Has anyone else brought up the similarities between The Freeway Phantom and Colonial Parkway Killer

[Qualitykitkat]

The Freeway Phantom was based from April 1971 - Sept 1972 in D.C. Killing 6 victims in less than 2 years then abruptly stopping.

The Colonial Parkway killer was based from 1986 - 1989 in Virginia killing 8 victim in less than 4 years then stopping.

While the Freeway Phantom killed primarily young black women and the Colonial Parkway killer killed couples I'd imagine it would be smart to move locations and change victim type.

Also I've read some places that the Colonial parkway killer could have had an accomplice would, I don't think it would be a reach to say that maybe the accomplice went on to be the freeway phantom?

It just seems like such a big coincidence that there were two serial killers with such a similar MO operating in such close proximity for there to be no chance that they're not related. Is this too much of a reach?

 

[Murder Inc]

This is the right way to think about unsolved murders. Whatever is obvious everyone will miss

 

[jaejae]

I agree interesting theory and worth looking into. I feel there is scope for this kind of thinking and you may well be right.

 

[jaejae]

Here is recent You Tube video about the Freeway Phantom case:

 

[jaejae]

I have read somewhere that the potential suspect was Caucasian which I find interesting but I might be wrong. I am sure I have seen it written down a young Caucasian man was seen near one of the crime scenes.:

Freeway Phantom - Wikipedia

The Freeway Phantom — Unresolved

 

[jaejae]

Here is another interesting article about the Freeway Phantom Murders:

The Freeway Phantom Murders

Here is part of the above blog:
Just over 2 weeks later, the killer struck again. The victim was 10-year-old Brenda Crockett, who had gone to the store on the instruction of her mother. This time it was a little different; Brenda made two calls home while in the company of her killer. Her younger sister answered the first call; Brenda told her she had been picked up by a white man and was on her way home in a cab. Before her sister had to time to answer, however, Brenda said goodbye and hung up. The second call Brenda made was answered by her mother’s boyfriend, whom she told where she was – this time in the white man’s home. When he attempted to question Brenda further, Brenda hung up as she did in her first phone call. That was the last time anyone heard from Brenda. She was discovered just hours later on the side of the freeway. She had been raped and strangled with a scarf.

 

[jaejae]

This is an interesting case one of the victims above stated she had been picked up by a white man and I would tend to believe her as children at that age are often very reliable and what a thing to lie about before you are murdered. Here is some more interesting information on the cases:


The 'Freeway Phantom'

A puzzling case recorded from the nation's capital, this murder series stands officially unsolved despite conviction of two defendants in one of seven similar homicides. Authorities have speculated on solutions in the case, asserting that "justice was served" by the round-up of suspects on unrelated charges, but their faith was shaken by an outbreak of look-alike murders in Maryland, during 1987. At this writing, some students of the case believe the "Phantom" has eluded homicide detectives altogether, shifting his field of operations to a more fertile hunting ground. The stalker's first victim was 13-year-old Carole Denise Sparks, abducted on April 25, 1971, while en route to a neighborhood store in Southeast Washington. Her strangled, ravaged body was recovered six days later, a mile and a half from home, Iying on the shoulder of Interstate Highway 295, one of several freeways passing through Washington east of the Anacostia River. Ten weeks passed before 16-year-old Darlenia Denise Johnson disappeared, on July 8, from the same street where Carole Sparks was kidnapped . Strangled to death, she was found on July 19, within fifteen feet of the spot where Sparks was discovered on May 1. In the meantime, a third victim, 14-year-old Angela Denise Barnes, had been abducted from Southeast Washington on July 13, shot to death and dumped the same day at Waldorf, Maryland. Brenda Crockett, age ten, disappeared two weeks later, her strangled corpse recovered on July 28 near an underpass on U.S. Highway 50. The killer took a two-month break in August and September, returning with a vengeance to abduct 12-year-old Nenomoshia Yates on October 1. Familiar marks of strangulation were apparent when her body was found six days later, discarded on Pennsylvania Avenue, near the Maryland state line. At eighteen, Brenda Denise Woodward was the oldest victim, kidnapped from a Washington bus stop November 15, stabbed to death and dumped the next day on an access road leading to Prince George's County Hospital. A mocking note, its contents still unpublished, was discovered with the body, signed "The Freeway Phantom" in accordance with a nickname coined by journalists. In a macabre twist, FBI experts reported that Woodward had written the note herself, in a steady hand, betraying no hint of tension or fear. For once, police had ample evidence of pattern, from the victims' race -- all black -- to the peculiar fact that four were named Denise. There seemed to be a geographical connection, both in the abductions and disposal of remains, but speculation brought authorities no closer to their goal of an arrest. Black Washington was up in arms, demanding a solution to the case, intent on proving that a white man was to blame, but angry rhetoric did nothing to advance the murder probe. Ten months elapsed before the Phantom claimed his final victim, abducting 17-year-old Diane Williams on September 5, 1972. Her body was found the next day along I-295, five miles from the point where Carole Spinks as discovered in May 1971. Again, police noted striking similarities with the other crimes -- and again, they found no evidence that would identify a suspect in the case. In late March, Maryland state police arrested two black suspects -- 30-year-old Edward Leon Sellman and 26-year-old Tommie Bernard Simmons -- on charges of murdering Angela Barnes. Both suspects were ex-policemen from Washington, and both had resigned in early 1971, before completion of their mandatory probation periods. Investigators now divorced the Barnes murder from other crimes in the Phantom series, filing additional charges against both suspects in the February 1971 abduction and rape of a Maryland waitress. Convicted of murder in 1974, both defendants were sentenced to life. Meanwhile, a federal grand jury probing the Phantom murders focused its spotlight on "a loosely-knit group of persons" suspected of luring girls and young women into cars -- sometimes rented for the hunt -- then raping and/or murdering their victims for sport. Suspects John N. Davis, 28, and Morris Warren, 27, were already serving life on conviction for previous rapes when a series of new indictments were handed down in December 1974. Turning state's evidence, Warren received a grant of limited immunity in return for testimony against Davis and another defendant, 27-year-old Melvyn Sylvester Gray. As a government spokesman explained, "The ends of justice can be served just as well if a person is convicted and sentenced to life for kidnapping, than if he is jailed for the same term for murder." Critics questioned the wisdom of that advice, thirteen years later, when a new series of unsolved murders was reported from neighboring Maryland. Again, the female victims were young and black, abducted and discarded in a manner reminiscent of the Freeway Phantom's style. Authorities refuse to speculate upon a link between the crimes, and so both cases are considered "open," with the killers still at large.

Posted by Nancye1962 at 4:28 PM
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JusticebeServed: The 'Freeway Phantom'

Here is another interesting page about the cases. LE thought the white man in the phone call was a ruse by the killer:

About Freeway Phantom | Biography | Serial killer

 

[jaejae]

These Freeway Phantom cases are nasty as most are on this board. In this article it states that LE thought a victim was forced to write a note taunting LE:

Oh, How Peculiar!

The killer left a message for the police at this crime scene. A coat had been draped over Brenda’s body and a note was found in one of the coat pockets. It was determined that Brenda had been forced to write the note using paper from her own notebook.

 

[jaejae]

Here is another article with some good information about the Freeway Phantom cases:

The True Crime Database - Case File

The above link gives the information that one of the victims feet had been washed by the killer:

Like the previous victims she had been raped and strangled with a scarf. Detectives noticed her feet were clean and suspected the killer had washed them after her death. Like Carol Spinks, Brenda had green synthetic fibres on her clothing, which clearly linked the murders to the same perpetrator.


This is just an observation but the killer in the Oakland Child Killings also vanished his victims. This may mean nothing as the locations are different and it may be something that more than one offender does but it an interesting fact:

The killer had neatly washed and pressed Timothy’s clothes prior to killing him and had fed him fried chicken

https://listverse.com/2018/08/28/10-horrific-facts-about-the-oakland-county-child-killer/

 

[SeanBehrens]

The Colonial Parkway slayings were already solved, it is believed it was some Vietnam vet in New Hampshire, I forget the guys name.

 

[jaejae]

The Colonial Parkway slayings were already solved, it is believed it was some Vietnam vet in New Hampshire, I forget the guys name.

Thanks for the interest. Although I am a little bit of an outsider really I do not think the Colonial Parkway Murders have been solved as the relatives of the victims are still looking for answers. The suspect you refer to was a man called Michael Nicholaou who would have course have to be eliminated in the Colonial Parkway Murders and the other cases people associate him with. My take is that another offender may actual be responsible for the crimes and the Colonial Parkway Killer would never kill himself as he enjoyed killing other people too much.

 

[cherrymeg]

Here is another interesting article about the Freeway Phantom Murders:

The Freeway Phantom Murders

Here is part of the above blog:
Just over 2 weeks later, the killer struck again. The victim was 10-year-old Brenda Crockett, who had gone to the store on the instruction of her mother. This time it was a little different; Brenda made two calls home while in the company of her killer. Her younger sister answered the first call; Brenda told her she had been picked up by a white man and was on her way home in a cab. Before her sister had to time to answer, however, Brenda said goodbye and hung up. The second call Brenda made was answered by her mother’s boyfriend, whom she told where she was – this time in the white man’s home. When he attempted to question Brenda further, Brenda hung up as she did in her first phone call. That was the last time anyone heard from Brenda. She was discovered just hours later on the side of the freeway. She had been raped and strangled with a scarf.

Her asking if her mother saw her could be a taunt from her killer or a genuine question she asked because she saw her mom. I wonder if the killer was white or if it was a way to conceal his identity. He could have been white and hoped police would assume he had her lie. Letting your victim make a call is a risk because if you aren't a stranger they can identify you instead of following the script. Her youth might have been a reason he had her make the calls. He could have threatened her family. Ten year olds are more likely to believe that is real threat.

 

[cherrymeg]

Thanks for the interest. Although I am a little bit of an outsider really I do not think the Colonial Parkway Murders have been solved as the relatives of the victims are still looking for answers. The suspect you refer to was a man called Michael Nicholaou who would have course have to be eliminated in the Colonial Parkway Murders and the other cases people associate him with. My take is that another offender may actual be responsible for the crimes and the Colonial Parkway Killer would never kill himself as he enjoyed killing other people too much.

This is wikipedia.
Colonial Parkway murders - Wikipedia

 

[jaejae]

Her asking if her mother saw her could be a taunt from her killer or a genuine question she asked because she saw her mom. I wonder if the killer was white or if it was a way to conceal his identity. He could have been white and hoped police would assume he had her lie. Letting your victim make a call is a risk because if you aren't a stranger they can identify you instead of following the script. Her youth might have been a reason he had her make the calls. He could have threatened her family. Ten year olds are more likely to believe that is real threat.

Interesting post as always. These are just theories to try and help in any way in these cases. My take is from what information there is on these cases is that the girl who made the call seemed fairly relaxed when she made it and not that frightened considering the situation she was in. It is easier is you are relaxed to tell the truth white rather than having someone already telling you to lie to your mother which would create fear and a red flag. Thanks.

 

[jaejae]

Interesting post as always. These are just theories to try and help in any way in these cases. My take is from what information there is on these cases is that the girl who made the call seemed fairly relaxed when she made it and not that frightened considering the situation she was in. It is easier is you are relaxed to tell the truth white rather than having someone already telling you to lie to your mother which would create fear and a red flag. Thanks.

The killers kick to me is getting the child to naturally make the call to her mother to say she was ok when knowing all the time she would be anything but safe at his hands. Very nasty of course.

 

[cherrymeg]

Interesting post as always. These are just theories to try and help in any way in these cases. My take is from what information there is on these cases is that the girl who made the call seemed fairly relaxed when she made it and not that frightened considering the situation she was in. It is easier is you are relaxed to tell the truth white rather than having someone already telling you to lie to your mother which would create fear and a red flag. Thanks.

https://beta.washingtonpost.com/lif...4d26ec-4e22-11e8-af46-b1d6dc0d9bfe_story.html

This one says she was upset when she talked to her sister. If the word "snatched" is correct it sounds like she was kidnapped and maybe even believed she was coming home. I just find that so sad that she heard her relatives voices and was found dead later. Sometimes adrenaline and fear can be calming because you are trying to stay alive. If you are already abducted and in a house with a man who has probably raped you need to pick a moment to get away. Or you are counting on him letting you go if you listen. Kids have kept secrets about be molested by people they know because of fear or shame or threats.
Brenda's killer could have been white. That article suggests the killer had her call home to see if her mother saw him because he was known to her. Where she was abducted from would a white man talking to a ten year old black girl have drawn attention?

 

[jaejae]

https://beta.washingtonpost.com/lif...4d26ec-4e22-11e8-af46-b1d6dc0d9bfe_story.html

This one says she was upset when she talked to her sister. If the word "snatched" is correct it sounds like she was kidnapped and maybe even believed she was coming home. I just find that so sad that she heard her relatives voices and was found dead later. Sometimes adrenaline and fear can be calming because you are trying to stay alive. If you are already abducted and in a house with a man who has probably raped you need to pick a moment to get away. Or you are counting on him letting you go if you listen. Kids have kept secrets about be molested by people they know because of fear or shame or threats.
Brenda's killer could have been white. That article suggests the killer had her call home to see if her mother saw him because he was known to her. Where she was abducted from would a white man talking to a ten year old black girl have drawn attention?

Thanks for the information and for putting me right on a few points. I agree with you that a white man talking to a black child in those neighbourhoods would draw attention but many in the communities I think thought it was a white man responsible for the crimes at the time. It is easy for me to say but it should not really make any difference to the investigation of the case whether the offender was white or black but in terms of the investigation it would have been a vital clue at the time.

 

[jaejae]

https://beta.washingtonpost.com/lif...4d26ec-4e22-11e8-af46-b1d6dc0d9bfe_story.html

This one says she was upset when she talked to her sister. If the word "snatched" is correct it sounds like she was kidnapped and maybe even believed she was coming home. I just find that so sad that she heard her relatives voices and was found dead later. Sometimes adrenaline and fear can be calming because you are trying to stay alive. If you are already abducted and in a house with a man who has probably raped you need to pick a moment to get away. Or you are counting on him letting you go if you listen. Kids have kept secrets about be molested by people they know because of fear or shame or threats.
Brenda's killer could have been white. That article suggests the killer had her call home to see if her mother saw him because he was known to her. Where she was abducted from would a white man talking to a ten year old black girl have drawn attention?

As I say thanks for pointing out she was upset here is the part of the above article you were referring to:

When she didn’t return after an hour, her mother went looking for her, while Crockett’s only sister, Bertha, 7, stayed at the house with their mother’s boyfriend. The phone rang at 9:20 p.m. It was Brenda. She told her sister that a white man “snatched” her up and took her somewhere in Virginia but was sending her home in a taxi. She was crying, Bertha recalls.

 

[cherrymeg]

Thanks for the information and for putting me right on a few points. I agree with you that a white man talking to a black child in those neighbourhoods would draw attention but many in the communities I think thought it was a white man responsible for the crimes at the time. It is easy for me to say but it should not really make any difference to the investigation of the case whether the offender was white or black but in terms of the investigation it would have been a vital clue at the time.

I was more asking if that area and at that time would a strange white man stand out. An adult man talking to young girls at malls or asking them for directions is now considered creepy now. Race narrows down suspects. If the guy was white and local, a store clerk, teacher, cop, someone that kids would see regularly, adults wouldn't think speaking to a kid was weird.
If you watched MindHunter on Netflix they focused on the Atlanta Child Killings. One of the FBI guys does an experiment by going up to a group of black kids in a playground area. The neighbors are already on alert. The kids don't trust him a neighbor tells him to leave them alone. I don't know if that is based on truth. I know there are debates about Wayne Williams and if he was the only one responsible.

If Brenda was killed by someone that knew her mom and was white that would eliminate black men in her life. By in her life I mean people she worked with encountered at stores, the bank, someone she would say hello to and know their name maybe.

 

[jaejae]

I was more asking if that area and at that time would a strange white man stand out. An adult man talking to young girls at malls or asking them for directions is now considered creepy now. Race narrows down suspects. If the guy was white and local, a store clerk, teacher, cop, someone that kids would see regularly, adults wouldn't think speaking to a kid was weird.
If you watched MindHunter on Netflix they focused on the Atlanta Child Killings. One of the FBI guys does an experiment by going up to a group of black kids in a playground area. The neighbors are already on alert. The kids don't trust him a neighbor tells him to leave them alone. I don't know if that is based on truth. I know there are debates about Wayne Williams and if he was the only one responsible.

If Brenda was killed by someone that knew her mom and was white that would eliminate black men in her life. By in her life I mean people she worked with encountered at stores, the bank, someone she would say hello to and know their name maybe.

I agree with you that a strange white guy would stand out although of course I have never lived in the US. I will look that up on Netflix. Of course I do not know who the offender is in this case but there are some similarities to the Oakland Child Murders where the children were washed as well. My suspect in other Virginian crimes would have only been more or less a boy himself at the time of these crimes. Interesting subjects although of course horrible though. Cheers.


Oakland County Child Killer - Wikipedia