When we think of the United States, it is easy to believe that we live in the most violent era because of events involving mass murder. The frequency with which incidents like school shootings, terrorist attacks, and random acts of violence are reported by all forms of media gives the impression that they happen daily.
But what is most surprising, however, is that mass murder has been at the core of American life for longer than previously thought. As a matter of fact, some of the most horrific mass killings in history remain unsolved to this date.
These crimes were committed for various reasons—gaining greed, hatred, or pure evil—but the real motive behind them may never be fully comprehended.
1.The Walker Family Murders (1959)
Consider, for example, the Walker family murders in Florida in 1959. Such a period of joy as Christmas was to become a nightmare for this family. The spouses Cliff and Christine Walker and their two small children were pitilessly murdered in their home.
Christine, who came back first from her trip to the grocery store, was attacked by her killer. She resisted bitterly, being shot in the head.
Her husband and children were murdered too—her two-year-old daughter, Debbie, was found drowned in the bathtub. It was a nasty crime and baffled the investigators. A lot of suspicion was laid on Perry Smith and Dick Hickok, known criminals from Truman Capote’s In Cold Blood; however, no charges were pressed.
2.Lane Bryant Murders (2008)
Other weird cases include murders in Tinley Park, Illinois-the Lane Bryant murders. In 2008, five women were shot execution-style during a robbery of the popular clothing store. The killer managed to tie up his victims with duct tape before shooting.
Despite releasing a composite and having the killer’s voice on tape from a 911 call, the case remains unsolved, and the families of the victims do not have closure.
3.Las Cruces Bowling Alley Massacre (1990)
A case equally as horrific is the Las Cruces Bowling Alley massacre that took place in 1990. Two gunmen entered a New Mexico bowling alley and shot everyone that stood in their way. Four people were killed, including children; one young girl miraculously survived by calling 911.
Despite the bravery of this girl and the best efforts by the police, the killers had literally vanished into thin air, leaving the case cold.
4.Keddie Cabin Murders (1981)
There is the savage murder of the Sharp family in 1981-the family sleeping therein brutally bludgeoned, stabbed, and strangulated by unknown assailants in their cabin in Keddie, California-turned-landscape-of-blood.
Three young boys slept through the attack, waking up to an unspeakable nightmare. Over the years, multiple leads and suspects have emerged; yet none were sufficient to solve this case.
5.Burger Chef Murders (1978)
The Burger Chef murders of Indiana in 1978 indeed stand as a haunting reminder of how senseless violence can upend lives in a heartbeat. Four young employees were kidnapped from the fast-food restaurant where they were working, only to be found dead in a nearby wooded area the next day.
Their brutal deaths-two shot, one stabbed, and one bludgeoned-have kept detectives guessing for decades. Even the restaurant offered a large reward for information, but it has yet to be solved.
6.Florence Salon Murders (2001)
The brutal murders at the Florence Salon in Montana sent shockwaves through the tiny, peaced coronary town of Florence back in 2001.
Three women were brutally attacked-they literally had their throats cut to a depth that nearly separated their heads from their bodies-in broad daylight. The killer struck and was gone, leaving the town to cope with fear and a host of unanswered questions.
7.Lasalle Street Murders (1971)
The brutal LaSalle Street murders horrified locals when three successful businessmen were found dead in their home, their hands bound, heads bashed in, and throats slit.
The brutality of the murders indeed made the Mafia a suspect-to many people-especially given that the microfilm industry the victims belonged to was at hand. Even decades later, no one is sure.
8.Austin Yogurt Shop Murders (1991)
One of the most harrowing of these cases has to be the Austin Yogurt Shop murders. In 1991, the bodies of four young women were found inside a yogurt shop that had been set on fire with shots in the head; one of them had been sexually assaulted.
Despite arrests and trials, this case was never brought to full circle because of flimsy evidence and flipped convictions.
9.Dardenne Family Murders (1987)
There is also the case of the 1987 Dardenne family massacre, which, if it were part of any fiction horror movie, would be unbelievable. Keith and Elaine Dardenne, along with their three-year-old son, were beaten to death in their trailer.
Elaine was pregnant during the tragedy; she had gone into labor at the time of the attack. The newborn was also killed. Keith’s body was found later, but his body had already been shot, and he was mutilated. Yet over the years, suspected serial killers have come forward and confessed, but none of the confessions have stuck.
10.Blackfriars Massacre (1978)
Then, there is the Blackfriars massacre in Boston-a gangland-style execution in 1978 that took five men’s lives in the basement of a bar. The victims were shot and then left for dead, including a former investigative reporter who dug too deep into Boston’s mob scene.
While arrests were made, no one has ever been convicted, leaving the case cold and Boston’s underworld more mysterious than ever.
These mass murders, which remain unsolved after so many years, point to the reallyvángiommon that justice is not always served. Even while forensic science has advanced, and the police have spent years investigating these cases, the identification and motives of the killers remain unknown, often haunting the families of the victims and communities at large across the country.
