(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. 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. The realization that his sister, Cathleen Thomas, was murdered on a scenic Virginia roadway. Federal Bureau of Investigations Public Affairs Specialist Christina Pullen would not confirm the presence of DNA, whether it has been tested or any specifics on the ongoing case. She was fascinated by the circus and had dreams of running off with Ringling Brothers. 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. Laundry room crime scene. And in these 34 years, she would have done amazing things.". Santiago said she had previously been told by Virginia State Police that there was DNA evidence in her sisters case and the possibility of conducting more advanced testing on it, but has not heard anything since, as communication has varied over time as the case is handed down to new people. It helps explain how the killer could take control of two people at once. According to Thomas, three out of the four cases have DNA evidence. And a lot of fantastic work has gone into the Colonial Parkway murders. Get an all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! Between 1986 and 1989, three young couples were found brutally murdered while one couple is still missing and presumed dead, on or near the Colonial Parkway, a roadway that connects Jamestown, Williamsburg and Yorktown, the nations Historic Triangle. We dont need the reminder that these are cold cases.. What were the Colonial Parkway Murders? It connects Virginia's historic triangle: Jamestown, Williamsburg, and Yorktown. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Four double homicides occurred on or near the Colonial Parkway in Virginia during the 1980s. All rights reserved. Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! After that cycle, the killings abruptly stopped.. In the case of the Golden State Killer, DeAngelo was identified through third cousins. Soon, other victims family members followed with Thomas leading the charge, providing interviews to the media and speaking out about their frustration with the lack of progress on the case. ", 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. Annamarie Phelps, top right, and Daniel Lauer, bottom right, disappeared Sept. 5, 1989. Why are they still a hot button topic? Thomas described the Colonial Parkway as a popular spot to travel along the river. Robin Edwards, top row and second to the left, and David Knobling, bottom row and second to the left, were murdered Sept. 23, 1987. Oct. 26, 2018. 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. 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. That kind of opens up the window for somebody else to come along and pick on them., Theory: A Moral Enforcer Became A Deadly Predator, Theory: Victims Were In The Wrong Place At The Wrong Time, To learn more about the case, watch Lovers Lane Murders". [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. Call was a computer science major and an old soul in a way, his brother told Lovers Lane Murders.. Over the years things have changed, you know, my dad died and my mom mentally cant handle the stress of dealing with the case.. However, Thomas claimed new tips come in "every week or two," giving hope that these cold cases can be solved today. 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. , including one couple whove never been found. Though both are presumed dead, their bodies have never been found. Was it a serial killer or a coincidence? 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. Beckys wound isnt as deep as Cathys wound, Pettler added. 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. He believes itcame down to chance, he said. helps manage a Facebook page, Colonial Parkway Murders, with 14,000 followers, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. 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. [22], On February 4, 2021, in advance of their Lover's Lane Murders television series, the Oxygen Network released a series of videos including "Why Would Law Enforcement Not Release All Records On a Case Like the Colonial Parkway Murders? ET. It was considered a double murder. To truly understand what happened, we need to embrace and dissect some of the more vivid, abhorrent, and gruesome aspects of the case. "I hope people will understand that the loss that weve suffered has not prevented us as families from continuing to focus on seeing some degree of justice done," Thomas, who serves as one of the shows producers, told Fox News. On September 5, 1989, just after Labor Day weekend, Annamaria Phelps, 18, and Daniel Lauer, 21, vanished while en route to Virginia Beach. to the spots logistics and that particular set of prey. The evidence of the crime was kept intact by a fluke of fate when the diesel failed to ignite. While Phelps was stabbed, Lauers body was too decomposed to determinea manner of death. After a deep dive into the four Colonial Parkway murders. Stephen's bedroom crime scene. And unfortunately . You saw Dr. Pettler in the four part true crime TV series, "Lovers Lane [But] we certainly were worried about harassment. Advocate. By that time, local police were well aware that there was a predator on the loose, and they had a somewhat bivouac profile to work-off. They also eventually helped organize some of the families. 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. Despite her drive and determination, Cathy left the Navy just before her death. Here are prominent theories that have been put forth over the years. Call loved going to the beach and was especially fond of his car. 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 linking of the four crimes is circumstantial, and no suspects have ever been publicly identified. Sandy was unique. Now, it is up to the victims siblings to carry the torch. Virginia's beautiful Colonial Parkway has a dark history of unsolved murders and disappearances. Now you flash forward and as painful as the passage of time can be, we now have truly advanced DNA testing available. Map to show the parkway (B) Is where I believe two bodies were found, . The investigations into all eight murders are ongoing and active, the Virginian Pilot reported. And its still certainly a possibility. Three days later, the bodies of Knobling and Robin Edwards, 14, washed ashore on the James River at the Ragged Island Wildlife Refuge. ET on Oxygen. It's a roadway and state route, partly manned by the National Park Service, that interlocks Jamestown, Williamsburg, and Yorktown. [26], In June 2010, the victims' families requested the assistance of a retired Milwaukee Police Department homicide detective Steve Spingola. 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. So it wasnt like Cathy and Becky could live their lives in any kind of open fashion. 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. I see the killer evolving, she said, not just in his methods but in his motives.. Part 1 and 2 of Oxygen's 'Lovers Lane Murders' airs Thursday night. Stephanie Nolasco covers entertainment at Foxnews.com. The second Annamaria and Daniel were reported missing, the red-flags went up, and the district devolved into a panic. He told Lovers Lane Murders that there may be links between the first and third murders, which are firmly tied to the Colonial Parkway. (Jonathon Gruenke / Daily Press). Their families were devastated and shocked. For Teri and Paula Hailey, it is the hope that they and their parents will see justice. Irvin Wells, retired FBI special agent. Located roughly halfway between Richmond and Virginia Beach, the Colonial Parkway spans approximately 22 miles in southeastern Virginia and is an incredibly beautiful drive during . They were both in top physical condition. If they are smart enough not to get caught, theres very little we can do.. 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. They all died at night. "He was always washing it, his sister, Joyce Call-Canada, told The Virginian Pilot. All the victims were from different backgrounds and demographics, making a profile an incredibly difficult task. He and Cassandra Hailey vanished while on their first date in 1988. And remember, this was the 1980s. 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. She had everything going for her. For the the other half, the parents who have died, they will never see justice for their childrens deaths. Why? Just after Labor Day weekend 1989, Annamaria Phelps, 18, and Daniel Later, 21, vanished while en route to Virginia Beach. A small caveat before we spring forth into the latest horror room, the third couples link to the Parkway Murders is somewhat debatable. [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. [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. Between 1986 and 1989, at least eight people were murdered near or along Virginia's Colonial Parkway by an apparent serial killer. [23] and "Was the Colonial Parkway Killer Pretending to be Law Enforcement? Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more. On September 20, 1987, Knoblings truck was found abandoned by the James River Bridge, Richmond.com reported. He and Cassandra Hailey vanished while on their first date in 1988. So she decided that the Navy wasnt the right place for her. Six weeks later, hunters found their remains. They are both presumed dead, and evidence points to the same madman or madwoman responsible for the other killings. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, Authorities discovered Cathleen and Rebecca on Columbus Day weekend, 1986, inside a white 1980 Honda Civic. Maps of crime scene. Just three days later, they were found murdered inside Thomas 1980 Honda Civic, Richmond.com reported in 2016. The Colonial Parkway is a scenic, 23-mile stretch in Virginia that links the historic towns of Jamestown, Williamsburg, and Yorktown. It was known, not only by the homosexual community, but by the haters of the homosexual community, he said. Or could it be that four separate criminals were executing young people in the area? For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. An all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and Yorktown reminder that these are cases... 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