10 Most Shocking Unsolved Crimes
7. The Black Dahlia
When half of a woman's torso was found on a Los Angeles sidewalk completely drained of blood, it captured the national headlines for obvious reasons.
Examination of the body (or what was left of it) revealed that it belonged to 22-year-old Elizabeth Short, a budding actress who travelled to California in search of fame and fortune. It also confirmed that she was bisected surgically and professionally, but why and by whom is a mystery that has endured since 1947.
Suspects were identified and a number of people have taken credit for the crime over the years, though official investigations have turned up no conclusive proof to support a conviction. The LAPD is still treating the Black Dahlia killing as an open case.
Like most high-profile unsolved murders, the case has inspired several books and films, including James Ellroy's The Black Dahlia and the movie of the same name.