Theres no hint of the horror that took place herefrom the brutal murders to the attempts to burn then submerge her car. Her date with Keith Call was their first and only one. The Colonial Parkway is a historic and scenic road that links together the three points of Virginia's Historic Triangle: Jamestown, Williamsburg, and Yorktow. For four years a killer, or killers, stalked Virginia's Tidewater region, carefully selecting victims and terrorizing the local community. Diesel fuel had been poured over the bodies and their car, but it failed to ignite. "I took them to the FBI and the state police, and nobody has done nothing.". Cassandra Hailey every bit the girl next door 1980s style. Ortega, 55, is charged . 'People are attracted to spots of strong emotion,' she said. A year and a half later, Daniel Lauer, 21, and Annamaria Phelps, 18, went missing on September 5, 1989, following Labor Day Weekend. Yes! Cassandra Hailey and Richard Call What makes the Justices so elite? And. Required fields are marked *. The only couples that had anything in common seemed to be the first pair and the (potentially connected) final couple, Lollie Winans and Julianne Williams, both of which Historic Mysteries says were lesbian couples, but the others were perceived to be straight couples. ', Break down: Former FBI profiler Jim Clemente suggested the killer may have posed as law enforcement and reenacted what that would have looked like, Loss: Nearly a year after the first double homicide, David Knobling, 20, (L) and Robin Edwards, 14, (R) were found shot in the head along the bank of the James River in September 1987, 'Statistically, a lot of the personal attacks that we have on victims close to their faces are someone they knew,' she says. It's been over 30 years, and they're still missing without much of a trace. Current day image of where Cathy Thomass car was discovered. One long night turned into four long years for [Read More], A father, his daughter, and a brave young girl thwarted criminals whose escalating hidden demons led them to bolder and more risky acts of violence in Margery Metzger's Debut True Crime. 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. In the early hours of March 22, 1989, two friends - career criminals with violent felony convictions - drove around the eastern Kansas City [Read More], Originally released in 2011, New York Times bestselling author Steve Jackson has revised and updated this classic true crime about one of the most monstrous serial killers in American history. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. They also ruled out robbery as a motive, since both womens purses were still there, and no money or jewelry had been taken. Almost seven months passed before the next incidentthe only one of the four in which the presumed victims have never been found. That means he's in charge of the Colonial Parkway cases. 14-year-old Regina Kay Walters was one of the numerous women held in an 18-wheeler equipped with a torture chamber in the back. 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. Regardless, the murders shook the state and instilled an insidious fear during the decade when each killing cropped up within a few years of the others. None of the victims were robbed, and sexual assault did not appear to be a motive in any of the cases. I also want to get the Early Bird Books newsletter featuring great deals on ebooks. They were reported missing on April 10, 1988, and Calls red Toyota Celica was found at the York River Overlook along the Colonial Parkway on April 11. 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. Again and again, young people in the prime of their lives were targeted. Daniels Chevy Nova. Rather, they were the work of multiple killers who coincidentally picked couples in the same area. . John Marshall boys basketball reclaims No. Daniel Lauer was from Amelia County, Virginia. About a year and a half later, two more young people went missing near the Colonial Parkway. After Atwell spoke to NewsChannel 3, we called the FBI. Ted Bundy crime scene photos [GRAPHIC] by Leigh Egan. The Colonial Parkway Murders-the name given eight murders that took place in the Tidewater region in the late 1980's, two of which were on the historic Colonial Parkway, the nation's narrowest National Park. This scandal is why I became so much more involved in my sister Cathy's case and the Colonial Parkway Murders in general. According to NBC, the couples weren't friends with the other couples, nor were they related. On their return trip to Virginia Beach they encountered their killer(s). Thomas's wallet was found open and face down on the floorboard of the driver's side, Horrific: Their bodies were found bound with rope inside the vehicle. To the Call family, the FBI did not do enough to protect the families from this indignity, and protect the evidence of such terrible crimes. Keith Call's car. Main article: Climate of South Carolina A typically tranquil area, no one expected the Parkway to be the setting for a gruesome string of murders. Yes! And that's it," Atwell said Tuesday. According to NBC, their love was a new, budding thing that would never get the chance to flourish. 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. The murderer in the Colonial Parkway killings was never captured, and Steve Spingola, a private detective, believes he knows why. It doesn't seem as if they knew each other in the slightest. For at least a year, and maybe for many years, these pictures have circulated among civilians. The comments below have not been moderated. Blogger reveals shocking King Charles hosts von der Leyen at Windsor Castle, Police: Urgent search for Constance Marten's missing baby, Pupils take to TikTok as they stage protest at Shenfield High School, Gabor Mat: No Jewish state without oppressing local population, Putin spy plane before being 'destroyed by pro-Ukraine Belarus group', Amplified jet stream could lead to 'disruptive snow in places', Shocking video shows machete fight in broad daylight, Putin orders intelligence service to find 'scum' who oppose him, Moment supermarket cashier is attacked at work in New York, Police search allotment sheds for Constance Marten's missing baby, Huge urgent police search for missing baby of Constance Marten, Dashcam captures moment two cars collide on a roundabout. Not him either. Fred Atwell, the whistleblower who spent a year trying to convince the FBI someone had leaked secret crime-scene photos from the Colonial Parkway murders, says his name is on the. 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. The whistleblower who broke the story was a former deputy by the name of Fred Atwell. 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The Colonial Parkway Murders UPDATE! 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. Larry needed a smoking gun. Also, a documentary here: Surviving Evil: Wolves at the Door More photos here: Sue White after the attack. These contemporary photographs show the parking area where Keiths car was discovered. 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. For two decades, the crime-scene pictures. . While the route was created to allow visitors to enjoy the regions natural beauty and historic interest, it has since attained a more sinister history of its own. It was their first date. One person is a whole lot easier to kill than two. "I don't know what they're going to tell us," she said. The . As investigators descended upon the apartment, one of them picked up a camera and photographed the scene. 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. Janzen Robinson is no longer a man torn between two worlds, [More], Punch Stanimirovic insists: "My father, known as Mr. Stan, is the greatest gentleman thief who ever lived-a true genius." Becky's wound isn't as deep as Cathy's wound. They were covered by an electric blanket taken from Lauers vehicle, and Annamarie Phelps appeared to have been stabbed to death. 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. National Park Service . With Bill's coaching, Colonial Parkway Murders families begin hammering the FBI in media interviews on the leak and lack of resources. Do you hate foreplay? For more than a month, there was no indication of what had become of Phelps and Lauer, and it seemed that they might join the ranks of the missing, alongside Hailey and Call. Keith was programming on leading edge home computing technology for the 1988. They show how the Colonial Parkway Killer stalked couples in cars, stabbed some and shot others, and then discarded their bodies. A crime scene photograph showing the roadway leading back into the woods. running on the Oxygen Network . Despite extensive searches, their bodies were never found, and the couple was presumed dead. Let's check it out. 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. The differences in killing methods is something that is often pointed at, as Cathy and Rebecca were strangled and then had their throats slit, David and Robin were shot, and Annamaria and Daniel were presumably stabbed. The first set of victims from the Colonial Parkway murders were killed via a mix of strangulation and cut throats. Daniel Lauer and Annamaria Phelps The drivers side window was partially rolled down causing police to believe that the perpetrator had possibly been posing as or was some sort of uniformed officer. Deputies in Davidson County rushed to help a 69-year-old man they'd found unresponsive in his house following a welfare check. The killer(s) drove Daniel and Annamaria back here in the darkness, killing them and covering their bodies in an electric blanket. Can you control your erections? Man died Wednesday. Of course, these are Spingola's musings, and they have yet to be proven. Crime scene photos were leaked from these cases. 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. Although it's debatable when notorious serial killer Ted Bundy began his murderous spree, it's widely-known that he raped and killed numerous women throughout the 1970s. His targets, young girls who he kidnapped, raped, and left their remains along busy roadways in plain view. 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. {{start_at_rate}} {{format_dollars}} {{start_price}} {{format_cents}} {{term}}, {{promotional_format_dollars}}{{promotional_price}}{{promotional_format_cents}} {{term}}, Independent Contractor (Newspaper Carrier), Nebraska cheerleader competes by herself at state competition, but crowd doesn't let her feel alone, Spotsylvania Sheriff's Office ends affiliation with Reelz TV show 'On Patrol: Live', Former Virginia basketball coach Terry Holland dies after battling Alzheimer's. 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. But I can tell you that everything is being investigated, and because of the sensitivity of this case we have decided not to make any comments.". For two decades, the crime-scene pictures have been secret, critical evidence in the hunt for a serial murderer. The interior of Daniels car. The first two victims in what became known as the Colonial Parkway murders were Cathleen Thomas and Rebecca Ann Dowski. Snow is somewhat rare for most of the state with the upstate receiving it more often. Analysis of the Colonial Parkway Murders An analysis of any crime spree has one major purpose, of course. It's unclear what they were doing together. For the second time in a month, authorities in Virginia are investigating a former deputy sheriff who has ties to the Colonial Parkway murders -- a series of unsolved homicides that began in 1986 along the scenic 23-mile route between Jamestown and Yorktown -- in Virginia. Though this case has appeared in the media several times over the past 30+ years, it's still as mysterious as it is unique. The Colonial Parkway Murders - Revisiting The Crime Scenes Mobile Instinct 370K subscribers Subscribe 10K 264K views 1 year ago Virginia's beautiful Colonial Parkway has a dark history. Call, who lives in Gloucester County, believes there was more than one killer because the victims were all fairly young and healthy. . In this case, the victims were 20-year-old David Knobling and, 14-year-old Robin Edwards. It's a roadway and state route, partly manned by the National Park Service, that interlocks Jamestown, Williamsburg, and Yorktown. Sept. 23, 1987: The bodies of David Knobling, 20, left, of Hampton and Robin Edwards, 14, of Newport News washed ashore on the James River at the Ragged Island Wildlife Refuge. This crime scene photo shows tent erected over their remains as investigators work in the rain to recover every clue. To change his mind, Atwell's friend told him he had crime-scene photos from the Parkway Murders. Park Vista Apartments, 1940 Fisher Road SE. 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 deaths of Cathleen Thomas and Rebecca Dowski. ', The wound to Becky's neck is nowhere near the degree that the wound to Cathy's neck is. SERIAL KILLER: On The Colonial Parkway (Part 2) Episode Summary In part two, we tell you about the murders of Cassandra Lee Hailey, Richard Keith Call, Annamaria Phelps, and Daniel Lauer. While Atwell did the Parkway families a great service as a whistle-blower in publicizing the leak of 78 highly graphic crime scene photos in the Colonial Parkway Murders, this retired Gloucester County Deputy Sheriff was also a criminal and a con man . The Colonial Parkway Murders were a series of homicides that occurred between October 1986 and September 1989. The probable tragedy struck after the party. "Incredibly intrusive. Their bodies were badly decomposed when hunters found them covered in a blanket from Daniel's car. Atwell, who lives in Williamsburg, said he first saw the slides at a school for private investigators where an FBI agent had once helped teach a class. . Please share on Facebook and in any groups that pertain to the topics covered. You have permission to edit this article. Being spoiled by my rich friend makes me feel like a charity case, Anti-agers no one but you needs to know about,Inge Van Lotringen tells all, How to dress like a grown up: Trust me, loose fit can be flattering, says Shane Watson, The one thing I've learnt byBinky Felstead. Hanlon says he can't speculate how the leaked evidence might affect a prosecution because there's never been anyone to prosecute. The First Murders. David's truck at the crime scene. Then we come to the latest, and presumed to be the final, set of victims: A pair of women who'd been camping together in 1996. 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. -K.L. ", Reached by phone this week, Bill Thomas of Los Angeles, the older brother of Cathleen M. Thomas, one of the first victims, said: "We found the FBI's loss of control of the photos shocking, but now . But the FBI isn't giving up, and is now using new science to search for an old killer. So much time has passed the families have just about given up hope for any resolution. Brian Hanlon supervises the Peninsula FBI office. They all died at night. David Knobling during his time at the Frederick Military Academy. Princess Diana's nieces Lady Eliza and Amelia share Fabulous in fuchsia! Crime-scene photos from Parkway murders in public domain. 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