# The Unsolved Murder Thread! **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [September 4, 2006, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-unsolved-murder-thread/371340 "2006-09-04T00:14:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2006, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-unsolved-murder-thread/371340/1 "2006-09-04T00:14:07Z")
The [Jack the Ripper thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=386683) and the upcoming Black Dahlia movie got me feeling we needed another Great Unsolved Murders thread, replete with wild-assed guesses. Feel free, of course, to add your own murders. Well, not your own murders; you know what I mean. [William Desmond Taylor](http://www.angelfire.com/az/Taylorology/). I think Mary Miles Minter’s mother did it, both on the available evidence and on the fact that it’s fun to say “Mary Miles Minter’s mother.” [Thelma Todd](http://www.usc.edu/libraries/archives/la/scandals/todd.html). I think it was a plain old boring accident: she came home from a night of partying and fell asleep in the car with the motor running. The Mob does not kill you by putting you in a running car in an unlocked garage; they put a bullet in your head. [Lizzie Borden](http://www.crimelibrary.com/notorious_murders/famous/borden/index_1.html). I used to think the maid, Bridget Sullivan, might have done it, but the more reading I do, I think it was indeed Lizzie. As far as the Black Dahlia and Jon-Benet, I’m going with “I have not the _slightest_idea,” except that the same person probably did not kill them both. “Your serve, Maude.” ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2006, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-unsolved-murder-thread/371340/2 "2006-09-04T00:32:14Z")
[QUOTE=Eve] As far as the Black Dahlia and Jon-Benet, I’m going with “I have not the _slightest_idea,” except that the same person probably did not kill them both. [/QUOTE] That’s because it was a suicide pact. Duh! [sub]I think I’m going to hell for that one[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![jimmmy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/73ab20/32.png) [@jimmmy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jimmmy)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2006, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-unsolved-murder-thread/371340/3 "2006-09-04T00:42:08Z")
My Takes FWIW Thelma Todd: An Accident. Drunk as a monkey she reached her car, but passed out after turning it on. Wm. D. Taylor: I’m going to say [Margaret Gibson’s](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0317098/) confession was genuine. She had been involved ibn othe rbad lawbreaking schemes Borden: I think that Lizzie gave her mother 40 whacks and when she saw what she had done… ## How about: Marilyn Monroe: My Take: Marilyn Accidentally overdosed. Her housekeeper discovered this about midnight and called her Doctor - either her personal Physician or her Psychiatrist (probably the former). This Doctor had negligently prescribed drugs w/o consultation (or perhaps Marilyn didn’t tell him she was seeing the Psychiatrist and/or that he had prescribed anything). Whatever, he had prescribed the barbiturates that killed '62’s Jessica Simpson/ParisH/Lindsay Lohan rolled into one. He cleaned the scene and may have made some calls. About 4:30 AM he told the House keeper to call the police. A Conspiracy Theory/mystery death is born. Black Dahlia - No Idea - Having said that a 48 Hours really gave a big maybe about an LA Doctor - but I dunno … Jon-Benet: Based on what I know, I would not vote to convict the Ramseys in a court of law as a Jury member. But the Boulder DA says all the evidence is in the public domnain, and they are the best suspects that I can think of - by far. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2006, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-unsolved-murder-thread/371340/4 "2006-09-04T00:46:06Z")
[QUOTE=Tapioca Dextrin] That’s because it was a suicide pact. Duh! [sub]I think I’m going to hell for that one[/sub] [/QUOTE] [sub]I think you are right[/sub] How about the [mystery of the Mary Celeste](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Celeste#Speculation_on_the_Mary_Celeste)? I have always thought a mutiny and mass murder the likeliest answer. I have no opinion on the murders you mentioned **Eve** , The Borden case is the only one I am familiar with and I do not know enough to make an educated guess. Jim ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2006, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-unsolved-murder-thread/371340/5 "2006-09-04T01:44:25Z")
Another unsolved mystery which will be getting new media attention is the Zodiac killings, with the movie _Zodiac_ due to be released in January. ---
**Author:** ![Rodgers01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b19c9b/32.png) [@Rodgers01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rodgers01)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2006, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-unsolved-murder-thread/371340/6 "2006-09-04T02:14:51Z")
The **Nicole Brown/Rod Goldman murders** are still officially unsolved. But I have an idea who might have done it… ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2006, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-unsolved-murder-thread/371340/7 "2006-09-04T02:16:39Z")
[QUOTE=Rodgers01] The **Nicole Brown/Rod Goldman murders** are still officially unsolved. But I have an idea who might have done it… [/QUOTE] It was Cato, right? I never trusted him. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Rieux](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@Dr.Rieux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Rieux)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2006, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-unsolved-murder-thread/371340/8 "2006-09-04T02:24:48Z")
[QUOTE=What Exit?] It was Cato, right? I never trusted him. [/QUOTE] Are you implying that the Green Hornet is covering up for him? ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2006, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-unsolved-murder-thread/371340/9 "2006-09-04T02:29:00Z")
[QUOTE=Dr. Rieux] Are you implying that the Green Hornet is covering up for him? [/QUOTE] Green Hornet? I can’t keep up with these bad guys, I thought it was the Green Lamppost or something like that. Jim {Ok, so he spells it Kato} ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2006, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-unsolved-murder-thread/371340/10 "2006-09-04T02:30:58Z")
[QUOTE=Rodgers01] The **Nicole Brown/Rod Goldman murders** are still officially unsolved. But I have an idea who might have done it… [/QUOTE] Who? Who? ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2006, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-unsolved-murder-thread/371340/11 "2006-09-04T02:32:45Z")
The solution to the infamous (at least in Australia) [Bogle/Chandler deaths/murders](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bogle_chandler) in 1963 is supposedly going to be revealed this week in a television documentary. ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2006, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-unsolved-murder-thread/371340/12 "2006-09-04T02:49:51Z")
Due to all the recent **JonBenet Ramsey** hysteria, and the fact that I live at ground zero, I have been recently exposed to [this](http://jonbenetramsey.pbwiki.com/) website. Caution, this link has links to disturbing, but not graphic, crime scene photographs. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2006, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-unsolved-murder-thread/371340/13 "2006-09-04T02:51:52Z")
Disalvo the Boston Strangler is now supposed to be innocent. TV show gave him pretty good alibis. ---
**Author:** ![Aholibah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Aholibah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aholibah)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2006, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-unsolved-murder-thread/371340/14 "2006-09-04T02:54:20Z")
Always been a bit partial to the [Hall-Mills murders](http://www.crimelibrary.com/notorious_murders/family/mills/1.html), myself. I incline to the Willie Stevens/Mrs. Hall theory of the crime. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2006, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-unsolved-murder-thread/371340/15 "2006-09-04T03:40:30Z")
Mary Miles Minter’s mother did it. She was one scary old battleaxe. It’s a credit to Taylor’s unrestrained libido that he was doing both her and her hot daughter. So, you don’t think Lizzie and Bridget were Um-Friends, Mom found out, and they did her in plus Dad because he’d probably disapprove of murder? I’ve never seen a crime scene photo of Mom (a situation I expect to be corrected within the next 24 hours) but Lizzie killed Dad several times over. Whoa! Bogle had as many as five affairs going at once? Never question the horniness of physics nerds! Where he found five female physics groupies in the early sixties is a wonder, though. And in underpopulated Oz? I think he was making it up. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2006, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-unsolved-murder-thread/371340/16 "2006-09-04T04:13:31Z")
As for Thelma Todd, why was the garage door closed with her behind the wheel? Huh? I run circles around you logically! But yeah, the Guys typically make no effort to make it look like an accident. The victim is not the person who is supposed to take a lesson away but if the others who have transgressed the unwritten law can justify it away as an accident they didn’t learn much of a lesson, did they? ---
**Author:** ![PBear42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecccb3/32.png) [@PBear42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PBear42)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2006, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-unsolved-murder-thread/371340/17 "2006-09-04T05:10:42Z")
[The Princes in The Tower](http://www.crimelibrary.com/notorious_murders/famous/the_princes/1.html). I said Edward did it, i.e., ordered it done, though it’s possible a supporter did it on his own hook. Yes, the Tudors doubtless dressed up the story for publicity purposes, but no other theory I’ve seen covers the facts. But I admit that Edward’s guilt has not been (and probably cannot be) conclusively proven. ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2006, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-unsolved-murder-thread/371340/18 "2006-09-04T05:35:40Z")
[QUOTE=PBear42] [The Princes in The Tower](http://www.crimelibrary.com/notorious_murders/famous/the_princes/1.html). I said Edward did it, i.e., ordered it done, though it’s possible a supporter did it on his own hook. Yes, the Tudors doubtless dressed up the story for publicity purposes, but no other theory I’ve seen covers the facts. But I admit that Edward’s guilt has not been (and probably cannot be) conclusively proven. [/QUOTE] Edward? Do you mean the boys’ father? He had already died. The two suspects usually suggested are Richard III (the boys’ uncle) or Henry VII. ---
**Author:** ![PBear42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecccb3/32.png) [@PBear42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PBear42)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2006, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-unsolved-murder-thread/371340/19 "2006-09-04T06:43:21Z")
D’oh. Typo. ---
**Author:** ![Lobelia\_Overhill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/54ee81/32.png) [@Lobelia\_Overhill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobelia_Overhill)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2006, 11:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-unsolved-murder-thread/371340/20 "2006-09-04T11:28:01Z")
[QUOTE=Rodgers01] The **Nicole Brown/Rod Goldman murders** are still officially unsolved. But I have an idea who might have done it… [/QUOTE] I seem to remember seeing a CGI animation of ‘what happened that night’ that IMO “proved” it wasn’t one person acting alone… 'course that could just have been a crap animation… [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-unsolved-murder-thread/371340.md?page=2)