Today is Monday, April 13, 2020.

On this day in 1946, the Phantom Killer committed his second double murder in Texarkana, Texas.

The killings sent the town into a panic.

Everyone was terrified they had a serial killer on their hands.

Welcome to today in True Crime, a parcast original. Due to the graphic nature of

today's crime, listener discretion is advised. Extreme caution is advised

for listeners under 13. Today we're covering the second double

murder in the Phantom Killer's spree, an unsolved series of killings in Texas.

Let's go back to the night of April 13th, 1946, a little before midnight. 15 year old

old Betty Joe Booker was tearing up the stage with her alto saxophone.

She was playing her standing gig with the Rhythmears, the local band that performed weekly at the Texarkana VFW club.

After the band finished up, Betty Joe packed up her sacks in its black imitation leather case and looked out over the dance floor for her ride home.

There he was, a friend since kindergarten, and as as of recently her boyfriend.

She waved.

17 year old Paul Martin quickly made his way over to offer his help with the

instrument case.

Then the couple made their way to Paul's car, loaded in the

sacks and pulled out into the intersection of West 4th and Oak Street, like any other Saturday night, or so they thought, but they were being followed.

The Phantom Killer had murdered a young couple in their car almost three weeks previously.

Now he was on the hunt for his next victims.

The town of Texarkana was on alert. Everyone had been shocked by the earlier

double murder. People were leaving their lights on overnight and they were talking, half concrete facts, half gossip.

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