The Black Dahlia (1947)

On January 15, 1947, the body of Elizabeth Short, 22, was found in a Los Angeles vacant lot — severed cleanly at the waist, completely drained of blood, meticulously posed. Her face had been slashed from the corners of her mouth toward her ears in what investigators called a “Glasgow smile.” The murder required surgical precision and a private location. Los Angeles police received over 60 false confessions. The case spawned countless books, films, and theories but no arrest. In 2003, retired LAPD detective Steve Hodel accused his own father, Dr. George Hodel, presenting compelling evidence — but no charges were ever filed. The case remains open.

The Zodiac Killer (1960s–1970s)

Between 1968 and 1969, the Zodiac Killer murdered at least five confirmed victims in Northern California and claimed responsibility for 37. He taunted police and newspapers with ciphers and letters. Three of his four ciphers went unsolved for over 50 years — one was decoded by amateur cryptographers only in 2020, reading: “I hope you are having lots of fun in trying to catch me.” The killer was never identified. In 2021, the FBI acknowledged a team’s identification of suspect Gary Francis Poste — but the finding has not resulted in charges and remains contested.

The Tylenol Murders (1982)

In September 1982, seven people in the Chicago area died after taking Extra Strength Tylenol laced with potassium cyanide. The products had been tampered with after leaving the factory. The case triggered a nationwide recall, changed US packaging law permanently (introducing tamper-evident seals), and killed a mother and her 12-year-old daughter who both took pills from the same bottle hours apart. Investigators focused for decades on James Lewis, who sent a $1 million extortion letter during the crisis, but he was never charged with the poisonings. He died in 2023 and the case remains officially unsolved.

The Axeman of New Orleans (1918–1919)

Between May 1918 and October 1919, a killer entered New Orleans homes late at night by chiseling out door panels, then attacked residents with their own axes. He killed at least six people and wounded many more. He sent a letter to newspapers announcing he would spare any home playing jazz at midnight on a specific night — and reportedly he kept his word. The city’s dance halls filled to capacity. The killer was never caught. The case remains one of the most atmospheric unsolved mysteries in American criminal history.

The Boy in the Box (1957)

In February 1957, the body of a young boy — estimated between 4 and 6 years old — was found inside a cardboard box in Philadelphia’s Fox Chase neighborhood. He had been beaten, showed signs of long-term abuse, and had recently had his hair cut. For decades he was known only as “America’s Unknown Child.” His identity remained unknown until 2019, when DNA and genealogical testing finally identified him as Joseph Augustus Zarelli. His killer has still never been identified. The case remains a symbol of what happens when no one comes looking for a missing child.

The Keddie Cabin Murders (1981)

On April 11, 1981, three adults and a teenage boy were murdered in cabin 28 at the Keddie Resort in rural Plumas County, California — bound, stabbed, bludgeoned, and killed with a claw hammer. Four children in an adjacent room survived by hiding. Three years later, a skull identified as the missing daughter was found at a campsite 50 miles away. No one has ever been charged. In 2016, investigators found a hammer and knives that matched the injuries, leading to renewed scrutiny of known suspects — but the case remains open after more than four decades.

The Long Island Serial Killer (LISK)

Since 2010, investigators have recovered the remains of at least 11 people on Gilgo Beach and surrounding areas of Long Island, New York — most of them women who had advertised escort services online. The killer appeared to be organized and familiar with law enforcement. In 2023, Rex Heuermann, a Long Island architect, was arrested and charged with three of the murders. Prosecutors allege he is responsible for many more. Additional remains found in the area may belong to victims of a second, separate killer — meaning the full scope of the murders may still be unfolding.

The Cleveland Torso Murderer (1934–1938)

Between 1934 and 1938, a killer terrorized Cleveland by decapitating and dismembering at least 12 victims — most of whom were never identified. The legendary Eliot Ness, then Cleveland’s Safety Director, personally led the investigation — and it became the one major case he never solved. A suspect, a physician named Francis Sweeney, was interrogated by Ness himself but never charged, releasing himself from a mental institution voluntarily. Sweeney sent taunting postcards to Ness for years after. The case remains officially unsolved.

The Freeway Phantom (Washington DC, 1971–1972)

Between 1971 and 1972, six Black girls between ages 10 and 18 were abducted, sexually assaulted, and murdered in Washington DC. Their bodies were left near interstates. In one case, the killer forced the victim to write a note before killing her: “This is tantamount to my death note.” The phrase “tantamount” — unusual language for a young girl — became the only real evidence of the killer’s communication. Despite active investigation by DC police and the FBI, no one has ever been charged. The case is considered one of the most significant unsolved serial murder investigations in American history.

The Doodler (San Francisco, 1974–1975)

In 1974–1975, a killer targeted gay men in San Francisco, befriending them at bars, sketching their portraits, and then murdering them. At least 14 men were killed. Three survivors gave police a consistent description, and investigators identified a suspect — but the survivors, fearing that publicly identifying themselves as gay would destroy their careers, refused to testify. The case was quietly shelved. In 2021, the San Francisco Police Department reopened the investigation with new DNA evidence. A suspect was identified through genetic genealogy, but as of 2024 no arrest has been made.