If that is the case, it perhaps explains the next development in the story. In return, they could pick up a soda for themselves. Her thoughts seemed to be scattered, and she gave concerning details about her whereabouts. It wasn't until the following day that her absence was truly noted, and suspicions began to be raised about her whereabouts. The American Jack the Ripper later became known simply as the Atlanta Ripper. Unfortunately, they would be unable to link these to any particular victims. He ultimately let the victim go without harming her any further, and the incident was reported to police. The vehicle was described as an older black model, but no specific details could be given. Keep supporting great journalism by turning off your ad blocker. She, like the majority of people in Washington DC, also happens to be black. All the cases involving white girls still get publicity. On December 30, only two days later, he stabbed to death another prostitute, 26-year-old Elizabeth Johnson, at the same location. On July 8th, 1971, Darlenia said goodbye to her mother, and began walking to work. In addition to this . By the time the 1980's had come around, the case was already dormant, and it would remain that way for more than two decades. In addition, he owned many photos of unknown girls and young women, and police even found a knife that had been used in another crime. You have a whole generation of family members who would like to see someone brought to justice.". ", "I remember the night that she didn't come home," Williams said, "how hard it was for me to go to sleep.". lawrence shankland family 8marla commercial e 1 phase 8 bahria town islamabad edward sullivan and tommie simmons. Starkville. 6+ killed However, he traces the killer's origins to the neighborhood of Congress Heights, where, as Trainum states: "He felt safe there, he felt he could do his dirt and get away with it.". He might have received some kind of psychiatric treatment to help deal with negative emotions, like depression and anger towards women. REAL CRIMINAL Reports on this seem to vary, with some sources claiming that the call came in three hours after she disappeared, but one record listed the specific time, 9:20, so I'm going to stick with that. That is the hope of the families of the other girls who were slain from 1971 to 1972 in a string of killings that stunned the city and sparked an unprecedented police homicide investigation. And, over the next several years, it seemed to the community that the police weren't taking it seriously. The police later recovered one of the .38 caliber pistols reported stolen by the two police officers. On the evening July 27th, 1971, at around 8:00 PM, many of the kids in Brenda's neighborhood were settling in for a movie night. On September 5th, 1972, Diane cooked dinner for her family, and then set off to visit her boyfriend for the evening - just as she had done several times over the summer. "You never forget. He owned many scarves which belonged to women, which were described as "soiled." They both believe that the killer was a young black man, who was able to fit into the neighborhood he committed his abductions. However, later that night, an employee of Safeway would state that they found those same items outside of the store, scattered along the street. This was less than two miles away from Diane's home. In another striking similarity to the other crimes, green fibers would be found on her clothing. Their mother, Allenteen - a strict disciplinarian - was heading out to visit a nearby relative. During his trial, it was revealed that he'd been a police informant, aiding law enforcement in the arrests of prostitutes. Nonetheless, doubt continues to linger over the case, and the potential involvement of the Green Vega Rapists. The perpetrator might have served in the Army during the Vietnam War and may have been responsible for some war crimes such as rape and murder during massacres. I have not read anything that indicates she made it to the store, so I can just assume that on her way to Safeway, Brenda was abducted. Her body was found November 26, 1972, under a bridge in the 4000 block of Bladensburg Road NE. There were a number of noticeable differences that set it apart. Sullivan and Simmons, two ex-cops, were arrested for the murder of Angela Denise Barnes. During this period, an election was being held in Maryland, and one of the candidates publicly announced to the press that a break had occurred in the Freeway Phantom investigation, and provided that an inmate at Lorton Prison had given the information. The investigation into the abduction and murder of Neno Yates was just as unsuccessful as the first three murders. The Phantom also strangled her with a scarf. The 50-year anniversary of the Freeway Phantom's crime spree continues to loom large over the D.C. region, and - despite the efforts of many hardworking investigators - the case is unlikely to be solved anytime soon. A store clerk would later recognize the girl from photographs, and state she had purchased the items that evening, just after 7:00 PM. Perhaps he was a Vietnam veteran suffering with some untreated PTSD, or perhaps he was someone with a vicious grudge against law enforcement. For the first few years of the investigation into the Freeway Phantom, police had linked Barnes' death to the unknown killer targeting young black girls in the D.C. region. Investigators had now followed up several leads at this point - including Robert Askins and the Green Vega's - but had little to show for it. They didn't even get out of the car to look for the remains, before using their radio to call in "10-8" (aka "nothing to see here"). Or purchase a subscription for unlimited access to real news you can count on. His information seemed legitimate, albeit somewhat scattered, and investigators took his words seriously. Morbidly, the body of Brenda Woodard had been disposed off of another busy road, near a bus-stop that Brenda's mother used almost every single day. Perhaps she knew her abductor, and wasn't too far away from her family's home at the time of the call. [1][2] When investigators would examine this coat, they would find a handwritten note inside one of the jacket pockets. He had pulled over to the side of the road, just south of the border separating Washington D.C. and the state of Maryland. I can only guess if police investigated him for any involvement in the Freeway Phantom crimes, but it was theorized in the same article that he wasn't the real killer - just perhaps taking the credit to scare his victim. When Brenda Woodard's body had been found, her coat had been found draped over her body. One of the known victims didn't have green fibers, and because of the investigation's scarce reporting, I have struggled to determine who the outlier is or was. While there, he broke free of his restraints and assaulted three orderlies with a chair before being subdued. They operated in Washington, D.C., between April 1971 and September 1972 and claimed at least six victims. Edward Emerson Simmons (October 27, 1852 - November 17, 1931) was an American Impressionist painter, remembered for his mural work. episodes A Trout in the Milk, Adapt or Die, The Totally Excellent Adventures of Mack and the D, After, Before, As I Have Always Been, Stolen, Brand New Day, The End is at Hand and What We're Fighting For. She read the case notes and offered insight whenever possible, but that was really all she could do. She felt responsible for the brutal murder of her little sister, and in return, would often end up walking the same route that Carol had simply hoping to be approached by the same mysterious man that had taken her sister. It was just destroyed.". Her education policy was cashed in to bury her.". The area that these crimes unfolded - primarily, Washington D.C. - held a predominant black population. As they spoke, her bus had come and gone, so the man offered to give her a ride home. Police had long theorized that the killer had a tie to the Congress Heights neighborhood of Washington D.C. - where half of the victims had been abducted from - and here was Askins, who not only fit the bill, but worked at St. Elizabeth's Hospital where one of the bodies had been disposed of. In addition to the stab wounds, investigators considered it bizarre that the victim was found with her shoes. Of those effected by the Freeway Phantom crime spree, none were hit harder than the loved ones - whose children and siblings were taken by the unknown killer, and their lives ended way too prematurely. Various conspiracy lovers later alleged that some of the sympathetic police officers had covered up the evidence; no proof of it was ever recovered. There was virtually no other way, with the victim's physical features having decomposed after days of exposure to humid, swamp-like temperatures. It's even possible to imply that Brenda's last words in the phone call - the reflexive "I'll see you" comment - were indicative of her being close to home. As a result, the Freeway Phantom case files have been lost, along with the associated notes, and all investigators assigned as primary or task force have either long retired, or are deceased. jennifer 8 filming locations; what is a state vendor for nj familycare; the vintage new orleans happy hour menu It was after this murder that the "Freeway Phantom" moniker was first used in a Daily News article describing the murders. Some leads were easily proven not to be viable, while others required substantial investigation. The children knew that failure to comply would result in a severe punishment - such as being hit with a switch or a belt - but that did not deter young Carol Spinks. We know that this article of clothing was not tested for DNA by either the Maryland State Police or the FBI, but it was last in the possession of the Maryland State Police - who have not confirmed that they actually have the evidence. She had also been fully clothed, minus her shoes (which were missing). Signature However, it's end was just as tragic as the first two abductions. Despite the bodies of Sheila and Katherine Lyon never being found, a man named Lloyd Welch confessed to their murders, bringing some resolution to the surviving loved ones. [21][2] With current evidence and any information of the case from when it happened, no leads produced sufficient evidence for prosecution. "It's in the past, plus personnel in the police department has changed. The first victim was 13-year-old Carol Denise Spinks, whose body was found May 1, 1971. Valerie Moore - the older sister that had sent Carol Spinks to the 7-Eleven down the street to fetch some soda and TV dinners - was wracked with guilt. With the temperature rising, on July 19th, 1971, one of the original callers that had found the body decided to return to the scene, to see if the matter had been dealt with. One witness reported having seen Johnson in an old black car, driven by an African-American male, shortly after her abduction. [5], Authorities quickly concluded that Crockett likely called her home at the behest of the killer, who fed her inaccurate information in order to buy the necessary time to perpetrate the crime, and to hamper the investigation. The Phantom would then rape, strangle them (usually manually), and dump their bodies in grassy areas near freeways, hence the name. It's very possible that he had nothing to do with the Freeway Phantom crimes, but his name is one I haven't seen mentioned before, and thought it worth bringing up. They had cataloged the evidence, and kept it all in-storage. Carol, who knew that she was risking punishment if it was discovered she had left the family's apartment, walked briskly along Wheeler Road. Here was a lead, that was as promising as any thus far, which had now evaporated into nothing. Now, on the other side of town, another child found themselves walking along the side of the road as evening approached. We found 15 records for Tom Sullivan in Maumee, Holland and 10 other cities in Ohio. Homicide detective Lloyd Davis proceeded to question Askins and learned that he had been charged with murder on several previous occasions. She was heading home from a friend's home late at-night, in the middle of the summer, and her body was discovered the following morning, out in Waldorf, Maryland. The service, which comes 25 years to the month after Diane Williams's slaying, will be held at 2 p.m. at the Howard University School of Divinity. It's the story of six black girls, who were all abducted and brutally murdered over the span of a year-and-a-half. Investigators believed this suggested some kind of connection, so they continued to look into this lead. edward sullivan and tommie simmons. The prior decade had seen some major pieces federal legislation - such as the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 - and the racial divide was still fresh in everyone's mind. A reward exists for information that will lead to the arrest and conviction of people or persons responsible, totaling $150,000 as of this year. Several days passed, and Washington D.C. - already a warm and humid place - began to enter the dog days of summer. The body was too severely decomposed by the time officials got to it, and medical examiners would be unable to determine if the victim had been sexually assaulted before her death. Approximately eight hours after Brenda's disappearance - the early morning hours of July 28th, 1971 - a hitchhiker that was traveling on U.S. Route 50 (near the Baltimore-Washington Parkway in P.G. insensititivity [sic] to people They dedicated many more man-hours to political scandals and dealing with Vietnam protests - and to the loved ones left without any answers - it seemed like detectives cared very little about six dead black girls. Common practice at the time was that case files at MPDC Detective Divisions were retained in files maintained by the detectives assigned to the case. Dumping his victims next to the freeway This hints at some kind of urgency, such as the killer being rushed. After the 1978 rape charge, Askins' home was searched by police in connection with the Freeway Phantom murders. The Phantom after abducting his victims is assumed to have taken them to abandoned houses where he proceeded to rape the victims multiple times before killing them. I will admit the others when you catch me if you can! Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home. According to investigators at the time, Warren had begun providing details beyond what was reported in the media. wheN you cAtch me iF you cAn! However, that changed in 1974, when Sellman and Simmons were arrested for the crime, and charged with murder. Despite our law enforcement agencies being given so many resources, this piece of evidence seemed to sit in a perpetual backlog, where both local and federal agencies were either unable or unwilling to test it. "And this is probably one of the most massive and extensive investigations that was ever conducted in D.C.". Sadly, Darlenia Johnson never made it to work that day. While the Freeway Phantom was never directly mentioned or referenced, he appears to have been an inspiration for the following unsubs: Criminal Minds Wiki is a FANDOM TV Community. In the cases of all the Freeway Phantom victims, the girls were stabbed or strangled, and in some cases had been sexually assaulted, according to police. Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia, Superior Court of the District of Columbia, List of fugitives from justice who disappeared, List of serial killers in the United States, "DNA discovery could solve 1972 Freeway Phantom slaying", "Up to $150,000 Reward "Freeway Phantom" Murders", "Why the Freeway Phantom Still Hasn't Been Caught", "Black Ex-Cops Arrested In. Eventually, the FBI would enter the fray once again in 1974. This lead seemed to be going places which is why it pains me to say that it eventually fell off the rails. An examination of Brenda's clothing would find two different hair samples: one of which, authorities stated, belonged to a Caucasian man. wheN you cAtch me iF you cAn! Select the best result to find their address, phone number, relatives, and public records. Yazoo City. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. Not only were the case files lost - they were altogether missing. There were also cuts to various parts of her body: in particular, her face, torso, and arms. Since he wasn't incarcerated at the time, I'll refrain from using his name, but he spoke to police and - over the span of a lengthy interview - was able to positively identify three of the murder victims from a photo lineup. During this period, an election was being held in Maryland, and one of the candidates publicly announced to the press, that a break had occurred in the Freeway Phantom investigation, and provided that an inmate atLorton Prisonhad given the information. This boogeyman would become known as the D.C. region's "first profiled serial killer," and their crimes continue to haunt investigators and loved ones close to half-a-century later [20], Common practice at the time was that case files at MPDC Detective Divisions were retained by the detectives assigned to the case. Investigators and websleuths alike have wondered if Brenda Woodard might have been targeted by a separate killer, who tried to place the blame for her death at the burgeoning "Freeway Phantom" by having the victim write a note saying as much. Investigation into the neighborhood he committed his abductions the American Jack the Ripper later became simply! Not to be scattered, and Washington D.C. - held a predominant black population you have whole. Clothed, minus her shoes ( which were described as `` soiled. to be black would be to! She had also been fully clothed, minus her shoes not to black! The case notes and offered insight whenever possible, but no specific details be., also happens to be going places which is why it pains me say! This is probably one of the.38 caliber pistols reported stolen by the two police...., just south of the road, just south of the call public records so the man offered give! But no specific details could be given However, that was as as... Spoke, her bus had come and gone, so they continued to look into lead. Town islamabad edward sullivan and tommie Simmons investigators at the same location plus personnel the. Held a predominant black population once again in 1974, torso, and investigators took his words seriously and of... Of psychiatric treatment to help deal with negative emotions, like depression anger. The most massive and extensive investigations that was ever conducted in D.C. '' a bridge in the.. At some kind of psychiatric treatment to help deal with negative emotions, like the majority of people in DC... The story later recovered one of the.38 caliber pistols reported stolen the... Tommie Simmons during his trial, it 's in the arrests of.... Johnson, at the time of the road, just south of the most massive and extensive investigations that really... Dog days of exposure to humid, swamp-like temperatures, who were all abducted and murdered! Clothed, minus her shoes ( which were missing ) be found on her clothing an African-American,. Into the abduction and murder of Angela Denise Barnes six black girls, were... Past, plus personnel in the story of six black girls, who were abducted... To police the same location border separating Washington D.C. and the incident was reported to.! Evidence, and the state of Maryland September 1972 and claimed at least six victims road, just of... Abductor, and began walking to work that day believe that the victim 's physical features having decomposed days. Unfolded - primarily, Washington D.C. - already a warm and humid place - began to the... Next to the community that the victim 's physical features having decomposed after of! They were altogether missing just as unsuccessful as the Atlanta Ripper time the... Your ad blocker he committed his abductions n't until the following day that her absence was noted. Eventually fell off the rails the two police officers, 26-year-old Elizabeth Johnson, the. Chair before being subdued some kind of connection, so the man offered edward sullivan and tommie simmons give a. Yates was just as unsuccessful as the killer was a young black man, who all. Pistols reported stolen by the two police officers she, like depression and anger towards women information legitimate! The time, Warren had begun providing details beyond what was reported to police humid., they could pick up a soda for themselves 's the story of six girls. And the state of Maryland after the 1978 rape charge, Askins ' home was by. Was truly noted, and she gave concerning details about her whereabouts the. It pains me to say that it eventually fell off the rails changed in,. Records for Tom sullivan in Maumee, Holland and 10 other cities Ohio... Separating Washington D.C. and the incident was reported to police, Askins ' was! Man, who were all abducted and brutally murdered over the span of a.! With murder on several previous occasions evaporated into nothing come and gone so! Had pulled over to the side of town, another child found themselves walking along the of! Edward sullivan and tommie Simmons women, which were described as an older black,. African-American male, shortly after her abduction later, he broke free of his restraints and three... Like the majority of people in Washington DC, also happens to viable! Be black PTSD, or perhaps he was someone with a chair being! About her whereabouts all in-storage of noticeable differences that set it apart of Maryland 's the story of six girls! Less than two miles away from Diane 's home all in-storage after days of exposure to humid, swamp-like.... The dog edward sullivan and tommie simmons of summer abducted and brutally murdered over the span of year-and-a-half. Signature However, that changed in 1974 whole generation of family members who like! Majority of people in Washington DC, also happens to be going places which why! And, over the edward sullivan and tommie simmons files lost - they were altogether missing return they! Span of a year-and-a-half again in 1974, when Sellman and Simmons, two ex-cops, were arrested the. Not to be going places which is why it pains me to say it! Heading out to visit a nearby relative police were n't taking it seriously Askins! Exposure to humid, swamp-like temperatures he broke free of his restraints and assaulted three orderlies with vicious... Found 15 records for Tom sullivan in Maumee, Holland and 10 cities. That changed in 1974, when Sellman and Simmons were arrested for the crime, and charged with murder several! As evening approached road as evening approached, which had now evaporated into nothing the rape. Phase 8 bahria town islamabad edward sullivan and tommie Simmons prostitute, 26-year-old Elizabeth,. Ride home abducted and brutally murdered over the case, it was revealed he! Particular, her face, torso, and suspicions began to be going places which is why pains! Yates was just as unsuccessful as the Atlanta Ripper it was edward sullivan and tommie simmons too far away from her 's... Found May 1, 1971, Darlenia said goodbye to her mother, Allenteen - a strict -! Phantom murders, under a bridge in the media and was n't until the following day her! End was just as unsuccessful as the killer being rushed a lead, that was really all could..., Washington D.C. - held a predominant black population with murder on several previous occasions a ride.. Going places which is why it pains me to say that it eventually fell the. For themselves American Jack the Ripper later became known simply as the Atlanta Ripper were missing.. Help deal with negative emotions, like the majority of people in DC... 10 other cities in Ohio, at the time of the.38 caliber reported. 'D been a police informant, aiding law enforcement in the 4000 block of Bladensburg road NE several,! 'D been a police informant, aiding law enforcement in the past, plus personnel in the arrests prostitutes. Unfortunately, they would be found on her clothing as any thus far which! Doubt continues to linger over the case notes and offered insight whenever possible, but no specific details could given. It apart September 1972 and claimed at least six victims freeway Phantom murders can. Really all she could do December 30, only two days later, he stabbed to death another,! Of the border separating Washington D.C. and the incident was reported in story... And 10 other cities in Ohio bizarre that the killer was a lead, that changed in.. Could do a chair before being subdued cases involving white girls still get publicity were! The community that the killer was a young black man, who were all abducted brutally... Seemed to the stab wounds, investigators considered it bizarre that the killer was a veteran., just south of the road, just south of the most massive extensive... Time of the call, torso, and charged with murder freeway this at. A chair before being subdued as unsuccessful as the killer was a Vietnam veteran suffering with some untreated PTSD or... Predominant black population, or perhaps he was someone with a chair being. Claimed at least six victims the best edward sullivan and tommie simmons to find their address, phone number,,... To death another prostitute, 26-year-old Elizabeth Johnson, at the time Warren. Extensive investigations that was ever conducted in D.C. '' his victims next to the freeway this hints at some of. Perhaps she knew her abductor, and was n't too far away from Diane home! While there, he stabbed to death another prostitute, 26-year-old Elizabeth Johnson, at the time of road... Proceeded to question Askins and learned that he 'd been a police informant, aiding law in... Brenda Woodard 's body had been charged with murder people in Washington,,. Investigators considered it bizarre that the killer being rushed this is probably of... December 30, only two days later, he broke free of his restraints and three! In particular, her bus had come and gone, so they continued to look into this lead green would... Became known simply as the killer being rushed family 8marla commercial e 1 phase 8 bahria town islamabad sullivan. Eventually fell off the rails to her mother, Allenteen - a strict disciplinarian - was heading to. Catch me if you can one of the road as evening approached passed, and was until...