From 1971 to 1972, The Freeway Phantom, a man who identified himself by this moniker, killed six black girls in D.C. and was never caught.
Crime is an inevitable consequence of any civilized society.
Where rules and regulations exist, there will always be some individuals who will choose to break them and live outside the law, either by love, money, insanity, or simply because they are immoral people.
It is no surprise, therefore, that there are many high-profile criminals worldwide who have never been apprehended by the authorities.
This article will examine seven criminals who may still be at large today.
The Doodler.
Between January 1974 and June 1975, five gay men were killed in San Francisco in a series of matching murders by a killer known as “The Doodler.”
All five men had similar stab wounds, and their bodies were found in the Ocean Beach area.
The Doodler earned his nickname because he would draw sketches of his victims before sleeping with them and then killing them.
Despite police linking two separate assaults on young gay men to The Doodler case, the killings eventually stopped, and the trail went cold.
However, public interest was renewed in 2019 after the Golden State Killer was captured in 2018 using new DNA techniques.
The police released a digitally aged composite sketch and audio of an anonymous phone call reporting the first body they suspected to be The Doodler, along with a $100,000 reward for any information leading to his arrest or capture.
However, he is still at large.
Achemez Gochiyayev.
Achemez Gochiyayev was accused of organizing the Russian Apartment Bombings in Moscow and Volgodonsk in September 1999, which resulted in 293 deaths.
Additionally, these bombings were one of the main reasons for leading Russia into the Second Chechen War.
Gochiyayev claims he was framed by a former friend who was an FSB (Federal Security Service) officer, although the FSB claimed that Saudi-born Chechen terrorist Ibn al-Khattab paid him $500,000 to organize the attacks.
Although Ibn al-Khattab was killed by the FSB in 2002, Gochiyayev escaped, apparently crossing the border to Georgia before possibly fleeing to Turkey.
The Babysitter.
Also known as the Oakland County Child Killer, this serial killer is responsible for the deaths of at least four children in Oakland County, Michigan, between February 1976 and March 1977.
The babysitter’s four confirmed victims were two boys and two girls, aged between 10 and 13, all of whom went missing outside their homes.
Although the police later created a DNA profile of the main perpetrator from samples taken from some of the victims’ bodies, they could not match it to anyone connected to the case as a suspect.
The killer’s identity remains unknown to this day.
The Canal Pusher.
Some people in Manchester, England, suspect that the city has been haunted by a serial killer for some time – The Canal Pusher.
The police in Greater Manchester have revealed that 85 bodies were found in the city’s canals and waterways between 2008 and 2014, with 28 of these cases being left open due to the cause of death being unknown. Although most of the deaths were deemed accidental, the families of the deceased have raised suspicions in some cases. Despite this, no progress has been made in identifying the Canal Pusher. In Washington D.C., between April 1971 and September 1972, six young black girls were murdered, with the killer dubbed the Freeway Phantom by the media. Despite receiving many tips, the police were unable to identify the killer, who left a chilling note with the fifth victim. The case files and notes on the Freeway Phantom have been lost due to the Washington D.C. Police Department’s outdated policies. Glen Stewart Godwin is a criminal who committed armed robbery and murder, escaped from prison, and is now believed to be involved in drug trade activities in Latin America. Lastly, the Zodiac Killer is possibly the most well-known serial killer who was never caught.
The Zodiac Killer spread terror throughout the United States by committing a series of murders and using indecipherable code messages to taunt the police and media. He targeted areas where couples would commonly spend time together, using weapons such as firearms and knives to carry out his attacks. The Zodiac Killer began his killing spree in December of 1968 and was last seen in October 1969. He would often send anonymous letters to the press and police, boasting of his crimes and ridiculing their inability to capture him. Despite numerous attempts to solve the case, including analyzing his coded messages and creating a sketch of a suspect based on witness descriptions, the Zodiac Killer was never caught. He continued to send letters to the media until 1978. Although the story is frightening, it’s important to remember that the likelihood of being a victim of a drunk driver is still higher than being targeted by a violent criminal.
FAQ
1. Who is the Zodiac Killer and where is he now?
The Zodiac Killer was a serial killer who operated in Northern California during the late 1960s and early 1970s. He was known for taunting the police and the media with cryptic messages and letters. Despite numerous suspects and investigations, the identity of the Zodiac Killer remains unknown, and he could still be at large today.
2. What happened to the infamous D.B. Cooper?
In 1971, a man known as D.B. Cooper hijacked a Northwest Orient Airlines plane and demanded $200,000 in ransom money before jumping out of the plane with a parachute. Despite an extensive manhunt, Cooper was never found, and his fate remains a mystery to this day.
3. Who was the Axeman of New Orleans, and is he still alive?
The Axeman of New Orleans was a serial killer who operated in the city during 1918 and 1919. He was known for breaking into homes and attacking his victims with an axe. The killer was never caught, and it is unknown whether he is still alive or not.
4. What happened to the infamous Chicago gangster Al Capone?
Al Capone was a notorious gangster who operated in Chicago during the 1920s and 1930s. He was known for his involvement in organized crime and was eventually caught and sentenced to prison for tax evasion. Capone died in 1947, but there are rumors that he may have faked his own death and escaped justice.
5. Who was the Boston Strangler, and did he act alone?
The Boston Strangler was a serial killer who operated in Boston during the early 1960s. He was known for strangling his victims with articles of clothing and leaving cryptic messages at the crime scene. Despite several suspects and investigations, the identity of the Boston Strangler remains unknown, and it is unclear whether he acted alone or had accomplices.
6. What happened to the infamous hijacker, T.W.A. Flight 847?
In 1985, a group of terrorists hijacked T.W.A. Flight 847 and held the passengers and crew hostage for over two weeks. Despite a lengthy hostage negotiation and rescue mission, some of the hijackers were never caught, and it is unknown whether they are still alive today.
7. Who was the Mad Bomber of New York, and did he have accomplices?
The Mad Bomber of New York was a serial bomber who operated in the city during the 1940s and 1950s. He was known for planting bombs in public places and leaving cryptic messages for the police. The Mad Bomber was eventually caught and found to be acting alone, but there are still theories that he may have had accomplices.
Zayn Anderson is a prolific writer with a passion for uncovering the world’s intriguing facts. Armed with an insatiable curiosity, he delves into various subjects, from history and science to nature and technology.