April 30, 1970 Virginia Beach, Virginia Baby Doe

On April 30, around 10:30 a.m. the body of a baby girl found lying on the water's edge at Sandbridge Beach in Virginia Beach, Virginia. It seems as if she was asphyxiated and then the killer (likely her parent or parents) tossed the body in the ocean. It's likely the body floated from north of where she was found.

She was estimated to be 0 to 12 months old and white. She was 1'8" and 6 lbs. She had brown hair. 

SOURCES:

Virginia Beach

NamUs

November 14, 1920 Woolley, England Baby Jane Doe

On the afternoon of November 14, 1920, a farm laborer saw a green taxi-cab coming from the direction of Wakefield to Woolley, England. He said that the driver was wearing a uniform and that the nearside was a woman. He hadn't realized what the people in the taxi had done.

Another witness stated that while walking down Mill Lane towards Barnsley Rd. they saw the taxi pass the end of the lane. He saw someone closing a door and continued driving. What was left by the road was a pillow slip with a dead newborn baby girl inside.

The girl had been born alive but may have died due to inattention at birth. It's likely that the baby was abandoned like this to hide the fact the mother was even pregnant.

SOURCES:
Unsolved Murders

Murder of Vida Mae Hirschey

In December of 1984, Vida Mae Hirschey went missing (it's unstated from where). A year later in December 1985, her body was found at the bottom of Applegate Lake in Jackson County, Oregon. Her death was a murder. There is little information in this case.

SOURCES:
Jackson County Oregon Sheriff

Murders of Earl and Clarissa Gonzales

On September 2, 1999, 51-year-old Earl Gonzales's girlfriend, MaryJo Resse went to his home in Questa, New Mexico. Inside she found the bodies of Earl and his daughter 10-year-old Clarissa. Earl was likely shot with his own .45 Ruger Blackhawk, which was missing from the scene and Clarissa was assaulted and strangled to death. There was little evidence and seemed to be no motive in this case. 

A week before their deaths Earl had confronted a few people he suspected about his vehicle that had just been stolen. His vehicle was located a month later with two juveniles and they were charged with the theft. 

SOURCES:

New Mexico State Police 

New Mexico Survivors of Homicide

Find a Grave (Clarissa)

Find a Grave (Earl)

Murder of Jeffrey Macchione (Martelli)

On April 27, 1979, at 1801 N.E. 124 St. Apt. #20 North Miami, Florida neighbors of 22-year-old Jeffrey Macchione (Martelli) heard a gunshot around 4:45 a.m. As neighbors arrived at Jeffery's apartment some of them witnessed a white male and white female running from the area and getting into a small dark-colored sports type vehicle. When neighbors arrived at the home they found the front door open and the victim dead inside. 

SOURCES:

Miami-Dade County

Miami-Dade Police Department Facebook. 

April 27, 1996 Maitland, New South Wales, Australia John Doe

On April 27, 1996, the body of a man was found in Maitland, New South Wales, Australia. He had likely died during the winter between June and August of 1995 or possibly the winter of 1994. He was a Caucasian male between 28 and 45-years-old. He was 169 cm to 177 cm. He has long fair red and wavy hair, and beard. He was wearing an olive green "sloppy joe" over a black jumper with pocket at the waist, a beige vest and a red v-neck t-shirt, olive green tracksuit pants over green Amco jeans size 84 cm waist over a beige tracksuit pants over black tracksuit pants, a black speedo-type swimwear with a white rope pattern running longitudinally down.

SOURCES:
Doe Network
Unidentified Wiki

Murder of Obediah Burgess Reaves

On April 26, 1971, 28-year-old Obediah Reaves went to his job as a security guard at the Star Loan Company on 227 Mitchell St. in Atlanta, Georgia. One article said that two men attempted to rob the Star Loan Company. Obediah tried to stop it During the robbery, Obediah tried to jump a gunman and was shot in the head. He did not automatically die and was sent to the hospital, but unfortunately, he died at the hospital.

One article states that there were two who were inside and one waiting inside a car. One suspect hopped inside of a 1966 blue Mustang and the driver drove off with him. The other suspect ducked into an ally and made an escape on foot.

SOURCES:

Atlanta Georgia Police Department

The Atlanta Constitution (This one had more information about crime)

The Atlanta Constitution

The Atlanta Constitution 

Disappearance of Jeannette Kamahele

On April 25, 1972, 20-year-old Jeannette Kamahele was last seen hitchhiking on the Cotati on-ramp off of Highway 101 in Santa Rosa, California. A friend of hers spotted her and was going to pull over to pick her up, but another vehicle beat them to it. It was a faded brown 1970-1972 Chevrolet pickup truck. The man in vehicle was described as being a white man between 20 and 30-years-old. He had an afro hairstyle. This was the last time anyone saw her. 

 At the time she was a student at Santa Rosa Junior College and was living with a roommate in the 900 block of Sierra Ave. She was described as a conscientious student and it was out of character for her to disappear.

Around the same time as Jeannette's disappearance, 7 other known females disappeared. These women were later found murdered all of them being habitual hitchhikers and between 12 and 23-years-old. It's possible a serial killer was operating in the area. She is suspected to be another victim of the Santa Rosa Hitchhiker Murders.

Jeanette is an Asian female and was 20-years-old at the time. She's 5'5" and 120 lbs. She had long black hair and brown eyes. She has a large birthmark under her right breast. She was wearing Levi's and a brown sweater, sandals, a leather purse with natural brown color and dyed pattern, and gold-post earrings. 

SOURCES:
Find a Grave
NamUs
Unidentified Wiki
Charley Project

Murder of Eugene "Yellow" Bell

On April 24, 1988, a box was found on the side of the road at S.W. 51 St. and 122 Ave. in Miami, Florida. Inside was the body of 41-year-old Eugene "Yellow" Bell. It was found he was strangled to death. 

Eugene is from Chicago, Illinois and was known to be involved in criminal activity including the suspicion of drug trafficking. Witnesses said that a black pick-up truck possibly a 1987 Chevrolet with dual wheels, an open bed, and a king cab was seen in the area. The truck was driven by a Latin male between 30 and 40-years-old.

SOURCES:
Miami-Dade County
Chicago Tribune

Murder of Patricia Bovin

22-year-old Patricia Bovin was a single mother and lived with her sons in the upper apartment of 790 King St. in London, Ontario, Canada. On April 24, 1969, a friend called Patricia and got no answer. So the friend came to her home around 4 p.m. Inside Patricia was found covered in blood on the couch. Her two children who were 1 and 3-years-old were inside unharmed. 

The kids were sobbing, dirty and hungry, but physically unharmed. They had scattered chairs and other items around in attempt to get food. They were waiting for their mother to wake up, but that was to never happen. 

It seemed that Patricia had been sleeping on the couch when she was stabbed over a dozen times. The motive for the stabbing could not be found. A neighbor was said to have found a bloody pillowcase in front of the front door. This is a probable entry point. The front door that accessed the staircase was unlocked. There were no obvious signs of forced entry though. 

SOURCES:

London Police 

The True Crime Files

Canadian Crimopedia 

Murder of Trans Woman Tyra Henderson

In 2000 22-year-old Tyra Henderson was living on the 1700 Block of T St. in southeast Washington D.C. She was a trans woman and at the time she was working as a sex worker as a means of survival.

On April 23, 2000, around 2 a.m. someone called 911 to say that there was moaning coming from the rear of the 3600 block of 11th st, NW. A 6:26 a.m. Tyra's body was discovered. She had been beaten to death. It's unknown if Tyra's sex work had to do with her death.

A complaint was filed against the police for the response time for Tyra's scene. The complainant sought help from the ACLU of National Capital Area as of Jan. 17, 2018 it is listed as being under  review of police.

SOURCES:

Metropolitan Police Department

Metropolitain Police Department (PDF)

Trans True Crime 

Metro Weekly

Murder of Maria Smith

 

On the morning of April 22, 1974, around 7:30 a.m. Stephen Smith left to go to work from his home on St. Marks Road in Randwick, New South Wales, Australia.  Maria was supposed to leave an hour later to catch the bus as she was a trainee teacher at Brigidine Convent School in Randwick,. She never arrived.

It wasn't till later when her husband arrived home he knew something was wrong. He went to the bedroom and found her body. He rang his parents and the police and stayed in the kitchen until they arrived. Maria had been bound gagged, and sexually assaulted. It was found that her killer strangled her to death with her pantyhose. The killer used a knife from inside the home to cut her clothes off.

A neighbor stated that that they heard no knock at the door that morning. The sliding door over a balcony was also locked and there were no other signs of a break-in. So it's believed that she had possibly let them in because she knew him.

There's a $100,000,000 reward leading to the arrest and conviction of Maria's murder.

SOURCES:
Police New South Wales 
News
The Sydney Morning Herald 
Fraser Coast Chronical 

April 22, 1992 Buchanan County, Missouri John Doe

On April 22, 1992, the skeletal remains of a man was found in Buchanan County, Missouri. He may have been dead for up to a year. He was a white male between 30 and 40-years-old. He may have been 5'9" and around 165 lbs. He had brown shoulder-length hair.

SOURCES:
NamUs

Murder of Harry Howell

On November 5, 1988, 74-year-old Harry Howell died in his sheltered housing in Ibbison Court off Central Drive in Blackpool, England. His killer had beat him with a blunt instrument about his head. No one had known at the time as there was a note on his door stating "No milk gone away for two weeks." His body wasn't discovered for 17 days.

In the time between his death and discovery 70-year-old, John Johnstone had seen a man in his 40's knock on the door and it could be possible he was placed to taking off the note from the door.  He had also discovered Harry's body who was still sitting in his chair in the lounge by a window.

When Harry's body was discovered it was found that there were two uneaten beef and horseradish sandwiches inside a paper bag from Burtons. The sandwiches were bought by a man in his 30's who was slim and tall. The man told them that the sandwiches were for the man who called every day for a pie.

Harry liked to drink at local pubs and may have told someone of the money he kept in his home. He was distrusting of banks. The motive for the murder may have been a robbery. thousands of pounds in cash was stolen, along with his wallet and a gold watch that was inscribed with 'To Harry Flegg on his retirement'. 

sketch of the suspect

SOURCES:

Unsolved Murders

Blackpool Crime
The Gazette

Murder of Joanne Ena Lynn

On September 19, 1949, 11-year-old Janne Lynn left her home in Hemlock, New York at 8 a.m. This was not unusual for the girl as she walked to school every weekday morning. When Joanne passed the Smith's home she waved a hollered at Mrs. Smith. "Good morning Mrs. Smith. It's a nice morning isn't it?" Mrs. Smith responded with a yes. Joanne continued down the road and Mrs. Smith told her 7-year-old son Eddie to catch up with her. When he rushed to try to catch her he did not see her when he got to the highway. This was the last time she was seen alive. 

When she didn't return home from school her parents worried for her and called the police. A search was done for the missing girl. The hills and gullies were combed and lakes were dragged in the surrounding area. After four days the national guard was called in and on the 23rd guardsmen searched in the pouring rain.

On September 24th  14-year-old Norma Marsden was gathering butternuts four miles from Hemlock and 7 miles away from where she was last seen. In the pasture, Joanne's body was found. She had been shot twice. 

It's believed that she was either coaxed or forced into a car and possibly waited a day before killing her as people in the area stated they heard gunshots on Tuesday. Her killer had attempted to sexually assault her and Even though Joanne was fully clothed her undergarments and sweater were missing. The killer then took her to a grove of locust trees and pointed the gun at her. One bullet entered her arm and then forehead as she was blocking her face. She was then shot a second time through her left breast and the bullet came out of her back.  Her fingernail scrapping suggested she fought hard with her attacker. The gun used was a German Luger semi-automatic pistol. The gun was possible well taken care of.

SOURCES:

New York State Police

Kidnapping, Murder, and Mayhem
Hemlock and Candice Lakes

Find a Grave

The Daily Messenger September 27, 1949

Democrat and Chronicle October 1, 1949

Democrat and Chronicle September 1, 1963

Who Poisoned The Titanic Movie Crew?

On what was supposed to be the last day of filming in Nova Scotia for the 1997 movie Titanic a mysterious surprise happened. The film was supposed to wrap up the present-day scenes and then they were supposed to move on to Mexico to film. On the night of August 8, 1996, in Shearwater, Nova Scotia. It was just across from Halifax Bay. The crew decided to take a "lunch" break at midnight. A local catering company provided the food and one of the items was chowder.

Within 15 minutes of eating many of the crew began feeling strange and sick. James Cameron described becoming woozy and dizzy and unable to navigate his set. 60 to 80 crew members were sent to the hospital. It was initially believed to have been food poisoning. This was not the case as when the members went to the hospital it was found that the lobster chowder had been spiked with 

PCP. 

The person who decided to poison the crew and get them high on PCP is still unknown even over 20 years later. It could have been a disgruntle employee of James Cameron or someone with the food company (though they denied involvement). No one has been pinned for the crime.

SOURCES:
Vanity Fair
Cheat Sheet
Entertainment Weekly
First Post

Murder of Sylvie Laverdière

On April 18, 1989, 24-year-old Sylvie Laverdière was found dead in her apartment where she lived alone in Sainte-Thérèse, Quebec, Canada. Her death was described as violent. Her purse was found 2.5 km from her residence, along Chemin Sainte-Thérèse, not far from Autoroute 640.

At the time of her death, she was the manager at Centre de conditionnement Mathers (Nautilus), in Rosemere. She worked mainly during the evenings and typically left work close to 11 p.m.
SOURCES:

Sûreté du Québec

Disappearance of Robin Anne Vaudreuil

On April 17, 1995, Robin Anne Vaudreuil spoke to her mother on the phone and said that she was going to Oswego, New York, from Worcester, Massachusetts. She has never been seen again. It seems that Robin had no known connection to Oswego at the time. She would have likely would have hitchhiked there with long-haul truckers.

Robin is a white female and was either 28 or 32 at the time of her disappearance. She was around 5'1" and around 110 lbs. She had brown shoulder-length hair and brown eyes. She's far-sighted but refuses to wear glasses. She has a 2-inch scar on her cheekbone and a 1-inch scar on chin.

She was last seen wearing a dark-colored sweatshirt and sweatpants, and a dark-colored satin motorcycle jacket with an eyepatch design on the back. 

SOURCES:

City of Worcester

Charley Project
The Doe Network
NamUs

The 1897 Aurora, Texas UFO

On April 17, 1897, around 6 a.m. early risers in Aurora, Texas were surprised by the sight of something crashing from the sky. The UFO was seen flying over the town and was only going twelve or ten miles per hour. It slowly started descending as if there was something was wrong with the machinery. It eventually hit Judge Proctors windmill in the north of town.

There were pieces of destruction for several acres. The windmill was demolished, the UFO was also demolished, and the judge's flower garden and water tank were destroyed from the crash.  

The only casualty was the lonely pilot of the ship. Even though he was badly mutilated it was obvious that he was not of this world. There were also papers from the wreckage in an unknown language that was similar to hieroglyphics. 

The next day they gave the spaceman they assumed to have been from Mars an Earthly funeral.

In the Aurora Cemetery the body of the "pilot" they then named Ned. In 1972 scientists wanted to dig up the body and investigate. The cemetery association blocked their requests because only the next of kin are allowed to give permission to exhumations. Even though there was no known next of kin or if Ned was a spaceman or even a poor animal casualty of the supposed crash. At this same time, the grave marker was stolen.

It's believed that the whole event may have been a hoax by the townspeople. They had previously had many tragedies happen in the town. The cotton fields were destroyed by a boll weevil infestation, a fire on the west side destroyed some building and killing some people, and a spotted fever that caused some to be quarantined. It didn't help that the railroad was 27 miles from Aurora. So it's possible that in threat of dying out caused the townspeople to create a hoax that would attract many to their small town.

SOURCES:
Wikipedia
Texas Hill Country
Roadside America
Mutual UFO Network
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Aurora Texas

Murder of Donnell Coleman

On April 17, 2011, 27-year-old Donnell Coleman was at his apartment on 7711 North La Porte Ave. in Columbia, Missouri with a 25-year-old woman and a 4-year-old.  Around 11:35 and 11:40 p.m. multiple unknown black males forced entry into the apartment. The men then shot Donnell in the chest and then fled and possibly left in a sedan.

SOURCES:

Boone County Missouri

Crime Stoppers

Columbia Tribune April 18, 2011

Missourian April 19, 2011

Columbia Tribune 

Murder of Deborah Lee Shelton

On Jan 3, 1969, 12-year-old Deborah Lee Shelton asked her mom to go bike riding with other kids. Her mom told her yes and then told her to be back before noon because she had a dentist appointment. At 9:30 a.m. Deborah would leave her home in Aptos, California and was supposed to meet friends near the Aptos railroad bridge. She would be last seen on Rio De Mar Blvd. around 11 a.m. 

No one would see Deborah alive again. But unbeknownst to her mother, she didn't know this was the case. When her mom and sister came home from an appointment Deborah wasn't there. Someone would call the house "The phone rang and there was a young man's voice that said, ‘We have your daughter. We want $500. Drive out to Trout Gulch Road." She would hang up thinking it was a joke.

On March 8, 1969, a young boy was out shooting his bb gun in a wooded area in Aptos. He would stumble upon Deborah's body in the wooded area around 100 yards from the bridge.

The scene was suggestive of a sexual assault, but because her body was badly decomposed it was undetermined. Clothing and other evidence at the scene suggested she was strangled with her underwear. She was also bound with her hands taped together with masking tape behind her back. There were remnants of tape found on her neck suggesting her mouth was also taped.

A friend of hers stated that around Christmas Deborah mentioned to her a boy who was a little older. The boy's name was Sherman and they were planning to ride a mini bike together. It's believed this was who she was meeting with. The supposed "Sherman" was never identified. Deborah never described him to her friend other than he was really cute.

SOURCES:
County of Santa Cruz
Find a Grave
Santa Cruz Sentential 
Huffington Post

Murder of Eddie Verdugo and Joyleen Chavez

On April 16, 2004, an anonymous tip came to the police that two people were badly injured at 27 Dean Lane in Los Lunas, New Mexico. When police arrived they found 48-year-old Eddie Verdugo and his girlfriend 44-year-old Joyleen Chavez. When they were discovered by police Eddie was in an entryway near the front door. Joyleen was found in an adjoining room. They were both were alive and sent to the hospital, Eddie died a few hours later and Joyleen two days later.

Neighbors stated that they didn't hear or see anything at the time of the murders. Police believed that it had happened at least 30 minutes before they arrived.

SOURCES:

New Mexico Department of Public Saftey 

Albuquerque Journal

News Bulletin 

WANTED: I-80 Rapist

The I-80 rapist has three confirmed cases of sexual assaults this does not mean there aren't more that was committed, but these 3 have been connected by DNA. The first one occurred on September 9, 2013, at 4:20 a.m. as the victim was walking near I-80 and Madison Ave. in Sacramento, California. The second attack would happen on December 10, 2013, at 9:15 p.m. and this victim was also walking in the same area as the first. The third attack happened on January 8, 2014, around 4:30 a.m. The victim was walking near Greenback Lane and Auburn Blvd. when she accepted a ride from a man. He would take her to the I-80 and Maddison Ave. area to assault her.

He was described as a black male between 20 and 40-years-old He has a shaved or short afro style haircut. He was clean-shaven with a large build and wore rectangular eyeglasses. He was driving a red-colored box style 4-door vehicle.  

SOURCES:

Wikipedia

Sacramento County Sheriff's Office

Disappearance of Steven Paul Newing

On 2 September 1969 11-year-old Seven Newing was last seen around 3 p.m. at his home on Lee-Warner Ave. in Fakenham, England. His little brother and a male friend were the last people to see him. He left without money and his pedal cycle but did leave with his satchel. His mother knew that he was supposed to be home by 8 p.m. and when he still wasn't home by 10 she called the police.

Police searched for Steven, but could not find him. The family home was searched twice to make sure he wasn't hiding. Later his satchel would be found. There were supposed sightings of him, but he still wasn't found. It was possible that he was abducted, but it was also thought he may have fallen down a disused well shaft.

Steven is a white male and 11 at the time. He has a freckled complexion. He was wearing a blue roll neck sweater with a green and yellow sweater over the top, blue jeans with a cubs leather belt, a green anorak, and baseball boots.

There was a hostel in Fakenham dedicated to Steven. It's for young homeless people between 16 and 25-years-old.

SOURCES:
Norfolk Constabulary
Doe Network
BBC
Eastern Daily Press
Fakenham News

Murder of Jada Simone Rankin

At 2 a.m. on October 16, 2016 at the 14300 block of Ardmore St. near Six Mile Rd and Schaefer Highway in Detroit, Michigan a birthday party was still going. 15-year-old Jada Rankin's older brother was celebrating his birthday at his grandmother's home.

At the time a car was speeding up and down the road. Her brother would ask the driver to slow down. This apparently angered the driver and opened his car door and shot into the crows. One of the bullets would his Jada in the abdomen and she would die a short time after arriving at the Sinai Grace Hospital. 

Police do not have a good description of the gunman, but he's an African American man in his late 20's and early 30's. The vehicle involved was a gray or silver sedan, possibly a mid-2000 Chevy Impala or Lumina. Below is an image of the possible shooter.

A playground has been named after Jada in Detroit. It is called the Jada Simone Rankin playground. 

SOURCES:

Michigan Cold Cases

WWJ News Radio

Fox News

Murder of Kenneth and Anjanette Murphy

On April 14, 2000, someone kicked in the door of  31-year-old Kenneth and 30-year-old Anjanette Murphy home on Montecrest Ave. in Richmond, Virginia. The killer or killers had shot and killed the couple. 

SOURCES:
Richmond Virginia
Find a Grave (Kenneth)
Find a Grave (Anjanette)

Murder of Harold "Murph" Murphy Cohen

On November 3, 1949, 38-year-old Harold" Murph" Cohen was reported missing to the Denver, Colorado Police Department. Murph would leave a note stating he wouldn't be seen for several days. He had also told his wife that he was going to a special dinner. He reportedly attended a ceremonial dinner at Gaetano's in Denver prior to his disappearance. At the time he was a known gambler and was a fight referee. 

It wasn't known what had happened to him as he went missing for months, but on Feb. 11, 1950 His body was found in Blue Lake located south of Highway 58 at Indiana St. He had been hit in the head and then tied up and tied to railroad iron and tossed into the lake alive. He was likely attacked during the dinner or right after. They intended for his body to sink to the bottom of the lake, but it landed on a ledge. 

SOURCES:

Colorado Bureau of Investigations

Jefferson County, Colorado

Fort Collins Coloradoan Feb. 13, 1950 

Greeley Daily Tribune Feb 13, 1950

St. Louis Post-Dispatch April 17, 1950

Murder of Laura Jean Donez

In April of 1983 16-year-old Laura Jean Donez skipped school in Houston, Texas. She went to get a hamburger at a nearby restaurant. She did arrive and had her hamburger, but was never seen again. It wasn't until a week later that any sign of her was found.

On April 18, 1983, an oilfield worker spotted a fire burning in a wooded area near a logging road around 400 yards west of FM 149 in Montgomery. What he found was the body of Laura Jean caught on fire. She had been strangled, raped, beaten about the head, and her body burned after death.

Henry Lee Lucas confessed to her murder, but he made several false confessions at the time. 

SOURCES:
Find a Grave
Montgomery Sheriffs Office
Montgomery Sheriffs Office (PDF)

Who's Carly Simons song You're So Vain about?

On November 8, 1972, Carly Simons released her song You're So Vain. It would soon reach number 1 in the U.S., Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Carly Simmons had come out about writing the song about three different men one of whom she revealed that the second verse was about Warren Beatty. The other two men are still unknown to the public, but people can still guess who the other two vain men the song was about. 

SOURCES:

Wikipedia

Smooth Radio

People

Rolling Stones