Serial Killers Hunting a Serial Killer: The Colonial Parkway Murders
Mar 10, 2025
A chilling exploration of the Colonial Parkway in Virginia reveals a haunting history of double-homicides from the late 1980s. Investigators faced immense challenges linking victims to a potential serial killer as the case remained cold for decades. Recent breakthroughs in DNA evidence provided crucial links to a deceased suspect. The tireless advocacy of victims' families highlights the emotional and societal impact of these unsolved crimes, reminding us that justice can be pursued long after the fact.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
First Double Homicide
- On October 12, 1986, a jogger found a Honda Civic pushed off an embankment along the Colonial Parkway.
- Inside were Kathy Thomas and Rebecca Dowski, dead with slashed throats, and the car doused in diesel fuel.
Overkill and Impersonation
- FBI Special Assistant Irvin Wells noted the overkill in the murders, suggesting a personal connection.
- Evidence like rope burns and the car's state hinted at the killer possibly impersonating a police officer.
Second Double Homicide
- In September 1987, David Knobling and Robin Edwards went missing after visiting a Colonial Parkway overlook.
- Their bodies were later found shot execution-style, with Robin sexually assaulted.