15 Cold Cases That Still Baffle Experts
Despite decades of investigation, these chilling mysteries remain unsolved.
- Chris Graciano
- 3 min read
Some crimes appear destined to stay unsolved, leaving only unanswered questions. Despite breakthroughs in forensic technology and years of investigative effort, many cases continue to elude specialists. Here are 15 cold cases that still have detectives scratching their brains.
1. The Zodiac Killer (1960s-1970s)
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A masked killer terrorized California, taunting police with cryptic letters and ciphers. Despite multiple suspects and partial DNA evidence, his identity remains unknown.
2. The Disappearance of Maura Murray (2004)
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After crashing her car in rural New Hampshire, Maura vanished without a trace. Witnesses saw her standing by the wreck, but by the time police arrived, she was gone.
3. The JonBenét Ramsey Murder (1996)
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The six-year-old beauty queen was found dead in her family’s basement, but no one was ever charged. A bizarre ransom note, conflicting evidence, and questionable police work clouded the case.
4. The Boy in the Box (1957)
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A young boy’s body was discovered in a cardboard box in Philadelphia, but no one ever identified him. Despite facial reconstructions and DNA analysis, his origins remain unknown.
5. The Vanishing of the Sodder Children (1945)
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Five children supposedly died in a house fire, yet their remains were never found. Mysterious phone calls, sightings, and a cryptic photograph suggest they may have been kidnapped.
6. The Isdal Woman (1970)
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A woman’s burned body was found in Norway’s “Ice Valley,” surrounded by fake passports and coded notes. Her identity, cause of death, and reason for being there remain a puzzle.
7. The Tamám Shud Case (1948)
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An unidentified man was found dead on an Australian beach with a cryptic note reading Tamám Shud (meaning “ended” in Persian). He had no ID, and his cause of death was unknown.
8. The Keddie Cabin Murders (1981)
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Four people were brutally murdered in a California cabin, yet no one was ever convicted. The crime scene suggested a personal attack, but evidence was tampered with.
9. The Dyatlov Pass Incident (1959)
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Nine experienced hikers died under mysterious circumstances in the Russian wilderness. Their bodies were found with bizarre injuries—some missing eyes and tongues, others showing extreme internal trauma with no external wounds.
10. The Vanishing of Asha Degree (2000)
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At just nine years old, Asha left her home in the middle of the night during a storm and was never seen again. Her backpack was later found miles away, buried in plastic.
11. The Highway of Tears (1969-Present)
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Dozens of women, mostly indigenous, have disappeared or been murdered along Canada’s Highway 16. Despite multiple suspects and some DNA matches, many cases remain unsolved.
12. The Disappearance of Brian Shaffer (2006)
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Brian, a college student, was last seen entering a bar—but never leaving. Surveillance cameras covered every exit, yet he vanished without a trace.
13. The Murder of the Grimes Sisters (1956)
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After seeing an Elvis movie in Chicago, teen sisters Barbara and Patricia Grimes vanished. Their bodies were found weeks later with no clear cause of death.
14. The Case of Little Lord Fauntleroy (1921)
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A well-dressed boy’s body was found floating in a Wisconsin pond, but no one claimed him. Despite national attention, his identity was never uncovered.
15. The Hinterkaifeck Murders (1922)
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A German family was slaughtered on their remote farm days after hearing strange noises in their attic. Footsteps in the snow led to the house—but none left.