Both women had been strangled, and their throats were cut. I thought for sure they wouldve been solved by now. Just a beautiful woman, her sister-in-law, Ginny Minarik, told Lovers Lane Murders.. Cassandra Lee Hailey, 18, and Richard Keith Call, 20, dropped off the face of the Earth on that Spring evening. Author Tiddy Smith Explores Owl Theory and North Carolinas Infamous Staircase Murder in DEATH BY TALONS: Did An Owl Murder Kathleen Peterson? Some don't believe this pair can be counted in the Colonial Parkway murders because we don't know what happened to the victims, whereas others believe the case bears a convincing resemblance to the others. If they are smart enough not to get caught, theres very little we can do.. They didn't make it. The Colonial Parkway is a historic and scenic road that links together the three points of Virginia's Historic Triangle: Jamestown, Williamsburg, and Yorktow. Fred Atwell was a deputy when the killer prowled this Parkway. He snatched a couple from their truck, leaving their clothes inside. This question of serial killer or coincidence is explored in Oxygens new limited series, Lovers Lane Murders, airing Thursday, February 11, and Friday, February 12 at 9/8c and 10/9c. Hair that had been found in Cathys hand and a biological sample found on Robin have never been tested, but with advances in DNA technology and resources like GEDmatch, the families of the victims are hopeful they will finally get answers. A round dusk on Oct. 12, 1986, a passerby happened upon a white Honda Civic leaning nose-first over the edge of a 15-foot embankment just off Virginia's picturesque Colonial Parkway. A typically tranquil area, no one expected the Parkway to be the setting for a gruesome string of murders. Someone has leaked graphic crime-scene photographs of the most notorious serial killings in Virginia history, the Colonial Parkway murders. Other than that, it seems the victims didn't have much in common at all. Why did it take so long before authorities were willing to admit there was a possible serial killer? Wake up to the day's most important news. JavaScript is disabled. Or could it be that four separate criminals were executing young people in the area? Their bodies were found on June 1st. 2023 BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved. At Ragged Island (as it appears today) this is the end of the roadway leading from the parking lot to the rivers edge. The photographs were being used as a training tool for a security company, and a number of the images had been leaked to the media. The place is a sightseeing extravaganza brimming with historical points, scenic pull-offs, markers, and memorials. Was this a breadcrumb she had dropped, was it cut off during her struggle, or was it some sort of symbol that the killer left behind for investigators? Fred Atwell: Fred Atwell is the former deputy sheriff that was active during the investigation in 1986. In 2018, the Facebook page Colonial Parkway Murders, which is run by Cathys brother Bill Thomas, revealed that DNA had been found at 3 of the 4 crime scenes which could potentially conclusively link the cases and lead to an arrest. It's a roadway and state route, partly manned by the National Park Service, that interlocks Jamestown, Williamsburg, and Yorktown. All of the victims were young, White, and were either a romantic couple or could resemble one to. I can tell you that we recovered all the copies from the folks that we've contacted that had them. That means he's in charge of the Colonial Parkway cases. The Parkway is surrounded by woods and has far fewer entries and exits than a typical highway. SECRETS OF A HOLLYWOOD PRIVATE EYE is your ultimate source for the juiciest stories, scandals, and [Read More], It was not enough to suggest that Kathleen began to bleed outside. But he says he says the FBI did take this breach seriously, even if they didn't take action until a few days ago. According to Oxygen, the Colonial Parkway killer changed things up from victim to victim. The investigations into all eight murders are ongoing and active, the Virginian Pilot reported. Logically, this is the most easily accessible place at Ragged Island for the two young victims to have reached the water. Are you sick of watching and reading about the same killers and crimes? A double homicide is a rare occurrence in and of itself, so four happening so close together has naturally caused many to wonder if a serial killer is behind this series or murders. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register. Theories When did it happen, and whos the culprit? I would like to know how they got their hands on the pictures.". The sightseeing is prime. Joyce says she found out about the leaked photos in a phone call, not from the FBI, but from a family friend. Nic is extremely knowledgable about the case and he has great insight into the possible scenarios.Guest: Nic @TrueCrimeGarage, www.truecrimegarage.comGuest: Bill Thomas, brother of victim Cathy . "They were people and they were loved. The car had been pushed down an embankment off the Colonial Parkway. A typically tranquil area, no one expected the Parkway to be the setting for a gruesome string of murders. Call loved going to the beach and was especially fond of his car. Of course, these are Spingola's musings, and they have yet to be proven. FBI photograph of Cathys car, barely visible having been pushed off the embankment. All of these factors are critical to understanding the mystique that the murders still hold over the national narrative. FBI aerial photograph of the pull-over spot where Keith Calls car was found the day after their date. It's hard to say for certain, but one detective believed they figured out the cause back in 2010. Both their purses and their money were found inside the car, ruling out robbery as a motive. Interest in the two-decade-old puzzle of the Colonial Parkway murders had pretty much fizzled out when the photos were uncovered. Full Description. They detail where the knives slashed and the bullets struck. Their throats had been viciously slashed and they had been strangled to death. Join our newsletter for awesome content, free offers and launch notifications! This crime scene photo shows Robin Edwards shoe that she had doodled on, laying on the floor of Davids truck. And only then, according to Atwell, FBI agents suddenly came knocking. The Colonial Parkway Murders: Part OneGuest: Bill Thomas, brother of victim Cathy ThomasConstruction stretched over twenty-six years through the Depression, World War II, and funding shortages.The Parkway allows for a stress-free drive from Yorktown to Jamestown that avoids the regular trafficThe parkway is made of stone pavement to give the feel A few key facts primarily that Davids black Ford Ranger pick-up truck was discovered with the side window partially rolled down that made investigators question whether the killer had ties to lay-enforcement or was posing as a police officer. This recent image shows the only marker at Ragged Island, a gunshot sign. Annamaria Phelps came from a hard-working family in Amelia County, Virginia. The Colonial Parkway is a beautiful stretch of highway which cuts through the Colonial National Historical Park in South-East Virginia. They never returned home. To change his mind, Atwell's friend told him he had crime-scene photos from the Parkway Murders. After Lauers, car a gold 1972 Chevrolet Nova, was found abandoned on the I-64 New Kent rest stop, investigators combed the countryside looking for what was no doubt a fresh crime scene. Cathy Thomas, 27, and Rebecca Dowski, 21, had been dating for several months when they went out for food on October 9, 1986. In 2018, 12 years after the Shenandoah murders, DNA studies including hair and biological samples potentially linked the two cases. When they did not return home, they were reported missing. Hailey, meanwhile, was a college freshman who modeled and taught gymnastics, according to the outlet. From 1986 to 1989, four couples were either shot or slashed on the Parkway or and in other secluded spots. Despite the continued efforts and media frenzy the murders seem to compel, there is little to no traction on the investigation. The first pair of victims, Cathy Thomas and Rebecca Dowski, were a romantic couple who were last seen alive going out to dinner in 1986, as Oxygen points out. It's difficult to imagine something as gruesome and shocking as a string of murders occurring on this seemingly safe road but that's exactly what happened decades ago. A day later, Richards car was found at the York River Outlook off the Colonial Parkway, about 2 miles from where Cathy and Rebecca had been discovered. The last few years have not been kind to Janzen Robinson. Copyright 2022 Crime Museum, LLC - All Rights Reserved | Privacy Policy |. It was left with the door open, the keys turned to accessories, and the radio on. Rather, they were the work of multiple killers who coincidentally picked couples in the same area. Some of his victims he held captive for days, [Read More], Get a closer look at the photos from Blaine Pardoe and Victoria Hester's new true crime TANTAMOUNT [Read More], For four years a killer, or killers, stalked Virginias Tidewater region, carefully selecting victims, sending waves of terror into the local community. He called the authorities, who discovered that it wasn't a drunk driver at all. Each pair was romantically involved in some way, a couple the killer likely saw as a lustful duo. The bodies of Annamaria and Daniel were found six weeks after they disappeared, just over a mile from where his car had been located. Since then, 62-year-old Fred had numerous encounters with the law, including a larceny charge; 100 dollars. Was it a serial killer or a coincidence? Calls beloved Toyota Celica was discovered at a York River overlook, just a few miles from where Thomas and Dowski had been murdered two years prior. They are both presumed dead, and evidence points to the same madman or madwoman responsible for the other killings. The FBI, working in unison with the regions law enforcement, had a victim criteria in their arsenal. Steve Spingola, former Milwaukee homicide detective, investigated the murders on behalf of the families. However, some do not think these murders were the work of a serial killer, but rather by at least two or more separate killers. However, on their way back to Virginia Beach to start a new chapter in their lives, they vanished. All the victims were killed with different methods (stabbing, strangulation, gunshot wound). Atwell says they asked for his copies, and seized photographs from the school, too. As of 2017, our research estimates that over 2000 serial killers are still at large and active in the United States. Authorities discovered Cathleen and Rebecca on Columbus Day weekend, 1986, inside a white 1980 Honda Civic. It's been over 30 years, and they're still missing without much of a trace. This unwholesome section is grisly and malignant Youve been warned. Overlooking the beautiful York River, it is hard to imagine the drama that took place on or near the Colonial Parkway that night.
Nannie Doss Timeline,
Greene County, Alabama Tax Assessor,
Pj Essentials Brand Toddler Pajamas,
Articles T