Ever since viewing the documentary on Gabby Petito, her narrative has left a lasting impression on me. The memory triggered a growing curiosity about other true crime stories, leading me to seek others’ perspectives on enduring crime cases that continue to be impactful. Here is a compilation of 22 true crime accounts, keeping people engrossed years after their occurrence:
The Sierra LaMar case from 2012 still remains unresolved in Morgan Hill, CA. Despite a man being found guilty for her kidnap and homicide, Sierra’s body was never recovered, making the tale even more heart-wrenching. The same community feels a similar sorrow for Pearl Pinson, who was seized while commuting to school in Vallejo, CA. Despite having multiple eye-witnesses and tracing the abductor, police intervention led to a fatal encounter before Pearl’s location could be discovered.
Jason Landry’s inexplicable disappearance from his university in Lulling during the Christmas recess remains a perpetual mystery. The discovery of his vehicle by an off-duty fireman, significantly deviated from his usual route from San Marcos to his home in Houston, TX, raises many questions. The existence of various inconsistent accounts pertaining to the discovery of Jason’s clothes and belongings, without any trace of him, intensifies the puzzle.
A case that continues to trouble many revolves around John List, the iconic family murderer. With the victim’s burial taking place in the same town as my in-laws’, it inevitably gives me the chills. The precarious speculation that she shares her final resting space with her murderer, despite no legal documentation, deepens the dread.
The name Maddie Clifton incites sadness; she was only eight when Joshua Phillips took her life. Using a baseball bat and a knife, he committed the horrific deed on November 3, 1998, and subsequently concealed her lifeless body underneath his water bed. He was eventually arrested a week later; however, the thought of him sleeping over her body still remains haunting.
During the infancy of DNA technology, law enforcement was desperately tracking a perpetrator responsible for a series of crimes spanning Europe. The inexplicable pattern of the crimes along with contradicting witness accounts left investigators confounded. It was only years later that they discovered a unique link amongst all the crimes – contaminated DNA evidence due to its female manufacturer, a grandmother, unintentionally tainting the swabs in her crime scene kit factory.
The Yogurt Shop murders from 1991 are another chilling chapter in crime history. Four teenage girls were brutally murdered at a yogurt shop in Austin, Texas. A few men were arrested and some even convicted, but, tragically, the guilty verdicts were later overturned. The whole story, especially knowing two of the victims were sisters, is truly distressing.
One cannot forget about the killing of little Chuckie Mauk. Back in 1986, while out on a bike ride in Warner Robins, GA, Chuckie was shot dead after stopping by a convenience store. Despite the palpable fear and distress that gripped the community, the murderer was never traced.
Another infamous case that remains unsolved involves young Rhonda Hinson in North Carolina. Rhonda lost her life in 1981 while returning from a Christmas party. Despite being the most scrutinized case in Burke County, no suspect has yet been identified due to lack of tangible evidence.
In the case of Georgia Leah Moses, an indelible mark was left after her murder. Despite being just 12, she carried numerous responsibilities on her young shoulders. Her little sister, aged 7, reported her missing, putting forth a heart-wrenching dimension of sibling love and loss.
The enigma of the Zodiac Killer is a favored topic among crime enthusiasts. The unsolved nature of this case keeps the mystery alive, and keeps fans intrigued.
The story of ‘The Girl From Saskatoon’ is not easily forgotten. Alex, a young nurse, was found murdered and buried after a long weekend in May 1964. Despite suffering impact injuries, it was determined she was buried alive. Sadly, her killer has never been found.