Most of what you “know” about cops comes from TV, viral clips, or secondhand stories. But real police work? It’s not always car chases and dramatic arrests. Most of it is routine calls, paperwork, and trying to help people in ways that never make headlines. There’s a lot the movies don’t tell you, and some things we wish more people understood. Here’s a look at a few of these evasive criminals.
Bhadreshkumar Chetanbhai Patel
It started as a normal night at a Maryland donut shop but quickly turned into a famous crime scene. It was alleged that Patel killed his wife in 2015 after a conversation revealing she wished to return home to India. Despite international manhunts, he remains one of the FBI’s most wanted.
D.B. Cooper
In 1971, in what can only be likened to a scene from a movie, a man known as D.B. Cooper hijacked a plane, secured $200,000 in ransom, and parachuted over the Pacific Northwest. Numerous extensive searches have taken place, but neither he nor the money has ever been found. His disappearance remains one of America’s greatest unsolved mysteries.
Lord Lucan
The mysterious British aristocrat, Lord Lucan, disappeared in 1974 after his children’s nanny was found murdered. His abandoned car was discovered with bloodstains, but Lucan himself was never seen again. Numerous theories surround his fate, and several books have been published about this enduring mystery.
Heinrich Müller
As the head of the Gestapo during World War II, Heinrich Müller was last seen in Hitler’s bunker in 1945. Numerous investigations have taken place, but no conclusive evidence of his death or escape has surfaced. Some theories suggest suicide during the chaotic fall of Berlin, but the jury is still out.
Frank Matthews
Drug kingpin Frank Matthews was dubbed “The Black Godfather” before his disappearing act in 1973. Although he was arrested and charged for his drug-related crimes, he skipped bail before a major trial involving an estimated $15 million, leaving behind his girlfriend and children. Despite one of the largest manhunts in US history, his whereabouts remain unknown.
Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi
He was the deadly mastermind behind the 2008 Mumbai attacks and, despite being in and out of custody, has always slipped through legal cracks. His whereabouts are unknown, though reports suggest he hides around the borders of Pakistan. Despite global broadcasts, he remains a wanted fugitive in the war against terror.
Tony Mokbel
In 2006, following his conviction, notorious Australian drug lord Tony Mokbel orchestrated a movie-worthy escape involving Greek sailors and a yacht. Although he was eventually captured in Greece in 2007, he managed to slip through official barriers a second time. While sightings have been reported, he is yet to be found.
Frederick J. Tenuto
Dubbed the “Angel of Death,” hit man and organized crime leader Frederick Tenuto escaped from the Philadelphia County Prison in 1947. Despite being on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted list for over a decade—the longest duration recorded—he was never recaptured. Reports suggest he has likely been killed and buried, but the truth remains a mystery.
Alice Kyteler
She was Ireland’s most infamous witch of the 14th century who dodged execution by mysteriously disappearing before her trial. Accused of using black magic to eliminate her many husbands, she fled—most likely to England—leaving her maid to take the fall. Her fate remains unknown, though many believe her spirit haunts Kilkenny.
Henry Every
Dating back to the 17th century, Henry Every, dubbed the “King of the Pirates,” pulled off the biggest pirate heist of his time. Rumor has it that he looted a fortune from a Mughal treasure ship. Destined for the noose, Every disappeared and was believed to have lived under an assumed identity. Whether he died rich or penniless, no one knows.
Shunsuke Takasugi
A successful Japanese businessman-turned-fugitive, Takasugi was accused of financial crimes but chose his own fate, disappearing before justice could catch up with him. His name still crops up in fraud investigations, but his location remains a mystery. He may have escaped to another country—or is he hiding in plain sight?
Alejandro Castillo
In 2016, Castillo allegedly lured an ex-girlfriend into a deadly money trap. He didn’t linger to accept his fate; after the crime, he fled to Mexico, leaving behind a trail of unanswered questions. At the tender age of 26, he remains one of the FBI’s ten most wanted young criminals in the world.
Samantha Lewthwaite
Hailed by the global media as the “White Widow,” Lewthwaite’s disappearance remains a mystery to the world’s justice departments. Seemingly a quiet and unassuming British mother, she soon became a dangerous fugitive linked to terrorist activities. Believed to be involved in attacks across Africa, she’s evaded capture for years.
Lorenz Hackenholt
He was the infamous Nazi officer responsible for the deadly gas chambers of the Final Solution. Like many Nazis of the time, Hackenholt mysteriously disappeared after World War II to evade capture. Some say he died anonymously, while others believe he assumed a new identity and vanished into a chaotic post-war Europe.
Apache Kid
An outlaw turned legend, the Apache Kid was a feared yet mysterious figure in the Wild West era. He escaped from prison in 1889 and managed to cleverly avoid recapture despite vast government efforts. Many Apache people admired his resistance against US marshals and hailed him as a legend.
