Long Haul Serial Killers

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The_Florida_Monster

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Hello fellow Websleuths!

I wanted to start a discussion about your opinions concerning the Long Haul Serial Killers (as mentioned on the FBI's website and the Killing Season). I think the crimes of Long Haul Serial Killers are some of the least understood and least investigated forms of serial/spree murder in our society. Based on information available on the FBI's website, murders along our highways and interstates is rampant, yet you rarely hear of these crimes reported by the media.

What are your thoughts?
 
Often the murders are reported, however because they may span thousands of miles in between and encompass different states etc, they are extremely difficult to link to each other.

Add to that that LE agencies, in the past were usually unlikely to share information with other police departments in that era

What may be the news of a body found in lets say NY, wouldn't typically be linked to another body found in lets say CA, at least not back in the 70's-90's

We've all seen the brief news clip about a body being found somewhere , not much info is given then they're on to the weather etc..,

Because of the transient nature of those types of serial killers, it was very difficult to track them back then, with advances, in criminal investigative capabilities, GPS, and cameras everywhere now its become a lot harder for serial killers to ply their trade

And with earlier intervention (IE catching them earlier, treatment options, knowing which crimes were pathway crimes) serial murder has also been on about a 25 year decline now .

Many of the victims are sex workers, who due to the nature of their lifestyle could disappear for years at a time and are rarely reported missing.

The FBI Highway serial killings initiative has something like 500 unsolved murders on the books linked to possible serial killers who were (are) truck drivers.
 
Often the murders are reported, however because they may span thousands of miles in between and encompass different states etc, they are extremely difficult to link to each other.

Add to that that LE agencies, in the past were usually unlikely to share information with other police departments in that era

What may be the news of a body found in lets say NY, wouldn't typically be linked to another body found in lets say CA, at least not back in the 70's-90's

We've all seen the brief news clip about a body being found somewhere , not much info is given then they're on to the weather etc..,

Because of the transient nature of those types of serial killers, it was very difficult to track them back then, with advances, in criminal investigative capabilities, GPS, and cameras everywhere now its become a lot harder for serial killers to ply their trade

And with earlier intervention (IE catching them earlier, treatment options, knowing which crimes were pathway crimes) serial murder has also been on about a 25 year decline now .

Many of the victims are sex workers, who due to the nature of their lifestyle could disappear for years at a time and are rarely reported missing.

The FBI Highway serial killings initiative has something like 500 unsolved murders on the books linked to possible serial killers who were (are) truck drivers.
I sincerely thank you for sharing your thoughts and I agree with every point. One of the biggest problems with this situation is Law Enforcement's disinterest in solving prostitute murders. In the Grim Sleeper case, some LAPD officers actually thanked Lonnie while he was in jail. They thought he was taking out the trash. LAPD has also been heard using the code "NHI" on the radio, or "No Human Involved" for murders involving prostitutes, homeless, junkies, migrant/illegal workers etc. It is troubling to say the least.

The problems of jurisdiction are also problematic. By the time a body is found in Florida, the killer could be halfway across the country. Highways and interstates often run through tiny towns (or no town) and local law enforcement is woefully unprepared for serious death investigations with national implications. These often get categorized as unsolved/cold cases from the start.

They have started calling cases like this the "Missing Missing." People who are missing but are never reported missing. LE will often not even investigate missing persons claims since disappearing for months at a time is natural to the transient/prostitute/junkie lifestyle. The worst I've heard is a department that would take the missing vehicle report, but not the missing mother's report since she was known to run off with dealers and boyfriends for extended periods.

<modsnip> Great minds...As technology advances, there are fewer and fewer places that you can be truly anonymous. Bars used to be a favorite haunt of killers, however debit and credit prevalence has decreased anonymity and there is now a paper trail for most bar transactions. Truck stops are one of the last bastions of fringe people in our society. It is a place people go but do not live, so nobody notices when a women gets in a truck and is never seen again. Rest stops function much like a watering hole in Africa; a place to stop and recover while also being unknowingly hunted. This deserves a much closer examination by law enforcement.

<modsnip: Reddit is not an approved source for discussion at Websleuths>
 
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I sincerely thank you for sharing your thoughts and I agree with every point. One of the biggest problems with this situation is Law Enforcement's disinterest in solving prostitute murders. In the Grim Sleeper case, some LAPD officers actually thanked Lonnie while he was in jail. They thought he was taking out the trash. LAPD has also been heard using the code "NHI" on the radio, or "No Human Involved" for murders involving prostitutes, homeless, junkies, migrant/illegal workers etc. It is troubling to say the least.

The problems of jurisdiction are also problematic. By the time a body is found in Florida, the killer could be halfway across the country. Highways and interstates often run through tiny towns (or no town) and local law enforcement is woefully unprepared for serious death investigations with national implications. These often get categorized as unsolved/cold cases from the start.

They have started calling cases like this the "Missing Missing." People who are missing but are never reported missing. LE will often not even investigate missing persons claims since disappearing for months at a time is natural to the transient/prostitute/junkie lifestyle. The worst I've heard is a department that would take the missing vehicle report, but not the missing mother's report since she was known to run off with dealers and boyfriends for extended periods.

<modsnip> Great minds...As technology advances, there are fewer and fewer places that you can be truly anonymous. Bars used to be a favorite haunt of killers, however debit and credit prevalence has decreased anonymity and there is now a paper trail for most bar transactions. Truck stops are one of the last bastions of fringe people in our society. It is a place people go but do not live, so nobody notices when a women gets in a truck and is never seen again. Rest stops function much like a watering hole in Africa; a place to stop and recover while also being unknowingly hunted. This deserves a much closer examination by law enforcement.

<modsnip: Reddit is not an approved source for discussion at Websleuths>

Ive never met a detective that didnt want every case, solved, they have ever had, Ive met ones who ever the decades, of dealing with the worst, heartbreak, senseless violence, savagery and absolute horror that human kind can fathom, have become jaded over time, but literally every one (Local state, and federal) Ive ever, met wanted every case they ever had, solved, some they even keep with them for the rest of their life.

I say this kindly.. but before anyone ever comes down on LE , I implore anyone who feels the need to bash LE(not saying you are) .....try the job.

In a realm where people deal with the darker side of humanity, sometimes, they find ways, to cope, it might be inappropriate comments, it may be inappropriate jokes, it may be an off cuff reference,...Ive heard firefighters refer to charred bodies, as "Bacon" or "Crispy critters" , Ive heard, ME's refer to bodies, as "Stiffs", I've heard, psychiatrists, refer to patients, as "Wackos" or " Nuts" , ... and even worse, but That in no way means, they arent dedicated to their job, despite whatever verbiage they chose to use.

Remember too this was in a time well before the political correctness movement.

Its one of those things, where if you havent been there you cant, know what its like, and even if you are in it, the rules of the job change almost weekly.

Imagine being in a job, where you have to play by an ever changing set of rules, yet the people on the other side have none . and if you even violate a small one, you could not only be fired, maligned, publicly, but arrested!

Imagine being fired from your job, because while you were being stabbed, trying to take a violent felon into custody, you said something that offended someone standing by videoing the attack on their phone .....it has happened.

So i always tell people before they ever say LE isnt doing enough , to look at what situation they are dealing with first .

As for the victims, I can tell you that its extremely difficult when the victims, themselves, live a transient lifestyle, often they are difficult to identify, people who exist on a fringe, now couple that with someone involved in illegal practices who deliberately avoid any type of attention primarily law enforcement, or any type of psychiatric care, , medical care, is on an as needed basis , they are often drug dependent, have few if any familial contacts let alone any who care, they operate in an occupation one that bring them into contact with hundreds of different people each month, place them in an arena, where predators lurk with tha ability to abduct and transport victims, thousands, of miles, distribute, body parts over several states, in areas where they may not be found for decades, if ever, not to mention they are often under the control of individuals that will murder them over simple disrespect .

AS for the offender, you could be dealing with literally anything, some may be these may indeed be highway serial predators, but its not always that way, it could been an impulsive attack which was a one off, it could've been someone who had to defend themselves against a physical assault or robbery, and panicked, or tried, to avoid embarrassment of soliciting a prostitute, (It has happened) , it couldve been their pimp, it could've been a drug overdose and they got rid of the body, it could have been accidental and they hid the body in panic, and in some cases it could have something to do with organized, crime. ...you have to figure all of that out

You then have to deal with several different agencies, which in the old days, weren't as willing to share, case, information with other agencies, along with a general dislike for the FBI in the old days .

But first you have to try to identify this individual and notify someone who may or may not even care ....Now You can start to grab the monumental task of what they are dealing with.

You may find a body, you may find body parts, they may be deceased only a few minutes, they may have been deceased, for decades. sometimes, you can identify them, sometimes, you cant , and sometimes, people make sure you cant

And I will say this for the past 20 years, thanks to the advances made, and the efforts of those in mental health, law enforcement, corrections, those involved in the judicial system, those involved in children and youth, and just better resources, true serial murder has been on a severe and steady decline since, the early 2000's.

Its an enduring mystery that sadly many families, wont ever know what happened to their relatives, but its not the problem it once, was at least here in the US.
 
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This just reminded me of an FBI ViCAP alert from about a year ago. A "long-haul truck driver" was arrested and is linked to multiple murders/missing persons between the late 70s and early 90s. The FBI located several suspicious items in the cab of his truck that they believe could be connected to other crimes across the US. They estimate that the perpetrator has travelled through 30+ states over the years.

This case has lingered in my mind because they haven't revealed any identifying information about the offender, nor have they named any of the potential states. It's crazy to think this guy got away with it for so long, and he is potentially still getting away with A LOT more.

Here are a few of the items, the rest are in the link above.
1657775527199.png 1657775553952.png1657775609868.png
 
I know this might be far fetched, but could these murderers have any relations to the Texas Killing Fields murders? I know that there a multiple bodies that were found there but I am wondering if there is some way they are linked
 

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