Most interesting unsolved non-serial killer cases

[sdreid]

The more I think about it, the more I wonder if Picnic at Hanging Rock wasn't inspired by the unsolved Wanda Beach murders which occurred two years before the novel was written. There are some commonalities.

[sdreid]

I could be wrong but I think I've seen every Unsolved Mysteries program with the exception of the Raymond Burr pilot and perhaps the first of the Karl Malden specials.

[sdreid]

Not wearing underwear was actually a common thing in the 1970s for both young men and young women.

[Rapunzel676]

The Keddie/Cabin 28 murder case is strange in so many ways. The level of violence is shocking -- it reminds me of the Tate/LaBianca scenes. Given the level of violence, I find it very strange that no one heard a thing, despite the close proximity to the other cabin. People walking by heard nothing, no one saw anything out of the ordinary. It's also curious that Sue Sharp was covered with a blanket and one of the boys was found with a cushion under his head, almost as if the killer or killers felt remorse. Curious, too, is that neither of the boys had defensive wounds, but Sue Sharp did. The three younger children were spared, but the girl wasn't, and not only that, she was removed from the scene, killed and dumped somewhere else. I still think this is one that should have been solved.

The case of the Sumter County Does is even more baffling. I don't recall seeing the UM segment, either, but I haven't seen them all (particularly the older ones) so it's possible I missed it. I can't understand how the victims could remain unidentified for so long. They were clean, well-fed, wearing decent clothes (though neither was wearing underwear, which is slightly odd) and jewelry. The man had had extensive -- and expensive -- dental work. It just seems inconceivable to me that no one reported this couple missing. They were killed in exactly the same way in an efficient, almost clinical manner. There were no defensive wounds on either victim. I suppose they could have been unfortunate hitchhikers or a couple who picked up the wrong person, but until their identities are determined it's complete conjecture.

ETA: I found a link to a discussion on the Unsolved Mysteries message board that indicates that the SCD case was featured on the show. Guess it's one I haven't seen or just forgot about. Here's the link, if anyone's interested: http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/...d.php?t=252674.

[sdreid]

Yes, Cabin 28 is a big one. As for the one about the couple, the link says it was on Unsolved Mysteries which I watched religiously but I don't remember. Very interesting at any rate.

[Rapunzel676]

I don't know if it's one of the most interesting unsolved cases, but I came across this recently and was intrigued: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Keddie_Murders. It seems so motiveless, but still, given the remoteness of the area, it should have been relatively easy to solve.

This one is even more baffling because the victims' identities have never been established (includes graphic photos): http://www.trutv.com/library/crime/n...ple/index.html.

[sdreid]

As I recall, all they show in the Arnaz movie are the facial expressions of the people observing the body. The murder isn't depicted at all. They just show her walking off down the street in the end on the way to meeting her unknown killer. It plays well though.

[sdreid]

Happy New Year Jeff!

Yes, they couldn't show as much but they did a good job of creating an effect in the Borden movie, I thought.

[Mayerling]

Season's Greetings

Hi Stan, and all on the Casebook.

Best wishes for this 2010 year. May it be better than 2009.

Regarding the Black Dahlia Movie with Lucie Arnaz. When it was produced in 1975 it was at a time that scenes showing the actual violence on the Victim (here she was tortured to death, her face hideously carved, and cut in half while alive) could not be shown on television. Similarly, a few years later, Elizabeth Montgomery as Lizzie Borden could not be seen over a defaced and disfigured Fritz Weaver (as Andrew Jackson Borden) in that film for television. Weaver could be shown in horror watching the swinging of the hatchet or axe over his head. That was all we could see. Jump ahead to the 1988 film about Jack the Ripper, and we are briefly shown what Mary Kelly on her bed looks like in the morning after Jack's visit, and later the notorious photograph of Mary's body is shown to Dr. Gull (by Michael Caine as Insp. Abberline) so that the viewers get a full view of it. Thirteen years after the Black Dahlia movie and production rules had changed.

Best wishes,

Jeff

[sdreid]

As mentioned elsewhere, my favorite movie inspired by Dahlia is True Confessions but it only uses the case as a loose framework.

[sdreid]

Considering it's a TV movie, the production is pretty good. The best part about it is that it doesn't try to solve the case, leaving that up to us.

sdreid, I've never seen 'Who Is The Black Dahlia'! Will have to download it.

I first learned about The Black Dahlia while in high school as I was reading an excellent book called "Infamous Murders." I've been intrigued ever since!

[sdreid]

Yes, been on it since the Lucie Arnez movie in 1975 - a prettied up account but, in all, a good production I think.

Black Dahlia

The Black Dahlia case, of course. Been studying it since the mid-90s.

[sdreid]

Belinda-I think I remember seeing that trailer on TV when the film was in the theaters.

Harry-Eugene Butler died in a North Dakota asylum in 1913. When people went out to his old home to get it ready for sale, they found the bodies of six men buried under the residence. Before that, no one knew he was a murderer/serial killer.