[22] [23] Authorities later determined that Barnes was not a victim of the Freeway Phantom and resumed their investigation on the murders. Just one of eight children, Carol had an identical twin sister named Carolyn. Many of the original detectives had been long-retired, or were even deceased, when Trainum took on the case. 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. Unfortunately, their questions regarding her fate would be answered less than a week later. 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. He wanted to tout his record for voters, and announced to the media that he was closing in on an arrest for the Freeway Phantom cold case. The name was coined by reporters at the now-defunct tabloid, the Daily News, who noted that all of the victims had been disposed of alongside major roads and freeways. 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. [1][2], On the evening of April 25, 1971, 13-year-old Spinks from Southeast was sent by (Carlo) an older sister to buy groceries at a 7-Eleven located a half-mile away from her home, just across the border in Maryland. Where Are They Now? They had done the brunt of the early investigation, such as speaking to key witnesses and canvassing the neighborhoods of the abductions, but were unable to advance the case in any major way. But ours have been forgotten.". 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. 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 fact, Maryland police claimed there were no similarities between Angelas death and the murder of six other girls in D.C. 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. One suspect that I haven't seen discussed in any major publications was a young man named James Groom, whose name was mentioned in the October 21st, 1972 edition of the Baltimore Afro American - a regional newspaper. . They said they had arrest warrants for another 26 people. Want to Read. More than two months had passed since the 13-year old had gone missing and her remains were found, and the story was a blip on the radar for 16-year old Darlenia. Investigation Discoverys People Magazine Investigates: The Freeway Phantom chronicles the crimes of a serial murderer self-proclaimed as the Freeway Phantom. 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. Perhaps he was a Vietnam veteran suffering with some untreated PTSD, or perhaps he was someone with a vicious grudge against law enforcement. 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. These were the type of cases that her male colleagues tried to avoid. They rode together on a bus for a few blocks, but eventually had to split up. Well, I'm him.". Authorities later determined that Barnes was not a victim of the Freeway Phantom and resumed their investigation on the murders. A vote in favor is a vote to end debate and move to a vote on the issue itself, while a vote against is a vote to prolong debate or to filibuster. 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. "It's in the past, plus personnel in the police department has changed. edward sullivan and tommie simmons. "It took maybe up to the fifth victim when they really got the message that there was a problem," Jenkins added. This seems to hint at some connection between Reatha, her mother, and the abduction itself. The only notable exception wasBrenda Denise Woodard, whose body still had the shoes worn. Several days passed, and Washington D.C. - already a warm and humid place - began to enter the dog days of summer. Now, she continues to ponder over the case, which still haunts her. [4] A reward of $150,000 remains open as well.[5]. FRee-wAy PhanTom. Near the access ramp to Route 202, from the Baltimore-Washington Parkway, Officer Norman would discover the body of Brenda Woodard. Most of the people in the homicide unit now would know nothing at all about the Freeway Phantom." The police later recovered one of the .38 caliber pistols reported stolen by the two police officers. The "Freeway Phantom" was a nickname given by a regional tabloid, but the name seemed to stick. The police later recovered one of the .38 caliber pistols reported stolen by the two police officers. Upon this third - and final - submission, the custody of this evidence became a matter-of-debate. In 1983, Harper and Helen B. Collins wrote and published a book called "The Mystery of the Freeway Phantom," which details the killings. An autopsy of the victim's body showed that she had been sexually assaulted before her death; in a grisly detail, police also learned that she had been sodomized. That signature information was correct. 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. According to investigators at the time, Warren had begun providing details beyond what was reported in the media. However, with her body being found not too far away, just eight hours after her abduction, we can reasonably surmise that wasn't the case. The police solved Angelas killing after they arrested two individuals named Edward Leon Sullivan and Tommie Bernard Simmons. Brenda got off to catch a transfer, and said goodbye to her classmate. UNION, S.C.-- Mr. Thomas David 'Tommy' Simmons, age 68, husband of Suzette Lancaster Simmons of 179 Pinedale Court, Prosperity, passed away at his home, July 31, 2018. of Victims Warning: set_time_limit() has been disabled for security reasons in /data/web/virtuals/167612/virtual/www/index.php on line 63 They may be living somewhere else, doing it again. Barnes's slaying, originally thought to be linked to the Freeway Phantom killings, was later solved when two former police officers, Edward L. Sellman and Tommie B. Simmons, were convicted of her killing. Perhaps she knew her abductor, and wasn't too far away from her family's home at the time of the call. Of those effected by the Freeway Phantom crime spree, none were hit harder than the loved ones - whose children and siblings were taken by the unknown killer, and their lives ended way too prematurely. From this, the detectives hypothesized that she might have known her killer, which led to her not being under compulsion while writing the note. He denied any role in them, adding that he did not have "the depravity of mind required to commit any of the crimes."[28]. 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 They started a task force, which included more than 100 detectives and federal agents and had involvement from the following law enforcement agencies: the MPDC Homicide Division and Sex Squads, detectives from Maryland's P.G. This semen sample would remain untested for several decades, but needless to say that would come up much later. This, at least, provided investigators with some kind of a lead, but finding the driver of a blue Volkswagon - in 1971 - was like finding a needle in a haystack. In the fall of 1971, she began taking night classes at Cardozo High School, hoping to improve her working skills (such as typing). Read. 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. [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. In 1974, two more names were entered into the suspect fray: Edward Sellman - sometimes referred to as Edward Sullivan in reporting of the case - and Tommie Simmons. It wasn't until 2001 that the case was officially re-opened, when Detective James Trainum took it on as a personal challenge. However, later that night, an employee of Safeway would state that they found those same items outside of the store, scattered along the street. Prosecutors at the time said there was no evidence linking the pair to the other slayings. Her education policy was cashed in to bury her.". especiAlly women. Like the first four victims, Woodard had been strangled but it appeared that her end had been a much more violent one. Valerie, Carol's 24-year old sister that lived across the hall in the apartment building, asked the kids if any of them would walk down to a nearby store for her. Edward Emerson Simmons (October 27, 1852 - November 17, 1931) was an American Impressionist painter, remembered for his mural work. As a result, the Freeway Phantom case files have been lost, along with the associated notes, and all investigators assigned as primary or task force have either long retired, or are deceased. edward sullivan and tommie simmonsthe hardy family acrobats 26th February 2023 / in was forest whitaker in batteries not included / by / in was forest whitaker in batteries not included / by 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. Some people believe that the Phantom himself called in tips to mislead police and stall the investigation. This was just a stone's throw away from the first two abduction scenes - those of Carol Spinks and Darlenia Johnson - from more than a year beforehand. Remember, the note from Brenda Woodard's coat pocket had read: "This is tantamount to insensititivity [sic] to people especially women. 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