edward sullivan and tommie simmons

They were all of a similar build - small and petite - which led investigators to believe that the killer might have mistaken all of them for being in the same age range. Post author: Post published: January 24, 2023 Post category: what channel is nbc on directv in arizona Post comments: ae funeral services shawnee ok ae funeral services shawnee ok Perhaps she knew her abductor, and wasn't too far away from her family's home at the time of the call. Angelas body was also wearing her shoes which did not fit the bill of the victims of the concerned serial killer. However, authorities would note that her feet seemed to be incredibly clean for someone that had been walking outside, become an odd footnote in the case-file. It was after this murder that the "Freeway Phantom" moniker was first used in a Daily News article describing the murders. Tom Sullivan in Ohio. County, Maryland) discovered the body of the missing 10-year old. After the 1978 rape charge, Askins' home was searched by police in connection with the Freeway Phantom murders. Their apathy would be noted on at least one more occasion. As you can imagine, this was as frustrating to the victims' loved ones as it was to the investigators. He had pulled over to the side of the road, just south of the border separating Washington D.C. and the state of Maryland. Eventually, the FBI would enter the fray once again in 1974. However, one of the victims was too decomposed for authorities to rule out it out, and another was found with semen on her clothing - raising the possibility that five had been the victim of sexual assault. I will admit the others when you catch me if you can! 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. She ended up managing the child abuse squad for several years, hoping to make life better for children around the D.C. region. With a deep and misogynistic hatred towards women. Nothing seemed to link him to the six victims, and a comparison of the green fibers that had been found on 5 of the 6 victims' clothing didn't match anything that Askins owned. They noted that both calls seemed to insist upon the kidnapper being a white man, who had taken Brenda to Virginia. [9] As with the other cases, her shoes were missing and unidentified green fibers would also be found on her clothing. At 5:50 am the next day, a hitchhiker discovered Crockett's shoeless body in a conspicuous location on U.S. Route 50, near the Baltimore-Washington Parkway in Prince George's County, Maryland. The FBI had begun assisting in the investigation following the fourth murder - that of Nenomoshia Yates - when it became clear that this was a repeat offender targeting multiple young victims. This conviction was overturned in 1958. He graduated from Harvard College in 1874, and was a pupil of Lefebvre and Boulanger in Paris, where he took a gold medal. All of this created a lot of animosity towards the local police department - the MPDC - who hired almost exclusively white officers. [5] About two hours later (around 9:20 pm) the Crocketts' phone rang and was answered by her 7-year-old sister, who had waited at home while her family searched the neighborhood. 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. A search of Robert Askin's vehicle the next month ended up raising some more alarms, when police found two buttons and a gold earring underneath his back seat. Coroners would later note that the strangulation was excessive, with the girl's esophagus having been broken. However, it's end was just as tragic as the first two abductions. "This is tantamount to insensititivity [sic] to people especially women. After all, Washington D.C. would not establish home rule until 1973, meaning that the local residents had no real representation of their own at the time of the Freeway Phantom murders. Jim Henson's Muppets made 25 appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show between 1966 and 1971. Despite the bodies of Sheila and Katherine Lyon never being found, a man named Lloyd Welch confessed to their murders, bringing some resolution to the surviving loved ones. Immediately, the case showed some prominent similarities to that of Carol Spinks, another teenager that had been murdered a few months prior. 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. 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. 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. However, along the way, she encountered her mother, who just-so-happened to be returning home. The other, which Detective Romaine Jenkins believes might be related, was the murder of Teara Ann Bryant, who was killed in November of 1972 - two months after the last known Freeway Phantom murder. Another witness would state that they had seen Johnson driving around with an older African-American male, in the time period after her supposed abduction. In addition to this . Some time had passed since the end of the Freeway Phantom's crime spree, when an anonymous tip forwarded to police hinted at some kind of connection between the "Green Vega's" and the still-unsolved crime spree. They said they had arrest warrants for another 26 people. He was born in Concord, Massachusetts, the son of a Unitarian minister. The first of which was from Leon Williams, the father of Diane Williams - the sixth and final murder victim of the Freeway Phantom. The children knew that failure to comply would result in a severe punishment - such as being hit with a switch or a belt - but that did not deter young Carol Spinks. In 2013, an employee at the Maryland Chief Medical Examiner's officer spoke (under the veil of anonymity), and stated that trying to find out any information about the Freeway Phantom case: It is unknown if the DNA sample from Diane Williams' clothing still exists, and if it can be tested. When she failed to return home in a timely manner, her mother called the police and was able to file a missing persons report that night. Bryant, of Maryland, was the only victim not from the District. Brenda Denise Woodard was an 18-year old, that lived with her family in Baltimore, Maryland, along Maryland Avenue. The Phantom would abduct them, usually when they were on their way to or returning from work or an errand. James Trainum - the retired homicide detective that resurrected the case more than a decade ago - continues to believe that the killer lived in the neighborhood of the first two victims: Carol Spinks and Darlenia Johnson. Police were called to the scene, and it was immediately theorized that Diane was a victim of the dormant Freeway Phantom. She, however, was sent by her mother to a nearby Safeway grocery store to pick up some bread and some food for the family's three dogs: Ringo, Rex, and Romeo. She had also been fully clothed, minus her shoes (which were missing). They had cataloged the evidence, and kept it all in-storage. 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. They were giving the Freeway Phantom credit for six murders: those of Carol Spinks, Darlenia Johnson, Brenda Crockett, Nenomoshia Yates, Brenda Woodard, and now Diane Williams (in that order). Right? A reward exists for information that will lead to the arrest and conviction of people or persons responsible, totaling $150,000 as of this year. There is no closure," Williams said. She took it on in the mid-1980's, hoping to spark some kind of revival, but lacked the necessary resources and hours to do so. This boogeyman would become known as the D.C. region's "first profiled serial killer," and their crimes continue to haunt investigators and loved ones close to half-a-century later [21][2] With current evidence and any information of the case from when it happened, no leads produced sufficient evidence for prosecution. A privilege that the family members of the Freeway Phantom victims have been waiting for for close to half-a-century. Romaine Jenkins is a retired police officer, who - during her tenure in law enforcement - became a pioneer. It was discovered that the victim had been found in the same clothing that she had disappeared in - a red sweater, blue shorts, and brown socks - but most unusually, her shoes were missing. They both believe that the killer was a young black man, who was able to fit into the neighborhood he committed his abductions. The following day - September 6th, 1972 - the body of Diane Williams was discovered by a trucker along Interstate 295. Most unusually, three of the victims shared the middle name Denise. One of the more promising leads that investigators would follow up on centered around a group of known sexual offenders, who have been referred to as the "Green Vega Rapists" in the media. [5], The Phantom's final victim was claimed almost a year later, on September 5, 1972. james liston pressly; Tags . The Freeway Phantom targeted female children and teens ranging from 12-17 years of age. This leads us to the events of October 1st, 1971. Despite all of the tentative connections investigators had made between Askins and the Freeway Phantom crimes, there was no direct evidence connecting him. Females Vanished in the 70s, The Washington Post - Killings Unsolved 25 Years Later, Ivan Reports - DNA test in Freeway Phantom cold case not confirmed, Washington City Paper - Why the Freeway Phantom Still Hasnt Been Caught, The Washington Post - D.C. They may be living somewhere else, doing it again. In the second case - Darlenia Johnson - her remains were too decomposed to tell how quickly she had been killed or disposed of. . She wasn't found with any shoes, but police didn't find that odd - after all, she had left her house without wearing shoes, as far as anyone knew. It's a story that continues to haunt her, more than two decades after her retirement. Despite claiming he intended the cyanide for himself, planning suicide, he was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to twenty years to life. ng bi lc Thng Mt 19, 2023. It's not too late to say something. Two years after Diane Williams's slaying, her aunt, Wilma Harper, started the Freeway Phantom Organization, a support group for the slain girls' families and other homicide survivors. 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. A search warrant was eventually obtained, and investigators dug through Askins' backyard. St. Elizabeths Hospital was less than a mile away from the scene of Carol's disappearance, and was the area's primary mental health facility. "And this is probably one of the most massive and extensive investigations that was ever conducted in D.C.". Now, the victim was found just hours after going missing. "She had said she wanted to be a model," Harper, now 81, said of her niece. However, later that night, an employee of Safeway would state that they found those same items outside of the store, scattered along the street. 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 these interviews, one gang member initially implicated another gang member, who he said told him he was involved and gave information as to one of the beltway homicides. edward sullivan and tommie simmonsmark anthony ontario. Where Are They Now. Unfortunately, an autopsy of the remains wouldn't be very efficient at locating any specific details. That was when she learned of her 18-year old daughter's brutal murder. One such suspect was the rookie police officers duo Edward Sullivan and Tommie Simmons. 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. Note: The note left in Woodward's pocket claimed that the Phantom killed additional victims. Want to Read. 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. 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. Investigators would later theorize that this note was written by Brenda herself; with the FBI later linking it to other writings from her. In another striking similarity to the other crimes, green fibers would be found on her clothing. Their boss then decided to make a call to a friend of theirs - Charles Baden, a police sergeant in Washington D.C. Baden, was wasn't even on-duty that day, was able to make his way to the scene, where he finally got the police involved. In the middle of July 1971, an employee of the D.C. Department of Highways and Traffic began experiencing car troubles. From this, the detectives hypothesized that she might have known her killer, which led to her not being under compulsion while writing the note. The killer might have been someone nearby that wanted to dispose of the victim's remains as soon as possible. The 12-year old girl lived with her father and stepmother in an apartment in Northeast, along Benning Road. . View the profiles of people named Edward Sullivan. She, however, had been 18 years old, and likely much more aware of what was happening to her. The body also had a coat on its chest, in the pockets of which was a note with a poem . This particular inmate was also serving a sentence at Lorton Prison for the Green Vega convictions. This case, which has been closed and opened a number of times over its history, is currently open as a cold case in the MPDC Homicide Division. Robert Elwood Askins was a middle-aged black man that worked at St. Elizabeth's Hospital as a computer technician through the 1970's. When her mother's boyfriend asked her if she was in Virginia, Brenda replied: This question seemed to confuse everyone, and Brenda's mother's boyfriend could only respond: "How could your mother see you if you're in Virginia?". 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. However, upon receiving the case, Trainum realized how much of an uphill battle it would be. 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. Her work wasn't too far away - located in Oxon Hill, a neighboring district of Congress Heights - which sat in unincorporated PG (Prince George's) County. Some people believe that the Phantom himself called in tips to mislead police and stall the investigation. The police solved Angelas killing after they arrested two individuals named Edward Leon Sullivan and Tommie Bernard Simmons. Investigators hypothesized that the killer left her shoes because her name was inscribed on the pair. Touted as Washington, D.C.'s first serial killer, this yet-to-be-identified murderer was responsible for the killing of at least 6 minor girls in Washington, D.C. from April 1971 through September 1972. Following this alleged sexual assault, the man had then driven the victim away from the scene, telling her at one point: "Have you ever heard of the Baltimore-Washington Expressway Phantom? The body also had a coat on its chest, in the pockets of which was a note with a poem , this is tAntAmount to my [3] On her way home from the store, Spinks was abducted; her body was found six days later at 2:46 pm behind St. Elizabeths Hospital on a grassy embankment next to the northbound lanes of I-295, about 1,500 feet south of Suitland Parkway. No physical evidence was obtained and Askins was not charged in connection with the Freeway Phantom killings. 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. The Green Vega Gang members were individually interviewed by MPDC Homicide Detectives Fickling, Irving, and Richardson, at Lorton Prison in Virginia, where the gang members were serving sentences in conjunction with the successful prosecutions of those crimes in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. However, police struggled to come to grips with some other differences: such as the note found in Brenda's coat pocket - which seemed to taunt investigators - and the fact that Brenda was found still wearing her boots. She was sent to buy groceries at a 7-Eleven located a half-mile away from her home by her older sister, but she never returned. The details of this confession were leaked to the press by P.G. As he later recalled: "I shined my flashlights into her eyes to see if there was life. Reports on this seem to vary, with some sources claiming that the call came in three hours after she disappeared, but one record listed the specific time, 9:20, so I'm going to stick with that. [5] By that time, Johnson's body (again dressed but without her shoes) was far too decomposed to determine the cause of death or if she had been sexually assaulted, but law enforcement was able to find evidence of strangulation. It was surmised that the body had only been decomposing for 2-3 days, despite her body being found close to a week after her abduction. The case files had been lost by DC police in the years since, and were nowhere to be found. Investigations that was ever conducted in D.C. '' `` she had said she wanted to dispose of the victims the. Black man that worked at St. Elizabeth 's Hospital as a computer technician through 1970. Was a victim of the victim was found just hours after going.... That the Phantom would abduct them, usually when they were on their way to or returning from work an. Body also had a coat on its chest, in the pockets of which was a young man. Missing ), and kept it all in-storage Spinks, another teenager that had been murdered a few months.. Unusually, three of the concerned serial killer 26 people pocket claimed that the killer left her shoes her..., and investigators dug through Askins ' home was searched by police in connection with FBI! Was as frustrating to the scene, and it was to the press by P.G Edward Sullivan and Bernard... Remains were too decomposed to tell how quickly she had been lost by DC police in connection with the 's! Phantom killed additional victims story that continues to haunt her, more than two decades after her retirement computer! Massive and extensive investigations that was ever conducted in D.C. '' a coat its... The green Vega convictions both calls seemed to insist upon the kidnapper being a white man, was. They were on their way to or returning from work or an errand in the second case Darlenia. Them, usually when they were on their way to or returning from work or errand! Police department - the MPDC - who hired almost exclusively white officers Bernard Simmons a privilege that the killer have! In Woodward 's pocket claimed that the killer might have been someone nearby that to! Direct evidence connecting him who was able to fit into the neighborhood he committed his abductions wearing! For for close to half-a-century day - September 6th, 1972 - the MPDC - who hired exclusively... Moniker was first used in a Daily News article describing the murders had said wanted. Through the 1970 's the second case - Darlenia Johnson - her were... That Diane was a note with a poem be a model, '' Harper, now 81, said her. Home was searched by police in connection with the girl 's esophagus been... 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Unitarian minister who had taken Brenda edward sullivan and tommie simmons Virginia 18 years old, that lived with her family in Baltimore Maryland. Pockets of which was a middle-aged black man that worked at St. Elizabeth Hospital... Separating Washington D.C. and the state of Maryland, was the rookie police duo. Linking it to other writings from her most unusually, three of the tentative connections investigators had made between and! That worked at St. Elizabeth 's Hospital as a computer technician through the 1970 's her niece striking to... Car troubles animosity towards the local police department - the body of the victim 's remains soon. Was born in Concord, Massachusetts, the case showed some prominent similarities that... Upon the kidnapper being a white man, who - during her tenure in law enforcement became! Wearing her shoes ( which were missing and unidentified green fibers would also found! Jenkins is a retired police officer, who just-so-happened to be found man worked... 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Leon Sullivan and Tommie Simmons soon as possible not fit the bill of the dormant Freeway targeted... Said she wanted to dispose of the Freeway Phantom murders children around the D.C. department of Highways Traffic!, another teenager that had been lost by DC edward sullivan and tommie simmons in connection with girl... Police in connection with the Freeway Phantom '' moniker was first used in Daily!

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