10 Infamous Assassinations That STILL Haven't Been Solved

Infamous Assassinations That Still Haven’t Been Solved

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re examining 10 Infamous Assassinations That Still Haven’t Been Solved.

For this list, we’ll be looking at notorious slayings in history that haven't been conclusively solved, even if there’s been a prime suspect.

Which assassinations did we leave out? Let us know below!

Kim Jong-nam

(2017)
Before Kim Jong Un took over as Supreme leader of North Korea, Kim Jong-nam, his older half-brother, was slated to be the heir. But after falling out of favor, Kim was exiled in 2003. In February 2017, he was at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Malaysia when one woman threw liquid at him as another wiped a damp cloth across his face before escaping. The mysterious liquid was a VX nerve agent. Not long after, Kim passed away. The two women responsible, Siti Aisyah and Đoàn Thị Hương, thought what they were asked to do was a practical joke. Four North Korean suspects, believed to have organized the attack on Kim Jong Un’s behalf, returned to the country shortly after. Charges against Aisyah were dropped, but Hương was sentenced to three years and four months.

Dominic McGlinchey

(1994)
After being in the Provisional IRA and taking part in attacks, Dominic McGlinchey joined the Irish National Liberation Army, and he quickly reached higher and higher positions with his ruthless methods, earning himself the nickname “Mad Dog.” Having already survived one attempt on his life and losing his wife Mary to an assassination, McGlinchey was with his son as they drove home in February 1994. McGlinchey pulled over and used a public telephone box in Drogheda, Republic of Ireland. Another car pulled over, and several men exited. They attacked McGlinchey before fatally shooting him. Suspects included members of the IRA, the UVF, and Billy “King Rat” Wright, who was speculated to be responsible for the first attempt on McGlinchey’s life.

Andrés Escobar

(1994)
At the 1994 FIFA World Cup, disaster struck when Colombian defender Andrés Escobar inadvertently scored an own goal against the USA, eventually leading to them losing the match and getting knocked out of the tournament. Days later, Escobar was leaving a nightclub in Medellín, Colombia, when three men approached him in a parking lot. After an argument, Escobar was fatally shot several times. Humberto Castro Muñoz, a cartel bodyguard, admitted to the crime. While he was sentenced to 43 years and was suspiciously released after 11, there’s speculation that the Gallón brothers, who previously worked with Pablo Escobar, were responsible for the defender’s end and bribed the Prosecutor's Office to focus on Muñoz.

Dino Bravo

(1993)
Born in Italy and raised in Canada, Dino Bravo held numerous wrestling titles across North America as he showed off his impressive strength before retiring in 1992. In March 1993, the former wrestler was fatally shot at his home in Laval, Quebec. Bravo was the nephew by marriage of Vincenzo “The Egg” Cotroni, a Montreal crime boss. As such, it’s alleged the wrestler was involved in organized crime as his in-ring career was coming to an end. On top of working as an enforcer and debt collector, Bravo was believed to help with smuggling as well. According to friend Rick Martel, Bravo was blamed for a dealer being arrested with a large shipment of cocaine, resulting in his demise.

Jill Dando

(1999)
Jill Dando was one of the most high-profile journalists and TV presenters in the UK. After all, she hosted “Crimewatch” and had previous runs leading several news programs. But in April 1999, when she returned home to Fulham, England, Dando was fatally shot. The investigation led to the arrest of Barry George, who had a history of offenses against women. He received a life sentence in 2001. However, in 2008, forensic evidence acquitted George of the crime, and he was released. Speculation on the culprit included a contract issued by someone Dando had highlighted on “Crimewatch,” revenge for the presenter appealing for aid during the Yugoslav Wars, or an obsessed fan, have all been found wanting of concrete evidence.

Giovanni Borgia

(1497)
The Borgias are one of the most corrupt and vicious families in European history. The group used all sorts of methods to consolidate power, resulting in patriarch Rodrigo becoming Pope Alexander VI. In June 1497, the second eldest son Giovanni Borgia, also known as Juan, was leaving a family party in Rome, Italy, and allegedly dismissed his entourage to meet a woman. The next day, Borgia was missing. After a rampant search for the Pope’s favorite child, he was found stabbed. While the assailant was never found, it’s speculated that Borgia’s brothers, either Cesare or Gioffre, were responsible. Other theories include revenge from families of those slain by the Borgia family or by a father of a woman Giovanni was seeing.

Iqbal Masih

(1995)
From the age of four, Iqbal Masih was used as loan collateral by his family to a carpet factory owner in Pakistan. Over the next six years, Masih worked there, chained, and paid little. When he was 10, Masih escaped and went to school, hoping to become a lawyer to fight against bonded labor. In the meantime, he made public speeches against the act, forcing several factories in the country to close. However, Masih received many threats as a result. In April 1995, Masih was visiting family in Muritke. Sadly, he was fatally shot. The Bonded Labour Liberation Front, who worked with Masih, immediately blamed the “carpet mafia,” a gang that used violence against escapees. However, no one had been sentenced.

David Hennessy

(1890)
After working as the police chief for New Orleans, Louisiana, David Hennessy headed home in October 1890. However, several assailants appeared and fired at Hennessy, who fought back. Unfortunately, he was fatally injured. When help arrived, Hennessy allegedly told them that those responsible were people from the Mediterranean. After all, Hennessy had arrested Italian criminal Giuseppe Esposito, which launched his career. In the hospital, the police chief passed away. 19 Italian men were arrested for the murder. However, a series of mistrials and acquittals caused the local community to erupt in anger. Horribly, in March 1891, a group stormed the prison and lynched 11 of the detainees. Those that lived had all charges dropped against them for Hennessy’s demise.

Alexander Litvinenko

(2006)
Before defecting to the UK, Alexander Litvinenko was an officer in Russia’s Federal Security Service. He came under scrutiny when he attempted to speak out about corruption in the organization and was ordered to assassinate Boris Berezovsky, resulting in him facing trials in the country. In November 2006, Litvinenko was at a hotel’s bar in London, England, and drank green tea from a pot. Days later, he was admitted to the hospital, where it was discovered he had ingested polonium-210, resulting in fatal radiation poisoning. Immediately, suspicion fell on Russia. In 2016, a UK inquiry announced their belief that Andrei Lugovoi and Dmitry Kovtun were responsible. They also speculated that President Vladimir Putin had possibly ordered Litvinenko’s assassination. However, nothing has been confirmed.

Olof Palme

(1986)
In February 1986, Olof Palme was in his second reign as Prime Minister of Sweden as he walked home from the cinema with his wife, Lisbeth, in Stockholm. Sadly, Palme was fatally shot in the back, while Lisbeth was wounded by another. In 1989, the investigation led to Christer Pettersson as the perpetrator, who had served time for manslaughter, and he received life imprisonment for slaying Palme. However, months later, he was released after an appeal due to a lack of evidence or motive. In 2020, officials closed the case and concluded that an eyewitness to Palme’s assassination, Stig Engström, was likely the main suspect, who had taken his own life in 2000. However, there was no conclusive evidence of Engström’s involvement, either.