In your opinion what is THE most definitive solved case on Unsolved Mysteries?

[BDR]

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

[Jon]

Originally Posted by BDR

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.

[TheCars1986]

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.

[RobinW]

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.

[unsolved243]

I think the "Omar" 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; 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; 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; 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; 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; 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.

[Labonte18]

Originally Posted by Jon

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"

[DALLASTEXAN!!]

Originally Posted by BDR

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.

[5thcorps]

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.

[MegtheEgg86]

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.."

[atomicfizz]

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

[dynoguy88]

Originally Posted by Jon

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.'

[dynoguy88]

Originally Posted by unsolved243

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.

[Labonte18]

Originally Posted by dynoguy88

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.

[DALLASTEXAN!!]

Originally Posted by 5thcorps

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...

[Fletch]

Magic rock segment and it's not even close.