General Knowledge
True Crime Cases Quiz
The real cases behind the headlines — from cold cases to courtroom drama.
The real cases behind the headlines — from cold cases to courtroom drama.
In 2018, investigators identified the Golden State Killer — Joseph James DeAngelo — using genealogy DNA databases like GEDmatch, marking a groundbreaking moment in forensic science. This quiz covers 50 questions spanning famous cases, forensic breakthroughs, daring heists, courtroom dramas, and the pursuit of justice.
Each round presents 10 randomized questions from a pool of 50, with four multiple-choice options per question. You'll be tested on unsolved mysteries, landmark investigations, forensic science milestones, and infamous scams. Instant feedback after each question explains the real facts behind each case.
You'll discover how genealogy DNA revolutionized cold case investigations, which famous heists remain unsolved, how wrongful convictions led to systemic reforms, and the forensic breakthroughs that changed criminal justice forever. This quiz focuses on investigation, evidence, and the pursuit of justice.
The Zodiac Killer case is widely considered one of the most famous unsolved cases in American history. Active in Northern California in the late 1960s and early 1970s, the Zodiac taunted police with coded letters and ciphers. While one cipher (the 340) was partially solved in 2020, the killer's identity has never been officially confirmed despite numerous suspects over the decades.
Investigative genetic genealogy uses DNA from crime scenes and uploads it to public genealogy databases like GEDmatch. Investigators identify distant relatives of the suspect, then build family trees to narrow down potential matches. This technique famously led to the arrest of the Golden State Killer in 2018 and has since helped solve hundreds of cold cases across the United States.
The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum heist in Boston (1990) is considered the largest art theft in history, with stolen works valued at over $500 million today. Thirteen pieces were taken, including works by Vermeer, Rembrandt, and Degas. The case remains unsolved, and the museum still displays the empty frames where the stolen artworks once hung.
Last updated: March 2026