Most Intriguing Classic Unsolved Single Murder Poll

[STANDREID]

I wonder how much coverage the Black Dahlia Murder got on TV. The first commercial Los Angeles television station, KTLA, began broadcasting 5 days after the murder on January 22 of 1947.

 

[STANDREID]

If they had a news department right off then I'm pretty sure they would have covered it.

 

[Dragonfyree]

Another case I find interesting, although it is technically solved is the Linda Agostini (The Pyjama Girl Case) 1934 - Australia. She was shot and then set on fire. They couldn't identify her so they put her into a formalin tank for 10 years.

After 10 years they pulled her out and had the public look at her again. Linda Agostini's husband was arrested and eventually confessed to the murder of his wife, but insisted that the pajama girl was not his wife, he refused to claim it and after spending 10 years in jail and deported, still insisted the body wasn't his wife's.

Meanwhile during this entire time another woman had been claiming the body was that of her daughter Philomena Morgan, who she believed was murdered by the son of a high ranking detective.

Very weird. I don't know why he wouldn't admit the body was his wife's if it was. He already served his sentence and was being deported. Why did the police totally ignore a woman who identified the body at the beginning, especially when Philomena's description fit the corpse more so than Linda Agostini did.

 

[STANDREID]

That is a pretty bizarre one.

 

[STANDREID]

Agostini got a pretty light sentence so they must have had some doubts.

 

[BlithePlum]

The Oklahoma Girl Scout Murders in 1977.

 

[STANDREID]

Agostini got a pretty light sentence so they must have had some doubts.

I see that Agostini was only convicted of manslaughter and died in 1969.

 

[STANDREID]

I suppose DNA would solve who the "Agostini" woman was but that isn't likely to happen.

 

[STANDREID]

If it wasn't Linda then why didn't Mr. Agostini take authorities to his wife's body?

 

[STANDREID]

If it wasn't Linda then why didn't Mr. Agostini take authorities to her actual remains?

 

[Dragonfyree]

If it wasn't Linda then why didn't Mr. Agostini take authorities to her actual remains?

Before he went to trial, he probably thought he wouldn't be convicted, especially if it wasn't his wife. Leading them to the body of his wife would have definitely led to his conviction.

After his conviction, there would be no reason to lead them to it. He had a relatively light sentence and a lot of people believing his story that he was innocent.

Don't know if Australia has a double jeopardy law. Might have had a legal issue if he took them to the body. Maybe additional charges.

 

[Bugzmom]

Also let us not forget the technically unsolved murder of Adam Walsh

 

[STANDREID]

Yes, and I consider it even more than technically unsolved.

 

[BOESP]

I thought John Walsh believed and had evidence that Ottis Toole killed Adam???

 

[eileenhawkeye]

I thought John Walsh believed and had evidence that Ottis Toole killed Adam???

Yeah, I remember there was a big press conference, and John and Reve both spoke at it. They seem pretty satisfied that the case was resolved.

 

[STANDREID]

I thought John Walsh believed and had evidence that Ottis Toole killed Adam???

It's unlike Toole's other crimes but who knows. My own feeling is that his sometime confession was an attention seeking measure.

 

[STANDREID]

I suppose it's a way for John Walsh to put the tragedy behind him and he can't be faulted for that.

 

[STANDREID]

I believe that at least 5 cases have at least one movie made about them.

But, there's no Valerie Percy movie to my knowledge.

 

[STANDREID]

I think Dahlia is at the same stage as Jack the Ripper now. That is, people are picking a pet suspect then building a case around them while ignoring any evidence that points away from them or to another suspect.

 

[kline]

I think Dahlia is at the same stage as Jack the Ripper now. That is, people are picking a pet suspect then building a case around them while ignoring any evidence that points away from them or to another suspect.

Agree 100% Standreid.
My gut feeling is that the Dahlia killer like Jack the Ripper is probably someone who is lost to history and not even enough remains about them to become a 'Number One On The Charts Suspect'.
I have serious doubts as well about Otis Toole being Adam Walsh's killer as well.
I think that was more of a Symbolic act of Closure between John Walsh and the Hollywood Florida PD.