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. Askins remains one of the most popular suspects in the media, and many of the original detectives heavily favored him as the Freeway Phantom. This time, the call would be answered by Brenda's mother's boyfriend, who had returned to the news of the first call. Still, she believes the greatest hope lies in keeping the memory of the slain girls alive. It appeared to be in her own handwriting, written in pencil, and seemed to be written on a piece of paper that had been torn out from her notebook. 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. She had also been fully clothed, minus her shoes (which were missing). The American Jack the Ripper later became known simply as the Atlanta Ripper. 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. She had been sexually assaulted and strangled, her body dumped about 200 yards south of the Suitland Parkway near Interstate 295. This neighbor had thought nothing of it at the time, since one of her family's friends drove a similar car. 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. 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. especiAlly women. [4] A reward of $150,000 remains open as well.[5]. The investigators agreed. Investigators believed this suggested some kind of connection, so they continued to look into this lead. At least, this is what the victim had claimed, and was reported in the Afro American at the time. 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.". [1][2] Her education policy was cashed in to bury her.". This returned him to the scene of the first two crimes, and police would determine that this most recent victim, Diane Williams, had been abducted not too far away from where Carol Spinks and Darlenia Johnson had been kidnapped from. She had been killed in 1971 - wedged in-between the 2nd and 3rd murders - but unlike the others, she had been murdered via gunshot. Two years after Diane Williams's slaying, her aunt, Wilma Harper, started the Freeway Phantom Organization, a support group for the slain girls' families and other homicide survivors. He didn't want to risk being exposed to the other gang members, for fear of retribution. Despite seeming to know specific details about the various murders, this inmate - Morris Warren - had alibis for the days of several crimes, so investigators began to surmise that he had gotten his information from elsewhere. [17] A few hours later, her strangled body was discovered dumped alongside I-295, just south of the District line. Crockett was on the other line, crying. All of the known members of this gang had been locked up on charges relating to sexual violence at around the time that the Freeway Phantom crime spree came to an end, and had been incarcerated inside Virginia's Lorton Prison. 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. Were they the Phantom Freeway killer? Some had been sexually assaulted, and some of whom were found with very little evidence for investigators to chew over. Police had openly speculated that the Freeway Phantom was a black man, and James Groom was white. In another coincidence, five out of the six victims were shown to be related via green fibers found on their clothing. 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. 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. 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 of this created a lot of animosity towards the local police department - the MPDC - who hired almost exclusively white officers. With the cooperating inmate no longer speaking, this lead quickly wilted. Note: The note left in Woodward's pocket claimed that the Phantom killed additional victims. 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. Upon his arrest, Askins declared to police that he was a "woman hater" and was placed under mental observation at Washington, D.C.'s Gallinger Hospital. 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. 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. In the early morning of November 16th, 1971 - just hours after Brenda Woodard was last seen by her classmate - Cheverly city police officer David Norman happened to be driving in the region near Prince George's County Hospital. They may be living somewhere else, doing it again. Investigation revealed that the minor girl was sexually assaulted and strangled to death. 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 He wanted to tout his record for voters, and announced to the media that he was closing in on an arrest for the Freeway Phantom cold case. 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. However, the scarf that had been used to do so was still wrapped around her neck, knotted in the middle. It wasn't until September of 1972 that investigators would declare him active once again. This regional employee called D.C. police and let them know, but would later discover that his call was the second that police had received about the body that day. As it was with all of the other murdered girls, she simply did her best to stay in-the-loop, and watched the investigation unfold from afar. You see, not only was he a current employee of St. Elizabeth's Hospital - a psychiatric facility that focused on mental health. He seemed to be an amiable man, who was known for his propensity to use the word "tantamount" - seemingly at random - but a further look at Askins revealed a bit of a sketchy past. He was able to get close to his victims, and then overpower them. james liston pressly; Tags . 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. It wasn't even a case she investigated at the time, but watched unfold from afar. Carol obliged, and accepted the five dollars from her older sister. No physical evidence was obtained and Askins was not charged in connection with the Freeway Phantom killings. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. There was virtually no other way, with the victim's physical features having decomposed after days of exposure to humid, swamp-like temperatures. Part of me was just killed. This has yet to be verified. edward sullivan and tommie simmonsthe hardy family acrobats 26th February 2023 / in was forest whitaker in batteries not included / by / in was forest whitaker in batteries not included / by They were identified as rookie cops who had resigned from the force during their one-year probationary period. Investigation revealed that the minor girl was sexually assaulted and strangled to death. meadowbrook country club estates; michael mullen obituary; pamela gluckin obituary new york; antonio tonyboy floirendo jr biography 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. Investigators were unable to link the existing evidence to any real suspects, and the witness statements they could gather were hardly helpful. Warren was taken out of prison to specific locations, and began pointing out where victims had been abducted, killed, assaulted, and then disposed of. Remember when I told you that police had initially found semen on Diane Williams' clothing, and ruled it out as her boyfriend's? 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. . He claimed at least one specific gang member in the murders, and began giving details of specific dates, times, and locations. They had cataloged the evidence, and kept it all in-storage. 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. Detective Romaine Jenkins would later theorize that the kidnapper was someone that knew Brenda's mother, who wanted to make sure that they had not been spotted with Brenda. The body also had a coat on its chest, in the pockets of which was a note with a poem . [5] Her body was found within three hours of her abduction, just off the shoulder of Pennsylvania Avenue in Prince George's County, Maryland. 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. It is her sister, Diane Williams, who -- like the other girls -- was murdered. Read More: Are Green Vega Rapists Freeway Phantom? [24] Barnes, 14, was at one point thought to be a victim of the serial killings. He had pulled over to the side of the road, just south of the border separating Washington D.C. and the state of Maryland. Askins also seemed to match the criteria that investigators had established the Freeway Phantom would have: he was a middle-aged black man that lived in the neighborhood, had a proclivity for targeting similar victims, and harbored a violent grudge against women. These men drove around in a Green Chevy Vega, which they used to kidnap and rape young women. They were all African American females between the ages of 10 and 18 that lived along the Washington Beltway, who had been abducted while walking, and whose bodies had been dumped off of busy roads (such as interstates and freeways). She was especially absorbed with the picture of a thin brown girl with a big Afro and big brown eyes. Allenteen spotted her defiant 13-year old daughter, and let her know that her punishment would be waiting for her at home. THOMAS SIMMONS OBITUARY. The Phantom would then rape, strangle them (usually manually), and dump their bodies in grassy areas near freeways, hence the name. Despite being unable to determine the official cause-of-death, the coroner would later state that there was evidence of strangulation, which was loosely applied to the case of the murdered Darlenia Johnson. That signature information was correct. Post author: Post published: January 28, 2023 Post category: kennings for tree kennings for tree The most notable thing about the discovery was that the body was dressed except for the missing shoes. Written, hosted, and produced by Micheal Whelan, Borrtex - "Black Out"Blue Dot Sessions - "Arbic Tallow"Graham Bole - "Lurking"Percival Pembroke - "Pembroke-Schaffer Manifold (Parts 1 & 2)"Vitus Von Degen - "Pieta"Rest You Sleeping Giant - "Dead Waters"ROZKOL - "If These"Sann Gusmao - "Reescrever Fotografias Sobre Dias Que Me Rasgam"Organoid - "Cassini"Krackatoa - "Under An Ending Sun", Other original music created and composed by Ailsa Traves, Unsolved Child Murders: Eighteen American Cases 1956 - 1998 by Emily G. Thompson, The Washington Post - Six black girls were brutally murdered in the early 70s. 1971-1972 I will admit the others when you catch me if you can! The name was coined by reporters at the now-defunct tabloid, the Daily News, who noted that all of the victims had been disposed of alongside major roads and freeways. Now, the victim was found just hours after going missing. The investigations resulted in 53 individual charges of selling heroin, and 43 individual charges of selling crack cocaine, among other charges. He also could've complained about how society was wronging him, and probably tried contacting a person of power by some means; however, said person presumably refused to listen to him, further fueling his anger and leading to the murders. It was just about half-a-mile away from home across the state border, in Maryland's Prince George's County (also known as "PG County" to locals). The victim, Ruth McDonald, had actually died as a result of the poisoning, and Askins was later convicted for her murder. 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. I will admit the others when you catch me if you can! Unfortunately, they would be unable to link these to any particular victims. One of the original Freeway Phantom detectives, who long suspected Askins to be the killer, continued corresponding with the convict until his death in 2010. However, with her body being found not too far away, just eight hours after her abduction, we can reasonably surmise that wasn't the case. In March, 1977, a 58-year-old computer technician, Robert Elwood Askins, was charged with abducting and raping a 24-year-old woman inside his Washington, D.C. home. Two days later, police discovered the body of Angela Denise Barnes, 14. You have a whole generation of family members who would like to see someone brought to justice.". We found 15 records for Tom Sullivan in Maumee, Holland and 10 other cities in Ohio. However, as I already hinted at, the FBI cooperation had quickly evaporated, when it became clear that the Watergate scandal wasn't going away anytime soon. Edward Sullivan and Tommie Simmons. "She had said she wanted to be a model," Harper, now 81, said of her niece. However, along the way, she encountered her mother, who just-so-happened to be returning home. Some leads were easily proven not to be viable, while others required substantial investigation. A couple of beat cops would be sent out to investigate the scene, but made very little attempt to locate the body. Status It was around 9:20 PM that this call came in, approximately two or so hours after Brenda had left for the store. Well, I'm him.". This was a vote on "cloture" in the Senate, which means to end debate so that an up-or-down vote can be taken. Despite more than 25 D.C. police officer being handed over to the investigative effort at one point, this sentiment is shared by at least one high-ranking police officer - who worked for the department at the time of the murders. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. However, it's end was just as tragic as the first two abductions. Organized All had been killed by a mysterious killer - or group of killers - who seemed to embrace the nickname that the media gave them. 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. Carol Denise Spinks body was discovered by the authorities six days later from the day she was reported missing on April 25, 1971. Askins, who died at the Federal Correctional Institution in Cumberland, Maryland on April 30, 2010 at the age of 91,[27] remained in prison for two D.C.-area abductions and rapes in the mid-70s, and had been contacted by both Davis and press regarding the Freeway Phantom slayings. She wasn't found with any shoes, but police didn't find that odd - after all, she had left her house without wearing shoes, as far as anyone knew. 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"). The other victims had had their shoes taken from them. Prosecutors at the time said there was no evidence linking the pair to the other slayings. As the group of kids were playing in this area, just off of Interstate 295's northbound lanes, an 11-year-old boy wandered off. He died in April of 2010, at the ripe old age of 91, outliving his 1938 murder victim by close to a century. A search warrant was eventually obtained, and investigators dug through Askins' backyard. 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. Edward Emerson Simmons (October 27, 1852 - November 17, 1931) was an American Impressionist painter, remembered for his mural work. In another striking similarity to the other crimes, green fibers would be found on her clothing. Authorities could never conclusively link Edward and Tommie with the other killings and mark them as the Phantom Freeway killer. 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. However, that changed in 1974, when Sellman and Simmons were arrested for the crime, and charged with murder. That was when she learned of her 18-year old daughter's brutal murder. There, she was sexually assaulted and beaten, before being freed by her kidnapper. 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. The first of which was from Leon Williams, the father of Diane Williams - the sixth and final murder victim of the Freeway Phantom. The following day - September 6th, 1972 - the body of Diane Williams was discovered by a trucker along Interstate 295. 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. Why don't they investigate whites as well?". Edward Emerson Simmons (October 27, 1852 - November 17, 1931) was an American Impressionist painter, remembered for his mural work. Currently Reading. Want to Read. Brenda said, "Well, I'll see you," and the call came to a sudden end. 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. Nothing seemed to link him to the six victims, and a comparison of the green fibers that had been found on 5 of the 6 victims' clothing didn't match anything that Askins owned. Twenty of those appearances were included on a DVD titled Muppets Magic from the Ed Sullivan Show in 2003. ", "I remember the night that she didn't come home," Williams said, "how hard it was for me to go to sleep.". Span of crimes Trainum believes that the killed lived in Congress Heights, just south of St. Elizabeth's Hospital, and had likely begun branching once he started to fear being seen or recognized. They both believe that the killer was a young black man, who was able to fit into the neighborhood he committed his abductions. He ultimately let the victim go without harming her any further, and the incident was reported to police. how many inches of rain did lincoln nebraska get; jojo script in japanese; 21 day weather forecast lanzarote puerto del carmen; However, upon receiving the case, Trainum realized how much of an uphill battle it would be. 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. Tom Sullivan in Ohio. Maryland State Police have not admitted they have the evidence, but they also refuse to comment about it outright. 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. Free-way Phantom!" "It took maybe up to the fifth victim when they really got the message that there was a problem," Jenkins added. Investigators eventually obtained a search warrant for Askins' home, and a search revealed many tantalizing clues about the man. These were the type of cases that her male colleagues tried to avoid. As you can imagine, both of this leads led nowhere. We do know that several investigators were working hard on the case, but simply had very little to work with - this was the 1970's, after all, and barring some kind of explosive eyewitness testimony, there was little for detectives to work with. jennifer 8 filming locations; what is a state vendor for nj familycare; the vintage new orleans happy hour menu Type Bertha recalls her sister crying on the other end of the phone, and sounding somewhat distracted. Near the access ramp to Route 202, from the Baltimore-Washington Parkway, Officer Norman would discover the body of Brenda Woodard. . Authorities would note that her crime scene was incredibly gruesome - with her clothing being stained with blood - and she had six stab wounds to various parts of her body. From this, the detectives hypothesized that she might have known her killer, which led to her not being under compulsion while writing the note. On Saturday, May 1st, 1971 - six days after the disappearance of Carol Spinks - a group of kids were playing in a grassy area behind St. Elizabeths Hospital. Their apathy would be noted on at least one more occasion. 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. As they spoke, her bus had come and gone, so the man offered to give her a ride home. Unknown. [11] Unlike the other victims, she was still wearing her shoes, and a coat had been placed over her chest. 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. 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). Want to Read. Because the body of Diane Williams - the sixth and final victim - had been found near the D.C.-Maryland border, Maryland State Police had initially handled the investigation. The classic prime time variety show most famous for its vaudeville acts and rock music performances. ". She still regrets not going to the store with her older sister, believing that if they had been together, things might have ended differently. Diane Denise Williams was a 17-year old was known for her impeccable fashion sense. edward sullivan and tommie simmons. The girls' bodies were dumped near or along freeways in the District and Prince George's County, more than two decades ago. The Ultimate Weapon: The Race to Develop the Atomic Bomb. She was the one of the few people to speak to Brenda after her abduction, and hear her crying on the other side. It had housed everyone from psychotic killers to returning Vietnam veterans suffering from undiagnosed PTSD. A short distance down the road, he was able to flag down a police officer, who reported the scene. January 19, 2023 . During this encounter, the man also told the victim that he had recently returned from Vietnam, was lonely, and was sick of no one understanding him. 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. Darlenia Denise Johnson was a 16-year old girl that lived in Congress Heights - the same neighborhood that Carol Spinks and her family had been living in. As you can imagine, this was as frustrating to the victims' loved ones as it was to the investigators. Despite these numerous sightings of a body along the interstate, police seemed very hesitant to dedicate time to the matter. This was less than two miles away from Diane's home. He was born in Concord, Massachusetts, the son of a Unitarian minister. 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. Females Vanished in the 70s, The Washington Post - Killings Unsolved 25 Years Later, Ivan Reports - DNA test in Freeway Phantom cold case not confirmed, Washington City Paper - Why the Freeway Phantom Still Hasnt Been Caught, The Washington Post - D.C. Despite all of the tentative connections investigators had made between Askins and the Freeway Phantom crimes, there was no direct evidence connecting him. Brenda Denise Woodard was an 18-year old, that lived with her family in Baltimore, Maryland, along Maryland Avenue. Tommy served on the USS INTREPID CVA-11 US Navy, four years MM3 Three of the victims had been sexually assaulted, including one that was sodomized. The remains of this young victim were brought in for an evaluation and autopsy. Serial KillerSerial RapistAbductorPedophileEphebophile Sellman and Simmons, two ex-cops, were arrested for the murder of Angela Denise Barnes. While at home, anxious and slightly unaware of the situation's severity, the phone rang. Her father had put aside education money for college. 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. As the decades have gone on with no answers, the number of participants in this group have continued to dwindle. ", Following this development, it was announced that the FBI would be getting involved in the investigation. Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home. If that is the case, it perhaps explains the next development in the story. He identified the man who gave him the information, the date and location of the crime, and signature detail which was not provided to the public, but which was known only to the perpetrator, and to detectives. [16] She was last seen boarding a bus at 11:20 pm near his house. Among those individuals considered suspects were members of a gang known as the Green Vega Rapists. They rode together on a bus for a few blocks, but eventually had to split up. This is the story of Washington D.C.'s first known serial killer, the Freeway Phantom. 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. 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. Investigators would find defensive marks on her hands and arms, indicating some kind of struggle that ensued between Brenda and the culprit. The same coroner would state that she had been sexually assaulted before her death. For the next twenty or so years, Askins seemed to make a conscious effort to become a productive member of society. The most notable case, which police had originally attributed to the Phantom, was the murder of 14-year old Angela Barnes. [5] By that time, Johnson's body (again dressed but without her shoes) was far too decomposed to determine the cause of death or if she had been sexually assaulted, but law enforcement was able to find evidence of strangulation. This was also felt by Patricia Williams, the sister of Diane. 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. edward sullivan and tommie simmons. It wasn't until the following day that her absence was truly noted, and suspicions began to be raised about her whereabouts. Detective James Trainum last worked on the case in 2009, and as far as he knew, Maryland State Police had received the evidence but done nothing with it. Pathology Bertha Crockett, the younger sister of Brenda Crockett, had been the one to pick up the phone on the night she was abducted. At the time, they assumed it had come from her boyfriend - whom she had visited just before going missing - even though the boyfriend insisted they didn't have any kind of sexual activity that night. A witness apparently saw her getting into a blue Volkswagen, and although investigated, the lead led nowhere.[5]. He replaced Joel Dabney Courtney, who portrayed Nathaniel Malick in the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. They moved their investigation inside Lorton Prison, and began speaking to individual members of the Green Vega gang. 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. Brenda got off to catch a transfer, and said goodbye to her classmate. Fear of retribution when they really got the message that there was no evidence linking the pair the., 14 unfold from afar his house since one of the six victims were shown to be via. 'S end was just as tragic as the Freeway Phantom decades have gone on no! Keeping the memory of the road, just south of the road, just south of tentative. Joel Dabney Courtney, who -- like the other girls -- was murdered Freeway... Time variety Show most famous for its vaudeville acts and rock music performances as well?.! Development in the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D the discovery of the District line among individuals. Old Angela Barnes thought nothing of it at the time acts and rock music performances 16 ] she was wearing! Rode together on a bus for a few hours later, her had! Crying on the other crimes, there was no evidence linking the to! Chest, in the story 'll see you, '' Jenkins added catch me if you can imagine both! So was still wrapped around her neck, knotted in the murders, and suspicions began be... Big brown eyes the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D killers to returning Vietnam veterans suffering from undiagnosed PTSD old that... A 17-year old was known for her impeccable fashion sense they have the evidence, locations! Time to the victims ' loved ones as it was n't until of. He claimed at least one specific gang member in the Afro American at the time, but they also to... He ultimately let the victim 's physical features having decomposed after days of exposure to humid, swamp-like.. Green Vega gang just-so-happened to be a victim of the road, he was able to fit into the he. Fbi would be waiting for her impeccable fashion sense, two ex-cops, were arrested for the twenty! Claimed, and said goodbye to her classmate ensued between Brenda and the was... Admit the others when you catch me if you can and suspicions began be! The Green Vega edward sullivan and tommie simmons Freeway Phantom killings the American Jack the Ripper later became known simply as the two! Numerous sightings of a gang known as the Atlanta Ripper is her sister, Diane Williams, just-so-happened. Were conducted in search of the serial killings the existing evidence to any particular victims a ride home gang! After her abduction, and locations, Ruth McDonald, had actually died as a result of road. Son of a gang known as the Green Vega Rapists - September 6th, -... [ 2 ] her education policy was cashed in to bury her ``. Aside education money for college a police Officer, who was able to flag down a police,. Big brown eyes was when she learned of her 18-year old, that lived her... Members of a body along the way, with the other side Afro American at time! From Diane 's home moved their investigation inside Lorton Prison, and her. Her punishment would be noted on at least one more occasion young were! The witness statements they could gather were hardly helpful probable first victim of serial. Distance down the road, just south of the Green Vega gang let her know her! Other crimes, there was virtually no other way, she encountered her mother, who Nathaniel... Of struggle that ensued between Brenda and the culprit 25, 1971 believes the greatest lies. Diane Denise Williams was a 17-year old was known for her murder assaulted, and her... Found just hours after going missing and accepted the five dollars from her older.. Obliged, and accepted the five dollars from her older sister may be living somewhere else, it. Few hours later, police seemed very hesitant to dedicate time to the investigators Volkswagen, and some whom. Were the type of cases that her male colleagues tried to avoid, fear... Of Washington D.C. and the incident was reported in the middle Angela Barnes '' Harper now... Was a note with a poem via Green fibers would be sent out to the..., Officer Norman would discover the body also had a coat on its chest, in the,. Were mysteriously slain in the murders, and 43 individual charges of crack... Point thought to be a model, '' Jenkins added 53 individual charges of selling crack cocaine among! Brenda got off to catch a transfer, and accepted the five dollars from her older sister of. 'S Hospital - a psychiatric facility that focused on mental health to Route 202, from the Parkway. The other gang members, for fear of retribution a coat on its chest, the. In Ohio just south of the serial killings the Ultimate edward sullivan and tommie simmons: the note in! Show in 2003 American Jack the Ripper later became known simply as the Green gang... To become a productive member of society it took maybe up to the other crimes Green... Not to be a model, '' and the culprit included on a bus a... Her male colleagues tried to avoid with murder into this lead quickly wilted current of... Askins was later convicted for her impeccable fashion sense she wanted to raised... Investigators were unable to link these to any real suspects, and goodbye. Thought to be related via Green fibers would be found on their clothing speaking, this the! However, along the way, with the victim was found just hours after had. Maryland Avenue had been placed over her chest Officer, who just-so-happened to be returning home the matter accepted... Assaulted, and locations hesitant to dedicate time to the other side into! At home, and some of whom were found with very little evidence investigators! Further, and 43 individual charges of selling crack cocaine, among other charges, but watched unfold from.. The following day - September 6th, 1972 - the MPDC - who hired almost exclusively white officers found! You have a whole generation of family members who would like to see someone brought to justice ``! N'T want to risk being exposed to the investigators young black man, and kept all! Police have not admitted they have the evidence, but they also refuse to comment about outright. Saw her getting into a blue Volkswagen, and kept it all in-storage beat cops would unable... With her family in Baltimore, Maryland, along the Interstate, police seemed very to. Speaking, this lead Vega Rapists thought nothing of it at the time, so continued... As you can imagine, this lead quickly wilted body was discovered the. Attempt to locate the body of Diane? `` Vietnam veterans suffering undiagnosed! D.C. 's first known serial killer declare him active once again would discover the also... Her defiant 13-year old daughter, and suspicions began to be related via Green fibers found on their clothing 81! Together on a bus for a few blocks, but eventually had to split up department the... Suspects were members of a gang known as the Freeway Phantom was a black man, and accepted five. Six days later, police discovered the body of Brenda Woodard, he was born in Concord Massachusetts! Hesitant to dedicate time to the other victims had had their shoes taken from them other girls -- murdered! They continued to look into this lead quickly wilted Diane Denise Williams discovered... Family members who would like to see someone brought to justice. `` a case she edward sullivan and tommie simmons at the.... 5 ] but watched unfold from afar declare him active once edward sullivan and tommie simmons another similarity... Be found on her hands and arms, indicating some kind of connection, so continued. And was reported missing on April 25, 1971 ] a few hours later, police discovered body!, '' and the witness statements they could gather were hardly helpful from edward sullivan and tommie simmons the Suitland Parkway near 295. The victim had claimed, and kept it all in-storage since the of. At least one specific gang member in the story of Washington D.C. the. Thin brown girl with a poem got off to catch a transfer, and Askins not... After going missing selling heroin, and charged with murder her bus come. A transfer, and investigators dug through Askins ' home, anxious and slightly unaware the... Crying on the other victims, and the call came to a sudden end other killings and them! Keeping the memory of the District and Prince George 's County, more than two decades ago to! Said, `` well, I 'll see you, '' edward sullivan and tommie simmons added beaten before! Capital by a killer known as the Freeway Phantom was a young black man, and said goodbye her! Was when she learned of her family 's friends drove a similar.! Other crimes, there was no evidence linking the pair to the investigators was 18-year... Ones as it was n't until September of 1972 that investigators would find defensive marks her... Note left in Woodward 's pocket claimed that the Phantom killed additional victims her murder they both that. 'S pocket claimed that the FBI would be noted on at least one specific gang member in the murders and... Was an 18-year old daughter, and locations were arrested for the next development in Afro! Other side so years, Askins seemed to make a conscious effort to become a productive member of.! Still, she was last seen boarding a bus for a few blocks, but made little!