In 2014, the world was gripped by the mystery of Baltimore area high school student Hae Min Lee’s death as presented by Sarah Koenig, host of the podcast "Serial" and fans are eagerly awaiting season two. The murder detailed in season one actually took place in 1999 and quickly became murky when the lead suspect in the case, Adnan Syed (also Hae’s boyfriend) was arrested tried for her murder. After two trials he was found guilty and things cooled down… until Sarah Koenig got on the case. After the first season of the "Serial" podcast, and its incongruous findings, a call for a fresh look into Adnan’s case arose from the public and the Maryland Court of Special Appeals filed a decision allowing Syed to appeal his conviction on grounds his attorney Cristina Gutierrez had provided ineffective counsel for failing to seek a plea bargain during his trial. With all the good accomplished by the first season of "Serial," think of the cases that could be solved if they were brought to light on the second season! This list is made up of the unsolved murders that should be the focus of "Serial" season 2.
The unsolved murders on this list have been under investigation for up to 20 years, with little to no leads. In some cases, the murders have multiple suspects that haven’t been narrowed down for mysterious reasons. We think the murders on this list could use the "Serial" treatment to finally put their mysteries to rest.
When is the next season of "Serial"? Hopefully soon! In the meantime, vote up the unsolved murders you think should be featured on the next season of "Serial," and hopefully NPR and the "This American Life" crew will hear your cries!
Unsolved Murders That Should Be Featured on Serial Season 2,
JonBenét Ramsey
The Case: Eight hours after she was reported missing, the body of JonBenét Ramsey was found beaten and strangled in the basement of her family home. Colorado law enforcement agencies initially suspected Ramsey's parents and her older brother Burke. However, the family was partially exonerated in 2003 when DNA taken from the victim's clothes suggested they were not involved. In 2013, previously sealed court documents were released, showing that a grand jury had voted in 1999 to indict John and Patricia Ramsey with the murder of six-year-old JonBenét Ramsey on charges of child abuse resulting in death and being accessories to a crime. However, then-District Attorney Alex Hunter decided not to sign the indictment, saying the evidence was insufficient.
The Cast: The Ramsey family, and ex-DA Alex Hunter.
What Sarah Koenig Will Ask Over and Over: What's up with the ransom note? And why wouldn't Alex Hunter sign the indictment?
Death of Molly Bish
The Case: In the summer of 2000, Bish worked as a lifeguard at Comins Pond in Warren, MA when she disappeared wearing a blue bathing suit. Her mother claims to have seen a man in a white car watching Molly the day before her disappearance. Her body was found in the woods three years after her disappearance.
The Cast: Rodney Stranger, a Florida resident convicted of murdering his girlfriend who lived a few miles from Bish for over 20 years and moved a year after the murder. Gerald Battistoni, a man currently serving a prison sentence for repeatedly raping a teenaged girl in the early 1990s; he attempted to kill himself after newspaper articles identified him as a potential suspect in Bish's death.
What Sarah Koenig Will Ask Over and Over: Did Molly's murderer give her a jacket to wear over her suit? What is the importance of the blue hue of her bathing suit? What does the open first aid kit at the scene tell us?
Murder of Jill-Lyn Euto
The Case: On Super Bowl Sunday in 2001, Jill-Lyn Euto was stabbed to death between noon and 3 pm. No locks were broken and no money was taken. Based on eyewitness reports, whoever killed her did not come into the building with her. The murder weapon was one of Euto's own kitchen knives. No suspects have been named.
The Cast: Jill's mother, who found the body. The Syracuse Police. The property managers at Jill's apartment.
What Sarah Koenig Will Ask Over and Over: What about the Super Bowl? Didn't Jill have a party to go to? Wasn't anyone expecting her?
Doodler
The Case: The Doodler (sometimes called the Black Doodler) is an unidentified serial killer who, between January 1974 and September 1975, was responsible for 14 murders and three assaults on gay men in San Francisco. He earned his nickname for his pattern of drawing the men before stabbing them to death. In 1975, the police had a suspect, but couldn't get the three surviving victims to testify, for fear of being outed.
The Cast: Harvey Milk, the then-Mayor of San Francisco; the San Francisco police force; and the three men who survived the Doodler's attacks.
What Sarah Koenig Will Ask Over and Over:: Why wouldn't those men come forward? And what about the police? Couldn't they follow their suspect until he attacked someone else?
Robert Eric Wone
The Case: In 2006, Wone's body was found in the home of a college friend, he was believed to have been "restrained, incapacitated, and sexually assaulted" before his death. Within days of the murder, Washington, DC police alleged that the crime scene had been tampered with, but no charges were filed for over two years. The individuals present in the townhouse when Wone was attacked were charged in late 2008 obstruction of justice, and conspiracy. Wone's widow filed a $20 million wrongful death lawsuit against the residents of the townhouse in November, 2008; the suit was settled on August 3, 2011 for an undisclosed sum.
The Cast: Joseph Price and his domestic partner Victor Zaborsky, the two men with whom Wone was staying at the time of the murder.
What Sarah Koenig Will Ask Over and Over: What was in the affidavit that made police think that Joseph Price killed Robert Wone? Why hasn't it been released?
The Jeff Davis 8
The Case: Between 2005 and 2009, the bodies of eight women, all of whom had an involvement with drugs or prostitution, were found in swamps and canals surrounding Jennings, LA. Initially, it was believed that this was the work of a serial killer, but the findings of investigative reporter, Ethan Brown, reveal that there may be multiple suspects.
The Cast: Ethan Brown, investigative reporter on the case; Frankie Richard, a local strip club owner and suspected drug dealer; and the Louisiana State Sheriff's department.
What Sarah Koenig Will Ask Over and Over: What about the connection between the women and the Sheriff's department? Shouldn't there be a DNA connection?
John Gilbride
The Case: In 1996 John Gilbride married Alberta Africa, ex-wife of John Africa - the leader of MOVE (a Philadelphia-based black activism group). In 2002, after testifying that MOVE threatened to kill him, Gillbride was found shot to death in his parked car outside of his home. MOVE initially made statements that the US government had assassinated Gilbride to frame them, and Alberta Africa denied that the murder had occurred, stating in 2009 that Gilbride "is out hiding somewhere." Tony Allen, an ex-MOVE member, maintains that MOVE murdered Gilbride.
The Cast: Alberta Africa, John's ex-wife. Tony Allen, an ex member who knows more than he's letting on. The leaders of MOVE.
What Sarah Koenig Will Ask Over and Over: What about the notebook that Gilbride told his friends about having that contained incriminating evidence about MOVE? Why was it ignored in his murder investigation?
The Jenner California Double Murder
The Case: Lindsay Cutshall and her fiance Jason S. Allen were shot to death by a 1894 Marlin .45 caliber long rifle in 2004 as they slept on the beach in Jenner, CA. The murder weapon is considered uncommon. No shell casings were found on the scene, meaning the killer had to have retrieved them. The murders do resemble a few others across the country, but no arrests have been made. In 2006, it was revealed that a strange hat, some poems, and a beer only sold in Wisconsin was found near the crime scene.
The Cast: James Robert Zook, a convicted murderer who used an antique gun similar to that which was used to murder Cutshall and Allen. Joseph Henry Burgess, a drifter who was heard to voice his pleasure in the unmarried couple sleeping on the beach.
What Sarah Koenig Will Ask Over and Over: Where did the beer come from? How many of those guns can there be in America right now?
The Case of Rachael Runyan
The Case: Rachael Runyan was kidnapped in 1982 and her naked body was found in a stream 24 days later. From the outset the police were strapped for leads in the case. Twice, when visiting her grave, her father found a black rose on her headstone. Two and a half years later, this message appeared on a bathroom stall: "I'm still at large...I killed the little Runyan girl! Remember Beware!!!" Psychologists associated with the case say it could have been written by the real killer. The case remained cold until 2012, when the Police tracked down one of their original suspects.
The Cast: Rachael's brother, who was present when she was kidnapped; and the police, who seem to be doing very little.
What Sarah Koenig Will Ask Over and Over: What about the bathroom door? Would the killer really be that stupid? Why hasn't Rachael's brother been able to identify her kidnapper?
Barbara Barnes
The Case: A Steubenville, OH girl was found strangled on a riverbed on February 22, 1996, over two months after she was last seen walking to school. Her body was discovered on the property of her uncle, Louis Boyce, but he wasn't charged with her murder despite failing a polygraph test.
The Cast: Louis Boyce, and Barbara's grandfather.
What Sarah Koenig Will Ask Over and Over: Why did the police never follow up on the polygraph test?