylkill River. When they recovered his body, he still had a handcuff on one arm.
I belong to a MB : Crime & Justice, we have set up a new forum just for Valerie Percy. We have had the pleasure of having Mr. Malchow's son post on this case.
I would like to discuss this case with anyone that may be interested or please visit and see all the posts concerning this murder @ http://pub165.ezboard.com/bcrimeandjustice13552
Thanks for your time and consideration in reading this post of request.
Regards,

[Allierain]

Originally posted by Silver Dark
I'd like to see them study the unexplained, brilliant maps of most of the Earth's oceans that are dated at about 6,000 B.C., the Mary Celeste, the phenomena of timedoors, one on Kaspar Hauser, and companion episodes to the stories in the new book coming out about the 1,000+ disappearances in the Bermuda Triangle in the last 25 years. For starters, those.

The Mary Celeste....I remember that case. Did you know they broadcast it several years ago? I don't know what further investigation could be done.

http://www.occultopedia.com/m/mary_celeste.htm

I found that website with details about the story, and one link to an article which claims the mystery has been solved!!!

[Silver Dark]

I'd heard of an explanation for the Mary Celeste, but there was one major error that was unaccounted for and unexplained. The box containing the ship's compass was smashed and the compass itself broken. Not even getting tossed by serve gales could've caused that, in my experience of viewing ships at sea. Why was the box smashed?

Lol...that, and the navigation log was missing along with the instruments. Instruments being in the lifeboat, okay. The log as well?

But this isn't about M.C. It's good that they did one on it. Others I'd include, next, would be the tale of the haunted Crystal Skull (go ahead, try explaining it), the Tunguska Siberian explosion, the story of Joan Norkot (i.e. the bleeding corpse), and the story of Oak Island.

I'm a believer in coupling a single story of the totally unexplained with crimes that can be solved. Keeps both the atmosphere of the uncanny and the impact for justice that UM's had.

[FanfromES]

Some of the crystal skulls were found in Honduras and Belice, im from Central America so i was a little concerned with that mystery.

Theres indeed some explanation: studies done in the early 90s by the Smithsonian Institute revealed that they were crafted in Germany at the end of the 19th century, the most of them were purchased in Mexico by persons who later declared finding them in strange places like Mayan ruins. WIth time a lot of so called experts claiming that the skulls had all kind of magical and strange powers, building the legend.

There something that i have noticed with this kind of mysteries: if theres a rational explanation for it, media never show it!

[Zero]

I doubt there will be any new episdes of UM for a while, but if the chance ever came up I would like to see them do a story on Michael Negrete.

He was an 18 year old college student at UCLA whom after talking with a friend at 4 am, walked out of the building for some unknown reason and vanished. Dogs tracked his scent to a bus stop across the field but that's where they ended. He left with no shoes, no change of clothes. Left his wallet, key, and money behind. He took nothing. As if he knew he was going to be right back...

What I find strange is how a year or so after he disappeared, apparently one of the students who had been previously interviewed gave police a sketch of a strange older man seen wandering around the building. I wonder why it took over a year for this person to come forward. This story kind of intrests me because he's the same age as me and just simply vanished.

You can read more about this case by visitng the website (http://www.findmikenow.com).

Also, there was a case of this unknown man who was found dead inside a large bag. They were unable to draw a composite or anything. The only way someone could identify him is by a tatoo he had. It's been a few years and I detectives are still searching for answers. If I find a link I'll post it on here.

[Silver Dark]

Originally posted by FanfromES
Some of the crystal skulls were found in Honduras and Belice, im from Central America so i was a little concerned with that mystery.

Theres indeed some explanation: studies done in the early 90s by the Smithsonian Institute revealed that they were crafted in Germany at the end of the 19th century, the most of them were purchased in Mexico by persons who later declared finding them in strange places like Mayan ruins. WIth time a lot of so called experts claiming that the skulls had all kind of magical and strange powers, building the legend.

There something that i have noticed with this kind of mysteries: if theres a rational explanation for it, media never show it!

Well, I've read books on the particular Crystal Skull in question, which made sure to marshall a large amount of facts on the case, and it is a strange story indeed. People/night guards have heard screams coming from the general direction of the thing, the thing glowing a luminescent white color from inside at night....a lot of "creepiness." My suggestion is for them to be returned to their proper site in the Mayan temples, but hey that's me.

[Allierain]

Originally posted by Silver Dark
My suggestion is for them to be returned to their proper site in the Mayan temples, but hey that's me.

I definitely second that.

[njf520]

they already had episode on the mothman:

http://www.unsolved.com/0221-Mothman.html

njf

[Silver Dark]

On second study, I'm now not sure the Crystal Skull came from Mayan ruins. However, if it didn't, there's the question of why sounds of jungle cats is heard on some nights from the thing, along with some other...unique....noises.

The Mad Gasser of Mattoon, how could I miss that one.

[Warm & Fuzzy]

Originally posted by TJ
I'd like to see a segment on 'Mothman', actually I think they could do a whole episode on it. With a Richard Gere movie on Mothman from Sony coming out soon, I think there will be a lot of interest in it. If you're not familiar with the legend of Mothman, check out some of these links - http://dir.yahoo.com/Science/Alternative/Paranormal_Phenomena/Cryptozoology/Mothman/ I believe there is an episode regarding the Mothman, I remember seeing it a year ago, or so.

[TJ]

There was no Mothman episode at the time I originally wrote that message, the segment aired months after I had suggested it. I knew it was a good bet due to The Mothman Prophecies movie coming out.

[Bluejay]

I kept thinking they were going to do the Little Miss 1565 story and they never did.

As far as I am concerned, that little girl is not Eleanor Cook, because her mother said she wasn't. According to the book I read, she took one look at the famous photo and said "Oh, that's not Honey." I think that is the other missing girl. I would have loved to see Bob track that down.

People have entertained all kinds of speculations, but really things like this happen in every fire. I understand they still can't identify everybody from Sept. 11 sorted out, or the ones from the Murrah Building. In both cases, remains were found that don't seem to belong to.. well... anybody!

:confused:

[Bluejay]

There's a thread where people are talking about what was most scary or stuck with you the most, and a number of people mentioned the Korzilius murder.

The theme music never bothered me, but the "August 7" song was pure death rock, chilling and tragic at the same time.

That song has hints in it of Wayne Cochran's "Last Kiss", which also commemorates an actual event. It was recorded by Cochran, then by the Cavaliers in 1964 and again by Pearl Jam a couple of years ago. The story of "Last Kiss" deserved an Unsolved Mysteries segment and never got one.

R&B artist Cochran lived on Georgia's notorious Hwy. 341. It had a reputation for bad accidents, many of which Cochran witnessed personally. He was in the process of writing a song about all the wrecks when he saw the collision we think of as inspiring the song. 16-year-old J.L. Hancock, a student from the nearby military academy, was driving with his friend Jeannette Clark, also 16, and three other students. It was Jeannette's first date. In dense fog and heavy traffic, J.L. apparently did not see a stalled trailer truck until it was too late. The '54 Chevy rammed itself right under the truck. J.L. and Jeannette and their friend Wayne Cooper were killed. The other two passengers, Jewel Emerson and Ed Shockley, survived with serious injuries. Cochran finished the song and dedicated it to Jeannette, whose sister had a relationship with the drummer in Cochran's band.

The Cavaliers' recording of "Last Kiss" soared on the national charts. It was the last big hit they would ever have. The band's producer, Son Roush, subsequently split the group to place lead singer J. Frank Wilson with better musicians. Four months after the release of "Last Kiss", the new band were touring in Ohio. At about 5:15 a.m., Roush apparently fell asleep at the wheel. The car drifted left of center and rammed head-on into a trailer truck. Roush was killed instantly. Wilson survived with a few broken ribs and a broken ankle, but went right on with the tour, taking only a week off. People still remember him coming out on the stage on crutches to sing "Last Kiss" and "Hey, Little One". When he retired from music in the 70s, he went to work in a nursing home.

The press had a field day with the nearly identical accidents, which pushed "Last Kiss" up to #2 on the charts. There is also an amazing scandal involving Roush's shady dealings with the music industry over Wilson's career. Why Robert Stack never covered this story remains an Unsolved Mystery.

http://www.westexmusichof.com/artistspages/cavaliers.html (Scroll Down)

[bebe_23]

I was reading an update I think on doenetwork.org about the boy in the box. Turns out that I think in 2001 a woman came forward claiming to know this boy's identity. she said his name was Jonathan. She said that her librarian mother had dropped her off at someone's house to pick up a baby, I think the mother was trying to adopt a kid, for what purposes I have no idea-'cause she was evil incarnate! But the woman's mother was a single mother. The lady who came forward with this information said that the mom had repeatedly sexually and physically abused both children.
One day, the boy kept vomiting and the mother lost her temper and killed him. Sounds rather odd. I can't recall how she killed him-hit him with a blunt object, I think. he died.
Now,the authorities have been looking for closure on this case and I even read about one detective who had felt so compelled to solve this case, that he kept pursuing it literally until his dying day. What this woman has come forth with maybe true, maybe not. There is really no way to confirm this story. I think she had told this story to her psychiatrist, because of her years of putting up with mental and physical abuse.
I think UM should definitely do a feature on this story. I mean, this body was found in the 1950's and no one can idenitify the boy and a lot of people have been intriuged by this case. It is very very sad for this boy to go unidentified. Plus, with the years going by, anyone that might have stood a chance of identifying him might have passed on.:confused:

[Bluejay]

It's possible they never ran the boy in the box story because it was run on so many other shows. I've seen it on Dateline and I believe on one of the A&E crime documentaries, although I don't think it was "American Justice".

And look at all of these websites.
http://americasunknownchild.net/
http://boyinthebox.hypermart.net/
http://www.courttv.com/news/hiddentraces/boyinthebox/boyinthebox_page1.html
http://www.northeasttimes.com/2002/0731/boy.html
http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/news/3541418.htm

They didn't run this, and they didn't run Little 1565. (She had a police detective become obsessed with her and pursue it until he died too. He used to try to reconstruct what happened by dressing his own child in a similar outfit and posing her the same way on the living room couch and taking pictures.) They'll be among the first subjects I suggest when Unsolved is revived. They ought to do DNA tests on both of them.

[rubber1234]

theres a few juicy cases in australia where I'm from. one in particular from the 60's that i'm obsessed with. it involves three children from the same family who went to the beach and never came home. right after the disappearance the police reassured the parents by stating that 'children never go missing in groups'. looks like they were wrong.

[Composite Sketch]

I've lately been thinking a lot about the 1999 murder of University of Utah student Amy Quinton. Her case was shown on America's Most Wanted three times.

Here's AMW's synopsis of the crime. (http://www.amw.com/site/thisweek/Q/QuintonAmyKiller/quintonkillerindex.html)

Here's a video about it. (http://real.ksl.com/tv/murder/murder1.ram)

It definitely seems like the kind of case UM would tackle.

(Warning: the computer-generated image of the killer is without a doubt one of the scariest composites I have ever seen on either UM or AMW.)

[greatgarrett]

Has the 'Bible john' case out of Scotland ever aired on UM?

Bible John terrorized Glasgow, Scotland in the late 1960s, 1968 and/or 1969 to be sure. He had three known victims and was described at different ballrooms by different eyewitnesses but was never apprehended......he was just known simply as 'Bible John' because he was known to quote passages from the Bible according to eyewitnesses. He patronize the ballrooms dancing and picking up women, then leave with them and strangle them.....

UM could do a segment on that case....be a good one!

[ddelta]

I would have to say the case of the three woman who went to the beach (or lake) and people saw them getting on a boat. They all disappeared and their stuff was found on the beach. None of their bodies have ever been found.

Also, a recent one, is that guy who went missing on the cruise ship while on his honeymoon. There is a lot more to that story and i find it BIZARRE that his wife has never stepped up to the cameras begging for help in finding him. If it was my husband and my honeymoon i would be at all the news doors begging them to carry the story.

[Kane]

Has the 'Bible john' case out of Scotland ever aired on UM?

Bible John terrorized Glasgow, Scotland in the late 1960s, 1968 and/or 1969 to be sure. He had three known victims and was described at different ballrooms by different eyewitnesses but was never apprehended......he was just known simply as 'Bible John' because he was known to quote passages from the Bible according to eyewitnesses. He patronize the ballrooms dancing and picking up women, then leave with them and strangle them.....

Never heard of it. So it must not have been profiled on UM.

UM could do a segment on that case....be a good one!

Better make that "could have done a segment on that case," since UM is permanently out of production. :(

[Awsi Dooger]

Interesting thread to see bumped. First of all, it predated the end of UM's run. Also, eery to see this thread began just a few days before 9/11. I was reading those first few posts and thinking how different the world became just days later.

I always appreciate good handicapping so you've got to credit Kane for astute selection, isolating BTK as a good choice for a UM segment back in 2001. That was long after that case had been out of the public eye, and still more than two years before BTK would strangely resurface in 2004.

[Bluejay]

The grave of 18-year-old ABC News intern William Joseph Moran IV in Griffith Cemetery, in Lakeland, Florida, has a most unusual marker. Among lines of poetry and quotations from Holy Scriptures, it states that he was "murdered" in 1984. Apparently the murderer was never caught. I have had a lot of trouble finding out anything more about him. If Stack were still alive I'd have send him this information long ago. It is right down his alley.

At the bottom of the monument there is a singular message, which might be a quotation from the killer, or a word of comfort to the dead man from his family.
Walk slowly, Willie,
look over your shoulder.
I am walking behind.

Brrr.

[Bluejay]

I must confess that I didn't follow UM 100 percent, so I may have missed it... but did they ever do a segment on "Little Miss 1565," the young girl killed in the Hartford Circus Fire in 1944?

I know the case was "solved" in 1991, or so, but I have heard that there still are doubts--that perhaps the dental records of the burned girl did not match the girl who was identified as her.

I've seen morgue photos of Little Miss 1565, and really, her face was relatively unburned, so it seems so odd to me that this case could have remained a mystery so long, inspiring rock songs, and who knows what else.

Sir Rhosis
I have often wondered why on earth he didn't profile that story. Research into two books on the Hartford Circus Fire was going at full steam when the show was on. Maybe he just didn't want to do it because that's an extremely painful subject for most of the people who were involved, really for the whole town, and he might have stayed off of it out of consideration, bless him. It would be like him to do that, from what I've heard; he was a very kind-hearted man in real life.

I don't believe Little Miss 1565 is Eleanor Cook; the guy who pushed that theory made a number of errors beside the dental records. Her mother's immediate reaction on seeing the famous photograph was "oh, that's not Honey." She maintained this stance until just before she died, believing her daughter was one of the burnt-beyond-recognition victims still unidentified (perhaps Little Miss 1530). Investigators are still looking into this, assisted by Eleanor's brother Donny.

I wrote a lot of this, in case you're interested:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hartford_Circus_Fire

[benoitbabe]

That fire was such a terrible tragedy. I learned a bit about it while doing genealogy as we had an ancester ( a little girl)
perrish in it. I hope they identify her through dna and give her a name. Now below are the cases i would have liked to have seen.
The murder of Sarah Pryor of Wayland,MA , the diapearence of Asha Degree of N.C. and the murder of Bob Crane.

[greatgarrett2]

Was the famous murder of Martha Moxley ever on UM?

I think I might've seen it with an update once......

Also, the Bible John case out of Scotland should've made the list as well as Jack the Ripper. Two British cases that would've deserved time on UM.

greatgarrett2

[synthisislab]

What about the murder of Kurt Cobain? I just finished the book Love & Death and you could not tell me that he commited suicide anymore. I was skeptical until I read the book. It is unbelievable how manipulative and cunning his scab widow Courtney Love is.

[justins5256]

What about the murder of Kurt Cobain?

Actually, UM did a story about Cobain's alleged suicide.

I wish UM would have profiled the burglary of my car. My old driver's license (which was stolen) picture was kind of cool.

Seriously though, it would have been interesting to see a story about the BTK, Ken Rex McElroy, or the castrater killer.

[Kane]

Was the famous murder of Martha Moxley ever on UM?

I think I might've seen it with an update once......

greatgarrett2

Yes, UM did a segment about Martha Moxley. It originally aired in February 1996.

[ddelta]

I think another recent case that would be perfect for UM would be the Maura Murray case. The one of the college student who was in New Hampshire for some unexplained reason, got into a car crash, was seen by a bus drive who offered help and she declined (he called the cops anyway) and was missing by the time the cops got there 10 minutes later. Everything she owned was left in the car and she had packed up all her belongings at school before she left.

No one knows why she was on the road in NH at that time. She did get an upsetting phone call the night before from someone and she did purchase liquor from a liquor store right before...which makes cops think she was drunk.

[crystaldawn]

I wish UM would have profiled the burglary of my car. My old driver's license (which was stolen) picture was kind of cool.


I think I saw it on Ebay the other day...:)

I may have mentioned it before but Jonathan Luna would be a perfect case for UM to profile.

[synthisislab]

What were the cases of Ken Rex McElroy and the castrater killer about? The castrater killer? That sounds to me like Steven Seagal's m.o., but I could be mistaken.

[greatgarrett2]

What were the cases of Ken Rex McElroy and the castrater killer about? The castrater killer? That sounds to me like Steven Seagal's m.o., but I could be mistaken.

Ken McElroy was the guy who was the 'town bully' of Skidmore, MO. He'd taunt and terrorize local residents. A book has been written about the subject called 'In Broad Daylight.'

One hot day in July 1981, about 30 or so people gathered on the Main Street of Skidmore and shots were fired at Ken Rex. They could never charge any one person because the authorities could never figure out which one bullet killed him. There were several. The murder was a vigilante-type deal. All for one.

People still refuse to talk about the killing, I believe, to this day.

Here are a couple of links to the Ken McElroy case:

http://www.lewrockwell.com/anderson/anderson6.html

http://www.crimelibrary.com/notorious_murders/classics/ken_mcelroy/index.html

The closest thing to a castrator killer I can come up with would be Albert Fish.
I could be wrong though.

Cheers

[justins5256]

I think I saw it on Ebay the other day...:)


You didn't bid on it, did you?

So, you're now scouring Ebay for items relating to me, eh? I always knew you were a little obsessed with me, but that is bordering on scary ;)

[crystaldawn]

I always knew you were a little obsessed with me, but that is bordering on scary ;)

Once again you're confusing your fantasy life with reality. :p

Nah I didn't bid....I've seen a real picture of the infamous Justin so why would I need it. Besides who do you think was selling it? ;)

Yes enlighten us on the castrator killer.....I don't believe I've ever heard of him.

[LooksLikeCRicci]

I haven't heard of him either... and I am pretty interested as well.

As far as the Cobain "murder" theory that was mentioned a few messages up, I've read both books about the shadiness behind Cobain's death, "Who Killed Kurt Cobain?" and "Love and Death," and I still believe that Kurt Cobain committed suicide. I will concede that Courtney Love was acting VERY suspiciously during the time of Cobain's disappearance (from the hospital he was at) until the discovery of his body, but I don't think that she orchestrated his "murder."

An interesting movie to check out is "Kurt and Courtney" which was done by BBC reporter Nick Broomfield. It's pretty good, and you while you can tell that he's trying to be objective, you can see him leaning towards the theory that Cobain was murdered. It's worth a rent.

[mikeholly]

I would like them to a segment on a sparkplug which was found inside a 500,000 year old georde in California.

[jewely_44]

My name is Julie Weatherwax-Shilts, Jill Ann Weatherwax was my sister. I would also like to see a followup on Unsolved Mysteries. The orginal segment was very poorly done except for Aphrodite Jones, she was the only positive thing about it. Please consider re-doing as a follow-up story. My sister deserved better. The killers have never been caught. My Mother died January 2006 as a result of her grief. My dad is so grief stricken his health is seriously failing. Our family has never recovered.

[Kane]

My name is Julie Weatherwax-Shilts, Jill Ann Weatherwax was my sister. I would also like to see a followup on Unsolved Mysteries. The orginal segment was very poorly done except for Aphrodite Jones, she was the only positive thing about it. Please consider re-doing as a follow-up story. My sister deserved better. The killers have never been caught. My Mother died January 2006 as a result of her grief. My dad is so grief stricken his health is seriously failing. Our family has never recovered.

Julie, you and your loved ones all have my condolences.

Are you sure UM did a segment on Jill's murder? It's not ringing any bells for me. In any case, I regret to say there is no way for UM to accommodate your suggestion because the show is no longer in production. :(

[jewely_44]

Thank-you Kane for your reply. If you look up Aphrodite Jones website, you will see the where she posts credits for past television appearances. I traveled to L.A. and met her and a crew for the show. We went up to Fresno to shoot the segment. The E Channel also did the story under "True Hollywood Stories" it hasn't aired lately that I know of but they reran it for a while. Fresno Police Department has turned the case over to the cold case unit as of this date. They still keep in touch with me. Julie.

[jewely_44]

oops sorry, that was Americas Most Wanted actually, NOT Unsolved Mysteries. sorry about that.

[ddelta]

I love this thread so i thought i bump it for more stories.

One i would love to see is the young couple who were sleeping on a beach in sleeping bags who were shot in the head. THey have never solved it.

I also would love to see the case of the couple from Philadelphia who went out one night for drinks and left in the guys car. Neither has been seen since nor the guys car. Originally i thought this was one of those cases where the car went off the road and they just didn't find it....but I am now thinking the woman's ex-husband had something to do with it. So sad.

[LooksLikeCRicci]

I thought that I had mentioned this particular story on this thread before, but one case that I would have LOVED to see UM cover dealt with the unsolved homicide of three women in a beauty salon in Florence, Montana. For those of you that are unaware of the makeup of this Montana town, Florence is VERY "small-town U.S.A." where everyone knows everyone else. Anyway, a customer came into the beauty shop one morning and found a woman dead. She alerted the authorities, who then investigated and found two more women dead. The murders were extremely brutal and there appeared to be no motive for them.

America's Most Wanted covered this story, but I could have seen UM profiling the story in greater detail as a "Special Alert." On an interesting sidenote, however, there is a suspect that they have in custody, although I don't know if they have enough evidence to prosecute him. Check out the story here (http://www.billingsgazette.com/newdex.php?id=1&display=rednews/2005/12/06/build/state/70-florence-killings.inc) and here (http://www.missoulian.com/articles/2005/11/27/news/top/news01.txt).

You can see the case synopsis (http://http://www.amw.com/fugitives/case.cfm?id=27846) on America's Most Wanted's website. Interestingly enough, it also has a link to Jennifer Servo (http://www.amw.com/fugitives/case.cfm?id=25573), a reporter who covered the murder while she was a news reporter in Montana who was tragically murdered herself less than a year later. I don't know of any updates in her case, but the story had been featured in Cosmopolitan magazine.

[synthisislab]

Here is a great old thread which mentions BTK when that case was pretty dead and was solved finally a few years ago.

There are some more recent cases they can feature on the new UM. One which is very fresh about that girl in the west (I think it's in Nevada or Arizona) that was sleeping on the couch at her friend's or family member's place and the assailant broke in that room through the nearest door to where she was sleeping there in the living room, then abducted her, and killed her (she might have been raped too). She was missing for a little while, then was found a few months later. I believe he is a serial killer who was linked to another killing with the same MO pretty close to this latest one. Does anyone know about that case or any of the details/clues on it?

Then another other case would be the Boca Raton, Florida abductor/robber/killer that would stake out the mall and target mothers with their child so they could easily be managed and controlled. He would accost them in the parking lot where he would bound them, blindfold them with blacked out swim goggles, and shoot them after having them drive in the victim's van or SUV to an ATM where he could rob them beforehand. Now since the heat is on him there, he could have left that area for another area to start another series of killings.

This one would be perfect for UM too: http://www.fox11az.com/news/topstories/stories/KMSB_20080305_br_shooting.275ead90.html

The Lane Bryant massacre at Tinsley Park, Illinois would be another good recent case as well as the 1995 Nicole Smith rapist/killer who raped again recently (2004) in nearly the same area in Atlanta.

[browneyes106]

I'm glad this thread got bumped up. I was wondering what stories SpikeTV will put on the new Unsolved Mysteries. There are a lot of missing persons stories that could be featured.

[synthisislab]

Yes, it definitely deserved the bump. I also think they should do some cases on serial killers like the original I-70 Killer that preyed on homosexual men in the 80s and dumped them along the highway and show the other I-70 killer segment with an update as to him moving down to I-35 in Texas (I don't recall them mentioning that the I-70 killer that killed women clerks moved down to Texas). They could also do a whole hour long episode on various Chicago cases like the ones on this page: http://weeklywire.com/ww/11-02-98/chicago_cover.html

[HumanFrailty]

Have they done an episode on Kelly Dae Wilson? If not, I'd like to see something on her..

[crystaldawn]

Have they done an episode on Kelly Dae Wilson?

The name doesn't ring a bell....

[synthisislab]

Man, look at all the perversion linked to this case: http://www.charleyproject.org/cases/w/wilson_kelly.html
Jesus.

[NEWYORKEX]

Yes, it definitely deserved the bump. I also think they should do some cases on serial killers like the original I-70 Killer that preyed on homosexual men in the 80s and dumped them along the highway and show the other I-70 killer segment with an update as to him moving down to I-35 in Texas (I don't recall them mentioning that the I-70 killer that killed women clerks moved down to Texas). They could also do a whole hour long episode on various Chicago cases like the ones on this page: http://weeklywire.com/ww/11-02-98/chicago_cover.html
What makes you say this?

[NEWYORKEX]

Man, look at all the perversion linked to this case: http://www.charleyproject.org/cases/w/wilson_kelly.html
Jesus.

It cannot be looked at as perversion. Those are signs. Those are characteristics of prevailing criminal attributes. They must be viewed as that and not emotionally. Emotion obstructs objectivity.

I would also like to know about this I 70 killer moving to I 35 in Texas and how that is known? Is there some piece of work on that? Is there anything other than a news account that you know of? I would sincerely appreciate knowing.

[crystaldawn]

I would also like to know about this I 70 killer moving to I 35 in Texas and how that is known? Is there some piece of work on that? Is there anything other than a news account that you know of? I would sincerely appreciate knowing.

Not sure if this what you mean but found this blurb:

http://www.francesfarmersrevenge.com/stuff/serialkillers/I70.htm

Police are searching for a man who has killed five women and a man in at least three Midwestern states and three more women in Texas. Their prime suspect is male in his mid-20s to early 30s. He is described as thin, 5-foot-7, with sandy blond hair with a reddish tint and a day-old beard. During a 29-day killing spree in 1992, the killer preyed on female shop clerks within a mile or two of the interstates. His male victim had long hair and a earring, leading authorities to believe the killer thought he was a woman. He robbed most of his victims, but as an afterthought. Clearly, his main intention was murder. After 29 days the killer disappeared from the Midwest. Authorities believed he was in jail or dead until 1993 when he started killing in Texas. There he bagged between two and four more women.

[Kane]

I also think they should do some cases on serial killers like the original I-70 Killer that preyed on homosexual men in the 80s and dumped them along the highway

Well, a man named Herbert Baumeister was linked to those murders.

[supersally1974]

In the same vein of the thread, but a different kind of response ...

I hope that the producers and Spike TV are going to revamp the UM format to take advantage of technology that was not available back in the late 80's/early 90's.

It would be cool for viewers to receive text messages on their cells or "crackberries" :D each time there is an update on a case (but here's the hook, we only get a glimpse of the update but have to watch the show to find out more). The UM website needs a complete overhaul and needs to be more interactive and where cases ACTUALLY get updated.

There should be links on the UM website to give more visibility to the doenetwork, charleyproject and other missing childrens/persons website.

A scrolling banner for any active AMBER alerts would also be useful and important.

My 2 cents :p

[synthisislab]

Well, a man named Herbert Baumeister was linked to those murders.
Yeah, coincidentally I just read one of those Ohio trucker serial killer threads that was bumped tonight which contains that info. The sites I found out about the original I-70 Killer from both apparently need to be updated. :D

In the same vein of the thread, but a different kind of response ...

I hope that the producers and Spike TV are going to revamp the UM format to take advantage of technology that was not available back in the late 80's/early 90's.

It would be cool for viewers to receive text messages on their cells or "crackberries" each time there is an update on a case (but here's the hook, we only get a glimpse of the update but have to watch the show to find out more). The UM website needs a complete overhaul and needs to be more interactive and where cases ACTUALLY get updated.

There should be links on the UM website to give more visibility to the doenetwork, charleyproject and other missing childrens/persons website.

A scrolling banner for any active AMBER alerts would also be useful and important.

My 2 cents
UM definitely needs to review all their unsolved cases and update their website with current info on the cases that require it, just like some of these other sites that feature serial killers which didn't name the original I-70 Killer. ;)

There are many old UM cases where I can't find any info about them and that needs to change too. They should at least have someone working their site. It's like they made that site during the new Lifetime episodes to coincide with their broadcast in 2001-2002, then when Lifetime cancelled the new episodes, they just abandoned the website for 5 years. Hopefully now they'll be able to hire some researchers to handle the task.

The text messages would be kind of silly and sort of unnatural to the flow of the show, in my opinion. I do like the Amber alert idea and think that one of the producers look to this board for some ideas since it is the best board for UM on the net. I think I speak for most UM fans here when I say the best segments had the sinister music, were less immediate like later episodes and more atmospheric like early episodes, and filmed with actual film instead of video to give the re-enactments that grainy docudrama feel to them.

[supersally1974]

Yeah, coincidentally I just read one of those Ohio trucker serial killer threads that was bumped tonight which contains that info. The sites I found out about the original I-70 Killer from both apparently need to be updated. :D


UM definitely needs to review all their unsolved cases and update their website with current info on the cases that require it, just like some of these other sites that feature serial killers which didn't name the original I-70 Killer. ;)

There are many old UM cases where I can't find any info about them and that needs to change too. They should at least have someone working their site. It's like they made that site during the new Lifetime episodes to coincide with their broadcast in 2001-2002, then when Lifetime cancelled the new episodes, they just abandoned the website for 5 years. Hopefully now they'll be able to hire some researchers to handle the task.

The text messages would be kind of silly and sort of unnatural to the flow of the show, in my opinion. I do like the Amber alert idea and think that one of the producers look to this board for some ideas since it is the best board for UM on the net. I think I speak for most UM fans here when I say the best segments had the sinister music, were less immediate like later episodes and more atmospheric like early episodes, and filmed with actual film instead of video to give the re-enactments that grainy docudrama feel to them.

The text messaging bit sounds a bit strange at first, but I know TV producers are willing to adapt their format to integrate the new technologies (this 'mot du jour' in the buisness is called "multi-platform").

I agree with you a 110% that the old segments shot on film were much more engaging and awesome. I hope that they stay away from the cheap digital cameras and go the HDTV route and add a grain-filter, on this one.

[NEWYORKEX]

Yes , I believe so Crystal. I am curious as I was involved in investigation of those, I did not recall them that way. I thought maybe something else had occurred I had not been made aware of. I personally do not see a definitive link.

[DALLASTEXAN!!]

there are probably some good conspiracy stories that could be aired with all of the political things going on in the world today. I know that's pretty vague. but If anyone can think of some paticular stories that would be good. On a brighter note they could have shown the phoenix lights part two.....but come to find out the latest escapade was no more than a fraud. apparantly someone tied flares to balloons and let them off into the night sky.

[browneyes106]

There are a lot of recent missing persons cases that could be featured on the show. Ghosts and haunting will probably be feature. A few years ago I saw a UFO story that was featured on either the History Chanel, Discovery or TLC documentary. The story was about a family in the South either in the 1950's and 1960's claimed they saw a ship land near the house and they saw winged alien creatures. I think they said the creatures left and the ship was gone. Later on people in their small town accused them of being mentally ill, alcholics and many said that the family mistakenlly took the creatures they saw as being monkeys from traveling circus. The documentary interviewed two brothers that are still living. It would be interesting if UM did a story. Another story that could be featured the McPhearson UFO story which is a claim that a family captured video images of landing and seeing aliens.

A segment on Clinton Road could be really cool. Here a link about it's mysteries
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clinton_Road

[synthisislab]

It cannot be looked at as perversion. Those are signs. Those are characteristics of prevailing criminal attributes. They must be viewed as that and not emotionally. Emotion obstructs objectivity.

What the heck are you talking about?

[synthisislab]

Well, a man named Herbert Baumeister was linked to those murders.
So was he ever charged for them?

[ididn'tdoit]

I've said this before but I think UM should have done an episode on Johnny Gosch. Jacob Wetterling would also be interesting.

[Old School TV]

I would to see Updates on any current or upcomming parole decisions on some of the convicted felons featured. There are many convicts featured on UM that will be up for parole on 2008 and 2009, it would be interesting to get the outcome of those hearings without getting names and using google for more info.

[RoonieToonie]

I'd like to see a segment on 'Mothman', actually I think they could do a whole episode on it. With a Richard Gere movie on Mothman from Sony coming out soon, I think there will be a lot of interest in it. If you're not familiar with the legend of Mothman, check out some of these links - http://dir.yahoo.com/Science/Alternative/Paranormal_Phenomena/Cryptozoology/Mothman/

I think that a Mothman segment would be a great idea. It certainly has a very strange story.

[synthisislab]

I think that a Mothman segment would be a great idea. It certainly has a very strange story.
They already did one on the Mothman.

[suzannec4444]

Hi
If he hasn't been already.Then The Boy In the Box.(The Fox Chase boy)



suzanne

[suzannec4444]

Hi
I think this little boy should be on unsolved mysteries.I promised I would keep Louis's story out there and I will.some one knows what happened to this sweet little boy.

http://www.charleyproject.org/cases/m/mackerley_louis.html

suzanne

[LiveByTheSea]

I think UM should do the one about the Phantom Killer of Texarkana. That definitely would be very interesting to see. I doubt the killer will be caught though.

[WongStuff]

How about the recent findings of severed feet in Canada? http://www.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/06/19/canada.feet/index.html

Very UM if you ask me.

[mphs95]

What were the cases of Ken Rex McElroy and the castrater killer about? The castrater killer? That sounds to me like Steven Seagal's m.o., but I could be mistaken.

Ken McElroy was the town bully of Skidmore, MO who was gunned down by townspeople in 1981. This guy was badddd news.

[Cori aka ChrisSCrush]

Did they ever do the boy in the box murder mystery? http://americasunknownchild.net/

Years ago we had a book describing a "Forest of Missing Children." All I remember is, it may have been in California. Sometime in the 1950s, a family went hiking. An 8-year-old boy ran over a rise. Seconds later, when the rest of the family climbed the rise, he was nowhere to be seen and was never seen again. Other children also went missing in the area. There weren't any hidden fissures, holes, etc., to account for the sudden disappearances.

Sorry don't know the name on this one, but it was in the news four or five years ago. Around 1980, a girl of about seven years old disappeared from her home in a trailer park. Police dogs tracked her scent to the middle of a field, where it simply vanished. The case was in the news again around 2004, when a woman came forward saying she "might" be the girl. The cops were about to bust her for fraud when she confessed. Then they didn't know whether to charge her or with what as it was said she was so dang crazy at the time she made the claim, she may have believed it.

[NuclearMisfit]

I would like to see The Jersey Devil added to the Legends portion of the show.

[kamy]

Oh yeah, the Texarkana Phantom was a good one...

[Cori aka ChrisSCrush]

Here http://paranormal.about.com/library/weekly/aa010101a.htm is a list of the top ten mysterious creatures of modern times. The Bigfoot/Sasquatch/Yeti took a big hit when a book describing one of the most famous sightings, The Long Walk, by Slavomir Rawicz, was revealed as a hoax, but what about the others? Some of them have a number of credible witnesses, and the dinosaurs would seem to be findable and photographable.

[justins5256]

I doubt UM would showcase a "Final Appeal" on someone the show helped put away but...

I would like to see a "Final Appeal" segment on the theory that Dave Davis was innocent.

[synthisislab]

I doubt UM would showcase a "Final Appeal" on someone the show helped put away but...
I think the guy that was convicted in the Barbara Jean Horn case, Walter Ogrod would be a perfect candidate for this and maybe an extended segment with much more info on that case and the people involved. That short Special Alert of this really didn't do the case much justice.

I would like to see a "Final Appeal" segment on the theory that Dave Davis was innocent.
Based on what evidence?

[synthisislab]

Ken McElroy was the town bully of Skidmore, MO who was gunned down by townspeople in 1981. This guy was badddd news.
Wasn't this case featured on another show like Forensic Files, or something? It sounds very familiar.

[justins5256]

Based on what evidence?

http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/showthread.php?t=202188

http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/showthread.php?t=161314&page=2

[Kane]

Wasn't this case featured on another show like Forensic Files, or something? It sounds very familiar.

The Ken McIlroy case was featured on the now-defunct A&E series City Confidential.

[Cori aka ChrisSCrush]

Okay, Unsolved Mysteries did a story on the strange death of singer Bobby Fuller. Did they ever do Del Shannon? His wife left the house briefly, came back and found him shot in the head. Authorities say it was suicide, his wife says not. Legendary singer Sam Cooke also died under mysterious circumstances.

And...not exactly a mystery, but I have an idea for a similar-type series based on popular legends. There is so much myth and legend surrounding the death of singer Bessie Smith. A black doctor who invented a blood transfusion process suffered a similar fate (was in a car crash and said to be denied proper treatment because they had to wait for the slow, pokey ambulance to the colored folks' hospital rather than the nice, modern white folks' ambulance--well-known as it was repeated on M*A*S*H). There ought to be a show presenting the strongest version of the known facts of such cases. Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction? doesn't help. It presents legends such as the Barbados coffins as facts if the stories have been around long enough. Such a show could even clear up some cases presented on Unsolved Mysteries--such as Jesse James, Billy the Kid, and Anastasia not dying when they were said to have, and someone other than John Wilkes Booth being shot in that barn. Many could nominate some movies giving pretty warped depictions of historical figures.

Does the death of Mario Lanza qualify as an Unsolved Mystery or is it pretty accepted that he was murdered?

[Cori aka ChrisSCrush]

How is this for mysterious? http://www.sptimes.ru/story/25093

[Mastermind]

Considering our post 9/11 culture

how about some episodes on

1. The Whereabouts of Osama Bin Ladin?
2. The "Doomsday Jet" that appeared over Washington during the attacks?
3. Amerithrax
4. Did the US know about the 9/11 attacks before hand?

[crystaldawn]

I realize this is a really old story but it would have been or would be a great one for UM to profile as one of their unexplained ones. I'm not usually into those type stories but this case is beyond bizarre and quite interesting:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dyatlov_pass_accident

[Cori aka ChrisSCrush]

Sounds like the same one I posted.

[crystaldawn]

Sounds like the same one I posted.

Yes, sorry I didn't notice that.

[Mastermind]

If they did this topic, it would be the most frightening one they could ever do.

:eek:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shadow_people

[hottstuff25]

This one is very recent and would be perfect for UM (if they still didn't find the killer). It is about two young Oklahoma girls that were murdered horrificly on a rural road about a month and a half ago. Today, officials released a very creepy, intense 911 call from the girls that would be perfect for UM audiences. They have almost 500 leads and are adding and cutting down possible ones everyday.

The biggest lead happens to be a large Native American man with a ponytail, whose sketch is in the link to the story and is as creepy as ever. For those who want to keep up with the story, coverage is constant on the large networks and here on the Internet.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,387201,00.html

[Cori aka ChrisSCrush]

If they did this topic, it would be the most frightening one they could ever do.

:eek:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shadow_people

Did they do the Black Hope Cemetery case? One of these was seen during those events.

[soilentgreen]

Here's a case about three young women who disappeared from a Fort Worth, Texas mall in 1974, with some strange twists and turns:

http://www.charleyproject.org/cases/t/trlica_mary.html

[Mastermind]

Did they do the Black Hope Cemetery case? One of these was seen during those events.


They did do the Black Hope Cemetery case.

I have not seen the episode in a while. Was there really a sighting of a '"shadow person" in that case as well?

[slasherman]

This one is very recent and would be perfect for UM (if they still didn't find the killer). It is about two young Oklahoma girls that were murdered horrificly on a rural road about a month and a half ago. Today, officials released a very creepy, intense 911 call from the girls that would be perfect for UM audiences. They have almost 500 leads and are adding and cutting down possible ones everyday.

The biggest lead happens to be a large Native American man with a ponytail, whose sketch is in the link to the story and is as creepy as ever. For those who want to keep up with the story, coverage is constant on the large networks and here on the Internet.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,387201,00.html
Is it just me or do this sketch remind me of another case ..maybe on UM ?
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d54/slasherman1971/dask/0_27_061308_sketch.jpg

[Pixies]

The person who robbed a 7/11 where the clerk was killed. It was on unsolved long ago

[Cori aka ChrisSCrush]

They did do the Black Hope Cemetery case.

I have not seen the episode in a while. Was there really a sighting of a '"shadow person" in that case as well?

I'm pretty sure one of the apparitions was both described and depicted as a human-shaped, dark shadow.

[slasherman]

The person who robbed a 7/11 where the clerk was killed. It was on unsolved long ago
do you have that sketch ?

[Cori aka ChrisSCrush]

The Robin Hood Hills murders and conviction of the West Memphis 3 would make a good final appeal. http://www.wm3.org/live/caseintroduction/synopsis_burk.php

[lola77]

Hi, I'm new!:)

One case I'd like to see profiled is the disappearance of Trenny Lynn Gibson in 1976. She was on a field trip in the Great Smoky Mountains with her class when she vanished. Despite extensive searches, no trace of her was ever found. Dennis Martin also when missing from the Smoky Mountains when he was 8 years old, in 1969.

[joshypiano]

Here's a case about three young women who disappeared from a Fort Worth, Texas mall in 1974, with some strange twists and turns:

http://www.charleyproject.org/cases/t/trlica_mary.html

I definitely want to see this one profiled. I've become near obsessed with this case for some reason.

[joshypiano]

If they did this topic, it would be the most frightening one they could ever do.

:eek:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shadow_people


Sounds like something I read in some Carlos Casteneda books.

[Cori aka ChrisSCrush]

Hi, I'm new!:)

One case I'd like to see profiled is the disappearance of Trenny Lynn Gibson in 1976. She was on a field trip in the Great Smoky Mountains with her class when she vanished. Despite extensive searches, no trace of her was ever found. Dennis Martin also when missing from the Smoky Mountains when he was 8 years old, in 1969.

I've been trying for awhile to locate information on a "Forest of Missing Children" I believe was in California in the 1950s, written up in a paperback book we had. If I find the book going through boxes, I will post the information. Someone on another forum suggested cougars as an explanation for children suddenly going missing in wooded areas.

[lola77]

I think I read that same book you're talking about. It had a bunch of unsolved mysteries in it. I had the book it was just some paperback thing from the '70's, but I've misplaced it somewhere. The story about the Forest involved a boy and a girl who went on a bike ride in the '50's and never returned. Last year when I was doing some research on the DOE network, I believe I found the 2 kids mentioned in the story. I think the girl's name was Brenda. It's thought that they were abducted and murdered by Mack Ray Edwards. He was employed as a road builder in California in the 1950's and 60's. He buried his victims under the highways he constructed.

The case of Trenny has always affected me deeply. I think someone stalked her, waited until she was alone and maybe a bit separated from the rest of the kids on the field trip, and then killed her. I don't think she would have run away.

[Cori aka ChrisSCrush]

Thanks for that. This http://www.charleyproject.org/cases/k/kremen_bruce.html could well have been one of the missing children. Angeles National Forest in the late 1950s-early 1960s sounds familiar, and certainly more than one went missing in the area, because it was referred to as the "Forest of Missing Children." The particular case I remember was (I thought) as follows: an 8-year-old boy was with a small group (not 80 children, perhaps a family hike). He ran over a rise. Seconds later, when the others topped the rise, the boy was nowhere to be seen. The family and other searchers couldn't find any holes he could have fallen into or other explanation for his sudden disappearance.

[soilentgreen]

It's been discussed on here before, but I'd like see a episode on the cluster murders that occurred in the 'killing fields' around League City and Galveston, Texas from the early 1970's into the mid 1980's. At one point, some of the early 1970's homicides were believed to be connected with the murders that Michael Lloyd Self was later convicted of (UM had a Final Appeal segment about his case). Apparently there's several suspects for the various killings.

[lola77]

There was the case of Douglas Legg, a 9 year old boy, who went missing on a family hike in 1971 in New York State in the Adirondack Mountains. His family had set out on this hike and sent Douglas home to change into long pants and he vanished. Doug was very familiar with the location and it would seem unlikely that he would have gotten lost. Despite an extensive search, no trace of him was ever found.

Another case I always wanted to see profiled on Unsolved was the case of The Texarcana Moonlight Murders that happened in 1946. This crime was never solved, between February 28 and May 4, 1946, 4 people were murdered and 3 assaulted by this unknown person. The murders are quite similar to the Zodiac killings.

[Cori aka ChrisSCrush]

What do you know, this http://www.charleyproject.org/cases/b/bowman_thomas.html sounds like the case I was thinking of.

[lola77]

Yeah, this must have been the one you are thinking of. And it coincides with the disappearance of Brenda Howell/ Don Baker, the two that were out bike riding.

[Mastermind]

1. I could of sworn they did something on the Torso Murderer, didn't they? If not it would be an interesting case. Especially considering who was investigation it. ;)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cleveland_Torso_Murderer

2. Did they do anything on the Mad Gasser of Mattoon? There is some evidence that this may be the work of an actual person.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mad_Gasser

3. They do the Count of St. Germain?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Count_of_St._Germain

4. These would be interesting angles on UFO stories
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Titor
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vrillon

5. They should definitely do the Alexander Litvinenko poisoning.
So many political ramifications from that case.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Litvinenko_poisoning

6. This is a weird case too
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taman_Shud_Case

[lola77]

They did do a show on the Torso Murders. That was a case that always haunted Elliot Ness, as he knew who did it, but was missing the tiniest bit of evidence to arrest the perp.

[lostlingaer]

Thanks to all who responded to my question about what stories should be featured on Unsolved Mysteries. Now, I thought I'd share my ideas about potential stories.

1) I'd like UM to do a story about the Texas murder victim known as "Orange Socks," which was all she wore when her body was found in a ditch in October of 1979. Serial killer Henry Lee Lucas confessed (and later recanted) to the murder. (His death sentence for that crime was reduced to life in prison in 1998 due to increasing doubts about his guilt in that particular murder.) Sadly, the woman remains unidentified. Therefore, I think it would be nice to see Unsolved Mysteries do a segment on that.

2) I think it would also be interesting to see a "Final Appeal" segment on Jeffrey MacDonald. He was the Green Beret doctor who is incarcerated for the 1970 murders of his wife and two young daughters. He claims that some vital evidence (which could possibly acquit him) was suppressed.

3) The BTK Strangler. This unidentified serial killer terrorized the Kansas area during the 1970s. (BTK stands for "bind, torture, and kill.") He is responsible for at least seven murders.

If anyone can think of any more story ideas for Unsolved Mysteries to consider, I'd be happy to hear about them. Again, thanks for sharing your story ideas. And for those who may share theirs in the future, thank you all in advance. http://www.sitcomsonline.com/ubb/smile.gif
I think if you would take a look at the cases featured on www.unsolvedcanada.com , you would see major issues that could be addressed and hold public interest from one end of Canada to another
especially the "biggest cover-ups in Canada"

[rhzunam]

Berenger Sauniere and the church of Mary Magdalene in Rennes le Chateau.

[Smokescreen]

There’s two unsolved homicide cases from Winnipeg that “coulda been a contendah” for UM

Two young women murdered almost one year to the day apart, found in the same area. Could this be the work of the same person(s) or just a bizarre coincidence?


I’ve done a little research into these two cases. It’s kinda hard to get any info online or otherwise. A friend of mine who used to be the crime reporter for one of the local newspapers here got some info and we found out the main suspect had died years ago.
A fellow whom I work with used to go to high school with Marie Banks but there was no information he had that would help solve her murder.

Anyway, here are the two cases for the unsolved murders of Marie Banks and Constance Cameron

This was taken from

http://www.winnipeg.ca/police/unsolved_cases/index.stm


The Marie Banks Murder

http://www.winnipeg.ca/police/Unsolved_Cases/Homicides/Images/case21a.jpg

Marie BanksEighteen year old Marie Edith Banks was last seen alive during the early morning hours of Tuesday, July 26, 1983, getting into a vehicle in the area of McDermot Avenue and Princess Street where she worked as a prostitute. She is subsequently reported missing by a friend on August 1, 1983.

Two weeks later, on Monday, August 15, 1983, Banks’ body was found in a Fort Garry field off Sparling Avenue near Manitoba Hydro’s head office and the CNR “Rivers” Mainline. A neighbourhood resident out walking his dog found her body in the field and notified the police. The cause of death was determined to be manual strangulation.

Banks’ body was found face up with her arms stretched over her head and it appeared that her body had been dragged to this location. Other than her jewelry and a garter belt, Banks was totally naked and there was no clothing nearby suggesting it may have been left behind in the suspect’s vehicle or the location in which she was killed.

Although Bank’s clothing and purse were never found; a neighbourhood youth reported seeing a purse and a shoe similar to ones owned by Banks in the general vicinity on or about July 27, 1983. When the police returned to the location where the purse had been seen, a number of condoms were located on the ground (but no purse) suggesting that prostitutes may have frequented this vicinity.

Blue circle indicates where body of Marie Banks was found. Red circle indicates where body of Constance Cameron was found.Unfortunately, such investigations are often hampered by the lifestyle of prostitutes as their activities immediately prior to their death are hard to establish and previous customers are not likely or willing to step forward with information. Furthermore, Banks associated with organized criminals and had previously complained about being assaulted by some of them who wanted to take over “management” of her business (ie: pimps).

In an ironic twist of fate, Banks’ body was found almost one year to the day and less than 100 meters from the body of another part-time prostitute. On August 6, 1984, the body of Constance Lynn Cameron was found in a field on the other side of the CNR tracks from where Banks was found. She too was last seen in the downtown area of Winnipeg and had died as a result of manual strangulation.
It is unknown if these two deaths are related as the access roads to these areas by vehicle are a considerable distance apart and it may (or may not) only be a coincidence as to the timing and location of their bodies.




http://www.winnipeg.ca/police/Unsolved_Cases/Homicides/Images/case21b.jpg




The Constance Cameron Murder


http://www.winnipeg.ca/police/Unsolved_Cases/Homicides/Images/case26a.jpg

Twenty year old Constance Lynn Cameron was last seen alive during the early morning hours of Friday, August 3, 1984, when a friend allegedly dropped her off in the area of Higgins and Austin where she may have worked as a prostitute.

A few days later, on Monday August 6, 1984, Cameron’s body was found in a Fort Garry field off Parker Avenue near the CNR “Rivers” Mainline. A passerby out for a walk observed her body in the field and notified the police. The cause of death was determined to be manual strangulation.

Cameron’s body was found face down with her arms stretched over her head. A black tank top, which she had been wearing, was rolled up to her neck suggesting that her body had been dragged to this location. This was consistent with the fact that the bottoms of Cameron’s socks were clean and free of dirt and leaves, indicating that she had not walked to this location.

Neither of Cameron’s shoes or her purse were found with the body and it is believed that they were left behind in the suspect’s vehicle where she may have met her death.

Unfortunately, investigations are often hampered by the lifestyle of prostitutes as their activities immediately prior to their death are hard to establish and previous customers are not likely to willingly step forward with information. However, as Cameron was not seen alive after being dropped off on Higgins Avenue it is believed that she died that day, possibly at the hands of one of her customers.

Blue circle indicates where body of Marie Banks was found. Red circle indicates where body of Constance Cameron was found.In an ironic twist of fate, Cameron’s body was found almost one year to the day and less than 100 meters from the body of another part-time prostitute. On August 15, 1983, the body of Marie Edith Banks was found in a field on the other side of the CNR tracks from where Cameron was found. She too was last seen in the downtown area of Winnipeg and had died as a result of manual strangulation.
It is unknown if these two deaths are related as the access roads to these areas by vehicle are a considerable distance apart and it may (or may not) only be a coincidence as to the time and location of their bodies.

[Mystery Man]

*Final Appeal* West Memphis Three: Three teenage heavy metal fans were arrested and charged with the murder of three younger boys. However, lots of evidence points to a mysterious African male who showed up at a Bojangles restaurant the night of the murders covered in dirt and lurking in the ladies' bathroom. In addition, non of the suspects blood was found at the scene. Many eople have supported them, including Henry Rollins, who recorded an album to raise money for them.

*UFOs* The Alabama Tin Foil Alien: In October of 1973, a police officer named Jeff Greenhaw allegedly chased a tin foil-like creature through the forests of Kelly, Kentucky, after responding to a call from a woman who claimed to have seen a spaceship land. He brought along a polaroid camera just in case the sighting was true and when he saw the creature, he snapped photos. Many people ridicule his story and photos, he maintains that his photos are legit.

*Legends* The Murder of Nancy Spungen: Although it is widely accepted that punk rocker Sid Vicious murdered his girlfriend Nancy Spungen, some people believe she may have been killed by drug dealers,robbers, or even comedian Rocket Redglare.

*Murder* Boy In The Box: In September of 1957, an unidentified 4 to 5 year old boy was found in a box near a roadside in Philadelphia. The badly beaten body has never been identified nor has the killer ever been found.

*Unexplained Death* Lead Masks Case: In August of 1966, the bodies of two Brazilian technicians were found by an 18 year old boy. The men, wearing lead masks used to protect people from toxic radiation, had a note next to their bodies saying:

"16:30 be at the agreed place. 18:30 swallow capsules, after effect protect metals wait for sign mask [or 'mask sign']".

It is unconfirmed whether the note was left by the killer or was written by the victims themselves.

[Smokescreen]

Hey good call(s) Mysteryman!

The two I'd really be interested in are:

*Final Appeal* West Memphis Three: Three teenage heavy metal fans were arrested and charged with the murder of three younger boys. However, lots of evidence points to a mysterious African male who showed up at a Bojangles restaurant the night of the murders covered in dirt and lurking in the ladies' bathroom. In addition, non of the suspects blood was found at the scene. Many eople have supported them, including Henry Rollins, who recorded an album to raise money for them.

This case makes me sick and drives me insane!!! :mad: It's truly an abortion of justice performed with a rusty coat hanger


*Legends* The Murder of Nancy Spungen: Although it is widely accepted that punk rocker Sid Vicious murdered his girlfriend Nancy Spungen, some people believe she may have been killed by drug dealers or robbers.


"Who really killed Nancy Spungen?"

(cough Rockets (cough) Redglare (cough)

[Mystery Man]

Added The Lead Masks Case to my original post.

Also, Smokescreen, where'd you get that 80's TV-movie Zodiac Killer avatar? I like it! :lol:

[Smokescreen]

My avatar? Oh, hmmm ,trying to remember... Oh I think I just did a google image search for "Zodiac Killer" - I honestly can't remember -I've had this pic on my hard drive for a few years now

[Mastermind]

My avatar? Oh, hmmm ,trying to remember... Oh I think I just did a google image search for "Zodiac Killer" - I honestly can't remember -I've had this pic on my hard drive for a few years now


Nice.

It's amazing how many diffierent interpretations of that costume there are.

And yet none of them (including Graysmith's sketch) may be accurate.

only one person has ever lived to see this costume.

[Smokescreen]

Hartnell's still alive, correct?

[lotjx]

I haven't seen the new Spike episodes, so I am not sure if any of these have been done.

9/11 leads to Iraqi War. Take your pick on which crazy theory you want to do.

2012. I think they did something like this, but I am not sure. Go over all the theories about it.

CIA director. The CIA director who went missing a few months after resigning in the 1990s. Pressumed dead after white water rafting near his home.

The assination of the Pakistani female candidate. Murdered two years ago with possible implications to out going President.

[Hambone2421]

The Brian Shaffer disappearance - Brian was an Ohio State medical student that literally disappeared into thin air in 2006 after having a few drinks with friends at a bar one night. Nothing of his, including his body, has ever been found. The friend Brian was with on the night of his disappearance has refused to take a polygraph. Brian's brother now believes his friend may know something.

Lee Cutler disappearance - Lee is/was a Jewish student who felt "captivated" by Chris McCandless and some think he may have disappeared willingly ala McCandless. Cutler's car was found abandoned at the entrance of an out of state park and some of his stuff including his pants and wallet were scattered around the area inside the park. Police believe he scattered his belongings on purpose to make it look like he drowned.

[kamy]

The Brian Shaffer disappearance - Brian was an Ohio State medical student that literally disappeared into thin air in 2006 after having a few drinks with friends at a bar one night. Nothing of his, including his body, has ever been found. The friend Brian was with on the night of his disappearance has refused to take a polygraph. Brian's brother now believes his friend may know something.

Lee Cutler disappearance - Lee is/was a Jewish student who felt "captivated" by Chris McCandless and some think he may have disappeared willingly ala McCandless. Cutler's car was found abandoned at the entrance of an out of state park and some of his stuff including his pants and wallet were scattered around the area inside the park. Police believe he scattered his belongings on purpose to make it look like he drowned.

The Lee Cutler case is very interesting, I seen it on ID network's new show called Disappeared. Good case for UM to feature. Has spike started showing any new episodes?!! I would just die if I missed any!!! I have my DVR set to tape anything UM on Spike but I get something maybe 1x a month.

[Mastermind]

I'd to see an update to the Bill & Dot Wacker case... like how they fabricated the whole thing for attention - getting their "kicks" and Dot getting her 15 minutes of fame.

I seriously doubt the Wackers did it for fame.

[Corky Kneivel]

"Who really killed Nancy Spungen?"

(cough Rockets (cough) Redglare (cough)


I've always loved that guys name. You think he's the one who knifed her? Or because he supplied them with the heroin?

[Smokescreen]

Hey Corky! :wave:
That seems to be the most popular rumor

I wouldn't totally rule out Mr. Morra, giving as he was a dealer at the time - I mean, 'never trust a junkie", right?


Know whatcha mean btw -I love that name too - I wish that was my name!

[Mystery Man]

*Missing* Natalee Holloway: During Spring Break 2005, the world was focused on a missing 18 year old teen named Natalee Holloway. She was last seen at a bar called Carlos'n'Charlies, but did not appear on security footage there. All suspects have been checked and cleared, leading many to believe she may still be alive.

*Wanted* Monster With 21 Faces: In the mid-1980's, a group known as "The Monster With 21 Faces" began terrorizing food company Ezaki Gilco. What started as an home invasion quickly evolved into threatening letters and employees' vehicles being deliberately set on fire. Days after the ransom was payed to free Katsuhisa Ezaki, the owner of Gilco, an odd man was seen with the ransom by an undercover police officer, heading for a train. He was described as a "Fox-Eyed Man." The culprit has never been caught.

[Smokescreen]

*Wanted* Monster With 21 Faces


Yeah!!! Good call, Mystery Man! :rock:

Man, too bad Bill Kurtis didn't take over producing UM - that would be such a damn good show

Hooray for Bill Kurtis!

[rhzunam]

*Missing* Natalee Holloway: During Spring Break 2005, the world was focused on a missing 18 year old teen named Natalee Holloway. She was last seen at a bar called Carlos'n'Charlies, but did not appear on security footage there. All suspects have been checked and cleared, leading many to believe she may still be alive.



I'm sick of this case. I'm glad we don't have an UM case on this. And I would use the term "the world" loosely.

[brianh333]

I'm sick of this case. I'm glad we don't have an UM case on this.

+1

Also, I'm going to play the "I haven't read this entire thread" card, but I would nominate these:

- TWA 800

- that George Smith "newlywed" cruise ship death from a few years ago

[Mystery Man]

Yeah!!! Good call, Mystery Man! :rock:

Man, too bad Bill Kurtis didn't take over producing UM - that would be such a damn good show

Hooray for Bill Kurtis!
Speaking of Bill Kurtis, are they still making new CCF?

[Kane]

Speaking of Bill Kurtis, are they still making new CCF?

No. Cold Case Files went out of production in 2006.

[Hambone2421]

Au contraire! Dot is a huge fame whore. How come not even ONE person saw ANY of the people who were supposedly robbing their house, hitting them over the head with objects, leaving notes on their front porch, ect. ??????! It's also a laugh how during the "stake out", the bad guy just happened to leave another note during the ONE SECOND when no one was looking. :lol: You think a robber would return every item they stole and leave everything in the front yard???! ha ha
Disgusting they would waste time that the police could spend on REAL cases. These fame whores must be exposed.

You bring up the Wackers case on alot of different threads. You do know that the have their own thread here, right?

[soilentgreen]

Here's a pretty grisly double murder that occurred at a hotel during a morticians' conference:

http://iowacoldcases.org/rose_burkert_roger_atkison.html

More details:

http://www.newspressnow.com/news/2009/sep/20/rumors-surround-1980-killings/

Two missing men, who vanished on the same day and worked for the same company. They didn't know each other well, but both had issues with their place of employment. Their employer had a stepson who mysteriously drowned; his body is now being exhumed and the employer is also suspected in the disappearance of his wife in Mexico:

http://www.charleyproject.org/cases/a/armstrong_paul.html

http://www.charleyproject.org/cases/l/lombard_steven.html

More info on the boss from hell:

http://www.mercedsunstar.com/2010/05/14/1422806/merced-sheriffs-department-exhumes.html

[Hambone2421]

How about the murder of Nancy Marshall, Nyleen Kay Marshall's mother in Mexico? Mexico ruled it a suicide, but its obviously a murder. It would be a good story for UM.

[Smokescreen]

Originally posted by soilentgreen Here's a pretty grisly double murder that occurred at a hotel during a morticians' conference:

http://iowacoldcases.org/rose_burker...r_atkison.html

More details:

http://www.newspressnow.com/news/200...1980-killings/


Holy crap! Now THAT"S interesting!

Thanks for the info SG!

[Mystery Man]

*Murder* King Tubby: In the mid to late 70's, Jamaican sound engineer King Tubby was known for his eccentric style of producing records, which helped him pioneer the "remix." However, on February 6th, 1989, he was shot and killed by an unknown group of people. Their motives are unknown.

*Final Appeal* David Camm: On September 28th, 2000, David Camm found his wife, daughter, and son all dead in the family garage. Although he was arrested and charged with the crime, a new suspect arose named Charles Bomey, who's shirt was found at the crime scene. However, he claimed that David Camm payed him to kill the Camm family, so authorities tied both men to the case. David Camm still insists he is innocent.

[Mastermind]

Unexplained -

The "Bloop"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bloop

The whole Cthulu connection is enough to raise a few hairs. :eek:

[Steve W.]

just a few off the top of my mind:

-the 2002 murder of Jason "Jam Master Jay" Mizell, the DJ in the famous hip-hop group Run-DMC

-the 1988 abduction and murder of April Tinsley

-the 1984 murder of Matthew Margolies

[rhzunam]

Another one that In Search of did: Coral Castle would have been a great one.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coral_Castle

[Mysteryphile]

Another one that In Search of did: Coral Castle would have been a great one.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coral_Castle

They did this one on "In Search of" a great old show with Leonard Nimoy hosting. You can find it...you-know-where.

[rhzunam]

They did this one on "In Search of" a great old show with Leonard Nimoy hosting. You can find it...you-know-where.

Sorry that I wasn't clearer but

Another one that In Search of did: Coral Castle would have been a great one. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coral_Castle

It would have been great for UM especially for some of the mysteries they did. It sure is more mysterious than Fertility statues.

[Mysteryphile]

Sorry that I wasn't clearer but



It would have been great for UM especially for some of the mysteries they did. It sure is more mysterious than Fertility statues.

yikes sorry! I didn't read your message properly...you mentioned the same thing I did...crystal dawn will you please delete that post so I don't look like a total idiot. lol

[UMFaninMD]

The Frankford Slasher

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Frankford_Slasher


New Sweden Church Poisoning

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Sweden,_Maine#2003_poisoning

Although police feel they have the suspect, there is still speculation as to whether he really did it. There's a really good book on it called A Bitter Brew which delves into political in-fighting at the church that may have led to the poisoning.


Lane Bryant Shooting

http:
//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lane_Bryant_shooting (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lane_Bryant_shooting)

[MegtheEgg86]

This guy first caught my attention when I heard the story about him impersonating an Army Special Forces captain last year in Alaska. Turns out that's only the tip of the iceburg:

http://www.lesjones.com/2010/08/11/william-clark-military-impersonator-and-strange-ranger/

In 2002, William James Clark showed up fifteen minutes after the I-40 bridge near Webbers Falls, OK collapsed. He posed as an Army Special Forces captain and began taking charge of the rescue effort, and was LEFT in charge for over two days before someone finally figured out he wasn't at all whom he claimed to be--in fact, he has never been in the armed forces. Before skipping town, he stole a truck from a local dealership claiming it was for the "rescue effort" and left a motel without paying for eight rooms he inexplicibly rented.

The most bizarre--and sinister--piece, however, was that Clark apparently knew that a REAL Army captain, Andrew Clements, had died in the tragedy while en route from California. He asked to see Clements' laptop and briefcase after it was retrieved from the water, claiming that they held confidential information. He held onto the items for some time before taking them to city hall, asking the mayor to lock them in a safe, and demanding the key. The mayor refused. How Clark knew of Clements and his death, or why Clark demanded Clements' personal belongings is unclear.

Over the following years, Clark has persisted in impersonating an Army officer, and has stolen various goods from well-meaning retailers by claiming he needs these items immediately for service. He called the Russian embassy in 2006 claiming to be part of an assassination team targeting then-President Vladimir Putin, and once brandished a gun in a nursing home posing as a military police officer. Last year, he was caught posing again as an SF captain at a Deadhorse, AK gun show.

Clark spent three years in jail for various crimes related to the bridge collapse such as impersonating an officer and theft, but it remains a mystery how or why Clark knew about Andrew Clements, or why he demanded access to his personal belongings and documents.

http://www.armytimes.com/news/2010/08/ap-army-william-james-clark-faker-new-charges-082810/

http://www.dddnews.com/topic/imposter

http://www.seattlepi.com/default/article/Serial-military-imposter-arrested-after-traffic-1263778.php

[Corky Kneivel]

How is this for mysterious? http://www.sptimes.ru/story/25093


Wow. That is a fascinating story that I had never heard of.


As is this one:

http://iowacoldcases.org/rose_burker...r_atkison.html

More details:

http://www.newspressnow.com/news/200...1980-killings/

Its probably just my fascination/obsession with ear/ons but I always look for similarities to other unsolved homicides like this one.

[Cori aka ChrisSCrush]

What do you know, this http://www.charleyproject.org/cases/b/bowman_thomas.html sounds like the case I was thinking of.

Just bumping this up to say that while shelving some books I found the book in which I originally read this story. The front cover and title page were torn off but a little of the spine was left and I was able to look it up. It is Weird Unsolved Mysteries, by Eric Norman. The very first section is "People Who Never Came Back," and the first story begins, "On March 23, 1957, eight-year-old Tommy Bowman walked around a corner just ahead of six members of his family and disappeared without a trace"--the same case I located online and posted above. It goes on to describe other disappearances in the area.

[Thiussat]

Going WAY back in American lore, anyone ever heard of the Bender family? (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bloody_Benders) They were a family of serial killers that operated in Kansas in the 1870's. Perhaps some of the first known serial killers in America. If you've ever seen Texas Chainsaw Massacre, well picture that in the 1870's. That's basically what we had here.

Basically, an elderly couple named the Benders owned an Inn. This couple had a daughter named Kate and a son. It's still not clear whether Kate and this guy were brother or sister or husband/wife (or worse, both!). The mother and father didn't speak good English and it is believed they were immigrants from either Germany or Holland. The daughter of the family, Kate, claimed to be a psychic and she often tried to "help" investigators unravel what happened. Kate also held seances in the Inn, preached on the occult, and advocated "free love." However, on Sundays, she would go to church. She was said to be a "looker", about 20 years old, intelligent, and outspoken.

As to what happened when someone was killed, well here's how it usually went down, from Wikipedia:

When a guest would stay at the Benders' bed and breakfast inn, the hosts would give the guest a seat of honor at the table which was positioned over a trap door that led down into the cellar. With the victim's back to the curtain Kate would distract the guest, while John Bender or his son would come from behind the curtain and strike the guest on the right side of the skull with a hammer. The victim's throat was then cut by one of the women to ensure his death. The body was then dropped through the trap door. Once in the cellar, the body would be stripped and later buried somewhere on the property, often in the orchard.[2][3] More than a dozen bullet holes were found in the roof and sides of the room and the media speculated that some of the victims had attempted to fight back after being hit with the hammer.[5]

One man who was killed had a powerful friend, a Colonel in the Army. So this Colonel went and investigated himself. Since he had ties to the Army, he brought 50 Army enlistees with him. After their visit they were convinced the Benders and another neighboring family were guilty, so the men with the Colonel told him they wanted to just end this and hang everyone in the area (back then you just got hanged without a trial a lot of the time). The Colonel told the men that he wanted to find better evidence first, so no mass hanging was done.

There is much, much more to the story, including the family going on the run and vigilante crews arresting people they thought were them. Several different vigilante groups claim to have caught them, but not one of them ever came forward for the reward. They claim they killed them all and then burned Kate at the stake.

Also, years later, a man who matched Pa Bender's description committed suicide. Before authorities from Kansas could get to Lake Michigan to identify him, he was too decomposed. However his skull was taken and displayed inside an Idaho saloon for many years until prohibition closed the saloon down.

There are old newspaper articles from Kansas that you can find online that give a lot of the story. It's fascinating reading and would make for a great Hollywood film.

[wiseguy182]

I'm shocked that no true crime show (to my knowledge) has ever profiled in-depth the strange murder of Dian Fossey -- best-selling author of "Gorillas in the Mist" and the world's foremost expert on gorillas. She was found savagely murdered in her two-room cabin the day after Christmas, 1985 in Rwanda, she had been hacked to death by a machete. The story is fascinating on several levels: For every bit as she was friendly to gorillas, she was venemous to her fellow human: a cantakerous, racist, witchcraft-practicing woman who had virtually no friends. Additionally, while some say that she was likely killed by poachers who she had fought bitterly for years, there are actually several theories abound as to who murdered her. Definitely would make for a compelling viewing experience. I did catch this on Infamous Murders, which has History's Mysteries as its parent show (This used to be shown on the History Channel, now can occasionally be seen on H2), however the segment was roughly only 7 minutes long and criminally short.

[Bluejay]

I'm shocked that no true crime show (to my knowledge) has ever profiled in-depth the strange murder of Dian Fossey -- best-selling author of "Gorillas in the Mist" and the world's foremost expert on gorillas.... a cantakerous, racist, witchcraft-practicing woman who had virtually no friends.

My take on Fossey is that if you saw your closest friends murdered one by one and their body parts taken for souvenirs, umbrella stands, ashtrays whatever, you'd go a little crazy too. Or a lot crazy. And what is this stuff about witchcraft? I know she did a lot of stage magic stuff, fireworks, etc. to try to confuse and frighten the native people into leaving her friends alone.

That said, this would be a terrific episode and you're absolutely right, they should go into depth on it.

[Bluejay]

Referring to:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shadow_people

Sounds like something I read in some Carlos Casteneda books.

Castaneda didn't make it up, of course... just incorporated an existing legend / experience into his made-up cosmology. A story about Castaneda himself would be a great UM.

http://www.salon.com/2007/04/12/castaneda/

[WishfulDreamer]

Referring to:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shadow_people



Castaneda didn't make it up, of course... just incorporated an existing legend / experience into his made-up cosmology. A story about Castaneda himself would be a great UM.

http://www.salon.com/2007/04/12/castaneda/
The closest UM got to Shadow people is the segment about the possessed boy. That one always gave me the willies, when you see the Shadow man go across the wall! :eek:

[KickYourFace]

Professional wrestler Dino Bravo (real name: Adolfo Bresciano)'s murder on March 10th, 1993. Have no idea how that one was not covered in the 90s. Was straight out of an episode of "Sopranos". I could have sworn that it was, but over years, I've researched it online and it is nowhere to be found, not even on Unsolved Mysteries Wiki.

[wiseguy182]

Wow. I remember Dino Bravo and I remember hearing about his murder, but not much else. Was there a mysterious angle to it, just wondering?

[KickYourFace]

Wow. I remember Dino Bravo and I remember hearing about his murder, but not much else. Was there a mysterious angle to it, just wondering?
He got involved with cigarette smuggling and apparently, the Canadian Mafia was involved in his murder. He was shot 17 times in the back of the head IIRC. Rick Martel told the story in great detail. I believe you can find it online.

[wiseguy182]

Thanks, I'll have to investigate that online.

I have to give credit to Bravo for trying to make the simplest moves and things in the ring into giant productions. Gotta love his humping bear hug and over-dramatic tags. I liked Martel when he was a face, but once he became a heel, he became a lazy bore in the ring. One of the few instances where somebody was better as a face than heel. I heard Vince offered him an I-C title run in the early 90's, but he turned it down. Later went into real estate.

Well there I go again...

[RobinW]

While we're on the subject of wrestling mysteries, for awhile I was hoping for the new UM to do a segment on Perry Saturn, who went missing for a couple of years and made many people fear he was dead. Turns out he had become a homeless meth addict, but eventually resurfaced and is doing pretty well today.

I'd still love to see them do a segment on Joe Pichler, the former child actor who starred in "Varsity Blues" and a couple of "Beethoven" sequels before completely vanishing in 2006:
http://www.charleyproject.org/cases/p/pichler_joseph.html

[KickYourFace]

Thanks, I'll have to investigate that online.

I have to give credit to Bravo for trying to make the simplest moves and things in the ring into giant productions. Gotta love his humping bear hug and over-dramatic tags. I liked Martel when he was a face, but once he became a heel, he became a lazy bore in the ring. One of the few instances where somebody was better as a face than heel. I heard Vince offered him an I-C title run in the early 90's, but he turned it down. Later went into real estate.

Well there I go again...
I agree that Martel was better as a face. My favorite match of his was vs. Jumbo Tsuruta from All Japan 7/31/84. Was superior to their AWA match from May of that year when Martel won the title. Please check it out if you haven't. It's amazing. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbdr62KMZus
_________________________________________________________________

Anyway, here is everything that Martel said about Bravo's murder during his shoot interview in the mid-00s.

Rick Martel on the murder of DINO BRAVO:
"Dino tried to stay in the [WWF] but he just couldn't...Vince didn't wanna have him back. I remember I called Pat Patterson and I suggested that I team up with Dino - because I liked Dino. I said, 'I'll take the bumps and [do] all the moving around and he can do the strong stuff...I'm sure we can make it work, you know?' He said, 'No, no...we just think that Dino doesn't fit anymore in our plans...'

Dino had kind of painted himself in a corner. Dino liked the high lifestyle...he had a sports Mercedes, he had a big home, you know...and [suddenly] wrestling was over. Dino couldn't be a 9 to 5 guy...he didn't have any business experience of any kind. Wrestling was his whole life. And back then, WWF was the only game in town. So if he couldn't do it for the WWF, what could he do?

His uncle [by marriage] was the head of the mafia in Montreal. And he was always saying, 'Dino, come work for me...'

I remember we were in Europe and he confided in me. 'Rick...I know I could go into crime and do really good money...but I don't wanna go that route...I know myself and I know what kind of guy I am...' Dino was the kind of guy who [always wanted] more and more [but not when to stop]. He knew himself and he knew his demons.

But then his [debts] and lifestyle got too much...and all of a sudden the revenue [wasn't] coming in.
I remember the breaking point for him was when he had to go and borrow from his mom. He told me, 'Man...I can't...that is too much for [my pride]...'
And back then in the early 90s the [illegal] cigarette trafficking* in Canada started. A lot of people were doing it. So Dino got into that...
[He] went to see the Indians. The Indians had the river so they could pass cigarettes [across] like crazy - or arms - whatever. And the Indians were big wrestling fans, you know? So when they saw Dino they were like, 'Oh man..!' They started dealing strictly with him. So Dino had the monopoly with the Indians. He started doing really well.

[After awhile] the cigarette business was doing so great that the cocaine people started saying, 'Hey, maybe there's some money in there for us too...' So the big cocaine guy apparently went to see Dino and said, 'Look, let me in on your cigarette deals and I'll let you in on some cocaine deals...'
So what apparently happened is they did some kind of agreement...Dino had a $400,000 shipment in some warehouse somewhere and it stayed there for like, three days...and on the third day when the cocaine guy went to pick it up, the police were there.

So they were blaming each other. Dino was saying, 'You should have picked it up [on] the first day and it never would have happened - you shouldn't have let it sit there...'

There was a lot of heat on Dino. This was a week before he died.
It was a Wednesday. His wife and his daughter went to Ballet lessons. He was watching Hockey [on TV].
His wife found him that night.
She had his daughter in her arms - luckily, thank god, his daughter was sleeping so she didn't see her dad. There was blood [everywhere]...on the ceiling. It was horrible.
They'd pumped ten bullets in his head.
There was no force of entry in his house...and it was the winter, so you could see there would [have been] footprints [in the snow outside]- but there were none.

They had somebody... an inside person. It was probably someone who was watching hockey with him and said, 'Hey look, Dino, I'm gonna go to the bathroom...' They shot him from behind. The detective told us that the remote control was loose in his hand...they say that if they shoot you from the front you [see it coming and] tense your muscles and [he would have gripped] that remote control [tightly at the point of death].
So they shot him from behind...he didn't see anything..."

[*Cigarette smuggling is the illicit transportation of cigarettes from an administrative division with low taxation to a division with high taxation for sale and consumption. The practice, commonly used by Organized crime syndicates and rebel groups, is a form of tax evasion. In Canada, between 63 and 79 per cent of the price of a package of cigarettes is tax. As of 2009, illegal cigarettes were believed to be a $1.5 billion industry in Canada.]

News coverage of his murder: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DdXFYAPzjII
_________________________________________________________________

Honestly, I have no idea how they didn't find the killer/s. It's pretty obvious what they were involved in and that should narrow it down a lot. Maybe it's something much deeper as to why they never caught them.

[wiseguy182]

Seriously though, it would have been interesting to see a story about the BTK, Ken Rex McElroy

City Confidential did an hour long episode on Ken McElroy. However, this is one case I don't think would be an appropriate one for Unsolved Mysteries. Simply because the goal of airing cases about unsolved homicides is to find the killer and frankly, this is a rare occasion where I don't want to see the killer apprehended. Ken McElroy was, among other things, a child rapist who attempted to kill an elderly man, and who was arrested over 50 times, yet never served more than a few hours at a time behind bars, AND terrorized an entire community, which included threatening an intimidating law enforcement. He was constantly getting away with breaking the law due to loopholes and law enforcement looking the other way. This community lived in fear 24/7.

Getting a posse together is exactly how you deal with bullies. Remember those Little House on the Prairie episodes where the entire school would get together and beat the ever living snot out of the bullies whenever one would appear? Classic. It's a much more effective tool of dealing with bullies than celebrities going on television and suddenly claiming to be against bullying because it's a hot topic in the news.

Perhaps some people won't agree with this form of vigilante justice, but that's the way I feel. If the killer(s) of Ken McElroy is/are still walking the streets, then I'm perfectly content with that knowledge