Encrypted Notes Could Hold Key To Unsolved Murder

The FBI is asking amateur code breakers to help with an unsolved murder case. In 1999, the body of 41-year-old Ricky McCormick was found in a field near St. Louis, Missouri. The only possible clues to his death are two hand-written notes that were found stuffed in his pocket. The notes appear to be encrypted with a deceptively simple-looking cipher, but have so far resisted all attempts at cryptanalysis. The FBI’s code-breaking unit is hoping more eyes on the problem will help crack this puzzle.

A word of warning to would-be decipherers: Several famous codes and ciphers have tantalized cryptanalysts for decades or even centuries, and have never been solved (a comprehensive list is maintained by Elonka Dunin).