To say that he became a sort of guardian angel for locals would be an understatement. Fye vanished six months earlier after walking from her parents' home to use a pay phone. [5][6][7] Filming began on May 3, 2010,[5] in Louisiana, United States. In 1971, these two reportedly outdoorsy gals disappeared while hitchhiking, only to have their bodies discovered in the killing fields. But Grant said Stallings later recanted. Though the show focuses on the murders of Heidi Villareal Fye, Laura Miller, Audrey Lee Cook, and Donna Prudhomme whose bodies were all found in a specific spot known as Calder Road, there have been over 30 bodies found in the area, and numerous disappearances over the years. Texas Killing Fields on Pluto TV | Thrillers | 1hr 45 min | In the Texas bayous, a local homicide detective . She was a mother of two who had left her husband after he allegedly became abusive, said her sister. More than 30 young women and girls either disappeared or had been found murdered in that corridor, and the mysteries surrounding the cases have never been far from the minds of the Texas authorities that investigated the crimes, including Brian Goetschius and Michael Land, from Texas City. texas killing fields crime scene photos. But it wasn't the first time Stallings admitted to killing Janet Doe. Last seen at a teen club with her friend, Tamara Fisher. Ahead, find everything we know about the Texas Killing Fields victims, including who they were, when they went missing, and when their bodies were found. The next day, her bike was found in the foyer of the church. Netflix has recently dropped a three-part docuseries titled "Crime Scene: The Texas Killing Fields," which explores the unsolved murders of four Texas women that occurred between the '80s and . Last seen with Georgia Geer at the U-Totem convenience store off of FM 517 and I-45. This started in 1971 when three Galveston girls disappeared. But . While in prison, Reece provided a map of the burial sites and afterwards offered to fully help investigators in order to avoid the death penalty. However, despite efforts by the League City, Texas police, along with the assistance of the FBI, very few of these murders have been solved, and those that have been solved were predicated on confessions given by prisoners, or confessions given under duress from the police. They include Jessica Cain, of Tiki Island, and Laura Smither of Friendswood, who were both murdered in 1997. Furthermore, many additional young girls have disappeared from this area; these girls . The string of unsolved murders earned the route the nickname "highway to hell." ", "FamilyTreeDNA Helps Identify Two Victims from the 'Texas Killing Fields', "Houston-based DNA company helps identify 'Killing Fields' victims", "Texas 'Killing Fields' victim from Memphis, police say", "The Texas killing fields and the highway of death", "Man convicted in 'Killing Fields' murder of Texas City teen", "DNA linking man to teen's '96 death gives her family answers", "Krystal Baker murder case featured on TV series Tuesday night", "Man convicted in Texas City girl's 1996 slaying", "Krystal Jean Baker Act Aids Law Enforcement in More Quickly Connecting Missing Links in Unsolved Cases", "The disappearance of 12-year-old Friendswood girl Laura Smither", "The killing fields: Disappearance of Texas girl still haunts reporter", "William Lewis Reece sentenced to life in prison for murders of Laura Smither, Jessica Cain and Kelli Ann Cox", "Remembering Jessica Cain, 20 years after her disappearance", "Parents of slain girl face Reece in courtroom", "Man seen at Jessica Cain body search site linked to young girls' disappearances", "Body found in SE Houston field confirmed to be Jessica Cain", "Remains confirmed to be those of Jessica Cain, who vanished in 1997", "Family awaiting news about missing woman", "Dickinson family hoping for break in Halloween cold case murder", "Elderly Inmate Claims to Have Committed Nearly a Dozen Murders", "Texas killer's death leaves unanswered questions in girls' slayings", "Confessed killer details murder of Texas Killing Fields victim", "League City police determine identities of 2 women found in 'Texas Killing Fields', "Clyde Hedrick: Man convicted in decades-old murder case in Galveston County released from prison", "Galveston Co. man released from prison for 1984 killing due to old mandatory release law", "The Killing Fields 48 Hours CBS News", "Man convicted in one of 'I-45 Killings' cases dies in prison", "Kidnapper convicted in Texas City teen's 1986 disappearance denied parole again", "Experts: William Reece fits 'serial killer' profile", "Cases against accused killer William Reece at a standstill", "Convicted kidnapper reveals location of Kelli Ann Cox's remains", "Detectives hope 'Killing Fields' film help solve 60 murders", "Victims' kin skeptical on film on Galveston Co. killings", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Texas_Killing_Fields&oldid=1142230120, Last seen on her way to visit her aunt. Additional bodies were found during a period when numerous cases of missing or murdered young women and girls were yet to be solved, dating back to the 1970s. Oh sure. All four women were murdered in the same way. For multiple decades on a desolate stretch of road in Texas, a nightmare unfolded. If you want to be a Photo Volunteer you must enter a ZIP Code or select your location on the map. The inconsistencies throw even more questions into the mix, and add to the mystery of the Texas Killing Fields. Her body was found in 1991. In 1972, convicted sex offender Michael Lloyd Self became a suspect in the murders of Rhona Johnson and Sharon Shaw. Four women, Heidi Fye, Laura Mills, Audrey Lee Cook, and Donna Gonsoulin Prudhomme were found dead in that patch. The following year, he was extradited to Texas and was convicted of the murders of Smither, Cain and Cox, receiving a life term after pleading guilty to each of the three murders.[27]. Despite this, Self's attempts at an appeal failed. Discovered in a field in the 3000 block of Calder Road alongside Laura Miller, coroners estimate the woman was 22 to 30 years old and 5-foot-5 to 5-foot-8, and that she died six weeks to six months prior to being found. Since. But if you yelled, no one would necessarily hear you. At about the same time, a detective tested Baker's dress for DNA. 26 memorials. We may earn commission from the links on this page. The empathy on Brian's mournful face suggests that, if he could just find the killer of. The film's screenplay was loosely inspired by true events surrounding the murders of women kidnapped from cities spread along 30-plus miles of the I-45 corridor and dumped in many areas, including various bayous surrounding the oil fields of Texas City, Texas. Last seen at a convenience store located off of West Main Street and Hobbs in League City, Texas. "The Texas Killing Fields is a 25-acre patch of land situated a mile from Interstate Highway 45. [53], In 1987, 30-year-old John Robert King phoned the El Paso police, claiming that on May 24, 1986, he, together with 33-year-old Gerald Peter Zwarst, attacked Shelley Sikes while she was in her car, after which the girl was raped and strangled. Four bodies were found in the Calder fieldbetween 1984 and 1991. They were mainly the bodies of girls or young women. Sort By. 27 febrero, 2023 . theYear=theYear+1900 Watch: Man confesses to a Texas Killing Field murder. [8], Texas Killing Fields received mixed to negative reviews from critics. You must select an email preference. Seventeen picks products that we think you'll love the most. Tim Miller, the father of Laura Miller, said he saw the film for what the filmmakers intended to raise awareness about the crimes and to generate new tips. During the interview, Stallings pointed out the location of Janet Doe's bodyon a map he had drawn for Carroll. The three-part documentary investigates the strange disappearance of young women in the 1980s and 1990s, only to be discovered dead on Calder Road in Texas. Details related to these and other abductions and murders in the area which Goetschius has had experience with are further outlined in the CBS interview, a link for which is provided here. The fact that any of this occurred is unsettling, to say the least. [12] On a more lenient note, James Mottram of GamesRadar wrote: "Mann Jr. shows plenty of promise in a film that doesnt tarnish the family name. After leaving her grandmother's house during a fight they were having, Krystal was last seen using a phone at a local convenience store to ask her friend if she could stay with her. Morris was sentenced to 55 years, while Deal to 30. The Texas Killing Fields are part of a 50-mile stretch that runs along Interstate 45, between Houston and the Island city of Galveston, Texas, dubbed the "highway to hell.". Texas Killing Fields (location) - Unionpedia, the concept map [47][48], Clyde Hedrick was named as a suspect in the 2022 documentary series Crime Scene: The Texas Killing Fields. [52] A jury deliberated for about 30 minutes and found Smith guilty. Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV. reveals stunning new details in 41-year-old cold case - WFIN Local News", "Authorities reveal identities of 2 'Killing Fields' victims", "Names, real-life photos of 2 'Killing Fields' victims released", "Can DNA provide answers in deaths of 2 women in 'Texas Killings Fields'? She vanished in 1983, and had last been seen going to use a payphone at a store, according to Texas Monthly. Furthermore, many young girls have disappeared from this area; the girls' bodies, if deceased . Between 1971 and 2006, 30 bodies have been found . Following their arrests, Zwarst told police where he had hidden Sikes's body, but unfortunately Sikes' body has never been found. Per the FBI, Donna Gonsoulin Prudhomme was discovered in September of 1991, but at the time, she remained an unidentified "Janet Doe" until January 2019. The young woman with Stallings would be the fourth in the Texas Killing Field. There is not much around the area. The woman had a small caliber gunshot wound to the back. Between the early 1970s and mid-2000s decades many girls have been found murdered there. They were also probed for other such crimes committed during the mid-1980s, but both vehemently denied any involvement. [42], Michael Self died on December 21, 2000, still in custody. Growing up in LC in the 80's & 90's, it was definitely a suburban area with many developed subdivisions and shopping areas. The murders of Laura and Heide and five other women and girls, including two unidentified female murder victims, gave infamy to Calder Road and the fields surrounding it. Goetschius was integral to the investigation and became a guardian angel of sorts to Bakers mother in the process. He then confessed to killing Jessica Cain, 17, and Kelli Cox, 20. The majority of victims have been young girls and young women, aged between 12 and 25 years old. In 2001, he questioned Stallings over five days at the scene and said the suspect confessed back then, too. "Jane Doe", who was 30 at the time and whose remains were found in 1986, was identified as Audrey Lee Cook. King and Zwarst were convicted of aggravated kidnapping, and received life imprisonment sentences in 1998. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. The unidentified victim was called Janet Doe and appeared to have been beaten and possibly strangled, according to the 1997 report. According to reports, some time later, two boys on dirt bikes found another body. Years later, in 1991, a fourth body was found in the field and became known as Janet Doe, according to the FBI. After a long search, they were able to find the rest of Fye's body in the field. Prudhomme had asked her sister, Dianne, to mail her birth certificate to her home in Clear Lake near the end of 1989. In 2019, the League City Police Department was finally able to identify the two women found dead in Calder Field. Were taking a look at the worst such dumping grounds in the country. Texas Killing Fields (1,668) 5.7 1 h 44 min 2011 X-Ray R In the Texas bayous, a local homicide detective (Worthington) teams up with a cop from New York City (Morgan) to investigate a series of unsolved murders. They were mainly the bodies of girls or young women. Last seen accepting a ride near an island ice cream shop with Maria Johnson. The string of unsolved murders earned the route the nickname "highway to hell." Three days later, her body was found strangled, raped, and with her hair cut off in a field across from Dickinson High School. In 1987, John Robert King, 30, contacted the El Paso police, where he confessed to killing 19-year-old Shelley Sikes while she was in her car. Does that sound like somewhere you know? On September 8, 1991, additional remains were retrieved from Calder Field. View the links for more information on the Texas Killing Fields. Since the 1970s, more than 30 young women have mysteriously disappeared or been found murdered along Texas' Interstate 45, in what has become the state's most notorious killing spree. The Texas Killing Fields is a 25-acre patch of land in League City, Texas situated a mile from Interstate Highway 45 and approximately 26 miles southeast of Houston. They were all young women, left naked against a tree with their arms folded, according to a 1999 Texas Monthly article. Yet another body was found by two horseback riders while police discovered Laura Mills in the same location as well. She had an aptitude for music, but then she started having seizures, which impacted life as she knew it. The series was directed by Jessica Dimmock. This is multiple serial killers," true crime author Kathryn . Where is Anthony Cook From "Murdaugh Murders" Now? Police arealsostill working on trying to identify Janet Doe and are asking for help. Last seen walking near the Green Caye Subdivision on Halloween night. The documentary dives . After this revelation, Reece confessed to killing Jessica Cain and Kelli Cox, leading the investigators to the bodies' burial sites. Fourteen days later, her body was found in the. Although it took years for justice to be served, in April of 2012, Kevin Edison Smith was convicted of her murder. She was found in April 1984, when a dog brought a human skull over to its owners. A 50-mile stretch of road that has been nicknamed the Highway of Hell due to the high frequency of traffic accidents, it is also a desolate, remote area, and one that has become a legendary dumping ground for bodiesin part because of the pop-culture rendering of the so-called Texas killing fields in the 2011 movie starring Jessica Chastain. You could see the I-45. [59], In 2021, Reece was convicted of Johnston's murder and sentenced to death. Be the first one to comment on this story. As more and more remains were discovered on Calder Road, locals began referring. "Janet Doe" was 34 at the time and was identified as Donna Prudhomme. This Sat night 5/9, Part 1 of 2 episodes covering the Texas Killing Fields/I45 Murders. Page of 2. Free shipping for many products! On his office wall is a map of the killing fields and photos of all the missing girls in the county. The following year, he was found guilty and convicted, receiving a 60-year imprisonment term. Join the discussion on our new social platform Texjas.com! For me its that little bit of comfort to step into it and give people some answers, he explained. We are born and bred in The "Just because somebody says they did something doesn't always give us ammunition to go to court," said DetectiveMarty Grant. In 2010 Killeen's population shot to 127,921. The last time she had been seen or heard from was in December 1985, according to the FBI. We are your resource for Hill Country travel, things to do, places to eat, Crime Scene: The Texas Killing Fields will cover this topic in more detail. [2] From the 1970s into the 1990s, around 35 slain women were found among a 25-acre stretch of land between Houston and Galveston in what became known as the Texas Killing Fields. Previously, he was a reporter for Houston Community Newspapers covering the Bellaire and Memorial areas. Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. Following The Vanishing at the Cecil Hotel & The Times Square Killer, Joe Berlinger's next installment in the Crime Scene docuseries examines the eerie connections between the still-unsolved murders of three young women. day! It makes a body deteriorate so much faster.. A year after Villareal-Fye's disappearance, 16-year-old Clear Creek High School student Laura Miller went missing. Stallings, 50, is serving more than two life sentences for unrelated crimes, including aggravated kidnapping for a 1998 escape attempt while in prison. The next victim was a 16-year-old named Laura Miller. Over 30 victims mostly women or girls were found along the 1-45 corridor south of Houston between 1971 and 2016. Shelley Sikes of Texas City disappeared in 1986 and was presumed dead after her vehicle was found abandoned in Galveston County off an Interstate 45 access road. The impending takeover of HISD by the TEA dates back to 2019, when Wheatley High School triggered a state law by failing to meet accountability standards for seven consecutive years. He told police he carried out the rape and murder with the help of Gerald Peter Zwarst. Only one perpetrator has been apprehended since early 1970s. Grant was one of the original detectives on the Janet Doe case. She died six weeks to several months prior to being found. [6], The soundtrack was scored by Dickon Hinchliffe (formerly of Tindersticks) except for three tracks credited to The Americans.