What crimes are hardest to solve?

Asked by: Carolyne Walsh DDS  |  Last update: November 8, 2025
Score: 4.1/5 (41 votes)

Burglary is probably the most difficult to solve because its perpetrators do not have a motive that makes the victim's identity relevant. In most cases, they will elect to steal from an unoccupied home or dwelling, which may leave few, if any, witnesses.

What is the greatest unsolved crime?

Let's start with one of the most publicized unsolved cases, so popular, there's even a website dedicated to tracking this murderer down.
  1. The Zodiac Killer. ...
  2. The Taman Shud Case. ...
  3. The Tara Calico Case. ...
  4. The Severed Feet Mystery. ...
  5. The Dead Woman Who Named Her Killer. ...
  6. The Boy in the Box. ...
  7. The Jeanette DePalma Case.

What is the most severe level of crime?

Capital Offenses: Capital offenses, also known as capital crimes, are the most severe crimes and carry the possibility of the death penalty. These crimes include acts such as murder, treason, and terrorism. Capital offenses are typically reserved for the most heinous and premeditated acts of violence.

What is the greatest crime of all time?

While by no means a comprehensive list, here are some of the most famous:
  • Osage Murders. ...
  • Lindbergh Kidnapping. ...
  • Bonnie & Clyde. ...
  • Rosenberg Espionage Case. ...
  • Assassination of JFK. ...
  • Murder of Medgar Evers. ...
  • D.B. ...
  • Patty Hearst Kidnapping.

What is the most serious crime?

Homicide (murder, criminal vehicular operation or manslaughter)

Detective Skills Test - CSI Exam - See if You're a Good Detective in 2 Minutes

18 related questions found

What is the most perfect crime?

A murder committed by somebody who had never before met the victim, has no criminal record, steals nothing, and tells no one might be a perfect crime. According to criminologists and scientists, this casual definition of perfect crime exists.

Who is the FBI most wanted?

Ten Most Wanted Fugitives
  • YULAN ADONAY ARCHAGA CARIAS.
  • ALEXIS FLORES.
  • OMAR ALEXANDER CARDENAS.
  • DONALD EUGENE FIELDS II.
  • BHADRESHKUMAR CHETANBHAI PATEL.
  • ALEJANDRO ROSALES CASTILLO.
  • VITEL'HOMME INNOCENT.
  • WILVER VILLEGAS-PALOMINO.

What is the most difficult crime to investigate?

Burglary is probably the most difficult to solve because its perpetrators do not have a motive that makes the victim's identity relevant. In most cases, they will elect to steal from an unoccupied home or dwelling, which may leave few, if any, witnesses.

What is the biggest crime in US history?

15 Biggest Criminal Cases in American History
  • O.J. Simpson. ...
  • Lindbergh Baby Kidnapping. ...
  • Beltway Snipers. ...
  • D.B. ...
  • The Zodiac Killings. ...
  • Watergate. ...
  • The Black Dahlia Murder. ...
  • Unabomber.

What's the worst felony?

A crime that's a Class A federal felony is the worst, with a maximum prison term of life in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000. A Class E federal felony involves a prison term of more than one year but less than five years and a maximum fine of $5,000.

What is the most committed crime in the world?

While theft may be the most common crime globally, it's essential to acknowledge other serious offenses that plague our world: Assault and Violence: From domestic violence to hate crimes, acts of violence cause immense suffering and have long-lasting impacts on individuals and communities.

What crimes are punishable by death?

First, the defendant must be convicted of an offense which carries a possible death sentence (first degree murder, sabotage, treason, perjury procuring the execution of an innocent person, train wrecking, and deadly assault by an inmate serving a life term).

What is the scariest mystery in the world?

50 Strangest Unsolved Mysteries
  1. The Body on Somerton Beach. In December 1948, a body was found on Somerton Beach in Adelaide, Australia. ...
  2. The Strange Disappearance of D.B. ...
  3. The Black Dahlia Murder. ...
  4. Wall Street Bombing of 1920. ...
  5. The Disturbing Death of Elisa Lam. ...
  6. Jack the Ripper. ...
  7. The Zodiac Killer. ...
  8. The Case of JonBenét Ramsey.

What is the hardest unsolved case?

Full List
  • Jack the Ripper.
  • The Zodiac Killings.
  • Tupac Shakur and the Notorious B.I.G.
  • Tylenol Poisonings.
  • The Death of Edgar Allen Poe.
  • The Nicole Brown/Ron Goldman Double Murder.
  • The Case of the Disembodied Feet.
  • JonBenet Ramsey.

What murders are still unsolved?

A
  • Murder of Betsy Aardsma.
  • Killing of John Acropolis.
  • Murder of Blair Adams.
  • Agueci brothers.
  • Murder of Tammy Alexander.
  • Louis Allen.
  • Louis B. Allyn.
  • Yosef Alon.

What crime is the most unreported?

Rape is the most under-reported crime; 63% of sexual assaults are not reported to police (o). Only 12% of child sexual abuse is reported to the authorities (g). The prevalence of false reporting is between 2% and 10%.

What is the most difficult case to solve?

A: Crimes like cold cases and cybercrimes that lack conclusive evidence or eyewitness accounts are often the most difficult to solve.

What was the most expensive FBI case?

In 1979, Kaczynski became the subject of what was, by the time of his arrest in 1996, the longest and most expensive investigation in the history of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

Who is the dea most wanted?

Most Wanted Fugitives
  • Alan Gabriel Nunez-Herrera. ...
  • Chuen Yip. ...
  • Ivan Archivaldo Guzman-Salazar. ...
  • Oscar Noe Medina Gonzalez. ...
  • Kun Jiang. ...
  • Carlos Omar Felix-Gutierrez. ...
  • Nemesio Oseguera-Cervantes. ...
  • Yulian Andony Archaga Carias.

Does the FBI really pay rewards?

Reward payment amounts are based on a number of factors, including, but not limited to: the value of the information provided; the level of threat mitigated by the information received; the severity of danger or injury to U.S. persons or property presented by the threat; the risk faced by a source and his/her family; ...

Who is the blonde on FBI Most Wanted?

Shantel VanSanten as Nina Chase on the CBS series FBI. Following the conclusion of the dual WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, FBI: Most Wanted will premiere its fifth season on Tuesday, February 13th, 2024 on...

What is an unsolvable crime called?

Cold Cases - What is a Cold Case

A case becomes “Cold” when all probative investigative leads available to the primary investigators are exhausted and the case remains open and unsolved after a period of three years.

What is the largest robbery in history?

The largest cash heist in global history took place in March 2003, when approximately US$1 billion was stolen from the Central Bank of Iraq, shortly after the United States began the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

What is the ultimate crime?

The crime of genocide has come to be referred to as the ultimate crime or the crime of crimes. It is generally perceived to be at the apex of a hierarchy of international crimes, followed by crimes against humanity and war crimes.