Oct. 26, 2018. The second Annamaria and Daniel were reported missing, the red-flags went up, and the district devolved into a panic. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. To his knowledge, the DNA still has not been tested. [citation needed], In January 2010, a team from FBI Norfolk and FBI Headquarters met with the victims' families to update them on the status of the investigation. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Daniel Plott, retired Virginia State Police, concurred. 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. At the time of her death, Cathy was dating Dowski, a student at the College of William and Mary. All of the victims were young, White, and were either a romantic couple or could resemble one to an outsider. [19], On July 30, 2019, The Washington Post ran a story on the search for answers in the Colonial Parkway murders and other cases titled Victims, Families and America's Thirst for True-Crime Stories [20], On September 17, 2020, the publication Forensic Genomics published an article by family member Bill Thomas covering the Colonial Parkway murders entitled "The Family Perspective. For two decades, the crime-scene pictures have been secret, critical evidence in the hunt for a serial murderer. Paula and Teri Hailey, Cassandra Haileys sisters, have written letters over the years to the FBI pleading for answers. Naval Academy in 1981 as part of its second class to admit women. According to the special, gays and lesbians were banned from the Navy at the time and she had reportedly been investigated by nine agents. Gays and lesbians were banned from the Navy at that time, and she had been investigated by nine agents regarding her sexuality, her brother told producers. They also eventually helped organize some of the families. (Oxygen), "She had been very sorry to leave the Navy after five years, but she didnt feel that it was welcoming for her as a gay woman," said Thomas. He also helps manage a Facebook page, Colonial Parkway Murders, with 14,000 followers, which aims to build awareness of the four cases. Steve Spingola, former Milwaukee homicide detective, investigated the murders on behalf of the families. Multiple reports alleged Edwards had snuck out to meet Knobling before they were killed. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, Thomas, who was in Los Angeles at the time, had seen a story on WTKR detailing how sensitive photos in the Colonial Parkway murders were leaked to the public. Then people are more likely to care, finished Teri Hailey. The remains were too decomposed to reveal the manner of death. Paula is now Paula Meehan and Teri is now Teri Barzditis. Knobling lived in Hampton while he worked for his fathers landscaping business, and was expecting a baby with his longtime girlfriend. He believes itcame down to chance, he said. Lovers Lane Murders, a new four-part Oxygen series, 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. In 2008, E! "[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. 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. Inside The Unsolved Cases", "Inside the Maddening Search for Virginia's Colonial Parkway Serial Killer", "New Investigator Looking into the Colonial Parkway Murders", "New details published in Colonial Parkway murders", "Is note a break in Colonial Parkway murders? The autopsy was inconclusive and could not determine whether a blade had slashed their throats or if they had been strangled to near decapitation. Im the older brother of Cathy Thomas who together with her girlfriend Rebecca Dowski were the first two victims in the so-called Colonial Parkway Murders, he wrote. According to Thomas, three out of the four cases have DNA evidence. Keith Call, top row and third to the left, and Cassandra Hailey disappeared April 10, 1988. The remains were too decomposed to reveal the manner of death. By all accounts, his truck was his prized possession, so family members knew right away something was terribly wrong when it was found abandoned, the Virginian Pilot reported. ", 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 more micro look reveals that victims werent all killed in the same way. My name is Bill Thomas. Was The Colonial Parkway Killer Pretending To Be Law Enforcement? Their bodies uncovered in Virginias Shenandoah National Park. The bodies of Cathleen Thomas and Rebecca Dowski were found near this location in October of 1986. However, her sister, Janette Santiago, told Lovers Lane Murders that Edwards, who she described as full of energy and not afraid of anything, had entered therapy and made remarkable progress in the months before her death. Thomas said Cathy was "very upbeat and excited." Now, more than 10 years later, the families are pushing for another meeting. The FBI got involved, even asking Russia to view satellite footage of the area, but no one was ever arrested. This question of serial killer or coincidence is explored in Oxygens new limited series. But is it possible they are tragic, separate events? Did The Colonial Parkway Victims Know The Killer? It was the first of several gruesome murders. The sightseeing is prime. There is this allure of serial killers, said, Steve Spingola, former homicide detective and author of. The first known victims there could very well have been others before that havent been uncovered or linked to the case were Cathleen Thomas, 27, and Rebecca Ann Dowski, 21. The Colonial Parkway murders were a series of four double homicides from 1986-89. Theory: A Savage Hate Crime Set Off The Series Of Killings, In the 1980s, the Colonial Parkway was known as a gay lovers lane, according to, It was known, not only by the homosexual community, but by the haters of the homosexual community, he said. Though two slayings took place on the actual parkway and two were in nearby areas, all four are tied together by the name, the Colonial Parkway Murders. 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. For the families linked by the Colonial Parkway Murders, it means that DNA discovered at the crime scenes could, one day, solve the cases. Here are prominent theories that have been put forth over the years. Calls beloved Toyota Celica was discovered at a York River overlook, just a few miles from where Thomas and Dowski had been murdered two years prior. Once more, there were no signs of sexual assault or robbery. Still, some investigators are on the fence and dont want to definitively classify their disappearance as part of the serial killers cycle. They show how the Colonial Parkway Killer stalk 1 weather alerts 1 closings/delays 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. Becky was collateral damage.. Beckys wound isnt as deep as Cathys wound, Pettler added. And. Call was a computer science major and an old soul in a way, his brother told Lovers Lane Murders.. Four cases link families, scenic parkway; Dateline NBC Crime Capsule "The Killer Could Still be out There": 30 years later, still no answers in the Colonial Parkway Murders; Investigation Discovery Crimefeed; Family: New DNA testing could crack Colonial Parkway Murders; Virginia Pilot - 3 part series Part 1 - Agent stalks dark path of . The sun begins to set Tuesday evening September 27, 2016 near an overlook along the Colonial Parkway. 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. Or could it be that four separate criminals were executing young people in the area? Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! 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. Now, it is up to the victims siblings to carry the torch. The following episode continues to examine the initial Colonial Parkway homicide, but the case is still unsolved when a new double murder takes place less than a year later. Fred was always vocal about the case to the point that he had strong opinions on who the killer was. In October 1986, the bodies of Cathy Thomas and Rebecca Dowski were discovered inside the 1980 Honda Civic that belonged to Thomass sibling. It appears that Thomas may have struggled with her attacker as a clump of hair was later found between her fingers. The Colonial Parkway murders . Their bodies have never been found, but both are presumed dead. Though both are presumed dead, their bodies have never been found. The series was published again by the paper in 2010. Easily add multiple stops, see live traffic and road conditions. [14], On June 25, 2018, editors at Listverse released a new article, "Ten Disturbing Facts About the Colonial Parkway Murders. 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. Cathy Thomas, 27, and Rebecca Dowski, 21, had been dating for several months when they went out for food on October 9, 1986. But youre always reminded, in little ways, who is here and who is not., Em Holter, emily.holter@virginiamedia.com, 757-256-6657, @EmHolterNews, Abigail Adcox, abigail.adcox@virginiamedia.com, 757-264-8149, @abigailadcox. The thoroughfare is partially maintained by the National Park Service because it's an iconic piece of pavement that connects some of the country's most historic cities. 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. Stoking this belief is the fact that victims car windows were found rolled down at crime scenes, according to Irvin Wells, retired FBI special agent. This year, he would have been 53. Virginia's Colonial Parkway. The FBI declined to comment on the status of DNA testing because the investigation is ongoing. At least one of the badly decomposed bodies appears to have suffered knife wounds. The linking of the four crimes is circumstantial, and no suspects have ever been publicly identified. A double homicide is a rare occurrence in and of itself, so four happening so close together has naturally caused many to wonder if a serial killer is behind this series or murders. The car had been pushed down an embankment off the Colonial Parkway In Virginia. Stephen's bedroom crime scene. Theory: A Serial Killer Stalked The Parkway, 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. It also fuels a theory about a possible copycat killer who used the 1986 Colonial Parkway slaying as a way to misdirect investigations into the 1988 double homicide. All the victims were killed with different methods (stabbing, strangulation, gunshot wound). 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. Their throats had been viciously slashed and they had been strangled to death. Their purses and money were found inside the car. Julia Williams, 24, and Lollie Winans, 26, displayed a wealth of similarities to the Parkway case. However, Thomas claimed new tips come in "every week or two," giving hope that these cold cases can be solved today. Knobling had taken Edwards out with his little brother and cousin that day. Between 1986 and 1989, at least eight people were murdered near or along Virginias Colonial Parkway by an apparent serial killer. Weve got amazing investigators working on our case. The Colonial Parkway Murders A Tale of Two Killers? To truly understand what happened, we need to embrace and dissect some of the more vivid, abhorrent, and gruesome aspects of the case. Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV. There has to be a degree of self-sabotage from a serial killer for an investigation to pan out. 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. Stephen. "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. The cases are now the subject of a new four-part true-crime docu-series on Oxygen titled "Lovers Lane Murders." Unlike OConnell, Coombs doesnt see the work of a serial killer. The Colonial Parkway is a scenic, 23-mile stretch in Virginia that links the historic towns of Jamestown, Williamsburg, and Yorktown. "But she was undaunted. The analyzed DNA can then pinpoint the exact relation between those tested, allowing law enforcement agencies to narrow down their suspect pool and make an arrest. He said extremely graphic crime scene photos were leaked to the public, fueling the familys anguish. EXCLUSIVE: Bill Thomas is adamant that in his lifetime, hell find out the identity of his sisters murderer. [25], On July 23, 2021, The Daily Beast published an article about the Colonial Parkway murders, primarily focusing on the murder of Cathleen Thomas and Rebecca Dowski, the first known victims of the Colonial Parkway killer. The second night airs Friday at 9 p.m. and 10 p.m. [16], On October 26, 2018, Dateline NBC released "Dateline Crime Capsule: The Colonial Parkway Murders" which offered a look into the history of the case. Rumors and legends started hitting the headlines. WTVR News 6 in Richmond reported that there was additional DNA evidence available for testing in the Colonial Parkway murders. Now he has three children of his own. He may have been watching victims, the former profiler theorized, and when the opportunity arose he became a predator.. Victims were in cars and all were young and killed in pairs. Nonetheless, inconclusive MRI scans appear to show that at least one of the bodies might have suffered knife wounds. Call's red 1982 Toyota Celica was found, unoccupied, at the York River Overlook on the Colonial Parkway the next day with some articles of clothing inside. The tone of his parents voice signaling something was wrong. What the investigators uncovered was a horrid tableau of deprivation. Dogs traced their scents to the river, but soon lost it. It is a pageantry of American history embroiled in dozens of tunnels and bridges that are incredibly charming and visually impacting. Cathleen Thomas was just starting a new chapter after leaving the U.S. Navy, when her life was cut short. The human carnage six bodies were found, while two presumed-dead victims have never been recovered was collectively called the Colonial Parkway Murders. 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. It was considered a double murder. Cathy has been gone longer than she was with us. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. Step by step directions for your drive or walk. Knoblings father and the local constabulary spearheaded the manhunt. On October 19, 1989, the skeletonized bodies of Phelps and Lauer were found in a wooded area by hunters along Interstate 64 between Williamsburg and Richmond. This year she would have turned 48. Just three days later, they were found murdered inside Thomas 1980 Honda Civic, Richmond.com reported in 2016. And unfortunately . Map to show the parkway (B) Is where I believe two bodies were found, . After that cycle, the killings abruptly stopped.. The young woman had graduated from the U.S. She had everything going for her. Mainly because no bodies have ever been uncovered. Three days later, Robin Edwards and Knoblings bodies were discovered in the Ragged Island Wildlife Refuge in Isle of Wight County, shot to death. Find nearby businesses, restaurants and hotels. Fred Atwell: Fred Atwell is the former deputy sheriff that was active during the investigation in 1986. Throughout the years, it was usually the victims parents who spearheaded efforts to find justice, renew interest and pressure law enforcement to pursue their cases. The theory the first murder was a targeted hate crime adds heft to the notion the murders wereunconnected events. 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