6 Intriguing Cases For 'Serial' To Tackle

Whether you're a podcast fiend, a criminal justice enthusiast, or simply someone who just watches way too many re-runs of Law & Order, odds are that you anxiously awaiting the return of Serial, the podcast that united a nation. Well, the good news is that Serial will be back sooner than you think, and if the Serial Season 2 rumors are any indication, this season is going to be a doozy. The latest development in the Serial world is that Serial Season 2 might tackle the Bowe Bergdahl case.

According to This American Life and Serial Production Manager Emily Condon, "The Serial team hasn’t confirmed our topic for Season 2 yet. Over the last few months we’ve been reporting on a variety of stories for both Seasons 2 and 3 of Serial, along with other podcast projects." But, though the topic of Season 2 remains a bit of a mystery, Serial Season 3 is still a total enigma. If Season 2 does tackle the Bowe Bergdahl case, that still leaves me wondering what case Serial Season 3 will focus on. If Season 2 does not go the Bowe Bergdahl route, then that leaves us with two whole seasons of Serial which as of yet remain a mystery.

There are so many fascinating unsolved cases out there that would make for intriguing radio. I have faith that the Serial team will do us justice in choosing the perfect stories to tell, but, in the interim, rather than being patient, I am choosing to speculate as to what cases Serial Season 2 & 3 could investigate. Join me, won't you?

1. The Case of the Disembodied Feet

According to the New York Post, in August 2007, disembodied feet began washing up onshore in Vancouver, Canada. The case has reportedly baffled Canadian police ever since, and they have yet to identify all of the victims.

2. The Man With No Memory

Benjamin Kyle reportedly woke up outside of a Burger King in 2004 with no memories and no clue as to who he was or what happened to him, according to the New York Daily News. Though Benjamin Kyle allegedly discovered his former identity in 2015, some people believe that Benjamin Kyle's entire story was bogus. Could it all be a hoax? Whatever the case, Benjamin Kyle's story is fascinating and could definitely benefit from the Sarah Koenig treatment.

3. The Ashley Madison Hack

Although this would undoubtedly be much harder to do because the case is so recent, it would be fascinating to get a behind-the-scenes look at the Ashley Madison hack.

4. The Murder of Jeanette DePalma

According to the true crime novel Death on the Devi's Teeth: The Strange Murder That Shocked Suburban New Jersey by Jesse Pollack and Mark Moran, in 1972, a man in Springfield, New Jersey was shocked when his dog reportedly returned from the woods with a human arm — the arm of Jeannette DePalma. DePalma was a teenager who had reportedly gone missing in the area six weeks prior to her body being found. However, the community surrounding DePalma was allegedly tight-lipped. No one would talk to reporters; no one would be interviewed on the subject. Who murdered Jeannette DePalma, and why were people so afraid to talk about it?

5. The Disappearance of Zebb Quinn

Zebb Quinn disappeared from Asheville, North Carolina in 2000 at the age of 18, a case recounted in The Encyclopedia of Unsolved Crimes. Two weeks after his disappearance, his car was allegedly found in the parking lot of the hospital where Quinn's mother worked. A live Labrador puppy was reportedly found in the car, and there were a pair of lips drawn on the back windshield. Investigators believe that more than one person was involved in his disappearance, but the case remains unsolved.

6. The Dorothy Eady/Omm Sety Debacle

According to the New York Times, Dorothy Eady took a fall down a flight of stairs as a child and suffered a head injury so severe that she was pronounced dead on the scene. When her parents thought that all hope was lost, Eady suddenly woke up. Things quickly got strange. After an outing to the British Museum, Eady reportedly became more and more obsessed with Egyptian culture. She began to refer to herself as Omm Sety, would reportedly go into trances and write in hieroglyphics about her past life as a priestess at the Kom El Sultan temple. I know, I know. This sounds like total BS, right? That's what I thought too... until I learned that Omm Sety allegedly helped archaeologists find the exact location of the Temple Garden. I'm not sure what I believe about reincarnation but one thing is for certain... Dorothy Eady's case is too weird not to investigate.

In my opinion, Sarah Koenig and co. can do no wrong, and I am confident that they will gift us with some incredible stories in the upcoming seasons of Serial. These suggestions, however, are intriguing enough to at least give you a few unsolved mysteries to obsess over until Serial Season 2 finally debuts. You're welcome.

Image: NPR