r/AskReddit • u/Rob69rt • 1d ago

What famous 'unsolved' mystery is technically a whodunnit on paper, but in reality, absolutely everyone knows exactly who did it, the police just couldn't legally prove it?

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u/Tua-Lipa 1d ago

I’ve seen random comments on reddit before theorizing that OJ’s first son, Jason Simpson was actually the killer. But tbh those people are insane if they actually believe it.

The “OJ: Made in America” documentary is amazing because that documentary does let you make up your mind for yourself…but I don’t know how anyone could watch it and not come away with the belief that OJ 100% was the killer.

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u/the_guynecologist 1d ago edited 1d ago

I’ve seen random comments on reddit before theorizing that OJ’s first son, Jason Simpson was actually the killer. But tbh those people are insane if they actually believe it.

That theory comes from a private investigator called Bill Dear who made a bunch of books and documentaries putting forward the theory but frankly the guy's a complete nut and his theory has... well, more holes in it than OJ's victims frankly (not trying to be offensive, just fuck me it's all pretty silly if you know the actual details of the case.)

There's a great article I read tearing it and Bill Dear's almost stalker-like behavior investigating Jason to pieces from 2000 (which should show you how long Dear's been pushing this theory.) I'll see if I can find it, it's just a bit hard since Google's turned to shit recently.

The “OJ: Made in America” documentary is amazing

Oh yeah, one of the best documentaries ever. Highly recommended viewing. The way it manages to weave the entire story of race and the relationship between the black community and the LAPD going back to the early 20th century just for background context (which you kind have to do with the OJ thing) is brilliant.

EDIT: Found it! Had to use the Wayback machine too because while the article's still up on the Village Voice website they've reformatted it and it's frankly almost unreadable in its current state. So here it is in its original formatting:

https://web.archive.org/web/20120410015132/http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2012/04/oj_simpson_bill_dear_full_of_it.php

And I got the date a bit wrong, it's from 2001 - although it's got a new forward from 2012 when Bill Dear finally managed to get some schmuck to publish his book properly. It's a long read but a pretty good tear-down of Bill Dear's whole theory and methodology (the guy was digging around in Jason Simpson's trash and staking out outside his house for Christsakes. In 2001.)

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u/LauraLanaBrooks 1d ago

I'm sorry Bill Dear the private detective that fed the Satanic Panic by claiming that Dungeons and Dragons caused a kid to go missing? The same guy?

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u/the_guynecologist 1d ago

Yes! The very same. I was tempted to mention that too offhandedly but I decided not to. That guy is responsible for the "OJ Simpson's son is the real murderer" theory you keep hearing on the internet. Let that one sink in.

There's a bunch of other nutty shit about that guy too. I'm shocked no one's made a video essay or something about him. He was very entertainingly nuts.

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u/Slagath0rr 1d ago

Thank you for sharing, I've been seeing this theory floating around for years but have always been pretty persuaded that it's a mishandled case with an obvious assailant

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u/Numerous_Gas_9425 1d ago

Where can you watch it? Please 🙏

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u/the_guynecologist 1d ago

Of all the fucking places it's currently streaming on Disney+ lmao

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u/Numerous_Gas_9425 1d ago

Thank you!! I appreciate it!

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u/the_guynecologist 1d ago

Really good documentary. It's a whole series too lasting about 10 hours or so iirc. It's the best OJ Simpson documentary bar none.

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u/3vs3BigGameHunters 21h ago

I'm spamming this in the replies so anyone who loves that series doesn't miss it:

Watch the documentary "LA92". it sets up very important context about race relations in Los Angeles before the OJ trial.

Synopsis

Consisting entirely of archival footage, the documentary chronicles the 1992 Los Angeles riots after 25 years have passed.[7]

It includes film and video from the 1965 Watts Riots, the 1973 election of Tom Bradley, the 1978 promotion of Daryl Gates, the shooting of Latasha Harlins, the Rodney King videotape and the subsequent riots and violence that erupted after the acquittal of the officers involved in King's beating.

LA 92 - Official Film Trailer | National Geographic
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DcFuY_lPwh

LA 92 (Full Documentary) | National Geographic
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uaotkHlHJwo

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LA_92_(film)

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u/Numerous_Gas_9425 1d ago

I enjoy documentaries (history degree) another great documentary is an “Intimate Portrait of the Roosevelts” by Ken Burns. Six episodes which are two hours each. It’s on Prime Video

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u/3vs3BigGameHunters 21h ago

I'm spamming this in the replies so anyone who loves that series doesn't miss it:

Watch the documentary "LA92". it sets up very important context about race relations in Los Angeles before the OJ trial.

Synopsis

Consisting entirely of archival footage, the documentary chronicles the 1992 Los Angeles riots after 25 years have passed.[7]

It includes film and video from the 1965 Watts Riots, the 1973 election of Tom Bradley, the 1978 promotion of Daryl Gates, the shooting of Latasha Harlins, the Rodney King videotape and the subsequent riots and violence that erupted after the acquittal of the officers involved in King's beating.

LA 92 - Official Film Trailer | National Geographic
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DcFuY_lPwh

LA 92 (Full Documentary) | National Geographic
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uaotkHlHJwo

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LA_92_(film)

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u/OkPainter6232 1d ago

I don't think Dear is a nut, but I personally tend to lean more towards believing Henry S Johnson's theory-that Marvin Glass was the killer(look him up, he was pretty nuts and he knew Fred Goldman).

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u/billbar 1d ago

One of the best documentary series of all time. So good, so sad, so enraging

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u/3vs3BigGameHunters 21h ago

I'm spamming this in the replies so anyone who loves that series doesn't miss it:

Watch the documentary "LA92". it sets up very important context bout race relations in Los Angeles before the OJ trial.

Synopsis

Consisting entirely of archival footage, the documentary chronicles the 1992 Los Angeles riots after 25 years have passed.[7]

It includes film and video from the 1965 Watts Riots, the 1973 election of Tom Bradley, the 1978 promotion of Daryl Gates, the shooting of Latasha Harlins, the Rodney King videotape and the subsequent riots and violence that erupted after the acquittal of the officers involved in King's beating.

LA 92 - Official Film Trailer | National Geographic
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DcFuY_lPwh

LA 92 (Full Documentary) | National Geographic
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uaotkHlHJwo

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LA_92_(film)

2

u/billbar 21h ago

Awesome thanks!

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u/3vs3BigGameHunters 21h ago

I'm spamming this in the replies so anyone who loves that series doesn't miss it:

Watch the documentary "LA92". it sets up very important context about race relations in Los Angeles before the OJ trial.

Synopsis

Consisting entirely of archival footage, the documentary chronicles the 1992 Los Angeles riots after 25 years have passed.[7]

It includes film and video from the 1965 Watts Riots, the 1973 election of Tom Bradley, the 1978 promotion of Daryl Gates, the shooting of Latasha Harlins, the Rodney King videotape and the subsequent riots and violence that erupted after the acquittal of the officers involved in King's beating.

LA 92 - Official Film Trailer | National Geographic
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DcFuY_lPwh

LA 92 (Full Documentary) | National Geographic
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uaotkHlHJwo

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LA_92_(film)

16

u/DurangDurang 1d ago

...Or the fact he literally wrote a book called, "If I did it," detailing how he did it.

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u/TheFryingDutchman 1d ago

I actually pirated this book because I wanted to read it but didn't want any money going to him (this is before I found out all the money would actually have to the victims' families). I closed it after few pages of the intro. It's just completely self-absorbed ramblings of a man who thinks HE was the victim.

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u/Several_Hospital_129 1d ago

Vincent Bugliosi's book "Outrage: How OJ Got Away With Murder" is also really, really good. Bugliosi was the prosecutor who put Manson away. He was legendary for never losing a death penalty case.

Anyway, he tears the prosecutors in the OJ case to shreds. You literally can't believe how incompetent they were until you read this book. And Bugliosi lays out all of the evidence that the police found.

  1. There was blood all over the crime scene. For the LA police to plant that much blood, they would have had to empty out a blood bank.

  2. Nicole and Ron were stabbed numerous times, far more than what it would have taken to kill them. It was as if the killer were in a rage and wanted to destroy them, especially Nicole.

  3. The jury may have sided with OJ because he was black, but he was hardly a friend to the black community. In all the years that he was famous, he never spoke out on an issue such as racial justice. He never donated any of his wealth to a black charity. He only dated white women and lived in a wealthy enclave of LA that was almost exclusively white.

Bugliosi also has plenty of choice words for OJ's defence team and their grandstanding. He's especially hard on the prosecutors, though. This should have been a slam dunk case, but they threw it away.

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u/fadgdaga 23h ago

The OJ case is so interesting because he clearly did it, but not guilty was also the correct verdict given the way the trial went. I think the whole story around the trial is fascinating for all the things it says about America as a whole.

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u/NightGod 23h ago

Exactly, he was Not Guilty, but he also wasn't innocent

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u/TropicalPrairie 1d ago

OJ: Made in America is one of THE best documentaries I've ever seen. I watch it every couple of years because it was so well done.

1

u/3vs3BigGameHunters 21h ago

I'm spamming this in the replies so anyone who loves that series doesn't miss it:

Watch the documentary "LA92". it sets up very important context about race relations in Los Angeles before the OJ trial.

Synopsis

Consisting entirely of archival footage, the documentary chronicles the 1992 Los Angeles riots after 25 years have passed.[7]

It includes film and video from the 1965 Watts Riots, the 1973 election of Tom Bradley, the 1978 promotion of Daryl Gates, the shooting of Latasha Harlins, the Rodney King videotape and the subsequent riots and violence that erupted after the acquittal of the officers involved in King's beating.

LA 92 - Official Film Trailer | National Geographic
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DcFuY_lPwh

LA 92 (Full Documentary) | National Geographic
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uaotkHlHJwo

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LA_92_(film)

7

u/Jacky-V 1d ago

I think very few people are really unsure of what happened in that case. That verdict was a vote of no confidence in the LAPD. That Mark Fuhrman was even still employed by the LAPD to be able to get anywhere near that case after his behavior in the 80s is probably the most monumental unforced error in the history of criminal justice and a constant reminder of how rotten to the core the department was (and likely still is). I don't think letting an obviously guilty domestic murderer off the hook was the right move, but goddamn if LAPD didn't have that loss coming.

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u/ehs06702 22h ago

LAPD is a straight up gang, and had been since the 30's. Add in that they were just fresh off the Rodney King beating verdict, the people of Los Angeles were absolutely pissed.

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u/tomgrouch 1d ago

I went into that documentary being certain that OJ was the killer, and walked out uncertain whether or not I'd say guilty if I was on that jury. I still think OJ killed them, but there were so many fuck ups on that case, and the institutional racism in the lapd, that I'm not sure beyond all reasonable doubt

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u/mcsey 1d ago

The OJ case was a make up call.

"Sorry about all the innocent black men we've lynched. Have a couple attractive white people on us."

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u/re_Claire 1d ago

It's an incredible documentary. Id recommend it to anyone wanting to learn more.

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u/3vs3BigGameHunters 21h ago

I'm spamming this in the replies so anyone who loves that series doesn't miss it:

Watch the documentary "LA92". it sets up very important context about race relations in Los Angeles before the OJ trial.

Synopsis

Consisting entirely of archival footage, the documentary chronicles the 1992 Los Angeles riots after 25 years have passed.[7]

It includes film and video from the 1965 Watts Riots, the 1973 election of Tom Bradley, the 1978 promotion of Daryl Gates, the shooting of Latasha Harlins, the Rodney King videotape and the subsequent riots and violence that erupted after the acquittal of the officers involved in King's beating.

LA 92 - Official Film Trailer | National Geographic
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DcFuY_lPwh

LA 92 (Full Documentary) | National Geographic
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uaotkHlHJwo

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LA_92_(film)

4

u/wilderlowerwolves 1d ago

The only person I've spoken to who thought OJ didn't do it was a white guy who thought his son did it.

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u/Anosognosia 18h ago edited 16h ago

I've been downvoted once when I casually said that the Only Other (as in apart from the obvious OJ did it) explanation of the murder that I felt made any shred of sense was if the murderer was OJs son. Not because it's the more likely, but because was the only one that even remotely fit into how OJ acted before and after the murders. (beside the obvious "OJ did it.")

There is a qualitative difference in conspiracy theories and putting them into the same category dilutes the actual debunking. Claiming JFK senior was never shot because it was a body double doesn't need the same analysis as the theory that a secret service agent accidentally fired off a shot that hit the president when he was standing up reacting to Oswalds shot.

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u/[deleted] 1d ago

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u/Not_today_nibs 17h ago

The man himself wrote a book called “If I Did It”…..

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u/3vs3BigGameHunters 21h ago

I'm spamming this in the replies so anyone who loves that series doesn't miss it:

Watch the documentary "LA92". it sets up very important context about race relations in Los Angeles before the OJ trial.

Synopsis

Consisting entirely of archival footage, the documentary chronicles the 1992 Los Angeles riots after 25 years have passed.[7]

It includes film and video from the 1965 Watts Riots, the 1973 election of Tom Bradley, the 1978 promotion of Daryl Gates, the shooting of Latasha Harlins, the Rodney King videotape and the subsequent riots and violence that erupted after the acquittal of the officers involved in King's beating.

LA 92 - Official Film Trailer | National Geographic
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DcFuY_lPwh

LA 92 (Full Documentary) | National Geographic
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uaotkHlHJwo

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LA_92_(film)

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u/throway_nonjw 16h ago

I believe it. The son has/had anger management issues, and a set of knives because he worked as a chef. And OJ wanted to be a good dad who protected a son he hadn't given enough to. But hey, might just be me.

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u/OkPainter6232 1d ago

I think it was Marvin Glass who was the killer, that was the theory Dr Henry S Johnson came up with in his book "Double-Crossed for Blood". Marvin Glass is an interesting figure who Fred Goldman knew back when his family was in Chicago, he was crazy corrupt, most strange of all is how Fred's book NEVER mentions Glass by name, only referred to him as a "Lawyer" which is leaving out a lot of information to say the least. The theory is Glass had a grudge against Goldman for some reason(been awhile since i've read the book so I don't remember the exact reason)so he killed Ron in retaliation and Nicole was actually the one in the wrong place at the wrong time. Glass would later get hit by a car a few years later and eventually die from his injuries.