After a deep dive into the four Colonial Parkway murders, Coombs and OConnell reviewed commonalities and dissimilarities in terms of location, treatment of bodies, method of murder, time and date, victims, motive, and crime scene. 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. Virginia's beautiful Colonial Parkway has a dark history of unsolved murders and disappearances. The investigations into all eight murders are ongoing and active, the Virginian Pilot reported. ET. The Colonial Parkway murders began here in Hampton Roads nearly 35 years ago. His investigation came to the startling conclusion that the murders were committed by multiple assailants and arent tied together. [7], In 2010, the Daily Virginian-Pilot ran a photo essay on the case entitled "A Cold Case Heats Up: The Colonial Parkway Murders"[8], In 2011, author Michelle McNamara, author of I'll Be Gone in the Dark, on the Golden State Killer, later an HBO series, published a two-part exploration of the Colonial Parkway murders in her True Crime Diary. Lauer's car, a gold 1972 Chevrolet Nova, was soon found abandoned at the I-64 New Kent rest stop in New Kent County and it was discovered to have been heading in the wrong direction, away from their intended Virginia Beach destination. The pair went on a date, seeing a movie and attending a party, on April 9, 1988. Murders all occurred, she said, within a 30-mile radius and all on a weekend or holiday., Moreover, the slayings occurred at night, and mostly in areas that look like lovers lanes. "Yes, this is a tragedy, but hope never dies," he shares. But she left with great regret because she had hoped to have the kind of career that my dad had.". However, Thomas claimed new tips come in "every week or two," giving hope that these cold cases can be solved today. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Daniel Plott, retired Virginia State Police, concurred. 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 FBI declined to comment on the status of DNA testing because the investigation is ongoing. The remains were too decomposed to reveal the manner of death. We dont need the reminder that these are cold cases.. Series co-host Maureen OConnell, a former FBI special agent, sees telltale signs to support this theory. My gut tells me that these cases are not connected, she said. While the search for answers continues, theories have emerged. On any given day, Thomas can be found behind his desk in his Connecticut home sifting through archives, reaching out to law enforcement and answering calls and emails about his sisters case. In 1986, a 23-mile scenic road run by the National Park Service in Virginia became indelibly linked with a series of double homicides that came to be called the Colonial Parkway murders. The evidence of the crime was kept intact by a fluke of fate when the diesel failed to ignite. In 1986, a 23-mile scenic road run by the National Park Service in Virginia became indelibly linked with a series of double homicides that came to be called the Colonial Parkway murders. They had both been shot in the head, execution-style. 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. "In 1986, DNA was barely out of the lab and it wasnt really used commonly in law enforcement applications. Weve got amazing investigators working on our case. Six weeks later, hunters found their remains. They also eventually helped organize some of the families. And unfortunately . They had been strangled with their throats cut. We had a good and long conversation about everything and started asking, What do we do and how do we get the word out? Call-Canada said. They were never seen again after that night. It is a pageantry of American history embroiled in dozens of tunnels and bridges that are incredibly charming and visually impacting. After nearly three decades, the parents who are alive, many in declining health, are still without answers. According to the special, gays and lesbians were banned from the Navy at the time and she had reportedly been investigated by nine agents. Four double homicides occurred on or near the Colonial Parkway in Virginia during the 1980s. All the victims were from different backgrounds and demographics, making a profile an incredibly difficult task. 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. Will mock murderers with glee. After speaking for hours with Call-Canada about their family members cases, the pair began planning their efforts to pressure law enforcement. On April 10, 1988, two kids from Christopher Newport University both perfect in-synched with the killers victim profile were reported missing after attending a party in Newport News during their first date together. DOOMSDAY MOM LORI VALLOW IS AN EVIL MONSTER WHO OBSESSED OVER END OF TIMES BEFORE CHILDREN'S DEATHS: DOC. When did it happen, and whos the culprit? But is it possible they are tragic, separate events? However, these victims were known to frequent the area on Thursday nights. Its difficult to imagine something as gruesome and shocking as a string of murders occurring on this seemingly safe road but thats exactly what happened decades ago. "She discovered after graduating from the Naval Academy that she was a lesbian. And it pains me to think that 34 years have gone by now. 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. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. So, who were the Colonial Parkway murder victims? 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. Advocate. WTVR News 6 in Richmond reported that there was additional DNA evidence available for testing in the Colonial Parkway murders. 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. He became a well-known whistleblower, and thanks to his action, the FBI was put under the proverbial microscope. The killer has never been caught. The series was published again by the paper in 2010. Williams and Winans were also a hate crime, no doubt perpetrated by the same killer. And in these 34 years, she would have done amazing things.". 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. (File photos). ", EMILIE MORRIS, THE FORMER STUDENT WHO DIED AFTER ACCUSING HER COACH OF ABUSE, BECOMES FOCUS OF TRUE-CRIME DOC. Cathy Thomas, 27, and Rebecca Dowski, 21, were strangled and had their throats cut in 1986; David Knobling, 20, and Robin Edwards, 14, were shot in 1987; Keith Call, 20, and Cassandra Hailey, 19, disappeared after a college party in 1988 and are still missing; and the remains of Annamaria Phelps, 18, and Daniel Lauer, 21, were found by hunters in 1989. Or could it be that four separate criminals were executing young people in the area? "That tells me that either they were getting ready because they thought they were pulled over by a police officer or park ranger or whoever approached them pretended to be a cop -- or was a cop, he said. On April 10, 1988, Christopher Newport University students Cassandra Lee Hailey, 18, and Richard Keith Call, 20, were reported missing after attending a party in the University Square area in Newport News during their first date together. If he receives what he believes to be a credible tip, he will then turn it over to the FBI. Oct. 12, 1986: The bodies of Cathleen Thomas, 27 and Rebecca Dowski, 21, were found at a pull-off on the parkway in Thomas Honda Civic, which had been pushed over an embankment. ", JONBENET RAMSEYS HALF BROTHER STILL WANTS TO FIND HER KILLER: THIS CASE CAN BE SOLVED, Part 1 and 2 of Oxygen's 'Lovers Lane Murders' airs Thursday night. A few key facts primarily that Davids black Ford Ranger pick-up truck was discovered with the side window partially rolled down that made investigators question whether the killer had ties to lay-enforcement or was posing as a police officer. Thomas said Cathy was "very upbeat and excited." They could be related, he said, adding that he doesnt see links among all four. Naval Academy in 1981 as part of its second class to admit women. The autopsy was inconclusive and could not determine whether a blade had slashed their throats or if they had been strangled to near decapitation. The Colonial Parkway Murders may be linked with other cases in Virginia around that time frame, including the 1996 murder of Alicia Showalter Reynolds in the Route 29 Stalker case, and the murder of hikers Julie Williams and Lollie Winans in the Shenadoah National Park . 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. For Teri and Paula Hailey, it is the hope that they and their parents will see justice. 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. Virginia's Colonial Parkway runs a relatively short 23 miles, from Jamestown to Yorkstown, passing through Williamsburg and thereby connecting all of Virginia's famous "Historic Triangle." Part of the Colonial National Historic Park, the scenic route is designed with sightseeing in mind. 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. Annamarie Phelps, top right, and Daniel Lauer, bottom right, disappeared Sept. 5, 1989. For two decades, the crime-scene pictures have been secret, critical evidence in the hunt for a serial murderer. The realization that his sister, Cathleen Thomas, was murdered on a scenic Virginia roadway. Just three days later, they were found murdered inside Thomas 1980 Honda Civic. IE 11 is not supported. However, on their way back to Virginia Beach to start a new chapter in their lives, they vanished. He believes itcame down to chance, he said. According to Moore, this new advancement has led to hundreds of arrests across the country. Within the past three and a half years, genetic genealogy has been responsible for solving approximately 350 cases. For more on the Colonial Parkway murders, watch Oxygens new limited series Lovers Lane Murders, airing Thursday, February 11 and Friday, February 12 at 9/8c and 10/9c. Because of the Colonial Parkways reputation, Thomas and Dowski could have been chosen at random. "[21], On January 15, 2021, the Oxygen Network announced that a four-part true crime series, Lovers Lane Murders would cover the Colonial Parkway murders. The bodies of Cathleen Thomas and Rebecca Dowski were found near this location in October of 1986. 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 killer could have been lying in wait specifically for them. It was considered a double murder. In 2010, the FBI arranged the first and, to date, only in-person meeting with all the families to discuss the status of the cases and field questions. "And it saddens me that Cathy Thomas would have been one of those women. Lauer and Phelps might have been a settlement of scores and was carried out by a professional, while Knobling and Edward were murdered following a robbery. The tone of his parents voice signaling something was wrong. She had everything going for her. The only thing found was Calls car on the parkway. For the families of the eight victims, it is yet another year spent searching for answers. "When Cathy and Becky were killed, we thought it might be a hate crime. Why are they still a hot button topic? 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. An autopsy found rope burns on their necks and wrists, signs of strangulation, their throats had been slashed, and diesel fuel was poured over the bodies and the car but the car failed to ignite. It connects Virginia's historic triangle: Jamestown, Williamsburg, and Yorktown. [But] we certainly were worried about harassment. The Colonial Parkway is a scenic, 23-mile stretch in Virginia that links the historic towns of Jamestown, Williamsburg, and Yorktown. LA County Criminal Prosecutor Loni Coombs and former FBI Special Agent Maureen OConnell are seen here speaking with Bill Thomas. Cathy was eager to introduce her new girlfriend to the family during Thanksgiving that year. Author of Unburied: True Crime Shorts https://www.amazon.com/Unburied-Crime-Shorts-Quinn-Zane-ebook/dp/B0BK5BGSYY, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=60693940, https://www.amazon.com/Unburied-Crime-Shorts-Quinn-Zane-ebook/dp/B0BK5BGSYY. To truly understand what happened, we need to embrace and dissect some of the more vivid, abhorrent, and gruesome aspects of the case. For Thomas, who has dedicated years of his life searching for answers, it is the hope that after three decades, his sisters cold case will be finally closed. 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. ", 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. [9], In 2013, the Colonial Parkway murders were profiled in the Investigation Discovery television series Dark Minds, with host and true crime author M. William Phelps. Unburieda true-crime blog with no illusions in the police, the privileged, or the powerful. He and Cassandra Hailey vanished while on their first date in 1988. So as long as theres something left to analyze, theres always hope that it will be solved through genetic genealogy.. They plan to write another soon. Nonetheless, inconclusive MRI scans appear to show that at least one of the bodies might have suffered knife wounds. Naval Academy in 1981, as part of its second class to admit women. [6] Former WTKR investigative reporter Mike Mather found that much of the evidence, stored for over two decades, had yet to be tested for DNA and other trace evidence. Why not just tell us that our case will never be a priority? In September 2009, it was discovered by CBS News affiliate WTKR that nearly 80 highly graphic crime scene photographs of Colonial Parkway murders victims were used to instruct a class by a retired and now deceased former FBI photographer. The second night airs Friday at 9 p.m. and 10 p.m. Was it a serial killer or a coincidence? According to Parabon NanoLabs Genetic Genealogist CeCe Moore, genetic genealogy involves linking DNA of unidentified bodies and/or potential suspects to relatives who have uploaded their DNA to genealogy sites that allow police to access their genetic information. 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.. From about October 1986 to September 1989, 8 people are presumed to have been murdered near Colonial Parkway in Eastern Virginia. Or could it be that four separate criminals were executing young people in the area? His newest endeavor is a podcast which he co-hosts with Kristin Dilley called Mind Over Murder. The podcast has extensively covered the Colonial Parkway cases, in addition to exploring other trends in crime, such as DNA advancement. Theyre very, very different in force and intensity. or redistributed. This question of serial killer or coincidence is explored in Oxygens new limited series. Each had been shot in the head. Call was a computer science major and an old soul in a way, his brother told Lovers Lane Murders.. They show how the Colonial Parkway Killer stalk 1 weather alerts 1 closings/delays 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. 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. [2] Thomas was working as a stockbroker at the time of the murder. Its still unclear what David Knobling, 20, and Robin Edwards, 14, were doing together the night of their murders in 1987. GARY HEIDNIKS ATTORNEY TALKS INSANE HOUSE OF HORRORS KILLER IN DOC: THERE WAS A METHOD TO HIS MADNESS', Cathy Thomas (left) andRebecca Ann Dowski were dating at the time of their murders. From 1986 to 1989, four double homicides occurred on or near the Colonial Parkway. The Virginia State Police did a casual investigation, during the panic galvanized by the murders, of Camp Peary and its soldiers. He told Lovers Lane Murders that it suggests the driver was responding to authority. (Bill Tiernan). Market data provided by Factset. A typically tranquil area, no one expected the Parkway to be the setting for a gruesome string of murders. Green jumper the killer wore. But when the other crimes started taking place, year after year, youre just shocked This person may have a law enforcement background or at least understand how law enforcement works.". 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. All of the slayings, known as "The Colonial Parkway Murders," are stillunsolved. The series made its debut on February 1112, 2021. The Colonial Parkway is a twenty-three mile scenic roadway stretching from the York River at Yorktown to the James River at Jamestown. 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. Since October 1986, 10 On Your Side has covered what are now known as the "Colonial Parkway murders." There were four double homicides. A more micro look reveals that victims werent all killed in the same way. And attending a party, on April 9, 1988 three decades, FBI., very different in force and intensity Teri and Paula Hailey, is. 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