The Reid Scale: Classic Unsolved Murder Cases

[sdreid]

If Wood was guilty, he was better at playing innocent than Lizzie and O.J., in my view at least.

[robhouse]

I still don't see how Lizzie Borden is a level 2, which seems to mean there is an even chance she was guilty or innocent. I think anyone who has read her deposition would come to the conclusion that she is guilty. I would put her in Level 1, along with OJ. Just because some books have been published suggesting other suspects (Morse, the maid, Emma, etc) doesn't mean much of anything.

[sdreid]

Level 2: Cases where there is no standing conviction but where there is a somewhat better than even chance that one suspect did it.

Note: "one suspect" could also be one pair of suspects or one group of suspects

Hi Rob:

It probably doesn't help but I did later slightly modify Level 2 as shown above.

No problem though - I expect disagreements

[robhouse]

I don't really understand why level 2 would be anything other than exactly in the middle, since that is where it falls on the scale.

[sdreid]

I wanted to come down on one or the other side of the fence.

[sdreid]

Examples:

0-Richard Speck (1966)

1-
A-Kenneth Hansen (1955)
B-Fager Family Murders (1987)

2-Caroline Luard Murder (1908)

3-Walker Family Massacre (1959)

4-United Airliner Bombing (1933)

[sdreid]

Additional:

0-Charles Starkweather

1-
a-Wayne Williams
b-Roland Molineaux

2-Marilyn Sheppard Case

3-Black Dahlia Case

4-Zip Gun Bomber

[sdreid]

The Reid Scale: Classic Unsolved Murder Cases

Level 0: Cases with a standing conviction and where there is no serious doubt regarding the verdict (Ted Bundy).

Level 1: Cases where there is a standing conviction but some doubt about it (James Hanratty).

Level 2: Cases where there is no conviction but where there is little doubt regarding the perpetrator (Bella Kiss).

Level 3: Cases where there is no standing conviction but where there is a better than even chance that one suspect did it (Lizzie Borden).

Level 4: Cases where there are good suspects but they are independent and/or conflicting (Jack the Ripper).

Level 5: Cases where there is no serious suspect (The Original Nightstalker).

Unupdated but renumbered for clarity (quote modified)

[The Bounder]

Hasn't Hanratty been proven guilt via DNA evidence making him a 0 on the scale?

[sdreid]

I would actually say that but I don't that's a consensus.

[Hatchett]

Hi Bounder,

That would be my view, but take a quick look (if that's possible) of the A6 threads.

Best wishes.

[sdreid]

I stated my opinion early in one of the first A6 threads and then left for the hills never to even check back.

[sdreid]

Unupdated but renumbered for clarity (quote modified)

Renumbered and delettered

[suspiria_2]

if you read a great deal about the Dahlia case, you'd peg it at a -4- at best.

just sayin!

[sdreid]

Yes, a 3 in the old system is a 4 in the new system.