Patrick Warren and David Spencer simply disappeared. David Spencer and Patrick Warren via guardian.com Over the years, the missing children case has caused much speculation and criticism due to the lack of urgency around the disappearances. Was it down to a lack of importance because of their working-class backgrounds, or was it because they didn’t fit the “missing white girl” aesthetic the media wanted to report on? In the winter of 1996, Patrick, who was 11 and David, 13, w

The disappearance of the young, beautiful American girl created a media sensation across the globe, but the case is still shrouded in mystery. Born on the 21st of October 1986 to Dave and Beth, Natalee spent her teenage years living in Mountain Brook, an affluent community in Birmingham, Alabama. She lived with her brother, mother and her stepfather Jug Twitty, an Alabama businessman. Natalee at high school via Oxygen Natalee was an honours student and was also a member of th

Children have been going missing since records began, but not until recently has there been proof that some were taken to be auctioned off to the highest bidder. Photo by freestocks on Unsplash Since the late 1960s, it’s estimated that around 2,000 parents have lost newborn children under suspicious circumstances. Many of these couples haven’t seen their child again, don’t know why they died, and don’t have a grave to visit. “When the doctors said: Choose!, I realised somethi

For the McCann family, the newest search isn’t about publicity, it’s about keeping someone locked up.

The murderer has evaded capture for 45 years, but he’s next on the wishlist for DNA testing. Photo by Saksham Gangwar on Unsplash In the early to mid-seventies, homophobia was rampant in San Francisco. Only the year before these murders began, homosexuality had just been declassified as a ‘disorder’ by the American Psychiatric Association. According to politician Harvey Milk, 20 to 25 per cent of the 85,000 gay men in San Francisco were closeted about their sexuality. It was

Was Keith Raniere a murderer as well as a tax evader and child rapist? Entrepreneur, self-help guru and cult leader Keith Raniere was sentenced to 120 years in prison in October 2020. The charges against him included racketeering, attempted sex trafficking, wire fraud, forced labour and possession of child pornography. He was also fined $1.75million. The media reports that Raniere held sex slaves in single rooms for years, and the cult he led branded people with cauterising i

Hazel Drew’s death remains unsolved, unlike her on-screen counterpart. In the summer of 1908, the resort town of Sand Lake in Rensselaer County, New York was busy. The usual population of around 2,000 made way for holidaymakers and the July temperature was climbing. However, the visiting families would soon be joined by reporters and investigators, when the body of a woman turned up in Teal’s Pond. Hazel Drew via Times Union courtesy of Bob Moore, Sand Lake Historian Twenty-y

Griffith Park's extensive parklands and diverse landscapes make it a popular choice for portraying jungle brush, desert scenes, and summer camps in TV and film productions. However, its vast size and rugged terrain also make it an ideal location for disposing of bodies, suicides, and accidental deaths. Photo by De’Andre Bush on Unsplash The park, which sits on the eastern edge of the Santa Monica mountains, is one of the largest urban parks in North America, with attractions

What should have been an easy crime to solve is now a cold case. On the 18th of April 2016, while getting ready to teach a fitness class at a local church, Terri “Missy” Bevers was murdered by an unknown assailant. Six years on, her case is still unsolved. Missy Bevers via courtjunkie.com Missy was a 45-year-old mother of three from Red Oak, Texas. She took fitness very seriously and taught her own classes. She was an active member of the community and had no known enemies.

Socialite Mimi Boomhower disappeared with seemingly no trace at all, but why? And who had the motive to get rid of her?

Karina Holmer was discovered in a dumpster, but only half of her has ever been found. Boston, Massachusetts in 1996 was a very different city. The Boston Police Department was struggling with youth violence, specifically the use of guns and homicides. The Boston Gun Project Working Group had begun to meet in January 1995, but Operation Ceasefire had only been implemented a year later in January 1996. There were still attacks around the city, but ultimately, the streets were

The Hollywood actress’ case is still unsolved seven decades later. Jean Spangler via Wikipedia On the 7th of October 1949, Jean Spangler said goodbye to her daughter, walked out of her apartment door in Park La Brea, and vanished. This would be the last time Christine would ever see her mother alive. What followed was one of the biggest manhunts in Los Angeles history. Jean Elizabeth Spangler was born on 2nd September 1923 in Seattle, Washington, to Florence and Cecil Spangle

Halloween is a night of scares and sweet treats but under the cloak of a mask, it’s also the perfect cover for a crime. Cindy Song via The Charley Project Cindy Song was born in South Korea as Hyun Jong Song. In the mid-nineties, Cindy moved to Virginia, to live with her aunt and uncle to attend school in America. She was accepted into Pennsylvania State University after high school, where she majored in integrative arts, a course that combined engineering, communications and

The mystery of JonBenet Ramsey's death may never be solved, and there's good reason.

The celebrity publicist was shot in her car on the way home from a party. On the 10th November 2010, Ronni Chasen was driving home from the premiere of Burlesque at the W Hollywood hotel when she was shot through the front passenger window. Ten years later, the truth is still unclear as to why this successful publicist was murdered. Born Veronica Cohen in 1946, Ronni Chasen was a high-profile publicist who lived in Los Angeles, California. Brought up on the other side of the

During the reign of King Louis XIV of France, a mysterious man was incarcerated in several prisons throughout France and Italy. With scant historical information, the legend of the Man in the Iron Mask would be questioned over the centuries to come. Man in the Iron Mask depiction via RadioTimes.com In July 1669, the Marquis de Louvois sent a letter to Bénigne Dauvergne de Saint-Mars, the governor of Pignerol prison, located in Piedmont at the foot of the Alps. The letter stat

Carole Baskin’s husband disappeared without a trace in 1997. Don Lewis and Carole Baskin via Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office Just as lockdown began last year, Tiger King dropped on Netflix and became a hot topic of controversy on the internet. Did Joe Exotic really try to have Carole Baskin killed? Why wasn’t anything being done about the issues surrounding animal welfare in the three parks that were featured? Another question on the lips of many was around the mysteriou

The four girls were killed in the store, but poor investigation and a community full of rage meant that this case is still unsolved. On the 6th of December 1991, Jennifer Harbison and Eliza Thomas were serving the last few customers of the day at I Can’t Believe It’s Yogurt! in Austin, Texas. Despite being 17 years old, their manager trusted them to close the shop on their own, and they were cleaning up as they went, to get the store closed on time, at 11 pm. Jennifer’s siste

Did the musician who wrote songs for the ‘sad kids’ kill himself, or was he murdered? Elliott Smith was launched into the spotlight after his involvement in the 1997 Oscar-winner Good Will Hunting, but he didn’t enjoy the sudden fame he experienced. In an interview with Elizabeth Blair in 2000, Smith explained his disregard for the fanfare. “I was pretty happy before all that [performing at the Academy Awards], I was going on tour and making records. It was kind of fun in a w

Over 20 years since her murder, Jill Dando’s death is still shrouded in mystery.