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Who Killed...?

Colonial Parkway Murders: Bill Thomas 2022

Who Killed...?

Bill Huffman

True Crime, Society & Culture, History

3.8595 Ratings

🗓️ 9 January 2024

⏱️ 50 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

With the news of a break in the Colonial Parkway Murders, I wanted to re-release an interview I conducted with Bill Thomas, brother of victim Cathy Thomas, where we discussed the case, which was at a standstill in 2022. Some essential facts about the Colonial Parkway are if you have never had the pleasure of driving it or experiencing it on a class trip. According to the National Park Service https://www.nps.gov/colo/parkway.htm The Colonial Parkway is a twenty-three mile scenic roadway stretching from the York River at Yorktown to the James River at Jamestown.  The road does it best to remind drivers of days past as the parkway does not allow semi trucks and is toll-free. As you meander though the parkway you are graced with beautiful views of the James and York rivers that run along the parkway. According to Triple A "redbuds and dogwoods decorate the roadway in spring, while fall brings an explosion of autumn colors” From an article in the Daily Press in 1990, the parkway is no place to be after dark ”At night, the mood changes. The trees form a tunnel of blackness, broken only if the moon is shining. There are no streetlights, no call boxes and no fast-food restaurants or convenience stores where a driver might find refuge in case of a breakdown”. The parkway is under the rangers' jurisdiction because it is federal land owned by the National Park Service When a serious crime is committed, the York County Sheriff's Department, the Williamsburg or James City police departments are called to assist, Neprash said.  The parkway is federal land, the FBI may also become involved in investigations. Crimemuseum.org says, "police have questioned 150 suspects in connection to these four cases, but all have been cleared.  The police attribute these eight murders to the same killer because of similarities in each case.  All of the victims were killed at or near their car, the first three being found at known lover’s lane areas.  None of the victims were robbed, and sexual assault did not appear to be a motive in any of the cases.  The first and third murders were mere miles apart, and the second and fourth were committed about a half hour away from the Parkway. In 2018, the Facebook page Colonial Parkway Murders, which is run by Cathy’s brother Bill Thomas, and today's guest revealed that DNA had been found at 3 of the 4 crime scenes which could potentially conclusively link the cases and lead to an arrest. Hair that had been found in Cathy’s hand and a biological sample found on Robin have never been tested The First couple to fall victim Cathy Thomas and Rebecca Dowski  Cathleen Thomas, 27, Class of 1981 graduate United States Naval Academy and College of William & Mary senior Rebecca Ann Dowski, 21. On October 12, 1986, Columbus Day weekend, their bodies were found inside Thomas' white 1980 Honda Civic at the Cheatham Annex Overlook  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

Slow Burn Media, Evergreen Podcast, presents Who Killed, a podcast that provides a voice for the voices.

0:11.5

Rebecca Andowski and Kathleen Thomas, two haunting names, never forgotten by people in Hampton Roads.

0:17.7

They're the first two victims of the Colonial Parkway murders, both found dead this day 30 years ago. To this day, no answers on who killed them.

0:25.6

Ten of your sides, Andy Fox is looking into this case, Andy so long to wait any new breaks in this mystery.

0:31.6

Yeah, Tom and Anita, there are developments, I am told, but nothing imminent with any big announcements from the FBI

0:39.7

or Virginia State Police cracking any of the four cases.

0:43.4

Tonight, only on 10, an exclusive interview with a former head of the local FBI who was

0:49.1

in charge when it all began. Thursday, October 9th,

0:56.0

1986, Kathleen Thomas and Rebecca Andowski,

1:00.0

last seen at Dowski's dorm room at the College of William and Mary.

1:03.0

That Thursday night, believed, headed to the Colonial Parkway.

1:06.0

Ten on your side begins reporting the case.

1:08.0

Three days later, on Sunday evening that car a Honda

1:11.9

Civic was found off the colonial parkway it had been rolled into these

1:15.8

bushes almost into the water 30 years ago Irv Wells now retired had just

1:20.5

arrived as the special agent in charge of the FBI's Norfolk Field Division he

1:25.3

remembers the rage or the killing overkill he calls it a lesbian

1:29.3

couple taken by surprise on the hello and welcome to episode 185 or 186 of who killed I'm your host

1:39.8

Bill Huffman and this is a slow burn media and evergreen podcast production on this week's

1:46.9

episode I am again joined by the one and only Bill Thomas the advocate of all advocates

1:55.5

and unfortunately also the brother of a murder victim of the Colonial Parkway murders back in 1986.

2:05.4

And Bill, welcome back to the show.

...

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