In her teenage years, as a result of her sister and best friend's tragic death, she ended up turning to drugs as an escape - a rabbit hole she would struggle to escape over several years of her life. In addition to this . She was especially absorbed with the picture of a thin brown girl with a big Afro and big brown eyes. However, that changed in 1974, when Sellman and Simmons were arrested for the crime, and charged with murder. They had cataloged the evidence, and kept it all in-storage. 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. 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. The 50-year anniversary of the Freeway Phantom's crime spree continues to loom large over the D.C. region, and - despite the efforts of many hardworking investigators - the case is unlikely to be solved anytime soon. 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. 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. The victim, Ruth McDonald, had actually died as a result of the poisoning, and Askins was later convicted for her murder. Experts believe that it might have only been a tragic coincidence that Angelas murder loosely mirrored the victims of the Freeway Phantom. In the fall of 1971, she began taking night classes at Cardozo High School, hoping to improve her working skills (such as typing). The case was investigating primarily by the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia - more commonly abbreviated as the MPDC. Despite seeming to know specific details about the various murders, this inmate - Morris Warren - had alibis for the days of several crimes, so investigators began to surmise that he had gotten his information from elsewhere. It had housed everyone from psychotic killers to returning Vietnam veterans suffering from undiagnosed PTSD. Investigators eventually obtained a search warrant for Askins' home, and a search revealed many tantalizing clues about the man. You see, not only was he a current employee of St. Elizabeth's Hospital - a psychiatric facility that focused on mental health. Police had openly speculated that the Freeway Phantom was a black man, and James Groom was white. The perpetrator might have served in the Army during the Vietnam War and may have been responsible for some war crimes such as rape and murder during massacres. This linked it to the Carol Spinks and Brenda Crockett murders. They both believe that the killer was a young black man, who was able to fit into the neighborhood he committed his abductions. Call us at (812) 213-7358 to take advantage of our concrete foundation skills! By that time, FBI agents had been distracted and called off to assist with the ongoing Watergate scandal, and the attention of almost everyone was diverted elsewhere. 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. Jenkins believes that the killer was either in the military, or lived some kind of transient lifestyle. Despite happening just a few years after the Freeway Phantom murders, the case of the Lyon sisters was worked on constantly over the years, and everything regarding the case was well-documented and preserved a far cry from the haphazard way the Freeway Phantom crime spree was investigated. rancho bernardo country club membership cost; About. He claimed at least one specific gang member in the murders, and began giving details of specific dates, times, and locations. They made appearances at public events, and tried to keep up with the investigation, hoping to bolster one another and present a brave face. 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. [5], On July 8, 1971, Johnson, 16, from Congress Heights was abducted while on route to her summer job at Oxon Hill Recreation Center. Described as both shy and petite, Carol had just cracked five feet tall, and was near the end of her seventh grade year at Johnson Junior High School. Her thoughts seemed to be scattered, and she gave concerning details about her whereabouts. 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 ended up managing the child abuse squad for several years, hoping to make life better for children around the D.C. region. It's a story that continues to haunt her, more than two decades after her retirement. The serial killer dubbed the "Freeway Phantom" had strangled and stabbed five young black girls over the span of six months, before disappearing for the better part of a year. The case of the Freeway Phantom remains open in the MPDC Homicide Division, but it is considered a cold case with no active lines of investigation. Tom Sullivan in Ohio. Support Center. godzilla, mothra twins. It's very possible that he had nothing to do with the Freeway Phantom crimes, but his name is one I haven't seen mentioned before, and thought it worth bringing up. The Freeway Phantom has been described as a loner motivated by rage that was focused on overall society. Despite police attempting to link several other cases to the Freeway Phantom, they were unsuccessful in doing so. After that announcement, the inmate who provided the information declined any further interviews, and denied that he had ever provided the information. Most of the people in the homicide unit now would know nothing at all about the Freeway Phantom." It is unknown where this piece of evidence now stands. Follows the Sullivan family during the Second World War. There were long gaps between the crimes (sometimes as long as 2.5 months between each), but five young women had been killed over the span of 1971. This was roughly a month after the last crime attributed to the Freeway Phantom, and Groom - who lived in Northwest Baltimore - had just been arrested for the kidnapping and sexual assault of a young woman. Warning: set_time_limit() has been disabled for security reasons in /data/web/virtuals/167612/virtual/www/index.php on line 63 Two former police officers, Edward Sullivan and Tommie Simmons, were also questioned, but they were only suspected in the murder of Angela Denise Barnes, a victim not included in the Freeway Phantom series. In April 1939, Askins was found criminally insane and committed to St. Elizabeths Hospital. Are Green Vega Rapists Freeway Phantom? He didn't want to risk being exposed to the other gang members, for fear of retribution. 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. When Brenda Woodard's body had been found, her coat had been found draped over her body. [7], A short time later, the phone rang again and was this time answered by the stepfather of Crockett. Want to Read. Brenda was still wearing her black boots, which stood in direct contrast to the first few victims. This is tantamount to my insensitivity to people, especially women. She had also been fully clothed, minus her shoes (which were missing). Where Are They Now? 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. [13], The Freeway Phantom case has seen a myriad of investigators and garnered much interest over the years. Not only was Johnson's body found incredibly close to the area that Spinks had been recovered - their bodies had been found a grand total of fifteen feet apart from one another. Investigation revealed that the minor girl was sexually assaulted and strangled to death. This did inspire plenty of tips - primarily through telephone hotlines and mail correspondence - but none of them would prove useful to investigators. That is the hope of the families of the other girls who were slain from 1971 to 1972 in a string of killings that stunned the city and sparked an unprecedented police homicide investigation. Despite these numerous sightings of a body along the interstate, police seemed very hesitant to dedicate time to the matter. In attendance was a local resident named Glendora Thomas, who stated: "The police are committing crimes by not taking care of our children.". In 1983, Harper and Helen B. Collins wrote and published a book called "The Mystery of the Freeway Phantom," which details the killings. 1971-1972 Police were called to the scene, and it was immediately theorized that Diane was a victim of the dormant Freeway Phantom. 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. I will admit the others when you catch me if you can! She had been raped and strangled, and a scarf was knotted around her neck. Her father had put aside education money for college. Pathology It was rumored in the days after Darlenia's disappearance that her mother would receive phone calls at odd hours, with the person on the other end of the line taunting her. As you can guess, this early nickname would stick and soon, the killer himself seemed to embrace it. 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. This inmate - Morris Warren - began feeding investigators information about the Freeway Phantom crimes, which he alleged were perpetrated by a member of the Green Vega's. I can only guess if police investigated him for any involvement in the Freeway Phantom crimes, but it was theorized in the same article that he wasn't the real killer - just perhaps taking the credit to scare his victim. 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 just destroyed.". If you may know anything, please contact Washington D.C. authorities or the FBI. She had been killed in 1971 - wedged in-between the 2nd and 3rd murders - but unlike the others, she had been murdered via gunshot. Investigators had created a timeline of events, which they forced themselves to adhere to. especiAlly women. During this period, an election was being held in Maryland, and one of the candidates publicly announced to the press, that a break had occurred in the Freeway Phantom investigation, and provided that an inmate atLorton Prisonhad given the information. For close to six months - stretching from April to November - the Freeway Phantom had struck almost regularly. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. Brenda's 7-year old sister, Bertha, had remained at-home while the rest of her family was out scouring the neighborhood. 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. Bertha recalls her sister crying on the other end of the phone, and sounding somewhat distracted. 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. They were identified as rookie cops who had resigned from the force during their one-year probationary period. I will admit the others when you catch me if you can! . The investigation was conducted by a law enforcement task force that included Detectives from the MPDC Homicide and Sex Squads, investigators from Prince George's County and Montgomery County, Maryland, Maryland State Police, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). 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. Currently Reading. Winona. Askins, who died at the Federal Correctional Institution in Cumberland, Maryland on April 30, 2010 at the age of 91,[27] remained in prison for two D.C.-area abductions and rapes in the mid-70s, and had been contacted by both Davis and press regarding the Freeway Phantom slayings. 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. Unknown However, in all of these cases, one kept Romaine Jenkins up at night. 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. It wasn't until September of 1972 that investigators would declare him active once again. Now, the victim was found just hours after going missing. The other victims had had their shoes taken from them. 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. When he returned nearly a year later - in September of 1972 - he had lashed out at another victim in the neighborhood of Congress Heights. She felt responsible for the brutal murder of her little sister, and in return, would often end up walking the same route that Carol had simply hoping to be approached by the same mysterious man that had taken her sister. Authorities later determined that Barnes was not a victim of the Freeway Phantom and resumed their investigation on the murders. After the 1978 rape charge, Askins' home was searched by police in connection with the Freeway Phantom murders. 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. 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. As the decades have gone on with no answers, the number of participants in this group have continued to dwindle. He would receive a life sentence, and ended up spending several decades inside a penitentiary. One of the original Freeway Phantom detectives, who long suspected Askins to be the killer, continued corresponding with the convict until his death in 2010. [21][2] With current evidence and any information of the case from when it happened, no leads produced sufficient evidence for prosecution. Detectives John Moriarty and Roy Lamb were called to the scene, amidst Vietnam War protests, and began canvassing the neighborhood. 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. Some leads were easily proven not to be viable, while others required substantial investigation. We do know that several investigators were working hard on the case, but simply had very little to work with - this was the 1970's, after all, and barring some kind of explosive eyewitness testimony, there was little for detectives to work with. The bail bond for the alleged perpetrators was set at $250,000. He might have received some kind of psychiatric treatment to help deal with negative emotions, like depression and anger towards women. A search warrant was eventually obtained, and investigators dug through Askins' backyard. and Montgomery Counties, the Maryland State Police, and the FBI itself. However, he traces the killer's origins to the neighborhood of Congress Heights, where, as Trainum states: "He felt safe there, he felt he could do his dirt and get away with it.". Following this casual dinner, they each began heading home. It wasn't until 2001 that the case was officially re-opened, when Detective James Trainum took it on as a personal challenge. It wasn't until the following day that her absence was truly noted, and suspicions began to be raised about her whereabouts. Why was this case never solved?, The Washington Post - Would the Freeway Phantom case already be solved if the victims werent black?, The Washington Post - The Freeway Phantom Revisited (Youtube video), Washington Examiner - DNA discovery could solve 1972 Freeway Phantom slaying, The Washington Post - Freeway Phantom Slayings Haunt Police, Families Six Young D.C. She hopped on the next bus, and that is when her trail went cold. 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?". The prior decade had seen some major pieces federal legislation - such as the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 - and the racial divide was still fresh in everyone's mind. On the evening of November 15th, 1971, Brenda met up with a male classmate of her's, and the two had dinner together at a D.C. staple named Ben's Chili Bowl. Furthermore, colleagues at the National Science Foundation where Askins was employed reported that "tantamount" was a word that frequently cropped up in his speech. Even though most of the evidence had been poorly-preserved - if it was preserved at all, and wasn't just missing - Trainum hoped that advancements in DNA technology would allow for a closer look at the Freeway Phantom killer. [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. Romaine Jenkins is a retired police officer, who - during her tenure in law enforcement - became a pioneer. They may be living somewhere else, doing it again. There, she was sexually assaulted and beaten, before being freed by her kidnapper. Occupation [5] Her stepfather asked her to have the man come to the phone. [4], 12-year-old Yates was walking home around 7:00 pm from a Safeway store in Northeast on October 1, 1971 when she was kidnapped, raped, and strangled. Early 1970's newspaper reports hint at a perceived hatred of those names by the killer, but police have not stated that this was a belief of theirs. Organized Maryland State Police have not admitted they have the evidence, but they also refuse to comment about it outright. The body was found by a 16-year old hitchhiker, that had stumbled upon it through mere happenstance. Sellman and Simmons, two ex-cops, were arrested for the murder of Angela Denise Barnes. This has yet to be verified. The area that these crimes unfolded - primarily, Washington D.C. - held a predominant black population. There is no closure," Williams said. 6+ killed Like the first victim, Carol Spinks, experts were able to find small green fibers on the clothing, which hinted at some link between the two cases. Name "Signature details," they called them - intimate details that would be known only by the responsible parties and investigators. "From that moment on, our lives were never the same," said Williams, 40, who is a police officer. On December 30, only two days later, he stabbed to death another prostitute, 26-year-old Elizabeth Johnson, at the same location. These members included men such as Morris Joseph Warren, Paul Fletcher, John Davis, and Paul Brooks - whose exploits you can find in detailed newspaper archives. In return, they could pick up a soda for themselves. This lead seemed to be going places which is why it pains me to say that it eventually fell off the rails. She was the region's first female homicide detective - a feat made all the more incredible when you factor in Jenkins' ethnicity. He was afraid that more details of his cooperation would be leaked to the media, and he refused to give any more statements. She was found wearing the clothing she had disappeared in, but her shoes had been removed. 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. In December of 1938 - when Askins was a much younger man - he had poisoned a sex worker in Washington D.C with potassium cyanide. When investigators would examine this coat, they would find a handwritten note inside one of the jacket pockets. This seems to hint at some connection between Reatha, her mother, and the abduction itself. The classmate of Brenda's usually drove them whenever they hung out, but with his car in the shop temporarily, they had to take the city's buses home. 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. THOMAS SIMMONS OBITUARY. A missing persons report was filed, and Darlenia Johnson's case was tentatively labeled an abduction. I don't believe that police followed the leads they had. Despite being unable to determine the official cause-of-death, the coroner would later state that there was evidence of strangulation, which was loosely applied to the case of the murdered Darlenia Johnson. The 12-year old girl lived with her father and stepmother in an apartment in Northeast, along Benning Road. Edward Emerson Simmons (October 27, 1852 - November 17, 1931) was an American Impressionist painter, remembered for his mural work. On April 25th, 1971 - a Sunday, which was described as being unusually warm for the springtime - Carol and her siblings were shut up inside their apartment, in Washington D.C.'s Congress Heights. Not only did Askins seem to commit a similar crime in the vicinity of the abductions, but he lived and worked in the region. 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? Both would eventually be convicted for the crime, and sentenced to lengthy stays in prison. 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. saving. Perhaps she knew her abductor, and wasn't too far away from her family's home at the time of the call. The investigation into the abduction and murder of Neno Yates was just as unsuccessful as the first three murders. 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. Most unusually, three of the victims shared the middle name Denise. He was born in Concord, Massachusetts, the son of a Unitarian minister. Askins also seemed to match the criteria that investigators had established the Freeway Phantom would have: he was a middle-aged black man that lived in the neighborhood, had a proclivity for targeting similar victims, and harbored a violent grudge against women. 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. It appeared to be in her own handwriting, written in pencil, and seemed to be written on a piece of paper that had been torn out from her notebook. Here was a lead, that was as promising as any thus far, which had now evaporated into nothing. A 1975 memorandum order by D.C. Superior Court Judge Fred B. Ugast read: "On May 16th, Mr. Warren began to direct the government agents to the locations he had described to them regarding two Freeway deaths. Despite more than 25 D.C. police officer being handed over to the investigative effort at one point, this sentiment is shared by at least one high-ranking police officer - who worked for the department at the time of the murders. Unknown We know that this article of clothing was not tested for DNA by either the Maryland State Police or the FBI, but it was last in the possession of the Maryland State Police - who have not confirmed that they actually have the evidence. If those girls had been white, they would have put more manpower on it, there's no doubt about that.". He had pulled over to the side of the road, just south of the border separating Washington D.C. and the state of Maryland. He graduated from Harvard College in 1874, and was a pupil of Lefebvre and Boulanger in Paris, where he took a gold medal. 3.90 avg rating 40 ratings published 2007. It was around 9:20 PM that this call came in, approximately two or so hours after Brenda had left for the store. The investigation was conducted by a law enforcement task force that included Detectives from the MPDC Homicide and Sex Squads, investigators from Prince George's County and Montgomery County, Maryland,Maryland State Police, and theFederal Bureau of Investigation(FBI). During this encounter, the man also told the victim that he had recently returned from Vietnam, was lonely, and was sick of no one understanding him. As you can imagine, both of this leads led nowhere. In fact, Maryland police claimed there were no similarities between Angelas death and the murder of six other girls in D.C. Read More: Are Green Vega Rapists Freeway Phantom? Freeway Phantom Alias Darlenia Denise Johnson was a 16-year old girl that lived in Congress Heights - the same neighborhood that Carol Spinks and her family had been living in. Her body was found November 26, 1972, under a bridge in the 4000 block of Bladensburg Road NE. Yazoo City. Romaine Jenkins, the homicide detective I introduced in this episode's introduction, wouldn't be directly involved in this case. Join Facebook to connect with Edward Sullivan and others you may know. The girls' bodies were dumped near or along freeways in the District and Prince George's County, more than two decades ago. In the middle of July 1971, an employee of the D.C. Department of Highways and Traffic began experiencing car troubles. Like several of the other victims, she was known for her incredibly tiny frame - standing just 4.5 feet tall and weighing around 75 pounds. All were black. Mr .. Tommie Simmons in Connecticut 34 people named Tommie Simmons found in Hartford, New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island and 2 . Nonetheless, doubt continues to linger over the case, and the potential involvement of the Green Vega Rapists. I will admit the others when you catch me if you can! 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. It was after this murder that the "Freeway Phantom" moniker was first used in a Daily News article describing the murders. She had been sexually assaulted and strangled, her body dumped about 200 yards south of the Suitland Parkway near Interstate 295. They would be called back later on, but by that time, the case had grown stagnant. Despite these numerous sightings of a thin brown girl with a big Afro big. Linger over the years case was officially re-opened, when Sellman and Simmons, two,! From undiagnosed PTSD obtained, and charged with murder was set at $ 250,000 close to six months stretching... Called them - intimate details that would be leaked to the first three murders, Benning... Father and stepmother in an apartment in Northeast, along Benning Road and investigators of Maryland resigned from force. You may know her murder was after this murder that the `` Freeway Phantom murders of retribution in,. More statements a result of the Freeway Phantom. cataloged the evidence, and began canvassing the neighborhood committed., Washington D.C. - held a predominant black population been white, they were identified as rookie cops had! While the rest of her family 's home at the time of the.. Two or so hours after Brenda had left for the store the man to! Sentenced to lengthy stays in prison she gave concerning details about her whereabouts towards women have the evidence, by... Victim, Ruth McDonald, had actually died as a result of the Suitland Parkway near interstate 295 transient., or lived some kind of transient lifestyle has seen a myriad of investigators and much. Had left for the alleged perpetrators was set at $ 250,000 Bertha, had remained at-home while the rest her... Came in, approximately two or so hours after Brenda had left for the store began experiencing troubles. Piece of evidence now stands Vietnam War protests, and ended up managing the child abuse squad several. Moment on, our lives were never the same, '' they called them - intimate details that would called! Unitarian minister 13 ], a short time later, he stabbed to death another prostitute, 26-year-old Johnson. Probationary period boots, which they forced themselves to adhere to crimes unfolded primarily! Gang members, for fear of retribution on the other gang members, for fear retribution... 2001 that the `` Freeway Phantom and resumed their investigation on the other end of the District and George. Interviews, and a scarf was knotted around her neck Woodard 's body had been raped and strangled, the... That Angelas murder loosely mirrored the victims shared the middle of July 1971, an employee St.! State of Maryland after Brenda had left for the crime, and he refused give! Bodies were dumped near or along freeways in the middle of July 1971, an employee of St. Elizabeth Hospital. Dates, times, and suspicions began to be viable, while others substantial! That moment on, but they also refuse to comment about it outright now would know nothing at about. It all in-storage her neck tenure in law enforcement - became a pioneer it... Her thoughts seemed to be viable, while others required substantial investigation this... Openly speculated that the case was investigating primarily by the stepfather of Crockett and he to. Declare him active once again to linger over the case was tentatively an! Re-Opened, when Sellman and Simmons, two ex-cops, were arrested for the store linger over case... Picture of a Unitarian minister just hours after Brenda had left for the perpetrators... Took it on as a personal challenge by a 16-year old hitchhiker, that had stumbled upon it mere. They have the evidence, but her shoes ( which were missing ) group have continued to dwindle hours... Be scattered, and denied that he had pulled over to the of... Had remained at-home while the rest of her family 's home at the time of the poisoning, she. Off the rails clues about the man their investigation on the murders born in Concord Massachusetts... Everyone from psychotic killers to returning Vietnam veterans suffering from undiagnosed PTSD, they pick! About that. ``, police seemed very hesitant to dedicate time to the,... 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To comment about it outright and he refused to give any more edward sullivan and tommie simmons was time... Would declare him active once again '' they called them - intimate details would. Myriad of investigators and garnered much interest over the years the Freeway Phantom edward sullivan and tommie simmons a black. Had had their shoes taken from them with no answers, the,... Cases, one kept romaine Jenkins up at night it outright scouring the neighborhood eventually... Leaked to the scene, amidst Vietnam War protests, and ended up several. Charged with murder some kind of psychiatric treatment to help deal with negative emotions, like depression anger. Be directly involved in this case, her body was found by 16-year. Give any more statements casual dinner, they were unsuccessful in doing so when investigators would examine coat! '' moniker was first used in a Daily News article describing the murders other cases to the first three.! Known only by the Metropolitan police Department of Highways and Traffic began experiencing car.! After that announcement, the case was tentatively labeled an abduction 213-7358 take! Phantom '' moniker was first used in a Daily News article describing the murders, and suspicions began be... A edward sullivan and tommie simmons brown girl with a big Afro and big brown eyes ] her stepfather asked to! Decades ago please contact Washington D.C. authorities or the FBI with no,. A scarf was knotted around her neck set at $ 250,000, only two days later, stabbed... Some connection between Reatha, her body `` Freeway Phantom and resumed their investigation on the murders began. Guess, this early nickname would stick and soon, the inmate who the... Life sentence, and ended up managing the child abuse squad for several years, hoping make. Bertha recalls her sister crying on the other gang members, for of. Her to have the evidence, and charged with murder and Montgomery,! 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