Yes!...I would've pooped my pants, too! LOL!😂 All the while thinking, as I'm filming, that I'm going to be filming my own demise! And I hope a clear shot of the killer is captured! So I'd end up solving my own murder!😂
Showing their faces and saying their names is so important.. never forget them .. So so sad 😞😥😢😔 Wish they where able to solve these murders to bring some kinda closer...
This case has never been solved, because the Virginia state police would not cooperate with local authorities. There was a York county sheriff deputy, who remained the number 1 “person of interest”. This deputy was repeatedly inserting himself into the investigation and was involved in fraud connected to this case. I live very close and been interested in the case
Seems like a place where a sheriff deputy might sit and wait for speeders and such, also I can’t imagine people getting into such situations unless they had someone like a officer ordering them around
My father -in-law was a special investigator for the VA state police and worked this case. It was the only case he couldn’t solve and it still bothers him to this day. I personally think it’s either a police officer, a retired police officer or a park ranger.
@@melissajohnson1563 sounds like it was the deputy Big Fan was referring to. Wish they investigated and interrogated him, but I guess that’s harder to do since they’re in the force. Terrible
Thanks to Chris for making this video and for all of the thoughtful comments. We are still pushing the FBI to move forward with a new round of evidence testing utilizing the latest DNA sequencing technology. Bill Thomas, Brother of Cathy Thomas. Colonial Parkway Murders
The night/day transition with continuous audio WAS SO UNIQUE! I’ve never seen vids quite as interesting and fresh as this. Keep it up man! If its passion u are so good at storytelling
I've heard different rumors about this case. I remember seeing some type of news clip or article probably back in the mid 90s. It was a strange article with pictures of what you would call gypsies or circus folk that were traveling up and down the east coast for decades. They were like fair people or carnie folk sort of..but they were always setting up camp along rest stops and park areas. There was pictures of some of these people with bizarre clown makeup on and sort of satanic gear. I've heard these cult type people were responsible for many disappeared people and murders all up and down the coast. Virginia a d Maryland also has a huge satanic occult crowd that spans up all the way to Washington DC. Trust me back in the 70-80s anything could happen at night in these places, zero cameras and cell phones to call for help. If you ended up in the wrong place at night no telling what could happen to you
I live in VA, about 2 hours away from the parkway. I remember hearing about these cases growing up, alot of people believed the murderer was some sort of law enforcement. I remember hearing my parents and other adults say that after this happened, they would not pull over for law enforcement until they reached a well lit area with people around.
Might of totally been a cop cause he had this thing of leaving the keys in the car. Also a thing of leaving belongings something a person of habit does. Still eerie case.
We are still pushing the FBI to do do a new round of tests of the evidence using the latest DNA sequencing technology. Bill Thomas, Brother of Cathy Thomas, Colonial Parkway Murders
@@DoctorEnigma01 Sloppy ...??? He's never been identified & his infamous Z340 cypher was only cracked in 2020. There are also 4 encoded letters , only one has been decoded so far. Will agree with the attention seeking bit
Do they still have the hair that was found in the girls hand at one of the scenes? Just wondering if they have opened this cold case and tried using some modern forensic analysis to try to get some justice before this pos dies if he hasn't already.
Dude! Next time you go to the scene of an unsolved crime at night, bring a friend for protection! Bring 3 friends! 6 friends! 6 big burly muscular friends with shotguns! One of my favorite RU-vid channels btw!
Used to live in the area and took the parkway weekly. Beautiful during the day but at night it’s pitch dark and creepy. Especially on nights when you’re driving and it’s foggy
Growing up in Yorktown in the late 90s and early 2000s this case was used as a deterrent to keep kids out of the woods at night. Thank you for going back and discussing this. The memory of the victims deserves respect.
@@billthomas56 So sorry for the loss of your sister. I lived in Yorktown when these murders were happening. I work in Yorktown still. When I was a teen, I loved driving the Colonial Parkway at night by my self just playing the radio. I would drive all the way to Jamestown and then turn around and drive back to Yorktown. This was before the murders and around 1974 and my parents had no idea that I was doing this peaceful long ride. One night, I got pulled by a park ranger for speeding. He didn't give me a ticket after finding out that I just enjoyed driving the parkway. He asked me if I would like to ride with him while he locked the gates to the various picnic areas and that he could show me lots of deer with the spotlight he had on his car. I agreed and I parked my car at the visitor's center and then got in his car. He showed me a bunch of deer as we rode around making sure that there were no cars still in the picnic areas and then he drove me back to my car and I left. Years later when these murders happened, I thought back to that night and couldn't believe that I had done that. I was young and trusting of everyone back then. I have hoped that these terrible crimes would be solved at any time with the advances of DNA technology and get justice for the victims.
I remember these. I was a pre-teen/teen when they happened & I lived not far away in Virginia Beach. It’s always been a spooky local mystery to me. Poor families of those victims who’ve never gotten justice.
I lived in ocean view and me and my friends would go up there Friday and Saturday night with a couple cases of beer stay up there all night Long back in the early eighties Not too many people on the Parkway at night
I was a few years younger than you were when they happened, and I lived in Newport News. I lived there for about 27 years, and oddly enough I only really learned about this case a few months ago. I remember hearing rumors and urban legends about it when I was a student at CNU, because two of the victims had been students there, and several of my classmates lived out in Williamsburg, and they had heard about it as they were growing up. But I only started learning the actual facts about the case a few months back.
The Hampton Roads area has a dark aura. I have only felt that similar dark energy in Los Angeles. I grew up in Virginia Beach in the early 90s. I'm glad my parents packed up and moved to small town midwest in 1996. My childhood babysitter was missing for 5 years and they ended up finding her in the woods - possible a suicide. The area is littered with bodies.
@@bobbyplummer4415 I lived in the Ocean View area for a short time also, Bobby. My ex-husband was in the Navy and stationed at NOB. I lived there from 88' to 92' before buying a house in the Old Ocean View area (Westmont Ave, near Northside Middle School). Moved to Northern VA after my divorce in 2000. I do remember hearing a great deal about these murders and was afraid to go anywhere near Colonial Pkwy...day or night!!!! I hope they do find the person(s) responsible for these murders and bring them to justice if they're not dead already... and also maybe, just maybe, they'll get info on where the two teens that have never been found, are located. Closure for these families...bless their hearts!!!!!
Know the area and especially the Colonial Parkway like the back of my hand. Don't know what the traffic was like but dude did some DRIVING to film all of this! 👍👍👍
This is my home town me and my friends ran the parkway partied all through this place. I guess it's good there were always like 10 of us together. So sad for the families hopefully this will be solved and give these families some peace.
Your work is important...You help to keep the memories of the victims alive,as well as extend the chance that someone watching these videos will one day add info to solving the mystery. Good job.
Interesting. I also like how you interspersed the crime scenes during the day and during the night. It involves the viewer so much more. Bone-chilling. Like telling ghost stories out by the campfire.
When I was stationed in Army back in 1975 to 1978 at Fort Eustis Va. We spent most of our free time on or near the Parkway it is very disconcerting to think just few years later an area we thought Beautyful would one day be places a killer would commit murders.With all the military bases in the nearby area have to wonder if killer was not VeitNam Vet who maybe came home from the war and could not put away his killing skills encouraged by the Military> I do know even back then we were wild ,crazy and maybe a little on the lawless side
True. That is what Dave McGowan's Programmed to Kill says. And then there's operation phoenix brought home to be continued as a domestic program after the war. Basically the citizenry is considered now to be the VC.
But being in the army a vet would have surely driven diesel trucks and known that diesel isn't as flammable as gasoline. Unless a vet was intoxicated or not in his best frame of mind. Sounds more like younger men without much wisdom.
I’ve always had a nagging feeling on this case (Cathy Thomas) due to the extremely close proximity to “The Farm” CIA Camp Peary, where old battle hardened operators train CIA recruits and veteran agents go for more specific training. It’s literally it’s backyard. Add in the fact that Ms Thomas was one of the first females accepted to the Naval Academy and lesbian. This in 1986 was sure to upset the old guard not only on a small scale personal level but a high reaching political level as well. I might add that I live in the area, have visited all the sites and have heard both personal accounts of people telling how recruits from Camp Peary would be sent on recon missions in the surrounding woods and neighborhoods and would actually spy on normal citizens, be tasked with small things like getting the names of residents or taking something personal without getting caught or using “tradecraft” to chat up neighbors to get personal info. What if one or two of them went rogue or what if they were given an actual mission and told to make it point another way?
🤔 a cop? Could be. After all one of the most vicious and prolific criminals of the latter 20th century ‘Gentle’ Joe D’Angelo aka the Golden State Killer was a cop.
Very well done, Chris. I've been following this case for years. I agree with your assessment. Staging does point to a serial killer. Cathy & Rebecca were lovers. Keith and Cassandra met each other in a Calculus class at university and were probably not an 'official' couple. You always show a great deal of respect towards a sensitive subject. At the beginning of this video when you spoke of teenagers who wanted to be alone. I smiled. Kudos
@7 Haunted Days I was under the impression that it wasn't that popular of a place to park . Regardless your comment is uncalled for and impolite. You may have some issues causing you to act this way or possibly youth may be part of it. I'll pray for you to find the help that you need. God Bless
@7 Haunted Days dude you good are you child because you sound like one not everybody Is the same can handle the same shit you sound like a little kid trying to prove themselves “im not scared” headass
Horrifying stories, and absolutely tragic for the families. The way that you cut the video together, with the day and night sequences interspersed, is incredibly effective at getting the story across
I get the feeling of the Texarkana Murder🤔 my theory is it’s a guy that was taken there by his girlfriend and she broke up with him and broke his heart after they had a night there or something and he started going back to the spot may be looking for her with other guys and was just killing everyone but he came across it was a couple.🧐 Because he’s killing couples it makes me think that it’s a revenge kill for a broken heart. Sadly a sick twisted individual taking his anger and frustrations out on innocent couples.
Chris is really out there risking skin and bone walking through that place at night. I tell ya, there isn't another channel that mixes story telling while "vlogging" in the actual locations so well. Keep it up man, the videos are always great!
There is a navy weapo just up there road when I was stationed there they always said don’t go down to colonial parkway at night. Super sketch place, drive through a lot late at night returning to the base.
Dan Bell is a failed moviemaker turned RU-vidr. He stages videos to capture more viewers, and often trespasses. One of these days he's going to find himself looking down the barrel of a pissed-off property owner's Smith & Wesson!
@@TheDriveInGuys I've failed at plenty of things in my life, and so have you. I like Dan and his videos. Nobody is perfect, and everything is subjective. He carved out a living doing what he wants to do, which is cool. Not everyone can say that. Looking forward to his next video.
@@deendrew36 True...and Dan's not out killing, raping, stealing or pillaging people (like the scumbag that did this to these poor young people here) to make a living...it's an honest living that Dan's carved out for himself.
Killer had a “type”: Female vics had slightly curled, medium-length brunette hair, including one of the pair of girls. Definitely has that “serial” feel to it: Similar vics, almost identical m.o. Great research as always, Chris!
You have the right voice, the right equipment and the right style for describing and documenting crime sites like this. I really like the channel but I love when you do these kinds of explorations! Thank you!
I completely agree!!!! Chris does this with so much dignity and respect for everyone involved, especially family members!!!! Which is why I'm such a huge fan of his channel!!!!!
I just watched Lamont at Large and immediately subscribed to yours. Love these kind of videos. Might have been cops who did it. I hope whoever did it is still alive and suffering. Loved watching this.
I wonder if there's some significance to the fact that two of the people were never found, I mean if the killer was staging each scene and the bodies were all eventually found, most within miles of the scene, why haven't these two been found yet ? It's odd.
The first 2 girls were both strangled. I think it's 2 killers. All the elaborate staging of the cars and bodies would be easier with 2 people. It's really sad.
Grew up in Va and in high school in 89, the whole region knew about it and made it even worse by making thrill seeking teens skyrocket visiting and creating even more chances for the killer/s to find victim and get away with it, or most likely there were copycat murders, because of the dump sites
And the dead with live again: "And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt." *Daniel 12:2*
I have watched loads of your videos recently and i have to say what a fine job you do to tell these stories about your country. You always have great sensitivity and respect when telling the stories about the deceased and you dont sensationalize their plight. You have a polite and sincere approach and the interest you show in your subjects is very engaging... well done Brother.
If you do a lot of night walking like I, I would HIGHLY reccomend the stream light wedge. Just got one off a tool truck and I'm obsessed. Lights up the whole friggin road
I remember one night in 1997, following a drive along the Colonial Parkway (this was a relaxation routine I had), my dorm mates told me about these murders. First time I had ever heard about them, even though I had grown up in NoVA and Maryland. These cases have fascinated me ever since.
@@xr6lad We are still pushing the FBI to do do a new round of tests of the evidence using the latest DNA sequencing technology. Bill Thomas, Brother of Cathy Thomas, Colonial Parkway Murders
Another great video! Very sad story though. Kind of freaks me out to think back to that time frame, at that same time I was in college in Phoenix, I drove there by myself from Michigan. Things were much safer, people as a whole were safer and more trusting. I think back to situations I was in back then that you’d have to be insane to put yourself into now. So I have to believe it’s difficult for people to really comprehend how these people were caught in such by modern standards very precarious situations, but again things were thought of differently.
I grew up in Virginia Beach. There is a dark aura that lingers over the entire area. My childhood babysitter was missing for 5 years and was found in the woods. There is some sort of dark force that pulls at you. I cannot go into my personal details, but it feels demonic and I'm not religious. I've only felt the same aura in the Los Angeles/Hollywood area. I would not move to either area.
I didn't grow up here but I've lived minutes near the parkway for over a decade and I've never heard about any of this. My wife had heard of it all though as she's native to Yorktown. Crazy!
Just found your channel. I love the true crime channels. But this content is great and just different from any other channels. Just seeing the places . Shew it's just so horrible how ppl hurt and kill other ppl. But I love hearing about them. Learning the red flags to look for. And stuff.
Wait if they have the hair of the Murderer. They could find their DNA, with new forensic inventions, we could know who they are. They really need to reopen this investigation. I'm to scared to even go outside because of this person. And to get justice to all the people who got killed and to give the loved ones of the victims peace. I know we can find some sort of justice. I'm not going to let this go. I'll do anything to put that Murderer in jail.
I wasn’t really in the mood to see something with this type of subject matter. But you did it very tastefully. The town I lived in as a teenager during that same time period experienced a teen murder. This video brought back memories. A guy I knew was accused, tried, but acquitted. Crazy times for sure.
Yes, please, I agree, but just wanted to say the location is way off though.The sniper kills were in Maryland,DC and Northern Virginia. Fredericksburg, Va is furthest south they went and that's only 50 miles outside of DC, Colonial Parkway is around 175, 180 miles away further south. Maryland and Virginia both have a Prince/King George, Montgomery and Allegheny counties I know that confused people about location but it happened up here in DC not on the Southern Virginia Peninsula where the Parkway runs. Not trying to be an ass but I lived in Spotsylvania,VA (Where Fredericksburg is located) during the sniper attacks and Colonial Parkway is not right around there. But great request either way.
dc sniper was caught. Media tried to set that up as some guys driving around in a White van when in reality it was a black guy and his black boy toy shooting people out of the back of Chevrolet caprice.
I worked at the White Flint Mall in Maryland at the time which is right next to where the first murder happened. I commuted to work by bike and let me tell you for the next month or however long it was every time a car drove past I though my number was up.
There must not be law enforcement in this area? It would require a heavy shake down to get answers... it could be done summon the people within a 30 mile radius to come to give statements.
I felt like I was watching a episode of Forensic Files! Lol I love your videos! I wonder why they haven’t tried DNA testing on the hair that was found in the girls hand? 🤔
That was my first thought.... Geez I've watched too many CSI shows and Forensic Files... But, if the person wasn't in the CODIS database, I'd almost guess it might be hard to find a profile. (Of course, I am just guessing.)
Thank you for the video! I love it when you especially do these true crime ones. I also loved the recent shark one. Your commentary and personality are great for this. I hope you have a great day Chris
I used to have that cap when I was a kid, I never knew what team or if it even was a team I live in Scotland so baseball or any other American sports were unknown to me, always loved that cap though lol just remember it being super comfy. Only later on did I find it was the Chicago cubs... Mon the cubs 🙏
Ohh, you shouldn't of gone there by yourself at night, makes me nervous!!! Love your channel, I love that you put a face to a name, thank you, new sub!
Man your videos are the best. Especially the video about the East coast 1916 string of shark attacks. You describe everything in perfect detail and bring us there. Can't wait to see what's next.
Outstanding research and narration! I love how you filmed it. Going from then-to-now. Naturally, I've never heard of these unsolved murders, so I'm glad you brought them to light. The murderer(s) weren't exactly meticulous, but apparently the scenes weren't in such a state that identifying a person of interest was possible. DNA then and now is different. Maybe investigators could find something now. Especially with the DNA database what it is. That is such a beautiful area! My hope and prayer is that the families get some answers. Even 30 years later is still better than never. OMG, I can't imagine having your daughter sneak out of the house and then get murdered! Not only didn't they know she'd left, but then to find her missing and literally never seeing her again. Tragic! I think the 2 who've never been found are in the woods somewhere. The killer left the other bodies behind. Didn't bury them. Didn't take them. He knew that area well. He probably thought they'd be found where he put them, but they weren't. Sadly. Again, an interesting story and a great job telling it!
This hurts my heart, but you show the area in such a respectful way and are always empathetic for the victims and families. Great job Chris. You should have at minimum double the subscribers on your channel. Thank you. 👊☮️
My Sister lived in Smithfield, Virginia right around the time of the murders. So when we were visiting her we would drive around on the Colonial Parkway and it was around the 1987 to 1989 era so it was very eerie to here about those young kids some perhaps even close to my age. So sad because it was a nice area we had even stopped there where the first murders occurred in a very beautiful area. And my Sister was telling me and my mom about the killings. Seems kind of funny that they ended as quickly as they began. Either the killer left the area or something had happened to him.
Its been a while since last visited your channel. Your work here is always impressive, feel some of your videos have the potential to reawaken some of these investigations. It's eerie seeing some of these locations and I'm an urban explorer. keep up the good work.
We drive Colonial Parkway all the time. Its very beautiful. We see woman alone jogging all the time, please Ladies protect yourselves. You just don't know , take care and God bless.
Sounds like a killer cop, the cars were pulled over off the highway and then they were asked to step out of the car. Why would the killer choose the same area with the same methods for the vehicles. It sounds like he knew he could pass the crime off as a serial killer while hiding the fact that he was a cop.
A clump of hair? Why hasn't this case been reopened with today's modern technology? Wouldn't it be fairly easy to investigate the DNA and find a match?
We are still pushing the FBI to do do a new round of tests of the evidence using the latest DNA sequencing technology. Bill Thomas, Brother of Cathy Thomas, Colonial Parkway Murders
3 year period these took place , isn't that an average military station posting time period. There is a naval station on the parkway which was more active then than now.
Serial killers love to have their work admired and to be able to take credit (ultimately) for what they did. It's part of their psychological profile. My guess is the killer is dead by now, or incarcerated and DNA, if any was collected, hasn't been matched yet. Really sad cases, and even more so that they have no leads.
Maybe the 4th and final victims are actually the killers and they staged their one disappearance and created new identities. And maybe I watch too much TV.
You mentioned a clump of hair had been found in the first victims hand with today's technology why hasn't that been run for the DNA ? If I had to guess I'm thinking a truck driver looking for help for gas is how he loured all the victims. In those days people trusted more so if a person came up to your car said they been broken down or needed gas well, then that would be how he got into these vehicles and then proceed to kill them and leave there cars . Odd that the perp would want to hide the first car. The last girl leaving her charm might of wanted us to know this person was a family man with children living in the general area. Maybe this person worked in a store around there who knows lots of maybe even a park ranger or a police officer . That's what I feel as to why she would leave her charm. Sad there had been lots of serial killers in those days as well which finally got people to stop picking up hitchhikers. Bless there souls .
Thank you. Some people have remarked on the similarity to the Zodiac case, but investigators have not found any link to the Colonial Parkway Murders. Thanks. Bill Thomas, Brother of Cathy Thomas, Colonial Parkway Murders
