Nothing says Spooky Season like super scary cold case files! Everyone knows the TV Shows, but today I will be counting down my top 5 Cold Cases of all time. As most people already know, I have an interest in True Crime. I also enjoy Forensic Science and Criminal Justice. Why not combine all of my interests into one article? To rank these cases a few things need to be met.

1. The case is unsolved.
2. The case is older than 10 years, meaning pre-2012.

Also used to rank is the interest level and what I feel may be solved soon.

5. Jack The Ripper

Being in London during 1888-1891 may not have been the best place. While the case may never be solved since it’s so old, the case still holds value. The case is over 130 years old but still holds my interest. I always wonder how the case would have gone if it happened in modern times. Nowadays, we have DNA Fingerprinting and the FBI’s DNA Index System, among other things. The FBI didn’t exist until the 1900s and this case was left up to the London police. Jack The Ripper murdered 5 girls in London. This case will likely die with everyone else since most of the case files were destroyed in The Blitz, a german bombing during WWII.

4. The Death Of Edgar Allen Poe

Coming in at number 4 is one that you may not see coming. This is one that I didn’t even know was a cold case until very recently. Poe was known for his writings but on October 3, 1849, Edgar Allen Poe left NYC bound for Richmond, VA but was found outside a bar in Baltimore. He was taken to hospital and pronounced dead. It was first thought “congestion of the brain,” but then alcohol poisoning. The death certificate cannot be found. People are unsure if one ever existed. Some people believe that Poe fell victim to a common practice called “cooping” Cooping was the practice of politicians hiring people to drug homeless people and drag them all over the city to voting machines and switch their clothing. This is supported by Poe’s outfit not being his. Toxicology did not exist at the time so it is unsure if he was drugged or not.

3. The Tylenol Murders

From September to October 1982, 7 people were killed from Tylenol poisoning in New York City. No suspect was ever found but James William Lewis was who many people believed to be the unsub. Lewis was arrested and tried for the murders but was only convicted on an extortion charge because he sent a letter to Johnson and Johnson that took responsibility for the deaths and demanded $1 million to stop. No one could ever find evidence that he was the one who actually tampered with the Tylenol so those charges were never brought against him. He was found guilty of extortion. The incident led to reforms in the packaging of over-the-counter substances and to federal anti-tampering laws.

2. The Black Dahlia

Hollywood is known for movies and celebrities, but on January 15, 1947, it was the scene of Hollywood’s most famous murders. This time, it wasn’t acting. 22-year-old actress Elizabeth Short was found dead on Norton Ave. Her body was found to be cut in half and her blood drained with precision. The murderer had also cut 3-inch gashes into the corners of her mouth. The police worked with the press to disseminate clues to the public in hopes of finding a suspect. Her cold case has been the focal point of many movies, books, and tv shows. No suspect was ever found and no charges were ever filed.

1. The Murder of JonBenet Ramsey

Anyone who enjoys true crime has almost certainly heard about this case. JonBenet was a 6-year-old girl who was murdered in her home in Boulder, CO on December 25/26, 1996 (disputed). At first, she was thought to be kidnapped but she was found with a rope around her neck in the basement of her home. This case is also known for a bouched investigation by the Boulder Police Department. This scene is shown really well in the 2002 movie Perfect Murder, Perfect Town. Retired homicide detective Lou Smit was called out of retirement to work with the District Attorney’s Office. During this time, Boulder PD thought the parents had something to do with the murder. However, Lou Smit found evidence that an intruder did the crime. When a grand jury was called, Lou Smit was not allowed to show his intruder theory. After a little bit of back and forth, he was allowed to show the grand jury his theory. The grand jury decided to indict the parents but the District Attorney’s Office did not press charges. No suspect was ever found but with the development of Touch DNA, the parents were officially excluded as criminals from the crime. With current DNA technology, many people believe that a suspect may be found one day. It has been 26 years so the suspect may already be dead but that doesn’t stop people from seeking justice. I know many people will ask for my opinion on the case and what theory I believe in. Long story short, I believe Lou Smit’s theory because of all the evidence he found that pointed to a third party. I’d love to go into more detail about why but I believe what I believe but it would become a really long article. I’m just ranking my top 5 cold cases, not discussing the JonBenet Ramsey case. That might come at some point.

I hope everyone learned something new and perhaps I sparked someone’s interest to look more into a particular case. Thanks for reading Canes!