True Crime: Untold Cases

The Setagaya Family Murders (Tokyo, Japan, 2000)

On December 30, 2000, the Miyazawa family—father, mother, and two young children—were brutally murdered in their home in the Setagaya ward of Tokyo. The killer stayed in the house for hours afterward, eating from the family’s fridge, using the computer, and leaving behind numerous clues (including partially used hygiene items).

The Blind River Rest Stop Murders (Ontario, Canada, 1991)

In June 1991, a family traveling through a rest stop in Blind River, Ontario, was attacked by an unknown gunman. An elderly man was killed, and his wife was wounded. Another good Samaritan who stopped to help was also fatally shot. The killer fled, and the victims’ vehicle was stolen but later recovered.

The Mark Kilroy Murder (Mexico, 1989)

Mark Kilroy, a 21-year-old American college student on spring break in Matamoros, Mexico, disappeared in March 1989. Tragically, he was found murdered by members of a cult involved in drug trafficking and ritualistic practices. The shocking nature of the homicide—coupled with the cross-border investigations—briefly grabbed headlines before fading from mainstream memory.

The Yogurt Shop Murders (Austin, Texas, 1991)

Known locally as the “I Can’t Believe It’s Yogurt!” murders, this horrific quadruple homicide took place on December 6, 1991. The bodies of four teenage girls were found in the burned-out remains of a yogurt shop in Austin, Texas. Although several individuals were arrested at different points, convictions were overturned and the case remains technically unsolved.

The Fort Worth Missing Trio (Texas, 1974)

On December 23, 1974, Mary Rachel Trlica (17), Lisa Renee Wilson (14), and Julie Ann Moseley (9) went Christmas shopping at the Seminary South Shopping Center in Fort Worth, Texas—and vanished. The only clue was a mysterious letter supposedly written by one of the girls, but its authenticity is heavily debated. Multiple leads over the decades haven’t produced any solid answers, and the case remains a baffling disappearance.

The Walker Family Murders (Florida, 1959)

On December 19, 1959, Cliff and Christine Walker and their two young children were found shot to death in their home in Osprey, Florida. Some investigators have speculated a possible connection to Perry Smith and Richard Hickock (the subjects of Truman Capote’s In Cold Blood), since their murders of the Clutter family in Kansas occurred just weeks earlier. However, no definitive links were established, and the case remains unsolved.

The Dardeen Family Murders (Illinois, 1987)

In 1987, an entire family in rural Ina, Illinois—Russell “Keith” Dardeen, his pregnant wife Elaine, and their young son Peter—were brutally killed under shocking circumstances. The murders were so gruesome that the case still haunts the community decades later. Despite various theories, the killings remain unsolved, and the investigation has been plagued by dead ends and rumors, keeping this tragic case in the shadows.

The Keddie Cabin Murders (California, 1981)

A quadruple homicide in a small resort town cabin leaves three family members and their teenage friend dead. A surviving teenage daughter emerges to discover the scene. The investigation is botched from the start, with evidence going missing and leads ignored. Strange details emerge about a police cover-up, and the case goes cold until new evidence surfaces in 2016 pointing to possible law enforcement involvement.

The Axeman of New Orleans (Louisiana, 1918-1919)

A mysterious killer terrorized New Orleans, breaking into homes using a chisel and attacking victims with their own axes. In March 1919, they sent a letter to newspapers promising to spare anyone playing jazz music in their homes on a specific night. The entire city erupted in jazz parties, and no one was killed that night. The killer's identity remains unknown.

The Monster of Florence (Italy, 1968-1985)

A serial killer targeted couples in the Tuscan countryside, always striking on moonlit nights near Florence. What makes this case particularly intriguing is that the killer took specific anatomical trophies, leading investigators to believe they had medical training. Despite multiple arrests and a complicated web of theories involving satanic cults and secret societies, the true killer was never caught.