10 Historic Crimes That Never Saw Justice

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re diving into historic cases which time left unsolved and, ultimately, never saw justice.

The Borden Murders

Lizzie Borden’s tale is so famous and disturbing that it has become part of American folklore. In August, 1892, her father Andrew and stepmother, Abby, were found brutally murdered in their Massachusetts home. Lizzie quickly became the prime suspect. Why? She was at home during the killings, gave conflicting statements and was rumoured to have tried purchasing poison the day before. Reports also suggest a deep tension in the Borden home months before the murders. The Borden sisters reportedly resented their stepmother and also argued with their father over giving away property to Abby’s family. Yet in 1893, Lizzie was found not guilty due to weak evidence. To this day, theories abound but no one truly knows if Lizzie committed the murders.

Murder of Lord Darnley

Henry Stuart’s murder was orchestrated so carefully that proving anything was impossible. On February 10, 1567, an explosion tore through the house he was staying in near Edinburgh. Yet Henry’s body wasn’t burned– it was found in the garden, apparently strangled, suggesting the blast was a cover-up. His wife, Mary, Queen of Scots soon fell under suspicion. Their marriage had soured and her closeness to James Hepburn, Earl of Bothwell, only deepened doubts. Though Bothwell escaped conviction, many believed he masterminded it with Mary’s knowledge–or silence at least. Some of his servants and acquaintances were, however, arrested and executed. When Mary married him months later, the scandal destroyed her reign. Centuries later, Henry Stuart’s death remains a puzzle–meticulously planned, but forever unsolved.

The Axeman of New Orleans

Between 1918 and 1919, fear gripped Louisiana as a mysterious figure terrorized Italian-American families. The killer would break into homes at night, often using the victims’ own axes to hack them to death. He murdered at least six people and injured several others. Despite citywide panic, the Axeman was never identified. However, theories about his identity and motivations ran wild. Some believed he was Jazz-obsessed, inspired by a bizarre letter claiming he’d spare anyone playing jazz that night. Others suspected mafia involvement, due to the targeting of Italian grocers, or even a sexual sadist driven by thrill. Then, just as suddenly as the murders began, they eventually stopped–leaving only terror and uncertainty.

The Monster with 21 Faces

In the 1980s, a shadowy group pulled off one of Japan’s boldest crimes– a massive campaign of extortion against major candy companies. They called themselves the “Monster with 21 Faces” and were never caught nor identified. It began in 1984 when Glico’s president, Katsuhisa Ezaki, was kidnapped and held for ransom. Though he escaped, the nightmare was far from over. Soon, shelves were emptied as Glico products were threatened with cyanide poisoning, costing the company millions. Then the gang began targeting other food companies, taunting the police with numerous letters signed under their chilling alias. Investigators chased leads, from the elusive Fox-Eyed man and Video-taped man–but even their prime suspect, Manabu Miyazaki, son of a yakuza boss, was ultimately cleared of any wrongdoing.

The Hall-Mills murders

This local murder case is a perfect example of how a crime, when turned into a media circus, can derail justice. In 1922, the bodies of a married Episcopal priest, Edward Wheeler Hall, and a married choir singer, Eleanor Mills, were discovered under a crabapple tree in Somerset County. Love letters between them were scattered around their bodies–a shocking detail that fed sensational headlines. As authorities debated jurisdictional issues, the crime scene turned chaotic. Curious onlookers and reporters trampled the scene, destroying crucial evidence. All eyes soon turned to Frances Hall, the priest’s wife and her brothers– but the damage was done. With evidence compromised and unreliable witnesses, they eventually walked free. Today, the Hall-Mills case remains unsolved, remembered more for its scandal than anything else.

The Murder of Mary Rogers

In 1842, Edgar Allan Poe wrote “The Mystery of Marie Rogêt”, which is considered the first detective story based on a real crime. It was inspired by the murder of Mary Rogers– a New York cigar clerk whose body was found in the Hudson River in 1841. Her murder shocked the public and the press, sparking endless speculations. Some believed she was murdered by a lover, and a remorseful note from her fiance before he took his life hinted his involvement in her death. Others suspected a gang. One woman even claimed that Rogers’ body was dumped after a botched abortion to cover it up. The truth, however, remains lost to time. No one knows what really happened to the “Beautiful Cigar Girl”.

Zodiac Killings

Even with all the clues, codes, and public fascinations, the Zodiac killer’s true identity remains a mystery to this day. Between 1968 and 1969, the infamous killer carried out his murders in California–attacking young people and a lone cab driver. Officially he’s confirmed to have killed five people but in his letters, he claimed as many as 37 people. He even mocked the police and the public through taunting letters and cryptic ciphers- some of which were decoded. But that didn’t solve the case either. Several suspects emerged, most famously Arthur Leigh Allen, a disturbed former teacher, but none were ever proven guilty. Decades later, the Zodiac’s victims remain without justice, their stories lost in the shadow of his legacy.

The Black Dahlia

Anyone fascinated by true crime has likely heard of the Black Dahlia. The name belongs to Elizabeth Short whose murder shocked 1940s Los Angeles. On January 15 1947, Short’s body was found in a vacant lot near the Leimert Park area, brutally mutilated and eerily posed. Among the suspects was nightclub owner Mark Hansen, who knew her but was never charged. In fact, police interrogated over 150 suspects, but found nothing tangible. Someone claiming to be the killer even promised to surrender, then vanished–and for a huge reward, many falsely confessed. Meanwhile, the media sensationalized every detail, dubbing her the “Black Dahlia”, inspired by a film or her style. Years later, George Hodel drew attention after his son accused him, but the case remains unsolved.

Jimmy Hoffa’s Disappearance

He wasn’t just any labor leader: Jimmy Hoffa was the fiery boss of The International Brotherhood of Teamsters who allegedly had ties with organized crime. In July 1975, he vanished without a trace after supposedly meeting two mob figures, Anthony Provenzano and Anthony Giacalone, near Detroit. His last call was to his wife, saying he’d been stood up and then–nothing. His close associate Chuck O’Brien became a prime suspect when Hoffa’s hair and possible blood traces were found in a car he borrowed. Despite an extensive FBI investigation, Hoffa’s fate remains unknown. Legally declared dead in 1982, many believe the mafia is behind his disappearance. Here we are decades later and his vanishing remains one of America’s greatest mysteries.

The Whitechapel Murders

In 1888, London’s Whitechapel district was swallowed by fear. Jack the Ripper, a ghost wielding a blade, targeted sex workers. Their throats were slashed, bodies carved with surgical menace, and organs stolen under moonlight. The savagery peaked with Mary Jane Kelly’s mutilated corpse, left like the killer’s grim signature. Then came the chilling letters, such as “Dear Boss”and “From Hell”, which contained a piece of kidney, igniting a media storm. Suspects ranged from butchers to royalty, yet police had nothing; no fingerprints, no DNA, just shadows and alibis. In 2002, Patrick Cornwell’s $4 million hunt pointed to painter Walter Sickert, but evidence was lacking and experts dismissed it. The Ripper’s identity? Still unknown–and justice, a fading echo.

What other infamous unsolved crime didn’t make the list? Let us know in the comments.