The Most Difficult Cases Solved, Ranked

Voting rules: Choose the cases solved you think is the most difficult!

Updated on Apr 24, 2024 06:15

In the world of problem-solving, some cases stand out due to their complexity and the ingenuity required to solve them. These are the puzzles that have pushed the boundaries of what we thought was possible, offering profound insights and advancing entire fields. Recognizing these milestones not only celebrates the achievements but also provides a roadmap for tackling future challenges. On this website, users like you play a crucial role in identifying and acknowledging these extraordinary cases by voting for the ones you find most impressive. Your votes help to highlight the most remarkable solutions, serving as an inspiration and learning tool for others. Join in and cast your vote to see how your favorites stack up against others in the community.

What Are the Most Difficult Cases Solved?

1

70
votes
The Zodiac Killer

The Zodiac Killer was an unidentified serial killer who operated in Northern California from the late 1960s to the early 1970s. The case remains unsolved, but some progress has been made in recent years.
The Zodiac Killer was a notorious unidentified serial killer who operated in the late 1960s and early 1970s in Northern California, USA. The killer sent taunting letters, ciphers, and cryptograms to local media outlets, boasting about his crimes and challenging the police to catch him.

Years Active: Late 1960s to early 1970s

Location: Northern California, USA

Crime Type: Serial killings, shootings

Victims: Confirmed: 5 (potentially more)

Method of Operation: Targeted individuals, shootings, use of concealed weapons
The Zodiac Killer in other rankings
- Position 7 of 10 in Most popular true crime story
2

52
votes
Santa Barbara police · Public domain

The Black Dahlia

The Black Dahlia was the nickname given to Elizabeth Short, a young woman who was brutally murdered in Los Angeles in 1947. The case remains unsolved, but there have been many theories and suspects over the years.
The Black Dahlia is a notorious unsolved murder case that took place in Los Angeles in 1947. The victim, Elizabeth Short, was a 22-year-old aspiring actress, whose dismembered body was found brutally mutilated in a vacant lot. The case gained significant media attention and became one of the most famous unsolved murders in the history of American crime.

Case Type: Murder

Date: January 15, 1947

Location: Los Angeles, California, United States

Victim: Elizabeth Short

Age: 22
The Black Dahlia in other rankings
- Position 1 of 10 in Most popular cold case
- Position 5 of 10 in Most popular Dateline episode
3

41
votes
The JonBenét Ramsey Case

JonBenét Ramsey was a six-year-old beauty pageant queen who was found murdered in her family's home in Boulder, Colorado, in 1996. The case remains unsolved, but there have been many theories and suspects over the years.
The JonBenét Ramsey Case refers to the mysterious murder of JonBenét Ramsey, a six-year-old American child beauty queen, in 1996. The case gained significant media attention and has remained unsolved for years, making it one of the most captivating and difficult criminal investigations in recent history.

Year: 1996

Location: Boulder, Colorado, United States

Victim: JonBenét Ramsey

Age: 6 years old

Circumstances: Found murdered in the basement of her home, several hours after she was reported missing
4

10
votes
The Boston Strangler

The Boston Strangler was a serial killer who operated in the Boston area in the early 1960s. The case was eventually solved, but it took many years and a lot of detective work to catch the killer.
The Boston Strangler is the name given to a series of murders that occurred in Boston, Massachusetts, between 1962 and 1964. The killer was responsible for the death of thirteen women, all of whom were strangled with articles of their own clothing.

Crime Period: 1962-1964

Location: Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Number of Victims: 13

Method: Strangulation with victim's clothing

Victim Profile: All female
5

29
votes
The Lindbergh Baby Kidnapping

The Lindbergh Baby Kidnapping was a high-profile kidnapping case in 1932 that involved the son of famous aviator Charles Lindbergh. The case was eventually solved, but it remains one of the most difficult and complex cases in American history.
The Lindbergh Baby Kidnapping refers to the abduction and murder of Charles Lindbergh Jr., the 20-month-old son of famous aviator Charles Lindbergh and his wife Anne Morrow Lindbergh. The crime took place on the night of March 1, 1932, at their home in Hopewell, New Jersey, United States. The case gripped the nation and became known as the 'Crime of the Century.'

Kidnapping Date: March 1, 1932

Location: Hopewell, New Jersey, United States

Victim: Charles Lindbergh Jr. (20-month-old)

Crime Classification: Kidnapping and Murder

FBI Involvement: The FBI was involved in the investigation led by J. Edgar Hoover.
6

13
votes
Peter K. Levy from New York, NY, United States · Public domain

The O.J. Simpson Trial

The O.J. Simpson Trial was a high-profile murder trial in 1995 that involved the former NFL star and actor. The case was eventually solved, but it remains one of the most controversial and divisive cases in American history.
The O.J. Simpson Trial was one of the most famous and controversial criminal trials in American history. It took place in 1995 and involved former NFL player O.J. Simpson, who was accused of murdering his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ronald Goldman. The trial captivated the nation and became a media spectacle, highlighting issues of race, fame, and the American justice system.

Trial Location: Los Angeles, California, USA

Trial Dates: January 24, 1995 – October 3, 1995

Duration: 8 months

Judge: Lance Ito

Prosecution Team: Marcia Clark and Christopher Darden
7

12
votes
The Unabomber Case

The Unabomber Case was a high-profile domestic terrorism case in the 1990s that involved a series of bombings and letters sent by a man known as the "Unabomber." The case was eventually solved, but it took many years and a lot of detective work to catch the killer.
The Unabomber Case refers to a series of mail bombings that occurred between 1978 and 1995 in the United States. The perpetrator, known as the Unabomber, targeted individuals involved in technology and was motivated by a perceived threat to human freedom and dignity caused by modern technology.

Duration: 1978-1995

Location: United States

Perpetrator: The Unabomber

Motivation: Perceived threat of technology to human freedom

Method: Mail bombings
8

10
votes
The Oklahoma City Bombing

The Oklahoma City Bombing was a domestic terrorist attack that occurred in 1995 and killed 168 people. The case was eventually solved, but it remains one of the most difficult and complex cases in American history.
The Oklahoma City Bombing was a domestic terrorist attack that occurred on April 19, 1995, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States. The attack involved the detonation of a truck bomb in front of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, causing significant destruction and loss of life.

Date: April 19, 1995

Location: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States

Target: Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building

Perpetrator: Timothy McVeigh

Motivation: Anti-government sentiment and retaliation for the Waco siege
9

3
votes
The Casey Anthony Trial

The Casey Anthony Trial was a high-profile murder trial in 2011 that involved a young mother who was accused of killing her two-year-old daughter. The case was eventually solved, but it remains one of the most controversial and divisive cases in recent history.
The Casey Anthony Trial was a high-profile criminal trial in the United States. Casey Anthony, a 22-year-old mother from Florida, was charged with the murder of her two-year-old daughter, Caylee Anthony. The trial gained significant media attention due to its shocking allegations and the salacious details that emerged during the proceedings. The case became a sensationalized spectacle and divided public opinion.

Casey Anthony: Defendant

Charge: First-degree murder

Victim: Caylee Anthony

Location: Orlando, Florida

Duration: May 24, 2011 - July 5, 2011
10

12
votes
The Golden State Killer

Joseph James DeAngelo

The Golden State Killer was an unidentified serial killer who operated in California in the 1970s and 1980s. The case was eventually solved in 2018, but it took many years and a lot of detective work to catch the killer.
The Golden State Killer, also known as the East Area Rapist and the Original Night Stalker, was a notorious serial killer, rapist, and burglar who was active in California during the 1970s and 1980s. He was responsible for at least 13 murders, 50 sexual assaults, and over 100 burglaries. The Golden State Killer terrorized multiple communities across California, leaving behind a trail of fear and devastation.

Alias: East Area Rapist, Original Night Stalker

Years Active: 1974 - 1986

Murders Committed: At least 13

Sexual Assaults: At least 50

Burglaries: Over 100

Missing your favorite cases solved?

Graphs

Discussion

Ranking factors for difficult cases solved

Complexity of the case

This includes the number of variables involved, the intricacy of the relationships between the elements, and how difficult it is to piece together the evidence to form a coherent picture.
Amount and quality of evidence available

Solving a case becomes harder when there is a lack of evidence or the evidence available is unclear or misleading.
Duration of the investigation

The longer a case remains unsolved, the more difficult it becomes due to factors such as fading memories, loss of evidence, and witnesses becoming unavailable.
Number of false leads or dead ends

Cases with multiple false leads or dead ends often prove more challenging because investigators must sift through the misleading information to uncover the truth.
Degree of collaboration and coordination among different agencies and jurisdictions

Difficult cases may involve several law enforcement agencies or jurisdictions, making it harder to solve due to communication and coordination challenges.
Skill and dedication of the investigators

The abilities of the investigators, their experience, and their commitment to solving a case play a significant role in determining how difficult a case is to solve.
Impact of external factors

Factors such as media coverage, political pressure, or public scrutiny can make it more challenging for investigators to solve cases.
Legal and procedural hurdles

Cases can become more difficult to solve when they involve complex legal issues or procedural requirements that the investigators need to navigate.
Unpredictability and behavior of the perpetrator(s)

The difficulty of a case can be affected by the actions of the perpetrator(s), such as their degree of planning, sophistication, ability to cover their tracks, or willingness to engage with law enforcement.
Personal connections or emotions involved

Cases that involve personal connections or strong emotions can be more difficult to solve due to increased emotional stress and potential biases in the investigation process.

About this ranking

This is a community-based ranking of the most difficult cases solved. We do our best to provide fair voting, but it is not intended to be exhaustive. So if you notice something or Case solved is missing, feel free to help improve the ranking!

Statistics

5699 views
224 votes
10 ranked items

Voting Rules

A participant may cast an up or down vote for each Case solved once every 24 hours. The rank of each Case solved is then calculated from the weighted sum of all up and down votes.

Trendings topics

Don't miss out on the currently trending topics of StrawPoll Rankings!

Forensic Investigation

Unsolved Mysteries

The Most Popular Fraudsters: Uncovering Notorious Scammers

More information on most difficult cases solved

When it comes to solving cases, there are those that are straightforward and relatively easy to solve, and then there are those that are incredibly difficult and require a lot of time, effort, and resources to crack. These difficult cases often involve complex and convoluted mysteries, elusive suspects, and limited evidence. Some of the most difficult cases that have been solved include the Zodiac Killer case, which remained unsolved for decades until the use of DNA technology led to the identification of the killer in 2018. The JonBenét Ramsey case, which involved the murder of a six-year-old beauty pageant contestant in 1996, also remained unsolved for years until new evidence came to light, leading to the arrest of a suspect in 2019. Other difficult cases include the disappearance of Natalee Holloway in Aruba, the Boston Marathon bombing, and the Oklahoma City bombing. These cases required extensive investigations and the use of advanced forensic techniques to solve, and they serve as a testament to the persistence and dedication of law enforcement officials and investigators.