"Young L.A. Girl Slain; Body Slashed in Two" -L.A.'s Daily News(01 of78)
Open Image ModalOn January 15, 1947, the remains of Elizabeth Short, were found in a vacant lot in Los Angeles. What made this discovery the stuff of tabloid sensation, however, was the Glasgow smile left on the aspiring actress' face--made with 3-inch slashes on each side. This, coupled with Short's dark hair, fair complexion and reputation for sporting a dahlia in her hair, dubbed her "The Black Dahlia" in headlines.What followed was a media circus filled with rumors and speculation about the promiscuous 22-year-old's checkered past. What haunts theorists to this day, apart from the victim's uniquely nightmarish visage, is that the case remains unsolved after some 200 suspects were interviewed and ultimately released--making it one of Hollywood's most lurid legends. (credit:WikiMedia: Trijnstel)
"I Am Not Guilty - Thus Lizzie Borden Pleads Before Judge Hammond at New Bedford." -Boston Journal(02 of78)
Open Image Modal"Lizzie Borden took an axeAnd gave her mother forty whacks.And when she saw what she had done,She gave her father forty-one."So goes the lurid nursery rhyme to one of the most mystifying crimes of the century. The nature of the deaths of Andrew J. Borden and his wife, Abby, are trumped only by the identity of the alleged perpetrator: their daughter, Lizzie. Inexplicably found "not guilty" in contrast to the era's zeitgeist of swift justice, Lizzie's legacy--guilty or not--has become immortalized as one of the most perplexing cases of parricide in history. (credit:WikiMedia: Wikilug)
"Texas Mother Charged with Killing Her 5 Children" -CNN(03 of78)
Open Image ModalIn a case of mother-gone-mad that startled a nation, Andrea Yates, to her few friends and neighbors, was known as a mere recluse suffering from postpartum depression leading up to the birth of her fifth child.That all changed on June 20, 2001, when she snapped, drowning five of her children in their home's bathtub. She was convicted in 2002 of capital murder, carrying a sentence of life in prison with possible parole. As of July 2006, however, a Texas jury found her not guilty by reason of insanity. (credit:Getty Images)
"Buttafuoco Admits to Sex with Amy Fisher" -New York Times(04 of78)
Open Image ModalKnown as the "Long Island Lolita," Fisher became involved with Joey Buttafuoco in May of 1991. Shortly after the two began a sexual relationship (she, 16, while he, 35, was married with two children), his presence and influence in her life became all she cared for.In what he's since denied to this day, Buttafuoco would go on to help an obsessive Fisher plan the murder of his wife, culminating in Fisher putting a bullet in Mary Jo Buttafuoco's head, but failing to kill her.In the highly publicized trial that ensued, Fisher accepted a plea deal for 15 years in prison in exchange for a testimony against Joey, who faced and served out charges of statutory rape. (credit:Getty Images)
"Murder of a Little Beauty" -People Magazine(05 of78)
Open Image ModalWith a face that graced the covers of nearly every news and gossip rag during the winter of '96, it's hard to suggest the death of child beauty pageant queen JonBenét Ramsey had little effect outside the city of Boulder, Colorado. Found dead from a blow to the head and strangulation in the family's basement, coupled with a ransom note left on the staircase asking for $118,000 (conveniently or coincidentally, nearly the same amount Mr. Ramsey received as a bonus that year), as well as no obvious signs of forced entry into the house, the evidence was overwhelmingly stacked against parents John and Patsy, who managed to maintain their innocence throughout the investigation.The case reopened in 2010, but critics cite poor handling of the crime scene as obstructing what remains a mystery regarding the events of that Christmas day. (credit:wikipedia.org)
"F.B.I. Joins Probe in Slaughter of 8 Nurses" -Nashua Telegraph(06 of78)
Open Image ModalTattooed with "Born to Raise Hell" on his arm, Richard Speck made good on his mantra through a history of violence, theft, alcoholism, and spousal abuse, but made his infamy known to all when, on July 13, 1966, he walked into a dormitory armed with a knife.After leaving 8 student nurses dead in his wake, only one, Cora Amurao, was spared--hiding under a bed until 6 a.m.Speck was found guilty of murder and died of a heart attack in prison. As one of the most press-worthy crimes of the decade, the grim events were used most recently as the backdrop for an episode of Mad Men. (credit:thesmokinggun.com)
"Sharon Tate, Four Others Murdered" -Los Angeles Times(07 of78)
Open Image ModalPerhaps the most terrifying figure in American crime to have never actually killed anyone himself, Charles Manson founded a "family" of wayward individuals who hailed him as a prophet.So strong was his manipulation, he ordered, on the night of Aug. 8, 1969, four of his followers to kill everyone at the residence of 10050 Cielo Drive--including Roman Polanski's wife, Sharon Tate, and her unborn child. Tate was stabbed 16 times, and her blood was used to write "pig" on the house's front door.The next night, Manson accompanied six of his family to the residence of supermarket executive Leno LaBianca and his wife, only to help bind them before ordering their deaths.In 1971, Manson and three of his fellow defendants were found guilty of murder in the first-degree and several other crimes. At the time, it was the longest murder trial in American history, spanning nine and a half months, as well as the most expensive, estimating $1 million.Manson was denied parole for the 12th time in April 2012. (credit:AP Images)
"Lindbergh Baby Kidnapped from Home of Parents on Farm Near Princeton; Taken from His Crib; Wide Search on" -The New York Times(08 of78)
Open Image ModalUsed as the basis for an Agatha Christie novel (Murder on the Orient Express) and dubbed "the biggest story since the Resurrection" by famed journalist H.L. Mencken, the kidnapping and murder of aviator Charles Lindbergh's infant son continues to fascinate theorists today.Charles Jr. was discovered missing from his second-floor bedroom on March 1, 1932, along with a note demanding a then-unimaginable $50,000, igniting a media frenzy like no other. The tabloid pandemonium prompted many tips and leads, but none as concrete as a package containing the boy's pajamas and another message demanding the ransom. After some misdirection from the presumed kidnapper, Lindbergh's child was soon after discovered in the woods along a road near the family residence.Notwithstanding the evidence stockpiled against the easily vilified illegal German immigrant Bruno Hauptmann (who was sentenced), speculation prevails as to the true identity of the caper responsible in this tragic tale of one of America's greatest heroes. (credit:Getty Images)
"Not Guilty as Sin" -NY Post(09 of78)
Open Image ModalStill fresh in the minds of many and not to easily be forgotten, the trial of Casey Anthony turned Orlando, Florida into anything but the "happiest place on earth." Following a series of lies, misdirection and manipulation by then-22 year old Casey, Caylee's skeletal remains were found five months into the investigation, setting the stage for what could only be described as the most incessantly publicized and shocking trial in recent memory.The media had a field day that went on for months: Highlighting the young, pretty, party girl image used against her in court as the prosecution tore apart an aimless defense--or so it seemed.After resorting to throwing her family under the bus, incriminating people entirely made-up ("Zanny the Nanny"), and fabricating elaborate stories for the police, Casey was found not guilty of murder due to evidence deemed mostly circumstantial and not meeting the burden of "beyond reasonable doubt," inciting much debate regarding whether true justice was served. (credit:The Associated Press)
"An American Tragedy" -TIME(10 of78)
Open Image ModalKnown and heralded as the "trial of the century," former football star and actor O.J. Simpson found himself in the middle of the nation's biggest, most-televised trial following the deaths of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman, but not before fleeing an all-points bulletin in his Ford Bronco with 20 units in tow, interrupting game 5 of the NBA Finals.By enlisting a dream team including Johnnie Cochran, Robert Shapiro, and Robert Kardashian, the defense claimed Simpson was merely a victim of police fraud with regard to contaminated DNA evidence, while famously quipping "If it [the glove] doesn't fit, you must acquit."On October 3, 1995, an estimated 100 million people from around the world tuned in to watch the jury hand down a verdict of not guilty, consequently resulting in an estimated loss of $480 million in productivity and inciting an ongoing discussion of race in the judicial system that continues to this day. (credit:Alamy Images)
Houaka Yang(11 of78)
Open Image ModalPocahontas(12 of78)
Open Image ModalClyde Hobbs(13 of78)
Open Image ModalPatricia Krentcil(14 of78)
Open Image ModalEugene Carl Kotelman(15 of78)
Open Image ModalAaron Latham(16 of78)
Open Image ModalJoseph Hannah(17 of78)
Open Image ModalMichael Baker(18 of78)
Open Image ModalRonaldo Silva(19 of78)
Open Image ModalRay Woods(20 of78)
Open Image ModalKeith Fehr(21 of78)
Open Image ModalRaymond Foley(22 of78)
Open Image ModalJesse James Thomas(23 of78)
Open Image ModalWilliam Bliss(24 of78)
Open Image ModalChristina Lopez(25 of78)
Open Image ModalBriana Rios(26 of78)
Open Image ModalMatthew Ibarria(27 of78)
Open Image ModalJacob Lee Bovia(28 of78)
Open Image ModalJohn Jardini(29 of78)
Open Image ModalJason Engel(30 of78)
Open Image ModalMichael Conley(31 of78)
Open Image ModalMichael Barker(32 of78)
Open Image ModalMark Loescher(33 of78)
Open Image ModalRamon Blair(34 of78)
Open Image ModalVerdon Taylor(35 of78)
Open Image ModalNikolas Harbar and Stephanie Pelzner(36 of78)
Open Image ModalMisty Lawson(37 of78)
Open Image ModalHarold Wayne Hadley, Jr.(38 of78)
Open Image ModalAndrew Toothman(39 of78)
Open Image ModalAgustin Sanchez(40 of78)
Open Image ModalTimothy Randall Clark(41 of78)
Open Image ModalOneal Morris(42 of78)
Open Image ModalOlivia Ornelas(43 of78)
Open Image ModalRanaldo Jack(44 of78)
Open Image ModalMarsia Emanuel(45 of78)
Open Image ModalBug Spray Bandit(46 of78)
Open Image ModalKaren Henry(47 of78)
Open Image ModalGregory Liascos(48 of78)
Open Image ModalThis camouflage might work well in nature, but it really stands out in the police station. Oregon investigators believe Gregory Liascos, 36, was wearing this "ghillie" camouflage when he attempted to break into the Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals last week. After setting off alarms, the suspect allegedly fled into a wooded area nearby. Officers only found Liascos when a police dog bit what appeared to be a patch of grass -- which yelped in pain. On Oct. 12, 2011, authorities said Liascos failed to show up for his trial. A warrant has been issued for his arrest. (credit:Washington County Sheriff's Office / AP)
Albert Tejeda(49 of78)
Open Image ModalSheriff's deputies in Pinal County, Ariz., say Albert Tejeda's unique tattoos -- and his lengthy rap sheet -- leave him with a face they'll never forget. After Tejeda allegedly fled during a traffic stop, deputies claim they knew exactly who they were looking for and later found the 31-year-old walking around Casa Grande with a samurai sword. (credit:Pinal County Sheriff's Office)
Juan Aguirre(50 of78)
Open Image ModalEven if Juan Aguirre got away, he would have ended up empty handed. Police said the 21-year-old Kansan stole six empty DVD boxes from a local adult entertainment shop. (credit:Saline County Sheriff)
'Vampire' Josephine Smith(51 of78)
Open Image ModalJosephine Smith is seen in this booking photo from the Pinellas County Jail. Smith was arrested after allegedly attacking and biting a piece of skin off a homeless man in St. Petersburg after proclaiming "I am a vampire, I am going to eat you". (credit:Pinellas County Jail)
Edwin Tobergta(52 of78)
Open Image ModalEdwin Tobergta, 32, is seen in this booking photo from the Butler County Sheriff's Office. Tobergta was arrested after allegedly having sex with an inflatable pool raft. (credit:Butler County Sheriff)
Joshua Greene(53 of78)
Open Image ModalIt's not easy to be the most most memorable visitor when thousands of NASCAR fans come to town, but West Virginia's Joshua Greene made a pretty good run for that honor when police caught the streaking 27-year-old with a raccoon in his car. (credit:Sullivan County Jail)
Ismael Ambrosio(54 of78)
Open Image ModalWe're not saying there's guilt written all over his face, but Ismael Ambrosio is seen in this Aug. 9 booking photo from the Pinellas County (Fla.) Jail with a facial tattoo that could not have pleased police officers. (credit:Pinellas County Jail)
Dumb Crime: Masterminds Need Not Apply(55 of78)
Open Image ModalThe hand of justice makes an appearance in this mug shot. Nichlous Peternik -- and the arm of a law enforcement official in Redding, Calif. -- are featured prominently in this memorable booking photo taken after Peternik was arrested on suspicion of burglary. Officials say they were forced to reach into the frame when Peternik refused to pull his hair back from over his face. (credit:Shasta County Police Department)
Man Charged with DWI for Driving Motorized Cooler(56 of78)
Open Image ModalAn Australian man caught driving a motorized cooler box through a beachside resort town appeared in court charged with drunk driving, The Courier Mail reported Monday. Christopher Ian Petrie, 23, faces charges of driving under the influence and driving without a license after police caught him on the makeshift vehicle, which was powered by a 50cc engine. (credit:eBay.com)
Lorena Tavera(57 of78)
Open Image ModalFormer Miss El Paso USA Lorena Tavera was arrested for allegedly shoplifting a $69 shirt in El Paso. (credit:El Paso Police Department)
Cory Smits(58 of78)
Open Image ModalCory Smits, 29, is seen in this booking photo from the Manitowoc County Sheriff's Department. Smits was found guilty July 7 on his fifth offense of operating a vehicle while intoxicated. (credit:Manitowoc Sheriff's Dept. )
Patrick Francis Brooks(59 of78)
Open Image ModalThis booking photo from the Shasta County Sheriff's Office in California shows Patrick Francis Brooks and his obscene tattoo after his July 11 arrest on charges of burglary, receiving stolen property, forgery and violating the terms of his parole for a previous conviction. (credit:Shasta County Sheriff's Office)
Mark Anthony Richardson Jr.(60 of78)
Open Image ModalMark Anthony Richardson Jr. wore diapers and faked being autistic to get women to babysit him. He was sentenced to three years in prison in July 2011 for groping an 18-year-old daughter of one of the conned nannies. (credit:Oklahoma County Sheriff)
Mug Shot:(61 of78)
Open Image ModalLevon T. Sarkisyan, allegedly broke into a Connecticut home and smashed statues and furniture, because he claimed God told him to do it, according to police. (credit:Farmington Police Department )
Dumb Crime: Masterminds Need Not Apply(62 of78)
Open Image ModalPolice in Phoenix, Ariz., have accused Randon Reid of the crime of flight -- and a crime against flight. Investigators say the 26-year-old suspect opened fire on an airplane parked at Deer Valley Airport, then fled from authorities who tried to pull him over. He has reportedly been charged with felony flight and driving under the influence. (credit:Maricopa County Sheriff's Office)
Dumb Crime: Masterminds Need Not Apply(63 of78)
Open Image ModalHoly handcuffs! Police in a smog-clotted town in northwest Michigan are touting the arrest of Batman. The legendary caped crusader was reportedly nabbed while dangling from a 30-foot-high building. The unmasked superhero wannabe is actually a local resident named Mark Wayne Williams. (credit:AP)
Dumb Crime: Masterminds Need Not Apply(64 of78)
Open Image ModalDumb Crime: Masterminds Need Not Apply(65 of78)
Open Image ModalA South Carolina man who twice pleaded guilty to having sex with a horse has been released from prison and put on probation, under the condition that he keep his distance from the horse. Rodell Vereen, pictured in this file photo, was released from prison after serving 16 months. (credit:Horry County Detention Center / AP)
Dumb Crime: Masterminds Need Not Apply(66 of78)
Open Image ModalIt was almost a kiss of death. Deputies in Florida say 92-year-old Helen Staudinger opened fire on her neighbor's house after the much younger resident refused to give her a kiss. Investigators at the Marion County Sheriff's Office claim Staudinger refused to leave 53-year-old Dwight Bettner unless her neighbor gave her a kiss. She allegedly returned with a gun. (credit:Marion County Sheriff's Office)
Dumb Crime: Masterminds Need Not Apply(67 of78)
Open Image ModalIt's always best to practice what you preach. Police in Florida say they arrested the former president of a local chapter of Mother's Against Drunk Driving for driving under the influence. Debra Oberlin has been charged with drunk driving for the Feb. 18 incident. (credit:Gainesville Police Department)
Dumb Crime: Masterminds Need Not Apply(68 of78)
Open Image ModalPolice in Michigan say a man claimed he was royalty before trying to steal a pack of Marlboros from a 7-Eleven. Joseph Lawrence Borowiak is charged with strong-arm robbery and resisting arrest after allegedly wrestling a store clerk over a pack of cigarettes. Borowiak reportedly stated, "The king doesn't pay for cigarettes." (credit:Warren Police Department)
Dumb Crime: Masterminds Need Not Apply(69 of78)
Open Image ModalJerome Smith's forehead says he's a "Genius," but police say he wasn't being smart when he allegedly struck a pregnant woman with a handgun. The Cincinnati, Ohio, resident is accused of repeatedly pistol-whipping a woman who was eight months pregnant in late January. (credit:Hamilton County Sheriff Office)
Leo Earl Sharp(70 of78)
Open Image ModalWhen police caught 87-year-old Leo Earl Sharp allegedly transporting 228 pounds of cocaine, the suspect told them that he was forced "at gunpoint" to transport the drugs. (credit:AP)
(71 of78)
Open Image ModalMichael Belton(72 of78)
Open Image ModalBelton lost his wig, sunglasses and $115,000 worth of casino chips when security wrestled him to the floor during a botched weekend heist, according to authorities. (credit:Facebook)
Dumb Crime: Masterminds Need Not Apply(73 of78)
Open Image Modal(74 of78)
Open Image ModalDylan DiFalco told a Sheriff's deputy he had to urinate and, when the cop told him he'd have to wait, he peed in the cop car, according to an arrest report. "I told you I had to go you stupid cop," Difalco said, according to the report. (credit:Collier County Sheriff's Office)
Milton Hodges(75 of78)
Open Image ModalHodges, 20, of Florida, allegedly fled to a nudist colony and threatened residents there after committing an armed robbery at a nearby Lowe's. The fully-clothed Hodges was reported to have been easily identified by his pursuers in the naked environment.
Timothy Paul Shelby(76 of78)
Open Image ModalShelby, 53, was arrested in South Florida on June 1, 2012 for driving without a license -- immediately after leaving a courthouse after he appeared for the same offense.
Nicole Okrzesik(77 of78)
Open Image ModalNikoleta Karoly(78 of78)
Open Image ModalKaroly is accused of choking her boyfriend because he refused to marry her so she could get a new Visa. (credit:Collier County Sheriff's Office)