The Colonial Parkway is a scenic highway in Virginia that runs through historic areas like Yorktown, Williamsburg, and Jamestown. Dotted with impressive bridges and blanketed by thick trees, it usually provides year-round beauty and convenience for travelers.

Between 1986 and 1989 though, a crime spree took place that left three pairs of travelers missing and another pair of travelers gone without a trace. Thought to be the work of a serial killer, the crimes have remained unsolved for thirty years.

First Crime Scene

Date: October 12th, 1986

Victims: Cathy Thomas (27) and Rebecca Ann Dowski (21)



The women’s bodies were found inside Thomas’ vehicle. They’d been strangled, their throats had been slashed, and rope marks were found on their necks and wrists. The killer had doused the vehicle with fuel in an apparent attempt to incinerate the crime scene, but apparently failed to start a fire. There were reportedly no signs of robbery or sexual assault — both women were clothed and their purses were still with them.

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Second Crime Scene

Date: September 19th/22nd, 1987

Victims: David Knobling (20) and Robin Edwards (14)



Victims were shot to death on the shore of the James River, some distance from Knobling’s pickup truck. The truck was in a designated parking area with the radio and windshield wipers turned on.

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Third Crime Scene

Date: April 9th/10th, 1988

Victims: Richard Keith Call (20) and Cassandra Lee Hailey (18)



Call’s Toyota Celica was found at a river overlook several hours after he and Hailey went on their first date. There was no sign of the couple and they’ve never been found.

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Fourth Crime Scene

Date: September 5th, 1989

Victims: Daniel Lauer (21) and Annamaria Phelps (18)

Lauer and Phelps disappeared on Labor Day weekend while on their way to Virginia Beach. Lauer’s Chevy Nova was later discovered heading AWAY from the beach. There was no sign of Lauer or Phelps. About six weeks later, hunters came upon their bodies in a remote location in the woods near a logging road. Forensic evidence was hard to retrieve due to the decomposed state of the bodies, but it’s been reported that the two may have been stabbed to death.

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Other Information

The case got a jolt in 2009 when a retired FBI photographer used graphic images from the crime scenes during a class lecture. Reporters and detectives subsequently learned that very little of the evidence from the scenes had been combed through using modern forensic technology, including DNA testing. The wheels were put into motion to submit dozens of pieces of evidence to the FBI lab.

There were reportedly signs of a struggle in the first case, and there may be workable DNA evidence from up to three of the scenes. The results (if any) of the tests run on the current evidence is currently unknown.