Famous Unsolved Cases to-date
Natalee Holloway
Joran van der Sloot was the lead suspect in the death of American teenager Natalee Holloway. He was the last known person to see her before she disappeared from an Aruban beach in 2005.
The Holloway case has returned to the spotlight, with van der Sloot being held in Peru on murder and robbery charges in the killing of another woman. This case has an uncanny connection to Holloway's.
Stacy Peterson
Stacy Peterson, the fourth wife of Bolingbrook, Ill., police Sgt. Drew Peterson, disappeared from her home in 2007. Drew was then charged with the murder of his third wife, whose death was initially ruled accidental. Drew is awaiting trial. Drew is the only suspect in Stacy's case, but he has not been charged. Police reportedly received a tip about the whereabouts of Stacy's body, and the search is expected to continue.
JonBenét Ramsey
The 1996 murder of JonBenét Ramsey remains unsolved, even after a long investigation and the confession of John Mark Karr. The case is back in the news because Karr resurfaced incognito and faces new charges.
Chandra Levy
Chandra Levy disappeared in 2001. She was a government intern, and her father said she dated Rep. Gary Condit. Although the extramarital affair made Condit an object of suspicion, he was finally vindicated. His political career was derailed, and he started a new venture. In 2008, The Washington Post set out to solve the case, saying it "remains Washington's most famous unsolved crime." In 2009, a convict was indicted. His trial is set for October 2010.
Tupac and Biggie
Rappers Tupac Shakur and the Notorious B.I.G. were murdered within six months of each other. The murders are constantly linked, in film, conspiracy theories and as an emblem of West Coast-East Coast rivalry. Despite the massive speculation, both murders remain unsolved 13 years later.
Etan Patz
The 1979 disappearance of Etan Patz began the missing-children crusade. The 6-year-old was the first to be featured on a milk carton. Despite an intense search, he was never found. This case returned to the news in May 2010.
Zodiac Killer
In 1969, a serial killer sent taunting letters to California newspapers. He called himself the "Zodiac" and used cryptograms that reportedly concealed his identity and plans. He is believed to have killed at least seven people, both male and female, ranging in age from 16 to 29. The letters continued for years and became more mocking. The Zodiac Killer has not been identified, but one woman claims to know details.
Jack the Ripper
Jack the Ripper's brutal killings of prostitutes in 1880s London became infamous, but his identity remains a mystery. Theories abound, and the theorists have their own nickname. The obsession carried over into movies, including one starring Johnny Depp.
Source:specials
