Some of history's most prolific killers were never identified. Here are five cases that remain open.
The West Mesa Bone Collector
In February 2009, a woman walking her dog discovered human remains in the West Mesa area of Albuquerque, New Mexico. The subsequent search uncovered the remains of 11 women and girls, along with a fetus, buried in the same area. Victims ranged from 15 to 32 years old, and many had ties to Albuquerque's drug and sex work communities. Despite a large investigation and a substantial reward, no suspect has ever been charged.
The Atlanta Ripper
Beginning in 1911, an unidentified killer murdered at least 20 Black women in Atlanta over several years, in a pattern of violence that drew comparisons to London's Jack the Ripper decades earlier. Despite a lengthy investigation and several arrests, no one was ever conclusively identified as responsible, and the case remains unsolved.
The Hammersmith Nude Murders
Between 1964 and 1965, six women, most involved in sex work, were found murdered near the River Thames in London — a case that became known as the "Hammersmith Nude Murders" or was linked in the press to "Jack the Stripper." Some investigators also connected two earlier deaths, in 1959 and 1963, to the same killer. Despite intense media attention and a large-scale Scotland Yard investigation, the case was never solved, and much of the original forensic evidence has since been lost.
The Zodiac Killer
The Zodiac Killer terrorized Northern California in the late 1960s and early 1970s, sending taunting letters and cryptograms to newspapers and claiming responsibility for a total of 37 murders — a number investigators have never been able to confirm. Only seven attacks are officially confirmed as connected to the Zodiac, resulting in five deaths and two survivors. Despite decades of investigation, numerous named suspects, and continued interest from amateur and professional investigators alike, the killer's identity has never been officially confirmed.
Stoneman
Between 1989 and the years prior, a series of killings targeting homeless people sleeping on the streets of Calcutta (now Kolkata), India, were attributed to an unidentified assailant nicknamed "Stoneman" for the method of attack. Similar killings in Bombay (now Mumbai) between 1985 and 1988 have sometimes been linked to the same case, though this has never been confirmed. None of the killings, in either city, has ever been solved.
FAQ
Has DNA technology helped solve any of these cases?
Not conclusively as of the available reporting reflected here — advances in forensic genealogy have helped solve other cold cases in recent years, so it's worth checking for updates on these specific ones before publishing.
Is the Zodiac Killer's identity known today?
No official confirmation exists, despite numerous named suspects and continued investigation over the decades.
What connects the West Mesa victims?
Most had ties to Albuquerque's drug and sex work communities, and all were found buried in the same desert area.