Original Case Files Page 8

Dublin, Ireland

0 victims · dismissed

John Wayne Gacy

John Wayne Gacy, an American serial killer and sex offender, was apprehended on December 21, 1978, in Norwood Park Township, Illinois, after the investigation into the disappearance of 15-year-old Robert Piest led authorities to his home. Between 1972 and 1978, Gacy lured at least thirty-three young men and boys to his residence, where he raped, tortured, and murdered them, often using handcuffs under the guise of a magic trick. The majority of his victims were buried in the crawl space of his home, while others were discarded in the Des Plaines River. Gacy was convicted of thirty-three murders, marking the highest number of homicides by a single individual in U.S. history at the time, and was executed by lethal injection on May 10, 1994, at Stateville Correctional Center.

Illinois

7 sources cited

Norwood Park Township, Illinois

33 victims · Solved

Alexander Bogdanov

On April 7, 1928, Alexander Aleksandrovich Bogdanov, a prominent Russian physician, philosopher, and Bolshevik revolutionary, died in Moscow, Soviet Union, at the age of 54. He was a key figure in the early history of the Russian Social Democratic Labor Party and co-founded the Bolshevik faction in 1903, later becoming a rival to Vladimir Lenin. Bogdanov was known for his pioneering work in blood transfusion and his development of "tectology," a precursor to systems theory. His death was attributed to complications from a blood transfusion he had conducted on himself, which he believed would rejuvenate him. The current status of his legacy remains significant in the fields of philosophy, medicine, and political theory, despite his expulsion from the Bolshevik party in 1909 and subsequent opposition to Lenin's government.

Russia

Moscow, Russian SFSR

0 victims · unsolved

Al Capone

Alphonse Gabriel Capone, known as "Scarface," was a prominent gangster and businessman who led the Chicago Outfit from 1925 until his imprisonment in 1931. His criminal activities, particularly during the Prohibition era, included bootlegging and racketeering, which were marked by extreme violence, notably the Saint Valentine's Day Massacre on February 14, 1929, where seven members of a rival gang were killed. Capone was born on January 17, 1899, in Brooklyn, New York, and rose to power after taking over for Johnny Torrio, who retired following an assassination attempt. He was ultimately convicted of tax evasion in 1931 and sentenced to 11 years in prison, serving time until his release in 1939 due to health issues. Capone died on January 25, 1947, in Palm Island, Florida, leaving behind a legacy as one of America's most notorious criminals.

Illinois

3 sources cited

Chicago, Illinois

7 victims · Solved

2014 Midwest FurFest Gas Attack

On December 7, 2014, at approximately 12:45 a.m., a chlorine gas attack occurred during the Midwest FurFest convention at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare in Rosemont, Illinois, resulting in 19 attendees being hospitalized. The incident prompted an immediate evacuation of the hotel, with attendees relocated to the Stephens Convention Center while hazmat technicians worked to decontaminate the area. Investigators discovered a broken glass jar containing a white powder and liquid on the ninth floor, with air samples indicating high levels of chlorine gas. Despite extensive interviews conducted by the Rosemont police and the FBI, no charges have been filed, and the case remains unsolved as of 2022, with the statute of limitations having expired in 2019.

Illinois

4 sources cited

Rosemont, Illinois

19 victims · unsolved

ÁNgel Maturino ReséNdiz

Were both brutally murdered in their homes in Texas, showcasing Reséndiz's pattern of targeting vulnerable individuals. His ability to evade law enforcement while committing these heinous acts highlights significant gaps in cross-border criminal tracking and coordination. Reséndiz was ultimately captured in 1999 and sentenced to death, but his case remains a chilling reminder of the dangers posed by transient criminals exploiting the rail system. Investigators are urged to review cold cases from the 1990s for potential links to Reséndiz's methodology and victim profile.

Texas

2 sources cited

Texas, United States

15 victims · Solved

William Devonshire

The case involves the murders of two homeless women in Sarasota, Florida, attributed to William Jeffrey Devonshire, who was a habitual criminal with a prior murder conviction in Delaware. The first victim, Kelliann Ripley, was discovered on February 25, 2022, with her death ruled a homicide due to blunt force trauma and manual strangulation. Devonshire was apprehended on March 11, 2022, but died on June 5, 2022, from medical complications while awaiting trial. Posthumous DNA evidence linked him to both murders, solidifying his involvement in these crimes. Investigators are continuing to examine any additional unsolved cases that may be connected to Devonshire's criminal history.

Florida

Sarasota, Florida

2 victims · unsolved

Robert Rozier

Robert Earnest Rozier Jr., born July 28, 1955, is a former professional football player turned convicted murderer, who, in the 1980s, committed at least four murders in connection with the Nation of Yahweh religious group. The crimes occurred by Halloween 1986 in various locations in California. Rozier was charged and subsequently turned state's evidence against the group, leading to a 22-year prison sentence, of which he served ten years before being paroled and placed in witness protection. In 2001, he was re-incarcerated under California's three-strikes law after being convicted of check bouncing, and he is currently serving a 25-to-life sentence at Mule Creek State Prison. Significant evidence in the case included Rozier's confessions and corroborating testimonies from other members of the Nation of Yahweh.

Florida

3 sources cited

Source-Backed Case Summary

Opa-locka, Florida

4 victims · Solved

Linda Hazzard

In 1911, Linda Laura Hazzard, operating a sanitarium called Wilderness Heights in Olalla, Washington, was convicted of manslaughter for the deaths of at least 15 patients due to her extreme fasting treatments, which she falsely promoted as cures for various ailments. Hazzard, who had no formal medical training but exploited a legal loophole to practice alternative medicine, was sentenced to 2 to 20 years in prison but served only two years before being paroled in 1915. She received a full pardon in 1916 under the condition of relocating to New Zealand. Hazzard continued her controversial practices until her death from self-imposed starvation in 1938, raising significant concerns about medical ethics and patient safety in alternative medicine practices.

Washington

2 sources cited

Olalla, Washington

15 victims · Solved

Larry Bright

Larry Dean Bright, known as "The Bonecrusher," is a convicted serial killer responsible for the deaths of at least eight women in central Illinois between July 2003 and October 2004. The murders occurred primarily in Peoria and Tazewell County, with victims aged 30 to 41, whose bodies were often burned and dismembered. Bright was apprehended on January 20, 2005, following a tip from a sex worker, Vickie Bomar, who reported an attempted assault by him. After confessing to the murders in May 2005, he was convicted on eight counts of murder and sentenced to eight life terms without the possibility of parole. Significant evidence included witness testimonies and the discovery of remains linked to Bright, which corroborated the timeline and modus operandi of the crimes.

Illinois

Peoria, Illinois

8 victims · Solved

Joe Metheny

Joseph Roy Metheny, an American serial killer and rapist, was active primarily in the Baltimore, Maryland area from 1976 to 1996. He was apprehended on December 15, 1996, after confessing to the murders of Cathy Ann Magaziner and another unidentified victim, although he claimed to have killed up to 13 individuals. Metheny's criminal activities included kidnapping and rape, leading to his conviction for two murders, for which he was initially sentenced to death; this was later commuted to life imprisonment. Significant evidence included the discovery of Magaziner's body in a shallow grave at his workplace, along with Metheny's own confessions detailing the circumstances of the murders. He died in custody on August 5, 2017, at the age of 62.

Maryland

6 sources cited

Baltimore, Maryland

2 victims · Solved

Murder Of Dawn Olanick

On July 15, 1982, the body of Dawn Rita Olanick, a 17-year-old female, was discovered by gravedigger George Kise in Cedar Ridge Cemetery, Blairstown Township, New Jersey, lying on her back with severe facial injuries indicative of homicide. Olanick, who was born on August 5, 1964, was initially unidentified and became known as "Princess Doe" until her identification was confirmed on the 40th anniversary of her discovery in 2022. In January 1983, she was buried in the same cemetery where she was found, and her remains were exhumed in 1999 for DNA testing. As of now, Arthur Kinlaw has been charged with first-degree murder in connection with Olanick's death, marking a significant development in a case that remained unsolved for decades. Key evidence includes a golden cross necklace found in her hair and the condition of her remains, which complicated the investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death.

New Jersey