Chilling and eerie similarities connected the four cases, but no one has ever been arrested for the crimes. Naval Academy in 1981, as part of its second class to admit women. Inside the Maddening Search for Virginia's Colonial Parkway Serial Killer COLD CASE Photo Illustration by The Daily Beast / Photos Courtesy Bill Thomas Four brutal double homicides near. Ryan Noah Yawel Criminal Psychologist. After speaking for hours with Call-Canada about their family members cases, the pair began planning their efforts to pressure law enforcement. Bill Thomas shudders at the thought to this day. After that cycle, the killings abruptly stopped.. "[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. Sept. 5, 1989: Annamaria Phelps, 18 and Daniel Lauer, 21, disappeared from an Interstate 64 rest stop in New Kent County. In the 1980s, the Colonial Parkway was known as a gay lovers lane, according to Spingola. As this field continues to advance, Moore said agencies could be waiting to test for better results. It was known, not only by the homosexual community, but by the haters of the homosexual community, he said. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Paula is now Paula Meehan and Teri is now Teri Barzditis. [10], In October 2016, there was extensive coverage of the 30th anniversary of the Colonial Parkway murders, including an eight-part multimedia presentation by the Daily Press newspaper. Dowski was younger and still a student at the College of William and Mary. [11], On October 8, 2016, the Richmond Times Dispatch ran an in-depth article on the 30th anniversary of the Colonial Parkway murders case: After 30 Years, Relatives in Parkway Murders Hope for a Break in Cases[12], On October 8, 2016, the Virginian-Pilot published in-depth story, "The Killer Could Still be Out There: 30 Years Later, Still No Answers in the Colonial Parkway Murders"[13], On May 4, 2018, the Colonial Parkway murders were covered in featured panel discussion at the annual "CrimeCon" true crime convention in Nashville. From 1986 to 1989, four double homicides occurred either on or near the scenic, seemingly safe road. 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. The cases are now the subject of a new four-part true-crime docu-series on Oxygen titled "Lovers Lane Murders." [2] Thomas was working as a stockbroker at the time of the murder. 19 talking about this. Phelps had been stabbed, but Lauers body was too decomposed to determine cause of death. Now, it is up to the victims siblings to carry the torch. Just three days later, they were found murdered inside Thomas 1980 Honda Civic, Richmond.com reported in 2016. Thomas Hargrove, researcher, and archivist. But she left with great regret because she had hoped to have the kind of career that my dad had.". A typically tranquil area, no one expected the Parkway to be the setting for a gruesome string of murders. This is an ongoing criminal investigation, we are not in a position to discuss what evidence we are working with as part of the case, said Corrine Geller, public relations director for VSP. ", "Who Committed The Lovers' Lane Murders? ", EMILIE MORRIS, THE FORMER STUDENT WHO DIED AFTER ACCUSING HER COACH OF ABUSE, BECOMES FOCUS OF TRUE-CRIME DOC. In 2018, 12 years after the Shenandoah murders, DNA studies including hair and biological samples potentially linked the two cases. Annamarie Phelps, top right, and Daniel Lauer, bottom right, disappeared Sept. 5, 1989. Joyce Call-Canada is the older sister of Keith Call. The Colonial Parkway Murders - Revisiting The Crime Scenes Mobile Instinct 370K subscribers Subscribe 10K 264K views 1 year ago Virginia's beautiful Colonial Parkway has a dark history. In a way, the fact that such murders and foul deeds took place in that spot was nothing short of sacrilegious and a scar on the Parkways patriotic nature and what it represents. So it wasnt like Cathy and Becky could live their lives in any kind of open fashion. In 2010, a note was discovered in a box taken years earlier from Annamaria Phelps's apartment. [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. Survivor. 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. The killer tried unsuccessfully to set it on fire. Fun Fact: Tunnel was built in 1942 and is 1,190 feet long. The Colonial Parkway is a historic and scenic road that links together the three points of Virginia's Historic Triangle: Jamestown, Williamsburg, and Yorktown. Cassandra Lee Hailey, 18, and Richard Keith Call, 20, dropped off the face of the Earth on that Spring evening. Lauers Chevrolet Nova was found on the westbound exit ramp, keys in the ignition, the next day. Fred died in 2018, and whatever secrets he had died with him. Despite her drive and determination, Cathy left the Navy just before her death. In 2008, E! [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. "So people knew you could go there and basically be left alone, especially at night. I see the killer evolving, she said, not just in his methods but in his motives., Theory: A Serial Killer Was (Or Posed As) Law Enforcement, Stoking this belief is the fact that victims car windows were found rolled down at crime scenes, according to. 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. Her son was only a year old when Robin died. "Cathy was somebody that could more than hold her own in any situation," he said. Weve got amazing investigators working on our case. No one has been standing in this line longer than the family members.. [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. Here are prominent theories that have been put forth over the years. Entertainment Television presented a full-length documentary, THS Investigates Serial Killers on the Loose, which features a segment on the Colonial Parkway murders. The odds of four double homicides in as many years are extremely rare, which is why the slayings are. What really made these murders stand out was their complexity that fact that couples and not individuals were the targets; their setting a brazen attack done in an area steeped in our Nations history, which made them even more morbid and profane to the collective subconscious; their wild and oftentimes misleading media coverage the murders are still prime fodder for all sorts of sensational series, books, and podcasts; and finally, the disquieting realization that the killer was never identified and that he or she will most likely escape any justice. Market data provided by Factset. "She had martial arts training from the Naval Academy and she was incredibly athletic. [1] During that time, three couples were murdered and one couple is missing and presumed to be dead. We understand that were not going to be at the front of the line, but to hear that evidence hasnt been tested in over a year is unacceptable, Thomas said. "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. All the victims were killed with different methods (stabbing, strangulation, gunshot wound). 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 Colonial Parkway Murders A Tale of Two Killers? The couple, investigators hypothesize, might have been romantically involved. Here are prominent theories that have been put forth over the years. The scavengers, the muggy atmosphere, and the advanced decomposition made it impossible to determine the exact cause of death. Spingola believes the ThomasDowski crimes are directly linked to the deaths of Lollie Winans and Julie Williams who were found with their throats slashed in the Shenandoah National Park, 180 miles west of the Colonial Parkway, in 1996. Now you flash forward and as painful as the passage of time can be, we now have truly advanced DNA testing available. 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. All the investigation had to go by is circumstantial DNA evidence, a few forensic strands from a period where that whole branch was getting its wings, and a few similarities that dont help out; the proverbial needle in the haystack. However, Cathy was unafraid to try things that no one else had done before. Bill Thomas, a producer on Oxygen's 'Lovers' Lane Murders' is seen here with a portrait of his sister Cathy Thomas. EXCLUSIVE: Bill Thomas is adamant that in his lifetime, hell find out the identity of his sisters murderer. Mainly because no bodies have ever been uncovered. 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. Over the years, things have changed, you know, my dad died and my mom mentally cant handle the stress of dealing with the case, said Santiago. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. (Oxygen). Annamaria Phelps, 18, and Daniel Lauer, 21, were not a romantic couple. 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. Once more, there were no signs of sexual assault or robbery. Edwards had struggled with her mental health and was prone to running away and some reckless behavior. Thomass throat had been slit so savagely ear-to-ear that she was almost decapitated. Did The Colonial Parkway Victims Know The Killer? All of the slayings, known as "The Colonial Parkway Murders," are stillunsolved. Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! [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. Shes remained in Gloucester most of her life, just in case. Naval Academy in 1981 as part of its second class to admit women. Cathy was eager to introduce her new girlfriend to the family during Thanksgiving that year. 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. During this time, a serial killer had struck multiple times, mostly attacking couples, along the Colonial Parkway in and around Williamsburg, Virginia. The vision behind the Murder Accountability Project. 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. Both women were found with rope burns on their neck and wrist with signs of strangulation. Authorities discovered Cathleen and Rebecca on Columbus Day weekend, 1986, inside a white 1980 Honda Civic. Colonial Parkway is a 23-mile (37 km) scenic parkway linking the three points of Virginia's Historic Triangle, Jamestown, Williamsburg, and Yorktown.It is part of the National Park Service's Colonial National Historical Park.Virginia's official state classification for the parkway is State Route 90003. There is this allure of serial killers, said, Steve Spingola, former homicide detective and author of. This time, their goal is to have DNA in the cases tested. 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. A man named Bill Thomas had reached out on their new Facebook page, What happened to Richard Keith Call and Cassandra Hailey?. From 1986 to 1989, four double homicides occurred on or near the Colonial Parkway. Annamarie Phelps, top right, and Daniel Lauer, bottom right, disappeared Sept. 5, 1989. The bodies of Cathleen Thomas and Rebecca Dowski were found near this location in October of 1986. To his knowledge, the DNA still has not been tested. who has spent more than 20 years looking into the murders. Stephen. Cassandra Hailey, who was a talented gymnast and spent her time helping others in the sport, would have been 51 this year. Cathys throat was slit so deepthat she was nearly decapitated. It was the last time they would be seen alive. I feel like for my husband and my sister-in-laws sake well, really the whole family just wants to know what happened to their loved one, Jennifer Phelps, Annamaria Phelps sister-in-law, told Richmond.com. 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. [17], On December 22, 2018, veteran reporter Mike Holtzclaw wrote an article for the Daily Press marking Colonial Parkway murders whistleblower Fred Atwell's passing titled: "Former Deputy's Death Leaves Parkway Victim's Families Wondering What He Knew. Cathleen Thomas was just starting a new chapter after leaving the U.S. Navy, when her life was cut short. Though both are presumed dead, their bodies have never been found. The hunters discovered the bodies on a logging road about a quarter-of-a-mile from Courthouse Road, a location about a mile from the I-64 New Kent rest stop where Lauer's car was found. or redistributed. Within the past three and a half years, genetic genealogy has been responsible for solving approximately 350 cases. Rumors and legends started hitting the headlines. On September 20, 1987, Knoblings truck was found abandoned by the James River Bridge, Richmond.com reported. The two-night special premiere of "Lovers Lane Murders" airs Feb. 11 at 9 p.m. and 10 p.m. Thomas was nearly decapitated. This question of serial killer or coincidence is explored in Oxygens new limited series, Lovers Lane Murders, airing Thursday, February 11, and Friday, February 12 at 9/8c and 10/9c. There is a possibility that the murders happened at the hand of a moral enforcer who viewed homosexuality, public sex, or a 20-year-old man with a teenaged girl as punishable acts, according to Clemente. Emily discusses a slew of disappearances and double murders within a four-year period along the Colonial Parkway in Virginia in the late 80's. . However, on their way back to Virginia Beach to start a new chapter in their lives, they vanished. Easily add multiple stops, see live traffic and road conditions. The Colonial Parkway is a 23 mile (37km) scenic landscape/thoroughfare that links Virginia's Historic Triangle. 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