Four of Ohio's unsolved mysteries

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While detectives solve some murders quickly, other investigations span years of unanswered questions. Families long for answers and hope that one day justice will be served. Here are a few unsolved cases in Ohio:

Paula Payne

When 20-year-old Paula Payne left on foot for her job at what is now the Boonshoft Museum of Discovery, she had no idea she’d never make it. The date was August 9, 1977. Her co-workers searched on a trail that led to the museum’s entrance and noticed a disturbance in the fallen leaves.

They kept walking and were shocked to find her body in the woods. Today, Paula’s case remains “one of the most sensational murder mysteries in the Miami Valley."

Mary Ann LoDatto

For more than 30 years, the murder of Mary Ann LoDatto has been a mystery. She was found murdered in her apartment on March 7, 1991. It’s believed no one else was home at the time. While several agencies investigated her case, there is still no motive or suspect.

Kathryn Menendez

It was in August 1994 when 17-year-old Kathryn Menendez left home and never returned. Her body was found in Deerfield Township along an access road to an oil well. Over the years, evidence led to two suspects.

However, there wasn’t enough for an arrest. Investigators recently exhumed Kathryn’s body in hopes that advancements in DNA technology will help find the killer.

Franklin Benedict

On July 8, 2015, Franklin Benedict’s roommate found him dead in the hallway of their Kent apartment complex. Franklin lived a low-key life and was passionate about movies and craft beer.

He didn’t know many people in Kent and spent most of his time working at Walmart or with his new girlfriend. Police have no motive, especially since nothing was taken from his apartment.