What do you consider to be the most definitive/remarkable solved case that exemplified the essence of what the show was. If I had to pick one case it would be the Ethel Kidd case. The randomness of the murder itself, the way the body was found, the rural settings--those things made it seem like a long shot to ever be solved. It was solved because his own sister recognized his handwriting years later on a rebroadcast. One person solved this case--it wasn't like several people recognized him and called the hotline-one person out of 300+ million people. To me that is the most definitive solved case in the shows history (so far).

"Perhaps YOU can help solve a mystery." -Robert Stack

What do you consider to be the most definitive/remarkable solved case that exemplified the essence of what the show was. If I had to pick one case it would be the Ethel Kidd case. The randomness of the murder itself, the way the body was found, the rural settings--those things made it seem like a long shot to ever be solved. It was solved because his own sister recognized his handwriting years later on a rebroadcast. One person solved this case--it wasn't like several people recognized him and called the hotline-one person out of 300+ million people. To me that is the most definitive solved case in the shows history (so far).

"Perhaps YOU can help solve a mystery." -Robert Stack

I have to go with the Dennis Depue case, because he was watching his own segment, and the UM broadcast was 100% the reason he was found. Plus the incredibly dramatic way in which it ended. Watching week-to-week in those days, I don't remember anything quite as intense. And I can recall talking to people who also watched the show (I was in middle school), commenting on what a SOB he was and wishing he would get caught...how scary that original segment was when he tailed that old couple...and best of all the perfect quote we got from Stack when the case was wrapped up.

Good idea for a thread. Aside from the ones that led to directly capturing people who watched the show, I'd have to say Tony Miller. A tipster/witness called in after seeing his segment saying that he wasn't the robber of the robbery he was convicted of and that got the ball rolling to his eventual exoneration.

Dave Davis' capture for the murder of Shannon Mohr. It was the very first case on the very first episode hosted by Robert Stack (and the first one you'll find on Amazon Prime), it featured some pretty stellar police work to get a presumed accidental death declared a homicide, and a wanted fugitive was captured and spent the life rest of his life in prison as a result of tips phoned in to UM.

I think the "Omar" Arsonist (https://unsolvedmysteries.fandom.com/wiki/Stockton_Arsonist) would be a good candidate. When they aired the case, police really didn't know anything about the fire. They had no idea where the fire took place, they had no idea who was responsible for the fire, they had no idea who videotaped the fire, and they had no idea who "Omar" was. Also, with the tape being found near the highway, the fire could've been set almost anywhere. Then, when the case aired, they had multiple people calling in and identifying the home and they had also had multiple tips that led to the identity of the perpetrators. I think one of the investigators was even surprised at how successful the broadcast was.

Also, I think the cases where viewer tips help lead to an unsolved murder or missing persons case being solved are pretty great too. There weren't too many (compared to the fugitive and lost love cases being solved), but the ones that were solved seemed pretty difficult to solve beforehand:

Eva Shoen (https://unsolvedmysteries.fandom.com/wiki/Eva_Shoen); she was the murdered U-Haul heiress. At the time, it seemed as though the U-Haul feud was the motive for her murder. However, when her story aired, police received a tip from a viewer who said his brother-in-law Frank Marquis had bragged about the murder. Marquis wasn't connected to the case at all until that tip came in. It eventually led to him being arrested and confessing to her murder.

Nancy Manni (https://unsolvedmysteries.fandom.com/wiki/Nancy_Manni); she was the ship steward who was found dead in Chesapeake Bay. It was not known if she died accidentally or was murdered. Her union and her former boyfriends were considered suspects. However, after the story aired, John O'Meara was arrested and charged with her murder. This occurred after he bragged that he had "killed a girl featured on Unsolved Mysteries". He also wasn't connected to the case until the story aired.

Roy Caffey (https://unsolvedmysteries.fandom.com/wiki/Roy_Caffey); he was the highway patrolman who was murdered while on duty in 1972. Twenty-five years later, Betsy Kemmerlin was arrested and charged with her murder. The arrest was made after witnesses came forward, some of whom came forward after the broadcast. I think it was incredible that this case was solved since so much time had passed.

Loretta Myers (https://unsolvedmysteries.fandom.com/wiki/Loretta_Myers); she was the elderly woman with Alzheimers who vanished after she started dating a younger man. Although it seemed apparent that she was alive (based on calls and sightings), her family was concerned for her safety. Police seemed to have no idea where she was until her case aired and viewer's tips led to her and her husband being found.

Alex Cooper (https://unsolvedmysteries.fandom.com/wiki/Alex_Cooper); he was the businessman who vanished while on a trip in Canada. His family later discovered that his identity was false. He was found alive thanks to viewer's tips and explained that he created a false identity after being accused of robbery. This case was so bizarre and confusing before it was solved.

I have to go with the Dennis Depue case, because he was watching his own segment, and the UM broadcast was 100% the reason he was found. Plus the incredibly dramatic way in which it ended. Watching week-to-week in those days, I don't remember anything quite as intense. And I can recall talking to people who also watched the show (I was in middle school), commenting on what a SOB he was and wishing he would get caught...how scary that original segment was when he tailed that old couple...and best of all the perfect quote we got from Stack when the case was wrapped up.


This is the one that has stuck with me as well. This is the case I think of when I hear "Unsolved Mysteries"

What do you consider to be the most definitive/remarkable solved case that exemplified the essence of what the show was. If I had to pick one case it would be the Ethel Kidd case. The randomness of the murder itself, the way the body was found, the rural settings--those things made it seem like a long shot to ever be solved. It was solved because his own sister recognized his handwriting years later on a rebroadcast. One person solved this case--it wasn't like several people recognized him and called the hotline-one person out of 300+ million people. To me that is the most definitive solved case in the shows history (so far).

"Perhaps YOU can help solve a mystery." -Robert Stack

great post! it's hard to top that solve.

There are several other crimes that deserve mentioning. This show was great at bringing people to justice.

I guess for me being a softy for reunions (and history), i'd have to say fritz vincken and ralph blank's reunion. it is one of the most incredible tales from WW2 and for the show to enable that reunion before they both passed away....I find that truly remarkable. In WW1 german and british troops had the "Christmas Truce" In WW2 the Nazi military leaders were far more brutal in trying to use Christmas to make Americans in Belgium surrender. Looks like there was at least one Christmas tale of humanity to speak of. I'm so glad UM featured that story.

The WWII Christmas reunion to me was easily the case that had the most far fetched chances at ever being solved. I was utterly stunned when I saw the update all those years ago. That was one that was MEANT TO BE solved. :)

This one was easy for me: John Burns and his capture for the 1970 murder of his lover Eleanor Farver.

This was pre-internet, and the authorities literally had no information on who this dude actually was until a story was told and a single grainy ancient picture and questionable age-progressed artist's rendering was plastered all over TV. And somebody recognized it and called in.

The update even had that great quote from the fugitive himself: "I got tired of lookin' over my shoulder.."

I agree with Ethel Kidd, Omar Arson and Depue. But for me the first thing that popped into my mind was Christopher Chichester.

I have to go with the Dennis Depue case, because he was watching his own segment, and the UM broadcast was 100% the reason he was found. Plus the incredibly dramatic way in which it ended. Watching week-to-week in those days, I don't remember anything quite as intense. And I can recall talking to people who also watched the show (I was in middle school), commenting on what a SOB he was and wishing he would get caught...how scary that original segment was when he tailed that old couple...and best of all the perfect quote we got from Stack when the case was wrapped up.

Not to mention the fact that the week after the segment first aired, Stack immediately mentioned the dramatic update to start the episode before he even previewed that night's cases. The update hadn't been filmed yet so it just had Stack's narration over the shot of Marylin being pushed down the basement stairs. I think this was the only time the show did this. I was disappointed they didn't include it on the Amazon Prime episode.

Since this was a sort of local case for me, I'll never forget getting ready for school in the morning (I was in 5th grade) and my mom showing me the newspaper article titled, 'Man kills himself after being featured on Unsolved Mysteries.'

Alex Cooper (https://unsolvedmysteries.fandom.com/wiki/Alex_Cooper); he was the businessman who vanished while on a trip in Canada. His family later discovered that his identity was false. He was found alive thanks to viewer's tips and explained that he created a false identity after being accused of robbery. This case was so bizarre and confusing before it was solved.

I always thought this case should have been made in to a movie. As time passes, there's more twists and turns with all the discoveries. And it even gets a happy ending.

One of the best produced segments as well, until Lifetime butchered it.

I always thought this case should have been made in to a movie. As time passes, there's more twists and turns with all the discoveries. And it even gets a happy ending.

One of the best produced segments as well, until Lifetime butchered it.

That one always struck me as.. Dumb.

On the part of the guy. I mean, what an idiot. Ok, so, you were accused of a crime 40 some odd years ago or whatever it was.. Your addled little brain somehow comes up with the thought that it would be better if your family thought you were dead.

The WWII Christmas reunion to me was easily the case that had the most far fetched chances at ever being solved. I was utterly stunned when I saw the update all those years ago. That was one that was MEANT TO BE solved. :)
I agree, obviously give a lot of credit to Fritz for getting his story out there. It would have been something else if the German soldiers could have been located as well. I still love the reunion when he asks if fritz' mom still has his pistol...

Magic rock segment and it's not even close.

I submit the murder of Dorothy Donovan. This was a HUGE "WTF" case that I feel was in the way of Deborah Poe and Angela Hammond, in that the criminal was seen, but given the circumstances of the crime, would almost never be identified.

That, and the alternate stories (Megadeth guy; Rob Shaffer/Charles Holden committing the crime) seemed actually more probable on face value. But we've come to learn they are very unlikely to be true, and in the Donovan case, definitely not true.

I submit the murder of Dorothy Donovan. This was a HUGE "WTF" case that I feel was in the way of Deborah Poe and Angela Hammond, in that the criminal was seen, but given the circumstances of the crime, would almost never be identified.

That, and the alternate stories (Megadeth guy; Rob Shaffer/Charles Holden committing the crime) seemed actually more probable on face value. But we've come to learn they are very unlikely to be true, and in the Donovan case, definitely not true.

Dorothy Donovan, though.. UM had little to nothing to do with the case being solved. Whether the case was ever profiled on UM or not, didn't really matter. DNA solved that case.

Dorothy Donovan, though.. UM had little to nothing to do with the case being solved. Whether the case was ever profiled on UM or not, didn't really matter. DNA solved that case.

Well then....good luck on your math test! :lol:

Well then....good luck on your math test! :lol:

Well, I wasn't pooping all over the idea, or at least, didn't mean to.. but..

Not saying it's not a fascinating case or anything like that, but, putting it in as one of the 'definitive' solved cases of UM? Now.. Maybe I need to dust off the dictionary and get the definitive definition of definitive, but what I'm taking the topic to be is a case that UM is known for and if someone came up to you and said "What's this UM show all about", you'd show them X segment that was profiled on UM and solved due to (at least on some level) exposure on UM. Perhaps not ONLY due to exposure on UM, but UM had to have played a part in it.

Maybe I'm wrong, maybe OP just meant a case featured that has been solved that reflects what UM is all about, but..

That's why I think Dennis DePue, simply because.. HE WAS WATCHING THE SHOW... But there's others.. The.. I can't remember the name of the disease.. Something like MMA.. The one where the parents were accused of poisoning the kids with antifreeze.. The Stallings.

That's a case that was solved directly as the result of it airing on UM, with some doctors calling in and explaining the disease.

Well, I wasn't pooping all over the idea, or at least, didn't mean to.. but..

Not saying it's not a fascinating case or anything like that, but, putting it in as one of the 'definitive' solved cases of UM? Now.. Maybe I need to dust off the dictionary and get the definitive definition of definitive, but what I'm taking the topic to be is a case that UM is known for and if someone came up to you and said "What's this UM show all about", you'd show them X segment that was profiled on UM and solved due to (at least on some level) exposure on UM. Perhaps not ONLY due to exposure on UM, but UM had to have played a part in it.

Maybe I'm wrong, maybe OP just meant a case featured that has been solved that reflects what UM is all about, but..

That's why I think Dennis DePue, simply because.. HE WAS WATCHING THE SHOW... But there's others.. The.. I can't remember the name of the disease.. Something like MMA.. The one where the parents were accused of poisoning the kids with antifreeze.. The Stallings.

That's a case that was solved directly as the result of it airing on UM, with some doctors calling in and explaining the disease.

I'll give you the DePue case. That has some great classic UM moments including the odd tailgating behavior, the abandoned school house, and the best/worst alias of all time: Hank Queen.

With Stallings though, MMA was already suspected when the case aired, right? The airing prompted additional experts and I suspect that it helped grow the pressure on the DA's office to come to their senses.

I'll give you the DePue case. That has some great classic UM moments including the odd tailgating behavior, the abandoned school house, and the best/worst alias of all time: Hank Queen.

With Stallings though, MMA was already suspected when the case aired, right? The airing prompted additional experts and I suspect that it helped grow the pressure on the DA's office to come to their senses.

I believe it was, but the airing on UM wound up having some experts on the disease actually call in and provide expertise on the subject that led to Patricia(?) being exonerated.