Discover the world’s most horrific and mysterious murder cases, which to this day leave many unsolved questions.
Horrific and mysterious murders always attract the world’s attention, whether because of their cruelty, unclear motives, or facts that are revealed later.
Some cases are never solved, leaving big questions that continue to interest many people. Here are 10 of the most horrific murder cases in the world that still leave many mysteries to this day.
1. The Murder of the Papin Sisters
In 1933, two French sisters, Léa and Christine Papin, committed a particularly brutal murder against their employers, the Lancelin family. They worked as domestic helpers for the family for almost seven years.
However, on a tragic night, the two brothers murdered their host, in a particularly gruesome manner—gouging out their victim’s eyes and disfiguring their face. After being found, the two pleaded guilty, but the motive behind the crime remains a matter of speculation.
Christine suffered a mental breakdown after being separated from her sister, and eventually died in a mental hospital. This case remains to this day one of the most horrific mysteries in the history of murder.
2. The Taman Shud Case
The Taman Shud case is one of the world’s greatest unsolved murder mysteries. In 1948, an unidentified man was found dead on a beach in Adelaide, Australia. There was no identification, no signs of violence, and no clear cause of death.
However, in the man’s coat pocket was found a piece of paper with the words “Taman Shud” written on it, which means “finished” in Persian. The paper was from a rare book of poetry, The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam, which was found in a nearby car.
Although various theories have emerged, such as the man being a spy or a victim of poisoning, his identity and cause of death remain a World Mystery to this day.
3. Tara Calico Case
In 1988, Tara Calico, a 19-year-old college student, disappeared while biking near her home in Belen, New Mexico. A year later, a Polaroid photo was discovered in Florida, showing a young woman believed to resemble Tara and a bound and gagged boy.
The photo is believed to show Tara and Michael Henley, another missing child, but there is not enough evidence to confirm their identities. Similar photos continued to be sent to Tara’s family over the years, but to this day, Tara’s fate remains unsolved.
4. The Mystery of the Severed Legs
Since 2007, more than 20 human feet have been found washed up on beaches in British Columbia, Canada, and Washington, USA. Most of the feet were still wearing sneakers or hiking boots.
Although some feet have been identified as belonging to people who died by suicide or accident, many remain unidentified. Why only the legs were found and not other body parts remains a mystery.
Various theories have emerged, including a plane crash, murder, or human trafficking, but the exact cause of the discovery remains unsolved.
5. The Case of the Woman Who Died and Named Her Killer
In 1977, Teresita Basa, a respiratory therapist in Chicago, was found stabbed and burned to death in her apartment.
Police had no leads until a colleague from the hospital where she worked, Remy Chua, claimed that Teresita’s spirit had possessed him and told her that the killer was Allan Showery.
The police, although skeptical, investigated the case and found Teresita’s jewelry in Showery’s possession.
After further investigation, Showery confessed to killing Teresita and was convicted in 1979. This case is a rare example where paranormal evidence was used in a criminal investigation.
6. Jack the Ripper Murder Case
In 1888, London was rocked by a series of brutal murders committed by a man known as “Jack the Ripper.” The serial killer was notorious for murdering and dismembering female victims, particularly sex workers, in a particularly gruesome manner.
The identity of Jack the Ripper remains a mystery to this day, although various theories have been put forward as to who he really was. The case remains one of the most notorious and horrific serial killers in British criminal history.
7. The Hinterkaifeck Murder Case
In March 1922, a family living on a remote farm in Hinterkaifeck, Germany, was found dead in horrific conditions. All members of the family were murdered, and the perpetrator apparently stayed in their home for several days after the murders.
During that time, the perpetrator took advantage of the victim’s home facilities before fleeing. Despite numerous investigations, the perpetrator was never found, and the case remains one of the great mysteries in German criminal history.
8. The Black Dahlia Murder Case
Elizabeth Short, better known as the Black Dahlia, was found dead in Los Angeles in January 1947 in a gruesome state—her body severed in two.
The murder became one of the most notorious and mysterious in the United States. Although much speculation and theories have emerged about who could have been the perpetrator, the identity of the Black Dahlia killer remains unknown to this day.
9. The Zodiac Killer Murder Case
The Zodiac Killer was a serial killer known for sending threatening letters and unsolved codes to the media in the 1960s and 1970s. He claimed to have killed 37 people, but his identity remains unknown.
The killer was known for his brutality and the cruel ways he treated his victims. Several theories and conjectures have emerged regarding the perpetrator, but to this day, the Zodiac Killer remains one of the most mysterious serial killers in the world.
10. The Tamam Shud Murder Case (The Somerton Man)
In December 1948, an unidentified body was found on Somerton Beach, South Australia. No one knows the man’s identity, and the labels on the clothes he was wearing had also been removed.
However, police found a piece of paper in his jacket pocket with the words “Tamam Shud,” which means “finished” in Persian.
The paper refers to the last part of a book of poetry. Despite investigations, the man’s identity and the reasons behind his murder remain an unsolved mystery.
Throughout history, the world has witnessed several gruesome murder cases that not only shocked but also sparked deep curiosity.
Cases such as the Papin Sisters Murders, Jack the Ripper, and the Zodiac Killer, continue to be the subject of discussion and speculation among the public.
Similarly, incidents involving unexplained disappearances and shipwrecks, often referred to as Ocean Mystery cases, captivate imaginations and remain unsolved to this day, leaving a deep mark on both world criminal and maritime history.
