Who Killed...?

Colonial Parkway Murders: Cathy Thomas


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Some important facts to know about the Colonial Parkway if you have never had the pleasure of driving it yourself or experiencing it on a class trip.

According to the National Park Service https://www.nps.gov/colo/parkway.htm

  • The Colonial Parkway is a twenty-three mile scenic roadway stretching from the York River at Yorktown to the James River at Jamestown. 
  • The road does it best to remind drivers of days past as the parkway does not allow semi trucks and is toll-free.
  • As you meander though the parkway you are graced with beautiful views of the James and York rivers that run along the parkway.
  • According to Triple A "redbuds and dogwoods decorate the roadway in spring, while fall brings an explosion of autumn colors”
  • From an article in the Daily Press in 1990, the parkway is no place to be after dark ”At night, the mood changes. The trees form a tunnel of blackness, broken only if the moon is shining. There are no streetlights, no call boxes and no fast-food restaurants or convenience stores where a driver might find refuge in case of a breakdown”.
  • The parkway is under the rangers' jurisdiction because it is federal land owned by the National Park Service
  • When a serious crime is committed, the York County Sheriff's Department, the Williamsburg or James City police departments are called to assist, Neprash said. 
  • The parkway is federal land, the FBI may also become involved in investigations.
  • Crimemuseum.org says, "police have questioned 150 suspects in connection to these four cases, but all have been cleared. 
  • The police attribute these eight murders to the same killer because of similarities in each case. 
  • All of the victims were killed at or near their car, the first three being found at known lover’s lane areas. 
  • None of the victims were robbed, and sexual assault did not appear to be a motive in any of the cases. 
  • The first and third murders were mere miles apart, and the second and fourth were committed about a half hour away from the Parkway.
  • In 2018, the Facebook page Colonial Parkway Murders, which is run by Cathy’s brother Bill Thomas, and today's guest revealed that DNA had been found at 3 of the 4 crime scenes which could potentially conclusively link the cases and lead to an arrest. Hair that had been found in Cathy’s hand and a biological sample found on Robin have never been tested
  • The First couple to fall victim Cathy Thomas and Rebecca Dowski
  •  Cathleen Thomas, 27, Class of 1981 graduate United States Naval Academy and College of William & Mary senior Rebecca Ann Dowski, 21. On October 12, 1986, Columbus Day weekend, their bodies were found inside Thomas' white 1980 Honda Civic at the Cheatham Annex Overlook 

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