A Virginia cold case from the 1980s gets some clarity with a fresh look at victimology and criminal profiling. Someone has leaked graphic crime-scene photographs of the most notorious serial killings in Virginia history, the Colonial Parkway murders. They also ruled out robbery as a motive, since both womens purses were still there, and no money or jewelry had been taken. It was not enough to point to prior owl attacks on humans. The Colonial Parkway is a beautiful stretch of highway which cuts through the Colonial National Historical Park in South-East Virginia. I often wonder if he knows something he is not telling us, Bill Thomas, the brother of one of the first victims, told the Huffington Post. Cassandra Lee Hailey and Richard Keith Call were two students at Christopher Newport University who had just gone on their first date together in the University Square neighborhood of nearby Newport News. Their bodies were found on June 1st. Lovers Cathleen Thomas and Rebecca Ann Dowski Were Horrifically Murdered In Their Car Photo: WAVY TV 10 / YouTube Knoblings truck, a black Ford Ranger, was actually found before the bodies were, parked near the James River Bridge with the windshield wipers and radio both turned on. . Punch was raised to be an exceptional diamond thief. She had been strangled with a [Read More], Punch Stanimirovic insists: "My father, known as Mr. Stan, is the greatest gentleman thief who ever lived-a true genius." The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline. Sign up for The Lineup's newsletter to get terrifying recommendations delivered straight to your inbox. "We want to make sure that our victims' families are not hurt by any of the information that is being put out there," she said. Annamaria Phelps came from a hard-working family in Amelia County, Virginia. "I was floored. Ted Bundy crime scene photos [GRAPHIC] by Leigh Egan. " Jane Doe" was found in a secondary crime scene, as many murdered young women tend to be. Some of the families know about the photos. Your email address will not be published. Everybody loves the scenic views of a beautiful road. Gruesome: Thomas and Dowskihad been strangled and their throats were slashed, though there was no evidence of sexual assault, Crime scene: Pettler questioned if the women knew their killer, noting that Thomas's throat wound was far more severe than Dowski's. This picture was taken by serial killer Robert Ben Rhoades. Top Posters; Top Donors : Documenting Reality True Crime & Artistic Endeavors True Crime, Cold Cases, & Death Investigations: Colonial Parkway Murders? Copyright 2023 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Rather, they were the work of multiple killers who coincidentally picked couples in the same area. The second couple was found nearly a year later in their car, dead of multiple gunshot wounds. Both were found shot to death in the Ragged Island Wildlife Management Area on the south shore of the James River, near the small town of Smithfieldknown as the Ham Capital of the World.". Most believe that this series of murders took the life of four couples between the years of 1986-1989. Annamarias purse was found inside the car, once more ruling our robbery as a motive. Joyce says she found out about the leaked photos in a phone call, not from the FBI, but from a family friend. If he does, I hope he comes forward with that information soon.. . The Colonial Parkway Murders The Colonial Parkway is a historic and scenic road that links together the three points of Virginia's Historic Triangle: Jamestown, Williamsburg, and Yorktown. 'That tells me that either they were getting ready because they thought they were pulled over by a police officer or a park ranger, or whoever approached them pretended to be a cop or was a cop,'Clemente suggests. Dowski worked as a daycare provider and a clerk. | Crime News, Do not sell or share my personal information. The club opened in 1982, eventually fostering the Manchester acid house and rave scene in the late 1980s. The propriety of releasing the photographs -- which appear to have been an FBI slideshow on the Parkway Murders -- outside of law enforcement or their potential value as evidence in any future trial is unclear. David's truck at the crime scene. One of the last photos of Cathy Thomas with her friend Deb Hill. He says nothing was done about it until WTKR aired its report. . Join Mind Over Murder co-hosts Bill Thomas and Kristin Dilley as we discuss the mystery of the late Fred Atwell in the Colonial Parkway Murders. One big name in the case has always been Fred Atwell; he was a deputy at the time of the initial cases. He shoved a Honda off a bluff with two bodies inside. . Both victims had been shot, Robin in the back of the head execution style, and David twice, once in the head and once in the shoulder like he had been running from the killer. The view north on the Colonial Parkway as it appears today, looking north from the pull-off where Cathy Thomas and Becky Thomas were discovered. The two women had been bound with rope and strangled, and the killer had slit their throats so deeply that they were nearly decapitated. Davids car had been discovered in a parking lot by the James River Bridge. One of the last photos of David Knobling. Their bodies were found by hunters that came across the bodies weeks after they disappeared. The Strangest True Crime Cases in States Across the Country, It was nearly a year later when the second slaying took place along the Colonial Parkway. Each had been shot in the back of the head. If Call wanted to make a good impression, it was his job to have her home by 2 a.m. About The Book On January 7, 1994, residents of Berkshire [Read More], BY THE SIDE OF THE ROAD by Marla Bernard and narrated by Claire Duncan, is available in audiobook format now. Whats more, he believed that the same killer was responsible for the 1996 murder of Lollie Winans and Julianne Williams, another couple who were killed in a similar fashion while camping in Shenandoah National Park. This crime scene photo shows Robin Edwards shoe that she had doodled on, laying on the floor of Davids truck. The level of violence was extreme. No worries now, although I wouldnt go there at night.'. So much time has passed the families have just about given up hope for any resolution. Four of the victims were slain or disappeared along the Colonial Parkway, and the case had been dubbed the "Parkway Murders.". Then, on October 19, hunters discovered two bodies on a logging road near Interstate 64, between Williamsburg and Richmond, about a mile from the rest stop where the car had been found. Last month, television station WTKR in Norfolk first reported the photographs were being used publicly as the 23rd anniversary of the first slayings, in October 1986, approached. This pathway has been rebuilt and moved, but in 1987 it was more isolated with even more tree and shrub growth along the sides. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. The place is a sightseeing extravaganza brimming with historical points, scenic pull-offs, markers . Knobling, who worked at his father's landscaping business, was expecting a baby with his longtime girlfriend. Cassandra Hailey and Richard Call A crime scene photograph showing the roadway leading back into the woods. Her brother Keith was killed on a first date with Cassandra Hailey. 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). Young couple Julie Williams, 24, and Lollie Winans, 26, were camping in the park over Memorial Day weekend. . Queen Letizia of Spain cut an elegant figure in a matching pink skirt and top as she Who Were The Colonial Parkway Murder Victims? The whistleblower who broke the story was a former deputy by the name of Fred Atwell. They show how the Colonial Parkway Killer stalked couples in cars, stabbed some and shot . Oct. 12, 1986: Cathleen M. Thomas, 28, left, and Rebecca A. Dowski, 21, were found strangled with their throats slit in the back seat of Thomas' car along the Colonial Parkway. The First Murders. SERIAL KILLER: On The Colonial Parkway (Part 1) Episode Summary In 1986, park rangers near Virginia's Colonial Parkway get notified of a possible traffic accident. It is unclear whether Annamaria and David pulled over and were killed at the rest stop or if they were killed elsewhere and the killer moved their car. Three years later, someone else added: 'Beautiful and yet one of the scenes of a serial killerthat has never been solved and featured in one of Patricia Cornwell's earlier novels. Annamaria Phelps locket as found on the logging trail. The Colonial Parkway Murders. Some aspects of the killings fly in the face of the patterns of other serial killers, and some of the facts don't quite add up. I am Bill Thomas, brother of Cathleen Thomas, one of the first two victims in the Colonial Parkway Murders case, who died in Williamsburg, Virginia on October 12, 1986. She had moved to Virginia Beach with her boyfriend, Clinton Lauer and was struggling to get by but living the American dream. I can tell you that we recovered all the copies from the folks that we've contacted that had them. The couple had been missing since the evening of October 9th after they had been seen leaving a computer lab. Sept. 5, 1989: Police found a car abandoned at the westbound Interstate 64 rest stop in New Kent County. Her brother's car is in a crime-scene photo never meant to be public. On April 10, 1988,Christopher Newport University students Richard CallLess, 20, andCassandra Hailey, 18, vanished after attending a party together in Newport News. -William [Read More], In early 2022, life in the port city of Mariupol, Ukraine was safe and predictable for Adoriana Marik. On that date, Stockholm police discovered the corpse of 32-year-old prostitute Lilly Lindestrom. Atlanta lists 13 code complaints over that same period. Unfortunate couple #3 was Cassandra Lee Hailey and Richard Keith Call. Current day image of where Cathy Thomass car was discovered. In a recent WAVY poll, over 90% of the people believe that this string of murders are the act of a serial killer. What's your biggest turn off? Then, just as mysteriously, the killing stopped. To date, the book is probably the most exhaustive source for information about the crimes, which continue to make headlines even years later. 'People are attracted to spots of strong emotion,' she said. Its proximity to where Becky and Cathy were found a year earlier should have been a clue to the park rangers but it was one they chose to ignore. FBI photograph of the smashed back window of Cathy Thomass Honda Civic. I was floored. Despite theories that the crimes may not be connected, many still believe that the Colonial Parkway murders were the work of a serial killer. For two decades, the crime-scene pictures have been secret, critical evidence in the hunt for a serial murderer. Fred Atwell told the reporter he tried for almost a year to get the FBI to investigate the leak of the crime scene photos. Could all four of the murders be connected? A bright young man studying computer science at Christopher Newport. Yes! They were the final victims of the killer or killers plaguing the Colonial Parkwayor were they? Spingola believes that the two sets of murders were hate crimes committed by the same perpetrator. And that's it," Atwell said Tuesday. For more than 20 years, the Colonial Parkway Serial Killer has kept his secrets. The police investigated exhaustively, but eventually the case went cold. Crime: Eight people were murdered at the Colonial Parkway over a four-year span, starting with the slaying of Cathy Thomas, 27, (L) and Rebecca 'Becky' Dowski, 21, (R) in October 1986, Loss Thomas and Dowski had been dating for several months and went missing on October 9, 1986, after they were seen leaving the College of William and Mary computer lab together, Murder: Thomas's white 1980 Honda Civic, had been pushed down an embankment off of the Colonial Parkway in Williamsburg. The thoroughfare is partially maintained by the National Park Service because it's an iconic piece of pavement that connects some of the country's most historic cities. Bill contacts the other Colonial Parkway Murders families for the first time. Yes! This case, like the others, has gone unsolved, but all four double homicides remain active. You have permission to edit this article. Keith Call + Sandra Hailey. As it appears today from the road, this is the lonely trail leading back into the woods where the victims had been taken and killed. I think we understand where it came from. The killer(s) drove Daniel and Annamaria back here in the darkness, killing them and covering their bodies in an electric blanket. But couldn't find them in a search here. I don't know the law, but I hope it does not, in any way, jeopardize the case if they do find somebody.". July 13, 2018. He could work magic on a safe that would have sent Mandrake the Magician [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. Since October 1986, 10 On Your Side has covered what are now known as the "Colonial Parkway murders." There were four double homicides. When he was asked about the use of the photographs, Hanlon told the station, "We looked into it. The grim finale came just five months later. 'Murder scenes have the sense of an aura.' Atwell says a friend of his, a security-company owner, asked him last year to teach a class about the killings. The Untold Truth Of The Colonial Parkway Murders, Predators on the Parkway: A Former Homicide Detective Explores the Colonial Parkway Murders. Karl and Judy Knobling with David (the taller youth) and his brother Michael in 1977. Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group, PrettyLittleThing - Offers on women's clothing, Get inspired by the newest styles and offers, Click through for ASOS promo codes this Autumn, Spend less with Missguided's exclusive codes, Treat yourself to offers on make-up and accessories, Check out the latest Wayfair sale to save on furniture. 10 The First Murders Photo credit: Wild Blue Press This site uses cookies to improve user experience. The first set of victims from the Colonial Parkway murders were killed via a mix of strangulation and cut throats. It was the young couples very first date. Someone has leaked graphic crime-scene photographs of the most notorious serial killings in Virginia history, the Colonial Parkway murders. Man died Wednesday. This is one of the most fascinating unsolved murder sprees ever recorded, and the Colonial Parkway Killer is truly one of the most frightening serial killers who was never caught. April 8, 1988: Keith Call, 20, left, left his family's house in Gloucester County to pick up his date, Cassandra Hailey. See bottom of post for update. Fred Atwell, a friend of the Call family and a former deputy sheriff in Gloucester County, said he learned that the photographs had been leaked in November 2008 and reported it to the FBI and Virginia State Police. Just to have the pictures floating around like that is very disrespectful.". The police attribute these eight murders to the same killer because of similarities in each case. I also want to get the Early Bird Books newsletter featuring great deals on ebooks. Dotted with impressive bridges and blanketed by thick trees, it usually provides year-round beauty and convenience for travelers. "It's an unsolved crime, number one. Please subscribe to keep reading. Biden honors 20 years of the Homeland Security Dept. The wooded isolation here is not dissimilar to that of the Colonial Parkway. Three pairs were definitively murdered, but another couple went missing but were suspected to have been targeted by the same killer. 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. Once again, despite the best investigative efforts of the police, the case went cold. It's a roadway and state route, partly manned by the National Park Service, that interlocks Jamestown, Williamsburg, and Yorktown. One person is a whole lot easier to kill than two. A crime scene photograph of some of the investigator at the recovery site. Plus crime scene photos. Whether this additional double homicide, which took place some seven years after the last of the Colonial Parkway murders, is actually the work of the same killer or notor whether there was more than one, unrelated killer involved in the slayings along the Colonial Parkwayare questions that may never be answered. Again and again, young people in the prime of their lives were targeted. 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. Diesel fuel had been poured over the bodies and their car, but it failed to ignite. . Tragic, but important story and one not heard of before ( west coast reader). Are you sick of watching and reading about the same killers and crimes? A new documentary is exploring a string of unsolved double homicides that occurred at a 'lovers' lane' in Virginia more than three decades ago, as experts try to figure out if the murders were the work of a serial killer or just a gruesome coincidence. He had some legal problems involving a marriage to an underage girl but was preparing to move on with his life. By Blaine L. Pardoe and Victoria R. Hester, 12 Dark and Disturbing Nonfiction Books to Satisfy Your Morbid Curiosity. Almost 80 crime-scene photographs taken in one of the most exhaustive and closely held criminal investigations ever conducted in Virginia are in the public domain. The killings have been the subject of a variety of TV specials and docuseries, as well as the book A Special Kind of Evil: The Colonial Parkway Murders by father-daughter writing team (and New York Timesbestselling authors) Blaine Pardoe and Victoria Hester. According to Oxygen, the Colonial Parkway killer changed things up from victim to victim. 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. In this episode, co-hosts Kristin Dilley and Bill Thomas kick off an in-depth discussion of the Colonial Parkway Murders with criminologist and crime scene reconstruction expert Dr. Laura Pettler. The murderer in the Colonial Parkway killings was never captured, and Steve Spingola, a private detective, believes he knows why. When the FBI and VSP failed to follow up, Atwell went to the media, specifically WTKR channel 3 TV News in Norfolk. 'There is no toll or charge but it is run by the Forest Service so dont get caught speeding and you might want to keep a lookout for the Colonial Parkway Murderer of the 80s He was never caught,' one person wrote in 2013. But [Read More], In 1971 and 1972, a deadly predator stalked the streets of the nations capital. Let's check it out. The Colonial Parkway Murders were a series of homicides that occurred between October 1986 and September 1989. By continuing to browse, you accept the use of cookies and other technologies. "Here's What Happens When You Mess With Me!" Between 1986 and 1989 though, a crime spree took place that left three pairs of . Expecting a baby with his life Colonial Parkway killer changed things up from victim victim... 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