Infamous Murders: A Question of Doubt
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In 1957, Jimmy Hoffa was elected president of America's biggest union, the Teamsters. His tenure was dogged with allegations of racketeering and dealings with the Mafia, using $400 million of union pension money.
In 1962 Hoffa was charged with bribery using Union funds. The case against him collapsed, but two years later, accused of jury-rigging and fraud, Hoffa was found guilty and sentenced to eight years.
On his release Hoffa found Frank Fitzsimmons acting as president for the Teamsters. Determined to win back his old position, Hoffa arranged a meeting with some of his old colleagues. When no one showed up Hoffa called his wife to say he had been stood up. It was the last call he made. Jimmy Hoffa was never seen again, and his abductors were not brought to justice.
On the 5th of August 1919, a 21-year-old girl disappeared from a tiny village in Leicestershire, England. About two hours later a farmer spotted a crumpled body lying near a bicycle at the side of the road. It was Bella Wright. She had been shot.
A massive hunt turned up a green bicycle in a nearby canal. A service revolver holster and a dozen live bullets were also found. Bicycle owner Ronald Light pleaded not guilty to murder at his trial, and he was acquitted by the jury. Light never admitted to the murder, but if he was innocent, why had he thrown his bicycle in the canal?
On the 18th of October 1954 Dr Sam Sheppard stood trial in Cleveland, accused of the brutal murder of his wife, Marilyn. Her body had been discovered at their house early on the morning of the 4th of July, the victim of a frenzied knife attack.
Sheppard claimed he had heard his wife screaming and had been attacked by intruders while trying to help her. The police found no evidence of a break-in and were convinced that Sheppard had killed his wife and faked his own injuries. Sheppard was found guilty of second-degree murder, but ten years later freed on $10,000 bail.
In 1966, the Supreme Court jury found Sheppard not guilty of murdering his wife. It appeared he had served twelve years in jail for nothing. No one else was ever charged with the murder.
In 1962 Hoffa was charged with bribery using Union funds. The case against him collapsed, but two years later, accused of jury-rigging and fraud, Hoffa was found guilty and sentenced to eight years.
On his release Hoffa found Frank Fitzsimmons acting as president for the Teamsters. Determined to win back his old position, Hoffa arranged a meeting with some of his old colleagues. When no one showed up Hoffa called his wife to say he had been stood up. It was the last call he made. Jimmy Hoffa was never seen again, and his abductors were not brought to justice.
On the 5th of August 1919, a 21-year-old girl disappeared from a tiny village in Leicestershire, England. About two hours later a farmer spotted a crumpled body lying near a bicycle at the side of the road. It was Bella Wright. She had been shot.
A massive hunt turned up a green bicycle in a nearby canal. A service revolver holster and a dozen live bullets were also found. Bicycle owner Ronald Light pleaded not guilty to murder at his trial, and he was acquitted by the jury. Light never admitted to the murder, but if he was innocent, why had he thrown his bicycle in the canal?
On the 18th of October 1954 Dr Sam Sheppard stood trial in Cleveland, accused of the brutal murder of his wife, Marilyn. Her body had been discovered at their house early on the morning of the 4th of July, the victim of a frenzied knife attack.
Sheppard claimed he had heard his wife screaming and had been attacked by intruders while trying to help her. The police found no evidence of a break-in and were convinced that Sheppard had killed his wife and faked his own injuries. Sheppard was found guilty of second-degree murder, but ten years later freed on $10,000 bail.
In 1966, the Supreme Court jury found Sheppard not guilty of murdering his wife. It appeared he had served twelve years in jail for nothing. No one else was ever charged with the murder.
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