Five of the Most Talked-About Cases Of 2022

If you’re a fan of all things unsolved and creepy, then you’re going to want to keep reading. This blog will discuss five of the most talked-about cases of 2022. From disappearances to murder, these cases have people talking. So, if you’re looking for something to keep you up at night, then look no further.

Sherri Papini Admitted To Faking Her 2016 Abduction: What We Know

On November 2, 2016, Sherri Papini disappeared in California. Three weeks later, she was found along a highway, covered in bruises, scratches, and with a branding mark. She claimed that two Latina women had kidnapped and tortured her. Papini later received over $30,000 from the California Victim Compensation Board to treat her PTSD and physical injuries.

Sherri Papini admitted to faking her kidnapping in March of 2022. She had been hiding out at an ex-boyfriend's home since November of 2016. It is believed that she inflicted all of her injuries herself to make her story more believable. In a statement through her lawyer, Papini said:

I am deeply ashamed of myself for my behavior and so very sorry for the pain I’ve caused my family, my friends, all the good people who needlessly suffered because of my story and those who worked so hard to try to help me… I will work the rest of my life to make amends for what I have done.

Papini's defense attorney referenced “a very complicated mental health situation,” but said The client's motives for faking her abduction are unknown: “Honestly, I don’t know if anybody does. I don’t know if she knows.”

Papini's husband has filed for divorce and is seeking custody of their children. Papini is hoping to reach a plea bargain that would result in her paying $300,000 in restitution.

The Reasons Why Baltimore Prosecutors Dropped All Charges Against Adnan Syed

A federal judge vacated the conviction of Adnan Syed on September 19, 2022, after 23 years. Syed had been convicted of murdering his high school ex-girlfriend, Hae Min Lee, in 1999. Lee had disappeared and her body was found several weeks later, strangled. Syed was sentenced to life in prison in 2000 but has maintained his innocence all along.

The prosecutors in Baltimore requested a new trial last week before the judge overturned the conviction. City State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby said that after a state investigation, the prosecution was not confident in “the integrity of the conviction.” Mosby said that two other possible suspects, who remain unnamed, “were not properly ruled out nor disclosed to the defense.”

Serial, the HBO series, and other court proceedings and investigations over the years have raised questions about Syed's lawyer, who was disbarred in 2001; the lack of DNA evidence linking Syed to the murder scene; and the reliability of a witness.

On October 11, 2022, after further DNA testing was conducted on Lee's clothing, Marilyn Mosby announced that all charges against Syed had been dropped. The new evidence confirmed that Syed was not involved in his girlfriend's murder.

The Diane Lynn Dahn Case: Unsolved No More

Diane Lynn Dahn was found dead in her apartment on May 2, 1988. She had been bludgeoned and stabbed. Her body was found in the bedroom by a coworker who went to check on her after she missed her shift at the San Diego Transit Corporation.

Dahn's 2-year-old son, Mark Beyer, was found walking the halls of their apartment building after she was killed. Police took DNA samples from under her fingernails and a strand of hair clutched in her hand, but they were unable to find her killer.

Investigative genetic genealogy helped investigators identify Dahn's killer as Warren Robertson, Dahn's former neighbor. Robertson died in a house fire in 1999, but investigators were able to link him to the murder through his regular visits to the local racetrack. Robertson had left his family and moved away shortly after the murder.

The researchers used nine family trees consisting of 1,300 individuals to identify Robertson as the killer. This was confirmed after a close relative gave a DNA sample.

A Retired Truck Driver Connects To Two Cold Cases

In May of 2022, Douglas Thomas was arrested and charged with the 1992 murder of Shenda Denise Hayes. Titus County, TX authorities had found DNA evidence at the crime scene that matched Thomas's DNA. However, this wasn't the only match that would be found.

In 1993, the body of Sherri Herrera, a mother of four from Tulare, CA, was found off Interstate 10 in the Southern California desert. Authorities connected Thomas's DNA to the Hayes case and Herrera's case, and he is now facing charges for both murders. Thomas reportedly spent 40 years driving across the country as a truck driver.

The I-65 Killer: A 30-Year Investigation Finally Comes To A Close

In the late 1980s, four women were attacked along I-65 between Indiana and Kentucky. Only one woman survived. The victims - Vicki Heath, Margaret Gill, Jeanne Gilbert, and an unidentified survivor - were all working night shifts at various hotels near the highway. Despite getting a thorough physical description from the surviving victim, the attacker was never found.

In April 2022, the I-65 killings were linked to Harry Edward Greenwell. Greenwell's identity was confirmed through investigative genealogy. He had an extensive criminal record and died in 2013. More murders possibly linked to Greenwell are being investigated.

In conclusion, these are five of the most talked-about cases of 2022. Each case is unique and has generated a lot of discussions. What do you think about these cases? Do you have any predictions for the outcome? Let us know in the comments.