(Real) Unsolved Mysteries

jonathan luna

On the 4th of December 2003 the body of 38 year old U.S. Attorney assistant, Jonathan Luna, was found dead in a creek in Pennsylvania.

Although the cause of the death was ultimately drowning, Luna had also been stabbed across his neck and chest a total of 36 times with his own swiss army pen knife. At the time he was working a case involving a drug ring which was supposed to be presented on the day he was found dead. The night before he left he had promised to fax over some his notes on the case, but never got the chance.

On the night of December 3rd, Jonathan left the Baltimore Courthouse at approximately 11:38pm. He then proceeded to drive north east on 1-95, using his E-Z pass to clear 3 toll ways before changing to tickets which would eventually be found spotted in his own blood by investigators hours later.

An hour and ten minutes into his journey he made a transaction at an ATM close to Delaware before crossing the toll bridge into the state.

His ATM trail ran cold after he purchased gas at a service station around 3:20am.

By 4:04am Luna's car was stationary in Denver, Pennsylvania before being driven into the Lancaster County Creek. The vehicle was not discovered until 5:30am by a driller named Daniel Gehman, and a co-worker of his, who were employed by "sensenig and weaver well drilling". They noticed blood smeared across the car and contacted police.

Luna was found face down in the water under the partially submerged front end of his car.

His blood was found pooled in the back seat, suggesting the possibility that he had not been driving, although this is a debated theory.

The front left side of the car and the driver's door also had blood smeared on them and the $200 he had withdrawn earlier was scattered around the car.

Despite the FBI theorizing that Luna's death was a suicide, the local authorities suspected it a homicide due to the later discovery of another blood type and a partial fingerprint found in the vehicle. The FBI claimed that there were no defensive wounds on the hands and arms of Luna, which are usually present on homicide victims. The wounds were dubbed superficial hesitation wounds by the bureau, due to the shallowness of the inflictions which is often something seen in cases of suicide. The coroner's report conflicts with the theory and stated that Luna did in fact display defensive wounds as well as cuts to his neck consistent with murder victims.

He also had a cut to his carotid artery, a head wound, possibly from the fall into the creek, and bruising to his testicles.

Ab unnamed official in the case stated that the FBI also suspected that Luna's case could have been set up for sympathy as he was under investigation at the time. They proposed the idea that he didn't actually intend to die.

Investigation into Luna's personal life for possible suicide motives turned up debt, an upcoming investigation in regards to stolen money of which Luna was a suspect, and possibly infidelity due to a profile on a dating website and a charge card he had concealed from his wife.

Jonathan Luna had neglected to take his eye glasses, which he needed for driving, as well as his cell phone.

Jonathan Luna left behind a wife, two children and a lot of unanswered questions.

There is a $100,000 reward for any information leading to the conviction of his killer, if indeed there is one.

The case remains unsolved.