Story about Teara Ann Bryant, 18, who is also possibly a victim of the Freeway Phantom.
Bryant, of Maryland, was the only victim not from the District. Her body was found November 26, 1972, under a bridge in the 4000 block of Bladensburg Road NE.
DC DC - Freeway Phantom Haunts police
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Story about Teara Ann Bryant, 18, who is also possibly a victim of the Freeway Phantom.
Bryant, of Maryland, was the only victim not from the District. Her body was found November 26, 1972, under a bridge in the 4000 block of Bladensburg Road NE.
IWILLNOTBOW
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I've not found it yet, do you know the name of the police officer that found Brenda Woodward??
How the Washington DC Metropolitan Police handles Cold Cases
Typically, homicides are investigated by the original case detective for a period of up to four (4) years. If the case remains unsolved, the case will be transferred to the Major Case/Cold Case Squad. This is done only if all available leads have been thoroughly examined, and both the detective and a supervisor conclude that there are no further investigative steps to be taken at that time. The assigned detective may request to keep the case beyond four (4) years, if, upon reviewing the case, they determine that unresolved investigative leads still exist. Once these leads are exhausted, the case is transferred to Major Case/Cold Case.
Prior to the case being sent to the Major Case/Cold Case Squad, the assigned detective will contact the next-of-kin and advise them of the transfer, as well as the following:
Detectives assigned to the Major Case/Cold Case Squad review unsolved cases in a systematic and comprehensive manner. Every open case is reviewed in chronological order. All statements, reports, notes, and records are thoroughly examined. Physical evidence is evaluated in order to determine if the investigation could benefit from advanced forensic (DNA) testing, which may not have been available at the time of the murder. In some instances, the reviewing detective may conclude that there are no viable steps to pursue. Upon determination that all leads have been exhausted, and further efforts are unlikely to progress the investigation, the case will remain open (but inactive), until such time that new information is received, or new leads developed.
In some cases, the detective will identify steps which can be taken, which may progress the investigation. In these instances, the detective will proceed with the investigation, in an effort to solve the case. If significant developments are made in the investigation, next-of-kin will be notified and updated.
In addition to the systematic (chronological) review of cases, detectives assigned to the Major Case/Cold Case Squad frequently work with members of other law enforcement agencies, prosecutors from the
United States Attorney’s Office, and other criminal justice colleagues, to try to develop leads and obtain information. When information is obtained about a specific case, the investigation is assigned to a detective for follow-up.
If you have information about an unsolved cold case homicide, please contact:
Homicide Branch
101 M Street SW
Washington, DC 20024
Major Case/Cold Case Squad
Sergeant Andrew Finkelman
(202) 645-3356
unsolved.murder@dc.gov
LINK:
Investigating Unsolved Murders in DC | mpdc
Typically, homicides are investigated by the original case detective for a period of up to four (4) years. If the case remains unsolved, the case will be transferred to the Major Case/Cold Case Squad. This is done only if all available leads have been thoroughly examined, and both the detective and a supervisor conclude that there are no further investigative steps to be taken at that time. The assigned detective may request to keep the case beyond four (4) years, if, upon reviewing the case, they determine that unresolved investigative leads still exist. Once these leads are exhausted, the case is transferred to Major Case/Cold Case.
Prior to the case being sent to the Major Case/Cold Case Squad, the assigned detective will contact the next-of-kin and advise them of the transfer, as well as the following:
- All leads have been exhausted, and there are no further investigative steps to be taken at that time.
- Once transferred, the case remains open; however, it is not assigned to a particular detective.
- The next-of-kin will no longer receive regular updates from a detective.
- Detectives assigned to the Major Case/Cold Case Squad regularly acquire information and develop leads in unsolved cases. When this occurs, they will notify the next-of-kin regarding any significant progress in the investigation, including when a case is closed.
- Next-of-kin, if they so desire, can maintain contact with the department through the Family Liaison Specialists Unit (FLSU), which provides support, advocacy, and crisis intervention. They also host periodic events for family members.
Detectives assigned to the Major Case/Cold Case Squad review unsolved cases in a systematic and comprehensive manner. Every open case is reviewed in chronological order. All statements, reports, notes, and records are thoroughly examined. Physical evidence is evaluated in order to determine if the investigation could benefit from advanced forensic (DNA) testing, which may not have been available at the time of the murder. In some instances, the reviewing detective may conclude that there are no viable steps to pursue. Upon determination that all leads have been exhausted, and further efforts are unlikely to progress the investigation, the case will remain open (but inactive), until such time that new information is received, or new leads developed.
In some cases, the detective will identify steps which can be taken, which may progress the investigation. In these instances, the detective will proceed with the investigation, in an effort to solve the case. If significant developments are made in the investigation, next-of-kin will be notified and updated.
In addition to the systematic (chronological) review of cases, detectives assigned to the Major Case/Cold Case Squad frequently work with members of other law enforcement agencies, prosecutors from the
United States Attorney’s Office, and other criminal justice colleagues, to try to develop leads and obtain information. When information is obtained about a specific case, the investigation is assigned to a detective for follow-up.
If you have information about an unsolved cold case homicide, please contact:
Homicide Branch
101 M Street SW
Washington, DC 20024
Major Case/Cold Case Squad
Sergeant Andrew Finkelman
(202) 645-3356
unsolved.murder@dc.gov
LINK:
Investigating Unsolved Murders in DC | mpdc
tilomagnet
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I can also recommend the recent true crime book Tantamount on this case. Lots of good information on this case, though I could have done without the chapter where they printed the aimless ramblings of the former detective, which really doesnt add much at all. Except maybe prove that she doesnt really have clue outside of the common theories.
It seems clear the R Askins has been the only promising suspect in this case ever. And its a joke that he's discounted by some of LE because he was older than the age bracket of their profile, which was mostly guesswork anyway. Unfortunately they never managed to connect physical evidence to him, though he had years to get rid of everything when they first started to look at him as a suspect.
It seems clear the R Askins has been the only promising suspect in this case ever. And its a joke that he's discounted by some of LE because he was older than the age bracket of their profile, which was mostly guesswork anyway. Unfortunately they never managed to connect physical evidence to him, though he had years to get rid of everything when they first started to look at him as a suspect.
daisy6441
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AkitasAreLovely
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DNA discovery could solve 1972 Freeway Phantom slaying
This was a 2009 article published about DNA that was supposedly being tested on the last of the 6 victims connected to the Freeway Phantom. That was over a decade ago, I'm not sure if they got any usable DNA profile. This was the first time I heard any evidence still remained from these cases, but I am rather new to the Freeway Phantom case so I wasn't sure if there were any other evidence updates.
This was a 2009 article published about DNA that was supposedly being tested on the last of the 6 victims connected to the Freeway Phantom. That was over a decade ago, I'm not sure if they got any usable DNA profile. This was the first time I heard any evidence still remained from these cases, but I am rather new to the Freeway Phantom case so I wasn't sure if there were any other evidence updates.
Alphafuzz
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Very late reply: Cheverly city police officer David Norman.
IWILLNOTBOW
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Thank you!
Solving cold cases one letter at a time | Canoe.Com
Eddie Chaurbbm.
Dec 25, 2021
A letter from the "Free-Way Phantom." Photo by Courtesy Photo
“I will admit to the others when you catch me if you can.”
Those ominous words were written by the Freeway Phantom, an unidentified serial killer who haunted Washington D.C. in the early 1970s. The “admission” of a killing is part of a letter found in the pocket of victim Brenda Denise Woodard when her body was found.''
“this is tAntAmount to my insensititivity [sic] to people especiAlly women,” he wrote.
The letter is one of more than 500 letters from serial killers compiled in a database in an effort to reopen cold crime cases in the United States. The database is the brainchild of the husband and wife team of Alex and J-Lynn Baber, who run Cold Case Consultants of America , an agency that specializes in unsolved homicides.
The organization has the largest known singular database of letters written by serial killers, with some pieces dating back to 1944.
In an interview with the Sun, Alex Baber said the database of the letters was compiled after 15 years worth of file requests with federal, state and local agencies.''
“This foundation was then strengthened with additional letters held by former detectives, their families, and the families of the victims that granted us access to their personal files,” said Baber.
With the help of a team of experts: forensic document examiner Curtis Baggett, forensic anthropologist Dr. Arpad A. Vass, detective Patrick Apoian, and Michigan Broadcasting Hall of Fame inductee Joe Cochran, the CCCOA will soon be releasing new evidence in an effort to shed light on a number of cold cases, which include the Freeway Phantom, Ohio’s Circleville Writer, Texarkana Moonlight Murderer and Oakland County’s Child Killer to name a few.
Baber said the organization has uncovered some previously overlooked letters — with some written off as hoaxes that have been proven otherwise.
“A few letters that stand out are the 4/1977 OCCK ‘Allen’ letter, the 7/19/1978 Zodiac Scotch Tape letter, the 4/1981 Ghost Killer letter (not known to the general public), the 12/20/1990 Groucho Marx X-Mas card, and the 3/1981 Vicki Koch letter discovered in the ATKID files (also not known by the general public),” said Baber.
Baber hopes the database will help investigators by cross-referencing aspects such as location, date and context to help create possible connections to crimes that were previously overlooked.
“We then search for forensic linguistic similarities on any registered returns in order to lock down the facts, correlate and then analyze each return individually,” said Baber. “This procedure has resulted in uncovering new leads on physical evidence we are currently using to close multiple cold cases.”
The CCCOA hopes the database — in combination with forensic science advancements — will help reopen unsolvable cases and exonerate the wrongfully accused.''
Eddie Chaurbbm.
Dec 25, 2021
A letter from the "Free-Way Phantom." Photo by Courtesy Photo
“I will admit to the others when you catch me if you can.”
Those ominous words were written by the Freeway Phantom, an unidentified serial killer who haunted Washington D.C. in the early 1970s. The “admission” of a killing is part of a letter found in the pocket of victim Brenda Denise Woodard when her body was found.''
“this is tAntAmount to my insensititivity [sic] to people especiAlly women,” he wrote.
The letter is one of more than 500 letters from serial killers compiled in a database in an effort to reopen cold crime cases in the United States. The database is the brainchild of the husband and wife team of Alex and J-Lynn Baber, who run Cold Case Consultants of America , an agency that specializes in unsolved homicides.
The organization has the largest known singular database of letters written by serial killers, with some pieces dating back to 1944.
In an interview with the Sun, Alex Baber said the database of the letters was compiled after 15 years worth of file requests with federal, state and local agencies.''
“This foundation was then strengthened with additional letters held by former detectives, their families, and the families of the victims that granted us access to their personal files,” said Baber.
With the help of a team of experts: forensic document examiner Curtis Baggett, forensic anthropologist Dr. Arpad A. Vass, detective Patrick Apoian, and Michigan Broadcasting Hall of Fame inductee Joe Cochran, the CCCOA will soon be releasing new evidence in an effort to shed light on a number of cold cases, which include the Freeway Phantom, Ohio’s Circleville Writer, Texarkana Moonlight Murderer and Oakland County’s Child Killer to name a few.
Baber said the organization has uncovered some previously overlooked letters — with some written off as hoaxes that have been proven otherwise.
“A few letters that stand out are the 4/1977 OCCK ‘Allen’ letter, the 7/19/1978 Zodiac Scotch Tape letter, the 4/1981 Ghost Killer letter (not known to the general public), the 12/20/1990 Groucho Marx X-Mas card, and the 3/1981 Vicki Koch letter discovered in the ATKID files (also not known by the general public),” said Baber.
Baber hopes the database will help investigators by cross-referencing aspects such as location, date and context to help create possible connections to crimes that were previously overlooked.
“We then search for forensic linguistic similarities on any registered returns in order to lock down the facts, correlate and then analyze each return individually,” said Baber. “This procedure has resulted in uncovering new leads on physical evidence we are currently using to close multiple cold cases.”
The CCCOA hopes the database — in combination with forensic science advancements — will help reopen unsolvable cases and exonerate the wrongfully accused.''
Kell1
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You have to look at each of these individually , its possible that not all of these are linked
The first 4 cases all bear a striking resemblance, to each other, all bear the earmarks of a serial child killer in that area at the time, this is even more convincing in that the first 2 victims (Spinks/Johnson) are both killed in the same manner , (surmised in the case, of Johnson) found only 15 feet from each other though 3 months apart.
An anonymous caller gave details about the location of Johnson which LE feels only the killer would know . If indeed this was the individual responsible it gives us a look into his psyche, in which he wanted his victims found .
But why?, to claim responsibility? or because he felt remorse ?
Brenda Crockett is a very interesting case, in which she was made to call her family by whom we assume was her killer who made a point to make sure the victims family knew it was a "white man who picked her up"
Again what was the purpose of this call? to antagonize, her family? or to allow his victim one last conversation with her family? Or to buy time ?
Now while the majority of child abduction killers are white males, as with the Atlanta child killings, I feel a white male prowling around in a predominantly black neighborhood trying to abduct young black females, would've stuck out like a sore thumb, especially after this case.
Though the old adage that serial killers usually target their own race is mostly true, its even more so when it comes to Serial killers who target children,
Therefore I feel this factor was purely to mislead LE, and that the individual responsible in at least the first 4 cases, was a black male.
And you need to consider why an individual would stress that a victims family know the race of the killer to begin with , theres no reason if they only planned to kill their victim, its too out of place .
Nenomoshia Yates case, of all shows us the sexual motivation of the killer, as her body is found only 3 hours after her disappearance, as with most Child abduction killings , the victim is usually killed within the first 30-90 minutes after they are abducted, the killer in this case, had no time to so anything else nor did he want to . He did what he wanted and got away as quickly as possible (hence why time is so important in abduction cases)
The 5th victim (Brenda Woodward) also the oldest victim at 18 is interesting and different, in which this victim is not sexually assaulted and is stabbed, now perhaps this was because she was older, stronger, and perhaps struggled with her killer, and he did what he needed to to control the situation, but theres no sexual assault listed, and unlike the other victims, she was covered up indicating perhaps remorse, or discomfort with this particular victim. But it can also have another meaning , in which the victim knows the killer
The lack of sexual assault is also interesting, was she too old for his liking? if that's the case, then why even abduct this particular victim, most Child killers abduct their victims based, on their apparent age , size, and lack of an adult presence, but the motive , is OVERWHELMINGLY sexual in those cases, this case at least to me seems out of sorts with the first 4, but we can only base this on what we know from the media .
Then theres the note.......
The killer never tried to contact police before , (unless you count the Johnson case) or after, but did allow one victim to call her family, there was no attempts made to contact the media, nobody looking for credit in any of these other crimes.
"this is tAntAmount to my
insensititivity to people
especiAlly women.
I will Admit the others
wheN you cAtch me iF you cAn!
FRee-wAy PhanTom"
The writer of this note is explaining his reason for this particular murder, but details nothing on any of the others, other than saying hell cop to them if hes caught , he wants the reader to know that he has an issue with people , women in particular.
"Women", if we are to believe this was the same killer , the youngest victim was 10
Now there are specific types of child molestors who molest child victims, because they physically desire adults, but cant because of their social awkwardness, and fear of adult interaction, but they are RARELY if ever violent , so were the first 4 victims a surrogate for his anger ?... I tend to think not , as the sexual component seems to be the key in the first 4 homicides, the victims were killed then discarded .
In the first 4 cases, the victims are all found dressed but missing shoes, in the 5th case, this ceases as Woodard is found with her shoes still on .
Now there have been cases, where child killers have gone onto become serial killers of adults (Arthur Shawcross for ex) , but the motivations were always the same, whats tough to pin down here , was the age of the last 2 victims a factor in why they were not sexually assaulted ?
I dont think so
Being that the motives in the first 4 homicides were indeed sexual , not apparently anger motivated , and that this victim, who receives the most violent trauma of all 6 is not sexually assaulted, as with the previous 4 victims, where their shoes were missing, and not this victim, I'm inclined, based on these factors to say perhaps this killer was not involved in the first 4 and that the note claiming to be the same killer may just be throw LE off, but given what we are working with I could be wrong
The last victim Dianne Williams theres little case, info on, she went to visit her boyfriend was, last seen (by whom?) getting on a bus, shes found strangled just a few hours later , semen is recovered from the victim, except its "assumed" to be from her boyfriend . Her shoes however are missing
Its possible this case may not be related either , as the only the common factors, victim is a black female, and her shoes are missing, sexual assault is up in the air .
All of this occurs within a year and a half , so within 18 months a killer went from abducting and raping young girls to apparently abducting older teens from bus stops with no sexual assault, could happen ... but seems a little too abrupt
Is it possible the killer began to enjoy killing more than rape?.. it has happened , often with sadistic killers where sex becomes less and less a factor
Again I feel the first 4 victims are indeed the work of the same killer, particularly the first 2 , i'm on the fence with the last 2
The first 4 cases all bear a striking resemblance, to each other, all bear the earmarks of a serial child killer in that area at the time, this is even more convincing in that the first 2 victims (Spinks/Johnson) are both killed in the same manner , (surmised in the case, of Johnson) found only 15 feet from each other though 3 months apart.
An anonymous caller gave details about the location of Johnson which LE feels only the killer would know . If indeed this was the individual responsible it gives us a look into his psyche, in which he wanted his victims found .
But why?, to claim responsibility? or because he felt remorse ?
Brenda Crockett is a very interesting case, in which she was made to call her family by whom we assume was her killer who made a point to make sure the victims family knew it was a "white man who picked her up"
Again what was the purpose of this call? to antagonize, her family? or to allow his victim one last conversation with her family? Or to buy time ?
Now while the majority of child abduction killers are white males, as with the Atlanta child killings, I feel a white male prowling around in a predominantly black neighborhood trying to abduct young black females, would've stuck out like a sore thumb, especially after this case.
Though the old adage that serial killers usually target their own race is mostly true, its even more so when it comes to Serial killers who target children,
Therefore I feel this factor was purely to mislead LE, and that the individual responsible in at least the first 4 cases, was a black male.
And you need to consider why an individual would stress that a victims family know the race of the killer to begin with , theres no reason if they only planned to kill their victim, its too out of place .
Nenomoshia Yates case, of all shows us the sexual motivation of the killer, as her body is found only 3 hours after her disappearance, as with most Child abduction killings , the victim is usually killed within the first 30-90 minutes after they are abducted, the killer in this case, had no time to so anything else nor did he want to . He did what he wanted and got away as quickly as possible (hence why time is so important in abduction cases)
The 5th victim (Brenda Woodward) also the oldest victim at 18 is interesting and different, in which this victim is not sexually assaulted and is stabbed, now perhaps this was because she was older, stronger, and perhaps struggled with her killer, and he did what he needed to to control the situation, but theres no sexual assault listed, and unlike the other victims, she was covered up indicating perhaps remorse, or discomfort with this particular victim. But it can also have another meaning , in which the victim knows the killer
The lack of sexual assault is also interesting, was she too old for his liking? if that's the case, then why even abduct this particular victim, most Child killers abduct their victims based, on their apparent age , size, and lack of an adult presence, but the motive , is OVERWHELMINGLY sexual in those cases, this case at least to me seems out of sorts with the first 4, but we can only base this on what we know from the media .
Then theres the note.......
The killer never tried to contact police before , (unless you count the Johnson case) or after, but did allow one victim to call her family, there was no attempts made to contact the media, nobody looking for credit in any of these other crimes.
"this is tAntAmount to my
insensititivity to people
especiAlly women.
I will Admit the others
wheN you cAtch me iF you cAn!
FRee-wAy PhanTom"
The writer of this note is explaining his reason for this particular murder, but details nothing on any of the others, other than saying hell cop to them if hes caught , he wants the reader to know that he has an issue with people , women in particular.
"Women", if we are to believe this was the same killer , the youngest victim was 10
Now there are specific types of child molestors who molest child victims, because they physically desire adults, but cant because of their social awkwardness, and fear of adult interaction, but they are RARELY if ever violent , so were the first 4 victims a surrogate for his anger ?... I tend to think not , as the sexual component seems to be the key in the first 4 homicides, the victims were killed then discarded .
In the first 4 cases, the victims are all found dressed but missing shoes, in the 5th case, this ceases as Woodard is found with her shoes still on .
Now there have been cases, where child killers have gone onto become serial killers of adults (Arthur Shawcross for ex) , but the motivations were always the same, whats tough to pin down here , was the age of the last 2 victims a factor in why they were not sexually assaulted ?
I dont think so
Being that the motives in the first 4 homicides were indeed sexual , not apparently anger motivated , and that this victim, who receives the most violent trauma of all 6 is not sexually assaulted, as with the previous 4 victims, where their shoes were missing, and not this victim, I'm inclined, based on these factors to say perhaps this killer was not involved in the first 4 and that the note claiming to be the same killer may just be throw LE off, but given what we are working with I could be wrong
The last victim Dianne Williams theres little case, info on, she went to visit her boyfriend was, last seen (by whom?) getting on a bus, shes found strangled just a few hours later , semen is recovered from the victim, except its "assumed" to be from her boyfriend . Her shoes however are missing
Its possible this case may not be related either , as the only the common factors, victim is a black female, and her shoes are missing, sexual assault is up in the air .
All of this occurs within a year and a half , so within 18 months a killer went from abducting and raping young girls to apparently abducting older teens from bus stops with no sexual assault, could happen ... but seems a little too abrupt
Is it possible the killer began to enjoy killing more than rape?.. it has happened , often with sadistic killers where sex becomes less and less a factor
Again I feel the first 4 victims are indeed the work of the same killer, particularly the first 2 , i'm on the fence with the last 2
tilomagnet
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Where did you get this info? If I remember this correctly, a motorist found the body (not hard- all these were dumped on freeway shoulders or near on/off ramps) called the police, then called again a couple days later, because the body was still lying there. Not an anonymous caller.
As far as linking the crimes, I remember fibers found on the clothing linked several victims on top of the MO. There was also another victim, Tara Bryant (sp), who has been tentatively linked to the Freeway Phantom, but I think that body had been thrown in the river, which made it inconclusive in the end.
Kell1
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Only whats on the web, it said an "anonymous caller" , given what i have read it looks like 2 possibly even 3 different killers , I saw only one where fibers were mentioned .
As I mentioned we dont have actual case, files to go off of .. so were left with hat the media releases,
THE UNTOLD TRUTH OF THE FREEWAY PHANTOM
Article BY ANNA HARNES/MARCH 2, 2021
The Freeway Phantom has remained true to his moniker — a phantom. Despite the fact that he was Washington D.C.'s first serial killer and claimed the lives of six young girls between April 1971 and October 1972, his identity remains a mystery.
One of the defining features of the Freeway Phantom is that he targeted young, African-American girls, per The Washington Post. His first victim, Carol Spinks, was just 13 years old when she left home one night to go to a 7-Eleven. She was found six days later on a grassy embankment next to the I-295 after being raped and strangled.
His next target was Darlenia Johnson, a 16-year-old girl with a summer job at Oxon Hill Recreation Center. One morning in July, she never arrived at work. She was later found just 15 feet from where Carol's body was dumped.
A week later, 10-year-old Brenda Crockett went missing after going out to see a movie. The next victim was Nenomoshia Yates, a 12-year-old who had gone to the supermarket to get groceries.
The fifth murder was Brenda Woodard, an 18-year-old who was taking the bus home after grabbing dinner with a friend. Last but not least was Diane Williams, a 17-year-old who was traveling home after spending time with her boyfriend.
All of the victims were raped, all were strangled, and five of the six also had their shoes removed. The exception was Brenda Woodard, who was more brutally murdered than the others, offering investigators their first clue about the killer.
Though Brenda Woodard's murder had several differences, the most vital to police was that the killer left a note on her body. He had even dictated the message for her to write out.
"This is tantamount to my insensititivity [sic] to people especially women. I will admit the others when you catch me if you can! Free-way Phantom!" the missive read.
Despite the disturbing message, former D.C. police detective Romaine Jenkins claimed that since Brenda's handwriting did not display excess duress, she likely knew her killer and did not realize the gravity of her situation at the time.
"There were no signs that she was nervous when she wrote the note," Jenkins explained in another article from The Washington Post. "You don't think calmly like that if someone has kidnapped and assaulted you."
However, police believe that once the situation turned dark, the note gave Brenda time to realize her fate and caused her to fight back against her captor. Though she was strangled, she was the only victim to be stabbed as well and also sported defense wounds, suggesting a bitter struggle. The killer also left her shoes on, unlike his other victims...
LINK:
The Untold Truth Of The Freeway Phantom
Article BY ANNA HARNES/MARCH 2, 2021
The Freeway Phantom has remained true to his moniker — a phantom. Despite the fact that he was Washington D.C.'s first serial killer and claimed the lives of six young girls between April 1971 and October 1972, his identity remains a mystery.
One of the defining features of the Freeway Phantom is that he targeted young, African-American girls, per The Washington Post. His first victim, Carol Spinks, was just 13 years old when she left home one night to go to a 7-Eleven. She was found six days later on a grassy embankment next to the I-295 after being raped and strangled.
His next target was Darlenia Johnson, a 16-year-old girl with a summer job at Oxon Hill Recreation Center. One morning in July, she never arrived at work. She was later found just 15 feet from where Carol's body was dumped.
A week later, 10-year-old Brenda Crockett went missing after going out to see a movie. The next victim was Nenomoshia Yates, a 12-year-old who had gone to the supermarket to get groceries.
The fifth murder was Brenda Woodard, an 18-year-old who was taking the bus home after grabbing dinner with a friend. Last but not least was Diane Williams, a 17-year-old who was traveling home after spending time with her boyfriend.
All of the victims were raped, all were strangled, and five of the six also had their shoes removed. The exception was Brenda Woodard, who was more brutally murdered than the others, offering investigators their first clue about the killer.
Though Brenda Woodard's murder had several differences, the most vital to police was that the killer left a note on her body. He had even dictated the message for her to write out.
"This is tantamount to my insensititivity [sic] to people especially women. I will admit the others when you catch me if you can! Free-way Phantom!" the missive read.
Despite the disturbing message, former D.C. police detective Romaine Jenkins claimed that since Brenda's handwriting did not display excess duress, she likely knew her killer and did not realize the gravity of her situation at the time.
"There were no signs that she was nervous when she wrote the note," Jenkins explained in another article from The Washington Post. "You don't think calmly like that if someone has kidnapped and assaulted you."
However, police believe that once the situation turned dark, the note gave Brenda time to realize her fate and caused her to fight back against her captor. Though she was strangled, she was the only victim to be stabbed as well and also sported defense wounds, suggesting a bitter struggle. The killer also left her shoes on, unlike his other victims...
LINK:
The Untold Truth Of The Freeway Phantom
Last edited:
In the 1970s, police believed that a group known as the Green Vega Rapists were involved in the Freeway Phantom murders. One of the gang's members confessed to investigators that his colleague had committed the crimes. However, he stopped communicating with authorities after his allegation became public and he feared retribution from the gang.
Here is a 1983 article about the convictions of some of the Green Vega suspects...
LINKS:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/arch...rd-time/2633eb34-11fc-420f-aa2b-56317c229acc/
Here is a 1983 article about the convictions of some of the Green Vega suspects...
LINKS:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/arch...rd-time/2633eb34-11fc-420f-aa2b-56317c229acc/
Robert Elwood Askins came to police attention in relation to this case because he was convicted of the rape and murder of a 24 year old woman in the late seventies.
Askins’ first crime was the murder of Ruth McDonald, a sex worker at a brothel, when he was nineteen years old. On December 28th 1938, he took two drinks from a bottle of whiskey, then filled the bottle to the top with potassium cyanide. After that he met a sex worker on the street and was invited back to the brothel to share the bottle of whiskey. He poured a drink for five of the workers there and one for himself, then Askins proposed a toast. He put his wallet on the table and offered money to the first woman who drank the whiskey “right down”. Ruth McDonald slammed the whiskey straight back, while the others spat theirs out. Askins left the brothel and, by the time an ambulance arrived a few hours later, Ruth had already perished.
In the court transcript, it is said that Askins’ intention was “to kill them all at one time if he could, and he further stated that he intended, his intention was to kill all the prostitutes in town if possible.”
Askins attempted to claim that he was under the influence of intoxication at the time of the crime and appealed for his first degree murder charge to be dropped to a second degree murder charge. He also claimed that his intention had been to commit suicide with the cyanide and the whiskey was to steady his nerves. Despite this, after a long trial, Askins was found guilty of murder in the first degree.
(It would appear that after serving a term in prison, Askins was once again on the street...)
When he became a suspect in the Freeway Phantom trial, investigators interviewed his colleagues and searched for evidence in his house and vehicle. Colleagues of his that were interviewed mentioned that he almost excessively used the word “tantamount”, which was a word that had caught police attention because of it’s use in the note found on Brenda Woodward. The note stated “This is tantamount to my insensitivity to people especially women. I will admit the others when you catch me if you can! Free-way Phantom.”
Investigators also found that he owned many “soiled” women’s scarves despite not living with any women. He also owned a knife which had been used in another crime. They found two buttons and one gold earring underneath the back seat in his vehicle but these could not be connected to one particular victim. There were pictures of strange women in his apartment. Askins also worked in St Elizabeth’s Hospital, a place one of the victims had been found outside of. However all of the evidence found against him was circumstantial.
The green fibers found on most of the victims didn’t match any of the clothing Askins owned.
Askins received a life sentence for the murders he committed and died in a penitentiary at 91 years of age in 2010. To his death, he denied any involvement in the Freeway Phantom case, claiming he didn’t have “…the depravity of mind required to commit any of the crimes...
LINK:
The Freeway Phantom Suspects
Askins’ first crime was the murder of Ruth McDonald, a sex worker at a brothel, when he was nineteen years old. On December 28th 1938, he took two drinks from a bottle of whiskey, then filled the bottle to the top with potassium cyanide. After that he met a sex worker on the street and was invited back to the brothel to share the bottle of whiskey. He poured a drink for five of the workers there and one for himself, then Askins proposed a toast. He put his wallet on the table and offered money to the first woman who drank the whiskey “right down”. Ruth McDonald slammed the whiskey straight back, while the others spat theirs out. Askins left the brothel and, by the time an ambulance arrived a few hours later, Ruth had already perished.
In the court transcript, it is said that Askins’ intention was “to kill them all at one time if he could, and he further stated that he intended, his intention was to kill all the prostitutes in town if possible.”
Askins attempted to claim that he was under the influence of intoxication at the time of the crime and appealed for his first degree murder charge to be dropped to a second degree murder charge. He also claimed that his intention had been to commit suicide with the cyanide and the whiskey was to steady his nerves. Despite this, after a long trial, Askins was found guilty of murder in the first degree.
(It would appear that after serving a term in prison, Askins was once again on the street...)
When he became a suspect in the Freeway Phantom trial, investigators interviewed his colleagues and searched for evidence in his house and vehicle. Colleagues of his that were interviewed mentioned that he almost excessively used the word “tantamount”, which was a word that had caught police attention because of it’s use in the note found on Brenda Woodward. The note stated “This is tantamount to my insensitivity to people especially women. I will admit the others when you catch me if you can! Free-way Phantom.”
Investigators also found that he owned many “soiled” women’s scarves despite not living with any women. He also owned a knife which had been used in another crime. They found two buttons and one gold earring underneath the back seat in his vehicle but these could not be connected to one particular victim. There were pictures of strange women in his apartment. Askins also worked in St Elizabeth’s Hospital, a place one of the victims had been found outside of. However all of the evidence found against him was circumstantial.
The green fibers found on most of the victims didn’t match any of the clothing Askins owned.
Askins received a life sentence for the murders he committed and died in a penitentiary at 91 years of age in 2010. To his death, he denied any involvement in the Freeway Phantom case, claiming he didn’t have “…the depravity of mind required to commit any of the crimes...
LINK:
The Freeway Phantom Suspects
Last edited:
tilomagnet
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As to Robert Askins, heres a very short timeline:
1-7-1919 - DOB
12-21-1938 - stabs and kills Elizabeth Brown
12-28-1938 - poisons and kills Ruth McDonald
1939 - March 1952 - institutionalized at St Elizabeth Hospital
9-1-1952 - strangles and kills Laura Cook
3-9-1953 - strangles Marie Sweeney, she survives
1954 - January 1958 - in custody
7-8-1976 - abducts and assaults Martinia Steward, she survives
3-18-1977 - abducts and assaults Gloria McMillan, she survives
Dec 1978 - sentenced to life
2010 - dies in prison
RA was really a ticking time bomb, a hater of women and manic violent shizophrenic. But it should be obvious from looking at the timeline, that this is only the tip of the iceberg. His known crimes are definately clustered in a very short period of time, yet for almost 2 decades 1958-76 there is very little known about his whereabouts. The Freeway Phantom case falls right into this timespan. But even if Askins was not the FP, Im sure he commited many other assaults if not murders when he was a free man.
1-7-1919 - DOB
12-21-1938 - stabs and kills Elizabeth Brown
12-28-1938 - poisons and kills Ruth McDonald
1939 - March 1952 - institutionalized at St Elizabeth Hospital
9-1-1952 - strangles and kills Laura Cook
3-9-1953 - strangles Marie Sweeney, she survives
1954 - January 1958 - in custody
7-8-1976 - abducts and assaults Martinia Steward, she survives
3-18-1977 - abducts and assaults Gloria McMillan, she survives
Dec 1978 - sentenced to life
2010 - dies in prison
RA was really a ticking time bomb, a hater of women and manic violent shizophrenic. But it should be obvious from looking at the timeline, that this is only the tip of the iceberg. His known crimes are definately clustered in a very short period of time, yet for almost 2 decades 1958-76 there is very little known about his whereabouts. The Freeway Phantom case falls right into this timespan. But even if Askins was not the FP, Im sure he commited many other assaults if not murders when he was a free man.
You make an excellent point regarding the gap in Askins' time line of attacks. It is very likely that he did indeed commit other similar attacks and murders in that period. Perhaps finding out where he was in those intervening years, other unsolved murders might be connected to him.
The timeline certainly points out the repetitive behavior of this type of criminal, and the serious nature of releasing them on society after they have supposedly been "cured" or "rehabilitated". There are some forms of behavior which simply cannot be controlled except for permanent methods of incarceration or even execution.