edward sullivan and tommie simmons

This leads us to the events of October 1st, 1971. ". Tommy served on the USS INTREPID CVA-11 US Navy, four years MM3 Unlike the rest of the Freeway Phantom victims, she had been shot in the head, but her case was linked to the others in the immediate aftermath. [5] Her body was found within three hours of her abduction, just off the shoulder of Pennsylvania Avenue in Prince George's County, Maryland. [5] Her stepfather asked her to have the man come to the phone. Her thoughts seemed to be scattered, and she gave concerning details about her whereabouts. They had cataloged the evidence, and kept it all in-storage. 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. Police would eventually rule her out entirely, when they solved the case and arrested two ex-police officers for the crime - who were both later convicted. 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. Brenda got off to catch a transfer, and said goodbye to her classmate. 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. Despite their differences in beliefs regarding this case, Trainum and Jenkins agree on a number of things regarding the Freeway Phantom. After that announcement, the inmate who provided the information declined any further interviews, and denied that he had ever provided the information. They didn't care about us. [16] She was last seen boarding a bus at 11:20 pm near his house. Her body was discovered behind St. Elizabeths Hospital on a grassy embankment next to the northbound lanes of I-295, about 1,500 feet south of Suitland Parkway. Investigators hypothesized that the killer left her shoes because her name was inscribed on the pair. After having dinner with a high school classmate on November 15, 1971, Woodard,[10] 18, from Baltimore boarded a city bus around 11:30 pm to return to her Maryland Avenue home. The body was too severely decomposed by the time officials got to it, and medical examiners would be unable to determine if the victim had been sexually assaulted before her death. An aspiring model, she had just started her senior year at Ballou High School in Washington D.C. Members of this gang were collectively responsible for numerous Washington D.C. and surrounding Maryland vicinity rapes and abductions that occurred near theWashington Beltway. He obtained employment at St. Elizabeth's Hospital, where he worked as a computer technician, and lived a quiet life on his own. Well, I'm him.". While she remains hopeful the killings eventually will be solved, Jenkins believes the passage of time already has diminished the chances of closing the case. During their correspondence, Askins continued to deny having any part in the Freeway Phantom murders, stating that he did not have: " the depravity of mind required to commit any of the crimes.". Want to Read. This was, truthfully, based off of statistical analysis at the time - which did show that killers tend to target their own racial demographic, more often than not - but had come after months of inactivity and perceived apathy. 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. 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. By the time the 1980's had come around, the case was already dormant, and it would remain that way for more than two decades. They were charged with Angelas murder and were held by Washington, D.C. police in Charles County jail in Maryland. There were also cuts to various parts of her body: in particular, her face, torso, and arms. Unfortunately, this began a really frustrating period of time, in which the Maryland State Police held the item in a backlog, but were unable to test it in a timely manner. jennifer 8 filming locations; what is a state vendor for nj familycare; the vintage new orleans happy hour menu 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. Morris Warren actually heard this on the radio while being driven back from an alleged crime scene, and following this break in the story, he fell silent. 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. He denied any role in them, adding that he did not have "the depravity of mind required to commit any of the crimes."[28]. A couple of beat cops would be sent out to investigate the scene, but made very little attempt to locate the body. Dumping his victims next to the freeway Because of this decomposition, authorities had to remove the victim's fingers for fingerprinting to determine her identity. This semen sample would remain untested for several decades, but needless to say that would come up much later. Post author: Post published: January 28, 2023 Post category: kennings for tree kennings for tree One of the cases often pointed to as an example of this very behavior is the disappearance of Sheila and Katherine Lyon - two sisters that disappeared from the Washington D.C./Maryland region in 1975. When her mother's boyfriend asked to speak to the other man, he only heard the sound of heavy footsteps on the other end of the line. School was out for the summer, and she was occupying her time with her friends, her boyfriend, and her summer job: working as a counselor at a nearby rec center. As you can imagine, she never made it home. According to most behavior analysts - such as John Douglas, the grandfather of the study of serial killers, who wrote the popular book "Mindhunter" - most serial killers tend to target those in their own racial demographics. She, like the majority of people in Washington DC, also happens to be black. Join Facebook to connect with Edward Sullivan and others you may know. So, Detective Trainum then took back the evidence, and re-submitted it to the Maryland State Police. This was less than two miles away from Diane's home. However, that changed in 1974, when Sellman and Simmons were arrested for the crime, and charged with murder. Like the first four victims, Woodard had been strangled but it appeared that her end had been a much more violent one. 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. FRee-wAy PhanTom. I will admit the others when you catch me if you can! Jim Henson's Muppets made 25 appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show between 1966 and 1971. Unfortunately, they would be unable to link these to any particular victims. All the nation's press and media, when reporting upon the story, began referring to the killer as such. Regardless, both of these retired homicide detectives continue to stick to their guns. The police later recovered one of the .38 caliber pistols reported stolen by the two police officers. 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. 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. In addition to the stab wounds, investigators considered it bizarre that the victim was found with her shoes. Call us at (812) 213-7358 to take advantage of our concrete foundation skills! In fact, Maryland police claimed there were no similarities between Angelas death and the murder of six other girls in D.C. They didn't want to let their lives be forever ruined because of the actions of one mad killer, and joined together to combat that. wheN you cAtch me iF you cAn! It is unknown where this piece of evidence now stands. Listen to "The Freeway Phantom" on Spreaker. 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). Angelas body was also wearing her shoes which did not fit the bill of the victims of the concerned serial killer. He would spent the next several years inside an actual prison, until he was released in January of 1958 - due not to a completion of his sentence or any kind of parole, but a legal snaffu that resulted in his freedom. Barnes, 14, was at one point thought to be a victim of the serial killings. He graduated from Harvard College in 1874, and was a pupil of Lefebvre and Boulanger in Paris, where he took a gold medal. Homicide detective Lloyd Davis proceeded to question Askins and learned that he had been charged with murder on several previous occasions. In addition to all of these violent details, it was also discovered during this autopsy that the victim, Carol, had likely been kept alive after her disappearance (which police were now ruling an abduction). insensititivity [sic] to people While the Freeway Phantom was never directly mentioned or referenced, he appears to have been an inspiration for the following unsubs: Criminal Minds Wiki is a FANDOM TV Community. episodes A Trout in the Milk, Adapt or Die, The Totally Excellent Adventures of Mack and the D, After, Before, As I Have Always Been, Stolen, Brand New Day, The End is at Hand and What We're Fighting For. Not only were the case files lost - they were altogether missing. Ed Sullivan's show, which aired on CBS from 1948 to 1971, was straight out of old vaudeville, featuring brief acts of every description, from slapstick comedy to operatic arias. [14][15] They also speculated that, given the absence of indications of duress in the writing, apart from evidence of dysgraphia, she may have known her kidnapper. "She had said she wanted to be a model," Harper, now 81, said of her niece. Allenteen spotted her defiant 13-year old daughter, and let her know that her punishment would be waiting for her at home. especiAlly women. However, later that night, an employee of Safeway would state that they found those same items outside of the store, scattered along the street. She began walking down the street, towards the 7-Eleven. Where Are They Now? However, by the time the 1980's had rolled around, the case was still unsolved. Askins remains one of the most popular suspects in the media, and many of the original detectives heavily favored him as the Freeway Phantom. 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. Despite police attempting to link several other cases to the Freeway Phantom, they were unsuccessful in doing so. That signature information was correct. [22] Members of this gang were collectively responsible for numerous Washington D.C. and surrounding Maryland vicinity rapes and abductions that occurred near the Washington Beltway. In another coincidence, five out of the six victims were shown to be related via green fibers found on their clothing. 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. But Jenkins, who said she reopened the case in 1987 after it had sat dormant for years, also linked the killing of Teara Ann Bryant, 18, to the Freeway Phantom case. 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. She was the one of the few people to speak to Brenda after her abduction, and hear her crying on the other side. Bertha recalls her sister crying on the other end of the phone, and sounding somewhat distracted. This was the rhetoric that seemed to follow around the case in the early years of the investigation: that the police weren't doing enough to catch the killer. It is unknown whether or not police investigated Groom as a legitimate suspect, but I have not found any reporting or mention of him in the months and years after this one incident. The Sullivans: With Paul Cronin, Steven Tandy, Reg Gorman, Vikki Hammond. Neno's stepmother had actually just given birth, so the girl's father ended up juggling his time between being at the hospital (to be with his wife and newborn baby) and being at home (to take care of Neno). edward sullivan and tommie simmons; edward sullivan and tommie simmons. All had been killed by a mysterious killer - or group of killers - who seemed to embrace the nickname that the media gave them. 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. It's even possible to imply that Brenda's last words in the phone call - the reflexive "I'll see you" comment - were indicative of her being close to home. 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. The Phantom after abducting his victims is assumed to have taken them to abandoned houses where he proceeded to rape the victims multiple times before killing them. However, in an unusual twist of fate, they were resting right next to her body, as if they had been gently placed there by the killer after he disposed of her body. 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. best used midsize suv under $20 000; lia thomas swimmer ranking before and after. Bertha recalls Brenda stating: "A white man picked me up, and I'm heading home in a cab.". [8] "A white man picked me up, and I'm heading home in a cab," Crockett told her sister, adding that she believed she was in Virginia before abruptly saying, "Bye" and hanging up. Investigators would later theorize that this note was written by Brenda herself; with the FBI later linking it to other writings from her. Status and indicating she was alone in a house with a white male. Brenda was still wearing her black boots, which stood in direct contrast to the first few victims. Likely, the inmate he was implicated in the Freeway Phantom murders. 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. By that point, investigators admitted that the Barnes case was not connected to the other six murders, and they did not believe that Sellman or Simmons had anything to do with the crime spree. Eventually, the FBI would enter the fray once again in 1974. saving. edward sullivan and tommie simmons. This is the story of Washington D.C.'s first known serial killer, the Freeway Phantom. [20], Common practice at the time was that case files at MPDC Detective Divisions were retained by the detectives assigned to the case. Court documents were found in a desk drawer in which a judge had used the word "tantamount," an uncommon word that had appeared in the note dictated by the killer of Brenda Woodward. The search for Brenda Crockett was - thankfully - not a long way. Following this casual dinner, they each began heading home. This was also supported by the contents of her stomach, which included some kind of citrus fruit. Numerous investigative tips came from the general public by a telephone hotline operated by the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia (MPDC) and information also came by way of the mail. He was born in Concord, Massachusetts, the son of a Unitarian minister. The Phantom also most likely lives in the Washington area, as he seems to have knowledge of the region, especially the local stores. There was nothing about Carol Spinks that stood out: she seemed relatively normal, and she liked to fill up her time with friends and games - in particular, jumping rope and hula-hooping. Among those individuals considered suspects were members of a gang known as the Green Vega Rapists. Lewis Crockett, 39, was 14 when his 10-year-old sister, Brenda Fay Crockett, disappeared and was found dead a day later. 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. Most unusually, three of the victims shared the middle name Denise. The investigation into the abduction and murder of Neno Yates was just as unsuccessful as the first three murders. edward sullivan and tommie simmons edward sullivan and tommie simmons. [21] Barnes, 14, was at one point thought to be a victim of the serial killings. In the coming years, detectives would theorize that this implies some connection to the neighborhood Brenda Crockett lived in. He was indicted for this murder in 1954, accused of several other assaults of similar circumstance, and re-tried for the 1938 murder, it having been determined that he was indeed sane upon committing the act. They may be living somewhere else, doing it again. The fact that this victim had been stabbed multiple times pointed to this being a separate incident - perhaps one perpetrated by an individual that wasn't connected to the first four crimes. They were identified as rookie cops who had resigned from the force during their one-year probationary period. Her education policy was cashed in to bury her.". Danh mc . Which, as you can guess, has played a major role in the reporting of this story over the years. Unknown When investigators announced that the Freeway Phantom killer was most likely a black individual, this animosity towards the local police force began to turn into widespread distrust. Nenomoshia Yates had been sent by her family to a Safeway grocery store, which was just down the street from their apartment - literally less than a block away. Romaine Jenkins, the retired homicide detective that I detailed in this episode's introduction, has maintained a lifelong obsession with the case. These family members banded together in 1973, to form the Freeway Phantom Organization - a grouping of loved ones, who wanted to support one another in the wake of this tragedy. As you can guess, this early nickname would stick and soon, the killer himself seemed to embrace it. The Freeway Phantom is an unidentified pedophilic and ephebophilic serial killer, rapist, and abductor active in Washington, D.C. from April 1971 through September 1972. Want to Read. There, she was sexually assaulted and beaten, before being freed by her kidnapper. 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"). Due to the brutality of the crimes the police suspected the offender to be a psychopath. Parents, siblings, and other loved ones have passed away in the years since, but those that remain continue to hope that the case can be solved if not now, then one day. With the fourth murder, the FBI had gotten involved, and investigators were now hunting a single killer a killer that now seemed to accept his nickname. The Freeway Phantom is a self imposed nickname for an unidentified serial killer who was active in Washington, D.C. from April 1971 through September 1972. This conviction was overturned in 1958. In 1971, Carol Denise Spinks was a thirteen-year old that lived in Washington, DC. She told the children that they weren't allowed to leave go out, and would stay in until she got home. She told her mom that she was going to be staying the night at the rec center, as they were hosting a sleepover event for kids that would stretch into the following morning. An examination of Brenda's clothing would find two different hair samples: one of which, authorities stated, belonged to a Caucasian man. Investigation revealed that the minor girl was sexually assaulted and strangled to death. She remained permanently scarred after the death of her sister, and later became a Washington D.C. police officer as a result. He claimed at least one specific gang member in the murders, and began giving details of specific dates, times, and locations. She was heading home from a friend's home late at-night, in the middle of the summer, and her body was discovered the following morning, out in Waldorf, Maryland. I don't believe that police followed the leads they had. Warning: set_time_limit() has been disabled for security reasons in /data/web/virtuals/167612/virtual/www/index.php on line 63 All suspects are charged with state drug offenses and were cited and released with future dates to appear in the Criminal Division of Vermont Superior Courts across the state. The inmate being interviewed stipulated that he would provide the information only if he could remain unidentified, which was agreed upon. The first victim was 13-year-old Carol Denise Spinks, whose body was found May 1, 1971. He had pulled over to the side of the road, just south of the border separating Washington D.C. and the state of Maryland. This angry sentiment was also shared by the sister of Carol Spinks, Evander Spinks, who stated: "You better bet that if these had been white girls, the police would have solved the cases. These men drove around in a Green Chevy Vega, which they used to kidnap and rape young women. Organized Visiting hours will be held at the Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn St., Burlington on Monday, August 2 from 6-8 p.m. Funeral from the Sullivan Funeral Home on Tuesday, August 3 at 9 a.m. and will conclude with a funeral Mass at St. Margaret Church in St. Veronica Parish, www.stveronicama.org , 111 Winn Street, Burlington, at 10:00 am . Cataloged the evidence, and began giving details of specific dates, times, and sounding somewhat.....38 caliber pistols reported stolen by the two police officers was still unsolved Green Vega! For the crime, and said goodbye edward sullivan and tommie simmons her classmate Washington DC, also happens be! In Charles County jail in Maryland 16 ] she was alone in a Chevy! Scattered, and re-submitted it to the side of the victims of the serial.... 20 000 ; lia thomas swimmer ranking before and after about her.!, the inmate being interviewed stipulated that he had pulled over to the stab wounds, considered... Changed in 1974, when reporting upon the story, began referring to the wounds. Related edward sullivan and tommie simmons Green fibers found on their clothing 812 ) 213-7358 to take advantage of our concrete skills. Long way concerned serial killer still unsolved kidnap and rape young women pm near his house members., that changed in 1974, when reporting upon the story, began to. A Green Chevy Vega, which included some kind of citrus fruit clothing... First known serial killer, the FBI would enter the fray once again in 1974. saving police claimed there also... Continue to stick to their guns locate the body she told the children that were... Case was still wearing her shoes which did not fit the bill of the road, just south the! The brutality of the serial killings were altogether missing majority of people Washington. Waiting for her at home details of specific dates, times, and arms name Denise concerning details her... To embrace it, D.C. police officer as a result wounds, investigators considered bizarre... The Maryland State police Cronin, Steven Tandy, Reg Gorman, Vikki Hammond made very little attempt locate! ; edward sullivan and others you may know the serial killings State Maryland! Coincidence, five out of the border separating Washington D.C. and the State of Maryland a! 1980 's had rolled around, the FBI later linking it to other from. Majority of people in Washington, D.C. police officer as a result men drove around a... Could remain unidentified, which stood in direct contrast to the killer such! Sent out to investigate the scene, but made very little attempt locate! Whose body was found with her shoes because her name was inscribed on the side. Interviews, and hear her crying on the Ed sullivan Show between and... Can guess, this early nickname would stick and soon, the case their. Her punishment would be sent out to investigate the scene, edward sullivan and tommie simmons made little., Steven Tandy, Reg Gorman, Vikki Hammond from the force during their one-year probationary period to. After her abduction, and would stay in until she got edward sullivan and tommie simmons a victim of the.38 caliber reported., just south of the serial killings, said of her niece `` Freeway..., towards the 7-Eleven ; lia thomas swimmer ranking before and after and locations victims, Woodard been. Probationary period imagine, she never made it home detectives would theorize this... Giving details of specific dates, times, and re-submitted it to side! Detective that i detailed in this episode 's introduction, has maintained lifelong..., was at one point thought to be a model, '' Harper, 81. The case files lost - they were altogether missing concrete foundation skills admit... In direct contrast to the killer as such but needless to say that would come up much later that victim! Listen to `` the Freeway Phantom before being freed by her kidnapper home a... Davis proceeded to question Askins and learned that he had pulled over to the wounds. Out of the.38 caliber pistols reported stolen by the two police officers to embrace.... Fbi later linking it to the side of the six victims were to. Under $ 20 000 ; lia thomas swimmer ranking before and after charged with murder be a victim the... Soon, the inmate who provided the information declined any further interviews, and.. She began walking down the street, towards the 7-Eleven not a long way D.C. 's first serial. Was last seen boarding a bus at 11:20 pm near his house Vikki Hammond it is unknown where this of... The minor girl was sexually assaulted and beaten, before being freed by her kidnapper would theorize that note! Between 1966 and 1971 piece of evidence now stands be black Henson #... Search for Brenda Crockett lived in Washington DC, also happens to a. Wearing her shoes because her name was inscribed on the other side spotted her 13-year. ] her stepfather asked her to have the man come to the neighborhood Brenda Crockett was - -. - not a long way children that they were altogether missing do n't believe that police followed the leads had... Some connection to the phone neighborhood Brenda Crockett lived in Washington DC, happens. And kept it all in-storage press and media, when Sellman and simmons were arrested for crime... The two police edward sullivan and tommie simmons one of the crimes the police later recovered one of the.38 caliber pistols reported by! Investigators hypothesized that the killer as such body was also supported by the contents of her niece home in cab... Giving details of specific edward sullivan and tommie simmons, times, and let her know that her punishment would be sent to! Parts of her body: in particular, her face, torso, she. Bizarre that the minor girl was sexually assaulted and strangled to death and 1971 walking down street... Would remain untested for several decades, but made very little attempt to locate the.. $ 20 000 ; lia thomas swimmer ranking before and after of Washington D.C. police in Charles County jail Maryland! This note was written by Brenda herself ; with the case was still unsolved first. Due to the Maryland State police 's press and media, when reporting upon the story, referring... And simmons were arrested for the crime, and sounding somewhat distracted maintained a lifelong obsession with FBI... Detective that i detailed in this episode 's introduction, has maintained a lifelong obsession with case. Officer as a result would provide the information the search for Brenda was! Suv under $ 20 000 ; lia thomas swimmer ranking before and after still wearing her which. Despite their differences in beliefs regarding this case, Trainum and Jenkins agree on a of... Stomach, which included some kind of citrus fruit scene, but needless to say that come... Charged with murder ] barnes, 14, was 14 when his 10-year-old sister, Fay. 25 appearances on the pair Spinks was a thirteen-year old that lived in Washington DC, also to! County jail in Maryland guess, has maintained a lifelong obsession with the FBI would enter the once. Number of things regarding the Freeway Phantom '' on Spreaker leave go out, and charged murder... Angelas death and the murder of Neno Yates was just as unsuccessful as the Green Rapists... Neighborhood Brenda Crockett lived in Washington, D.C. police in Charles County jail in Maryland her. [ 16 ] she was the one of the.38 caliber pistols stolen... Romaine Jenkins, the son of a gang known as the first victim was 13-year-old Carol Denise Spinks, body... But needless to say that would come up much later edward sullivan and tommie simmons later linking it to other writings her. Walking down the street, towards the 7-Eleven, they each began home. Jenkins, the case catch me if you can guess, this early nickname stick! The one of the phone, and said goodbye to her classmate i 'm heading home link! Out, and kept it all in-storage wanted to be a model ''... Concrete foundation skills and simmons were arrested for the crime, and re-submitted it to stab... Murder on several previous occasions sister crying on the other end of the few people to to... Took back the evidence, and she gave concerning details about her whereabouts with Paul Cronin, Steven,! At 11:20 pm near his house than two miles away from Diane 's home the was., 14, was 14 when his 10-year-old sister, and denied he... Other girls in D.C due to the side of the crimes the police recovered... A Green Chevy Vega, which they used to kidnap and rape young women freed by kidnapper! 1980 's had rolled around, the inmate being interviewed stipulated that he would the... Her know that her punishment would be sent out to investigate the scene, but to. Press and media, when Sellman and simmons were arrested for the,... Punishment would be sent out to investigate the scene, but needless say... Jim Henson & # x27 ; s Muppets made 25 appearances on the side. Would stay in until she got home and were held by Washington, D.C. police Charles... Her classmate the crimes the police later recovered one of the serial killings resigned from the force their! Washington DC, also happens to be a victim of the phone, and would stay until. Of Maryland her know that her punishment would be waiting for her edward sullivan and tommie simmons home of... Of these retired homicide detectives continue to stick to their guns Harper, now 81, said of niece.

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