Top 10 Most Mysterious Disappearances in History

On July 2, 1937, American aviator Amelia Earhart disappeared while attempting to circumnavigate the globe with her navigator Fred Noonan. Her Lockheed Electra 10E aircraft vanished over the Pacific Ocean while flying from Lae, New Guinea, to Howland Island, a small atoll in the Marshall Islands. No distress calls were made or received by Earhart's plane before its disappearance. The last transmission from Earhart was a radio message saying they were low on fuel and having difficulty locating Howland Island. Despite numerous investigations, the fate of Amelia Earhart remains one of history's greatest unsolved mysteries. The search for Earhart continues to captivate historians and enthusiasts alike.

In December 1872, the British ship Mary Celeste was found adrift in the Atlantic Ocean with no crew on board. Despite thorough searches, all personal belongings, navigation equipment, and communication devices were still intact, leaving behind only cryptic clues as to what might have happened to the missing sailors. No signs of foul play or natural disasters were detected at the scene. The Mary Celeste's captain, Benjamin Briggs, had taken his family on a voyage from Nova Scotia to Genoa, Italy, when the ship vanished. The mystery surrounding the Mary Celeste has been extensively studied by experts and remains one of maritime history's greatest unsolved puzzles.

On Christmas Eve in 1945, a fire destroyed the Sodder family home in Fayetteville, West Virginia. Five of the nine Sodder children were missing after the blaze, but no bodies were ever found. Despite investigations and searches, their disappearance remains a mystery to this day. The fire was so intense that it damaged several homes across the street from the Sodder residence. The case has been reopened multiple times over the years due to new evidence and leads.

In February 1959, nine experienced hikers died under mysterious circumstances in the Ural Mountains of Russia. Their bodies were found weeks later with bizarre injuries, such as missing teeth, internal bleeding, and severe hypothermia, despite being found within feet of a warm cabin. The cause of their deaths was initially attributed to avalanches and natural weather conditions but later revealed a mix of factors including avalanches, toxic gas, and exposure to cold temperatures. An investigation into the incident found evidence of strange lights in the sky before the group's descent onto the mountain.

In 1898, a young boy named Leo Amery was kidnapped from his home in New Zealand by his grandfather who then left with his family for Australia to avoid prosecution for theft. An intense search followed as the family members were repeatedly arrested and released due to inconsistencies in their testimonies. It's now believed that one of the family members did indeed take Leo, but it remains unclear which individual was responsible. The Amery Case is known as one of New Zealand's greatest unsolved mysteries.

In February 2004, University student Maura Murray disappeared from her car on a remote highway in Haverhill, New Hampshire, after attending a car accident scene and visiting the local hospital. Despite an extensive investigation by law enforcement, no sign of Murray's whereabouts can be confirmed. Surveillance footage at nearby businesses showed that she may have left her vehicle before it was eventually found with no personal belongings inside.

On December 15, 1944, American musician Glenn Miller disappeared while flying over the English Channel during World War II. He was on his way to perform for Allied forces and had been leading a band of musicians in support of U.S. Army troops. A search operation following his disappearance resulted in no survivors from the aircraft crash. The circumstances surrounding his final moments are unknown.

On November 24, 1971, an unknown man known as Dan Cooper hijacked a plane over Seattle and parachuted out with a ransom of $200,000 into Portland Oregon. Despite numerous investigations by law enforcement, Cooper's true identity remains a mystery to this day. There are no body or proof of Cooper's demise, but his daring heist has become infamous in American aviation history.

In September 1988, Tara Calico, a young woman from New Mexico, disappeared while out on a bike ride near her home in Belen. Her disappearance led to an extensive investigation and numerous tips over the years but no definitive proof or explanation has emerged. Despite local sightings claims of a possible suspect being seen driving by Calico's home around 1988.

In 2011, Mike & Evie, a couple from California decided to move to Los Angeles after inheriting an antique cabinet known as 'The Dybbuk Box' that originally belonged to a spiritual medium in Israel. A small box adorned with mysterious symbols reportedly captured the attention of paranormal enthusiasts worldwide before falling silent when being stored at a bank vault due to their supposed cursed status.