10 Biggest Mistakes That Damaged Investigations Into Unsolved Cases

Top-10-Mistakes-in-Unsolved-Mysteries-That-Hindered-Investigations

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the biggest mistakes that damaged the investigations into unsolved cases.

#10: Jack the Ripper Case

Circulated Inaccurate Suspect Sketches

It’s been over 135 years since Jack the Ripper stalked the streets of London’s Whitechapel district, but the infamous murderer continues to enthrall the public. Beginning in August 1888, the killer claimed five lives in a vicious spree that is still widely discussed and debated. As publicity mounted about the killings, police struggled under mounting pressure from the press. In an attempt to elicit help from the public, police made a critical error when they allowed the press to publish artist renderings of the killer. Unfortunately, the sketches weren’t based on witness descriptions. They were simply the artist’s interpretation of how a deranged killer may look. The drawings resulted in a flood of useless tips, further straining the already overwhelmed detectives.

#9: Murders of James Deiter & Tim Orydzuk

Accidental Death Ruling Delayed Investigation


James Deiter and Tim Orydzuk worked at a paper recycling plant in Sherwood Park, Alberta, Canada. On October 1, 1994, both men were found unresponsive near a machine they were repairing earlier that day. Officers did not suspect foul play. They assumed the men died in a work-related accident and passed the case to Occupational Health and Safety. Autopsies conducted two days later revealed both men were murdered. Investigators scrambled to recover from the 36 hours they lost. However, they struggled to collect viable evidence since the crime scene had not been secured. An arrest was eventually made. Unfortunately, the prosecutor further fumbled the case by misrepresenting evidence. The charges against the man were dismissed. He later won a lawsuit for malicious prosecution and false imprisonment.

#8: Disappearance of Robin Abrams

Conflict of Interest

In October 1990, Robin Abrams was scheduled to appear at a hearing for a wrongful termination lawsuit she filed against the Will County Sheriff’s Office in Illinois. But just eighteen days before the hearing, Abrams vanished. Her locked car was found abandoned. Years before she disappeared, Abrams was a sheriff’s deputy. During that time, she had an affair with her married co-worker, Anthony Marquez. When the relationship ended, Abrams was fired. Abrams filed a complaint against Marquez, stating he’d slashed her tires. Marquez later filed a complaint, claiming Abrams harassed him. The accusations continued until Abrams got an order of protection against Marquez. Despite the conflict of interest, the Will County Sheriff’s Office initially handled the case, bringing the integrity of the investigation into question.

#7: Mysterious Death of Una Crown

Accidental Death Ruling Delayed Investigation

In January 2013, the lifeless body of Una Crown was found lying face down in the hallway of her home in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, England. Police concluded her death was a tragic accident. Crown’s family questioned this determination but ultimately accepted it. Just two days later, Crown’s autopsy indicated she’d been murdered. Police launched an official murder investigation, but by that point, the crime scene was contaminated. Officers on the scene had touched light switches, door knobs, and other surfaces. Additionally, because police assumed her death was an accident, no care was taken to preserve evidence. Numerous people had been permitted to enter the property, and someone even mopped the floor. Over a decade later, the case is still open, but no suspects have ever emerged.

#6: Mysterious Death of Tiffany Valiante

Mishandled Key Evidence

Tiffany Valiante was a gifted athlete. Her talent on the volleyball court earned her several scholarships, which she’d recently accepted. Before beginning college in the fall, Valiante was enjoying summer with her friends and family in Mays Landing, New Jersey. On the evening of July 12, 2015, she attended a party but never returned home. Later that night, she was struck and killed by an NJ Transit train four miles from her home. The NJ Transit Authority swiftly determined she’d taken her own life and closed the case. Later, it was discovered that the authorities had mishandled key evidence, hindering all further investigation. Valiante’s shirt was improperly stored, and an axe found near the scene was lost. Questions continue to swirl around the case.

#5: Sydney Ghost Train Fire

Prematurely Cleared the Fire Site

In the 1970s, Luna Park Sydney was one of Australia's most popular amusement parks. A top attraction in the park was the Ghost Train. The disorienting ride took passengers through a dark, winding tunnel full of spine-chilling special effects. Night after night, park-goers enjoyed the thrilling ride. But on June 9, 1979, something went terribly wrong. Multiple people noticed an odd smell and what looked like real fire. Soon, flames enveloped the ride, trapping several passengers inside. Seven people perished. The exact cause was unclear. However, the lead investigator quickly ruled out arson and concluded faulty wiring was to blame. The scene was cleared, leaving many questions unanswered and obliterating any chance of further investigation. Official handling of the case has been heavily criticized.

#4: The Boys on the Tracks

Accidental Death Ruling Delayed Investigation

Don Henry and Kevin Ives were typical high schoolers. However, on August 23, 1987, the friends met a fate that was anything but ordinary. Just before dawn, a train engineer spotted two figures — later identified as Henry and Ives — lying motionless on the tracks ahead. He initiated an emergency stop, but bringing the 6000-pound cargo train to a halt was impossible. The medical examiner ruled their deaths accidental, concluding they were in a deep sleep caused by exceptionally high levels of THC. The ruling was overturned after second autopsies revealed one of the boys was dead before being struck, and the other was unconscious. Sadly, the initial accidental death ruling compromised the investigation. Few leads ever surfaced, turning the unusual case into an enduring mystery.

#3: The Black Dahlia

Attempt to Force a Confession Led to a Lawsuit

The grisly 1947 murder of Elizabeth Short is one of the most notorious cold cases in American history. Dubbed the Black Dahlia by the media because of her dark hair and affinity for black clothing, Short was a young aspiring actress. The case was heavily publicized. By most accounts, the LAPD put extensive effort into solving the case, conducting numerous interviews, and identifying multiple suspects. However, they faced intense public pressure to capture the killer. When they narrowed in on Leslie Dillon, investigators were certain he was responsible. Trying to force a confession from Dillon, LAPD’s “Gangster Squad” illegally detained him. In response, Dillon filed a lawsuit against the department. The case ultimately landed in front of a grand jury and then went cold.

#2: Zodiac Killer

Inaccurate Description Allowed Suspect to Elude Capture

The self-named Zodiac Killer held northern California in a state of terror in the late 1960s. The serial killer taunted police by sending multiple letters and ciphers to the local press. Zodiac eluded authorities for a year before narrowly escaping capture in 1969. After shooting San Francisco taxi driver Paul Stine, Zodiac was able to flee the scene because the physical description provided to police officers over dispatch was wrong. This mistake enabled Zodiac to walk directly by two police officers who unwittingly allowed the killer to escape. Investigators did not connect the shooting to Zodiac until the San Francisco Chronicle received a letter from the killer bragging about the murder and his close brush with the officers.

#1: Murder of JonBenét Ramsey

Failed to Secure Crime Scene

On Christmas Day 1996, JonBenét Ramsey was found dead in the basement of her family’s home in Boulder, Colorado. The case sparked a media frenzy and generated worldwide attention. For decades, investigators and amateur sleuths have tried to unravel the mystery of who killed the child beauty queen. Unfortunately, the initial investigation is riddled with errors. The most critical mistake occurred as soon as the police arrived — they failed to secure the crime scene. Police also neglected to take statements from JonBenét’s parents right away, even though they were behaving in a manner the officers considered unusual. A series of additional mistakes followed. The Boulder police acknowledged these early errors. However, the investigation suffered as a result, and the case remains unsolved.

Do you know of another bungled investigation into an unsolved mystery? Let us know in the comments.