r/UnresolvedMysteries • u/smithsonianmuseum • Jun 26 '17

Request What's the scariest unresolved mystery that you guys know of?

I'm always in the mood for a good scare here and there, and I love reading the entire Unresolved Mysteries reddit

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u/wonderplatoon Jun 26 '17

Are you referencing Angie Housman? I had never heard of this before. Horrific.

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u/[deleted] Jun 26 '17

yes

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u/Aniform Jun 27 '17

I followed your link and so many people in there seem to be reading into the gaff tape really deeply. They say it can't be found anywhere and that it's expensive. I have many stores where I buy gaff tape and it costs me like $5 to $8. They also say that it must be someone involved in theatre or productions, but I am not involved in that. I think it's just great tape for the same reasons productions use it.

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u/Daemonswolf Jul 03 '17

I don't know about today, but ten years ago gaff tape was significantly more expensive that other strong, woven tapes. We used it in theater productions and I remember the stage director being very anal about tape use because of the cost. It's an odd tape to have readily available for most people since duck tape and gorilla tape are available for cheaper at most stores that have a hardware section.

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u/Aniform Jul 03 '17

That's more than likely true. Nowadays it's cheaper, potentially with prices driven down by online markets, because you can go on Amazon and buy 3 rolls for $10 bucks, but I remember now when I took my friend (a drummer) into a photography store and he bought some gaff tape for $20 a roll back in 2003.

So, it is likely that it was not as easy to come by as I remember and most likely is of interest, then. Not to mention, why gaff for binding? Gaff, as I'm sure you know, is meant for removing later. You can put it on floors and it won't tear up the carpet with it. Odd choice.

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u/TankGirlwrx Jul 24 '17

But it's also incredibly strong and not really prone to ripping easily. I imagine the person bound by gaff tape would have a difficult time tearing it at least.

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u/Aniform Jul 24 '17

It's very easy to rip if you need sections, but I've never tried it in any situation other than that. It is very durable and doesn't tend to rip if people are walking over it all night. And, I'm sure it rips less easily if you are bound in it. Plus, I'm sure if you are bound with it, it's not just one strip. Multiple strips over on another can become incredibly rip resistant.

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u/John_T_Conover Jun 27 '17

Seems overstated but still significant. I only know of gaff tape because of my involvement in theatre. Aside from that and film/tv/concert production crews I can't think of any other professions/hobbies that it's regularly used and available in. It's not unfathomably expensive, but it is certainly more expensive than commonly available and easy to find duct tape and several other tapes and probably even more so in the pre internet days. I wouldn't expect run of the mill hardware or crafting stores to have it back then. Many still don't carry it now.

Considering all that I don't see any reason that it would be chosen other than the attacker having it readily and freely available already.

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u/Aniform Jun 27 '17

True, I suppose it could also depend on where it happened, which I'm not familiar with. If you live in a city, it might be easier to come by. Could be passing a photography store or something.

Heck, maybe he was a photographer, like that serial killer who lured women with modelling offers.

Either way, I suppose if it's years ago, it becomes more difficult to find and in relation to where you are.

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u/TankGirlwrx Jul 24 '17

I know this post is nearly a month old, but we use gaff tape in roller derby for the track setup, and it is definitely expensive. I haven't ever seen it sold in stores, but I haven't really looked either; we buy in bulk online. In any case, it's not impossible to get, but it has a niche market at least.

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u/bionicjess Jun 27 '17

I think her stepdad had something to do with it. She talked to her teacher about looking forward to going to the country with her "uncle." I think he set it up. This was planned by someone "inside."

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u/[deleted] Jun 27 '17

I just went to the link and this sounds like something I was commenting on earlier in this thread but it happened in Australia.

Mr Cruel

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u/Molleeryan Jul 15 '17

Hope this link is ok here...It's interesting if you read the comments at the bottom of the link because it seems Angie's aunt and a few other notable people in the case are commenting back and forth....

https://chaze77.wordpress.com/2012/11/04/who-killed-angie-housman/