Your favourite unsolved mystery?

Hamsterchops · 16-05-2021 12:17pm

Well I guess the elephant in the room (of unsolved mysteries) is the ongoing mystery of who or what is behind UAPs.

See dedicated UFO thread.

That's the biggest mystery of all, with the US government to give a long awaited account this June, informing us about everything they know about this ongoing mystery!

Hangdogroad · 16-05-2021 1:51pm

Itssoeasy wrote: »

Jill dando. Her name came into my head last night and I decided to read the wiki article and it had a part about her death. I can remember it happening at the time and them convicting Barry George wrongly(I think he lives in Ireland now) and the fact that they seem none the wiser as to who was involved or what it may be connected to is amazing after 22 years.

Yeah he lives in Cork, he used to call into a since closed second hand bookshop that I frequented. Very strange man.

vriesmays · 16-05-2021 3:19pm

Some plants are only found in certain parts of the world continents apart but no-one knows why.

Roger_007 · 16-05-2021 4:04pm

This is one of the most intriguing unsolved mysteries of the disappearance of three lighthouse keepers from the lighthouse at Eilean Mor in Scotland:

https://www.history.co.uk/articles/the-flannan-isle-mystery-the-three-lighthouse-keepers-who-vanished

astrofool · 16-05-2021 10:30pm

vriesmays wrote: »

Some plants are only found in certain parts of the world continents apart but no-one knows why.

I'm pretty sure that's explained by continental drift and the 7 or so supercontinents that we know of.

McGinniesta · 16-05-2021 10:49pm

Is there any truth in the rumour that the DB cooper case was solved.

I trust that it's horseplop

katiek102010 · 17-05-2021 12:50am

vriesmays wrote: »

Some plants are only found in certain parts of the world continents apart but no-one knows why.

They probably de eloped in the time prior to the continents breaking apart

katiek102010 · 17-05-2021 1:06am

McGinniesta wrote: »

Is there any truth in the rumour that the DB cooper case was solved.

I trust that it's horseplop

NO truth, I have watched numerous documentaries on it. Suspects are now mostly deceased.

I really want to know who the zodiac is

Strumms · 17-05-2021 1:42am

Jill Dando one is certainly weird.

Since the murder, her brother Nigel has been steadfast in his belief that it was a random act, a burglar caught in the act. That’s weird, all the evidence points otherwise...

She was shot, once, in the head at point blank range execution style. She was shot at her front door... outside. Trying to get inside, she was approached from behind, if a burglar was trying to flee he could have...Also...

1) a burglar is unlikely to carry a semi automatic pistol breaking into a home.

2) she was shot at 11.32am, unusual time for a burglary.

3) she was shot outside her home, broad daylight, one bullet into her temple, execution style. She was believed to have been approached from behind. Executed, a burglar just wants to flee.

4) the bullet had been modified, possibly to reduce its charge, somebody knew what they were doing..this can reduce the noise and velocity of the bullet when the gun is fired.

A burglar ? hmmmmm..., why would a burglar, go to a crowded residential avenue with 120 townhouses at 11.30 am ? Armed ? Doesn’t add up.

Day Lewin · 17-05-2021 7:56am

Strumms wrote: »

Jill Dando one is certainly weird.

Since the murder, her brother Nigel has been steadfast in his belief that it was a random act, a burglar caught in the act. That’s weird, all the evidence points otherwise...

She was shot, once, in the head at point blank range execution style. She was shot at her front door... outside. Trying to get inside, she was approached from behind, if a burglar was trying to flee he could have...Also...

1) a burglar is unlikely to carry a semi automatic pistol breaking into a home.

2) she was shot at 11.32am, unusual time for a burglary.

3) she was shot outside her home, broad daylight, one bullet into her temple, execution style. She was believed to have been approached from behind. Executed, a burglar just wants to flee.

4) the bullet had been modified, possibly to reduce its charge, somebody knew what they were doing..this can reduce the noise and velocity of the bullet when the gun is fired.

A burglar ? hmmmmm..., why would a burglar, go to a crowded residential avenue with 120 townhouses at 11.30 am ? Armed ? Doesn’t add up.

Nailed it there, a neat summary.

But, why, though? Motive??

Could it have been one of those loopers who are determined to get famous by killing a famous person. It's not personal, they just pick a celebrity.

But I thought there was some suggestion that the lady had been harassed during the time before her death. I'm sure the police checked out such obvious ideas as a disgruntled ex. Some stalker?

KevRossi · 17-05-2021 10:04am

McGinniesta wrote: »

Is there any truth in the rumour that the DB cooper case was solved.

I trust that it's horseplop

A new explanation was given out a few months ago, I think I posted it here.

Essentially the belief is that he didn't jump where they thought he did and that he faked the 'jump' where the pilto felt the plane move. This would be above the forests and mountains in Oregon.

The theory is that he knew it would be too dangerous, but diverted the search to that area. Instead he may have jumped as the plane was descending into Reno. There were a number of reasons for doing this:

a sudden movement of the plane when he jumped would not be as noticeable as the pilot would be concentrating on a landing.
lower altitiude jump meant higher outside temperatures, so better chance of survival
most importantly, the area around Reno is desert scrub, almost no trees, flattish to hilly ground, so a far better chance of surviving a night jump than a jump into forsts at night. Roads wouldn't be too far away, so he could have hidden the cash and hitched into Reno or elsewhere before going back to get the money.

I honestly think that's what happened and he buried some of the money at the river a couple of years later to keep the scent off him. Or that he threw some of the money off the plane, hoping it would be found in the forest.

ohnonotgmail · 17-05-2021 10:06am

KevRossi wrote: »

A new explanation was given out a few months ago, I think I posted it here.

Essentially the belief is that he didn't jump where they thought he did and that he faked the 'jump' where the pilto felt the plane move. This would be above the forests and mountains in Oregon.

The theory is that he knew it would be too dangerous, but diverted the search to that area. Instead he may have jumped as the plane was descending into Reno. There were a number of reasons for doing this:
a sudden movement of the plane when he jumped would not be as noticeable as the pilot would be concentrating on a landing.

lower altitiude jump meant higher outside temperatures, so better chance of survival

most importantly, the area around Reno is desert scrub, almost no trees, flattish to hilly ground, so a far better chance of surviving a night jump than a jump into forsts at night. Roads wouldn't be too far away, so he could have hidden the cash and hitched into Reno or elsewhere before going back to get the money.

I honestly think that's what happened and he buried some of the money at the river a couple of years later to keep the scent off him. Or that he threw some of the money off the plane, hoping it would be found in the forest.

i remember reading the link you posted and it did seem very persuasive.

Strumms · 17-05-2021 11:10am

Day Lewin wrote: »

Nailed it there, a neat summary.

But, why, though? Motive??

Could it have been one of those loopers who are determined to get famous by killing a famous person. It's not personal, they just pick a celebrity.

But I thought there was some suggestion that the lady had been harassed during the time before her death. I'm sure the police checked out such obvious ideas as a disgruntled ex. Some stalker?

Impossible to know... as a journalist she’ll have covered thousands of stories...

An attention seeker ? Seeking fame and notoriety ? But they haven’t received any attention, no fame or notoriety zilch..nobody knows they did it.... If they went bragging ? I’m sure they’d be found out.

It’s weird. Shot in the head, broad daylight....zilch, nada..

Spanish Eyes · 17-05-2021 11:56am

Day Lewin wrote: »

Nailed it there, a neat summary.

But, why, though? Motive??

Could it have been one of those loopers who are determined to get famous by killing a famous person. It's not personal, they just pick a celebrity.

But I thought there was some suggestion that the lady had been harassed during the time before her death. I'm sure the police checked out such obvious ideas as a disgruntled ex. Some stalker?

I know it is not proven, but there was talk that Jill Dando (BBC Crimewatch presenter) was in possession of information regarding a large paedophile ring in the Establishment or something like that, and her murder was to prevent her divulging the details.

As good a theory as others I suppose.

Day Lewin · 17-05-2021 12:16pm

Spanish Eyes wrote: »

I know it is not proven, but there was talk that Jill Dando (BBC Crimewatch presenter) was in possession of information regarding a large paedophile ring in the Establishment or something like that, and her murder was to prevent her divulging the details.

As good a theory as others I suppose.

Yes, I'd forgotten the Crimewatch aspect.

But a Crimewatch presenter is still just a TV presenter. They are not detectives themselves.
They don't know anything about the cases that the police don't already know: they can only broadcast whatever the cops tell them about, basically.
Even if the lady had been doing some secret private detecting, she wouldn't be the ONLY person who knew about whatever-it-was. Her team would be aware of it.

This theory has a kind of paperback glamour but it doesn't really hold up under scrutiny, in my view.

Hangdogroad · 17-05-2021 12:30pm

Spanish Eyes wrote: »

I know it is not proven, but there was talk that Jill Dando (BBC Crimewatch presenter) was in possession of information regarding a large paedophile ring in the Establishment or something like that, and her murder was to prevent her divulging the details.

As good a theory as others I suppose.

Probably originated from Carl Beech. Discredited hoaxer and convicted paedophile who was behind the Westminister paedophile ring story.

Suckit · 17-05-2021 3:15pm

KevRossi wrote: »

A new explanation was given out a few months ago, I think I posted it here.

Essentially the belief is that he didn't jump where they thought he did and that he faked the 'jump' where the pilto felt the plane move. This would be above the forests and mountains in Oregon.

The theory is that he knew it would be too dangerous, but diverted the search to that area. Instead he may have jumped as the plane was descending into Reno. There were a number of reasons for doing this:
a sudden movement of the plane when he jumped would not be as noticeable as the pilot would be concentrating on a landing.

lower altitiude jump meant higher outside temperatures, so better chance of survival

most importantly, the area around Reno is desert scrub, almost no trees, flattish to hilly ground, so a far better chance of surviving a night jump than a jump into forsts at night. Roads wouldn't be too far away, so he could have hidden the cash and hitched into Reno or elsewhere before going back to get the money.

I honestly think that's what happened and he buried some of the money at the river a couple of years later to keep the scent off him. Or that he threw some of the money off the plane, hoping it would be found in the forest.

That is a good theory, I hadn't heard it before. The only thing is (for me), didn't the tail lift up when they think he jumped? How could he fake that?
It might be explained in the article but I couldn't find the link.

FrankN1 · 17-05-2021 3:51pm

Trevor Deely & Sophie Tuscan cases always have stuck with me.

Strumms · 17-05-2021 5:01pm

FrankN1 wrote: »

Trevor Deely & Sophie Tuscan cases always have stuck with me.

Trevor was out for a few drinks.

Went by his workplace at 4.15 am to get an umbrella and work things.

Does that strike anyone as odd... that a 22 year old financial services employee , on their own, would have the capability to access their workplace ?

Does it strike anybody as odd, that after a night out, at 3.30am, you’d say... “ I know, on my way home I’m going to go to work, open up, get xyz... “

Weird...

Any job I’ve worked in you were specifically prohibited from being on the premises, on shift or for any other reason, if you were under the influence of alcohol..at any time...

FrankN1 · 17-05-2021 5:06pm

Strumms wrote: »

Trevor was out for a few drinks.

Went by his workplace at 4.15 am to get an umbrella and work things.

Does that strike anyone as odd... that a 22 year old financial services employee , on their own, would have the capability to access their workplace ?

Does it strike anybody as odd, that after a night out, at 3.30am, you’d say... “ I know, on my way home I’m going to go to work, open up, get xyz... “

Weird...

Any job I’ve worked in you were specifically prohibited from being on the premises, on shift or for any other reason, if you were under the influence of alcohol..at any time...

Yeah it is fairly odd but a good tactic to try and use if someone was following you. But he rejected a lift which makes that point a bit redundant. Although it was pouring down so maybe taking shelter wasn't a bad idea and getting an umbrella

Itssoeasy · 17-05-2021 5:20pm

KevRossi wrote: »

A new explanation was given out a few months ago, I think I posted it here.

Essentially the belief is that he didn't jump where they thought he did and that he faked the 'jump' where the pilto felt the plane move. This would be above the forests and mountains in Oregon.

The theory is that he knew it would be too dangerous, but diverted the search to that area. Instead he may have jumped as the plane was descending into Reno. There were a number of reasons for doing this:
a sudden movement of the plane when he jumped would not be as noticeable as the pilot would be concentrating on a landing.

lower altitiude jump meant higher outside temperatures, so better chance of survival

most importantly, the area around Reno is desert scrub, almost no trees, flattish to hilly ground, so a far better chance of surviving a night jump than a jump into forsts at night. Roads wouldn't be too far away, so he could have hidden the cash and hitched into Reno or elsewhere before going back to get the money.

I honestly think that's what happened and he buried some of the money at the river a couple of years later to keep the scent off him. Or that he threw some of the money off the plane, hoping it would be found in the forest.

On that’s interesting. Well the Air Force planes that shadowed the airplane didn’t see anything at the time of the jump which even if they couldn’t see exactly you’d notice something surely.

I mean while the landscape around Oregon is very picturesque, it never struck me as being ideal for someone parachuting into.

The one thing is though that when they landed and discovered he was gone, they did test of the same plane and with the exact same conditions and pushed something out of the back of the plane and got the same response.

ArnoldJRimmer · 17-05-2021 6:07pm

Strumms wrote: »

Trevor was out for a few drinks.

Went by his workplace at 4.15 am to get an umbrella and work things.

Does that strike anyone as odd... that a 22 year old financial services employee , on their own, would have the capability to access their workplace ?

Does it strike anybody as odd, that after a night out, at 3.30am, you’d say... “ I know, on my way home I’m going to go to work, open up, get xyz... “

Weird...

Any job I’ve worked in you were specifically prohibited from being on the premises, on shift or for any other reason, if you were under the influence of alcohol..at any time...

In this day and age of mobile working, the technology to remote in at your fingertips, and heightened security surrounding all organisations , it just wouldn't happen. Security would think that you were a mad person, report you to HR, and escort you off the premises

For the year 2000, going from my own experiences, this was not even in the slightest bit out of the ordinary. You'd likely have a bit of craic with the security guard , and they'd have no problem with you wandering in. In a place I worked around that time, on a Friday evening you'd go for pints locally after work, and sometimes go back into the office just to use the jacks because the pub was so packed. In Trevors case, he wanted an umbrella, and just happened to check his mail and chat to his mate while he was there.

KevRossi · 17-05-2021 6:55pm

Suckit wrote: »

That is a good theory, I hadn't heard it before. The only thing is (for me), didn't the tail lift up when they think he jumped? How could he fake that?
It might be explained in the article but I couldn't find the link.

Itssoeasy wrote: »

The one thing is though that when they landed and discovered he was gone, they did test of the same plane and with the exact same conditions and pushed something out of the back of the plane and got the same response.

He possibly went onto the steps and bounced up and down on them to fake the 'jump' and possibly there threw a package of money overboard to keep the search in Oregon.

When the plane was descending into Reno it has a number of issues: The heat off the desert is rising to hit cold night air (It averages 14 C daytime and 0 C at night there). There are hills and low mountains to the NW of Reno (avg. 1500m high). And the tail stairs were down. This leads to a 'slightly bumpy' descent and landing, something we have all experienced in roughish weather in an airplane. You wouldn't notice a 'jump' as much, especially when you're not looking for it.

Also, in a parchute 'jump' from the rear of an aircraft, you usually don't 'jump', you let yourself 'fall', meaning there's less of a hop from the plane.
Also the plane has no sensors to measure the amount of a 'hop' that it got, it was subjective opinion of the pilots in the test after the hijacking and it could be a form of self-confirmation bias by the pilots when asked.

I honestly believe this theory. The guy had most things very well planned, his only error was taking the dummy parachute (admittedly a big mistake). Even someone with no knowledge of parachuting would know it's a bit mental to jump into a forest at night.

The only thing I don't get is why none of the notes ever turned up again, anywhere in the world.

B2021M · 17-05-2021 7:03pm

sugarman wrote: »

Different era and under the circumstances, I don't think there was anything odd about it.

It was a work night out and they were drinking just 200m away from the premises.

It was torrential rain and there was there was a taxi strike that night.

Trevor had to walk past his work place to get home and had a solid 30 min walk ahead of him.

BOIAM was/still is staffed 24/7.

Why wouldn't you stop off to grab a brolly if you could? He only had to make a quick phone call to someone inside to let him in.

I've done it myself over the years. Id have often left my laptop bag at my desk and grabbed it on my way home rather than leaving it down in the pub where it could be stolen or damaged. I wouldn't think twice even today to stop off and grab a brolly if it was near by / on my way home.

Plus email was relatively new and most couldnt access it at home never mind on a phone. Going into an office like that was not unusual (strange as it may seem!)

Day Lewin · 17-05-2021 7:09pm

In the Deely case, it was the night of the work Christmas Do, and a number of the staff had left their day things at the office while they partied in nearby Leeson St.

If I recall correctly, several other members of staff also called in to the same office to collect their stuff on the way home. That's not the mystery part!

humberklog · 17-05-2021 7:12pm

Strumms wrote: »

Trevor was out for a few drinks.

Went by his workplace at 4.15 am to get an umbrella and work things.

Does that strike anyone as odd... that a 22 year old financial services employee , on their own, would have the capability to access their workplace ?

Does it strike anybody as odd, that after a night out, at 3.30am, you’d say... “ I know, on my way home I’m going to go to work, open up, get xyz... “

Weird...

Any job I’ve worked in you were specifically prohibited from being on the premises, on shift or for any other reason, if you were under the influence of alcohol..at any time...

Nothing weird at all really. I've done it myself working in that area of the city too.

He opened emails, had a cup of tea and a chat with a colleague who was doing the night shift.

Day Lewin · 17-05-2021 7:13pm

KevRossi wrote: »

The only thing I don't get is why none of the notes ever turned up again, anywhere in the world.

But they did - a bundle of the notes was found half buried on a river bank in a wet, bedraggled and faded condition. This was somewhere near Vancouver. Nobody has managed to explain how they came to be there!

https://www.coinworld.com/news/precious-metals/1971-skyjacking-cash-ransom-found-by-eight-year-old-in-1980.html

Strumms · 17-05-2021 8:34pm

humberklog wrote: »

Nothing weird at all really. I've done it myself working in that area of the city too.

He opened emails, had a cup of tea and a chat with a colleague who was doing the night shift.

Dunno, I’d just think of that as a bit of a buzz killing maneuver personally...

KevRossi · 17-05-2021 8:52pm

Day Lewin wrote: »

But they did - a bundle of the notes was found half buried on a river bank in a wet, bedraggled and faded condition. This was somewhere near Vancouver. Nobody has managed to explain how they came to be there!

https://www.coinworld.com/news/precious-metals/1971-skyjacking-cash-ransom-found-by-eight-year-old-in-1980.html

Yes. I mentioned that before. I think he threw them out so someone would find them and the search would concentrate on Oregon. I mean no other notes showed up in Central America, South America, Asia, Europe, Africa...

That's the bit I don't get.

Suckit · 17-05-2021 11:12pm

KevRossi wrote: »

He possibly went onto the steps and bounced up and down on them to fake the 'jump' and possibly there threw a package of money overboard to keep the search in Oregon.

When the plane was descending into Reno it has a number of issues: The heat off the desert is rising to hit cold night air (It averages 14 C daytime and 0 C at night there). There are hills and low mountains to the NW of Reno (avg. 1500m high). And the tail stairs were down. This leads to a 'slightly bumpy' descent and landing, something we have all experienced in roughish weather in an airplane. You wouldn't notice a 'jump' as much, especially when you're not looking for it.

Also, in a parchute 'jump' from the rear of an aircraft, you usually don't 'jump', you let yourself 'fall', meaning there's less of a hop from the plane.
Also the plane has no sensors to measure the amount of a 'hop' that it got, it was subjective opinion of the pilots in the test after the hijacking and it could be a form of self-confirmation bias by the pilots when asked.

I honestly believe this theory. The guy had most things very well planned, his only error was taking the dummy parachute (admittedly a big mistake). Even someone with no knowledge of parachuting would know it's a bit mental to jump into a forest at night.

The only thing I don't get is why none of the notes ever turned up again, anywhere in the world.

I can't get past the tail lift. IIRC it was a sizeable one when they believe he left the plane. I don't see how he could bounce on the steps and create that.
I remember the money was found at river bank and tbh there a billion places it could be, the rest of the theory all seems sound, but the tail lift.
I will have to look it up again, I remember seeing a doc years ago and that was a big part of them guessing the time he left the plane. IDK, but although he may have seemed to have thought of everything, that seems like a big ask, especially in that weather.

Your favourite unsolved mystery?

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