To kick off Wicked Wednesday Urban Legends series, we're throwing it back to our coverage of the Texarkana Moonlight Murders. This horrific, unsolved case is the inspiration for the infamous legend of The Hookman. Come back next week to hear all about it!
Between February and May 1946, three people were brutally attacked and five were murdered in Texarkana by a man dubbed the Phantom Killer. Texarkana straddles Texas and Arkansas and had a population of about 27,000 at the time of the murders.
The murders have never been solved, though many believe to know who’s responsible for the crimes. James “Jimmy” Hollis and Mary Jeanne Larey were attacked in February 1946 but luckily survived. Richard Griffin and Polly Ann Moore were not so lucky when they were killed just three weeks later in March. Paul Martin and Betty Jo Booker were the second double murder three weeks later in April. Virgil Starks was killed and his wife Katie was shot twice at the beginning of May 1946. Then the attacks ended as quickly as they began. Join Gina and Amber in the discussion about the Texarkana Moonlight Murders on social media or email us your thoughts on the case.
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Resources:
https://vault.fbi.gov/texarkana-phantom-moonlight-murders
https://www.texasmonthly.com/the-culture/texarkana-murder-mystery/
https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2020/feb/07/fbi-releases-archive-texarkanas-phantom-killer-ove/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHcR5n6ER_c
https://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/texarkana-moonlight-murders-4478/
“Slaying of Two Stuns Texarkana” Fort Worth Star Telegram, 16, Apr 1946
https://www.texarkanagazette.com/news/2016/apr/14/phantom-killer-attacks-part-ii/
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/85687186/betty-jo-booker
“Texarkana Suspect May be Released” Fort Worth Star - Telegram
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/85687273/paul-james-martin
“Texarkana Killer Leaves Clue…” Fort Worth Star Telegram -
https://www.texarkanagazette.com/news/2016/mar/24/its-been-70-years-terror-stalked-texarkana-form-ph/
“Student, in Suicide Note…” - Fort Worth Star Telegram
“Officers “Advertise” for Phantom Slayer - Lubbock Morning Avalanche, 1946
Peggy’s Confession - https://kfmx.com/unsolved-texas-moonlight-murders-still-inspire-horror-over-75-years-later/
Richard Griffin Find a Grave - https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/65477100/richard-lanier-griffin
“Texarkana Area Has New Death Mystery” Fort Worth Star-Telegram, May 07, 1946
Crime Library - https://www.crimelibrary.org/serial_killers/unsolved/texarkana/book_7.html
“3 Clues Found..”
Virgil Starkes Find a Grave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/89534227/walter-virgil-starks
“Phantom Killer’s last alleged victim…”
“Aerial Gunnar Out…” - Ralph Barney Baumann
Oklahoma Attack Suspect not connected to Texarkana murders
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