It is hard to believe how many cases around the world are unsolved or forgotten. Those sworn to protect promise there is nothing to worry about. They will find the bad guys. We will have our justice. —But we’re not just talking about murderers.
Airplanes and ships seem to disappear in the Bermuda Triangle. Ghosts are terrorizing family homes. Feet are washing up on British Columbia shores. And does anyone know where D.B. Cooper went? Every day our world seems to resemble something more of a science fiction novel than reality. From the wicked to the entirely bizarre, here is a list of the top ten favorite Greatest Unsolved Mysteries Ever!
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10. The 1982 Tylenol Poisoning
Ever wonder why there are tamper-proof seals on every over-the-counter medication? In 1982, many people in Chicago, Illinois were poisoned with potassium cyanide that had been mistaken for Tylenol. After a massive recall, investigators concluded it was the work of a serial killer. The unknown villain killed 6 adults and one child. Three people were accused, but no charges were ever made. The case remains colder than the killer’s heart.
9. The Dancing Plague of 1518
The summer of 1518 brought a bizarre mystery to Strasbourg. A woman by the name of Frau Troffea began dancing uncontrollably in the street. She kept dancing, day and night for no apparent reason. 7 days later, over 30 people had joined her. Within a month, The Dancing Plague captured the bodies of over 400 people. Many eventually died from a stroke, heart attack, and exhaustion. It may sound like an episode of Black Mirror, but the incident was well documented in history. The cause is still unknown.
8. Bigfoot
Famous to the Pacific Northwest, almost every mountain region has its own version of Bigfoot. Nepal has the Yeti. Canada refers to him as, Sasquatch. Australia calls the unknown creature, Yowie. No matter what you call the tall, hairy beast hiding in the woods, he seems to shy away from humans.
Many claims to have encountered the creature. Although, with lack of evidence his existence has been difficult to prove. Could Bigfoot be the reason for so many missing hikers? Or is he more gentle like Harry from, “Harry and the Henderson’s”? No one can say for sure. —But if you’re heading into the woods, maybe grab your bear spray just in case.
7. Spontaneous Human Combustion
By now, many of us have heard the famous, unsolved case of Mary Reeser. According to the St. Petersburg Times, Mary is believed to have spontaneously burst into flames in 1951. By the time police found Mary, she was mostly a pile of ash in her favorite chair. The rest of the room? — Untouched by the flames.
Many claims were made about how the fire started. One officer suggested, “a flame came through the window and struck Mary”. To this day there is no official cause. As of 2018, over 200 cases of spontaneous combustion have been reported around the world.
6. Elisa Lam
The case of Elisa Lam is beyond terrifying! This unsolved mystery takes place at the infamous Hotel Cecil, located in Los Angeles. Hotel Cecil is known for multiple suicide incidents, housing 2 serial killers, and is the last known location of the Black Dahlia.
Elisa arrived at Hotel Cecil on January 28th, 2013. A few days later, she was relocated to another room after roommates complained of her odd behavior. Before her disappearance, Elisa is seen on hotel camera footage arguing with someone, or something, not seen on film.
Weeks after Elisa’s disappearance, hotel guests began to complain of black water in their rooms. When maintenance workers checked the rooftop water tank they discovered Elisa’s body. Police concluded her death was an accidental drowning.
The greatest part of the mystery is, how did Elisa get into the water tank without being seen on camera? Or manage to silence the fire escape door? Not to mention, Elisa would have had to scale the water tower. — Have fun sleeping, tonight!
5. JonBenét Ramsey
On December 26, 1996, a six-year-old beauty queen was murdered in the basement of her Colorado home. Many were accused of her death, including her parents and nine-year-old brother. According to investigators, JonBenét was strangled with a telephone cord and suffered a blow to the head. DNA evidence found at the scene excused her family as suspects. It is believed, while the family slept, someone broke into their home and took JonBenét’s life. Over 20 years later, no charges have been made and the case remains unsolved.
4. Amelia Earhart
One of America’s greatest unsolved mysteries is awarded pilot, Amelia Earhart. Amelia was an excellent pilot and broke many records, making her disappearance quite shocking. In 1937, Amelia set off to be the first pilot to circumnavigate the globe. She had 7,000 miles to go on her voyage when Amelia and her co-pilot headed toward Howland Island. Sadly, their plane would never arrive. Some believe they crashed. Others believe they became castaways on a remote island. A massive search was conducted by the U.S government, but no wreckage was ever found.
3. Area 51
Driving through the Nevada desert will raise questions in even the most faithful citizens. Travelers pass restricted exits, oversized hangars, hundreds of bunkers, and roads seemingly headed nowhere. And if you have ever tried typing “Area 51” into Google Maps, you probably ended up a gift shop.
Best known for its conspiracy theories, Area 51 is a restricted U.S. Air Force base located in southwest Nevada. Many believe it is part of a government cover-up to experiment on alien life forms and UFOs.
Positioned near a nuclear test facility, excessive UFO sightings have also been reported in the area. Are extraterrestrials checking up on our weapons, or are they trying to bring home their family?
One of America’s best-kept secrets, we may never know what actually goes on here. Unless, of course, you meet the security requirements.
2. The Zodiac Killer
In the late 1960s and early ’70s, a serial killer terrorized Northern California. Known only as of the Zodiac, he taunted the police with coded letters and killed an unknown number of victims. The coded letters were sent to various news publications claiming to hold his identity. In one letter, sent to the San Francisco Chronicle, the Zodiac killer said, “I love killing more than I love sex with a woman”. — Okay, Weirdo. In his letters, the Zodiac admitting to killing over 37 people. San Francisco police have confirmed only 7 of those victims, 5 deaths and 2 escapes. As of today, the case remains active and unsolved.
1. Human Existence
Calling all philosophers, please! Topping the Greatest Unsolved Mysteries Ever list is human existence. Why you might ask? It is the most common mystery plaguing each and every one of us at some point or another. Eric Fromm once said, “Man is the only animal for whom his own existence is a problem which he has to solve”. — We are our own unsolved mysteries.
Why am I here? Am I actually here? These questions become daunting and we may never know the answers. Some believe a Higher Power holds the answers. Others wonder if we are living in a parallel universe similar to The Matrix. Perhaps it’s all a simulation. Maybe this entire article is a figment of your imagination…
Whatever our purpose may be, let’s assume it is to be good people.
Conclusion
From unsolved cases to Bigfoot, these are the greatest unsolved mysteries ever. It’s funny how real life mysteries can be almost as weird and interesting compared to fiction. Will we ever solve the puzzle of these cases? Which mystery did you find the most interesting and why? Which mysteries do you think should be on this list?
