During that time, three couples were murdered and one couple is missing and presumed to be dead. [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? 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. The bodies of Cathleen Thomas and Rebecca Dowski were found near this location in October of 1986. The car had been pushed down an embankment off the Colonial Parkway. That kind of opens up the window for somebody else to come along and pick on them.. The couple, investigators hypothesize, might have been romantically involved. Both their purses and their money were found inside the car, ruling out robbery as a motive. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Just three days later, they were found murdered inside Thomas 1980 Honda Civic. [26], In June 2010, the victims' families requested the assistance of a retired Milwaukee Police Department homicide detective Steve Spingola. The car had been pushed down an embankment off the Colonial Parkway In Virginia. The FBI got involved, even asking Russia to view satellite footage of the area, but no one was ever arrested. However, Cathy was unafraid to try things that no one else had done before. Find nearby businesses, restaurants and hotels. Now he has three children of his own. Three days later, the two bodies were discovered by Knobling's father and a search party along the water's edge of the James River. The only evidence of any wrongdoing was the discovery of Calls red Toyota Celica, unoccupied at the York River Overlook. (ill Tiernan). Cathy Thomas (left) andRebecca Ann Dowski were dating at the time of their 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. Call loved going to the beach and was especially fond of his car. Advocate. To learn more about the case, watch Lovers Lane Murders" on Oxygen, or stream episodes any time on Oxygen.com. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. Moderated by former FBI Special Agent Maureen O'Connell, the panel featured family members and advocates Joyce Call and Bill Thomas along with Blaine Pardoe, coauthor of a book on the case, A Special Kind of Evil: The Colonial Parkway Serial Killings. For the families linked by the Colonial Parkway Murders, it means that DNA discovered at the crime scenes could, one day, solve the cases. There has to be a degree of self-sabotage from a serial killer for an investigation to pan out. Their purses and money were found inside the car. However, Cathy moved on and pursued a thriving career as a stockbroker. A couple, romantically involved, was found bound, gagged and their throats slit almost 200 miles from the initial hunting grounds. The eeriest part,. The burden gets a little easier, but in such a small incremental way that you dont realize it at first, Thomas said. This section is going to be macabre, scatological, and disturbing. 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? They all died at night. Map to show the parkway (B) Is where I believe two bodies were found, . Knoblings father and the local constabulary spearheaded the manhunt. 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. Virginia's beautiful Colonial Parkway has a dark history of unsolved murders and disappearances. Did The Colonial Parkway Victims Know The Killer? All rights reserved. On September 20, 1987, Knoblings truck was found abandoned by the James River Bridge, Richmond.com reported. Within the last five years, he has turned over dozens of tips. Hes made it a point to make himself available to the public, in case the right tip comes in. Nonetheless, inconclusive MRI scans appear to show that at least one of the bodies might have suffered knife wounds. A man named Bill Thomas had reached out on their new Facebook page, What happened to Richard Keith Call and Cassandra Hailey?. Fred was considered something of a hero when he uncovered a slew of photographs leaked from the FBIs office in Norfolk. 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. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! 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. Dowski was younger and still a student at the College of William and Mary. Lauers Chevrolet Nova was found on the westbound exit ramp, keys in the ignition, the next day. Despite the fact that there have been no public updates on the case for nearly 11 years, some of the families have found renewed hope through genetic genealogy and a resurgence in public awareness. 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. Their bodies were so decomposed, investigators were unable to determine a cause of death. While Phelps was stabbed, Lauers body was too decomposed to determinea manner of death. The Colonial Parkway murders began here in Hampton Roads nearly 35 years ago. The Colonial Parkway is a twenty-three mile scenic roadway stretching from the York River at Yorktown to the James River at Jamestown. 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. We feellike we could be just as close to start to solve these cases. The vision behind the Murder Accountability Project. The remains were too decomposed to reveal the manner of death. Virginia's Colonial Parkway. You cant exactly finger a suspect and develop a viable culprit on car displacement and fascination with couples. This unwholesome section is grisly and malignant Youve been warned. 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. The Colonial Parkway is a historic and scenic road that links together the three points of Virginia's Historic Triangle: Jamestown, Williamsburg, and Yorktown. Despite her drive and determination, Cathy left the Navy just before her death. Hailey, 19, and Call, 20, were both students at Christopher Newport University. Annamaria Phelps, 18, and Daniel Lauer, 21, were not a romantic couple. After their parents died, Call-Canada and her brother took up the effort to prod investigators. The Colonial Parkway is a 23 mile (37km) scenic landscape/thoroughfare that links Virginias Historic Triangle. The investigations into all eight murders are ongoing and active, the Virginian Pilot reported. After that cycle, the killings abruptly stopped.. Will mock murderers with glee. Robin Edwards, top row and second to the left, and David Knobling, bottom row and second to the left, were murdered Sept. 23, 1987. Cathys throat was slit so deepthat she was nearly decapitated. She had a soft side but there was a toughness, too, her brother, Bill Thomas, told the producers of Lovers Lane Murders.. This car, along with their mangled bodies, found at the Cheatham Annex Overlook in Williamsburg, Virginia, had been doused in diesel fuel. Sept. 5, 1989: Annamaria Phelps, 18 and Daniel Lauer, 21, disappeared from an Interstate 64 rest stop in New Kent County. Cathy Thomas, 27, and Rebecca Dowski, 21, had been dating for several months when they went out for food on October 9, 1986. Shes remained in Gloucester most of her life, just in case. There were little signs of struggle. The double homicides took play over a four-year span . "The families are determined to see this through. Thomas said he had been notified by the FBI a year ago that DNA in his sisters case was being sent for testing at Quantico. ", "Who Committed The Lovers' Lane Murders? Then, the little ideas turned into big ideas and that was the start of our connection.. 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. Their throats had been viciously slashed and they had been strangled to death. Dogs traced their scents to the river, but soon lost it. The human carnage six bodies were found, while two presumed-dead victims have never been recovered was collectively called the Colonial Parkway Murders. I see the killer evolving, she said, not just in his methods but in his motives.. The Colonial Parkway murders were a series of four double homicides from 1986-89. He said extremely graphic crime scene photos were leaked to the public, fueling the familys anguish. Still, some investigators are on the fence and dont want to definitively classify their disappearance as part of the serial killers cycle. The remains were too decomposed to reveal the manner of death. Both women were fully clothed and there was no evidence of robbery or sexual assault. It was the first of several gruesome murders. "[18], On April 25, 2019, The New York Times published a story on the use of DNA in the Golden State Killer case, the Colonial Parkway murders and other unsolved homicides titled Sooner or Later, Your Cousin's DNA is Going to Solve a Murder. They are both presumed dead, and evidence points to the same madman or madwoman responsible for the other killings. Still, as crime writer David Lohr of the Huffington Post tells us, the stretch has seen its share of bloodshed in the shape of a suspected serial killer. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. He may have been watching victims, the former profiler theorized, and when the opportunity arose he became a predator.. In 1991, the Virginian Pilot ran a three-part series on the Colonial Parkway murders by reporter Greg Schneider, who was permitted special access to FBI lead investigator Robert Meadows. For the families of the eight victims, it is yet another year spent searching for answers. David + Robin. Knobling lived in Hampton while he worked for his fathers landscaping business, and was expecting a baby with his longtime girlfriend. "In 1986, DNA was barely out of the lab and it wasnt really used commonly in law enforcement applications. According to Thomas, three out of the four cases have DNA evidence. To his knowledge, the DNA still has not been tested. If they are smart enough not to get caught, theres very little we can do.. Thomas and her girlfriend Rebecca Dowski were both killed in an incident that many believe was the first killing in the Colonial Parkway Murders. Once more, there were no signs of sexual assault or robbery. Just like those 1400 unsolved murders, Hargrove conducted his studies on, theres a huge likelihood that the Colonial Parkway Murders will remain a cold case and that the devil behind it will never be brought to justice just like Jack The Ripper Just like the Zodiac Killer Just like the Alphabet Killer The Barnaul Maniac Charlie Chop-off and the 85 other serial killers. So, who were the Colonial Parkway murder victims? or redistributed. 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. . He was shy at first, but once you got to know him he opened up, he said. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. Cassandra Hailey, left, with her sisters Paula Hailey, center, and Teri Hailey, right in December 1986. In the case of the Golden State Killer, DeAngelo was identified through third cousins. IE 11 is not supported. Sept. 20, 1987: David Knoblings truck was found abandoned in a parking lot with the door open, the radio on and his wallet on the dashboard. "[24], On February 9, 2021, Access Hollywood presented a television series about the Colonial Parkway murders. 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. Multiple reports alleged Edwards had snuck out to meet Knobling before they were killed. Now, it is up to the victims siblings to carry the torch. 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. According to Moore, this new advancement has led to hundreds of arrests across the country. Despite the moniker the Colonial Parkway Murders, the time frame and proximity of the deaths, law enforcement has never conclusively linked the cases, leaving many, including the family members, to believe that some or all of the cases are connected or none at all. She had everything going for her. The two-night special premiere of "Lovers Lane Murders" airs Feb. 11 at 9 p.m. and 10 p.m. And unfortunately . My theory is that David saw something he wasnt supposed to see, Karl Knobling told Lovers Lane Murders. OConnells response: Wrong place, wrong time. Knoblings theory points to why innocent people become victims all too often. 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