Winding through the woods of Virginia, the Colonial Parkway was once a place for quiet drives and private moments. But between 1986 and 1989, it became the site of a chilling mystery.
Over the span of just a few years, at least four couples were brutally murdered or disappeared along or near the scenic route connecting historic towns like Williamsburg, Jamestown, and Yorktown. The victims were young, many found in their cars—staged, silenced, and abandoned. Despite extensive investigations and public pressure, the Colonial Parkway Murders remain unsolved, leaving families and an entire region still searching for answers.
13 Chilling Facts
1. The murders occurred along Virginia’s Colonial Parkway.
Between 1986 and 1989, a series of unsolved double homicides took place along the Colonial Parkway, a scenic route stretching between Jamestown, Williamsburg, and Yorktown.
2. Eight victims were killed across four cases.
Four young couples—eight people in total—were found dead or went missing under suspicious and often brutal circumstances.
3. All the victims were couples.
The killer seemed to target couples in isolated lover’s lane-type settings, either parked in cars or near wooded areas.
4. The killer used multiple methods.
The cause of death varied: some victims were strangled, others stabbed, and one couple’s car was set on fire, raising speculation about whether it was a single killer or multiple.
5. Some bodies were never found.
In the case of Keith Call and Cassandra Hailey, only their car and personal belongings were found. Their bodies remain missing to this day.
6. The killer left little forensic evidence.
Due to exposure to the elements and the killer’s caution, investigators recovered very little useful forensic material in the 1980s.
7. The FBI became involved early.
Because the first murders occurred on federal land (Colonial Parkway is a national park), the FBI took over the investigation almost immediately.
8. Some scenes suggested the killer impersonated law enforcement.
Open glove compartments, wallets out, and unlocked doors led investigators to theorize the victims may have pulled over for someone they thought was a cop.
9. There were signs of staged crime scenes.
In at least one case, a couple was found inside their car, fully clothed, but without signs of a struggle, suggesting possible staging or coercion.
10. New DNA testing began in the 2010s.
Advanced DNA techniques have since been applied to preserved evidence, giving new hope that the killer could eventually be identified.
11. A former boyfriend was long suspected.
One of the victim’s ex-boyfriends was considered a person of interest, but no charges were filed, and evidence remained circumstantial.
12. Victims’ families continue to advocate for justice.
Relatives of the victims—especially Bill Thomas, brother of victim Cathleen Thomas—have pushed for public awareness and transparency in the case.
13. The case remains unsolved after nearly 40 years.
Despite renewed efforts, podcasts, and documentaries, the Colonial Parkway Murders remain officially unsolved—one of America’s most chilling cold cases.
Decades have passed, but the shadows on the Colonial Parkway remain.
The case has sparked countless theories—from rogue law enforcement involvement to a lone predator hiding in plain sight—but no one has ever been charged. For the victims’ families, the lack of justice is an open wound. For true crime investigators, it’s one of the most enduring cold cases in U.S. history.
Until the truth is known, the Colonial Parkway will forever be more than a drive through history—it’s a road haunted by silence.
