Remember the chilling incident of the Texarkana moonlight murders? For those uninitiated, the name itself sounds like the title of a creepy true crime book or documentary.
The haunting episode encapsulates a series of unsolved crimes that occurred in 1946, attributed to a mysterious ‘phantom killer’.
The incident that shook the senses of people remains one of the most frightening and mysterious unsolved crime frenzies in American history. A masked murderer terrorized the twin cities of Texarkana, Texas, and Texarkana, Arkansas, between February and May of 1946.
The cold-blooded killer, who was known for attacking young couples parked in secluded lover’s lanes, carved a path of horror and death. Despite exhaustive efforts and numerous theories, the case remained unsolved, haunting the region for decades.
Who were the victims?
Jimmy Hollis and Mary Jeanne Larey were first attacked on February 22, 1946.
Lucky survivors were Jimmy Hollis (25) and Mary Jeanne Larey (19)
How did the phantom killer commit the murders?
Brutalities unleashed at Lovers’ Lanes
- The attacker made the first three attacks on young couples parked in secluded areas at night.
- The killer ambushed victims in dark and isolated locations.
The attacker wore a white mask
- Those who survived said he was wearing a white cloth mask, possibly looking like a pillowcase with eyeholes cut out.
- His countenance without any appearance added to the horror and mystery associated with him.
He carried a .32-caliber pistol
- He targeted victims with a .32-caliber Colt pistol, shooting victims closely.
- The gunshot injury indicated an execution-style murder. Some victims were shot multiple times.
Chilling murders
- He unleashed all the brutalities, hitting his first male victim (Jimmy Hollis) so severely that his skull got fractured.
- Sexual Violence: According to survivor Mary Jeanne Larey, the Phantom killer assaulted her with his gun barrel instead of raping her.
- Mental Torture: He played with victims’ emotions, sometimes allowing them to make escape bids before finally killing them.
Changing crime pattern
- He made the fourth attack on Virgil and Katie Starks, who could have been targeted in a car. Instead, they were inside their home.
- There was speculation—was it the same killer responsible or a copycat murderer who committed the murder?
Killer’s sudden disappearance
- Despite a mad search, he was never caught.
- His ability to evade arrest leaving no trace of forensic evidence suggests he was either a very skillful killer, with no ordinary mind, really lucky, or possibly had sound knowledge about law enforcement/military.
Murder details
The couple was shot dead in Griffin’s car, which was parked along a secluded road.
The killer shot Griffin twice in the back of the head in a typical crime thriller execution style.
Moore’s body was spotted outside the car, indicating she may have been killed elsewhere and the corpse was placed there afterward.
There was nothing to suggest any sexual assault though the motive remained unclear.
Second double murder: Paul Martin and Betty Jo Booker were killed on April 13, 1946.
Victims: Paul Martin (17) and Betty Jo Booker (15)
What happened to them?
Before they were killed, the couple had attended a high school dance before traveling in Paul’s car.
First Martin’s body was found with four gunshot wounds, suggesting he attempted to flee.
The body of Booker was found nearly two miles away.
Her missing saxophone was never found, giving credence to the possibility that the killer taking it with him.
Last attack: Virgil,37, and Katie Starks,36, were targeted on May 3, 1946
How were they targeted?
This time, the attack was carried out inside the victims’ home.
Virgil was found dead with two gunshots in the head. Gunshot entered through a window while the victim was sitting in his living room.
Katie, who managed to escape, was shot twice. She ran barefoot to a neighbor’s house for help.
The investigation
Authorities launched a desperate manhunt to catch the ‘Phantom Killer.’ The Texarkana community was terrified by the scale of the crime. Out of sheer panic—shops closed early, people armed themselves, with rumors ran wild.
Police action
Texas Rangers, including the legendary Manuel “Lone Wolf” Gonzaullas, were roped in to hunt the killer but police had no success.
There were roadblocks, and curfews were clamped. The attacker remained traceless.
The descriptions of witnesses lacked depth. Survivors were unable to provide details beyond the white mask.
Suspects & theories
Youell Swinney was the prime suspect. He was touted as a car thief with a history of violent crimes.
His wife, Peggy Swinney, allegedly confessed to the murders but later backtracked.
Youell Swinney, who was thought to be the phantom killer, was imprisoned for car theft, though he was never formally charged with the murders.
Evidence was circumstantial, and no forensic proof linked him to the crimes.
The copycat theory
A section of investigators thought the Starks attack was a different killer, as it deviated from the lover’s lane pattern.
Serial killer
Other theories suggest the Phantom killer could be linked to other unsolved murders across Texas and the South.
However, no concrete evidence could be established.
The case was known as the “Moonlight Murders” because the attacks occurred at night.
Pop culture influence
The 1976 film “The Town That Dreaded Sundown” was based on the chilling murder mystery, reinforcing the legend of the phantom killer.
Several books, TV episodes, and horror films reference the most talked about Texarkana murders.
Why was it never solved?
Lack of forensic evidence was said to be the prime reason.
The 1940s lacked modern forensic technology, indicating key evidence such as DNA samples was never collected.
A mystery that still haunts Texarkana
The Texarkana Moonlight Murders remain one of the most chilling mysteries in American history. The Phantom Killer vanished without a trace after terrorizing a town forever gripped by fear. Was Youell Swinney the real killer? Or did the true murderer get away with one of the most infamous crime sprees of the 20th century? These questions are still unanswered.
Seventy-nine years later—the legend of the Phantom Killer still haunts residents of Texarkana, a creepy reminder that sometimes, the darkest nightmares can be real.