The Last Known Moment: Chicago's Unforgotten 51

Between 2001 and 2018, at least 51 women — most of them Black, ages 18 to 58 — were found strangled or asphyxiated across Chicago's South and West Sides. Many were navigating addiction or survival sex work, circumstances that, according to reporting, contributed to years of minimal media and investigative urgency. In 2018, statistician Thomas Hargrove ran the cases through an algorithm built by his organization, the Murder Accountability Project, which flagged a statistical pattern consistent with one or more serial killers. Chicago Police have publicly rejected that theory, stating there is no confirmed evidence linking the cases.Only one arrest has ever come from the pattern: in January 2020, Arthur Hilliard was charged with the 2017 murder of 21-year-old Diamond Turner. DNA was collected from just 18 of the 51 victims, and none of those samples cross-matched each other. In February 2020, Roosevelt University journalism professor John W. Fountain and his students launched "Unforgotten," a project profiling ten of the victims by name — including Gwendolyn Williams, whose 2002 murder produced a 2018 DNA match that never led to charges.In this episode of The Last Known Moment, we walk through the pattern the algorithm found, the one conviction the case has produced, and the students who set out to make sure these women were remembered as more than a statistic. This case remains open, unresolved, and in nearly all of these deaths, uncharged.In this episode we cover:At least 51 women, mostly Black, were found strangled or asphyxiated across Chicago's South and West Sides between 2001 and 2018In 2018, the Murder Accountability Project's algorithm flagged a statistical pattern consistent with one or more serial killersChicago Police have publicly stated there is no confirmed evidence linking the cases to a single offenderOnly one arrest has ever resulted: Arthur Hilliard, charged in January 2020 with the 2017 murder of 21-year-old Diamond TurnerDNA was collected from just 18 of the 51 victims, and none of those samples cross-matched one anotherRoosevelt University's "Unforgotten" project (launched February 2020) profiled ten victims by name, including Gwendolyn WilliamsWilliams' 2002 murder produced a 2018 DNA match to a suspect in Tampa, FL, that never led to chargesBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/naturalqueen77-tv--7030648/support.© NaturalQueen77 TV. All rights reserved.This podcast is intended for informational and entertainment purposes only. The content presented is based on publicly available information, news reports, court documents, and other open sources. Some details may be dramatized or condensed for narrative clarity. The views and opinions expressed are those of the host and guests and do not necessarily reflect the positions of law enforcement agencies, legal professionals, or the families of victims mentioned.We approach every case with respect for the victims and their loved ones. If you have information related to any case discussed on this show, please contact your local law enforcement.Subscribe to NaturalQueen77 TV for new episodes. Follow us on social media for updates, case discussions, and community conversations.💼 For business enquiries & paid deals 👉 https://socialdb.xyz/podcast/naturalqueen77-tv