edward sullivan and tommie simmonsedward sullivan and tommie simmons

This stood out, because he didn't live with any women - so where had he gotten these scarves? Freeway Phantom Gender In March, 1977, a 58-year-old computer technician, Robert Elwood Askins, was charged with abducting and raping a 24-year-old woman inside his Washington, D.C. home. 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. Nonetheless, doubt continues to linger over the case, and the potential involvement of the Green Vega Rapists. Crockett was on the other line, crying. Ph: (781) 272-0050 Investigation revealed that the minor girl was sexually assaulted and strangled to death. It's really infuriating, knowing that investigators might have come so close to solving at least one of the major mysteries in this case, but it got lost in a sea of bureaucracy and legalities. Robert Askins would be sent to St. Elizabeth's Hospital shortly thereafter, until he was mentally fit enough to stand trial. [18] As with other victims, her shoes were missing, but no signs of sexual assault were found although traces of semen (assumed to be from the boyfriend) were found. 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. One of the issues I haven't really touched on so far is the topic of race. Part of me was just killed. He was able to get close to his victims, and then overpower them. [22] [23] Authorities later determined that Barnes was not a victim of the Freeway Phantom and resumed their investigation on the murders. This was also supported by the contents of her stomach, which included some kind of citrus fruit. Logical investigation and intimate knowledge of the modus operandi of the Green Vega Gang brought them to the forefront. Approximately six hours later, a police officer discovered her body, which had been stabbed multiple times and strangled, in a grassy area near Prince George's County Hospital, along an access ramp to Route 202 from the BaltimoreWashington Parkway. Shortly after leaving the store, another kid from the neighborhood saw her walking back home, with a bag of groceries in her hands. Romaine Jenkins, the retired homicide detective that I detailed in this episode's introduction, has maintained a lifelong obsession with the case. In another striking similarity to the other crimes, green fibers would be found on her clothing. It was believed that these had come from a vehicle or a carpet/rug of some kind, but would provide police a very minuscule lead as the investigation began to stretch out over several weeks. Read More: Are Green Vega Rapists Freeway Phantom? They were charged with Angelas murder and were held by Washington, D.C. police in Charles County jail in Maryland. [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. During this search, they began looking for those that knew the victim, and were able to quickly link this case to the missing 13-year old that had disappeared less than a week beforehand. In addition to this . Tom Sullivan in Ohio. After that announcement, the inmate who provided the information declined any further interviews, and denied that he had ever provided any information. This hints at some kind of urgency, such as the killer being rushed. In addition, Darlenia Johnson - just like Carol Spinks - had been found in the clothes she was wearing when she went missing, but was missing her shoes. No physical evidence was obtained and Askins was not charged in connection with the Freeway Phantom killings. Hours after the body had been discovered, when police had roped off the scene, she would unknowingly stumble upon the commotion. [22] Members of this gang were collectively responsible for numerous Washington D.C. and surrounding Maryland vicinity rapes and abductions that occurred near the Washington Beltway. Prosecutors at the time said there was no evidence linking the pair to the other slayings. After that announcement, the inmate who provided the information declined any further interviews, and denied that he had ever provided the information. Vicksburg. They were a small gang that had operated in the region around Washington D.C. - primarily along the Washington Beltway, but extending out into Maryland. Like the first four victims, Woodard had been strangled but it appeared that her end had been a much more violent one. 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. Just one of eight children, Carol had an identical twin sister named Carolyn. Remember, the note from Brenda Woodard's coat pocket had read: "This is tantamount to insensititivity [sic] to people especially women. Brenda then told her younger sister that she was in Virginia, before the call came to an abrupt end. The inmate being interviewed stipulated that he would provide the information only if he could remain unidentified, which was agreed upon. The other victims had had their shoes taken from them. I will Admit the others All the nation's press and media, when reporting upon the story, began referring to the killer as such. Bertha recalls her sister crying on the other end of the phone, and sounding somewhat distracted. "The only way the case could probably be solved at this stage is if the person would confess, because we have no witnesses," Jenkins said. She was especially absorbed with the picture of a thin brown girl with a big Afro and big brown eyes. While there, he broke free of his restraints and assaulted three orderlies with a chair before being subdued. Not only did Askins seem to commit a similar crime in the vicinity of the abductions, but he lived and worked in the region. The investigations resulted in 53 individual charges of selling heroin, and 43 individual charges of selling crack cocaine, among other charges. The American Jack the Ripper later became known simply as the Atlanta Ripper. During their correspondence, Askins continued to deny having any part in the Freeway Phantom murders, stating that he did not have: " the depravity of mind required to commit any of the crimes.". 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). Were they the Phantom Freeway killer? Still, she believes the greatest hope lies in keeping the memory of the slain girls alive. Investigators hypothesized that the killer left her shoes because her name was inscribed on the pair. 4 distinct works. 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. Their resignation came following an incident after their guns went missing after Tommie, 26, claimed they were burglarized from his Temple Hills home in Maryland. Name Heavy footsteps were heard in the background and Crockett said "I'll see you" and hung up. She recalls her mother's devastating sobbing, and the gloom that fell upon the entire neighborhood. insensititivity [sic] to people He would receive a life sentence, and ended up spending several decades inside a penitentiary. His information seemed legitimate, albeit somewhat scattered, and investigators took his words seriously. Investigators believed this suggested some kind of connection, so they continued to look into this lead. "My family was separated and weakened by that loss," said Crockett, who will attend today's service. Span of crimes In 1983, Harper and Helen B. Collins wrote and published a book called "The Mystery of the Freeway Phantom," which details the killings. She had been sexually assaulted and strangled, her body dumped about 200 yards south of the Suitland Parkway near Interstate 295. FRee-wAy PhanTom[13], Based on handwriting samples, authorities surmised that the note, written on paper cut from the victim's school notebook, had been dictated to and handwritten by Woodard. [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. Or purchase a subscription for unlimited access to real news you can count on. 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. Now-retired, Musgrove was willing to speak to the Washington Post in 2006, in which he decried the way the victims had been treated in the years since: "Those black girls didn't mean anything to anybody - I'm talking about on the police department. Where Are They Now? Like any kid would, she answered it only to hear her sister on the other end of the line. It was a word that had been used in his prior legal paperwork, during his murder trial from the 1950's and subsequent release, but had also been included in the Freeway Phantom's note. Carol obliged, and accepted the five dollars from her older sister. She reluctantly agreed, only to discover that the the man had no intentions of taking her to her destination. It alleged that the Green Vega's - all of whom had been locked up for crimes of sexual violence - were responsible for more than 100 rapes in the region. However, later that night, an employee of Safeway would state that they found those same items outside of the store, scattered along the street. I have not read anything that indicates she made it to the store, so I can just assume that on her way to Safeway, Brenda was abducted. It had housed everyone from psychotic killers to returning Vietnam veterans suffering from undiagnosed PTSD. how many inches of rain did lincoln nebraska get; jojo script in japanese; 21 day weather forecast lanzarote puerto del carmen; 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 The most notable thing about the discovery was that the body was dressed except for the missing shoes. 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. Most unusually, investigators would discover that Askins loved to use the word "tantamount." 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. We know that Carol made it to the store - a 7-Eleven along Wheeler Road - because a clerk working that evening later told police that they sold the girl some items - TV dinners, bread, and some soda - before watching her leave. Former Washington police officers, Edward Sullivan and Tommie Simmons, were convicted of murdering Angela Denise Barnes, age 14. Now, she continues to ponder over the case, which still haunts her. 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. Bryant, of Maryland, was the only victim not from the District. meadowbrook country club estates; michael mullen obituary; pamela gluckin obituary new york; antonio tonyboy floirendo jr biography He didn't want to be left in the dust, but agreed to speak to investigators only if they kept his name out of it. There were a number of noticeable differences that set it apart. Brenda was still wearing her black boots, which stood in direct contrast to the first few victims. Many theorize that the Maryland State Police have since lost the evidence, but are unwilling to admit it providing an already-aggravating story the most unfortunate ending possible. As he later recalled: "I shined my flashlights into her eyes to see if there was life. However, following the murder of Brenda Woodard, the so-called "Freeway Phantom" would disappear for close to an entire year. Coroners would later note that the strangulation was excessive, with the girl's esophagus having been broken. He graduated from Harvard College in 1874, and was a pupil of Lefebvre and Boulanger in Paris, where he took a gold medal. 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. The local newspaper "The Evening Star" hoped to inspire tips with a reward, announcing $5,000 for anyone that provided information which led to an arrest. 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. It was just about half-a-mile away from home across the state border, in Maryland's Prince George's County (also known as "PG County" to locals). 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. 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. These were the type of cases that her male colleagues tried to avoid. Support Center. 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. The killer may have military experience due to the skill displayed during the abductions and the lack of evidence at the crime scenes. During his trial, it was revealed that he'd been a police informant, aiding law enforcement in the arrests of prostitutes. 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? 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. One such suspect was the rookie police officers duo Edward Sullivan and Tommie Simmons. The most notable case, which police had originally attributed to the Phantom, was the murder of 14-year old Angela Barnes. The case was investigating primarily by the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia - more commonly abbreviated as the MPDC. He died in April of 2010, at the ripe old age of 91, outliving his 1938 murder victim by close to a century. It's even possible to imply that Brenda's last words in the phone call - the reflexive "I'll see you" comment - were indicative of her being close to home. For close to six months - stretching from April to November - the Freeway Phantom had struck almost regularly. Carol Denise Spinks body was discovered by the authorities six days later from the day she was reported missing on April 25, 1971. She, however, had been 18 years old, and likely much more aware of what was happening to her. The police solved Angelas killing after they arrested two individuals named Edward Leon Sullivan and Tommie Bernard Simmons. Now, on the other side of town, another child found themselves walking along the side of the road as evening approached. Before her death, it appeared that the victim had been brutalized, having been hit in the face more than once. 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. The abductions and the potential involvement of the phone, and denied that 'd! Stomach, which stood in direct contrast to the other end of the line the face than. 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