ColdCaseDetective

During the 19th century, it was all too commonplace to see alternative medicines being offered as cure-alls for ailments suffered by the general public. The dangerous poison strychnine was handed out as a performance enhancer for athletes; heroin was presented as a fix for unwell children and cocaine was used to treat alcoholism, with Sigmund Freud himself calling the substance a “magical drug.” It was widely available in powder form, wines and soft drinks.  Thankfully, in 2023, medicine has come a long way. But back then, science was of course not so advanced and the general public didn’t have access to information the way we do today. As a result, they were often misinformed and relied on those who sold themselves as doctors. One of the most nightmarish figures of the late 19th and early 20th century who masqueraded as a health professional was a woman by the name of Linda Hazzard.

For many of us, the 1950s conjures up images of perky housewives in full skirts; the iconic Chevrolet Bel Air, and rock and roll bands in matching suits, armed with "Elvis" microphones. But like with any decade, the 1950s wasn't immune to crime, and it has an abundance of cold cases just waiting to be solved. In today's video, we aim to shed light on just a few of them as we take a look at Three Disturbing Cold Cases from the 1950s.

In 1946, 18-year-old Paula Jean Welden was a student at Bennington College in Bennington, Vermont where she studied art, though she was considering changing her major to botany. When not in school, she lived with her parents and her three younger sisters in Stamford, Connecticut. By all accounts she was a true creative soul - she loved painting in all sorts of mediums, playing guitar and spending time outdoors. In fact, she was a fairly experienced hiker and camper, so when she vanished in the winter of 1946 after leaving for a hike, it came as a surprise to everybody who knew her.

So far in 2022, the Unidentified Wiki database shows that 28 John and Jane Does have gained back their identities. Genealogy has been a massive help to law enforcement over the last few years, allowing them to identify not only victims but suspects and perpetrators in dozens of unsolved cold cases. However, it is not always so simple - there are many cases in which the dead are identified, but their killers remain nameless. In today’s video, we’ll be exploring two horrific still-unsolved cases of recently identified Jane Does.

Home to the Sundance Film Festival, Butch Cassidy and an expansive mountain range beloved by skiers across the country, Utah is one of America’s most beautiful states. But it is also known to the true-crime community as the birthplace of Gary Ridgway and was, at one point, one of Ted Bundy’s favourite haunts. It is a state full of grisly cold cases. In today’s episode of Cold-Case Detective, we’ll be exploring three chilling unsolved cases from Utah.

From the outside, 1117 Morningside Avenue looked like a standard American home. White panelled and consisting of two storeys, it was a cosy place for Billy Isom, Freta Bostic and Jesse Hanni to call their own. But when they were all found dead inside one winter morning, the feeling of homeliness changed. As the police tried to discover the secrets it held within its walls, the structure seemed intimidating and foreboding, unable to shed light on one of Iowa’s most grizzly crimes.

For many people across the world, stepping out into the great outdoors fills them with joy and a sense of freedom. It allows them to escape the monotony of everyday life and shows them the true beauty of the world we live in. But the outdoors can be a terrifying and deadly place. One wrong move can cause someone to perish in an instant, or result in them getting lost for days or weeks - or sometimes forever. In today’s video, we will be exploring four terrifying cases of people who vanished in the wilderness.

During the 1980s, Hawaii became the host of the NFL Pro Bowl, endured the storms of  Hurricane Iwa and reached a population of one million residents. But perhaps overshadowing all of that is the fact that during this time period, Hawaii had its second serial killer who was even more prominent, and deadly, than its first. While it’s been almost four decades since he first struck, the case of the Honolulu Strangler remains unsolved.

Nestled between Virginia, Tennessee and South Carolina, North Carolina is home to both beautiful beaches along the Atlantic coastline and spectacular green mountain ranges, including The Great Smoky Mountains. However it is also home to many mysteries. In today's video, we'll be exploring two bizarre unsolved disappearances from North Carolina.

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Unsolved or cold cases often go one of two ways: either there’s not enough information available for us to come to a solid conclusion, or the answer feels extremely obvious but there’s a lack of evidence tying the suspect to the crime. Sometimes this is because a suspect was careful or got lucky. Sometimes it’s due to botched police work. Whatever the case may be, it can be maddening to watch as these kinds of cases, the ones that are so close to being solved, are shelved. In today’s video, we’ll be exploring two frustrating cold cases with obvious suspects.

Perhaps best known for its agriculture, its State Fair and its bitterly cold winters, Iowa is nestled in between the Missouri and Mississippi rivers. It it is one of the US’s most fascinating states for true crime enthusiasts, as it is the backdrop for dozens of decades-old cold cases. In today’s video, we’ll be exploring two twisted cases from Iowa that are STILL unsolved.

Many of the cases we cover on this channel involve the murder of a singular person, and it is terrifying knowing that there are so many killers who have never been brought to justice. However, something that is perhaps even more horrific, are unsolved cases of murdered families, a crime that snuffs out the lives of not just one, but multiple individuals all at once. The idea that someone who could commit such atrocities and is walking free and living an ordinary life is chilling to say the least. In today’s video, we’ll be exploring two horrific unsolved family murders. 

Check out our Patreon for rewards and to aid the work our channel does! Each and every bit of support we receive is truly appreciated by everyone on the team. If you're able to support us, you can find us on patreon at: https://www.patreon.com/coldcasedetective

Given its status of being the fourth most populous state in the United States, New York has seen its fair share of grisly and chilling cases. It is the backdrop to the murders of some of the world’s most influential figures, including Malcolm X and John Lennon, and was the hunting ground of infamous serial killer David Berkowitz - or, as he is is better known, the Son of Sam. Many of its crimes go unnoticed by the mainstream media, as they are overshadowed by one or two notorious cases, and so, today, we aim to shed some light on some lesser-known cold cases. In this video, we’ll be exploring two unsettling unsolved cases from New York.

Odd details are nothing new in cases that interest the true crime community. From the broken porch light in the disappearance of the Springfield Three to the long and detailed note left behind at the home of JonBenet Ramsey, there is an abundance of cold cases with strange clues that leave many of us thinking about it for hours afterwards. But oftentimes, these small details feel like a hindrance than a help. In today’s video, we’ll be exploring two peculiar cases that raise more questions than answers.

Some of us might associate the 1980s with Steven Speilberg’s blockbuster ‘ET: The Extra-Terrestrial’, or Michael Jackson’s smash hit ‘Thriller’, both of which are considered iconic pieces of art and entertainment today. But despite the glitz, the glamour and the dazzling entertainment industry at the time, the 1980s is known by online sleuths for its dozens upon dozens of baffling cold cases. In today’s video, we’ll be exploring two puzzling unsolved disappearances from the 1980s.

Jeffrey Dahmer, Ted Bundy and Dennis Nilsen; these serial slayers are just some of the most well-known even beyond the true crime community. Despite only being responsible for about 1% of murders in the US, serial slayers are truly some of the most terrifying people in history, often motivated by a determination to fulfil some kind of twisted desire. But amongst the Peter Sutcliffes’ and Aileen Wuornos’ are dozens of criminals barely mentioned when the topic comes up. In today’s video, we’ll be exploring three nightmarish serial killers you’ve never heard of…

Back in the 1970s and 80s, investigators could have suspect sketches, eyewitness accounts and even a fragment of DNA left behind at the scene - but it didn't mean they could solve the case. Today, due to the fantastic advances in forensic techniques and technology, we are seeing justice for dozens of cases that were once deemed unsolvable. In today's video, we'll be exploring five decades-old cold cases that were recently solved.

Thinking about Jamaica likely conjures up picturesque images of white sandy beaches, lush green, leafy trees and sparkling, clear blue waters. But Jamaica, and in particular cities such as Spanish Town and Montego Bay, experiences high levels of crime and violence, with the country having had one of the highest murder rates in the world in the early 2000s. This has left dozens of cases unsolved up and down the country. In today’s video, we’ll be exploring just three of these horrific cold cases from Jamaica.