Ep 307: CASE SOLVED: Cathy Thomas and Rebecca Dowski with Bill Thomas and Kristin Dilley

Crime Analyst

Laura Richards

True Crime

4.9 • 3.2K Ratings

🗓️ 2 February 2026

⏱️ 74 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Between 1986 and 1989, at least six young people were murdered and two more disappeared across Virginia. The FBI long believed the crimes were likely the work of a serial killer. Among the victims were Cathy Thomas and Rebecca Dowski, murdered in October 1986. Laura interviews Bill Thomas, Cathy's brother, and Kristin Dilley from Mind Over Murder to discuss who was behind Cathy and Rebecca's murders -10 years after Laura's first interview with Bill. Bill explains that Alan Wade Wilmer Sr. was identified as the serial killer and discusses his unanswered questions for the FBI. Don't miss this discussion on a major unsolved American case, focusing on victims’ families and insights from serial killer investigations. *Spicy rating – listener discretion is advised* Catch up on the series here: Ep 118: The Murders of Cathy Thomas and Rebecca Dowski and the Colonial Parkway Murders, Part 1 Ep 120: The Murders of Cathy Thomas and Rebecca Dowski and the Colonial Parkway Murders, Part 2 Ep 121: The Murders of Cathy Thomas and Rebecca Dowski and the Colonial Parkway Murders, Part 3 Ep 168: UPDATE: Serial Killer Identified in the Colonial Parkway Murders, Part 1 Ep 172: UPDATE: Serial Killer Identified in the Colonial Parkway Murders, Part 2 Ep 173: UPDATE: Serial Killer Identified in the Colonial Parkway Murders, Part 3 #CathyThomas #BeckyDowski #DavidKnobling #RobinEdwards #KeithCall #CassandraHailey #DanielLauer #AnnamariaPhelps #Virginia #AmberLundgren #BelindaAnnAshburn #MaryHarding #AlanWadeWilmerSr #CrimeAnalyst #Expert #Analysis #TrueCrime #Podcast #Crime Clips FBI Links Colonial Parkway Killer To First 2 Murders Sources Hulu’s Caroline Flack: Search for The Truth Caroline Flack: Her Life and Death More from Bill Thomas and Kristin Dilley Colonial Parkway Murders Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/mindoverpodcast Bill and Kristin’s podcast, Mind Over Murder: mindovermurderpodcast.com Thank You to Crime Analyst Sponsors Who Make the Show Possible. Support The Show Thorough the Sponsors: Feel like your best self again, visit forhers.com/CRIME to get a personalized, affordable plan that gets you. Refresh your wardrobe with Quince. Go to Quince.com/CRIMEANALYST for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too. 2026 Masterclasses and Crime Analyst Resources and Community   Laura offers 2026 Masterclasses covering topics such as profiling behavior, stalking class on February 12, preventing murder and suicide in slow motion on February 19, coercive control February 25, DASH Risk Masterclass March 11 and 12 and DASH Train the Trainer. Register for Masterclasses   Laura is hosting a FREE Criminal Behavioural Analysis: Profiling Behaviour & Escalating Risk- Learn about behaviours to prevent homicides & identifying the red flags and risks associated with domestic abuse, stalking, coercive control, child abuse & sexual violence. You can register here. www.dashriskchecklist.com   www.thelaurarichards.com   For more insight and knowledge, advocacy and professional development join The Crime Analyst Squad. It’s a growing and dynamic community offering expert insight, in-depth conversations, exclusive episodes and videos, and live events: www.Patreon.com/CrimeAnalyst Subscribe to Crime Analyst YouTube: @crimeanalyst   Facebook: Crime Analyst Podcast   Instagram: @crimeanalyst, @laurarichards999   Threads: @crimeanalyst   X (Twitter): @thecrimeanalyst, @laurarichards999   TikTok: @crimeanalystpod   Website: www.crime-analyst.com   If you found this episode valuable, please consider leaving a five star review wherever you listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	Ready to launch your business? Get started with the commerce platform made for entrepreneurs.
0:04.8	Shopify is specially designed to help you start, run and grow your business with easy customizable themes that let you build your brand.
0:12.5	Marketing tools that get your products out there. Integrated shipping solutions that actually save you time.
0:17.5	From startups to scaleups, online, in person and on the go.
0:22.0	Shopify is made for entrepreneurs like you.
0:24.5	Sign up for your $1 a month trial at Shopify.com slash setup.
0:30.1	Right, that's it. Come on. Lights out. You've got to test tomorrow.
0:32.8	Just two minutes. I'm about to reach the next level.
0:35.5	It's going off now.
0:36.9	Yeah, whatever. Let's see. Where's the app?
0:39.4	Oh, here it is.
0:41.0	What? How?
0:42.3	Oh, no. You're out. Better look next time.
0:45.1	Mom!
0:46.2	It's game over for late nights on school nights.
0:49.0	EE Wi-Fi controls help you get them off the Wi-Fi and into bed.
0:52.9	More parents are choosing EEE broadband, the UK's
0:55.9	fastest growing broadband provider. To verify I see EE.com.com. Hello, I'm Domini Evans,
1:02.0	special agent in charge of the FBI's Norfolk Field Office, which covers Southeast Virginia.
1:07.3	Today, the FBI Norfolk Field Office, in partnership with the Virginia State Police and Hampton Police Division,
1:13.6	is announcing a long-awaited development in the 1986 murders of Kathleen Thomas and Rebecca Dowski.
1:19.6	Between 1986 and 1989, at least eight young people were murdered along the Colonial Parkway.
	...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Laura Richards, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Laura Richards and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.