True Crime: Untold Cases

The Rainbow Murders (West Virginia, 1980)

In June 1980, Vicki Durian (26) and Nancy Santomero (19), participants heading to a “Rainbow Gathering,” were hitchhiking near Droop Mountain, West Virginia. Their bodies were later discovered on a remote backroad, each killed by gunshot. Multiple suspects emerged over the years—some claimed local hostility toward perceived “hippies” contributed to their murders. One man was convicted, then released after new testimony emerged. The case remains controversial.

The Villisca Axe Murders (Iowa, 1912)

On June 10, 1912, the Moore family and two visiting friends were found brutally murdered in the Moore house in Villisca, Iowa. All six family members and two guests (two young girls) had been bludgeoned to death with an axe. No suspect was definitively charged, though authorities considered local enemies, a transient minister, and other drifters. The crime scene was compromised early due to local curiosity-seekers roaming through the house.

The Zebra Murders (San Francisco, 1973–1974)

A series of racially motivated attacks and murders occurred in the San Francisco Bay Area over about six months, resulting in at least 15 confirmed killings. The perpetrators, linked to a radical faction of the Nation of Islam (though disputed by mainstream NOI), targeted white victims at random. The codename “Zebra” came from the special police radio channel assigned to the case. Four men were eventually convicted, though speculation lingers about additional participants.

The Jennings 8 (Louisiana, 2005–2009)

Between 2005 and 2009, the bodies of eight women were discovered in or around canals and backroads in Jefferson Davis Parish, Louisiana. All victims had similar backgrounds, often involved in sex work or had issues with substance abuse. Initially believed to be the work of a serial killer, subsequent investigations suggested potential police corruption or ties to drug trafficking. Many locals suspect a cover-up.

The Chicago Tylenol Murders (Illinois, 1982)

In September 1982, seven people in the Chicago area died after consuming Tylenol capsules laced with potassium cyanide. Authorities found that tainted capsules had been placed on store shelves, sparking nationwide panic and a massive product recall. The culprit was never caught, though various suspects were investigated. The tragedy led to major changes in packaging regulations (e.g., tamper-evident seals).

The Atlanta Child Murders (Georgia, 1979–1981)

Between 1979 and 1981, at least 28 children, adolescents, and young adults were killed in the Atlanta area. Wayne Williams was eventually convicted of killing two adults, and law enforcement attributed most of the child murders to him. However, doubts persist regarding Williams’s culpability in some of the younger victims’ cases, and some families still believe the real killer (or killers) has never been conclusively identified.

The Texarkana Moonlight Murders (Texas–Arkansas Border, 1946)

From February to May 1946, a masked assailant attacked eight people, killing five, around Texarkana at night. The press labeled him the “Phantom Killer.” Couples parked on secluded roads were the prime targets. Panic gripped Texarkana as curfews and lockdowns were imposed. Although law enforcement pursued numerous suspects, no one was definitively charged.

The Tammy Zywicki Murder (Interstate 80, 1992)

On August 23, 1992, 21-year-old Tammy Zywicki’s car broke down on I-80 in Illinois. Witnesses reported seeing a truck driver pull over. Tammy was last seen alive next to her stranded vehicle; her body was found days later in Missouri, wrapped in a blanket, with multiple stab wounds. Investigators suspected a long-haul trucker due to the interstate setting and witness accounts. The case drew national attention, but no suspect has been definitively charged.

Brandon Swanson’s Disappearance (Minnesota, 2008)

On May 14, 2008, 19-year-old college student Brandon Swanson drove into a ditch on a rural road near Lynd, Minnesota. Brandon phoned his parents around midnight, saying he would walk toward nearby lights he believed were from the town of Lynd. Phone records later pinpointed him in a different location. During a call with his father, Brandon exclaimed “Oh, sh—!” and the line went dead. He has never been found.

The Mary Shotwell Little Disappearance (Atlanta, 1965)

Mary Shotwell Little, a 25-year-old bank secretary, disappeared from an Atlanta shopping center parking lot on October 14, 1965. Her car was found with blood smears and gas receipts showed unusual charges in Charlotte and Raleigh, North Carolina, under her name in the following days. Despite extensive media coverage, no definitive trace of Mary has ever surfaced.