VA VA - The Colonial Parkway Murders, 1986-89

  • #381
Proud to have worked as a Consulting Producer on "Lover's Lane Murders" true crime television series covering the unsolved Colonial Parkway Murders, making its debut on the Oxygen Network (NBC Universal) February 11-12, 2021.

Executive Produced by the incredible teams at XG Productions and Texas Crew Productions.

#LoversLaneMurders #ColonialParkwayMurders #truecrime #FBI #VirginiaStatePolice


www.oxygen.com/lovers-lane-murders/season-1/videos/lovers-lane-murders-premieres-february-11th

Fantastic, Bill! I'm going to watch these today and tonight. I hope this generates some new information, especially among locals who know the area.
 
  • #382
I haven't read the Colonial Parkway history yet, I've been focused on the 1918 Spanish Flu outbreak and the history of Cheatham Annex/Penniman General Ordnance Depot's death toll (surprising, especially how Dupont responded), but I will look for more on the parkway.

I don't recall radar being on the parkway while I was growing up. There weren't any traffic lines on that particular roadway and the lanes were extra wide which actually made it easy to avoid deer or pass other drivers while speeding down it at night. I know my friends and I would drive 60-80 mph routinely (probably faster on a few occasions) at night from where I lived out near Jamestown to get to Yorktown and the bridge to Gloucester Point where some of my friends lived - never had so much as a ticket or a warning. During the day, Yorktown beach and the picnic area doesn't seem isolated, but at night, you can scream bloody murder and no one will come - I know this first hand as the victim of a violent crime there in the 1990's which had nothing to do with the parkway murders (I saw my perpetrators), but nobody's going to hear screams and if they do, they're not going to be able to see where they're coming from anyway due to the lack of lights (back then, not sure about lighting now).

I've always thought that the Colonial Parkway killer was somehow connected to the military (currently serving at that time, retired/unenlisted or discharged) and that was before I knew about one of the victims being from the Navy. Now I'm even more convinced. For those not familiar with the area, here's a list of military bases between Norfolk and Wmsbg in order of proximity to the crime scenes starting with the most Northward location: (note it is only 95 miles between the most distal bases listed below)
1. Fort Lee Army Base (in Prince George, VA which is not far from New Kent and closest to Lauer/Phelps location)
2. Camp Peary (Williamsburg, VA and centrally located between crime scenes of Lauer/Phelps and both Thomas/Dowski and Hailey/Call)
3. Cheatham Annex Naval Weapons Station Yorktown (Yorktown, VA and closest to Thomas/Dowski location)
4. Coast Guard Training Center, Coast Guard Base at Yorktown (closest to Hailey/Call location)
5. Fort Eustis Army Base (Newport News, VA)
6. Langley Air Force Base (in Hampton, VA not the same as Langley, VA with CIA Headquarters that is in Fairfax County, VA outside of Washington, DC it's different than AFB)
7. Fort Monroe Army Base (Hampton, VA closest to Knobling/Edwards location)
8. Naval Station Norfolk Naval Base (Norfolk, VA)
9. Naval Support Activity (physically located within NS Norfolk #8 Southside of base)
10. Navy Medical Center Portsmouth (Portsmouth, VA)
11. Sector Hampton Roads Coast Guard Base (Portsmouth, VA)
12. Norfolk Naval Shipyard (Portsmouth, VA and different than the Naval Base and in a different geographic location)
13. Coast Guard Finance Center (commissioned in 1989, but prior to that there was 1 of this type of office for every few bases, so there was a military office in the area, but I don't know if it was at this same location)
14. Little Creek Naval Air Base (Norfolk, VA East of #8)
15. Fort Story Army Base (Virginia Beach, VA and in 2009 formed Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story)
16. Naval Air Station Oceana (again separate base, in Virginia Beach, VA)
17. Naval Support Activity Northwest Annex Navy Base (again separate base, in Chesapeake, VA)

An excellent resource for a map of VA bases (I did NOT include all the bases in VA which include some located closer to the Shanendoah Mountains) is here:
Virginia Military Bases | MilitaryBases.com

I encourage you to use the 'Learn more..." link for each base to see how diverse, specialized, and relationships between bases. I lived on a few VA bases and have visited 4-5 of them listed above either while my dad was still in the military or after he retired. Back at the time of the murders, it wasn't unusual to have access to multiple bases and it is surprising how much resources were shared or utilized by amongst the bases. It was extremely common to run into people that you knew from other bases all over the world, regardless of the branch of service, especially in an area with such a high concentration of bases. So just because one of the victims was from the Navy in Norfolk, don't assume that someone that knew her from Norfolk didn't run across her by chance in the Wmsbg area and maybe had some animosity towards her specifically or homosexuals in general that triggered upon seeing her out with her girlfriend. The killer would feel safer in attacking because there wouldn't be a close tie, assuming the first victims weren't completely random.

I firmly believe the killer was most likely connected to the military in some way. The partial list above doesn't even include the numerous government contractors that work on any of those bases and it was common for people to go to work for contractors after their term was up or they retired. Several contractors would do work on multiple bases for each of the branches (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, or National Guard). Any of those branches may have gone to Ft. Story, for example, to train because of the diverse terrain, especially amphibious training. I think military/CIA training rather than LE training would be more conducive for a killer. We don't train LE to specifically kill even though use of lethal force is included; however, a major function within the military is to attack and kill as part of the defense of our country. It's critical to our freedom that the military be trained to do so.

I think entirely too much time and too many resources have been spent focused on LE! And I think one of the reasons why is because the suspect pool for a military suspect is dauntingly massive - they're so mobile, but that would also explain why the murders in VA stopped. I would love to see a database of similar crimes and their proximity to military bases starting after the VA murders stopped, covering the next decade. Anything after a decade wouldn't be as applicable based on my assumption of the killer getting out of the military before or at retirement which starts at 20 yrs of service. There are misfits and criminals within the ranks of the military just like civilian society.

The method of murder for Thomas/Dowski did seem like it was an early or possibly the first time the killer escalated to homicide (which happened to also be homocide in this case); however, I think it's highly unlikely that it was the first criminal act committed by the killer. If the person was military, earlier crimes or infractions would have been reported to and discipline proceedings would have been handled by the military and those records would be on file within the military and the military isn't known for their willingness to share data with civilian or outside agencies. In an area like Hampton Roads, I could easily understand if less serious (let's face it, everything is less serious than murder) crimes would likely just be called over to the base for the commanding officer to handle instead of taking the time to fill out civilian paperwork by the local police dept. Does anyone in LE in the Hampton Roads area (or other area with a high concentration of military bases) disagree with that? The policy was probably to fill out a report first, but the actual practice may have been different.

What does everyone think is a high probably precursory crime prior to these murders? I think stalking and some kind of abuse/anger/aggression towards a former girlfriend and new boyfriend or former girlfriend that found herself a girlfriend (someone that was exploring homosexuality). This killer hated couples and newfound love.

Welcome @MissPDottie and great post! Good guesses on precursor crimes. I would also add "peeping Tom" and voyeuristic type activities, especially in Lover's Lane areas. Back in the day, those kind of crimes were considered "harmless". Also possible LE might find him lurking in a lover's lane area and not realize he was watching couples. Could have just sent him on his way with a warning about loitering.
 
  • #383
Just watched the Lovers Lane episodes.
As to why Knobling and Edwards drove so far. The episode stated that they left a party and the car was found abandoned at CP. It also stated an open beer was on the floor in the back seat. Just my observation but perhaps they were giving someone a ride from the party and they were in the backseat and they directed them back towards the Parkway. I think this because you don’t just buy one beer on a date on your way home. What happened to the rest of the six pack or other beverages. Was there fingerprints or DNA on the can?
A very professional and informative episode.
It also sounds like this business of not using/sharing/limiting familial DNA is ridiculous. This needs to be fixed NOW!

Thanks
MichMan015
 
  • #384
The case of David Lee Knobling and Robin Edwards intrigue me. I am curious why the two would drive 18+ miles across the James River Bridge and park at Ragged Island, which is in New Carrollton, VA. I am from the area and did a lot of parking lot making out sessions. Never did I drive that distance!
Joe:

They drove a much shorter distance. The James River Bridge is 4.5 miles long and the Ragged Island Wildlife Management Area is right across the bridge. I would say David drove 6 miles tops.


Thanks.


Bill Thomas
 
  • #385
I did the same when in Highschool we would drive the CP and all over the dark back roads of James City County, Williamsburg, and York Town and go as fast as we could. We also hung around York Town Beach late at night, again isolated and very dark. Even driving there, the roads are dark and remote. Not a lot of patrols in the area either.

I would agree with the military connection. I could not locate data for the 1980s. Still, the 2015-2019 Census Veteran population for Hampton Roads is 203, 698 I did filter for all the locales for Hampton Roads. However, only 1.1% of the people for Hampton Roads during the 1980s through 1989 is 3,007,216, and the approximate active-duty population is 83,000 again; I could not find data for the 1980’s so, one would need to +/- for errors. Geographically the “killer” or “Killers” can travel long distances to commit crimes. I know people are tired of comparing Golden State, but he traveled to multiple areas to commit crimes. Sam Little killed 90 people. The fascinating story of Israel Keyes, who lived in Alaska but hunted in the lower 48.

We should apply lessons learned from previous cases and not rule out the LEO connect. For example, the Golden State was LEO but fired for stealing. Did the task force research all LEO dating back ten years who were fired for either psychological, behavior, or others? I do not buy into the CIA operative training theory that those on Perry were too busy learning how to hunt Russians or know what else. Growing up in Newport News, besides the military personnel moving in and out, I do not recall Hampton Roads being a transient area. For as large of an area, I felt connected growing up, and you knew everyone or could run into someone at any time. That is why I believe it’s a local person with local connections, and they used the CP to hunt and terrorize.

I agree with you the killings were an escalation of violence, and the “killer” or “killers” hunted before but in a different mannerism. I am curious what other crimes were compared or researched for possible ties to the CP killings?
I haven't read the Colonial Parkway history yet, I've been focused on the 1918 Spanish Flu outbreak and the history of Cheatham Annex/Penniman General Ordnance Depot's death toll (surprising, especially how Dupont responded), but I will look for more on the parkway.

I don't recall radar being on the parkway while I was growing up. There weren't any traffic lines on that particular roadway and the lanes were extra wide which actually made it easy to avoid deer or pass other drivers while speeding down it at night. I know my friends and I would drive 60-80 mph routinely (probably faster on a few occasions) at night from where I lived out near Jamestown to get to Yorktown and the bridge to Gloucester Point where some of my friends lived - never had so much as a ticket or a warning. During the day, Yorktown beach and the picnic area doesn't seem isolated, but at night, you can scream bloody murder and no one will come - I know this first hand as the victim of a violent crime there in the 1990's which had nothing to do with the parkway murders (I saw my perpetrators), but nobody's going to hear screams and if they do, they're not going to be able to see where they're coming from anyway due to the lack of lights (back then, not sure about lighting now).

I've always thought that the Colonial Parkway killer was somehow connected to the military (currently serving at that time, retired/unenlisted or discharged) and that was before I knew about one of the victims being from the Navy. Now I'm even more convinced. For those not familiar with the area, here's a list of military bases between Norfolk and Wmsbg in order of proximity to the crime scenes starting with the most Northward location: (note it is only 95 miles between the most distal bases listed below)
1. Fort Lee Army Base (in Prince George, VA which is not far from New Kent and closest to Lauer/Phelps location)
2. Camp Peary (Williamsburg, VA and centrally located between crime scenes of Lauer/Phelps and both Thomas/Dowski and Hailey/Call)
3. Cheatham Annex Naval Weapons Station Yorktown (Yorktown, VA and closest to Thomas/Dowski location)
4. Coast Guard Training Center, Coast Guard Base at Yorktown (closest to Hailey/Call location)
5. Fort Eustis Army Base (Newport News, VA)
6. Langley Air Force Base (in Hampton, VA not the same as Langley, VA with CIA Headquarters that is in Fairfax County, VA outside of Washington, DC it's different than AFB)
7. Fort Monroe Army Base (Hampton, VA closest to Knobling/Edwards location)
8. Naval Station Norfolk Naval Base (Norfolk, VA)
9. Naval Support Activity (physically located within NS Norfolk #8 Southside of base)
10. Navy Medical Center Portsmouth (Portsmouth, VA)
11. Sector Hampton Roads Coast Guard Base (Portsmouth, VA)
12. Norfolk Naval Shipyard (Portsmouth, VA and different than the Naval Base and in a different geographic location)
13. Coast Guard Finance Center (commissioned in 1989, but prior to that there was 1 of this type of office for every few bases, so there was a military office in the area, but I don't know if it was at this same location)
14. Little Creek Naval Air Base (Norfolk, VA East of #8)
15. Fort Story Army Base (Virginia Beach, VA and in 2009 formed Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story)
16. Naval Air Station Oceana (again separate base, in Virginia Beach, VA)
17. Naval Support Activity Northwest Annex Navy Base (again separate base, in Chesapeake, VA)

An excellent resource for a map of VA bases (I did NOT include all the bases in VA which include some located closer to the Shanendoah Mountains) is here:
Virginia Military Bases | MilitaryBases.com

I encourage you to use the 'Learn more..." link for each base to see how diverse, specialized, and relationships between bases. I lived on a few VA bases and have visited 4-5 of them listed above either while my dad was still in the military or after he retired. Back at the time of the murders, it wasn't unusual to have access to multiple bases and it is surprising how much resources were shared or utilized by amongst the bases. It was extremely common to run into people that you knew from other bases all over the world, regardless of the branch of service, especially in an area with such a high concentration of bases. So just because one of the victims was from the Navy in Norfolk, don't assume that someone that knew her from Norfolk didn't run across her by chance in the Wmsbg area and maybe had some animosity towards her specifically or homosexuals in general that triggered upon seeing her out with her girlfriend. The killer would feel safer in attacking because there wouldn't be a close tie, assuming the first victims weren't completely random.

I firmly believe the killer was most likely connected to the military in some way. The partial list above doesn't even include the numerous government contractors that work on any of those bases and it was common for people to go to work for contractors after their term was up or they retired. Several contractors would do work on multiple bases for each of the branches (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, or National Guard). Any of those branches may have gone to Ft. Story, for example, to train because of the diverse terrain, especially amphibious training. I think military/CIA training rather than LE training would be more conducive for a killer. We don't train LE to specifically kill even though use of lethal force is included; however, a major function within the military is to attack and kill as part of the defense of our country. It's critical to our freedom that the military be trained to do so.

I think entirely too much time and too many resources have been spent focused on LE! And I think one of the reasons why is because the suspect pool for a military suspect is dauntingly massive - they're so mobile, but that would also explain why the murders in VA stopped. I would love to see a database of similar crimes and their proximity to military bases starting after the VA murders stopped, covering the next decade. Anything after a decade wouldn't be as applicable based on my assumption of the killer getting out of the military before or at retirement which starts at 20 yrs of service. There are misfits and criminals within the ranks of the military just like civilian society.

The method of murder for Thomas/Dowski did seem like it was an early or possibly the first time the killer escalated to homicide (which happened to also be homocide in this case); however, I think it's highly unlikely that it was the first criminal act committed by the killer. If the person was military, earlier crimes or infractions would have been reported to and discipline proceedings would have been handled by the military and those records would be on file within the military and the military isn't known for their willingness to share data with civilian or outside agencies. In an area like Hampton Roads, I could easily understand if less serious (let's face it, everything is less serious than murder) crimes would likely just be called over to the base for the commanding officer to handle instead of taking the time to fill out civilian paperwork by the local police dept. Does anyone in LE in the Hampton Roads area (or other area with a high concentration of military bases) disagree with that? The policy was probably to fill out a report first, but the actual practice may have been different.

What does everyone think is a high probably precursory crime prior to these murders? I think stalking and some kind of abuse/anger/aggression towards a former girlfriend and new boyfriend or former girlfriend that found herself a girlfriend (someone that was exploring homosexuality). This killer hated couples and newfound love.
 
  • #386
Excellent post, MissPDottie!

I think the military connection to Cathy and and Becky's murder is very strong. Cathy had left the Navy less than 5 months before she was murdered.

Thank you.


Bill Thomas, Brother of Cathy Thomas, Colonial Parkway Murders
 
  • #387
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."

Mind Over Murder podcast: Mind Over Murder • A podcast on Anchor

Bill Thomas, Brother of Cathy Thomas, Colonial Parkway Murders
 
  • #388
Having just watched the documentary, ill comment briefly , that I still feel that there are not enough similarities to link these murders (in one case, disappearance) to a single offender.

At least from what I have seen, those with more information may be able to prove otherwise.

Again my opinion
 
  • #389
Having just watched the documentary, ill comment briefly , that I still feel that there are not enough similarities to link these murders (in one case, disappearance) to a single offender.

At least from what I have seen, those with more information may be able to prove otherwise.

Again my opinion
What’s your thought on active areas not having multiple serial killers?
 
  • #390
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."

Mind Over Murder podcast: Mind Over Murder • A podcast on Anchor

Bill Thomas, Brother of Cathy Thomas, Colonial Parkway Murders
Thank you, sir, for all that your family has done so far. Hopefully, someday, you see justice and have answers.
 
  • #391
What’s your thought on active areas not having multiple serial killers?

Im not sure what you are asking what do you mean active areas?
 
  • #392
Im not sure what you are asking what do you mean active areas?

Having two serial killers active in the
same area.
 
  • #393
I saw the first installment to "Lovers Lane Murders" last night and started thinking outside the box on this one. To begin with, I think there are at least 2 or even 3 killers involved in these cases. Perhaps one of them a "copycat" killer. Also - if the killers in question were stationed at one of the military bases near the Parkway - is there any possibility they spent time at another one outside the state of Virginia?

October 12, 1986; September 20, 1987; April 10, 1988 and September 5, 1989. Once a year over a four year span. I find that peculiar even for a serial killer, if there is one. What did he do during the rest of the year?

Did the killer(s) possess a mindset of "If I kill only one couple a year, dump them here, I won't get caught"?

Also - while we know that Cathy and Becky's murders were overkill with the slit throat - is there any evidence that anything besides the knife was used as a means of force upon them? Might the killer(s) also have a gun in one hand, the knife in the other? If there were two killers in Cathy and Becky's case, would one of them have a knife, the other one, a gun? Could the gun be used to knock them out (knock them on the head using the breech) when the girls put up a fight, before using the knife on them? The first case seems to be the only one where a knife was used although we cannot be sure of how Cassandra and Keith died. The last two cases, a gun was used.

Lastly - was the killer stationed somewhere else during part of the year, say, Florida? Considering the dates of the murders, there is a likelihood of the killers "blending in" with the rest of the people who come down here after Labor Day then leave between April 1 to May.

Will have to watch the other installments to the "Lovers Lane Murders".
 
  • #394
Also want to add and I think I mentioned this upthread - it would be helpful if the vehicle the killer(s) used in these cases was parked on military property.
 
  • #395
... if the killers in question were stationed at one of the military bases near the Parkway - is there any possibility they spent time at another one outside the state of Virginia?

October 12, 1986; September 20, 1987; April 10, 1988 and September 5, 1989. Once a year over a four year span. I find that peculiar even for a serial killer, if there is one. What did he do during the rest of the year?....

You bring up a good point regarding the apparent pattern of dates and the idea that the killer (or killers) might have a military connection.

Consider this possibility: What about a Reservist who only came into the area for a two week period each year - spending the rest of the year in another state where his home was.

One serial killer who comes to my mind and who might fit such a scenario is Dennis Bowman, a Naval Reservist from Michigan. In September of 1980, Bowman broke into the home of Kathleen O'Brien Doyle, raped and murdered her.

See: GUILTY - VA - Kathleen O'Brien Doyle, 25, Murdered, Virginia Beach, 11 Sept 1980 *arrest in 2019*

Bowman was convicted of of Kathleen's murder in Virginia, and then was extradited to Michigan to stand trial for murdering his own step daughter, Aundria Bowman. See this link to her websleuth thread:

Found Deceased - MI - Aundria Michelle Bowman, 14, Holland, 11 March 1989 *located 2020, adoptive father arrested*
 
  • #396
Having two serial killers active in the
same area.

It has happened, but first you must remember that serial murder is EXCEEDINGLY rare , and many cases, can have similar looking factors on its face

California, Texas and Florida have had cases, happening concurrently in the past.

For example, The Calder oil fields "Texas Killing Fields" are a good example though it has yet to be proven that it was several serial offenders in the same area , it seems "likely" in a few cases, but until they are solved we cant say whether or not that holds true

In the Texas cases, I feel at least 2 serial offenders seem to have been operating in the same area .

However In this case, im not sure theres even 1 serial offender responsible, and I dont think Im alone in that

Given double homicides are rare, and in this case we have 4 (possibly 5) all in a 60 mile radius, though its rare , it doesn't seem to exhibit the characteristics of serial murder or murderers

What we look for in serial cases is what is called "Personation" when this is repeated over separate crimes, we call it "Signature" In this case, theres little of the same "sentiment" repeated over several different cases, the offender may change the way they do things but theyll never change the why , that doesn't happen, MO which is the "how" they operate, "signature" is the WHY , its the reason they do what they do .

MO can, will and does change over time as they get better at what they so , but the signature, the reason they are doing it , never will .

The signature exhibits the psychological needs of the offender .

In the Colonial parkway case. it seems like you have several different motives, though the areas in which they were committed were similar and it involved couples, on weekends or holidays.

In one case, it appears a car was dumped there with the hopes it would be linked to the ongoing cases in the area .

Beyond that There lies speculation, was it a serial killer ? ..Possibly, I don't think so , I could be wrong, I respect the hell out of Jim Clemente and his experience certainly trumps mine, and he seems to indicate in the documentary that he feels its possible, However other investigators did not. ......But again, if it isn't wasn't then that isn't any better , as now you have a group of killers (not out of the realm of possibility either) all running around the same area.
 
  • #397
It has happened, but first you must remember that serial murder is EXCEEDINGLY rare , and many cases, can have similar looking factors on its face

California, Texas and Florida have had cases, happening concurrently in the past.

For example, The Calder oil fields "Texas Killing Fields" are a good example though it has yet to be proven that it was several serial offenders in the same area , it seems "likely" in a few cases, but until they are solved we cant say whether or not that holds true

In the Texas cases, I feel at least 2 serial offenders seem to have been operating in the same area .

However In this case, im not sure theres even 1 serial offender responsible, and I dont think Im alone in that

Given double homicides are rare, and in this case we have 4 (possibly 5) all in a 60 mile radius, though its rare , it doesn't seem to exhibit the characteristics of serial murder or murderers

What we look for in serial cases is what is called "Personation" when this is repeated over separate crimes, we call it "Signature" In this case, theres little of the same "sentiment" repeated over several different cases, the offender may change the way they do things but theyll never change the why , that doesn't happen, MO which is the "how" they operate, "signature" is the WHY , its the reason they do what they do .

MO can, will and does change over time as they get better at what they so , but the signature, the reason they are doing it , never will .

The signature exhibits the psychological needs of the offender .

In the Colonial parkway case. it seems like you have several different motives, though the areas in which they were committed were similar and it involved couples, on weekends or holidays.

In one case, it appears a car was dumped there with the hopes it would be linked to the ongoing cases in the area .

Beyond that There lies speculation, was it a serial killer ? ..Possibly, I don't think so , I could be wrong, I respect the hell out of Jim Clemente and his experience certainly trumps mine, and he seems to indicate in the documentary that he feels its possible, However other investigators did not. ......But again, if it isn't wasn't then that isn't any better , as now you have a group of killers (not out of the realm of possibility either) all running around the same area.

What do you mean by exceedingly rare? I had to look it up during 1987 there were 138 SK’s given the population size, I'm certain that’s a small percentage. However, 2019 there were 2 which, I find odd. My question came from the Richard Evonitz out of Spotsylvania County, VA and at the same time you had the Route 29 And Shenandoah And investigators Mentioned not Having simultaneously Multiple killers.

I am on the Jim Clemente bandwagon; I find it problematic that it wasn't an SK. I going down the rabbit hole but is it possible for a person to use Interstate 64 as a hunting ground?

I came across Kimberly Jane Britts case on the Charley Project. What stuck out was her car “abandoned at on Interstate 64 east, at the Route 616 exit ramp”. It’s similar to the car found on 64 at the Rest stop exit ramp. Kimberly’s murder is one year before.

Also, there's the Julianne “Julie” Williams, and Lollie Winans case in the Shenandoah. It's circumstantial but nonetheless interesting.
 
  • #398
It has happened, but first you must remember that serial murder is EXCEEDINGLY rare , and many cases, can have similar looking factors on its face

California, Texas and Florida have had cases, happening concurrently in the past.

For example, The Calder oil fields "Texas Killing Fields" are a good example though it has yet to be proven that it was several serial offenders in the same area , it seems "likely" in a few cases, but until they are solved we cant say whether or not that holds true

In the Texas cases, I feel at least 2 serial offenders seem to have been operating in the same area .

However In this case, im not sure theres even 1 serial offender responsible, and I dont think Im alone in that

Given double homicides are rare, and in this case we have 4 (possibly 5) all in a 60 mile radius, though its rare , it doesn't seem to exhibit the characteristics of serial murder or murderers

What we look for in serial cases is what is called "Personation" when this is repeated over separate crimes, we call it "Signature" In this case, theres little of the same "sentiment" repeated over several different cases, the offender may change the way they do things but theyll never change the why , that doesn't happen, MO which is the "how" they operate, "signature" is the WHY , its the reason they do what they do .

MO can, will and does change over time as they get better at what they so , but the signature, the reason they are doing it , never will .

The signature exhibits the psychological needs of the offender .

In the Colonial parkway case. it seems like you have several different motives, though the areas in which they were committed were similar and it involved couples, on weekends or holidays.

In one case, it appears a car was dumped there with the hopes it would be linked to the ongoing cases in the area .

Beyond that There lies speculation, was it a serial killer ? ..Possibly, I don't think so , I could be wrong, I respect the hell out of Jim Clemente and his experience certainly trumps mine, and he seems to indicate in the documentary that he feels its possible, However other investigators did not. ......But again, if it isn't wasn't then that isn't any better , as now you have a group of killers (not out of the realm of possibility either) all running around the same area.

I do not buy into the pseudoscience of criminal profiling. Physical location should always override any presumptive theoretical interpretations of the "psychological needs" of an offender, in my opinion.
 
  • #399
I do not buy into the pseudoscience of criminal profiling. Physical location should always override any presumptive theoretical interpretations of the "psychological needs" of an offender, in my opinion.

Youd be hard pressed in a large metropolitan area then , Philadelphia for ex had over 600 homicides something like 300 in 2 neighborhoods alone
 
  • #400
I do not buy into the pseudoscience of criminal profiling. Physical location should always override any presumptive theoretical interpretations of the "psychological needs" of an offender, in my opinion.
I agree there's more we don't know then We do know. Israel Keyes changed my opinion real fast! There are way too many unknowns than knowns.
 

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