I spoke to an old timer years ago about this. He has since passed away. He said he was living here in the area back when the murders happened. He said he knew people that worked at the court house. And it was said that the Phantom Killer was the son of a county judge. When Texarkana police informed the judge that "Your boy did it again. What do you want us to do with him?" It was very soon after that the judge placed his son in a mental hospital (where he stayed until his death). All the curfew and night watches stopped. The cops knew the killer was put away for good. He also said the cops were instructed to destroy evidence, and they did. If you read on about it all - it is mentioned that evidence-- a Flashlight and something eles went missing.... Years later near one of the crime scenes, I read this somewhere---- some blood stained clothing was found and was discarded . Another story that is interesting is : My husband's Uncle lived near Spring lake park back then, and a man walked in his house naked with only a hood on...His Uncle yelled out to his lady friend to stay in the kitchen. He grabbed something to use as a weapon and the man in the hood ran out the door. This Was Never Reported. I never got to ask him about this because he was elderly and near death and passed away. But... I wonder how many more things like that went unreported!!
