Yes!...I would've pooped my pants, too! LOL!😂 All the while thinking, as I'm filming, that I'm going to be filming my own demise! And I hope a clear shot of the killer is captured! So I'd end up solving my own murder!😂
The night/day transition with continuous audio WAS SO UNIQUE! I’ve never seen vids quite as interesting and fresh as this. Keep it up man! If its passion u are so good at storytelling
Growing up in Yorktown in the late 90s and early 2000s this case was used as a deterrent to keep kids out of the woods at night. Thank you for going back and discussing this. The memory of the victims deserves respect.
@@billthomas56 So sorry for the loss of your sister. I lived in Yorktown when these murders were happening. I work in Yorktown still. When I was a teen, I loved driving the Colonial Parkway at night by my self just playing the radio. I would drive all the way to Jamestown and then turn around and drive back to Yorktown. This was before the murders and around 1974 and my parents had no idea that I was doing this peaceful long ride. One night, I got pulled by a park ranger for speeding. He didn't give me a ticket after finding out that I just enjoyed driving the parkway. He asked me if I would like to ride with him while he locked the gates to the various picnic areas and that he could show me lots of deer with the spotlight he had on his car. I agreed and I parked my car at the visitor's center and then got in his car. He showed me a bunch of deer as we rode around making sure that there were no cars still in the picnic areas and then he drove me back to my car and I left. Years later when these murders happened, I thought back to that night and couldn't believe that I had done that. I was young and trusting of everyone back then. I have hoped that these terrible crimes would be solved at any time with the advances of DNA technology and get justice for the victims.
Showing their faces and saying their names is so important.. never forget them .. So so sad 😞😥😢😔 Wish they where able to solve these murders to bring some kinda closer...
This case has never been solved, because the Virginia state police would not cooperate with local authorities. There was a York county sheriff deputy, who remained the number 1 “person of interest”. This deputy was repeatedly inserting himself into the investigation and was involved in fraud connected to this case. I live very close and been interested in the case
Seems like a place where a sheriff deputy might sit and wait for speeders and such, also I can’t imagine people getting into such situations unless they had someone like a officer ordering them around
My father -in-law was a special investigator for the VA state police and worked this case. It was the only case he couldn’t solve and it still bothers him to this day. I personally think it’s either a police officer, a retired police officer or a park ranger.
@@melissajohnson1563 sounds like it was the deputy Big Fan was referring to. Wish they investigated and interrogated him, but I guess that’s harder to do since they’re in the force. Terrible
I live in VA, about 2 hours away from the parkway. I remember hearing about these cases growing up, alot of people believed the murderer was some sort of law enforcement. I remember hearing my parents and other adults say that after this happened, they would not pull over for law enforcement until they reached a well lit area with people around.
Might of totally been a cop cause he had this thing of leaving the keys in the car. Also a thing of leaving belongings something a person of habit does. Still eerie case.
Interesting. I also like how you interspersed the crime scenes during the day and during the night. It involves the viewer so much more. Bone-chilling. Like telling ghost stories out by the campfire.
Horrifying stories, and absolutely tragic for the families. The way that you cut the video together, with the day and night sequences interspersed, is incredibly effective at getting the story across
Your work is important...You help to keep the memories of the victims alive,as well as extend the chance that someone watching these videos will one day add info to solving the mystery. Good job.
I remember these. I was a pre-teen/teen when they happened & I lived not far away in Virginia Beach. It’s always been a spooky local mystery to me. Poor families of those victims who’ve never gotten justice.
I lived in ocean view and me and my friends would go up there Friday and Saturday night with a couple cases of beer stay up there all night Long back in the early eighties Not too many people on the Parkway at night
I was a few years younger than you were when they happened, and I lived in Newport News. I lived there for about 27 years, and oddly enough I only really learned about this case a few months ago. I remember hearing rumors and urban legends about it when I was a student at CNU, because two of the victims had been students there, and several of my classmates lived out in Williamsburg, and they had heard about it as they were growing up. But I only started learning the actual facts about the case a few months back.
The Hampton Roads area has a dark aura. I have only felt that similar dark energy in Los Angeles. I grew up in Virginia Beach in the early 90s. I'm glad my parents packed up and moved to small town midwest in 1996. My childhood babysitter was missing for 5 years and they ended up finding her in the woods - possible a suicide. The area is littered with bodies.
@@bobbyplummer4415 I lived in the Ocean View area for a short time also, Bobby. My ex-husband was in the Navy and stationed at NOB. I lived there from 88' to 92' before buying a house in the Old Ocean View area (Westmont Ave, near Northside Middle School). Moved to Northern VA after my divorce in 2000. I do remember hearing a great deal about these murders and was afraid to go anywhere near Colonial Pkwy...day or night!!!! I hope they do find the person(s) responsible for these murders and bring them to justice if they're not dead already... and also maybe, just maybe, they'll get info on where the two teens that have never been found, are located. Closure for these families...bless their hearts!!!!!
Thanks to Chris for making this video and for all of the thoughtful comments. We are still pushing the FBI to move forward with a new round of evidence testing utilizing the latest DNA sequencing technology. Bill Thomas, Brother of Cathy Thomas. Colonial Parkway Murders
This is my home town me and my friends ran the parkway partied all through this place. I guess it's good there were always like 10 of us together. So sad for the families hopefully this will be solved and give these families some peace.
I have watched loads of your videos recently and i have to say what a fine job you do to tell these stories about your country. You always have great sensitivity and respect when telling the stories about the deceased and you dont sensationalize their plight. You have a polite and sincere approach and the interest you show in your subjects is very engaging... well done Brother.
Used to live in the area and took the parkway weekly. Beautiful during the day but at night it’s pitch dark and creepy. Especially on nights when you’re driving and it’s foggy
You have the right voice, the right equipment and the right style for describing and documenting crime sites like this. I really like the channel but I love when you do these kinds of explorations! Thank you!
I completely agree!!!! Chris does this with so much dignity and respect for everyone involved, especially family members!!!! Which is why I'm such a huge fan of his channel!!!!!
This hurts my heart, but you show the area in such a respectful way and are always empathetic for the victims and families. Great job Chris. You should have at minimum double the subscribers on your channel. Thank you. 👊☮️
Very well done, Chris. I've been following this case for years. I agree with your assessment. Staging does point to a serial killer. Cathy & Rebecca were lovers. Keith and Cassandra met each other in a Calculus class at university and were probably not an 'official' couple. You always show a great deal of respect towards a sensitive subject. At the beginning of this video when you spoke of teenagers who wanted to be alone. I smiled. Kudos
I've heard different rumors about this case. I remember seeing some type of news clip or article probably back in the mid 90s. It was a strange article with pictures of what you would call gypsies or circus folk that were traveling up and down the east coast for decades. They were like fair people or carnie folk sort of..but they were always setting up camp along rest stops and park areas. There was pictures of some of these people with bizarre clown makeup on and sort of satanic gear. I've heard these cult type people were responsible for many disappeared people and murders all up and down the coast. Virginia a d Maryland also has a huge satanic occult crowd that spans up all the way to Washington DC. Trust me back in the 70-80s anything could happen at night in these places, zero cameras and cell phones to call for help. If you ended up in the wrong place at night no telling what could happen to you
I remember one night in 1997, following a drive along the Colonial Parkway (this was a relaxation routine I had), my dorm mates told me about these murders. First time I had ever heard about them, even though I had grown up in NoVA and Maryland. These cases have fascinated me ever since.
Chris is really out there risking skin and bone walking through that place at night. I tell ya, there isn't another channel that mixes story telling while "vlogging" in the actual locations so well. Keep it up man, the videos are always great!
Know the area and especially the Colonial Parkway like the back of my hand. Don't know what the traffic was like but dude did some DRIVING to film all of this! 👍👍👍
Killer had a “type”: Female vics had slightly curled, medium-length brunette hair, including one of the pair of girls. Definitely has that “serial” feel to it: Similar vics, almost identical m.o. Great research as always, Chris!
Some people tell good stories, some people draw cool pictures but this guy actually goes where it all happened. He definitely provides that eerie feel.
@@DoctorEnigma01 Sloppy ...??? He's never been identified & his infamous Z340 cypher was only cracked in 2020. There are also 4 encoded letters , only one has been decoded so far. Will agree with the attention seeking bit
When I was stationed in Army back in 1975 to 1978 at Fort Eustis Va. We spent most of our free time on or near the Parkway it is very disconcerting to think just few years later an area we thought Beautyful would one day be places a killer would commit murders.With all the military bases in the nearby area have to wonder if killer was not VeitNam Vet who maybe came home from the war and could not put away his killing skills encouraged by the Military> I do know even back then we were wild ,crazy and maybe a little on the lawless side
True. That is what Dave McGowan's Programmed to Kill says. And then there's operation phoenix brought home to be continued as a domestic program after the war. Basically the citizenry is considered now to be the VC.
But being in the army a vet would have surely driven diesel trucks and known that diesel isn't as flammable as gasoline. Unless a vet was intoxicated or not in his best frame of mind. Sounds more like younger men without much wisdom.
I’ve always had a nagging feeling on this case (Cathy Thomas) due to the extremely close proximity to “The Farm” CIA Camp Peary, where old battle hardened operators train CIA recruits and veteran agents go for more specific training. It’s literally it’s backyard. Add in the fact that Ms Thomas was one of the first females accepted to the Naval Academy and lesbian. This in 1986 was sure to upset the old guard not only on a small scale personal level but a high reaching political level as well. I might add that I live in the area, have visited all the sites and have heard both personal accounts of people telling how recruits from Camp Peary would be sent on recon missions in the surrounding woods and neighborhoods and would actually spy on normal citizens, be tasked with small things like getting the names of residents or taking something personal without getting caught or using “tradecraft” to chat up neighbors to get personal info. What if one or two of them went rogue or what if they were given an actual mission and told to make it point another way?
Do they still have the hair that was found in the girls hand at one of the scenes? Just wondering if they have opened this cold case and tried using some modern forensic analysis to try to get some justice before this pos dies if he hasn't already.
I wasn’t really in the mood to see something with this type of subject matter. But you did it very tastefully. The town I lived in as a teenager during that same time period experienced a teen murder. This video brought back memories. A guy I knew was accused, tried, but acquitted. Crazy times for sure.
I'm Glad to see you and many others are still talking about these murders. I grew up in Virginia and very close to the murder places, Gloucester county. My favorite areas to spend many hours to play, site see, visit and I just really Love it there. I use to work in Williamsburg, Va. & would travel on The Colonial Parkway every day & night to work & back to Gloucester. I definitely remember these murders & wasn't afraid traveling on the Parkway. I would see many deer at night & the scenery during the day is absolutely beautiful and stunning. Well thank you for letting me share & walk down memory lane. Take care & thanks for sharing your experience back in, "MY NECK OF THE WOODS"!!! 😊💞😊
Thank you for the video! I love it when you especially do these true crime ones. I also loved the recent shark one. Your commentary and personality are great for this. I hope you have a great day Chris
The Colonial Parkway is beautiful. My husband and I have traveled this path on our way to Virginia Beach a few times. I had no clue until last year, when I watched this video, that these heinous murders occurred here. Love and light to the victims and their families ❤
There is a navy weapo just up there road when I was stationed there they always said don’t go down to colonial parkway at night. Super sketch place, drive through a lot late at night returning to the base.
I didn't grow up here but I've lived minutes near the parkway for over a decade and I've never heard about any of this. My wife had heard of it all though as she's native to Yorktown. Crazy!
Man your videos are the best. Especially the video about the East coast 1916 string of shark attacks. You describe everything in perfect detail and bring us there. Can't wait to see what's next.
@7 Haunted Days I was under the impression that it wasn't that popular of a place to park . Regardless your comment is uncalled for and impolite. You may have some issues causing you to act this way or possibly youth may be part of it. I'll pray for you to find the help that you need. God Bless
@7 Haunted Days dude you good are you child because you sound like one not everybody Is the same can handle the same shit you sound like a little kid trying to prove themselves “im not scared” headass
If you do a lot of night walking like I, I would HIGHLY reccomend the stream light wedge. Just got one off a tool truck and I'm obsessed. Lights up the whole friggin road
You are so thoughtful for telling their stories, my heart actually hurts for the victims. Thank you for keeping them in the news, this case needs to be solved. RIP to the innocent victims.
We are still pushing the FBI to do do a new round of tests of the evidence using the latest DNA sequencing technology. Bill Thomas, Brother of Cathy Thomas, Colonial Parkway Murders
Having traveled this parkway several times the last year and a half I always considered it merely rich colonial history and full of natural splendor. I will now always see this road from a different perspective. Thank you!
Grew up in Va and in high school in 89, the whole region knew about it and made it even worse by making thrill seeking teens skyrocket visiting and creating even more chances for the killer/s to find victim and get away with it, or most likely there were copycat murders, because of the dump sites
Another great video! Very sad story though. Kind of freaks me out to think back to that time frame, at that same time I was in college in Phoenix, I drove there by myself from Michigan. Things were much safer, people as a whole were safer and more trusting. I think back to situations I was in back then that you’d have to be insane to put yourself into now. So I have to believe it’s difficult for people to really comprehend how these people were caught in such by modern standards very precarious situations, but again things were thought of differently.
Chris I wish you’d have your own Discovery channel! You’re so worth it and such an awesome story teller. I am a big fan of your channels! Thank you for all you do. Be Safe 🙏🏻💙🙏🏻
TV is an insult to good vloggers. Who's still watching TV at all? Isn't that a thing of the past to switch on the propagandists liar and commercial box and look at it?
@@chrise842 I know what you mean but you’re so good you should be getting ample compensation for all your work, travel, accommodations etc. People with much less talent and passion than you dont deserve what you bring to your TH-cam channels!
My wife and I drove through there just the other day. I had no idea about these murders back in the 80's. You are so right about that road...it is literally pitch black when driving down it
I just watched Lamont at Large and immediately subscribed to yours. Love these kind of videos. Might have been cops who did it. I hope whoever did it is still alive and suffering. Loved watching this.
Dude! Next time you go to the scene of an unsolved crime at night, bring a friend for protection! Bring 3 friends! 6 friends! 6 big burly muscular friends with shotguns! One of my favorite TH-cam channels btw!
Its been a while since last visited your channel. Your work here is always impressive, feel some of your videos have the potential to reawaken some of these investigations. It's eerie seeing some of these locations and I'm an urban explorer. keep up the good work.
Dan Bell is a failed moviemaker turned TH-camr. He stages videos to capture more viewers, and often trespasses. One of these days he's going to find himself looking down the barrel of a pissed-off property owner's Smith & Wesson!
@@TheDriveInGuys I've failed at plenty of things in my life, and so have you. I like Dan and his videos. Nobody is perfect, and everything is subjective. He carved out a living doing what he wants to do, which is cool. Not everyone can say that. Looking forward to his next video.
@@deendrew36 True...and Dan's not out killing, raping, stealing or pillaging people (like the scumbag that did this to these poor young people here) to make a living...it's an honest living that Dan's carved out for himself.
Thanks for doing the legwork and driving to each location. I appreciate the day vs. night comparison. This is much more helpful than just relying on Google Maps.
Such a contrast between a beautiful area and those horrific crimes. I hope the victims and their families will one day have justice for these crimes. Thanks for putting this story back out there! 👍
As a Virginian, I've personally traveled the parkway more times than I could ever count, and I never knew about these murders. Thank you for bringing light to this. My condolences to the victims, and their families.
Outstanding research and narration! I love how you filmed it. Going from then-to-now. Naturally, I've never heard of these unsolved murders, so I'm glad you brought them to light. The murderer(s) weren't exactly meticulous, but apparently the scenes weren't in such a state that identifying a person of interest was possible. DNA then and now is different. Maybe investigators could find something now. Especially with the DNA database what it is. That is such a beautiful area! My hope and prayer is that the families get some answers. Even 30 years later is still better than never. OMG, I can't imagine having your daughter sneak out of the house and then get murdered! Not only didn't they know she'd left, but then to find her missing and literally never seeing her again. Tragic! I think the 2 who've never been found are in the woods somewhere. The killer left the other bodies behind. Didn't bury them. Didn't take them. He knew that area well. He probably thought they'd be found where he put them, but they weren't. Sadly. Again, an interesting story and a great job telling it!
Your day/night and photo comparisons are extremely helpful and very unique! Prayers for the victims and their families! You'd think they would test the wad of hair found in Cathleens hand!
My Sister lived in Smithfield, Virginia right around the time of the murders. So when we were visiting her we would drive around on the Colonial Parkway and it was around the 1987 to 1989 era so it was very eerie to here about those young kids some perhaps even close to my age. So sad because it was a nice area we had even stopped there where the first murders occurred in a very beautiful area. And my Sister was telling me and my mom about the killings. Seems kind of funny that they ended as quickly as they began. Either the killer left the area or something had happened to him.
Ohh, you shouldn't of gone there by yourself at night, makes me nervous!!! Love your channel, I love that you put a face to a name, thank you, new sub!
I wonder if there's some significance to the fact that two of the people were never found, I mean if the killer was staging each scene and the bodies were all eventually found, most within miles of the scene, why haven't these two been found yet ? It's odd.
Just found your channel. I love the true crime channels. But this content is great and just different from any other channels. Just seeing the places . Shew it's just so horrible how ppl hurt and kill other ppl. But I love hearing about them. Learning the red flags to look for. And stuff.
Ive lived in over 24 states, been to hundreds of towns and cities. I had the idea of doing what you do but its costly. Im glad someone else decided to do it. right on!
The fact you filmed there at night is amazing, I would have pooped my pants. Your channel is so underrated.
AMEN
Not underrated. Under viewed. We all know how good it is. They will come.
Who rates the channels?
Yes!...I would've pooped my pants, too! LOL!😂 All the while thinking, as I'm filming, that I'm going to be filming my own demise! And I hope a clear shot of the killer is captured! So I'd end up solving my own murder!😂
Yes, very true.
The night/day transition with continuous audio WAS SO UNIQUE! I’ve never seen vids quite as interesting and fresh as this. Keep it up man! If its passion u are so good at storytelling
Growing up in Yorktown in the late 90s and early 2000s this case was used as a deterrent to keep kids out of the woods at night. Thank you for going back and discussing this. The memory of the victims deserves respect.
Thank you so much. Bill Thomas, Brother of Cathy Thomas, Colonial Parkway Murders
@@billthomas56 damn
@@billthomas56 So sorry for the loss of your sister. I lived in Yorktown when these murders were happening. I work in Yorktown still. When I was a teen, I loved driving the Colonial Parkway at night by my self just playing the radio. I would drive all the way to Jamestown and then turn around and drive back to Yorktown. This was before the murders and around 1974 and my parents had no idea that I was doing this peaceful long ride. One night, I got pulled by a park ranger for speeding. He didn't give me a ticket after finding out that I just enjoyed driving the parkway. He asked me if I would like to ride with him while he locked the gates to the various picnic areas and that he could show me lots of deer with the spotlight he had on his car. I agreed and I parked my car at the visitor's center and then got in his car. He showed me a bunch of deer as we rode around making sure that there were no cars still in the picnic areas and then he drove me back to my car and I left. Years later when these murders happened, I thought back to that night and couldn't believe that I had done that. I was young and trusting of everyone back then. I have hoped that these terrible crimes would be solved at any time with the advances of DNA technology and get justice for the victims.
@@billthomas56 it 1977
Showing their faces and saying their names is so important.. never forget them ..
So so sad 😞😥😢😔
Wish they where able to solve these murders to bring some kinda closer...
at the end i said their names out load and asked God to bless them. dear souls
* Closure
Closure!!!
Closhor*
Thank you so much.
Bill Thomas, Brother of Cathy Thomas
Co-Host, Mind Over Murder Podcast
This case has never been solved, because the Virginia state police would not cooperate with local authorities. There was a York county sheriff deputy, who remained the number 1 “person of interest”. This deputy was repeatedly inserting himself into the investigation and was involved in fraud connected to this case. I live very close and been interested in the case
A cop immediately sprang to mind because it sounds like some of these people were being stopped.
Seems like a place where a sheriff deputy might sit and wait for speeders and such, also I can’t imagine people getting into such situations unless they had someone like a officer ordering them around
I think you're on to something.
My father -in-law was a special investigator for the VA state police and worked this case. It was the only case he couldn’t solve and it still bothers him to this day.
I personally think it’s either a police officer, a retired police officer or a park ranger.
@@melissajohnson1563 sounds like it was the deputy Big Fan was referring to. Wish they investigated and interrogated him, but I guess that’s harder to do since they’re in the force. Terrible
I live in VA, about 2 hours away from the parkway. I remember hearing about these cases growing up, alot of people believed the murderer was some sort of law enforcement. I remember hearing my parents and other adults say that after this happened, they would not pull over for law enforcement until they reached a well lit area with people around.
Still good advice.
Yes never trust law enforcement they r worse than the criminals they claim to hunt
Operation Phoenix
Might of totally been a cop cause he had this thing of leaving the keys in the car. Also a thing of leaving belongings something a person of habit does. Still eerie case.
Definitely makes sense of it being a cop.
Interesting. I also like how you interspersed the crime scenes during the day and during the night. It involves the viewer so much more. Bone-chilling. Like telling ghost stories out by the campfire.
Horrifying stories, and absolutely tragic for the families. The way that you cut the video together, with the day and night sequences interspersed, is incredibly effective at getting the story across
Your work is important...You help to keep the memories of the victims alive,as well as extend the chance that someone watching these videos will one day add info to solving the mystery. Good job.
Very sad stories.
Thank you for honouring the victims.
Your research, location scouting and editing day to night was awesome.
Take care out there
I remember these. I was a pre-teen/teen when they happened & I lived not far away in Virginia Beach. It’s always been a spooky local mystery to me. Poor families of those victims who’ve never gotten justice.
Born and raised in Virginia beach myself. I was too young to remember these but I remember older people talking about it as I got older.
I lived in ocean view and me and my friends would go up there Friday and Saturday night with a couple cases of beer stay up there all night Long back in the early eighties Not too many people on the Parkway at night
I was a few years younger than you were when they happened, and I lived in Newport News. I lived there for about 27 years, and oddly enough I only really learned about this case a few months ago.
I remember hearing rumors and urban legends about it when I was a student at CNU, because two of the victims had been students there, and several of my classmates lived out in Williamsburg, and they had heard about it as they were growing up. But I only started learning the actual facts about the case a few months back.
The Hampton Roads area has a dark aura. I have only felt that similar dark energy in Los Angeles. I grew up in Virginia Beach in the early 90s. I'm glad my parents packed up and moved to small town midwest in 1996. My childhood babysitter was missing for 5 years and they ended up finding her in the woods - possible a suicide. The area is littered with bodies.
@@bobbyplummer4415 I lived in the Ocean View area for a short time also, Bobby. My ex-husband was in the Navy and stationed at NOB. I lived there from 88' to 92' before buying a house in the Old Ocean View area (Westmont Ave, near Northside Middle School). Moved to Northern VA after my divorce in 2000. I do remember hearing a great deal about these murders and was afraid to go anywhere near Colonial Pkwy...day or night!!!! I hope they do find the person(s) responsible for these murders and bring them to justice if they're not dead already... and also maybe, just maybe, they'll get info on where the two teens that have never been found, are located. Closure for these families...bless their hearts!!!!!
Thanks to Chris for making this video and for all of the thoughtful comments.
We are still pushing the FBI to move forward with a new round of evidence testing utilizing the latest DNA sequencing technology.
Bill Thomas, Brother of Cathy Thomas. Colonial Parkway Murders
Sorry for your lost brother.
Sorry for your loss. I hope justice is served!
@@seanthepope9289 Thank you so much. We keep moving forward.
Bill Thomas, Brother of Cathy Thomas. Colonial Parkway Murders
I am sorry for loss!! I hope your sister and his girlfriend have peace and justice!!!
@@angeldaniel7360 Thanks so much. Bill Thomas
Very tragic but interesting. I’m glad you covered this!
Absolutely creepy at night. Thanks for providing both day and night time shots. Stay safe out there bro
This is my home town me and my friends ran the parkway partied all through this place. I guess it's good there were always like 10 of us together. So sad for the families hopefully this will be solved and give these families some peace.
Thanks. Bill Thomas, Brother of Cathy Thomas, Colonial Parkway Murders
WHY HAVEN'T THEY USED THE HAIR SAMPLE TO ACQUIRE THE DNA? There is a video here that's says they can extract the DNA from Hair that's 250 years old.
They might have. They recently found the killer, though it was after he had died.
I have watched loads of your videos recently and i have to say what a fine job you do to tell these stories about your country. You always have great sensitivity and respect when telling the stories about the deceased and you dont sensationalize their plight. You have a polite and sincere approach and the interest you show in your subjects is very engaging... well done Brother.
Used to live in the area and took the parkway weekly. Beautiful during the day but at night it’s pitch dark and creepy. Especially on nights when you’re driving and it’s foggy
You have the right voice, the right equipment and the right style for describing and documenting crime sites like this. I really like the channel but I love when you do these kinds of explorations! Thank you!
I agree these are so awesome and very well done. Started on one and can't get enough now.
I completely agree!!!! Chris does this with so much dignity and respect for everyone involved, especially family members!!!! Which is why I'm such a huge fan of his channel!!!!!
These stories are absolutely heartbreaking.
Thank you so much.
Bill Thomas, Brother of Cathy Thomas, Colonial Parkway Murders
@@billthomas56 sorry for your loss brother.🙏🏽❤
@@billthomas56So sorry for your loss my friend.
This hurts my heart, but you show the area in such a respectful way and are always empathetic for the victims and families. Great job Chris. You should have at minimum double the subscribers on your channel. Thank you. 👊☮️
Very well done, Chris. I've been following this case for years. I agree with your assessment. Staging does point to a serial killer.
Cathy & Rebecca were lovers. Keith and Cassandra met each other in a Calculus class at university and were probably not an 'official' couple.
You always show a great deal of respect towards a sensitive subject. At the beginning of this video when you spoke of teenagers who wanted to be alone. I smiled.
Kudos
Damn you went to a super seedy place & murder site alone at night? Id shit myself
I wouldn't even go there alone at night whatsoever and to be honest... probably not during the day either. That's how much of a wuss i am. 😅
Yeah I'm gonna have to pass 😂
I've heard different rumors about this case. I remember seeing some type of news clip or article probably back in the mid 90s. It was a strange article with pictures of what you would call gypsies or circus folk that were traveling up and down the east coast for decades. They were like fair people or carnie folk sort of..but they were always setting up camp along rest stops and park areas. There was pictures of some of these people with bizarre clown makeup on and sort of satanic gear. I've heard these cult type people were responsible for many disappeared people and murders all up and down the coast. Virginia a d Maryland also has a huge satanic occult crowd that spans up all the way to Washington DC. Trust me back in the 70-80s anything could happen at night in these places, zero cameras and cell phones to call for help. If you ended up in the wrong place at night no telling what could happen to you
@@nocturnalme3549 how interesting!
That's one way to keep them away from you.
Thank you for taking your time to visit these sites✨ it’s so important that these kids aren’t forgotten.
I remember one night in 1997, following a drive along the Colonial Parkway (this was a relaxation routine I had), my dorm mates told me about these murders. First time I had ever heard about them, even though I had grown up in NoVA and Maryland. These cases have fascinated me ever since.
Chris is really out there risking skin and bone walking through that place at night. I tell ya, there isn't another channel that mixes story telling while "vlogging" in the actual locations so well. Keep it up man, the videos are always great!
Be careful out their on your own I look no by you doing this could jog someone memory you never know
He's not alone,he's got someone filming.
Actually you should look up Manny Grossman here walking all the son of Sam original places together with contemporaries these days in NY.
@@jimmyonus5478 camera stick?
History underground does battlefields in the same way. Check him out
It's great to see someone putting these types of videos out to remember the dead and the lost souls. Good job! Thank you.
The way you film and talk body language and so make at least me to get really into a “ watching video trance “ just like I’m there 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻🙏🙏🙏👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Know the area and especially the Colonial Parkway like the back of my hand. Don't know what the traffic was like but dude did some DRIVING to film all of this! 👍👍👍
can you account for your whereabouts on the nights of the murders?
@@Marcel_Audubon No response hmmmm
Hope your channel gets big. It’s one of my favorites.
Killer had a “type”: Female vics had slightly curled, medium-length brunette hair, including one of the pair of girls. Definitely has that “serial” feel to it: Similar vics, almost identical m.o. Great research as always, Chris!
Some people tell good stories, some people draw cool pictures but this guy actually goes where it all happened. He definitely provides that eerie feel.
When you mentioned couples being murdered, it reminded me of the zodiac killer in California!!
Me too, but the zodiac was way more sloppy and attention seeking
@@DoctorEnigma01
Sloppy ...???
He's never been identified & his infamous Z340 cypher was only cracked in 2020. There are also 4 encoded letters , only one has been decoded so far.
Will agree with the attention seeking bit
Pretty sure this crosses most peoples mind , the time frame is possible tho highly unlikely as someone else said he was an attention craver
When I was stationed in Army back in 1975 to 1978 at Fort Eustis Va. We spent most of our free time on or near the Parkway it is very disconcerting to think just few years later an area we thought Beautyful would one day be places a killer would commit murders.With all the military bases in the nearby area have to wonder if killer was not VeitNam Vet who maybe came home from the war and could not put away his killing skills encouraged by the Military> I do know even back then we were wild ,crazy and maybe a little on the lawless side
True. That is what Dave McGowan's Programmed to Kill says.
And then there's operation phoenix brought home to be continued as a domestic program after the war.
Basically the citizenry is considered now to be the VC.
But being in the army a vet would have surely driven diesel trucks and known that diesel isn't as flammable as gasoline. Unless a vet was intoxicated or not in his best frame of mind. Sounds more like younger men without much wisdom.
I’ve always had a nagging feeling on this case (Cathy Thomas) due to the extremely close proximity to “The Farm” CIA Camp Peary, where old battle hardened operators train CIA recruits and veteran agents go for more specific training. It’s literally it’s backyard. Add in the fact that Ms Thomas was one of the first females accepted to the Naval Academy and lesbian. This in 1986 was sure to upset the old guard not only on a small scale personal level but a high reaching political level as well.
I might add that I live in the area, have visited all the sites and have heard both personal accounts of people telling how recruits from Camp Peary would be sent on recon missions in the surrounding woods and neighborhoods and would actually spy on normal citizens, be tasked with small things like getting the names of residents or taking something personal without getting caught or using “tradecraft” to chat up neighbors to get personal info. What if one or two of them went rogue or what if they were given an actual mission and told to make it point another way?
Actually they have a suspect they think killed the victims was a Vietnam vet that person also killed his whole family as well in the 1990s I herd
Do they still have the hair that was found in the girls hand at one of the scenes? Just wondering if they have opened this cold case and tried using some modern forensic analysis to try to get some justice before this pos dies if he hasn't already.
Exactly what I thought. Hair in the 21st century would almost be as good as a fingerprint.
@@xr6lad my thought exactly lol
If they have the hair. They need to check all the first responders in the area at that time. Especially retired fire department.
@@out_running_erins9118 Why?
That would only work if they already had that DNA in the system, but it is still worth a try you get lucky once in a while.
Amazing how you investigated these cases with such thoroughness and empathy for the victims.
Your presentations are always the best! I'm often afraid watching them...I could never go out there at night. Bravo for such a fascinating channel!
Your approach to these horrible murders is so sincere. A respectful and caring attitude toward the victims. Thank-You🔆
I wasn’t really in the mood to see something with this type of subject matter. But you did it very tastefully. The town I lived in as a teenager during that same time period experienced a teen murder. This video brought back memories. A guy I knew was accused, tried, but acquitted. Crazy times for sure.
I'm Glad to see you and many others are still talking about these murders.
I grew up in Virginia and very close to the murder places, Gloucester county.
My favorite areas to spend many hours to play, site see, visit and I just really Love it there.
I use to work in Williamsburg, Va. & would travel on The Colonial Parkway every day & night to work & back to Gloucester.
I definitely remember these murders & wasn't afraid traveling on the Parkway.
I would see many deer at night & the scenery during the day is absolutely beautiful and stunning.
Well thank you for letting me share & walk down memory lane.
Take care & thanks for sharing your experience back in,
"MY NECK OF THE WOODS"!!! 😊💞😊
Thank you for the video! I love it when you especially do these true crime ones. I also loved the recent shark one. Your commentary and personality are great for this. I hope you have a great day Chris
The Colonial Parkway is beautiful. My husband and I have traveled this path on our way to Virginia Beach a few times. I had no clue until last year, when I watched this video, that these heinous murders occurred here. Love and light to the victims and their families ❤
There is a navy weapo just up there road when I was stationed there they always said don’t go down to colonial parkway at night. Super sketch place, drive through a lot late at night returning to the base.
I'm glad for channels like yours that help to keep long ago victims and their cases remembered and hopefully these devastating murders will be solved.
I didn't grow up here but I've lived minutes near the parkway for over a decade and I've never heard about any of this. My wife had heard of it all though as she's native to Yorktown. Crazy!
Man your videos are the best. Especially the video about the East coast 1916 string of shark attacks. You describe everything in perfect detail and bring us there. Can't wait to see what's next.
Hi Chris, such a tragedy as they were all young and yet to live their lives. Thank you for sharing, much love. xx 💖
I probably would have left when I saw the car parked at the same spot the truck was!
How ironic would that be if the killer was reliving his sick ways WOW. He should have got the license plate numbers. God Bless
@7 Haunted Days I was under the impression that it wasn't that popular of a place to park . Regardless your comment is uncalled for and impolite.
You may have some issues causing you to act this way or possibly youth may be part of it. I'll pray for you to find the help that you need. God Bless
@7 Haunted Days calm down man
@7 Haunted Days dude you good are you child because you sound like one not everybody Is the same can handle the same shit you sound like a little kid trying to prove themselves “im not scared” headass
@@RoyJenkins777 😂
If you do a lot of night walking like I, I would HIGHLY reccomend the stream light wedge. Just got one off a tool truck and I'm obsessed. Lights up the whole friggin road
Great job ! I have never heard about this story. Sad !
Thanks for covering these cases, even if they are decades old. There's still hope that someone might have more information.
You are so thoughtful for telling their stories, my heart actually hurts for the victims. Thank you for keeping them in the news, this case needs to be solved. RIP to the innocent victims.
Well, if they have a clump of hair from the killer, they need to do the Familiar DNA on it and catch the bastard.
They may not have viable DNA to test.
The killer could be dead. I bet it was Henry Lucas and otis
We are still pushing the FBI to do do a new round of tests of the evidence using the latest DNA sequencing technology.
Bill Thomas, Brother of Cathy Thomas, Colonial Parkway Murders
@@billthomas56update
Having traveled this parkway several times the last year and a half I always considered it merely rich colonial history and full of natural splendor. I will now always see this road from a different perspective. Thank you!
This is one of you’re best! Coming back at night is a great touch
finally been waiting 2 weeks for another video
"Austin 3:16 just said I whipped your ass!" - Stone Cold King of the Ring 1996.
Love your channel. Great video as always!
You show us the most interesting places and do your research so we can hear the story to them as well. Love your channel.
Oh yeah. I remember those. It made news even up here in Northern VA
It was on air every were
@@tammybrown4901 I am sure it was. I was just a late snot nosed teenager when it happened but I remember it catching my attention very quickly
Nice piece…my nerves were shot during the night time footage…very informative…
Grew up in Va and in high school in 89, the whole region knew about it and made it even worse by making thrill seeking teens skyrocket visiting and creating even more chances for the killer/s to find victim and get away with it, or most likely there were copycat murders, because of the dump sites
Best channel of TH-cam period. How you don’t have more subscribers is beyond me. Great content as always
I love the video where you visit old crime scenes.
Another great video! Very sad story though. Kind of freaks me out to think back to that time frame, at that same time I was in college in Phoenix, I drove there by myself from Michigan. Things were much safer, people as a whole were safer and more trusting. I think back to situations I was in back then that you’d have to be insane to put yourself into now. So I have to believe it’s difficult for people to really comprehend how these people were caught in such by modern standards very precarious situations, but again things were thought of differently.
Chris I wish you’d have your own Discovery channel! You’re so worth it and such an awesome story teller. I am a big fan of your channels! Thank you for all you do. Be Safe 🙏🏻💙🙏🏻
TV is an insult to good vloggers.
Who's still watching TV at all?
Isn't that a thing of the past to switch on the propagandists liar and commercial box and look at it?
@@chrise842 I know what you mean but you’re so good you should be getting ample compensation for all your work, travel, accommodations etc. People with much less talent and passion than you dont deserve what you bring to your TH-cam channels!
@@ernestj3081 Hahaha! I'm a different Chris
My wife and I drove through there just the other day. I had no idea about these murders back in the 80's. You are so right about that road...it is literally pitch black when driving down it
The Horror That The Poor Victims Went Through God Bless Them All RIP
Thanks so much.
Bill Thomas, Brother of Cathy Thomas, Colonial Parkway Murders
sorry for your loss. I hope that you get justice in this life. If not, know for sure God will meet out perfect justice.
Absolutely love your videos brother! Revamping little pieces of history that have long since been forgotten. Love seeing it keep up the great work!
About time! I get so excited when you and the others come out with new stories. Such a great job!
WOW! We've been in the area visiting Colonial Williamsburg/Busch Gardens several times over the years but had no idea this macabre history.
I just watched Lamont at Large and immediately subscribed to yours. Love these kind of videos. Might have been cops who did it. I hope whoever did it is still alive and suffering. Loved watching this.
Just because of the area, it always made me think the killer was a serviceman and likely was transferred and continued killing at his new station.
The other theory I hear often is that it was a cop or park ranger.
a maytag serviceman! i knew it.
I thought a hunter maybe
@@brandons2351 a hunter of ...people
@@rodonis88 facts i bet it could have been a cop, probably pulled all of them over then killed them
Dude! Next time you go to the scene of an unsolved crime at night, bring a friend for protection! Bring 3 friends! 6 friends! 6 big burly muscular friends with shotguns! One of my favorite TH-cam channels btw!
And bring a gun.
I agree!
@@doolisrae b
@@doolisrae who are you
@@doolisrae sorry I pushed the wrong button & 5hought you were messaging me. I am ßo sorry
New title for the summer trip " Revising unsolved murders that made the location famous."
I remember this from unsolved mysteries and America’s most wanted , scary though when our family went that way for family vacations
Its been a while since last visited your channel. Your work here is always impressive, feel some of your videos have the potential to reawaken some of these investigations. It's eerie seeing some of these locations and I'm an urban explorer. keep up the good work.
Props for filming the area at night haha. Dan Bell method :D
Dan Bell is a failed moviemaker turned TH-camr. He stages videos to capture more viewers, and often trespasses. One of these days he's going to find himself looking down the barrel of a pissed-off property owner's Smith & Wesson!
@@TheDriveInGuys I've failed at plenty of things in my life, and so have you. I like Dan and his videos. Nobody is perfect, and everything is subjective. He carved out a living doing what he wants to do, which is cool. Not everyone can say that. Looking forward to his next video.
@@TheDriveInGuys All the big youtube explorers trespass.
@@TheDriveInGuys I love Dan Bell’s vids! He is making a living doing something fun that he loves. Making his own living! I admire that!
@@deendrew36 True...and Dan's not out killing, raping, stealing or pillaging people (like the scumbag that did this to these poor young people here) to make a living...it's an honest living that Dan's carved out for himself.
Well done video and a sad one too.
Excellent narrative and facts. Actual authentic sites of crime. Please, do cover more unsolved crimes. Excellent performance bro...
Thanks for doing the legwork and driving to each location. I appreciate the day vs. night comparison. This is much more helpful than just relying on Google Maps.
It's so sad, I'm glad she fought back.
Such a contrast between a beautiful area and those horrific crimes.
I hope the victims and their families will one day have justice for these crimes. Thanks for putting this story back out there! 👍
There's intent behind that. Look up operation phoenix.
I hope you carry some protection when you explore, day or night. You go into some sketchy places. Stay safe bro.
As a Virginian, I've personally traveled the parkway more times than I could ever count, and I never knew about these murders. Thank you for bringing light to this. My condolences to the victims, and their families.
I'm hooked on these videos. You need a podcast so I can listen while I work.
You are a good man Chris!
I may had commented as I watched this originally, but it bears repeating.
Outstanding research and narration! I love how you filmed it. Going from then-to-now. Naturally, I've never heard of these unsolved murders, so I'm glad you brought them to light.
The murderer(s) weren't exactly meticulous, but apparently the scenes weren't in such a state that identifying a person of interest was possible. DNA then and now is different. Maybe investigators could find something now. Especially with the DNA database what it is.
That is such a beautiful area! My hope and prayer is that the families get some answers. Even 30 years later is still better than never. OMG, I can't imagine having your daughter sneak out of the house and then get murdered! Not only didn't they know she'd left, but then to find her missing and literally never seeing her again. Tragic!
I think the 2 who've never been found are in the woods somewhere. The killer left the other bodies behind. Didn't bury them. Didn't take them. He knew that area well. He probably thought they'd be found where he put them, but they weren't. Sadly.
Again, an interesting story and a great job telling it!
I like you doing these crime videos because it can bring new light into the cases!
You and Dan Bell would be an amazing duo. Very different styles, so I’d love to see you two work together.
Your day/night and photo comparisons are extremely helpful and very unique!
Prayers for the victims and their families! You'd think they would test the wad of hair found in Cathleens hand!
really enjoying watching your videos. keep up the hard work! if you havent done so, son of sam or nightstalker video next?
SOS would be good. He could walk along the old Croton Aquaduct for Berkowitz apt. & the dog Sam's house up to Untemeyers Park.
Drove the Colonial Parkway back in March of this year. Didn’t know these murders took place. Sad stories, but thanks for doing the video.
My Sister lived in Smithfield, Virginia right around the time of the murders. So when we were visiting her we would drive around on the Colonial Parkway and it was around the 1987 to 1989 era so it was very eerie to here about those young kids some perhaps even close to my age. So sad because it was a nice area we had even stopped there where the first murders occurred in a very beautiful area. And my Sister was telling me and my mom about the killings. Seems kind of funny that they ended as quickly as they began. Either the killer left the area or something had happened to him.
Used to drive it on a moonlit night with my headlights off. Great fun! This was late 1970's, before these murders.
Ohh, you shouldn't of gone there by yourself at night, makes me nervous!!! Love your channel, I love that you put a face to a name, thank you, new sub!
It’s really cool to see someone cover this i drive down that parkway everyday for work
I wonder if there's some significance to the fact that two of the people were never found, I mean if the killer was staging each scene and the bodies were all eventually found, most within miles of the scene, why haven't these two been found yet ? It's odd.
I had forgotten about these murders! Scary thing! Especially when the bodies were never found!!!! Thanks for what you do! Such interesting videos! Pat
Just found your channel. I love the true crime channels. But this content is great and just different from any other channels. Just seeing the places . Shew it's just so horrible how ppl hurt and kill other ppl. But I love hearing about them. Learning the red flags to look for. And stuff.
Ive lived in over 24 states, been to hundreds of towns and cities. I had the idea of doing what you do but its costly. Im glad someone else decided to do it. right on!