What are the Most Difficult Crimes to Solve (2024)

Fort Lauderdale Criminal Lawyer, William Moore, claims that people often speculate about perpetrators and their possible motives when they hear of a local crime or when a particularly notorious garners national attention. For example, many people have followed the case of Caylee Anthony, the little girl who was apparently murdered in Florida last year, says Fort Lauderdale Criminal Lawyer William Moore. Now, her mother is facing trial for the crime.

Murders are the most serious of crimes and, many might speculate, the most difficult to solve. However, depending on how the person was killed, a murderer may leave behind clues that allow police detectives to piece together what happened. DNA evidence can frequently being collected from the scene of a homicide – perhaps from under the fingernails of the deceased, if a struggle preceded the death. If a gun was used, law enforcement agencies may be able to trace the bullets or identify the gun that shot them. Additionally, Fort Lauderdale Criminal Lawyer says a killer often has a motive. An abusive ex-husband may be filled with jealousy and rage over his former wife’s life without him or her new boyfriend. Money could motivate a person who would receive substantial amounts of life insurance.

Crimes that seem random may be the most difficult to solve. Burglary, for example, is committed generally to steal items of value. The motive, therefore, is not usually personal to the victims, says Broward criminal lawyer Moore.

Burglary is probably the most difficult to solve because its perpetrators do not have a motive that makes the victim’s identity relevant. In most cases, they will elect to steal from an unoccupied home or dwelling, which may leave few, if any, witnesses. The third reason why they are particularly difficult for law enforcement agents to solve is that they frequently do not leave evidence behind.

Committing a burglary, unlike committing a violent crime, is less likely to result in leaving identifying evidence at the crime scene. A skilled burglar might wear gloves, for example, to avoid leaving fingerprints. He is unlikely to leave blood at the crime scene and, if there is no one at the residence, it is probable that he will not be seen. Some crime statistics suggest that only a small fraction of burglaries are ever solved, likely for the reasons outlined here.

Homeowners can guard against these crimes by using heavy-duty locks, including deadbolts. They can also use ample yard and porch lighting, which will discourage the burglar who wants to sneak into the home under the cover of darkness.

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What are the Most Difficult Crimes to Solve (1)

Fort Lauderdale Criminal Lawyer William Moore has years of experience in criminal defense, including sex crimes and DUI. A felony or misdemeanor conviction of any type can have far-reaching consequences on your freedom, your employment, and your personal life. If you have been arrested in south Florida, contact William Moore, P.A., with offices in Fort Lauderdale-Dade, Broward, and Fort Lauderdale Counties.

What are the Most Difficult Crimes to Solve (2024)

FAQs

What are the Most Difficult Crimes to Solve? ›

Burglary is probably the most difficult to solve because its perpetrators do not have a motive that makes the victim's identity relevant. In most cases, they will elect to steal from an unoccupied home or dwelling, which may leave few, if any, witnesses.

What crimes are hardest to solve? ›

What Are the Most Difficult Cases Solved?
  1. The Zodiac Killer. ...
  2. Santa Barbara police · Public domain. ...
  3. The JonBenét Ramsey Case. ...
  4. The Boston Strangler. ...
  5. The Lindbergh Baby Kidnapping. ...
  6. Peter K. ...
  7. The Unabomber Case. ...
  8. The Oklahoma City Bombing.

What type of crime is the most difficult to investigate? ›

For instance, cybercrimes and financial crimes are often more challenging to investigate than theft or assault, as they involve sophisticated techniques and technology. A crime with minimal or no evidence left behind is much more difficult to investigate.

What is the hardest crime to prove? ›

White collar crimes like fraud and embezzlement might be more difficult to defend than others. This is because these crimes are generally investigated in great detail, which means there will be a lot of evidence to sort through. Because the evidence is purely financial, it is often difficult for jurors to comprehend.

What are the hardest cases to beat? ›

However, these 3 crimes tend to be difficult to defend:
  • Crimes against minors.
  • Homicide.
  • White collar crimes such as embezzlement.
Mar 28, 2024

What are the top 3 crimes? ›

By far the most common form of property crime in 2022 was larceny/theft, followed by motor vehicle theft and burglary. Among violent crimes, aggravated assault was the most common offense, followed by robbery, rape, and murder/nonnegligent manslaughter.

What is the most serious crimes? ›

  • Murder.
  • Forcible Rape.
  • Robbery.
  • Aggravated Assault.

What are the worst types of crimes? ›

The major felonies include murder, rape, kidnapping, armed robbery, embezzlement, insider trading, fraud, and racketeering.

What crimes are not serious? ›

Infractions. Infractions, which can also be called violations, are the least serious crimes and include minor offenses such as jaywalking and motor vehicle offenses that result in a simple traffic ticket. Infractions are generally punishable by a fine or alternative sentencing such as traffic school.

What type of crime is the least serious? ›

Infractions: Infractions are the least serious type of crime. Infractions, like speeding tickets, are usually handled in traffic court. Someone convicted only of an infraction cannot be punished with jail time.

What is a legally impossible crime? ›

Factual impossibility, or the inability to complete a crime due to a non-existent factual circ*mstance, does not function as a defense. Legal impossibility, or the belief that one's actions are a crime when they actually are not, does function as a defense and can protect the defendant from attempted liability.

What is the most committed crime? ›

Theft or larceny is the most common type of property crime. It's estimated that someone is a victim of theft every 5.5 seconds. The next most common crime is burglary, which involves breaking and entering.

What crimes are easier to prove intent? ›

General intent is less sophisticated than specific intent. Thus general intent crimes are easier to prove and can also result in a less severe punishment.

Who has never lost a case? ›

Spence has never lost a criminal case before a jury either as a prosecutor or a defense attorney, and did not lose a civil case between 1969 and 2010.

Which lawyer wins most cases? ›

Gerry Spence is widely considered one of the most successful trial and criminal attorneys in America. He has never once lost a criminal case — either as a prosecutor or a defense attorney — and he hasn't lost a civil case since 1969.

What cold cases will never be solved? ›

Our countdown of crimes that will never be solved includes The Disappearance of the Beaumonts, The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum Heist, Jack the Ripper, The Disappearance of the Sodders, The Mystery Around JonBenét Ramsey, and more!

What is a crime that was never solved? ›

Alcatraz Escape. The fate of three men—Frank Morris, John Anglin, and his brother Clarence Anglin—who made a daring escape from an isolated island prison in 1962 remains a mystery to this day. More → Black Dahlia. The 1947 murder of a 22-year-old Hollywood hopeful in Los Angeles has never been solved.

What's the worst possible crime to commit? ›

The most severely punished form is murder, defined as homicide committed with “malice aforethought.” This is a term with a very long history. Boiled down to its essentials, it means that the defendant had the intent to kill.

What are the worst crimes that can be committed? ›

However, murder, extermination, torture, rape, political, racial, or religious persecution and other inhumane acts reach the threshold of crimes against humanity only if they are part of a widespread or systematic practice.

What are the four most violent crimes? ›

Over 70% percent of violent crimes in 2022 were aggravated assaults, followed by robbery (17.4%), rape (10.5%), and homicide (1.7%).

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