I have finished the murders, myths, and mysteries of Union County, GA and the state of Georgia, and now, it is time to get to 7 of the murders, myths, and mysteries of the United States of America. Most of these you may have already heard of before, while some may not ring a bell, but nonetheless, each story has something uniquely fascinating about it that may leave you wanting to know and learn more and where they all happened. These stories range from coast to coast, and the map below may be one of those “perfect” bucket list maps to use for all the crime enthusiasts if ever they decide to go to or near any of the cities shown on the map.
Crime Map
The Murder And Mystery Of JonBenét Ramsey
The murder of JonBenét Ramsey in 1996 remains one of the most mysterious, intriguing, and tragic cases in American history. As someone drawn to true crime stories myself, I find JonBenét’s story pretty unsettling and disturbing. As someone who has experienced the pain of losing a best friend to murder, and not having all the answers to my questions about her murder myself, I can’t imagine the pain and agony that this family and all of those effected feel losing such a young soul, with such a bright, promising future ahead. She was a six-year-old beauty queen, full of life and personality, found murdered in the basement of her own home unexpectedly. The details of her case have had me wondering, “What happened” for years. In fact, this is probably the earliest murder mystery story/memory I can remember ever being curious about in my life when seeing/hearing it on TV while watching the news with my family as a young boy. I had just turned 5 years old and remember wondering how something like that could ever happen and how scared it honestly made me. Of course, being the young boy I was at the time, I didn’t quite stay glued to the TV and distracted myself with cartoons and toys, but years later, I found myself wondering, “What ever happened to that young, pretty girl that died that I remember watching and hearing about when I was so young?”. Needless to say, I eventually looked back into it and man is it wilder than I could have dreamed?! What is known seems as simple as this. The story, as told by the family, is that on the morning after Christmas, Patsy Ramsey(JonBenét’s mother) woke up to a ransom note on the bottom of the spiral staircase of their home leading to the first floor. She then calls out to her husband(and JonBenét’s dad) who comes down to her to read the note. Following reading the note, he then proceeds to the basement where he finds her body with her mouth and hands duct taped and a cord around her neck. He then proceeds to carry her body up and places her in front of the family Christmas tree. By or around this same time, Patsy Ramsey made the call to the police who arrived 7 minutes from the phone call(The time reported was 5:52 A.M.), while it took over 2 hours to get an investigator to the scene. From the start, the investigation was riddled with complications. The ransom note, the family’s initial behavior, and the media’s craze has left us all with so many questions about this story. Was she killed by her mother or father, or possibly even her sibling? Could they possibly really do such a thing? How could JonBenét have possibly been kidnapped, much less killed in her own home on Christmas with her entire family in the home without them noticing anything strange first? The entire story truly is insane, but here are some thoughts of my own concerning the questions just asked. When I look at the ransom note details, it is odd how there were no fingerprints found. However, when I look at the handwriting of Patsy Ramsey, I truly do see the similarities between hers and the ransom notes. Of course, I don’t really want to believe that, but it very well may be possible, although she denied it until her eventual death in 2006. While most do some to be pointing their fingers at Patsy, she and her family were all cleared as suspects in 2008, just 2 years after Patsy’s death, when investigators found none of her DNA evidence on JonBenét’s dress, but did find an unknown male’s DNA on it. As for the brother, Burke, he was only 9 years old, and I HIGHLY DOUBT he would be capable of committing such a crime. While I truly feel and hope that none of her family members were responsible, it is hard to fathom that anyone else could have gotten inside the home without the family noticing. However, JonBenét’s bedroom was on the other side of the house from her parents and siblings, so maybe someone could have snuck in without being caught? These honestly are just my personal thoughts, but like many others who follow this case, we all have our own unique thoughts and reasoning for what we think. The thing is, with each question I try to answer, the more questions I keep asking, because with an unsolved murder mystery as bizarre and crazy as this one, the questions truly never get answered and the mystery remains. And hopefully, one day, we will find out.
Lizzie Borden: Murderer Or Wrongly Accused?
This is one that most everyone should know about or should have at least heard about once in their life. Due to it’s fame I felt as if I just HAD to add it to the list of stories to tell in this blog/bucket list post! Lizzie Borden is infamous for being accused of the brutal 1892 axe murders of her father, Andrew Borden, and stepmother, Abby Borden, in Fall River, Massachusetts. The crime occurred on the morning of Thursday, August 4, 1892, when both victims were found hacked to death in their home. Lizzie, the couple’s 32-year-old daughter, was the primary suspect. Aside from Lizzie, other suspects included Emma Borden(Lizzie’s sister), Bridget Sullivan(A family servant who was supposedly said to be in a lesbian relationship with Lizzie), and a supposed illegitimate child(Who could have been angered by the feeling of abandonment). Despite having all of these other suspects considered possibly responsible, it was Lizzie who was still seen as the most likely culprit due to her strained relationship with her father and stepmother. However, despite the suspicious circumstances surrounding the tense relationship between Lizzie and her father and stepmother, no direct evidence linked her to the crime. During the investigation, Lizzie’s behavior seemed inconsistent, and she was charged with the murders. The trial, which was highly publicized, lasted two weeks, but the prosecution struggled to present compelling evidence, and Lizzie’s defense team cast doubt on the case. In the end, she was acquitted of all charges in June 1893, though many still believed she was guilty. It took the jury of 12 people less than 2 hours to reach their verdict. To this day, the story of Lizzie Borden remains one of the most iconic and mysterious murder cases in American history, with numerous theories and books dedicated to it. The Borden house, where the murders occurred, is now a museum and bed-and-breakfast, offering visitors a chance to explore the historic site. It remains a popular destination for true crime enthusiasts and those fascinated by the enduring mystery of the case. I am hoping that one day I can go for a visit here myself!
Mystery Of The Zodiac Killer
The Zodiac Killer is one of the most infamous and elusive serial killers in American history. This killer was active in Northern California during the late 1960s and early 1970s. The killer is believed to have murdered at least five people, though he claimed to have killed 37. His first confirmed victims were high school students Linda Edwards and Robert Domingo, who were shot and killed on July 4, 1968, near Gaviota, California around the Gaviota State Park Beach & Campground area(The exact point actually being around an area called Canada Del Molino). There bodies were found inside an old shack about 30 feet from where they were believed to have been originally shot. This killing was followed by the shootings of Michael Mageau and Darlene Ferrin on July 4, 1969, near Blue Rock Springs Park in Vallejo, while the 2 sat parked in the state park’s parking lot. Darlene died, but Michael survived. On September 27, 1969, Bryan Hartnell and Cecelia Shepard were attacked near Lake Berryessa. The 2 were exes and longtime friends who ran into each other at Pacific Union College and decided that they’d go to the lake area for a picnic. The Zodiac approached them while they were relaxing, tied them up, and stabbed them repeatedly. Bryan survived and gave a description of the killer, who wore an eerie costume with a symbol resembling a cross-circle. On October 11, 1969, the Zodiac murdered Paul Lee Stine, a cab driver in San Francisco. After the killing, the Zodiac sent a series of cryptic letters to local newspapers, taunting police and boasting of his crimes. He also included ciphers, some of which were never fully decoded. Arthur Leigh Allen, a former elementary school teacher, was a prime suspect, but evidence linking him to the murders was never found, and he was never charged. The case remains unsolved, and the Zodiac’s identity is still a mystery. The 2021 Netflix documentary “This is the Zodiac Speaking” dives into this chilling case, exploring new theories and suspects in the ongoing search for the truth. I highly recommend this documentary to anyone with any interest in this case. Truthfully, I have to say, after watching it that I have come to my own conclusion that Arthur Leigh Allen is definitely the Zodiac Killer, but that is my own opinion. Be sure to watch for yourself and form your own opinion!
Glitz, Glam, And Guns: The Story Of Patty Hearst
Patty Hearst, heir to the Hearst media empire, became internationally known after being kidnapped by the Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA) on February 4, 1974, at the age of 19. Her father, Randolph Hearst, was the chairman of the Hearst Corporation, and the family’s wealth and prominence were epitomized by the lavish Hearst Castle in San Simeon, California. The SLA, a left-wing militant group, kidnapped Patty in an attempt to leverage her family’s wealth. They demanded that her family donate millions of dollars worth of food to impoverished Californians. During her captivity, Patty was kept in isolation and reportedly abused. On April 3, 1974, the SLA released a recording of Patty, in which she declared her allegiance to the group and even took part in a bank robbery in San Francisco, where she was seen brandishing a weapon. This event led to the controversial belief that she had been brainwashed or coerced into committing crimes for the SLA. On September 18, 1975, Patty was arrested by the FBI after being found hiding with SLA members in a San Francisco apartment. She was charged with bank robbery and other crimes. Her trial in 1976 became a media sensation, and many debated whether she had willingly joined the SLA or was a victim of coercion. In 1979, Patty Hearst was convicted, but her sentence was commuted by President Jimmy Carter, and she was eventually pardoned by President Bill Clinton in 2001. The case remains a complex and highly debated chapter in American criminal history.
American Tragedy. American Mystery. The JFK Assassination.
The assassination of President John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963, in Dallas, Texas, remains one of the most shocking and mysterious events in American history. JFK was shot while riding in a motorcade through Dealey Plaza, struck by two bullets, one in the neck and another fatal shot to the head. The alleged assassin, Lee Harvey Oswald, was arrested shortly after, but was shot dead by nightclub owner Jack Ruby before he could stand trial, further fueling suspicions. The Warren Commission, tasked with investigating the murder, concluded that Oswald acted alone. However, doubts quickly arose about the findings, with numerous conspiracy theories emerging over the years. Some speculated that the CIA, the Mafia, or even some within the U.S. government were involved. Key locations tied to the story include Dealey Plaza, the Texas School Book Depository (from where Oswald is believed to have fired the fatal shots on the 6th floor), and the grassy knoll, where witnesses reported hearing shots coming from a different direction. Important figures in the case include Oswald, Ruby, and witnesses like Abraham Zapruder, whose film footage captured the president’s fatal moments. Despite extensive investigations, including a 1979 House Select Committee on Assassinations report that suggested a “probable conspiracy,” no conclusive evidence has emerged to definitively explain who, if anyone, was involved in a larger plot. Theories continue to circulate, and many hope the truth will eventually come to light. However, given the passage of time and the complexity of the case, it seems increasingly unlikely that the full truth will ever be uncovered, leaving the mystery of JFK’s assassination unsolved.
Milwaukee Monster: Jeffrey Dahmer
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