Most interesting unsolved non-serial killer cases

[sdreid]

I saw the Fuller story on E! the other night in The Top 20 Hollywood Unsolved Crimes or something of the sort. A lot of the cases didn't really have anything to do with Hollywood though. Natalie Holloway was #1 which is silly. Black Dahlia was only #3 and I don't think that William Desmond Taylor even made their list.

[ChainzCooper]

I saw the Fuller story on E! the other night in The Top 20 Hollywood Unsolved Crimes or something of the sort. A lot of the cases didn't really have anything to do with Hollywood though. Natalie Holloway was #1 which is silly. Black Dahlia was only #3 and I don't think that William Desmond Taylor even made their list.

Thanks for your reply,
Yeah it really sucks the investigation was bungled from the start. I don't think he killed himself. As for Holloway, yeah it is kind of silly its number one on that list. My Top 5 would probably be JTR, Zodiac, Black Dahlia murder, D.B. Cooper, Cleveland Torso Slayer. I'm probably leaving out something though. But as far as Hollywood I guess Tupac Shakur would be up there. I mean he was the definition of studio gangster who inadvertantly created his own suspect list a mile long, but no one should go out like he did.
Jordan

[sdreid]

The Bobby Fuller case was covered on the Unsolved Mysteries TV program. That was the first time I saw any details. It may have been presented on one of those half hour cable crime shows also but I can't remember for sure.

[sdreid]

Ah, I found it. Fuller was covered on E! Mysteries & Scandals in 1998. The Unsolved Mysteries version was in 1996.

[Mayerling]

Hello Stan!

A long, long time ago I read about the following murder mystery:

George Colvocoresses, murdered in New York 1872.

At the time I thought it to be a kind-of old school Mafia hit, but probably I was on the wrong track!

Quite recently I read, that he had been an American civil-war hero and this might give a clue to the case.

So, do you know the case and what do you think about it?!

All the best
Jukka

George Colvocoresses was not murdered in New York in 1872, but in Bridgeport, Connecticut that year. He was carrying a large bag of money and the death seems connected to his investments but got tangled up with insuranc policies. As a result the issue became was it a suicide (which would kill off the policies) or a murder. It turned out the pistol he was killed with was found across the street so that murder was the usual verdict. Colvocoresses was born in Greece and as an infant was rescued from the Turks in the Greek War for independence. Brought up here he joined the navy, and served on the U.S. Exploration Expedition of 1839 - 1843 led by Captain Charles Wilkes, who is credited with naming or discovering the continent of Antartica on that voyage (Wilkes Land is named for him). Wilkes would later nearly cause the U.S. and England to go to war in 1861 during the American Civil War by taking two southern diplomats off the British steamer Trent. Lincoln had to release the two diplomats and apologize to Britain. However, Wilkes became a Rear Admiral. Colvocoresses rose to the rank of Commander in the Civil War. The reason for his murder was never determined.

[sdreid]

Thanks Jeff. Although I'd heard of that case, I didn't know too much about it. I guess we are both in the new A-Z.

[sdreid]

Another interesting case is the disappearance and presumed murder in LA of statuesque bit-part film actress Jean Spangler during 1949. She said that she was going to meet her ex-husband about child support and was never seen again. The former spouse had an airtight alibi and was eliminated, in fact, he said there was no meeting set. Ms. Spangler's purse was found with straps broken. In it was a note to a Kirk. This raised eyebrows because she had recently worked on a movie with Kirk Douglas. That matter was looked into and no significant tie between her and Douglas was ever indicated. Information revealed that she was three months pregnant and, being unmarried, was in the process of procuring an abortion which was illegal at the time. Her mother said Jean was dating a man she called Kirk shortly before she vanished but that she had never met him.

[HollyDolly]

Most interesting unsolved non-serial killer cases

I found a Trailer for The Town That Dreaded Sundown

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrmhK5pR69I&feature=related

There really,really should be more factual information about this

I think Wikipedia and trutv.crimelibrary have information on the Texarkana murders.

[sdreid]

Yes Holly, there are entries about the case there but I'm not sure if they've been updated lately.

[sdreid]

Another interesting case is the disappearance and presumed murder in LA of statuesque bit-part film actress Jean Spangler during 1949. She said that she was going to meet her ex-husband about child support and was never seen again. The former spouse had an airtight alibi and was eliminated, in fact, he said there was no meeting set. Ms. Spangler's purse was found with straps broken. In it was a note to a Kirk. This raised eyebrows because she had recently worked on a movie with Kirk Douglas. That matter was looked into and no significant tie between her and Douglas was ever indicated. Information revealed that she was three months pregnant and, being unmarried, was in the process of procuring an abortion which was illegal at the time. Her mother said Jean was dating a man she called Kirk shortly before she vanished but that she had never met him.

It doesn't seem to me that the person who she was dating could have been Douglas because, if it was, it only makes sense that she would have either, out of pride, said so or, being discreet, not given any true name at all.

[sdreid]

Fuller was covered on E! Mysteries & Scandals in 1998. The Unsolved Mysteries version was in 1996.

I saw the Fuller story again the other day in the segment of the reordered Unsolved Mysteries program on Lifetime so it's still around

[sdreid]

Another interesting case is the disappearance and presumed murder in LA of statuesque bit-part film actress Jean Spangler during 1949. She said that she was going to meet her ex-husband about child support and was never seen again. The former spouse had an airtight alibi and was eliminated, in fact, he said there was no meeting set. Ms. Spangler's purse was found with straps broken. In it was a note to a Kirk. This raised eyebrows because she had recently worked on a movie with Kirk Douglas. That matter was looked into and no significant tie between her and Douglas was ever indicated. Information revealed that she was three months pregnant and, being unmarried, was in the process of procuring an abortion which was illegal at the time. Her mother said Jean was dating a man she called Kirk shortly before she vanished but that she had never met him.

In the Kirk note, Spangler made reference to a Dr. Scott who police were unable to trace and was a presumed abortionist. Augmenting the mystery, it ended in a comma which seemed to indicate that there was more to be added.

[sdreid]

Of course if you think Spangler was murdered by the same person who killed Short and possibly others then it's not a non-serial case.

[sdreid]

Steve Hodel has tried to tie several cases to Short; I think, including Spangler.

[sdreid]

Steve Hodel does say he thinks his dad was responsible for the Spangler crime in the second chapter of his book Most Evil. He also claims that DA investigators were actively investigating his possible involvement in the murders of Jeanne French, Gladys Kern and Jean Spangler.