VA VA - Cathleen Thomas, 27, US Naval Officer, Murdered, Williamsburg, 10 Oct 1986

[Richard]

Cathleen M. Thomas (as a Naval Academy Midshipman)

Rebecca Ann Dowski and Cathleen Thomas, Their murders were to mark the beginning of the Colonial Parkway Serial Killings.

Cathleen Thomas, Cathy to family and friends, was one of those people. She always left a lasting impression on nearly everyone she met. Cathleen Thomas was a hero, a trailblazer, and a person who embodied both the ordinary and extraordinary in a life shortened by tragedy at only 27 years old.

In a terrible turn of events, Cathleen Thomas was murdered and found in a vehicle with her lover in Williamsburg, Virginia...

LINK:

Cathleen Thomas - Project: Cold Case

 

[Richard]

Cathleen Thomas and Rebecca Ann Dowski were on campus at The College of William & Mary on 10 October 1986, helping friends with a class project. Dowski was a senior at the school. With Rebecca preparing to leave town for fall break, the couple went to grab dinner.

On October 12, 1986, Cathleen’s white 1980 Honda Civic was found nose-down just over the river embankment. The initial thoughts of a wreck were quickly thrown out when investigators noticed the women’s bodies suffered rope burns and had their throats slashed. The interior of the car was also doused in diesel fuel in a failed attempt at setting the vehicle on fire.


1980 Honda Civic similar to Cathleen's.

Their murders were believed by some investigators to be connected to a series of similar unsolved murders, dubbed the Colonial Parkway Murders.

If you have any information on the murders of Cathleen Thomas, Rebecca Dowski or any other Colonial Parkway victims, please call the Norfolk, VA FBI Field Office at (757) 455-0100.

 

[billthom56]

Thanks so much for your summary.

Bill Thomas, Brother of Cathleen Thomas, Colonial Parkway Murders

 

[billthom56]

The "Lover's Lane Murders" limited television series covering the Colonial Parkway Murders is coming in February 2021!

Title: "Lover's Lane Murders"

Subject: A deep dive into the unsolved the Colonial Parkway Murders

Date: Monday, February 8 and Tuesday, February 9, 2021

Time: TBA

Network: Oxygen

Episodes: Four hour-long shows, two episodes each night

Producers: Texas Crew Productions (Austin, TX) and XG Productions (Los Angeles, CA)

Featuring: Former FBI profiler Jim Clemente, former FBI agent Maureen O'Connell, former prosecutor Loni Coombs, and forensic expert Laura Pettler
With interviews with Colonial Parkway Murders family members, former FBI and Virginia State Police investigators, reporters and journalists who have covered the case over 34 years.

The Colonial Parkway Murders refers to four unsolved double homicides of young couples who were murdered in lover's lanes in and around Williamsburg, Virginia from 1986 to 1989.
Victims include Cathy Thomas and Rebecca Dowski in October 1986, Robin Edwards and David Knobling in September 1987, Keith Call and Cassandra Hailey missing and assumed murdered in April 1988, and Annamaria Phelps and Daniel Lauer in September 1989.

Thomas/Dowski and Call/Hailey are handled by the FBI Newport News office, and Edwards/Knobling and Phelps/Lauer are handled by the Virginia State Police.


####

Thanks.



Bill Thomas
Brother of Cathy Thomas
Colonial Parkway Murders

 

[Richard]

Investigators believe that Richard Keith Call and Cassandra Hailey were likely murdered - possibly by the same killer(s) of Cathy and Rebecca.

However, Call and Hailey are classified officially as "Missing", since no bodies have ever been found. Because of that, their case is posted here on Websleuths in the "Missing in the 1980's" category. It can be seen at this link:

VA - VA - Richard 'Keith' Call, 20, & Cassandra Hailey, 18, Newport News, 10 April 1988

 

[billthom56]

At long last, the "Lover's Lane Murders" true crime TV series covering the Colonial Parkway Murders is coming to the Oxygen Network

Note the new date: Friday, February 12 and Saturday, February 13 at 9:00 pm.

Two one hour episodes each night.

#LoversLaneMurders #ColonialParkwayMurders #Oxygen



Lovers' Lane Murders Sets Out to Solve the Infamous Colonial Parkway Murders - E! Online


Thanks.


Bill Thomas, Brother of Cathy Thomas, Colonial Parkway Murders

 

[Kell1]

Long felt these were several different cases, /offenders/motives in these homicides , Im looking forward to seeing the special

 

[Fede]

I read that Cathleen had some hair in her hand when she was found. Was this evidence well preserved? Maybe DNA can be extracted.

 

[billthom56]

I read that Cathleen had some hair in her hand when she was found. Was this evidence well preserved? Maybe DNA can be extracted.

We have discussed this with the FBI many times.

They say they are still working on it.

Thanks.


Bill Thomas, Brother of Cathy Thomas, Colonial Parkway Murders

 

[billthom56]

Thanks everyone for watching the new "Lovers Lane Murders" series on the Colonial Parkway Murders on Oxygen. The four-part true crime series is running now.

You can also watch the four-part series on the free Oxygen app: www.oxygen.com/lovers-lane-murders

We will be starting an in-depth series starting Monday, Feb 15 on on the Colonial Parkway Murders on our true crime podcast, "Mind Over Murder." anchor.fm/william-thomas48


Bill Thomas, Brother of Cathy Thomas, Colonial Parkway Murders

 

[Richard]

Cathy's white 1980 Honda

 

[billthom56]

Cathy's white 1980 Honda

Rich:

That is not the right car-- that looks like a Ford Escort from the same time frame.

Here is my sister Cathy's 1980 Honda Civic.





Thanks.



Bill Thomas

 

[billthom56]

Check out of first ever bonus episode of the Mind Over Murder true crime podcast, where we answer questions about the unsolved Colonial Parkway Murders and the new “Lovers Lane Murders” TV series now showing on the Oxygen Network.

Bonus episode:

Episode 58: BONUS Colonial Parkway Murders Evidence Listener Q and A by Mind Over Murder • A podcast on Anchor


Bill Thomas, Brother of Cathy Thomas, Colonial Parkway Murders

 

[billthom56]

There is more discussion of Cathy Thomas and Rebecca Dowski's case under the "Colonial Parkway Murders" thread here on Websleuths.

Thanks.


Bill Thomas, Brother of Cathy Thomas, Colonial Parkway Murders.

 

[Richard]

Rich:
That is not the right car-- that looks like a Ford Escort from the same time frame.
Here is my sister Cathy's 1980 Honda Civic...
Bill Thomas

Bill,
Thanks for the correction and photo of Cathy's car. I copied my photo from another website, which labeled it as hers.

 

[billthom56]

New article on the Colonial Parkway Murders which appeared in the Daily Press and Virginia Gazette.

35 years later, victims’ families in Colonial Parkway Murders still searching for answers, hope DNA advances will solve case


35 years later, victims’ families in Colonial Parkway Murders still searching for answers, hope DNA advances will solve case

We are also covering the case on our "Mind Over Murder" podcast:

Mind Over Murder Episode 106: New Leads for Longtime Suspects in the Colonial Parkway Murders?

New Leads for Longtime Suspects in the Colonial Parkway Murders?

Thanks.


Bill Thomas, Brother of Cathy Thomas, Colonial Parkway Murders

 

[Richard]

Bumping Cathy's thread up due to recent interest in the Colonial Park murders and a DNA identified suspect.