THE COLONIAL PARKWAY KILLER

Article BY Chris Bartholomew - Art by Roberto Aranda

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There is a serial killer in Virginia that they have yet to catch dubbed the "Colonial Parkway Killer." To date he has killed four couples-- a gay female couple in 1986, followed by a couple in 1987 and two in 1988. One couple is presumed dead and is still missing. It is possible that this count should or maybe some day will be changed to at least nine.

The killer likes to abduct the lovers from their vehicles and kill them, leaving them on I-64 near New Kent County behind a rest area, or on the Colonial Parkway (2 sets here) in their vehicle or as the final couple---whereabouts unknown. One couple was left at a remote site at Ragged Island, off the James River near Smithfield. This killer is still at large. Activities surrounding the murders have lead investigators to suspect either a law enforcement officer, someone impersonating a cop, or perhaps a rogue operative from the CIA.

The Victims

Cathleen Thomas, 27 and Rebecca Dowski, 21

The bodies were found on October 12, 1986, in the back seat of their car.  They were found by a jogger.  The Honda Civic had been pushed down an embankment of the York River, seven miles east of Williamsburg.

An autopsy found rope burns on their necks and wrists, signs of strangulation, and their throats had been slashed.  Their bodies had been doused with a flammable liquid, and several matches were found outside the car.  Their purses and money were found inside the car.  Both women were fully clothed with no evidence of sexual assault.  Law enforcement officials believe that someone attempted to set the vehicle ablaze.  Unable to set the car on fire, the killer attempted to push it off the bluff into the York River.  It is believed that the two women were killed because they were lovers.

Robin Edwards, 14, of Newport News and David Knobling, 20, of Hampton

These two were last seen on September 19, 1987 where they met at an arcade.  David and his bother and another friend took her home that night, but David apparently went back after going home as their bodies were found together in the Ragged Island Wildlife Refuge. 

The two were partially clothed.  Knobling was wearing jeans with 13 quarters in his pocket.  The belt on Ms. Edwards's jeans was not fastened.  Her bra was around her neck under her blouse.  The area they were found was on the south shore of the James River in Isle of Wright County, near Smithfield, Virginia.  They were about a mile down the river bank.  Knobling's black truck was parked at the Refuge several days prior to discovery of the bodies.  The radio was on, the keys were in the ignition and his wallet was on the dashboard.  Two pairs of underwear and Mr. Edwards' shoes were found in the vehicle. 
The two bodies washed ashore almost two miles downriver from where the truck was found.  They were marched more than 1 1/2 miles through the woods and down a wooden pier, where they were executed and dumped into the river.

The Ragged Island Wildlife Refuge is a popular cruising area for homosexuals. The area had become so rampant that in the early 1990s the area was closed to the public. While Knobling and Edwards were not gay, there is speculation that the killer of Knobling and Edwards may have looking for a gay couple.

Cassandra Hailey, 18 and Keith Call of Gloucester County.

On April 9, 1988, these two were reported missing after going on a first date together. Call's 1982 red Toyota Celica was found by a ranger about 9 a.m., abandoned on the Colonial Parkway in Yorktown, Virginia the following day. The driver's door was open and the front seat was folded forward. Keith's watch was on the dashboard and a purse in the passenger seat. The couple's clothing, including underwear, was on the back seat of the car. Several witnesses said the car keys were in the ignition. Keith Call's brother, Chris was driving along the parkway when he noticed a parked car with a door or trunk open at about 4:30 a.m. He wasn't certain if it was his brother's car. An employee at the Eastern State Hospital also saw a car with an open driver's side door at about 5:30 a.m. Neither body has ever been found, but both are presumed to be dead.

Cassandra Lee Hailey was born May 16, 1969. She was 18 years old at the time of her disappearance. Ms. Hailey was a student at Christopher Newport College. She was described as 5'7, weighing 135 pounds. She was Caucasian with brown curly hair and brown eyes. Her left ear has three piercings, her right ear is pierced twice. Hailey was last seen wearing stone-washed jeans; and a white blouse worn over a rust-colored jersey turtleneck with long sleeves. She was also wearing a 1987 Tabb High School class ring. Nicknames include Sandra, Sandy, Missy, Cassie.

Annamaria Phelps, 18, from Virginia Beach and Daniel Lauer, 21, Amelia County

In October, 1989, their skeletal remains of were found in New Kent County by a hunter in the woods near a rest area on Interstate 64 between Williamsburg and Richmond. They had left Phelps' house together in September. Lauer's gold 1973 Chevrolet Nova was found on the evening of September 5, 1989. The vehicle was parked at the rest stop on the westbound side of I- 64. The keys were in the ignition and the gas tank was three-quarters full. Ms. Phelps' purse was in the car, along with clothing belonging to Lauer.

They were last seen alive between noon and 1 p.m. on September 5, 1989 at the rest stop for westbound Interstate 64 traffic in New Kent County. Their bodies were found less than a mile from the rest stop. The Smithsonian Institution's Natural History Museum and the state medical examiner determined that Ms. Phelps had been stabbed to death. Though Phelps suffered stab wounds, his cause of death has not been officially determined, other than being a homicide. There were no obvious signs of a struggle inside the car.

On June 1, 1996, veteran hikers Julianne Williams 24, of Burlington, Vt. and Lollie 26, of Unity, MaineWinans were found dead in a back-country campsite in the Shenandoah Park. They were found with their throats slashed.  The victims had been bound at the wrists. 

While the ties had been removed from Thomas and Dowski, Williams and Winans were found still bound.

The cases all have baffled investigators. Particularly concerning is an apparent lack of any struggle in each incident, as if the dead and missing each met their fate without a fight. Some have speculated that perhaps the killer or killers posed as law enforcement officers.

Other Possible Victims:

Brian Craig Pettinger, Laurie Ann Powell, Michael Margaret and Donna Hall

Profilers at the time believed this person was not alone, that this was a serial killer with a helper.  All of the victims were young and healthy, making it seem as if it would be difficult to subdue them all, as they went to their deaths without a struggle.  It is possible that the helper either backed out or died, leaving the main killer alone and without the courage to continue the killing.  Assuming it's hard - but not impossible - to replace his 'helper' travelers should be careful out there.

It was said back in June of 1992 that every cop in Virginia was after this killer... are they still?