Fred was always vocal about the case to the point that he had strong opinions on who the killer was. A more micro look reveals that victims werent all killed in the same way. It's difficult to imagine that a community could be infiltrated in that way, he emphasized. A typically tranquil area, no one expected the Parkway to be the setting for a gruesome string of murders. 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. There has to be a degree of self-sabotage from a serial killer for an investigation to pan out. From 1986 to 1989, four double homicides occurred on or near the Colonial Parkway. 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. The double homicides took play over a four-year span . (File photos). 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. "He was always washing it, his sister, Joyce Call-Canada, told The Virginian Pilot. Cathy Thomas, 27, and Rebecca Dowski, 21, had been dating for several months when they went out for food on October 9, 1986. [But] we certainly were worried about harassment. The eeriest part,. The remains were too decomposed to reveal the manner of death. Lauer needed to go back home to get his belongings, and Phelps decided to accompany him for the drive to see her own family in their hometown. They could be related, he said, adding that he doesnt see links among all four. Was The Colonial Parkway Killer Pretending To Be Law Enforcement? DOOMSDAY MOM LORI VALLOW IS AN EVIL MONSTER WHO OBSESSED OVER END OF TIMES BEFORE CHILDREN'S DEATHS: DOC. After nearly three decades, the parents who are alive, many in declining health, are still without answers. While the search for answers continues, theories have emerged. Cathy was eager to introduce her new girlfriend to the family during Thanksgiving that year. For the the other half, the parents who have died, they will never see justice for their childrens deaths. Over the years things have changed, you know, my dad died and my mom mentally cant handle the stress of dealing with the case.. Their throats had been viciously slashed and they had been strangled to death. The second Annamaria and Daniel were reported missing, the red-flags went up, and the district devolved into a panic. The brutal crimes claimed the lives of eight young people, including one couple who've never been found. 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. As of 2017, our research estimates that over 2000 serial killers are still at large and active in the United States. ", EMILIE MORRIS, THE FORMER STUDENT WHO DIED AFTER ACCUSING HER COACH OF ABUSE, BECOMES FOCUS OF TRUE-CRIME DOC. ET on Oxygen. 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. Paula is now Paula Meehan and Teri is now Teri Barzditis. Unburieda true-crime blog with no illusions in the police, the privileged, or the powerful. Call was a computer science major and an old soul in a way, his brother told Lovers Lane Murders.. Dowski, 21, was found in the backseat of the car while Cathy, 27, was stuffed into the hatchback. So it wasnt like Cathy and Becky could live their lives in any kind of open fashion. He explained it might be easier to wrap ones mind around one killer, not four or even more different ones. This murder series is the single greatest unsolved murder series in the history of Virginia and it needs attention, Thomas said. 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. For the past 15 years Janette Santiago, sister of Robin Edwards, has been the main point of contact for her family. Knobling's black Ford Ranger pickup truck was found at the refuge parking area next to the James River Bridge with the wipers and radio on and some articles of clothing inside. The place is a sightseeing extravaganza brimming with historical points, scenic pull-offs, markers, and memorials. ", "Was The Colonial Parkway Killer Pretending To Be Law Enforcement? He told Lovers Lane Murders that it suggests the driver was responding to authority. 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. 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. 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. According to Thomas, three out of the four cases have DNA evidence. Its a roadway and state route, partly manned by the National Park Service, that interlocks Jamestown, Williamsburg, and Yorktown. The linking of the four crimes is circumstantial, and no suspects have ever been publicly identified. However, Cathy was unafraid to try things that no one else had done before. 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. They also eventually helped organize some of the families. Now he has three children of his own. The Colonial Parkway Murders were a series of homicides that occurred between October 1986 and September 1989. The Colonial Parkway is a twenty-three mile scenic roadway stretching from the York River at Yorktown to the James River at Jamestown. or whoever approached them pretended to be a cop -- or was a cop, he said. At the time, she was also thinking about going to grad school and possibly studying international relations. "Cathy was somebody that could more than hold her own in any situation," he said. The only evidence of any wrongdoing was the discovery of Calls red Toyota Celica, unoccupied at the York River Overlook. Just three days later, they were found murdered inside Thomas 1980 Honda Civic, Richmond.com reported in 2016. While Phelps was stabbed, Lauers body was too decomposed to determinea manner of death. In Spingolas eyes, there was no serial killer. This was the first time Thomas had spoken to any of the other victims family members, since his sisters death 20 years prior, but it would not be the last. Get an all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! [3][4][5], In 1996, the unsolved case of the Colonial Parkway murders was presented on national television on the program Real Stories of the Highway Patrol, a series that aired from 19931999. In the 1980s, the Colonial Parkway was known as a gay lovers lane, according to Spingola. [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. State police and local agencies are investigating the murders of Knobling, Edwards, Lauer, and Phelps. The FBI declined to comment on the status of DNA testing because the investigation is ongoing. Now, more than 10 years later, the families are pushing for another meeting. Im proud to know them. Rebecca Dowski, top left, and Cathleen Thomas, bottom left, were killed Oct. 12, 1986. "[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. Thursday night was theirs a time when they could be alone together despite living so far apart, despite living in such an unwelcoming world every Thursday night, they were able to live as they wanted. With portions built between 1930 and 1957, it links the three communities via a roadway . "But she was undaunted. The Parkway is surrounded by woods and has far fewer entries and exits than a typical highway. 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. Joyce Call-Canada, Richard Calls sister, hyphenates her last name so that people recognize it while one of her brothers still keeps their familys home phone number. Once more, there were no signs of sexual assault or robbery. 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. [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. 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. 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. After that cycle, the killings abruptly stopped.. Stephanie Nolasco covers entertainment at Foxnews.com. . Just after Labor Day weekend 1989, Annamaria Phelps, 18, and Daniel Later, 21, vanished while en route to Virginia Beach. 10 The First Murders Photo credit: Wild Blue Press Thomas and Dowskis were a hate crime motivated by the couples lesbian relationship. However, the string of murders that followed their deaths made them wonder whether a serial killer was involved. 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. "[24], On February 9, 2021, Access Hollywood presented a television series about the Colonial Parkway murders. 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 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. Thomas had also entered a relationship with Dowski, and the two were known to regularly visit the area where they were murdered. Knoblings father and the local constabulary spearheaded the manhunt. 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