However, later that night, an employee of Safeway would state that they found those same items outside of the store, scattered along the street. The inmate who provided the information said he was not involved in the homicide, and provided an alibi which was found to be verifiable. She was sent to buy groceries at a 7-Eleven located a half-mile away from her home by her older sister, but she never returned. Investigators were unable to link the existing evidence to any real suspects, and the witness statements they could gather were hardly helpful. Investigators would find defensive marks on her hands and arms, indicating some kind of struggle that ensued between Brenda and the culprit. She had been sexually assaulted and strangled, her body dumped about 200 yards south of the Suitland Parkway near Interstate 295. Today, Williams and other relatives of the victims will hold a memorial service in honor of the girls, whose slayings, with the exception of one, remain unsolved. At least one witness would claim having seen her with her boyfriend that afternoon, but that boyfriend's mother refused to let police speak to her son. Diane would spent the next few hours with her boyfriend, before the time came to head home. 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. Still, she believes the greatest hope lies in keeping the memory of the slain girls alive. saving. 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.". After all, Brenda had asked specifically "Did my mother see me?" Pathology Like several of the other victims, she was known for her incredibly tiny frame - standing just 4.5 feet tall and weighing around 75 pounds. On April 25th, 1971 - a Sunday, which was described as being unusually warm for the springtime - Carol and her siblings were shut up inside their apartment, in Washington D.C.'s Congress Heights. 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. Despite finding these two hairs pretty early on, they were unable to make heads from tails of them - unable to confirm if either of them had come from the actual killer. However, in the half-mile distance between the 7-Eleven convenience store and her family's apartment, Carol Spinks disappeared. He was born in Concord, Massachusetts, the son of a Unitarian minister. [4], 12-year-old Yates was walking home around 7:00 pm from a Safeway store in Northeast on October 1, 1971 when she was kidnapped, raped, and strangled. Not only did Askins seem to commit a similar crime in the vicinity of the abductions, but he lived and worked in the region. Romaine Jenkins is a retired police officer, who - during her tenure in law enforcement - became a pioneer. Want to Read. Police would use that hair over the coming years to test for suspect validity, but were unsuccessful in linking them to anyone. They said they had arrest warrants for another 26 people. The killer may have military experience due to the skill displayed during the abductions and the lack of evidence at the crime scenes. The remains looked undisturbed, as if nobody had even given the body a glance, but the summer heat was beginning to take its toll. The inmate who provided the information said he was not involved in the homicide, and provided an alibi which was found to be verifiable. All were black. Investigation revealed that the minor girl was sexually assaulted and strangled to death. 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 It is unknown whether or not police investigated Groom as a legitimate suspect, but I have not found any reporting or mention of him in the months and years after this one incident. This linked it to the Carol Spinks and Brenda Crockett murders. He drove her to a secluded area, where she was then sexually assaulted. Angela Denise Barnes was a 14-year old that disappeared on July 12th, 1971, just days after Darlenia Johnson had gone missing. especiAlly women. It wasn't until September of 1972 that investigators would declare him active once again. He was able to get close to his victims, and then overpower them. A vote in favor is a vote to end debate and move to a vote on the issue itself, while a vote against is a vote to prolong debate or to filibuster. Through the 1960's and 1970's, more than 70% of the region's population was African American, who had had to endure an entire lifetime of racial tension and struggles. [8] "A white man picked me up, and I'm heading home in a cab," Crockett told her sister, adding that she believed she was in Virginia before abruptly saying, "Bye" and hanging up. Their apathy would be noted on at least one more occasion. [7], A short time later, the phone rang again and was this time answered by the stepfather of Crockett. In face, the case of the Lyon sisters was reported on frequently in the media, and in 2017 - just a year or so ago - the case was finally resolved after more than 40 years. [5] Her body was found within three hours of her abduction, just off the shoulder of Pennsylvania Avenue in Prince George's County, Maryland. When she failed to return home in a timely manner, her mother called the police and was able to file a missing persons report that night. This is the story of Washington D.C.'s first known serial killer, the Freeway Phantom. This was roughly a month after the last crime attributed to the Freeway Phantom, and Groom - who lived in Northwest Baltimore - had just been arrested for the kidnapping and sexual assault of a young woman. The other, which Detective Romaine Jenkins believes might be related, was the murder of Teara Ann Bryant, who was killed in November of 1972 - two months after the last known Freeway Phantom murder. Post author: Post published: January 28, 2023 Post category: kennings for tree kennings for tree As a result, the Freeway Phantom case files are now incomplete - some have been discarded entirely and others are incomplete with pages or articles of evidence having been lost, along with their associated notes, and all the primary or task force investigators have either long retired, or are deceased. While she remains hopeful the killings eventually will be solved, Jenkins believes the passage of time already has diminished the chances of closing the case. She had been sent to buy sugar, flour, and paper plates, and all indications would point to her having done so. The body was recovered, and was eventually identified as Darlenia Denise Johnson - a missing 16-year old that had disappeared from the neighborhood earlier that month. Touted as Washington, D.C.'s first serial killer, this yet-to-be-identified murderer was responsible for the killing of at least 6 minor girls in Washington, D.C. from April 1971 through September 1972. Immediately, the case showed some prominent similarities to that of Carol Spinks, another teenager that had been murdered a few months prior. It was a short walk that she had made dozens of times before. Post author: Post published: January 24, 2023 Post category: what channel is nbc on directv in arizona Post comments: ae funeral services shawnee ok ae funeral services shawnee ok 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. He mentioned a cooperating inmate at Lorton Prison, who had recently confessed to investigators, and was currently singing like a bird. Despite these numerous sightings of a body along the interstate, police seemed very hesitant to dedicate time to the matter. Starkville. The Freeway Phantom targeted female children and teens ranging from 12-17 years of age. [21][2] With current evidence and any information of the case from when it happened, no leads produced sufficient evidence for prosecution. More than two months had passed since the 13-year old had gone missing and her remains were found, and the story was a blip on the radar for 16-year old Darlenia. Trainum was able to recover many of the documents from the Maryland State Police - who had carefully stored the files - but had no idea what had been lost in the preceding decades. The case of the Freeway Phantom remains open in the MPDC Homicide Division, but it is considered a cold case with no active lines of investigation. Some leads were easily proven not to be viable, while others required substantial investigation. It was after this murder that the "Freeway Phantom" moniker was first used in a Daily News article describing the murders. The body also had a coat on its chest, in the pockets of which was a note with a poem , this is tAntAmount to my To this day, many believe that police did not give the investigation the necessary resources or manpower. It stuck with him forever - a sentiment shared by Margaret Williams, the mother of Diane Williams, who was not the same following the 1972 murder. Police were unable to uncover much evidence other than what I've just described, but noted that the victim had been strangled to death, just like the first two cases. I will Admit the others View the profiles of people named Edward Sullivan. This semen sample would remain untested for several decades, but needless to say that would come up much later. Remember when I told you that police had initially found semen on Diane Williams' clothing, and ruled it out as her boyfriend's? However, the modus operandi of the homicide differed significantly from the other killings she was shot and not sexually assaulted, unlike the other six victims. Early 1970's newspaper reports hint at a perceived hatred of those names by the killer, but police have not stated that this was a belief of theirs. In 2013, an employee at the Maryland Chief Medical Examiner's officer spoke (under the veil of anonymity), and stated that trying to find out any information about the Freeway Phantom case: It is unknown if the DNA sample from Diane Williams' clothing still exists, and if it can be tested. Why don't they investigate whites as well?". Most of the people in the homicide unit now would know nothing at all about the Freeway Phantom." [1][2], On the evening of April 25, 1971, 13-year-old Spinks from Southeast was sent by (Carlo) an older sister to buy groceries at a 7-Eleven located a half-mile away from her home, just across the border in Maryland. rancho bernardo country club membership cost; About. She told her mom that she was going to be staying the night at the rec center, as they were hosting a sleepover event for kids that would stretch into the following morning. School was out for the summer, and she was occupying her time with her friends, her boyfriend, and her summer job: working as a counselor at a nearby rec center. With a deep and misogynistic hatred towards women. The other victims had had their shoes taken from them. She didn't blink. That signature information was correct. If he was as young as investigators believe, he would now be entering his twilight years - of retirement age, at least, or quickly approaching it. Select the best result to find their address, phone number, relatives, and public records. Several days passed, and Washington D.C. - already a warm and humid place - began to enter the dog days of summer. Carol obliged, and accepted the five dollars from her older sister. However, police struggled to come to grips with some other differences: such as the note found in Brenda's coat pocket - which seemed to taunt investigators - and the fact that Brenda was found still wearing her boots. One such suspect was the rookie police officers duo Edward Sullivan and Tommie Simmons. It's the story of six black girls, who were all abducted and brutally murdered over the span of a year-and-a-half. The Sullivans: With Paul Cronin, Steven Tandy, Reg Gorman, Vikki Hammond. Many theorize that the Maryland State Police have since lost the evidence, but are unwilling to admit it providing an already-aggravating story the most unfortunate ending possible. On July 8th, 1971, Darlenia said goodbye to her mother, and began walking to work. Robert Askins would be sent to St. Elizabeth's Hospital shortly thereafter, until he was mentally fit enough to stand trial. An autopsy of the victim's body showed that she had been sexually assaulted before her death; in a grisly detail, police also learned that she had been sodomized. He walked her to a bus stop nearby, along Martin Luther King Avenue. She reluctantly agreed, only to discover that the the man had no intentions of taking her to her destination. All the cases involving white girls still get publicity. FRee-wAy PhanTom[13], Based on handwriting samples, authorities surmised that the note, written on paper cut from the victim's school notebook, had been dictated to and handwritten by Woodard. james liston pressly; Tags . On the evening of November 15th, 1971, Brenda met up with a male classmate of her's, and the two had dinner together at a D.C. staple named Ben's Chili Bowl. The Green Vega Gang members were individually interviewed by MPDC Homicide Detectives Fickling, Irving, and Richardson, at Lorton Prison in Virginia, where the gang members were serving sentences in conjunction with the successful prosecutions of those crimes in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. Hours after the body had been discovered, when police had roped off the scene, she would unknowingly stumble upon the commotion. That year, a 24-year old woman was abducted at gunpoint by Robert Askins, and taken back to his home. Most unusually, her body appeared to have been washed prior to its abandonment alongside U.S. Route 50. Some people believe that the Phantom himself called in tips to mislead police and stall the investigation. All these leads were investigated to their logical conclusion. Ph: (781) 272-0050 This particular inmate was also serving a sentence at Lorton Prison for the Green Vega convictions. The classmate of Brenda's usually drove them whenever they hung out, but with his car in the shop temporarily, they had to take the city's buses home. 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. After kissing her boyfriend goodbye, Diane Williams was last seen boarding a city bus, directed towards her family's home in Halley Terrace. The following day - September 6th, 1972 - the body of Diane Williams was discovered by a trucker along Interstate 295. As you can guess, this early nickname would stick and soon, the killer himself seemed to embrace it. As the decades have gone on with no answers, the number of participants in this group have continued to dwindle. Both Trainum and Jenkins stick with this analysis, which provides a small insight into most serial killers - again, most serial killers, not all of them. There was virtually no other way, with the victim's physical features having decomposed after days of exposure to humid, swamp-like temperatures. While at home, anxious and slightly unaware of the situation's severity, the phone rang. Two former police officers, Edward Sullivan and Tommie Simmons, were also questioned, but they were only suspected in the murder of Angela Denise Barnes, a victim not included in the Freeway Phantom series. It is unknown where this piece of evidence now stands. 43 Winn Street Burlington, MA 01803. The search for Brenda Crockett was - thankfully - not a long way. To residents, the murder of six girls in their community was a travesty. "It's in the past, plus personnel in the police department has changed. It was believed that these had come from a vehicle or a carpet/rug of some kind, but would provide police a very minuscule lead as the investigation began to stretch out over several weeks. [9] As with the other cases, her shoes were missing and unidentified green fibers would also be found on her clothing. Modus Operandi Police would eventually rule her out entirely, when they solved the case and arrested two ex-police officers for the crime - who were both later convicted. Why was this case never solved?, The Washington Post - Would the Freeway Phantom case already be solved if the victims werent black?, The Washington Post - The Freeway Phantom Revisited (Youtube video), Washington Examiner - DNA discovery could solve 1972 Freeway Phantom slaying, The Washington Post - Freeway Phantom Slayings Haunt Police, Families Six Young D.C. County, Maryland) discovered the body of the missing 10-year old. She ended up managing the child abuse squad for several years, hoping to make life better for children around the D.C. region. In the late 1960's and early 1970's, Jenkins joined the Washington D.C. police force. It was surmised that the body had only been decomposing for 2-3 days, despite her body being found close to a week after her abduction. episode Paradise . Due to the brutality of the crimes the police suspected the offender to be a psychopath. [4] A reward of $150,000 remains open as well.[5]. Most unusually, three of the victims shared the middle name Denise. He would receive a life sentence, and ended up spending several decades inside a penitentiary. Various conspiracy lovers later alleged that some of the sympathetic police officers had covered up the evidence; no proof of it was ever recovered. They were giving the Freeway Phantom credit for six murders: those of Carol Spinks, Darlenia Johnson, Brenda Crockett, Nenomoshia Yates, Brenda Woodard, and now Diane Williams (in that order). The Freeway Phantom case has seen a myriad of investigators and garnered much interest over the years. With the cooperating inmate no longer speaking, this lead quickly wilted. These members included men such as Morris Joseph Warren, Paul Fletcher, John Davis, and Paul Brooks - whose exploits you can find in detailed newspaper archives. This case is open as a cold case in the MPDC Homicide Division as of September 2018. Lets find out. This, at least, provided investigators with some kind of a lead, but finding the driver of a blue Volkswagon - in 1971 - was like finding a needle in a haystack. Which, as you can guess, has played a major role in the reporting of this story over the years. One of the few pieces of evidence that police would find, during a thorough examination of Carol Spinks' remains, were small green fibers that were found on her clothing. Another witness would state that they had seen Johnson driving around with an older African-American male, in the time period after her supposed abduction. Span of crimes He ultimately let the victim go without harming her any further, and the incident was reported to police. Three of the victims had been sexually assaulted, including one that was sodomized. Her thoughts seemed to be scattered, and she gave concerning details about her whereabouts. When investigators announced that the Freeway Phantom killer was most likely a black individual, this animosity towards the local police force began to turn into widespread distrust. While most of the family was out-and-about, looking for the missing 10-year old, trouble began brewing at home. He pulled over to the side of I-295 - not too far away from where the body of Carol Spinks had been found a few months prior - and within moments, discovered a body laying in the grass. 43 Winn Street Burlington, MA 01803. All of these victims had a number of traits in common. That signature information was correct. As you can imagine, she never made it home. Infuriated, this caller called their boss and let them know about the police inactivity. 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. insensititivity [sic] to people When he returned nearly a year later - in September of 1972 - he had lashed out at another victim in the neighborhood of Congress Heights. There were long gaps between the crimes (sometimes as long as 2.5 months between each), but five young women had been killed over the span of 1971. Seven young black girls were mysteriously slain in the national capital by a killer known as the Freeway Phantom. Extensive manhunts were conducted in search of the mysterious assailant since the discovery of the probable first victim of the serial killer. Investigation revealed that the minor girl was sexually assaulted and strangled to death. It was only know that the nickname "the Freeway Phantom" was given to the unknown killer, who had eluded investigators through the summer and now, into the fall. The Ed Sullivan Show: With Ed Sullivan, Johnny Wayne, Frank Shuster, Ralph Paul. One of which began talking: Morris Joseph Warren, who had begun to grow fearful that another member of the gang would turncoat before he did. D.C. Phantom Murder", "Six black girls were brutally murdered in the early '70s. The investigation into the abduction and murder of Neno Yates was just as unsuccessful as the first three murders. Prosecutors at the time said there was no evidence linking the pair to the other slayings. It's a story that continues to haunt her, more than two decades after her retirement. Type It was rumored in the days after Darlenia's disappearance that her mother would receive phone calls at odd hours, with the person on the other end of the line taunting her. 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. A couple of beat cops would be sent out to investigate the scene, but made very little attempt to locate the body. Not only were the case files lost - they were altogether missing. Now-retired, she always dreamed of being the one to crack the Freeway Phantom case, hoping to be the one to personally handcuff him. Detectives John Moriarty and Roy Lamb were called to the scene, amidst Vietnam War protests, and began canvassing the neighborhood. Now-retired, Musgrove was willing to speak to the Washington Post in 2006, in which he decried the way the victims had been treated in the years since: "Those black girls didn't mean anything to anybody - I'm talking about on the police department. Despite all of the tentative connections investigators had made between Askins and the Freeway Phantom crimes, there was no direct evidence connecting him. Dumping his victims next to the freeway In the early 1970's, a mysterious killer targeted young black girls along the Washington Beltway. She hopped on the next bus, and that is when her trail went cold. edward sullivan and tommie simmons. The American Jack the Ripper later became known simply as the Atlanta Ripper. Remember, the note from Brenda Woodard's coat pocket had read: "This is tantamount to insensititivity [sic] to people especially women. Diane Denise Williams was a 17-year old was known for her impeccable fashion sense. Despite claiming he intended the cyanide for himself, planning suicide, he was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to twenty years to life. Following the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968 - and the subsequent riots, which caused extensive damage to the Washington D.C. region - the area had been left reeling. Right? The classic prime time variety show most famous for its vaudeville acts and rock music performances. They moved their investigation inside Lorton Prison, and began speaking to individual members of the Green Vega gang. Authorities could never conclusively link Edward and Tommie with the other killings and mark them as the Phantom Freeway killer. 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. They didn't believe him to have any real insider information, and remain doubtful that this gang of perverts was responsible for a serial murder spree. County's State's Attorney Arthur A. Marshall, who was running for reelection at the time. Experts believe that it might have only been a tragic coincidence that Angelas murder loosely mirrored the victims of the Freeway Phantom. She, however, had been 18 years old, and likely much more aware of what was happening to her. I will admit the others when you catch me if you can! In April 1939, Askins was found criminally insane and committed to St. Elizabeths Hospital. In this meeting of more than 100 people, residents expressed their disdain for the police response to the murders. An aspiring model, she had just started her senior year at Ballou High School in Washington D.C. They didn't want to let their lives be forever ruined because of the actions of one mad killer, and joined together to combat that. Brenda Denise Woodard was an 18-year old, that lived with her family in Baltimore, Maryland, along Maryland Avenue. The case files had been lost by DC police in the years since, and were nowhere to be found. Namely, the fact that this was the first case that the victim had been stabbed multiple times, but investigators excused this with the notion that the victim was much older - the killer had almost exclusively targeted children prior to Brenda Woodward. Barnes's slaying, originally thought to be linked to the Freeway Phantom killings, was later solved when two former police officers, Edward L. Sellman and Tommie B. Simmons, were convicted of her killing. The most notable thing about the discovery was that the body was dressed except for the missing shoes. After all, Washington D.C. would not establish home rule until 1973, meaning that the local residents had no real representation of their own at the time of the Freeway Phantom murders. Jim Henson's Muppets made 25 appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show between 1966 and 1971. In attendance was a local resident named Glendora Thomas, who stated: "The police are committing crimes by not taking care of our children.". Valerie, Carol's 24-year old sister that lived across the hall in the apartment building, asked the kids if any of them would walk down to a nearby store for her. O 'cine d'aventuras ye un chenero cinematografico caracterizau por a presencia d'un heroi (ficticio u real) inspirador d'un mito, a on gosa haber-ie scenas d'aventuras y batallas, asobn de tipo caballeresco y que gosa tamin estar ambientau en epocas pasadas que se presentan de forma exalzadora, en presentando sin profundizar masiau o scenario de l'accin d'a cinta, que mesmo puet estar . THOMAS SIMMONS OBITUARY. Despite their differences in beliefs regarding this case, Trainum and Jenkins agree on a number of things regarding the Freeway Phantom. However, upon receiving the case, Trainum realized how much of an uphill battle it would be. 1971-1972 Keep supporting great journalism by turning off your ad blocker. Unfortunately, they would be unable to link these to any particular victims. FRee-wAy PhanTom. January 19, 2023 . Numerous investigative tips came from the general public by a telephone hotline operated by the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia (MPDC) and information also came by way of the mail. When investigators would examine this coat, they would find a handwritten note inside one of the jacket pockets. 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. Like any kid would, she answered it only to hear her sister on the other end of the line. During her time as a homicide detective, Jenkins mainly investigated the deaths of children and babies. Sadly, Darlenia Johnson never made it to work that day. 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. The investigation was conducted by a law enforcement task force that included Detectives from the MPDC Homicide and Sex Squads, investigators from Prince George's County and Montgomery County, Maryland,Maryland State Police, and theFederal Bureau of Investigation(FBI). The 12-year old girl lived with her father and stepmother in an apartment in Northeast, along Benning Road. Their resignation came following an incident after their guns went missing after Tommie, 26, claimed they were burglarized from his Temple Hills home in Maryland. However, one of the victims was too decomposed for authorities to rule out it out, and another was found with semen on her clothing - raising the possibility that five had been the victim of sexual assault. Or purchase a subscription for unlimited access to real news you can count on. Regardless, both of these retired homicide detectives continue to stick to their guns. He was afraid that more details of his cooperation would be leaked to the media, and he refused to give any more statements. ", "(Wanted Poster) Up to $150,000 Reward 'Freeway Phantom' Murders", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Freeway_Phantom&oldid=1139343201, CS1 Chinese (Taiwan)-language sources (zh-tw), Wikipedia articles needing rewrite from February 2018, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 14 February 2023, at 17:04. Receive a life sentence, and accepted the five dollars from her older sister spending. Close to his victims, and taken back to his home mysteriously slain in the department! Supporting great journalism by turning off your ad blocker edward sullivan and tommie simmons them Shuster, Ralph Paul leads. Prison for the police response to the other killings and mark them as the Atlanta Ripper years old, lived... 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