What They Don’t Want You to Know About These Chilling Crimes

Uncover the Untold Truths Behind the Most Baffling Cases and Shocking Crime Trends

Author

David Yupa
December 04, 2024

Welcome back to Solved Files! Whether you’ve been with us from the start or are just joining our true crime community, we’re thrilled to have you along for the journey. In this edition, we’ve curated a lineup of compelling updates, exclusive behind-the-scenes insights, and captivating mysteries guaranteed to keep you hooked. Prepare to dive deep into the thrilling world of true crime!

Here’s what’s waiting for you in this issue:

  • ✍️ Breaking News

  • ✍️ Crime Facts vs. Myth

  • ✍️ Tip of the Week

  • ✍️ Case Study

  • ✍️ Crime Puzzle Answer

  • ✍️ Statics about crime

  • ✍️ Q & A

  • ✍️ much more

BREAKING NEWS

Florida Parents Caught on Camera Confronting School Officer Over Son's Discipline for Pushing a Girl

A Florida couple, Jorge Rivera and Dagmarie Aponte Iturrino, have been arrested following a volatile and violent confrontation with a school resource officer at Deltona Middle School. The incident unfolded during a meeting arranged to address their son’s battery charge after he allegedly shoved a girl at school.

The meeting quickly spiraled out of control when Rivera launched into a profanity-laced tirade, which was captured on the officer’s bodycam. During the encounter, Rivera shouted, “I pay your salary, you dumb b****… you are a worthless piece of s***,” while the officer remained composed. Despite multiple attempts by the officer to de-escalate the situation, Rivera’s anger intensified, leading to the couple being asked to leave the meeting.

However, tensions only escalated in the hallway. Bodycam footage shows Iturrino pushing the officer against a wall, followed by Rivera punching her in the head, causing her to fall to the ground. Rivera then grabbed the officer’s Taser from her hand, escalating the threat level. Remaining calm under pressure, the officer managed to recover, draw her firearm, and order Rivera to drop the weapon. She then placed him in handcuffs and took him into custody.

Jorge Rivera became irate during the meeting, launching into an expletive-laden rant at the school officer before being asked to leave (Volusia Sheriff’s Department)

Both Rivera and Iturrino face a series of serious charges, including battery on a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest with violence, disruption of school functions, and trespassing on school property. Additionally, Rivera is charged with armed robbery and grand theft for forcibly taking the officer’s Taser. Due to a derogatory slur Rivera allegedly directed at the officer during the altercation, some of his charges now include a hate crime enhancement.

The couple’s son was present for the entire ordeal, witnessing the violent confrontation firsthand. Sheriff Mike Chitwood of the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office expressed his dismay, stating, “If you’re wondering why some kids show no fear of consequences in today’s society, look no further than these parents as Exhibit A. I’m glad they’re locked up, and I look forward to them being held fully accountable for this blatant attack on our deputy who was just doing her job.”

During an ensuing struggle with Rivera and Iturrino, the deputy was thrown to the ground.

The deputy involved in the incident received medical attention at the scene and was later treated at a hospital for concussion symptoms. Sheriff Chitwood commended her for her calm and effective response, praising her ability to manage a dangerous situation with professionalism and poise.

This incident has sparked broader discussions about the role of parental behavior in shaping children’s attitudes toward authority and consequences. Rivera and Iturrino now face the legal ramifications of their actions, while their son remains at the center of an unfolding story that has garnered significant public and media attention. The events of that day at Deltona Middle School highlight the challenges faced by school resource officers and law enforcement as they work to maintain order and safety in educational environments.

Myth: 

Serial killers always leave a calling card.

Fact: 

While Hollywood popularizes the idea of killers leaving clues or patterns, many do not have such habits. Instead, they focus on evasion, making it harder to detect them until patterns emerge through thorough investigation.

Example: One of the most notorious examples is Gary Ridgway, also known as the Green River Killer. Over the course of nearly two decades, Ridgway murdered at least 49 women, and possibly more, without leaving any distinct "calling card" or signature. He targeted vulnerable individuals, often sex workers, and disposed of their bodies in remote locations to avoid detection.

It was only after years of investigation and advancements in DNA technology that he was finally apprehended in 2001. His evasion tactics and lack of predictable patterns made him one of the most elusive serial killers in U.S. history.

Look Beyond the Headlines

Tip: Headlines often present a sensationalized version of a crime story. Dig deeper into the facts to uncover the real narrative and avoid being misled.

Examples:

  1. Amanda Knox Case: Early media coverage painted Amanda Knox as a guilty, manipulative suspect in the murder of Meredith Kercher. However, a closer look at flawed forensic evidence and cultural biases revealed a much more complex story, leading to her eventual exoneration.

  2. Richard Jewell Bombing Case: The 1996 Atlanta Olympics bombing initially branded security guard Richard Jewell as the prime suspect in the media. Yet, deeper investigation revealed he was a hero who saved lives, while the real bomber, Eric Rudolph, went undetected for years.

  3. The Central Park Five: The infamous case involving five teenagers falsely accused of assaulting a jogger in Central Park gained sensationalized headlines. Years later, evidence emerged proving their innocence and highlighting systemic failures in law enforcement.

How You Can Apply This Tip: When reading about a case:

  • Question the sources: Are they credible or speculative?

  • Look for primary evidence or statements from investigators.

  • Consider the cultural or societal biases that may shape public perception.

This approach not only enhances your understanding of the case but also trains you to think critically, separating sensationalism from fact.

Would you like more case-specific examples or to expand on this tip?

The Strange Disappearance of D.B. Cooper

A Cold Case That Still Baffles Investigators

On the afternoon of Wednesday, November 24, 1971, a man using the name Daniel Cooper purchased a $20 one-way ticket for Northwest Airlines Flight 305, traveling from Portland, Oregon, to Seattle, Washington. Described as being in his mid-40s, Cooper exuded the image of a typical businessman. He wore a dark business suit, an overcoat, polished brown shoes, a neatly pressed white shirt, and a black tie. Carrying a briefcase and a brown paper bag, he boarded the flight without drawing attention to himself.

Police sketch of D.B. Cooper

The Calm Before the Storm

Before takeoff, Cooper ordered a bourbon and soda from a flight attendant, blending seamlessly into the other passengers. But shortly after the plane took off, the quiet businessman revealed his true intentions. Cooper handed a folded note to a flight attendant. Assuming it was a harmless flirtation, she slipped the note into her pocket without reading it. Cooper, however, leaned in and said calmly but firmly, "Miss, you'd better look at that note. I have a bomb."

Startled, the flight attendant opened the note, which detailed his demands. Cooper asked her to sit beside him as he opened his briefcase, revealing a terrifying sight: several red sticks, believed to be dynamite, surrounded by a network of wires. It was a chilling moment that set the tone for one of the most daring acts of air piracy in history.

The Demands

Cooper instructed the flight attendant to write down his exact words and deliver them to the captain. His demands were clear and specific:
"I want $200,000 by 5 p.m. in cash, exclusively in $20 bills, placed in a knapsack. I want two back parachutes and two front parachutes. When we land, I want a fuel truck ready to refuel. No funny stuff, or I'll do the job."

The note left no room for negotiation. The crew relayed the message to the authorities, and the FBI quickly mobilized to meet Cooper’s demands. Agents gathered $200,000 in $20 bills, marked for tracking, from Seattle-area banks, while the Seattle police acquired parachutes from a local skydiving school.

The Hostage Situation and Release

As the plane circled Seattle-Tacoma International Airport to buy time, Cooper remained calm and composed, even reassuring the passengers that everything would be fine. Many of them were unaware of the ongoing hijacking. Once Cooper confirmed that his demands had been met, he allowed all passengers and most of the crew to disembark. This act of calculated control ensured his instructions were followed without resistance.

With only a few crew members remaining, Cooper ordered the plane to refuel and instructed the captain to chart a course to Mexico City. He had specific requirements for the flight: the aircraft was to fly at an altitude of no more than 10,000 feet and maintain a speed of 200 knots, with the landing gear down and the cabin unpressurized.

The Jump into Infamy

As the flight progressed into the night, Cooper made a small but memorable addition to his appearance, he put on a pair of dark, wraparound sunglasses. This detail would later become a hallmark of his infamous FBI composite sketch. Somewhere around 8:13 p.m., between Seattle and Reno, Nevada, Cooper opened the rear staircase of the Boeing 727. With two parachutes and the ransom money strapped to him, he jumped into the cold, dark unknown.

The Aftermath

When the plane landed in Reno, authorities swarmed the aircraft but found no trace of Cooper. A massive search operation was launched, involving ground teams, helicopters, and fixed-wing aircraft scouring the suspected jump area. Despite these efforts, no conclusive evidence of Cooper’s whereabouts or even his fate, was ever uncovered.

In 1980, a tantalizing clue emerged when a young boy discovered $5,800 in decomposed $20 bills along the banks of the Columbia River near Portland. The serial numbers matched the ransom money, but this discovery only deepened the mystery. How did the money end up there? And where was the rest of it?

A Mystery That Endures

Over the past 50 years, the D.B. Cooper case (a misinterpretation of his alias by the press) has become one of the greatest unsolved mysteries in U.S. history. Despite countless theories, suspects, and investigations, the man’s true identity and ultimate fate remain unknown. Some believe he died in the jump, his body and the money scattered across the wilderness. Others speculate he survived, blending into society and living out his life as a legend hiding in plain sight.

The D.B. Cooper hijacking continues to captivate the public imagination, inspiring books, movies, and even amateur sleuths who refuse to let the case go cold. It stands as a testament to one man’s audacity and a reminder of how a single act can ripple through history, leaving a trail of questions that may never be answered.

Last Week’s Challenge Answer: Reconstruct the Alibi

The man’s alibi starts to fall apart when you analyze the timeline and the evidence or lack thereof, backing his story. He claimed to have been at a movie theater watching a 7:30 PM show, but the burglary at his neighbor’s house was reported to have occurred between 7:15 PM and 8:00 PM. While he had a ticket stub in his pocket, this only proves he purchased a ticket, not that he stayed in the theater during the entire movie.

Crucially, no one, neither the theater staff nor other moviegoers, could confirm seeing him in the auditorium. Furthermore, a witness saw him leaving the theater at 8:30 PM, which could simply indicate he returned to the theater after the burglary to make it seem as though he’d been there the whole time. This tactic is not uncommon in criminal cases, where suspects create alibis that fall apart under scrutiny.

This challenge highlights why corroborating evidence is so critical in investigations. An alibi must be supported by more than just circumstantial evidence like a ticket stub or a vague witness statement. When timelines don’t add up, they often point investigators to the real story hidden beneath the surface.

This case underscores the importance of critically examining timelines and gathering supporting evidence to differentiate truth from deception. In this scenario, the timeline of the man’s actions exposed the weakness in his story, making him a primary suspect in the burglary.

Crime Statistic of the Week

A Deeper Look

Cold Cases

The rising number of unsolved homicides in the United States is a stark reminder of the challenges law enforcement faces. Approximately 40% of homicide cases remain unresolved, leaving families without closure and perpetrators at large. The growing backlog of cold cases is attributed to resource constraints, overwhelming caseloads, and the complexity of modern investigations.

  • Notable Impact: In cities like Chicago and Detroit, cold case rates exceed the national average, with limited funding and understaffing cited as major obstacles.

  • Why It Matters: Each unsolved case represents not just a failure of justice but a potential risk to public safety, as offenders often remain active.

DNA Breakthroughs

Thanks to advancements in forensic science, DNA technology has become a powerful tool for solving cold cases. Since its introduction, more than 375 cold cases have been solved in the U.S. using DNA evidence, some of which date back several decades.

  • Key Cases Solved: The 2018 capture of the Golden State Killer stands out as a watershed moment, where genetic genealogy linked Joseph DeAngelo to a series of murders and rapes spanning the 1970s and 1980s.

  • Emerging Technology: Rapid DNA analysis and familial DNA searches are revolutionizing investigations, providing leads where none existed before. However, privacy concerns and legal debates continue to challenge its widespread adoption.

Mass Shootings

Gun violence continues to plague the United States, with mass shootings reaching unprecedented levels. In 2023 alone, the country experienced over 600 mass shootings, according to the Gun Violence Archive. This alarming trend marks a significant increase compared to previous years.

  • Profile of Incidents: Mass shootings occur in a wide range of settings, from schools and workplaces to public gatherings. The diversity of locations underscores the pervasive nature of the issue.

  • Policy and Prevention: Despite the rising numbers, debates over gun control laws and mental health support remain deeply divisive. Community-based intervention programs, better mental health resources, and stricter background checks are among the proposed solutions to curb the trend.

  • Impact on Society: Beyond the immediate loss of life, mass shootings have a profound psychological impact on survivors, communities, and the nation at large, perpetuating a climate of fear and mistrust.

Understanding these crime trends is crucial for both policymakers and the public. While advancements in technology offer hope for solving cold cases, the challenges of resource allocation, gun violence, and systemic issues demand a collective effort to address the root causes of crime. As these trends evolve, so must our strategies to ensure justice, safety, and prevention.

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