#unsolved crime

The bust of Beethoven was unveiled in Chicago's Lincoln Park in 1897 with 1,000 guests in attendance. Sometime in the early 1970s, it went missing (likely stolen for its valuable bronze) and was never replaced.

October 06, 2025

On December 12, 2014, a teenage boy walking through a wooded area in Economy Borough, Beaver County, Pennsylvania, stumbled upon something chilling: a severed human head, carefully placed atop a bed of leaves exactly 31 feet from the road. There were no signs of trauma, blood, or decomposition. The head belonged to a white woman aged between 40 and 80, with gray or partially gray hair, and had been professionally embalmed, suggesting it had been preserved for some time.

The embalming fluid used had eliminated all DNA, making identification nearly impossible. Even more bizarre, the woman’s eyes had been replaced with red rubber balls, a practice not consistent with standard funeral home procedures. However, the embalming itself appeared to be professionally done, likely at a funeral home rather than a medical institution.

Investigators found traces of medication used to treat heart failure, leading to speculation that the woman may have died of natural causes. Despite this, the severing of her head and its deliberate placement suggest someone went to great lengths to stage the scene, possibly to ensure it would be found.

The case gained national attention when it was featured in Season 4 of Netflix’s “Unsolved Mysteries” in an episode titled “The Severed Head”. The show highlighted the meticulous nature of the crime and the eerie absence of any other body parts. Despite extensive efforts, including facial reconstruction and comparisons to missing persons databases, the woman remains unidentified.

The case has baffled investigators for over a decade. Was this a macabre prank? A symbolic gesture? Or something more sinister?

The Beaver County Jane Doe is more than a mystery, it’s a reminder of the fragility of identity and the limits of forensic science. Her story underscores the importance of public awareness, as someone, somewhere, may hold the key to her name and her story.

The woman’s head had been professionally embalmed and mummified, likely years before it was discovered in the woods—suggesting she may have died long before 2014.The decapitation was surgically precise, pointing to someone with anatomical expertise, possibly a mortician. Despite extensive forensic efforts, the embalming fluid destroyed all DNA, making identification nearly impossible. The head was placed exactly 31 feet from the road, undisturbed by animals or weather, indicating it was deliberately staged to be found. Investigators have ruled out several missing persons, but no one has come forward to claim her, and no funeral homes have admitted involvement.

Tonight:

On January 20th, David Duckworthy was found dead in the back of his 2008 Toyota Camry. His murderer was eventually discovered to be his angry landlord, Albert Nose.

But what if Tampered with the DNA Evidence to Exonerate the Man who Committed the Murder?

It would become... Unsolved!

The Ripper Lives is a Victorian gothic murder mystery that continues the story of Jack the Ripper after the Canonical Five. The serialized novel is narrated from a first-person perspective by Scotland Yard Inspector Frederick Abberline after retirement. Abberline, greatly bothered that the public has never been given closure in the Ripper case, finally reveals what happened after the death of Mary Jane Kelly, confirming that the Ripper did not just disappear into history as many believe.

Like The Alienist, the 10-part novel follows the 19th-century investigation of an unknown serial killer and includes historical facts. Many famous names associated with the Jack the Ripper case appear and interact with the characters, enhancing the connection between the fictional story and the real-life events.

ABOUT THE RIPPER LIVES: JACK THE RIPPER'S REIGN OF TERROR CONTINUES The world’s most elusive and terrifying serial killer returns in the 10-part Victorian gothic murder mystery series, The Ripper Lives. Dripping with 19th-century atmosphere and intrigue, each thrilling, suspense-filled chapter ends with a shocking cliffhanger that compels the reader forward. The fear builds as the historical horror story unfolds, culminating in an explosive, mind-bending conclusion.

The Ripper Lives is a sequel to the true story that commences after the slayings of the Canonical Five. As a secretly appointed task force works to bring the butcher to justice under the radar of the newspapers, the unsuspecting public believes the threat has subsided. But while hiding in the shadows, the serial killer's compulsion to mutilate has grown exponentially stronger, and for Whitechapel, the harrowing nightmare of tension and terror has only just begun.

The property at 107 Sheffield Avenue in South Buffalo, New York, harbors a dark history marked by multiple grim discoveries over the years. The narrative of tragedy began to unfold on June 23, 2020, when police responded to a welfare check and discovered the first of several bodies. Subsequent discoveries include another body found on September 11, 2022, leading to an arrest, and a third body unearthed in August 2023 in the house's yard.

The most heart-wrenching incident occurred when Jaylen Griffin, a 12-year-old boy reported missing since August 4, 2020, was found deceased in the house's attic on April 12, 2024. His body, severely decomposed, was identified through dental records. This marked the fourth body found at this address in four years, concluding a prolonged and sorrowful search. Jaylen had told his mother he was visiting a nearby store but never returned, sparking a case initially treated as a runaway situation.

The frequent tenant turnover at this address, combined with its history of housing individuals recently released from prison, adds layers of complexity to the ongoing investigations. The residence, owned by Sunrise West LLC and managed under suspicious conditions, has been subject to numerous police visits and a negligence lawsuit following a fire caused by a tenant.