colonial parkway murders map

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. They all died at night. On October 12, 1986, Columbus Day weekend, their bodies were found inside Thomas's white 1980 Honda Civic at the Cheatham Annex Overlook along the Colonial Parkway in Williamsburg, Virginia. Weve got amazing investigators working on our case. And it pains me to think that 34 years have gone by now. In 2010, the FBI arranged the first and, to date, only in-person meeting with all the families to discuss the status of the cases and field questions. And as of today, all of the murders remain unsolved. Thomas Hargrove, researcher, and archivist. Each had been shot in the head. At the time of her death, Cathy was dating Dowski, a student at the College of William and Mary. In total, 4 pairs of people were targeted, resulting in eight murders and six bodies found. On September 20, 1987, Knoblings truck was found abandoned by the James River Bridge, Richmond.com reported. 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. To learn more about the case, watch Lovers Lane Murders" on Oxygen, or stream episodes any time on Oxygen.com. Just a beautiful woman, her sister-in-law, Ginny Minarik, told Lovers Lane Murders.. Refresh the page, check. After nearly three decades, the parents who are alive, many in declining health, are still without answers. Dowski was younger and still a student at the College of William and Mary. From 1986 to 1989, four double homicides occurred either on or near the scenic, seemingly safe road. The only evidence of any wrongdoing was the discovery of Calls red Toyota Celica, unoccupied at the York River Overlook. For the families of the eight victims, it is yet another year spent searching for answers. Chilling and eerie similarities connected the four cases, but no one has ever been arrested for the crimes. EXCLUSIVE: Bill Thomas is adamant that in his lifetime, hell find out the identity of his sisters murderer. They were never found. Just after Labor Day weekend 1989, Annamaria Phelps, 18, and Daniel Later, 21, vanished while en route to Virginia Beach. Their bodies have never been found, but both are presumed dead. Edwards family members, meanwhile, grieved the lost opportunity to know the woman the teenager was becoming. The scavengers, the muggy atmosphere, and the advanced decomposition made it impossible to determine the exact cause of death. A typically tranquil area, no one expected the Parkway to be the setting for a gruesome string of murders. WILLIAMSBURG, Va. (WAVY) The FBI and Virginia State Police have uncovered DNA from three of the four crimes scenes of the 1986 Colonial Parkway Murders that may belong to a perpetrator,. Six weeks later their bodies were found by hunters. But when the other crimes started taking place, year after year, youre just shocked This person may have a law enforcement background or at least understand how law enforcement works.". She described Robin as a firecracker personality, who got along with everyone she met. Because of the Colonial Parkways reputation, Thomas and Dowski could have been chosen at random. . Here are prominent theories that have been put forth over the years. 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. DOOMSDAY MOM LORI VALLOW IS AN EVIL MONSTER WHO OBSESSED OVER END OF TIMES BEFORE CHILDREN'S DEATHS: DOC. The FBI declined to comment on the status of DNA testing because the investigation is ongoing. or whoever approached them pretended to be a cop -- or was a cop, he said. (Jonathon Gruenke / Daily Press). 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. She enjoyed going to the Gap and dressing well, whatever the trend was. It connects Virginia's historic triangle: Jamestown, Williamsburg, and Yorktown. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Rebecca Dowski, top left, and Cathleen Thomas, bottom left, were killed Oct. 12, 1986. 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. It features LA County Criminal Prosecutor Loni Coombs and former FBI Special Agent Maureen OConnell whoconductedinterviews with law enforcement and families, as well as tracked down new leads. Months later, they were found murdered, wrapped in a blanket in the woods. So as long as theres something left to analyze, theres always hope that it will be solved through genetic genealogy.. There is this allure of serial killers, said Steve Spingola, former homicide detective and author of Predators on the Parkway, who has spent more than 20 years looking into the murders. 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. Here are prominent theories that have been put forth over the years. Get extra footage on Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/mobileinstinctMy T-Shirts \u0026 Sweatshirts available here - https://shop.spreadshirt.com/mobileinstinct/ If you want to buy me a beer - https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/mobileinstinctAll of my videos are organized by state on my website https://www.TheMobileInstinct.com More videos on My Second Channel - https://www.youtube.com/mobileinstinct2INSTAGRAM - https://www.instagram.com/mobileinstinct New FACEBOOK page - Lets be friends - https://www.facebook.com/mobileinstinct*CHECK OUT these cool videos! Now you flash forward and as painful as the passage of time can be, we now have truly advanced DNA testing available. However, on their way back to Virginia Beach to start a new chapter in their lives, they vanished. No one has been standing in this line longer than the family members.. Why are they still a hot button topic? According to the special, gays and lesbians were banned from the Navy at the time and she had reportedly been investigated by nine agents. Her son was only a year old when Robin died. Backtrack and take a look at the whole gruesome spectacle There were either multiple killers or the singular lone wolf was rather adept and elastic, forever changing and molding his M.O. State police and local agencies are investigating the murders of Knobling, Edwards, Lauer, and Phelps. 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? LA County Criminal Prosecutor Loni Coombs and former FBI Special Agent Maureen OConnell are seen here speaking with Bill Thomas. Stephanie Nolasco covers entertainment at Foxnews.com. A more micro look reveals that victims werent all killed in the same way. Hailey, meanwhile, was a college freshman who modeled and taught gymnastics, according to the outlet. The Colonial Parkway is a scenic, 23-mile stretch in Virginia that links the historic towns of Jamestown, Williamsburg, and Yorktown. After their parents died, Call-Canada and her brother took up the effort to prod investigators. Theres always hope that you might find more DNA, finding smaller amounts, with more advanced techniques of detecting DNA, said Moore. The double homicides took play over a four-year span . Several clothing items were found in the vehicle, as were the car keys. THE COLONIAL PARKWAY MURDERS: A STEP BY STEP REPORT. At first, Thomas said his family suspected Cathy and Dowski were victims of a hate crime. 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 2018, when the news broke that the 45-year-old Golden State Killer cold case had been solved with the arrest of Joseph DeAngelo, many, including Thomas and other families of the Colonial Parkway Murder victims, found a renewed sense of hope with investigative genetic genealogy. All rights reserved. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! When did it happen, and whos the culprit? 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. There is this allure of serial killers, said, Steve Spingola, former homicide detective and author of. This car, along with their mangled bodies, found at the Cheatham Annex Overlook in Williamsburg, Virginia, had been doused in diesel fuel. Investigators have spent decades puzzling out the Colonial Parkway murders. PETER NYGARD ACCUSER EXPLAINS WHY SHE'S SPEAKING OUT IN NEW SHOCKING DOC: 'I HAVE NEVER BEEN QUIET ABOUT THIS', Bill Thomas, a producer on Oxygen's 'Lovers' Lane Murders' is seen here with a portrait of his sister Cathy Thomas. Its a roadway and state route, partly manned by the National Park Service, that interlocks Jamestown, Williamsburg, and Yorktown. 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. Find nearby businesses, restaurants and hotels. Now, it is up to the victims siblings to carry the torch. Cathy had graduated from the U.S. 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. According to Thomas, three out of the four cases have DNA evidence. (File photos). My name is Bill Thomas. However, the string of murders that followed their deaths made them wonder whether a serial killer was involved. David's injuries. 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. This, in turn, ratcheted up the media when they got a hold of the fact that Camp Peary is a training facility for the Central Intelligence Agency. The car had been pushed down an embankment off the Colonial Parkway In Virginia. Three days later, the bodies of Knobling and Robin Edwards, 14, washed ashore on the James River at the Ragged Island Wildlife Refuge. 2023 Copyright Colonial Ghosts. Within the last five years, he has turned over dozens of tips. | by Quinn Zane | Unburied | Medium Write Sign up Sign In 500 Apologies, but something went wrong on our end. 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. The former was a graduate of the United States Naval Academy and the latter a senior of Willam & Mary College. Shes remained in Gloucester most of her life, just in case. And a lot of fantastic work has gone into the Colonial Parkway murders. 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 murders associated with the series span from the area around the Colonial Parkway around Williamsburg, to New Kent . Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps. 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 . His investigation came to the startling conclusion that the murders were committed by multiple assailants and arent tied together. Sean Xu/Shutterstock From 1986 to 1989, a series of murders along Virginia's historic Colonial Parkway claimed the lives of eight people in their teens and twenties. Finally, one of the most bizarre theories about the murders states that the killers identity was, in fact, a rogue CIA operative. David + Robin. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_Accountability_Project, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Aamodt, https://www.blueridgeoutdoors.com/features/murder-woods-shenandoah-national-park/. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. 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,. "And it saddens me that Cathy Thomas would have been one of those women. If he receives what he believes to be a credible tip, he will then turn it over to the FBI. 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 purses and money were found inside the car. Survivor. The odds of four double homicides in as many years are extremely rare, which is why the slayings are often attributed to a serial killer. 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. Oct. 26, 2018. "He was always washing it, his sister, Joyce Call-Canada, told The Virginian Pilot. The pair went on a date, seeing a movie and attending a party, on April 9, 1988. [2] Thomas was working as a stockbroker at the time of the murder. Im proud to know them. 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. All of the victims were young, white, and either a romantic couple or could resemble one to an outsider. It also happens to be ground zero for one of the nation's most brutal crime sprees, which remains clouded in doubt and tragedy more than three decades later A more micro look reveals that victims werent all killed in the same way. Fully researched, completely skeptical, unreservedly on the side of the victims. Directions and Map (904) 525-8080. On October 19th, a month and a half after their disappearance, hunters along interstate 64 between Williamsburg and Richmond stumbled onto the skeletonized remains of both kids. 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. [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. After leaving the armed forces, she had transitioned into a successful career as a stockbroker, according to Richmond.com. [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. Unlike OConnell, Coombs doesnt see the work of a serial killer. (Oxygen). This time, their goal is to have DNA in the cases tested. The eeriest part,. 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. Was younger and still a student at the time of the eight victims it... 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