colonial parkway murders map

THE COLONIAL PARKWAY MURDERS: A STEP BY STEP REPORT. However, on their way back to Virginia Beach to start a new chapter in their lives, they vanished. 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. The understanding, years later, that his parents had to make three separate phone calls to him and his two brothers; one, in New York at the time, took an entire day to reach. ", "Was The Colonial Parkway Killer Pretending To Be Law Enforcement? Located roughly halfway between Richmond and Virginia Beach, the Colonial Parkway spans approximately 22 miles in southeastern Virginia and is an incredibly beautiful drive during . According to the special, gays and lesbians were banned from the Navy at the time and she had reportedly been investigated by nine agents. Karl Knoblings theory behind the murder of his son David and Robin Edwards in 1987 doesnt have sinister overtones -- and its all the more chilling because of that. The Colonial Parkway Murders A Tale of Two Killers? Their purses and money were found inside the car. Three days later, Robin Edwards and Knoblings bodies were discovered in the Ragged Island Wildlife Refuge in Isle of Wight County, shot to death. Cathy Thomas would drive up from Virginia Beach to visit her girlfriend, Becky Dowski, at the College of William and Mary on Thursday nights. Although it is compelling and plausible, there is no evidence that it was law enforcement, said, former prosecutor and series co-host Loni, Theory: Murders Are Linked By Location, Not One Killer. Thomas and Dowskis were a hate crime motivated by the couples lesbian relationship. On October 12, 1986, Columbus Day weekend, their bodies were found inside Thomas's white 1980 Honda Civic at the Cheatham Annex Overlook along the Colonial Parkway in Williamsburg, Virginia. (File photos). Once more, there were no signs of sexual assault or robbery. Psychic Pam Coronado felt that the killings were all related but that the locations of the cars were not where the actual violence occurred. . The car had been pushed down an embankment off the Colonial Parkway. It was the last time they would be seen alive. Stephen's bedroom crime scene. This car, along with their mangled bodies, found at the Cheatham Annex Overlook in Williamsburg, Virginia, had been doused in diesel fuel. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Virginia's Colonial Parkway. He and Cassandra Hailey vanished while on their first date in 1988. They also eventually helped organize some of the families. "In 1986, DNA was barely out of the lab and it wasnt really used commonly in law enforcement applications. Unburieda true-crime blog with no illusions in the police, the privileged, or the powerful. The human carnage six bodies were found, while two presumed-dead victims have never been recovered was collectively called the Colonial Parkway Murders. Federal Bureau of Investigations Public Affairs Specialist Christina Pullen would not confirm the presence of DNA, whether it has been tested or any specifics on the ongoing case. PETER NYGARD ACCUSER EXPLAINS WHY SHE'S SPEAKING OUT IN NEW SHOCKING DOC: 'I HAVE NEVER BEEN QUIET ABOUT THIS', Bill Thomas, a producer on Oxygen's 'Lovers' Lane Murders' is seen here with a portrait of his sister Cathy Thomas. But is it possible they are tragic, separate events? [10], In October 2016, there was extensive coverage of the 30th anniversary of the Colonial Parkway murders, including an eight-part multimedia presentation by the Daily Press newspaper. The evidence of the crime was kept intact by a fluke of fate when the diesel failed to ignite. ", NASHVILLE TV PRODUCER VERONICA BOZZAS MURDER EXPLORED IN TRUE CRIME DOC: THE WHOLE THING WAS SENSELESS, The James River as seen from College Creek Beach on the Colonial Parkway. Map to show the parkway (B) Is where I believe two bodies were found, . According to the FBI, there are about 1400 murders that remain unsolved.. (ill Tiernan). Sept. 5, 1989: Annamaria Phelps, 18 and Daniel Lauer, 21, disappeared from an Interstate 64 rest stop in New Kent County. The only thing found was Calls car on the parkway. Inside The Unsolved Cases", "Inside the Maddening Search for Virginia's Colonial Parkway Serial Killer", "New Investigator Looking into the Colonial Parkway Murders", "New details published in Colonial Parkway murders", "Is note a break in Colonial Parkway murders? William F. Thomas stands under an old oak tree at the Cheatham Annex pull off along the Colonial Parkway near Yorktown Tuesday afternoon, August 16,2016, holding a photo of his sister, Cathleen Thomas, a Naval Academy graduate who with Rebecca Dowski were the first of the murders along the Parkway that became known as the Colonial Parkway Murders. Thomas said the families were devastated by the sudden, brutal deaths. Knobling's black Ford Ranger pickup truck was found at the refuge parking area next to the James River Bridge with the wipers and radio on and some articles of clothing inside. The note, which was undated and purportedly written by Phelps, indicated that she was to meet someone in a blue van at a rest stop. From a macro view of the murders, the fact that they all took place in close proximity bolsters the popular belief that a serial killer stalked the Colonial Parkway. Survivor. From 1986 to 1989, four double homicides occurred on or near the Colonial Parkway. A typically tranquil area, no one expected the Parkway to be the setting for a gruesome string of murders. S, eries co-host Maureen OConnell, a former FBI special agent, sees telltale signs to support this theory. Call's red 1982 Toyota Celica was found, unoccupied, at the York River Overlook on the Colonial Parkway the next day with some articles of clothing inside. Phelps, who family members described to Lovers Lane Murders producers as having a very sharp wit, was dating Lauers younger brother, whom she lived with in Virginia Beach. The murders associated with the series span from the area around the Colonial Parkway around Williamsburg, to New Kent . "She discovered after graduating from the Naval Academy that she was a lesbian. With portions built between 1930 and 1957, it links the three communities via a roadway . "She had martial arts training from the Naval Academy and she was incredibly athletic. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. Stoking this belief is the fact that victims car windows were found rolled down at crime scenes, according to Irvin Wells, retired FBI special agent. who has spent more than 20 years looking into the murders. WILLIAMSBURG, Va. (WAVY) The FBI and Virginia State Police have uncovered DNA from three of the four crimes scenes of the 1986 Colonial Parkway Murders that may belong to a perpetrator,. For two decades, the crime-scene pictures have been secret, critical evidence in the hunt for a serial murderer. Lovers Lane Murders, a new four-part Oxygen series, uses fresh interviews with criminologists and victims family members as well as crime-scene reconstructions and analysis to puzzle out the still-unsolved Colonial Parkway murders. He told Lovers Lane Murders that there may be links between the first and third murders, which are firmly tied to the Colonial Parkway. Seven years after the final fatalities, another case reignited the investigation. Hailey, meanwhile, was a college freshman who modeled and taught gymnastics, according to the outlet. Both women were fully clothed and there was no evidence of robbery or sexual assault. Or could it be that four separate criminals were executing young people in the area? "Yes, this is a tragedy, but hope never dies," he shares. So as long as theres something left to analyze, theres always hope that it will be solved through genetic genealogy.. Wallets found open in the victims vehicles on the floor and on the dashboard respectively inthe first and third homicides add heft to the law enforcement theory, former FBI profiler Jim Clemente told Lovers Lane Murders. They could have been preparing to show their license or registration. 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. The couple, investigators hypothesize, might have been romantically involved. 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. The only evidence of any wrongdoing was the discovery of Calls red Toyota Celica, unoccupied at the York River Overlook. Fred was considered something of a hero when he uncovered a slew of photographs leaked from the FBIs office in Norfolk. Lauers Chevrolet Nova was found on the westbound exit ramp, keys in the ignition, the next day. So, who were the Colonial Parkway murder victims? 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. In 2018, when the news broke that the 45-year-old Golden State Killer cold case had been solved with the arrest of Joseph DeAngelo, many, including Thomas and other families of the Colonial Parkway Murder victims, found a renewed sense of hope with investigative genetic genealogy. In 1991, the Virginian Pilot ran a three-part series on the Colonial Parkway murders by reporter Greg Schneider, who was permitted special access to FBI lead investigator Robert Meadows. The linking of the four crimes is circumstantial, and no suspects have ever been publicly identified. Still, as crime writer David Lohr of the Huffington Post tells us, the stretch has seen its share of bloodshed in the shape of a suspected serial killer. Fred was always vocal about the case to the point that he had strong opinions on who the killer was. The Colonial Parkway. Since then, 62-year-old Fred had numerous encounters with the law, including a larceny charge; 100 dollars. The brutal crimes claimed the lives of eight young people, including one couple who've never been found. Multiple reports alleged Edwards had snuck out to meet Knobling before they were killed. Dowski was younger and still a student at the College of William and Mary. Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. State police and local agencies are investigating the murders of Knobling, Edwards, Lauer, and Phelps. Thomas was nearly decapitated. ", "Murder Accountability Project: Tracking America's unsolved homicides", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Colonial_Parkway_murders&oldid=1110597999, This page was last edited on 16 September 2022, at 11:09. 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.. or redistributed. The Parkway is surrounded by woods and has far fewer entries and exits than a typical highway. Moderated by former FBI Special Agent Maureen O'Connell, the panel featured family members and advocates Joyce Call and Bill Thomas along with Blaine Pardoe, coauthor of a book on the case, A Special Kind of Evil: The Colonial Parkway Serial Killings. She was actually the most improved Russian speaker at the Naval Academy. He told Lovers Lane Murders that it suggests the driver was responding to authority. "The families are determined to see this through. "Im very optimistic," he said. In 2010, a note was discovered in a box taken years earlier from Annamaria Phelps's apartment. Remember, this was over 30 years ago in Virginia, which is a very conservative, military area. Paula is now Paula Meehan and Teri is now Teri Barzditis. Get an all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! You cant exactly finger a suspect and develop a viable culprit on car displacement and fascination with couples. They all died at night. All of the slayings, known as "The Colonial Parkway Murders," are stillunsolved. The Colonial Parkway murders . On October 19, 1989, the skeletonized bodies of Phelps and Lauer were found in a wooded area by hunters along Interstate 64 between Williamsburg and Richmond. Cathy Thomas (left) andRebecca Ann Dowski were dating at the time of their murders. After their parents died, Call-Canada and her brother took up the effort to prod investigators. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. | by Quinn Zane | Unburied | Medium Write Sign up Sign In 500 Apologies, but something went wrong on our end. They had both been shot in the head, execution-style. The Colonial Parkway is a historic and scenic road that links together the three points of Virginia's Historic Triangle: Jamestown, Williamsburg, and Yorktown. to a serial killer. Within the past three and a half years, genetic genealogy has been responsible for solving approximately 350 cases. There is a possibility that the murders happened at the hand of a moral enforcer who viewed homosexuality, public sex, or a 20-year-old man with a teenaged girl as punishable acts, according to Clemente. It's difficult to imagine that a community could be infiltrated in that way, he emphasized. The Colonial Parkway murders were the slayings of at least eight people apparently by a serial killer along the Colonial Parkway of the U.S. Commonwealth of Virginia between 1986 and 1989. A man named Bill Thomas had reached out on their new Facebook page, What happened to Richard Keith Call and Cassandra Hailey?. Williams and Winans were also a hate crime, no doubt perpetrated by the same killer. Dogs traced their scents to the river, but soon lost it. Four cases link families, scenic parkway; Dateline NBC Crime Capsule "The Killer Could Still be out There": 30 years later, still no answers in the Colonial Parkway Murders; Investigation Discovery Crimefeed; Family: New DNA testing could crack Colonial Parkway Murders; Virginia Pilot - 3 part series Part 1 - Agent stalks dark path of . The sun begins to set Tuesday evening September 27, 2016 near an overlook along the Colonial Parkway. In the late 1980s, the murders spanning three years brought eight families together through the shared grief, frustration and denial that only they could understand. They were never found. Their throats had been viciously slashed and they had been strangled to death. This is an ongoing criminal investigation, we are not in a position to discuss what evidence we are working with as part of the case, said Corrine Geller, public relations director for VSP. As of 2017, our research estimates that over 2000 serial killers are still at large and active in the United States. For the the other half, the parents who have died, they will never see justice for their childrens deaths. Find nearby businesses, restaurants and hotels. There is a pattern that OConnell said she cannot ignore.. We understand that were not going to be at the front of the line, but to hear that evidence hasnt been tested in over a year is unacceptable, Thomas said. It's difficult to imagine that a community could be infiltrated in that way, he emphasized. He may have been watching victims, the former profiler theorized, and when the opportunity arose he became a predator.. The analyzed DNA can then pinpoint the exact relation between those tested, allowing law enforcement agencies to narrow down their suspect pool and make an arrest. Explore! The bodies of Cathleen Thomas and Rebecca Dowski were found near this location in October of 1986. Rebecca Dowski, top left, and Cathleen Thomas, bottom left, were killed Oct. 12, 1986. Between 1986 and 1989, at least eight people were murdered near or along Virginia's Colonial Parkway by an apparent serial killer. The Colonial Parkway is a beautiful stretch of highway which cuts through the Colonial National Historical Park in South-East Virginia. Since October 1986, 10 On Your Side has covered what are now known as the "Colonial Parkway murders." There were four double homicides. Sept. 20, 1987: David Knoblings truck was found abandoned in a parking lot with the door open, the radio on and his wallet on the dashboard. Cathy has been gone longer than she was with us. He dropped Edwards off at her home, but later that night she snuck out to meet him. Many who believe the homicides are connected think the killer presented himself as a police officer or park ranger, or someone with authority. My name is Bill Thomas. Knobling had taken Edwards out with his little brother and cousin that day. 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. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! [citation needed], In January 2010, a team from FBI Norfolk and FBI Headquarters met with the victims' families to update them on the status of the investigation. The first two known victims were United States Naval Academy Class of 1981 graduate Cathleen Thomas, 27, and College of William & Mary senior Rebecca Ann Dowski, 21. 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 theory the first murder was a targeted hate crime adds heft to the notion the murders wereunconnected events. ET on Oxygen. All of these factors are critical to understanding the mystique that the murders still hold over the national narrative. After leaving the armed forces, she had transitioned into a successful career as a stockbroker, according to Richmond.com. On September 5, 1989, just after Labor Day weekend, Annamaria Phelps, 18, and Daniel Lauer, 21, vanished while en route to Virginia Beach. Each homicide occurred somewhere along the Colonial Parkway, hence the colloquial name. Its very important to do these interviews, and to let your readers, and the viewers of the television series, even listening to the podcast, and whatever, know why this is still important, Thomas said. The young woman had graduated from the U.S. Nonetheless, inconclusive MRI scans appear to show that at least one of the bodies might have suffered knife wounds. The remains were too decomposed to reveal the manner of death. The sun begins to set Tuesday evening September 27, 2016 near an overlook along the Colonial Parkway. After nearly three decades, the parents who are alive, many in declining health, are still without answers. And, as if that bit of info wasnt hair-raising enough, another independent study conducted by Dr. Mike Aamodt at Radford University actually confirmed Hargroves data and concluded that he might have lowballed the number. He told Lovers Lane Murders that it suggests the driver was responding to authority. Fun Fact: Tunnel was built in 1942 and is 1,190 feet long. Sean Xu/Shutterstock From 1986 to 1989, a series of murders along Virginia's historic Colonial Parkway claimed the lives of eight people in their teens and twenties. He said extremely graphic crime scene photos were leaked to the public, fueling the familys anguish. Series co-host Maureen OConnell, a former FBI special agent, sees telltale signs to support this theory. Was The Colonial Parkway Killer Pretending To Be Law Enforcement? To learn more about the case, watch Lovers Lane Murders" on Oxygen, or stream episodes any time on Oxygen.com. The odds of four double homicides in as many years are extremely rare, which is why the slayings are often attributed to a serial killer. LA County Criminal Prosecutor Loni Coombs and former FBI Special Agent Maureen OConnell are seen here speaking with Bill Thomas. Virginia's beautiful Colonial Parkway has a dark history of unsolved murders and disappearances. Investigators have spent decades puzzling out the Colonial Parkway murders. Cassandra Hailey, who was a talented gymnast and spent her time helping others in the sport, would have been 51 this year. The brutal crimes claimed the lives of eight young people, including one couple whove never been found. [citation needed] The show mentioned that this disappearance may be part of the Colonial Parkway murders. [But] we certainly were worried about harassment. Colonial Parkway is a 23-mile (37 km) scenic parkway linking the three points of Virginia's Historic Triangle, Jamestown, Williamsburg, and Yorktown.It is part of the National Park Service's Colonial National Historical Park.Virginia's official state classification for the parkway is State Route 90003. In the late 1980s, one possible serial killer in Virginia claimed at least eight lives along a certain stretch of road connecting the two historically important cities of Jamestown and Yorktown. Building awareness of the Colonial Parkway Murders, in which 8 young people were killed in series of unsolved crimes in and around the. The bodies of Cathleen Thomas and Rebecca Dowski were found near this location in October of 1986. He became a well-known whistleblower, and thanks to his action, the FBI was put under the proverbial microscope. The two-night special premiere of "Lovers Lane Murders" airs Feb. 11 at 9 p.m. and 10 p.m. Regardless, some of the remaining family members have formed a united front, choosing to work alongside each other to find answers, keeping in contact with each other on a regular basis. Emily discusses a slew of disappearances and double murders within a four-year period along the Colonial Parkway in Virginia in the late 80's. . Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Just after Labor Day weekend 1989, Annamaria Phelps, 18, and Daniel Later, 21, vanished while en route to Virginia Beach. Calls Toyota Celica was later found on the parkway along with several articles of clothing and the car keys. or whoever approached them pretended to be a cop -- or was a cop, he said. [19], On July 30, 2019, The Washington Post ran a story on the search for answers in the Colonial Parkway murders and other cases titled Victims, Families and America's Thirst for True-Crime Stories [20], On September 17, 2020, the publication Forensic Genomics published an article by family member Bill Thomas covering the Colonial Parkway murders entitled "The Family Perspective. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Her son was only a year old when Robin died. Why? According to Thomas, three out of the four cases have DNA evidence. They had been strangled with their throats cut. Were reverse engineering the family tree of this unknown person, and eventually their identity through the family tree with who they share DNA with one or two genealogy databases that we have access to, said Moore. They show how the Colonial Parkway Killer stalk 1 weather alerts 1 closings/delays DOOMSDAY MOM LORI VALLOW IS AN EVIL MONSTER WHO OBSESSED OVER END OF TIMES BEFORE CHILDREN'S DEATHS: DOC. Thomas and her girlfriend Rebecca Dowski were both killed in an incident that many believe was the first killing in the Colonial Parkway Murders. That kind of opens up the window for somebody else to come along and pick on them.. Nonetheless, to me, this is the work of a serial killer, said OConnell, who views variances among the dual homicides as an eerie sort of shapeshifting. The violence suggests, Pettler said, that the killer may have been someone who knew Thomas. Several clothing items were found in the vehicle, as were the car keys. Just three days later, they were found murdered inside Thomas 1980 Honda Civic, Richmond.com reported in 2016. You saw Dr. Pettler in the four part true crime TV series, "Lovers Lane Daniel Plott, retired Virginia State Police, concurred. Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! She was one of several family members to pursue the Navy. Advocate. On September 20, 1987, David Knobling, 20, and Robin Edwards, 14, were shot to death in the Ragged Island Wildlife Refuge, on the south shore of the James River in Isle of Wight County, near Smithfield, Virginia. Throughout the years, it was usually the victims parents who spearheaded efforts to find justice, renew interest and pressure law enforcement to pursue their cases. She enjoyed going to the Gap and dressing well, whatever the trend was. [25], On July 23, 2021, The Daily Beast published an article about the Colonial Parkway murders, primarily focusing on the murder of Cathleen Thomas and Rebecca Dowski, the first known victims of the Colonial Parkway killer. William F. Thomas stands under an old oak tree at the Cheatham Annex pull off along the Colonial Parkway near Yorktown Tuesday afternoon, August 16,2016, holding a photo of his sister, Cathleen Thomas, a Naval Academy graduate who with Rebecca Dowski were the first of the murders along the Parkway that became known as the Colonial Parkway Murders. Their bodies were uncovered after an exhaustive three-day search party. The scavengers, the muggy atmosphere, and the advanced decomposition made it impossible to determine the exact cause of death. Im the older brother of Cathy Thomas who together with her girlfriend Rebecca Dowski were the first two victims in the so-called Colonial Parkway Murders, he wrote. She worked two jobs while studying, caring for toddlers at a daycare center and at the colleges English department as a clerk, the Virginian Pilot reported in 2016.
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