Lists of fascinating and bizarre real cases that continue to stump detectives and amateur sleuths.

Unsolved Mysteries

Unspeakable Times

Some of the most famous true crime cases may never be solved. Even with advancements in DNA testing and forensic technology, we're still faced with seemingly unanswerable questions. Who was <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/crimes-overshadowed-by-jack-the-ripper/aspen-stevens">Jack the Ripper</a>? Who <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/elizabeth-short-black-dahlia/patrick-thornton">killed the Black Dahlia</a>? How did <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/flannan-isles-disappearance-facts/quinn-armstrong">three lighthouse keepers</a> vanish off an island?&nbsp;In the list below, we'll look at a few unsolved cases that occurred between the late 1800s and mid-20th century. Although theories abound in each of these cases, an air of mystery hangs around all of them.

Unsolved True Crime Cases That May Never Be Solved

General

Unsolved Cases That May Never Be Solved

Patrick Thornton

Lists for fans who can't get enough of that sweet, sweet T.C.

True Crime on Screen

Documentaries

The 1980s and 1990s were filled with films that became cult classics, like The Outsiders, Footloose, Clueless, and 10 Things I Hate About You. Each film solidified its status in Hollywood as a timeless comedy, romance, or coming-of-age movie.While those three categories continue to dominate the big screen, another genre made its mark on 1980s and ‘90s films: true crime documentaries. With the recent boom in true crime content both online and in film, this roundup of true crime documentaries released during the 1980s and 1990s is sure to give true crime fans some ideas - if they haven’t seen these films already.

True Crime Documentaries From The '80s And '90s Every Fan Of The Genre Should See

Film

The Best '80s And '90s True Crime Documentaries

rayven crawford

Weird History

The crime genre is hugely popular these days, with countless movies and books to choose from - <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/underrated-movies-based-on-true-crimes/mike-mcgranaghan">some less well-known</a> than others. Often when crime is mixed with a bit of horror and jump scares, it makes for engaging entertainment. The only thing to change that is when we learn that our entertainment may not be complete fiction.Some of the most compelling movies and books are actually based on true stories - and sometimes, the true stories are scarier than what we see on the screen. Read on to discover the true stories behind some of the most well-known crime stories out there. Be warned, though - major spoilers ahead!

13 Fictional Crimes We Didn't Realize Were Based On Real Events

Fictional Crimes We Never Knew Were Based On Actual Events

Christina Chilin

A closer look at mysterious disappearances that continue to baffle detectives.

Gone Missing

Graveyard Shift

Bethany Anne Decker was a 21-year-old college senior studying global and economic change when she went missing in early 2011.Decker was also the wife of an Army National Guard private, the mother to a 17-month-old son, and was about three months pregnant with a second child; however, there was tension in Decker's life - her marriage was struggling, and she began an affair with a man named Ronald Roldan, whom she said was abusive. Then one day in late January, Decker seemingly disappeared <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/full-cast-of-without-a-trace-cast-list-for-the-show-without-a-trace/reference?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">without a trace</a>.Decker's case was seemingly cold until Roldan was charged in the attempted murder of another woman. In 2020, new evidence led to Roldan's arrest in Decker's disappearance, with a trial scheduled for 2023.

Bethany Decker Was Three Months Pregnant When She Vanished, And Her Whereabouts Are Still A Mystery

Bethany Decker Was Three Months Pregnant When She Vanished Without A Trace

True crime has always been a popular genre in movies and TV, but it seems to have truly exploded over streaming platforms in the past few years. As a result, viewers have been spoiled with a wealth of content, with Netflix in particular producing numerous original true crime documentary series in 2022, covering everything from fraud to theft to murder.But how much of it is actually worth watching? That depends what you're looking for. These aren't all the true crime docuseries Netflix released this year, but they are the ones that truly chilled us to the bone.Vote up the ones that gave you the shivers, and for more exhaustive rankings of all the crime content that came out this year, be sure to also check out <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-netflix-docuseries-2022/molly-gander">The Best New Docuseries on Netflix in 2022</a> and <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-true-crime-shows-2022/molly-gander">The Best New True Crime Shows Of 2022</a> (across all streaming platforms).

The Scariest Netflix True Crime Docuseries That Made Us Lock Our Doors In 2022

Linda Meyers

With ever-evolving technology and investigation capabilities, true crime cold cases are <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/true-crime-updates-2022/patrick-thornton">getting solved</a> left and right. Forensic genealogy has named an astounding number of formerly unidentified <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/jane-john-does-identified-2022/christina-chilin">Jane and John Does</a>. Even so, many unsolved mysteries remain.Whether they're oft-discussed historical cases like Amelia Earhart or cases that dominated the headlines when they occurred before slowly fading from the public eye, these unsolved mysteries are still on our minds. Sleeping in 2022 wasn't easy knowing these stories still don't have closure - and that many of these perpetrators could still be out there.

Unsolved Mysteries That Creeped Us Out In 2022

Elle Tharp

True Crime

Catch Me If You Can and American Hustle are two of the best-known movies about real-life con artists. If you've seen them but crave more fact-based scam films, try one of these underrated titles. The subject of scamming has long fascinated audiences, likely because it plays into a couple primal emotions simultaneously. We admire the ingenuity and creativity that goes into devising these schemes, yet at the same time, we loathe the idea of amoral scammers ripping off and deceiving other people. Such cognitive dissonance makes it easy to get sucked in.Many big stars appear in the following movies. Among them are Melissa McCarthy, Jim Carrey, Jennifer Lopez, and Robert DeNiro. In each case, the stories provide a captivating look at how true cons were carried out and what the consequences were for the parties involved. They turned to some ethically dubious individuals for inspiration, making great art out of crimes that were often shocking.

Underrated Movies About Real-Life Scammers And Con Artists

Mike McGranaghan

Lists about real people who were held against their will, the monsters who tormented them, and the grisly details of what went on during those dark times.

Human Captives

In July 1976, summer school was in full swing in the small California town of Chowchilla, and bus driver Ed Ray had 26 children in his care as he drove them home. Out of nowhere, three men blocked the bus and perpetrated one of the largest-scale kidnappings in US history.

As if the abduction&nbsp;from a school bus - what is supposed to be a safe location - weren&#39;t enough, the three male kidnappers loaded their 27 targets into windowless vans for transport to a poorly made&nbsp;underground prison&nbsp;without sufficient food or water. Luckily for the children, Ray was determined to protect them and, joined by one of the students, succeeded in <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/lisa-mcvey-noland-surivor-story/april-a-taylor?ref=collections_page" target="_blank">securing their escape</a>.

Still, while the story&nbsp;has a seemingly happy ending, the long-term effects of captivity on the children,&nbsp;as well as the senseless reasoning behind the event, continue to haunt survivors and the town itself.

The Story Of The Chowchilla Bus Kidnapping, One Of The Biggest Abductions In US History

Facts About The Chowchilla Bus Kidnapping

Jodi Smith

Another year means another list of famous people who’ve been arrested. It didn’t take long for the arrests to begin in 2023. An arrest warrant was issued for Dallas Cowboys rookie Sam Williams, following a violent car crash. Andy Dick was arrested for being under the influence, and climate activist Greta Thunberg was arrested at a protest for the expansion of a coal mine. Those 2023 celebrity arrests all occurred in January!Some celebrities may find themselves in jail, while others, like Ezra Miller, will make plea deals to avoid prison time. Driving under the influence, assault, and disorderly conduct are just a few of the reasons a star could be arrested. Fraud has also been a fairly “trendy” crime of late, when it comes to reality stars.&nbsp;To check if any of your favorite celebrities have been arrested, or just to keep tabs on criminal activity in Hollywood, be sure to bookmark this list, since it will be updated throughout the year. You can also <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/celebrity-arrests-in-2022/calistylie">check out this list</a> to learn more about celebrity arrests from 2022.

Celebrities Who Were Arrested In 2023

Person

Jules Burke

September 17, 1992, was supposed to be an ordinary trip to the fair for two teenage girls just looking for a fun weekend outing. Misty Copsey was a popular, straight-laced student with good grades, and despite her mother's struggles with alcohol, she was seemingly able to avoid the trappings of her upbringing. All that was cut short, however, when she mysteriously disappeared from the Washington State Fair in her hometown of Puyallup, WA.Misty Copsey hasn't been seen since, and the search for her whereabouts was both messy and mismanaged. This case is filled with complications and rabbit holes, and has it countless active players - perhaps why the case is still open to this day.

Misty Copsey Vanished From A Small-Town Fair In 1992, And We’re Still Looking For Answers

The Disappearance Of Misty Copsey: Still Searching For Answers

Stephen Morin

Crime-related <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/the-best-new-tv-dramas-of-the-last-few-years/ranker-tv?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">dramas on TV</a> and in film often make even the most mysterious cases seem relatively easy to solve. After a few scenes depicting frustration and bewilderment, the expert CSI agent or forensic scientist suddenly makes a case-breaking discovery by analyzing a piece of hair, pulling together cellphone data, or having a witness crack under pressure. Often, the heroes of these stories overcome another corrupt entity within their division to ensure that justice is served as they save the day.&nbsp;While these dramas make for excellent and entertaining stories, they're often a <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/how-forensic-science-actually-works/zack-howe">far cry from reality</a>. What happens when a killer leaves behind all his clothes at a crime scene, full of DNA, and experts still can't identify the perpetrator? Or when crooked law enforcement agents don't have anyone there to expose their evidence-meddling tactics? Or when a serial killer strikes a city, and no one finds out about it for years?&nbsp;Unlike the popular mystery-solving dramas in the entertainment industry, these true crime stories are a collection of <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/creepy-history-moments/lauren-glen">eerie mysteries that remain unsolved</a> - despite the evidence and clues the murderers left behind.&nbsp;

Creepy And Disturbing Mysteries That Sent Shivers Down Our Spines

Lauren Glen

On June 3, 2011, 20-year-old Indiana University student Lauren Spierer disappeared. On the evening of June 2, Spierer went to a friend's apartment before going out to a popular local sports bar. By the time she left the bar in the early hours of June 3, surveillance footage showed her acting extremely intoxicated. After going by two friends' apartments, she reportedly headed home by herself around 4:30 am.The case remains open, and authorities have seemingly reached no concrete conclusions, though Spierer is presumed to be dead. Her parents believe that her friends and others around her that night know details that could finally answer the nagging question of what happened to their daughter. Even 11 years later, her family and friends believe that if they keep looking, the truth will eventually come out.

Lauren Spierer Disappeared After A Night Out, And No One Can Make Sense Of What Happened

The Shocking Disappearance Of IU Student Lauren Spierer

Aspen Stevens

Mysteries

There is no official database for how many people go missing in national parks every year. Unofficial reports put the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.kron4.com/mystery-wire/missing-411-author-sheds-light-on-mysterious-disappearances/">total number in the thousands</a>, but the count remains unconfirmed by the National Park Service.Most disappearances result from accidents inherently related to the outdoors, such as under-preparing for extreme weather, chance encounters with animals, and hikers getting lost. Alive or deceased, most missing persons are found and returned to their loved ones. Some disappearances, however, remain shrouded in mystery indefinitely.In June 1969, Dennis Lloyd Martin snuck into the woods to play a prank on his father and was never seen again. His disappearance <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.nps.gov/aboutus/foia/upload/1969_GRSM_DennisMartin_dissapearance_REDACTED.pdf">sparked the largest search in park history</a>, but no traces of Dennis were ever found. A span of 20 minutes turned a family's celebrated camping tradition into a disaster and forever left them - and their community - wondering what happened. But how can a child simply vanish, especially with his family so close?The mystery of Dennis Lloyd Martin's disappearance has lasted decades, and time hasn't revealed any more answers.

The Odd Disappearance Of Dennis Martin, Who Vanished In The Smoky Mountains

Sonja Ska

Interesting

Living in the city may present&nbsp;a litany of problems for people who are unprepared for urban&nbsp;life. Living in a metropolitan&nbsp;area comes with a myriad of external problems&nbsp;unique to city landscapes including&nbsp;dense populations, expensive living costs, and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/hostile-architecture-examples/rachel-souerbry" target="_blank">hostile architecture</a>, as well as health risks including an increased chance of depression and anxiety.&nbsp;

This doesn&#39;t mean that living in the country is the answer to your problems. The realities of rural America comes with its own issues,&nbsp;and when choosing where you want to spend your days, you should think about what&rsquo;s best for you.&nbsp;If, however, you&rsquo;re aware of the problems that can occur within a city, you can be more prepared to combat them.&nbsp;

All The Ways The Design of Cities Are Psychologically Damaging

How Cities Hurt People: Dangerous Urban Design

Jacob Shelton

Whoa Facts

The mob. The Mafia. La Cosa Nostra. We&#39;ve all heard of it, and seen it portrayed in movies such as The Godfather or on&nbsp;TV shows like The Sopranos. But what was the Mafia&nbsp;really like? How did the organized operation that brought us <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/al-capone-trivia-facts/jeffrichard" target="_blank">Al Capone</a>, <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/weird-gangster-stories/kate-gardner" target="_blank">Bugsy Siegel</a>, and&nbsp;Lucky Luciano actually operate?

Some believe the presence of the mob was exaggerated from the start, yet others&nbsp;insist that its presence is as pervasive today as it was 100 years ago.&nbsp;To answer some of the most common <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/til-facts-about-the-mafia/will-morgan-1" target="_blank">questions people have about the Mafia</a>,&nbsp;Reddit&#39;s &quot;Ask Historians&quot; community is a handy place to turn. Just as they have helped shed light on everything from&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/historians-answer-bible-questions/setareh-janda" target="_blank">the Bible</a>&nbsp;to what life was really like in the <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/historians-answer-wild-west-questions/will-morgan-1" target="_blank">American West,</a>&nbsp;these historians will shine a light on a group that thrived on operating in the dark.

Actual Historians Answer Questions About The Mafia

Chrissy Rose

Maps, ciphers, millions of dollars worth of gems - who doesn't love a treasure hunt?When we think of buried treasure, though, many of us might think of what's resting on the floor of the Pacific or Atlantic. Even so, there's good news for American, landlocked <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-treasure-hunters/ranker-entertainment">treasure hunters </a>- there are many legends of great treasures that exist within our borders.From Spanish conquistadors to victors of the Gold Rush, lost treasure is spread throughout the country. Which of these treasures do you think is worth hunting for?

Famous Buried Treasures In The United States That Have Never Been Found

Emily Mast

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