Just like the other three cases, the case eventually went cold, and the killer was never brought to justice. For two decades, the crime-scene pictures have been secret, critical evidence in the hunt for a serial murderer. The Virginia State Police did a casual investigation, during the panic galvanized by the murders, of Camp Peary and its soldiers. And as of today, all of the murders remain unsolved. However, the young couple was struggling financially, so Lauer had agreed to move in with them to help them out with money. Backtrack and take a look at the whole gruesome spectacle There were either multiple killers or the singular lone wolf was rather adept and elastic, forever changing and molding his M.O. I lived within 30 miles from the Chesapeake Bay where some of the bodies were found. From 1986 to 1989, four double homicides occurred on or near the Colonial Parkway. Their bodies were found over a month later on October 19th by hunters on a logging road about a mile away from the rest stop. Thomas Hargrove, researcher, and archivist. According to NBC, their love was a new, budding thing that would never get the chance to flourish. Investigators do not yet know how much money, if any, Atwell pocketed from the raffle but they say he cashed a check for $270 that was supposed to go for Department of Motor Vehicle fees related to the nonexistent cars. Virginia's Colonial Parkway runs a relatively short 23 miles, from Jamestown to Yorkstown, passing through Williamsburg and thereby connecting all of Virginia's famous "Historic Triangle." Part of the Colonial National Historic Park, the scenic route is designed with sightseeing in mind. Do you feel like you've seen and heard about every true crime case on tv and in books? They were found dead with their throats cut in a way that was just inches of flesh away from full decapitation. He called the authorities, who discovered that it wasn't a drunk driver at all. Not him either. 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. Cathy Thomas And Rebecca Dowski Rebecca Dowski and Cathy Thomas The First Victims Call was a computer science major and an old soul in a way, his brother told Lovers Lane Murders.. In the 1890s, this was the nickname given to Lizzie Halliday, New York's first known female serial killer. Are you sick of watching and reading about the same killers and crimes? On their return trip to Virginia Beach they encountered their killer(s). I really hope they can solve these cases. Rumors and legends started hitting the headlines. In LOU AND JONBENT, Author John Wesley Anderson Reveals the Inside Story of the Failed Police Investigation Into the Kidnapping and Murder of JonBent Ramsey, HIDDEN DEMONS: Evil Visits A Small New England Town, Robert Dodge Combines Biographies of a Norwegian Family and Immigrant Experience from the Mid-19th Century through WWII in FIELDS OF FORTUNE, Janzen Robinson Tackles a New Kind of Threat in DAWN OF LEGACY: The Monsters and Men Trilogy, Book Three, Author Blog by Nic Edwards: The Porchlight Project Helps Identify Erie County Jane Doe after 43 Years, Introducing the highly-anticipated audiobook LOU AND JONBENT, narrated by the renowned Stephen Bowlby, Early Release! On April 10, 1988, two Christopher Newport University students, Cassandra Lee Hailey, 18, and Richard Keith Call, 20, went missing after attending a party together in Newport News. The investigations into all eight murders are ongoing and active, the Virginian Pilot reported. Author Tiddy Smith Explores Owl Theory and North Carolinas Infamous Staircase Murder in DEATH BY TALONS: Did An Owl Murder Kathleen Peterson? Why did it take so long before authorities were willing to admit there was a possible serial killer? She worked two jobs while studying, caring for toddlers at a daycare center and at the colleges English department as a clerk, Cassandra Hailey and Richard Keith Call, For more on the Colonial Parkway murders, watch Oxygens new limited series. They were committed between 1986-1989. This question of serial killer or coincidence is explored in Oxygens new limited series. Knobling lived in Hampton while he worked for his fathers landscaping business, and was expecting a baby with his longtime girlfriend. Someone has leaked graphic crime-scene photographs of the most notorious serial killings in Virginia history, the Colonial Parkway murders. Several clothing items were found in the vehicle, as were the car keys. As of 2017, our research estimates that over 2000 serial killers are still at large and active in the United States. In 2018, 12 years after the Shenandoah murders, DNA studies including hair and biological samples potentially linked the two cases. They unloaded their belongings alongside the other stacks labeled, AMERICA, MINNESOTA, ILLINOIS, MICHIGAN, NEW YORK CITY, CHICAGO [More], It was not enough to suggest that Kathleen began to bleed outside. The murderer in the Colonial Parkway killings was never captured, and Steve Spingola, a private detective, believes he knows why. The first set of victims from the Colonial Parkway murders were killed via a mix of strangulation and cut throats. Lauer's car was found abandoned at a rest area on the westbound side of I-64. A ransom note was found in the home, but it was hours before her father, John, found her body in the basement. Annamaria and her boyfriends brother Daniel Lauer came back home for a short visit and so that Daniel could pack to move in with them. Their bodies were discovered on [Read More], On an unseasonably warm April evening in 2001, the headless body of a tiny girl was found discarded in a makeshift dump site in the woods on the southeast side of Kansas City, Missouri. Roughly six months later, on April 9, 1987, college student Richard "Keith" Call, 20, went out on his first date with Cassandra Lee Hailey, 18, from Grafton. 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. "I think any time you have things out there in the public domain of somebody's loved one, and this is still an open case, that yeah, that's a serious matter.". Just three days later, they were found murdered inside Thomas 1980 Honda Civic. Thomas was a navy veteran turned stockbroker. A killer who prowled dark roads at night, who slashed and shot, who has remained a shadowy spectre for two decades. After leaving the armed forces, she had transitioned into a successful career as a stockbroker, according to Richmond.com. We're a little less trusting," Phelps said. Annamaria Phelps locket as found on the logging trail. Listen to Nic Edwards Chilling Account of THE DELPHI MURDERS with the Audiobook Narrated by Kevin Pierce, Meet Internationally Renowned True Crime Author Ron Chepesiuk, Meet Author Nic Edwards, Acclaimed Podcast Host of True Crime Garage. For two decades, the crime-scene pictures have been secret, critical evidence in the hunt for a serial murderer. Rather, they were the work of multiple killers who coincidentally picked couples in the same area. Edwards had struggled with her mental health and was prone to running away and some reckless behavior. There were only two things the Colonial Parkway murder victims had in common: They were killed near Colonial Parkway, and they were killed in couples. Theories #LoversLaneMurders #ColonialParkwayMurders #truecrime #FBI #DNA For the first time in years, the family of one of the victims in the Colonial Parkway serial murders is meeting with the FBI. I saw that over the weekend, too. Sign Up Log In Messenger Facebook Lite Watch Other than that, it seems the victims didn't have much in common at all. One long night turned into four long years for [Read More], Famous Rock Stars, TV Celebrities, Stone Cold Conmen, A Daring Rescue of Kidnapped Kids, And More! Both women had been strangled, and their throats were cut. And he would find it. Cassandra Hailey and Richard Call But the police and federal agents trying to catch him have not. Williams and Winans were also a hate crime, no doubt perpetrated by the same killer. NY's First Known Female Serial Killer. This recent image shows the only marker at Ragged Island, a gunshot sign. I was in disbelief for a while. 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. But [Read More], In 1971 and 1972, a deadly predator stalked the streets of the nations capital. "He always tried to insert himself into the investigation and into the families," Thomas' brother, Bill Thomas, told The Huffington Post. Where most serial killers murder a single victim at a time, the Colonial Parkway murderer killed two for the price of one. Sure, you know all about Ted Bundy, The Zodiac Killer, and The Golden State Killer. True Crime Uncensored with Burl Barer and Mark Boyer. They are both presumed dead, and evidence points to the same madman or madwoman responsible for the other killings. Both victims were students at Christopher Newport University, not quite of legal age to drink, who were out on their first-ever date. Then we'll pick up and move on.". The pair is thought to have been murdered, though there's no way we can say that for sure since their bodies, as Colonial Ghosts notes, have never been found. There was no evidence of sexual assault. Young couple Julie Williams, 24, and Lollie Winans, 26, were camping in the park over Memorial Day weekend. Their bodies were found by hunters that came across the bodies weeks after they disappeared. One of the many scenic overpasses on the Colonial Parkway as it appears now. None had been robbed or sexually molested, stumping investigators as to what the possible motive that galvanized the murders might have been. So, who were the Colonial Parkway murder victims? Thomas had also entered a relationship with Dowski, and the two were known to regularly visit the area where they were murdered. That means he's in charge of the Colonial Parkway cases. I live in Norfolk now but I still am scared to travel that stretch of road, especially where the couple's car was found at the rest stop going in the other direction in which they were headed. He dropped Edwards off at her home, but later that night she snuck out to meet him. Virginia authorities found themselves in the middle of a second double homicide when the bodies of David Lee Knobling, 20, from Hampton, and Robin M. Edwards, a 14-year-old girl from Newport News, turned up in the Ragged Island Wildlife Refuge the following fall. Wake up to the day's most important news. It's possible they just hadn't found the right fit for acting out on their illness, or that the killer was growing, evolving, branching out their system to better sate dark desires and lessen the possibility of being caught. THE COLONIAL PARKWAY MURDERS: A STEP BY STEP REPORT. On April 10, 1988, two kids from Christopher Newport University both perfect in-synched with the killers victim profile were reported missing after attending a party in Newport News during their first date together. Daniel Lauer and Annamaria Phelps Copyright 2022 Crime Museum, LLC - All Rights Reserved | Privacy Policy |. I was pleased that the victims were truly brought to life and we were able to learn more about them very well done! ?, Ep The Colonial Parkway Murders: Part Two - Sep 5, 2019 From 1986 to 1989, four couples were either shot or slashed on the Parkway or and in other secluded spots. "We're still trying to deal with it. Let's check it out. Following the kill, there's the question of cleanup one body is easier than two. Ryan Noah Yawel Criminal Psychologist. The former officer in question, Fred Atwell, had also inserted himself into the investigation several times, according to HuffPost. You are using an out of date browser. Despite extensive searches, their bodies were never found, and the couple was presumed dead. I was floored. I just don't think it's right.". Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! Of course, these are Spingola's musings, and they have yet to be proven. FBI aerial photograph of the pull-over spot where Keith Calls car was found the day after their date. Current day image of where Cathy Thomass car was discovered. It doesn't seem as if they knew each other in the slightest. The car had been pushed down an embankment off the Colonial Parkway. It is easy to see how the vehicle was overlooked for so long. A crime scene photograph of some of the investigator at the recovery site. Did The Colonial Parkway Victims Know The Killer? All the victims were from different backgrounds and demographics, making a profile an incredibly difficult task. On October 12, 1986, a pedestrian saw a car down an embankment on the Colonial Parkway where it was obscured from the view of the road. His targets, young girls who he kidnapped, raped, and left their remains along busy roadways in plain view. Throughout the '80s, this thoroughfare was home to what's believed to have been 10 murders. And, as unsavory as the crime scene photos revelation was, it appeared to kick the investigation of the homicides back into high gear. It was not enough to point to prior owl attacks on humans. The following day, Call's vehicle was found abandoned at the York River Overlook on the Colonial Parkway. 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. On the evening of Oct. 9, 1986, Thomas and Dowski had been hanging out with two friends at a computer lab when they left to spend some time together. Just like those 1400 unsolved murders, Hargrove conducted his studies on, theres a huge likelihood that the Colonial Parkway Murders will remain a cold case and that the devil behind it will never be brought to justice just like Jack The Ripper Just like the Zodiac Killer Just like the Alphabet Killer The Barnaul Maniac Charlie Chop-off and the 85 other serial killers. Steve Spingola, former Milwaukee homicide detective, investigated the murders on behalf of the families. The Colonial Parkway Murders are a set of killings in which at least four couples had their lives cut short. Despite theories that the crimes may not be connected, many still believe that the Colonial Parkway murders were the work of a serial killer. The first known victims there could very well have been others before that havent been uncovered or linked to the case were Cathleen Thomas, 27, and Rebecca Ann Dowski, 21. Atwell says they asked for his copies, and seized photographs from the school, too. Each pair was romantically involved in some way, a couple the killer likely saw as a lustful duo. This unwholesome section is grisly and malignant Youve been warned. The Colonial Parkway is a beautiful stretch of highway which cuts through the Colonial National Historical Park in South-East Virginia. The vision behind the Murder Accountability Project. Cathy Thomas and Rebecca Dowski This crime scene photo shows Robin Edwards shoe that she had doodled on, laying on the floor of Davids truck. From 1986 to 1989 at least 8 people were murdered along the Colonial Parkway in Virginia and their killer was never caught. "I was floored. All the victims were killed with different methods (stabbing, strangulation, gunshot wound). Due to the shared location and other similarities, some suspect the killings are the work of a possible serial killer. Further, not all experts believe these final victims were connected to others, due to timing and other factors. Most serial killers use the same methods each time. They never returned home. Their throats had been viciously slashed and they had been strangled to death. They had met at an arcade earlier that day, and Robin had snuck out later that night to meet up with David. They had both been shot in the head, execution-style. "If he does, I hope he comes forward with that information soon.". He's a former Gloucester deputy, who, almost a year ago, says he told authorities who leaked the pictures, how they got out, and who has them. There are few access points to the park, especially after hours. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. The tale got more fantastic as it went on. All rights reserved. In Spingolas eyes, there was no serial killer. Brown also said the perpetrator could be involved in law enforcement or, more likely, "wished he were. For instance, Thomas and Dowski's murder was a hate crime, while the murder of Knobling and Edwards was a robbery that took an unfortunate turn. I can only hope these murders, like other recent cases from decades back, can still be solved and the victims loved ones can get some answers (especially the Call and Hailey families, who dont even have the remains). There was nobody she wasnt going to be a friend too [] She was very generous with everything, Joanne Hailey, her mother, told Lovers Lane Murders.. He was shy at first, but once you got to know him he opened up, he said. The murders had not happened on the Colonial Parkway, but police linked the cases due to the fact that both sets of victims were couples who had been killed at or around lovers lane areas, and the two locations were only about a 30-minute drive apart. Two Christopher Newport University students on their first date were the next victims on the list in 1988, and the fourth set of victims included Daniel Lauer, who was in the process of moving in with his brother. His brother's girlfriend was the second half of the murdered pair. According to Historic Mysteries, this killer targeted couples. Seven years after the final fatalities, another case reignited the investigation. Call's Toyota Celica was found off Colonial Parkway at the York River Overlook the next morning, but there were no bodies in it and no obvious signs of death. Why are they still a hot button topic? Joyce says she found out about the leaked photos in a phone call, not from the FBI, but from a family friend. To the FBI, he was a suspect; to the victims family, he was a patsy. A typically tranquil area, no one expected the Parkway to be the setting for a gruesome string of murders. However, her sister, Janette Santiago, told Lovers Lane Murders that Edwards, who she described as full of energy and not afraid of anything, had entered therapy and made remarkable progress in the months before her death. At least eight of these killings comprise the Colonial Parkway murders. The two women in the car were identified as Cathleen Cathy Thomas, a 27-year-old graduate of the Naval Academy, and Rebecca Ann Dowski, a 21-year-old student at the College of William and Mary. The probable tragedy struck after the party. 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. "These were human beings. Someone has leaked graphic crime-scene photographs of the most notorious serial killings in Virginia history, the Colonial Parkway murders. For at least a year, and maybe for many years, these pictures have circulated among civilians. What really made these murders stand out was their complexity that fact that couples and not individuals were the targets; their setting a brazen attack done in an area steeped in our Nations history, which made them even more morbid and profane to the collective subconscious; their wild and oftentimes misleading media coverage the murders are still prime fodder for all sorts of sensational series, books, and podcasts; and finally, the disquieting realization that the killer was never identified and that he or she will most likely escape any justice. A crime scene photograph showing the roadway leading back into the woods. Edwards family members, meanwhile, grieved the lost opportunity to know the woman the teenager was becoming. FBI photo of Ragged Island. Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. And with Stealing Manhattan, a book that details, as the author proclaims, a "mega-heist" that involved the taking of [More], On an unseasonably warm April evening in 2001, the headless body of a tiny girl was found discarded in a makeshift dump site in the woods on the southeast side of Kansas City, Missouri. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register. We were very skeptical and at some point in the spring he dropped it.". The car . Its difficult to imagine something as gruesome and shocking as a string of murders occurring on this seemingly safe road but thats exactly what happened decades ago. The Colonial Parkway is a 23 mile (37km) scenic landscape/thoroughfare that links Virginia's Historic Triangle. Their removal was part of the control that the murderer(s) exerted on the victims. And with Stealing Manhattan, a book that details, as the author proclaims, a "mega-heist" that involved the taking of [Read More], Henry Louis Wallace terrorized Charlotte, North Carolina, from May 1992 to March 1994. And they show exactly how the unknown killer left the bodies. Send that DNA to Parabon and get this case solved so the families can have some peace. 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. Why would this killer switch things up? We really felt he was on our side and then found out he was not," Jennifer Phelps, sister-in-law of Annamaria Phelps, told The Huffington Post. FBI photograph of David Knoblings truck. The other two happened in the mid-'90s, and their connection to the originals remains a highly debated topic. On September 20, 1987, David Knobling, 20, and Robin Edwards, 14, were shot at point-blank range in the Ragged Island Wildlife Refuge, near the south shore of James River in Smithfield, Virginia. The murderer in the Colonial Parkway killings was never captured, and Steve Spingola, a private detective, believes he knows why. On September 5, 1989, their car was found abandoned at an I-64 rest stop strangely, the rest stop was on the opposite route of their way back to Virginia Beach. Fred was considered something of a hero when he uncovered a slew of photographs leaked from the FBIs office in Norfolk. Annamarias purse was found inside the car, once more ruling our robbery as a motive. "They were people and they were loved. His investigation came to the startling conclusion that the murders were committed by multiple assailants and arent tied together. 2 years ago Lovers Lane Murders Covers Infamous Colonial Parkway Murders on Oxygen Network , Feb 12-13 At long last, the Lover's Lane Murders TV series covering the Colonial Parkway Murders is coming to the Oxygen Network February 12-13. This contemporary photograph shows part of the boardwalk from the Ragged Island parking area to the beach area near where the bodies of David and Robin were found. Whatever the details, you're enjoying alone time, thinking this night is as delightful as any date can be, when a third, uninvited individual shows up and turns your romantic date into a horror show. Keith was programming on leading edge home computing technology for the 1988. 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.

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