There’s something about mysterious disappearances that turn us all into Sherlock Holmes.
How does someone just disappear, seemingly into thin air, never to be seen again? Let’s look at some of the most mind-numbing disappearances from past to present.
Our selection process involved careful consideration of the historical relevance and ongoing interest in each case. Through our exploration, we aim to provide insight into the ongoing fascination with unsolved mysteries and the quest for answers.
1. Roanoke Colony
In 1587, over 100 English colonists settled on Roanoke Island, which is in present-day North Carolina. Among them was Virginia Dare, the first English child in the Americas. Unfortunately, in 1590, she vanished along with the entire Roanoke Colony. When supply ships returned, they found the settlement deserted and the cryptic word “Croatoan” carved into a wooden post.
The mysterious disappearances of colony members have baffled historians for centuries, leading to countless theories but no definitive answers. Were they all abducted and slain by Native American tribes, or did they join a tribe of their own volition? Did they try to sail back to England and meet their fate on the open sea? We need answers!
2. Owen Parfitt
Owen Parfitt, a paralyzed man, vanished from his sister’s front porch in Shepton Mallet in the 1760s. One moment he was there, and the next he was gone without a trace. No one ever discovered what happened to him, though extensive searches were conducted after his disappearance.
Some say Parfitt was taken by people from the family’s past who wanted payback. A quiet abduction? Unlikely. Alternative hypotheses propose that Parfitt staged his disappearance as an elaborate scheme to start anew, though his health condition undermines this possibility. Another, more mystical explanation, fueled by Parfitt’s sister, suggests he was whisked away by supernatural forces.
3. Louis Le Prince
The inventor of an early motion picture camera, Louis Le Prince, vanished in 1890 leaving everyone involved bewildered. He was last seen boarding a train in France but never arrived at his destination. Countless searches and investigations occurred, but like many other disappearances, Le Prince was never found.
Numerous speculations have arisen regarding his destiny, ranging from suggestions of a self-inflicted demise to notions of foul play orchestrated by competing filmmakers. However, one undeniable truth remains: Le Prince emerged as the pioneer in what would later evolve into one of the greatest contributions to cinema.
4. Ambrose Bierce
Ambrose Bierce, known for his satire and eerie short stories, disappeared in Mexico in 1913. The American author embarked on a journey during the Mexican Revolution and was never seen again. One explanation suggests he committed suicide, possibly disillusioned by personal losses and health issues, choosing to vanish in the Grand Canyon.
Another idea is that he was executed by Pancho Villa’s firing squad, based on local accounts and a gravestone in Sierra Mojada, Coahuila. A third theory claims Mexican federal forces mistook him for a spy and killed him in Sierra Mojada. Or, maybe he died of pneumonia while attempting to return to the U.S.; who knows!
5. Joseph Force Crater
A New York State Supreme Court Judge, Joseph Force Crater, disappeared in 1930, igniting one of the most famous disappearances in American history. Known as “the missingest man in New York,” Crater was last seen leaving a restaurant in Manhattan.
Various rumors started to spread regarding Crater’s disappearance, including whispers of murder stemming from his alleged association with corruption. Additionally, speculation suggested that his past legal representation of infamous gangsters and mob figures might have led to his downfall. Lastly, some said he left with his mistress. They officially closed the case in 1979.
6. Amelia Earhart
The famous aviator, Amelia Earhart, went missing over the Pacific Ocean in 1937 during an attempt to go around the globe. As one of the most celebrated pilots of her time, Earhart’s sudden disappearance sparked a thorough search and numerous theories.
They searched for years but we’re never able to find her, and investigators declared her dead two years later in 1939. In 2024, a group of explorers claimed to have found the wreckage of Earhart’s plane, but the origin of the aircraft has not been confirmed.
7. The Sodder Children
In 1945, the five Sodder children went missing after a peculiar house fire in West Virginia on Christmas Eve. Authorities thoroughly searched the rubble and found nothing. Since they couldn’t find any remains, widespread speculation ensued.
The family believed someone deliberately set the fire and that their children were still alive. The parents said there were many strange occurrences that night: a ladder the dad could’ve used to reach the children’s bedroom had been moved from its normal place, and the local fire department took several hours to arrive.
8. D.B. Cooper
The daring heist by D.B. Cooper in 1971 could’ve inspired a scene in Mission Impossible. Cooper hijacked a plane, extorted $200,000 in ransom, and then skedaddled after parachuting out over the Pacific Northwest. In the aftermath of one of the most thorough manhunts in FBI history, Cooper’s true identity and fate remain unknown, making it one of the most captivating unsolved mysteries in aviation history.
Most people think he probably didn’t survive the jump, and since he lacked proper skydiving equipment, likely landed in a wooded area. Even if he did survive the fall, he wasn’t wearing the proper clothing to survive the inclement weather that swept through the area later that night.
9. Jim Sullivan
In 1975, Jim Sullivan, a musician with an otherworldly aura to his music, went missing in New Mexico. Sullivan had just finished recording his album U.F.O., which added a creepy layer to his disappearance. His abandoned car was found intact with all of its contents, but no signs of him were ever discovered.
Given the circumstances and what he made an album about, some conspiracy theorists have suggested extraterrestrial involvement, adding to the mystery surrounding his fate.
10. Laureen Rahn
A chilling mystery unfolded when teenager Laureen Rahn disappeared from her apartment in 1980. Even after a complete investigation, there were no signs of forced entry or struggle, leaving authorities baffled. The night of her disappearance, Rahn had been at her apartment alone with a female and male friend.
They heard voices in the hallway and the male friend left because they thought it was her mom. Later that evening when her mother returned, Laureen was gone, never to be seen again. Outside of a few mysterious phone calls where the caller was silent, there have never been any solid leads regarding what happened.
The case continues to haunt both investigators and the community.
11. Suzy Lamplugh
In 1986, British estate agent Suzy Lamplugh had last been seen meeting with a client to show them a property. She never returned.
After Investigations and public appeals, no solid leads emerged. In 1994, Lamplugh was declared dead. Her body was never found.
The automatic assumption is that the person she showed the home to was shady and maybe they had something to do with her disappearance. Her car and purse were found near another property she was supposed to be showing, but no one could ever corroborate why she never made it to the next appointment. Lamplugh was only 25 years old.
12. Maura Murray
Maura Murray, a nursing student, was never found after a car crash in New Hampshire in 2004. After her accident, Murray was seen by witnesses, but she disappeared before authorities arrived. Based on evidence that was found on her computer and text messages she had sent, Murray may have wanted to disappear and start life over elsewhere.
Her parents feel that she was abducted and is now deceased. However, when her car first crashed she was offered help and begged the person not to call the police, insisting that she already had done it herself. The area she was in had no reception, and that would have been impossible.
13. Malaysia Airlines Flight 370
In 2014, Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 vanished mid-air with 239 people on board, becoming one of the most confusing mysteries of modern times. The flight disappeared from radar screens while en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing, leaving behind no distress signals or communication.
Only fragments of debris have been found, but the authorities have said that perhaps the pilot intended to crash the place purposely. The lack of shrapnel or any suspicious activity didn’t seem to align with the idea that the plane had been shot down by another aircraft, or that anything was accidental.
