1. The Lost Colony of Roanoke
Back in 1587, a group of English settlers arrived on Roanoke Island, off the coast of present-day North Carolina. Led by John White, they hoped to establish a thriving colony, but when White returned from a supply trip to England three years later, he found nothing but an eerie silence. The entire colony—men, women, and children—had vanished without a trace. The only clue left behind was the word “CROATOAN” carved into a post, possibly referring to a nearby Native American tribe says WHRO.
Theories range from violent conflicts with local tribes to an attempt to integrate into another community. Some believe they were wiped out by disease or starvation, while others think they may have tried to sail back to England and perished at sea. Despite extensive searches, no definitive evidence has ever been found. Even today, archaeologists and historians are still piecing together clues, but the fate of Roanoke remains one of history’s most haunting mysteries adds the New York Post.
2. The Vanishing of the Mary Celeste
In 1872, the Mary Celeste was found adrift in the Atlantic Ocean with no sign of its crew. The ship was perfectly intact, with food and supplies untouched, and its cargo undisturbed. Even stranger, the crew’s personal belongings were still on board, suggesting they left in a hurry. The last log entry showed nothing unusual, leaving investigators completely baffled shares the New York Times.
Some theories suggest a rogue wave or waterspout forced the crew to abandon ship, but that doesn’t explain why they never made it to safety. Others have speculated about pirates, mutiny, or even supernatural forces. No lifeboat was ever recovered, and none of the crew members were ever seen again. To this day, the mystery of the Mary Celeste remains one of the sea’s most unsettling puzzles says AccuWeather.
3. The Flannan Isles Lighthouse Keepers
In December 1900, a supply ship arrived at the remote Flannan Isles lighthouse off the coast of Scotland. Instead of being greeted by the three lighthouse keepers, the crew found the place eerily abandoned. The only sign of trouble was a set of missing oilskins—rain gear the keepers likely wore during bad weather. A logbook entry mentioned a violent storm, but no one knows exactly what happened next.
One theory suggests a massive wave swept the men into the sea, but why were two sets of gear left behind? Others believe one of the men may have gone mad and killed the others before taking his own life. Some even claim the island is cursed or that supernatural forces were at play. Whatever the case, the three men were never seen again, and the mystery of their disappearance still lingers.
4. The Disappearance of Ambrose Bierce
Ambrose Bierce, the famous writer and journalist, vanished in 1913 while traveling through Mexico. He had set out to witness the Mexican Revolution firsthand, but after writing a letter from Chihuahua, he was never heard from again. Some reports claim he joined Pancho Villa’s army, while others suggest he was executed by Mexican soldiers. No definitive evidence has ever surfaced.
Given Bierce’s sharp wit and often cynical outlook, his vanishing act almost seemed fitting. Some believe he staged his own disappearance to escape fame, while others think he fell victim to bandits. A few even speculate he made his way to South America and lived out his days in secrecy. No trace of Bierce or his final resting place has ever been found, keeping his fate a literary mystery for the ages.
5. The Sodder Children
On Christmas Eve 1945, a fire engulfed the Sodder family home in West Virginia, but what happened to five of the children remains a chilling question. The parents and four of their kids escaped, but the other five seemingly vanished. No bones or remains were found in the rubble, leading many to believe they had been kidnapped. Theories range from mafia involvement to a sinister child trafficking ring.
Over the years, the Sodders received mysterious letters and possible sightings of their missing children. One chilling photograph arrived in the 1960s, showing a young man resembling one of their lost sons. Despite hiring private investigators and appealing for answers, the family never found closure. The case remains an eerie mix of tragedy and mystery, leaving many wondering what really happened that night.
6. The Vanishing of Flight 19
In December 1945, five U.S. Navy bombers took off from Florida for a routine training flight and never returned. The pilots, all experienced, radioed about malfunctioning compasses before communication was lost. A rescue plane was sent to find them—and it vanished, too. Despite an extensive search, no wreckage or remains were ever found.
Flight 19’s disappearance fueled theories about the Bermuda Triangle, with some believing they were swallowed by an unknown force. Others think they may have run out of fuel and crashed into the ocean, but the lack of debris remains puzzling. Some suggest military experiments or even extraterrestrial involvement. Decades later, Flight 19 still haunts aviation history as one of the most perplexing disappearances ever.
7. The Mystery of the MV Joyita
In 1955, the MV Joyita was found drifting in the Pacific Ocean with no sign of its 25 passengers and crew. The ship was partially submerged, but there were no distress signals and its cargo was missing. Oddly, the lifeboats and navigational equipment were gone, but there was no sign of a struggle. The last radio transmission suggested the vessel was in trouble, yet it remained afloat.
Some believe the crew abandoned ship prematurely due to a mechanical failure, but that doesn’t explain why they were never found. Others suspect piracy or a violent mutiny. More outlandish theories even suggest government conspiracies. Whatever happened, the fate of those aboard the Joyita remains a chilling mystery.
8. The Disappearance of Glenn Miller
In 1944, famed big band leader Glenn Miller boarded a plane to France to entertain U.S. troops—and was never seen again. The aircraft vanished over the English Channel, with no distress signals or wreckage ever found. Some believe it was struck by friendly fire, while others think it crashed due to bad weather.
A few theories suggest Miller may have landed safely and been involved in a secret government mission. Others claim he was captured by the Nazis, though no evidence supports this. Despite searches and investigations, Miller’s fate remains one of music history’s biggest unsolved mysteries. His disappearance left fans with only his timeless songs and lingering questions.
9. The Missing Crew of the Kaz II
In 2007, a yacht named the Kaz II was discovered off the Australian coast with no one on board. The engine was running, food was set on the table, and life jackets were untouched. It was as if the three men had simply vanished into thin air.
Investigators speculated that rough weather or a rogue wave could have thrown them overboard, but the calm conditions made that unlikely. Some theories suggest foul play or even piracy. Others believe one of the men fell overboard, and the others died trying to save him. The Kaz II remains a modern-day ghost ship with no answers.
10. The Disappearance of Amelia Earhart
Amelia Earhart was a trailblazer in aviation, but her most famous flight ended in one of history’s greatest mysteries. In 1937, she set out to become the first woman to fly around the world, accompanied by navigator Fred Noonan. As they neared Howland Island in the Pacific, radio communications became erratic, and then—silence. Despite an enormous search effort, no trace of Earhart, Noonan, or their plane was ever found.
Theories about their fate range from the possibility that they ran out of fuel and crashed into the ocean to more elaborate ideas, like being captured by the Japanese or even living in secrecy under a new identity. Some believe they landed on a remote island and perished as castaways. Others point to potential wreckage sightings that have never been fully verified. Despite decades of investigations, Amelia Earhart’s disappearance remains a puzzle, with new clues surfacing from time to time but never quite solving the mystery.
11. The Lost Battalion
During World War I, an entire battalion of British soldiers allegedly vanished in 1915 under bizarre circumstances. According to reports, the men were last seen marching into a thick fog during the Gallipoli campaign and never emerging on the other side. No bodies, weapons, or equipment were ever found, leading to eerie speculation. Some believe they were captured by enemy forces and executed, though no official records confirm this.
Others suggest a natural disaster, like a landslide or hidden sinkhole, swallowed them whole. More outlandish theories involve supernatural forces, including time warps or even alien abductions. While historians argue that miscommunication and battlefield chaos may have led to their disappearance being exaggerated, no definitive proof has ever surfaced. The story of the Lost Battalion remains one of World War I’s most enduring and unsettling mysteries.
12. The Disappearance of Dorothy Arnold
In 1910, wealthy socialite Dorothy Arnold left her home in New York City for a shopping trip and never returned. She was last seen purchasing a book on Fifth Avenue, seemingly in good spirits, before vanishing into thin air. Despite being from an influential family, her disappearance was not reported for weeks, as her parents quietly tried to solve the matter themselves. When they finally involved the police, no solid leads were found.
Rumors swirled that she had run away, eloped, or suffered an accident, but no evidence supported these ideas. Some theories suggest she was murdered, possibly due to an unwanted pregnancy, and her body disposed of in secret. Others believe she may have died during a botched medical procedure, with those involved covering it up. Over a century later, Dorothy Arnold’s fate remains one of the most perplexing missing persons cases in American history.
13. The Disappearance of Percy Fawcett
In 1925, British explorer Percy Fawcett set off into the Amazon jungle in search of a fabled lost city he called “Z.” Along with his son Jack and another companion, he ventured deep into uncharted territory, confident he would uncover an ancient civilization. His last communication described a promising path ahead—but after that, he and his team vanished without a trace. Despite multiple search expeditions, no definitive evidence of their fate has ever been found.
Some believe Fawcett and his group were killed by indigenous tribes who may have seen them as a threat. Others speculate they succumbed to disease, starvation, or wild animals. A few even entertain the idea that Fawcett found what he was looking for and chose to stay hidden. Over the years, bones and artifacts have surfaced, but none have been conclusively linked to Fawcett. His vanishing remains one of history’s most enduring exploration mysteries.