What is the oldest cold case in the world?

Asked by: Breanne Schmeler  |  Last update: March 28, 2025
Score: 4.9/5 (16 votes)

Using all the information scientists know about the extraordinary Copper Age mummy Ötzi the Iceman, a police detective assembled a detailed picture of his murder. For more than 5,000 years, the victim's body would be frozen on the spot where he died, trapped in a glacier.

What is the oldest cold case?

The 1957 kidnapping and murder of 7-year-old Maria Ridulph is the nation's oldest cold case to go to trial. This story was pieced together by CNN's Ann O'Neill through interviews and public records.

What is the oldest crime in the world?

However, archaeologists have recently uncovered a skull that dates from 430,000 years ago, and shows evidence of such a crime pre-dating Cain and Abel. Scientists have applied modern forensic techniques which indicate that the victim was probably killed by two blows to the head, before being thrown down a cave shaft.

What is the biggest cold case in history?

The identity of Jack the Ripper is a notorious example of an outstanding cold case, with numerous suggestions as to the identity of the serial killer. Similarly, the Zodiac Killer has been studied extensively for almost 50 years, with numerous suspects discussed and debated.

What happened to Maria Elizabeth Ridulph?

At the trial in September 2012, the prosecution contended that McCullough was attracted to Maria and decided to kidnap her, but instead ended up killing her, presenting new autopsy reports suggesting Maria was stabbed to death.

Family Who Disappeared Found Trapped Inside Secret Room Locked For 9 Years

25 related questions found

Do cold cases ever get solved?

Experience has shown that cold case programs can solve a substantial number of violent crime cold cases, including homicides and sexual assaults. Advances in DNA technologies have substantially increased the successful DNA analysis of aged, degraded, limited, or otherwise compromised biological evidence.

What does "case cold" mean?

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. Cold Cases are reviewed to determine if newer technologies or forensic testing may produce any new potential leads.

What is the most mysterious case ever?

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 longest case in US history?

Lasting for more than fifty years, the Myra Clark Gaines litigation is known as the longest case in US history, beginning around 1834 and culminating in a ruling in her favor and against the City of New Orleans in 1889.

Was the zodiac killer ever found?

But despite a mountain of evidence suggesting a serial killer was operating in plain sight, there has only ever been one named suspect, who died in 1992. Fifty years on, it appears the mystery of the Zodiac will never be solved.

What is the oldest unsolved missing person?

Portland, Oregon, U.S. A retired American sheriff, Clark disappeared en route to visit his daughter by stagecoach during the Halloween weekend. His disappearance has the distinction of being the oldest active missing person case in the United States.

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.

Who was the first criminal in America?

John Billington was the first person to commit a crime in the colony. He had the dubious honor of being the first European to be convicted of murder in this new place. And he was the first to be executed by the state in the New World.

What is the oldest crime?

The first recorded crime of murder is believed to have occurred some 430,000 years ago; it was an act perpetrated by what were known as homo heidelbergensis or homo antecessor.

Who created Cold Case?

Meredith Stiehm (/stiːm/ STEEM; born 1968) is an American television producer, writer, and trade union leader who has served as president of the Writers Guild of America West since 2021. She is the creator of the hit crime drama Cold Case and the FX thriller drama The Bridge.

What is the most famous case in history?

Simpson murder trial gripped the nation in 1995, with 150 million people tuning in to watch the drama unfold on TV. Simpson, a former NFL superstar turned broadcaster and actor, was charged with murder in 1994 after his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman were found dead from multiple stab wounds.

What is the oldest cold case in the US history?

The kidnapping and murder of Maria Ridulph is the nation's oldest cold case to go to trial. It required family members to turn against one of their own and haunted a small town for 55 years. Even now, the case may not be over.

What is the longest case system in the world?

Mammoth Cave in Kentucky is the world's longest known cave system, with more than 400 miles explored, and one of the oldest tour attractions in North America.

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 crime to solve?

Murders are the most serious of crimes and, many might speculate, the most difficult to solve. However, depending on how the person was killed, a murderer may leave behind clues that allow police detectives to piece together what happened.

What is the FBI most famous case?

JFK Assassination

After conducting some 25,000 interviews and running down tens of thousands of investigative leads, the FBI found that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone.

What is the most famous cold case?

America's 5 Most Notorious Cold Cases (Including One You May Have Thought Was Already Solved)
  • The Zodiac killer. Those newspapers published not only the killer's letters but also the ciphers he sent along with them. ...
  • JonBenét Ramsey. ...
  • The Black Dahlia. ...
  • The Hall-Mills murders. ...
  • Lizzie Borden.

What is the oldest cold case solved by DNA?

DNA from a 1956 cold case has been matched to a suspect thanks to Bode Technology's FIGG. Lloyd Duane Bogle and Patricia Kalitzke were last seen at Pete's Drive-In on Jan. 2, 1956 in Great Falls, Montana. The next day their bodies were found miles apart, both shot in the head.

Can a cold case be reopened?

A few factors, such as physical evidence and available witnesses, can determine whether a case is too old to re-open. Re-opening a cold case requires patience, diligence, and strong deductive reasoning abilities. The first step is the review of all existing case material; this is the most time-consuming step.