Last seen at her job as a night clerk at the Casa Del Mar Condominiums at approximately 6 a.m. Initially, investigators wrote her off as a runaway, despite the fact that she needed medication for epilepsy which had been left at home. What to know about the Texas Killing Fields and Netflix's new docu-series on the League City murders, Timeline: How battle between Houston ISD, TEA has reached the point of a looming takeover. They include Jessica Cain, of Tiki Island, and Laura Smither of Friendswood, who were both murdered in 1997. 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. Watch: Man confesses to a Texas Killing Field murder. Culture of Suspicion 51m The case of a missing 12-year-old gets media attention, while more bodies turn up. Janet Doe, meanwhile, was identified as Donna Gonsoulin Prudhomme, according to the FBI. Hendrick was arrested in 2013 for Beason's murder and still remains a suspect in the Killing Fields murders. He confessed after hours of interrogation, but later retracted his confession, alleging he had been tortured into admitting to the murders by the police chief. The same day Miller was found, police discovered a third unidentified body that they named Jane Doe. Get all your true crime news from Oxygen. The three-episode limited series titled Crime Scene: The Texas Killing Fields tells the story of the victims whose bodies were dumped (and later found) in a desolate oil field along a. Based on true events. places to stay, tourism, events, lodging, and we feature Texas Hill Country info Dickens removed the keys from Bell's vehicle and refused to return them. She had a pretty tough life, but she loved her children so much, and, you know, we all just do the best we can with what we have, sister Dianne Gonsoulin-Hastings told the FBI. Crime Scene: The Texas Killing Fields is streaming on Netflix now, Join half a million readers enjoying Newsweek's free newsletters. In the following months, he retracted his confession, claiming that he had been tortured into confessing, with the interrogators suffocating with a plastic bag, burning him with cigarette butts and a radiator, as well as being assaulted by the police chief, Don Morris. Then you may live next to one of Americas infamous killing fields. After that, she never heard from Prudhomme again. Directors Ami Canaan Mann Starring Sam Worthington, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Chlo Grace Moretz Genres Since 1971, dozens of murder victims have been found in a 25-acre area near Interstate 45, between Galveston and Houston. Texas Killing Fields (Blu-ray, 2012) | Films & TV, DVDs & Blu-rays | eBay! But to this day, Stallings has not been charged in the murder of Janet Doe. Though the swampland crime scenes are outside their jurisdiction, Detective Heigh is unable to turn his back on solving the gruesome murders. Since the early 1970s, 30 bodies of murder victims have been found within the Killing Fields area. Evidence at the scene, however, was more or less destroyed. And its just, you know, its just a perfect place [for] killing somebody and getting away with itIf you can just imagine having one of these little girls out hereone of these young girls out hereand theres no chance for them to be rescued, to be helped. Cars drive on the infamous Interstate-45, July 12, 1999 between Houston and Galveston, TX. [3] tv In 1997, 12yo Laura went missing. This started in 1971 when three Galveston girls disappeared. Since the 1970s, a 50-mile desolate area has often been referred to as the Highway of Hell between Houston and Galveston. Does that sound like somewhere you know? King and Zwarst were convicted of aggravated kidnapping, and received life imprisonment sentences in 1998. Her body was found bound and partially nude in Turner's Bayou along with her friend, Maria. While the remoteness of a location can make it desirable in the short-term, its the influence of the surrounding terrain and weather that makes it a prime candidate for a killer. 'Crime Scene: The Texas Killing Fields' is the latest true-crime documentary to land on Netflix. Yes, there have been multiple arrests in the numerous murders that have been associated with the Texas Killing Fields. Where Is Alex Murdaugh From Murdaugh Murders Now? 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. Her car was found the next day, stuck in mud, blood-stained, and abandoned on the side of an I-45 access road, south of the Galveston causeway. He was sentenced to life without parole, spared the death penalty because the investigators believed he might have been involved with other unsolved murders in the Highway of Hell. Who Died in the Boat Accident on Murdaugh Murders? Four women were ultimately found dead in a rural area of Texas that has become known as the Texas Killing Fields. Exclusive: Abbott explains push against diversity hiring programs, Bun B, Badu, J.J. 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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.Since the early 1970s, 33 bodies of murder victims have been found along the I-45 area. A match was confirmed, using advanced technology that was not available at the time of Krystal's disappearance. Her body was ultimately discovered under an interstate bridge. Page 1. day! "I ended up getting the seat belt and hit her in the head with the seat belt buckle, right, and then wrapped the seat belt around her neck and choked her out," Stallings said. He was sentenced to life in prison. Published Dec 8, 2022. Several weeks later, a body was discovered by a father and son out for a walk: When law enforcement insisted that it was just an animal carcass, it was left to the father to point out that, Animals dont wear socks.. The Texas Killing Fields is a stretch of abandoned land just off the interstate road the I-45 between Houston and Galveston in Texas. Bell lived on a property near the beach in Galveston, where he was a silent partner of a surf shop. [43], An investigation by the League City police and the FBI in the 1970s identified another local resident, Edward Harold Bell, a known exhibitionist, as a suspect. [6], The soundtrack was scored by Dickon Hinchliffe (formerly of Tindersticks) except for three tracks credited to The Americans. Multiple suspects have been linked to the 'Texas Killing Fields'. As more and more remains were discovered on Calder Road, locals began referring. All four deaths had one thing in common, they were discovered alongside the interstate corridor connecting Houston and the beach town of Galveston, known as The Texas Killing Fields. [49] Hedrick was released from jail in 2021 after serving eight years for the murder of Ellen Beason in 1984. If you want to be a Photo Volunteer you must enter a ZIP Code or select your location on the map. The next victim was a 16-year-old named Laura Miller. According to a 1997 Houston Chronicle report, the medical examiner noted that Fye had broken ribs and might have been beaten to death. Texas Killing Fields (2011) Full Cast & Crew See agents for this cast & crew on IMDbPro Directed by Ami Canaan Mann Writing Credits ( WGA) Don Ferrarone . After this, Self regularly applied for an appeal, but was rejected every time. Almost two decades later, in 2015, Reece's DNA was found to match 19-year-old Tiffany Johnson, who had been murdered in Oklahoma in 1997. The documentary focuses much of its attention on a suspect named Clyde Hendrick, a roofer who lived in League City at the time. It is a 25 acre abandoned lot. Before long, the killer changes the game and begins hunting the detectives, teasing them with possible clues at the crime scenes while always remaining one step ahead. "The effect that this has had on people for the last 30 years is still there," said Miller. 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. After investigating the death of a young woman, Texas City Detectives Mike Souder (Sam Worthington) and Brian Heigh (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) find time to inquire into the welfare of Ann . Mark Roland Stallings is clear and convincing in his account of what happened 25 years ago. "Killing Fields" refers to an area along the Interstate 45 corridor from Huntsville to Galveston, where the bodies of . The woman had a small caliber gunshot wound to the back. Do you have a story that I-Team should investigate? On the same day, the body of Laura Miller was discovered in Calder Field. Heres what you need to know. The lot measures nearly 25 acres and is full of overgrown mesquite trees and is criss-crossed with dirt roads. Netflix released the third installment of the popular docuseries Crime Scene on November 29, and like the first season, The Vanishing at the Cecil Hotel, these crimes have never been solved. Netflix is all set to cover these murders with its upcoming docuseries Crime Scene: The Texas Killing Fields. Already serving time for the attempted murder and kidnapping of Sepo, Reece was convicted of Johnston's murder and sentenced to death. You could see the I-45. Dianne last spoke with Donna in 1989, when she requested her birth certificate for travel plans. Over 30 victims mostly women or girls were found along the 1-45 corridor south of Houston between 1971 and 2016. But if you yelled, no one would necessarily hear you. We have sent you an . Her body was found in Galveston Bay near, Last seen walking with Sharon Shaw along Seawall Boulevard in Galveston. On September 8, 1991, additional remains were retrieved from Calder Field. His arrest and conviction for murder came 16 years after Baker's body was found in March 1996. She had been shot in the back, according to the Chronicle. Her body was found hours after her death and was identified in 2014 after a Websleuths user suggested the match. 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. Free shipping for many products! 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. Between the early 1970s and mid-2000s decades many girls have been found murdered there. The Texas Killing Fields is easily one of the most discussed topics of the last decade due to the massive mystery around the area. Copyright 2008 - Last seen leaving her job as a waitress at Gaido's beach-front restaurant in Galveston. Scene in 'Crime Scene: The Texas Killing Fields' on Netflix. Two years later, on Feb 3, 1986, children riding dirt bikes in Calder Field smelled an odor and located the body of an unidentified female, who was given the name Jane Doe. From 1971 until 2006, over 30 women were found dead along an area of Interstate 45 that runs for 50 miles between Houston and Galveston. It is a "principal city" of the Killeen-Temple-Fort Hood Metropolitan Statistical Area. In 2019, advancements in genealogy led the authorities to identify the two victims as Donna Prudhomme and Audrey Lee Cook, both in their early thirties when they were murdered. The term "killing fields" originally referred to the sites of mass genocide during Cambodia's Khmer Rouge regime. 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. Coverage of the latest true crime stories and famous cases explained, as well as the best TV shows, movies and podcasts in the genre. 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. There was also William Reece, who this year admitted he was responsible for the 1997 murders of Jessica Cain and Laura Smither. A man named Kevin Edison Smith was sentenced to life in prison in 2012 for murdering a 13-year-old girl named Krystal Jean Baker in 1996, according to The Houston Chronicle. [50] He once said he had murdered four to five women. The documentary dives . Last seen near her apartment on Jacquelyn Street in Houston. Here are things to know about the 'Texas Killing Fields': In 1984, a grisly film was released titled 'The Killing Fields' about a journalist trapped in Cambodia during the Khmer Rouge regime. [45][46], In 2013, Mark Roland Stallings, a convicted kidnapper serving a life term, confessed to killing a girl in 1991 and later dumping her body in the fields, later identified as Donna Prudhomme. He even knew two of the victims, Debbie Ackerman and Maria Johnson, who frequented the store. He died on December 21, 2000, and 16 years later, a number of police officials admitted their belief that Self had been wrongly convicted, according to Fox News. [59], In 2021, Reece was convicted of Johnston's murder and sentenced to death. July 7, 2012 - CBS News The real-life mystery of Texas' killing fields Last seen walking with Rhonda Johnson along Seawall Boulevard in Galveston. Behind prison walls, behind thick glass of a. [10], Roger Ebert of The Chicago Sun Times gave the film two out of four stars and said, "Texas Killing Fields begins along the lines of a police procedural and might have been perfectly absorbing if it had played by the rules: strict logic, attention to detail, reference to technical police work. Law enforcement officials who have investigated the Texas Killing Fieldswhich are primarily abandoned oil fieldsknow this all too well, and are in a constant race against time and nature. From 1971 until 2006, over 30 women were found dead along an area of Interstate 45 that runs for 50 miles between Houston and Galveston. People reported that her body was found by a group of boys riding their bicycles on February 2, 1986, 17 months after she had gone missing. Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. This page was last edited on 1 March 2023, at 06:21. Discovered in a field in the 3000 block of Calder Road. Who Were "The Texas Killing Fields" Victims? They were mainly the bodies of girls or young women. 10:12p, 1/9/23. Seventeen picks products that we think you'll love the most. Maybe a family can then know what happened to their daughter. Ryan graduated from Texas Southern University, enjoys riding his bike, is passionate about sports, and loves black and white movies. 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. Fourteen days later, her body was found in the. Released in 2011, Texas Killing Fields went on to critical acclaim, but the mystery of what actually took place in those fields remains etched into the minds and memories of investigators. The string of unsolved murders earned the route the nickname "highway to hell." In May 1997, he was arrested for the kidnapping and attempted murder of 19-year-old Sandra Sepo and received a 60-year sentence. Please logout and login again. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for TEXAS KILLING FIELDS (Blu-ray, 2011) NEW at the best online prices at eBay! After 33 years, the body was identified as Audrey Lee Cook. ABC 13 reported that the decomposed body showed that she had been shot in the back and had several broken ribs. In Texas City, Texas, detective Mike Souder (Sam Worthington) and his partner, Brian Heigh . Not knowing the identities of the victims was a major reason behind the stalled investigation that saw no evidence, links, or suspects. Skip past search results. He stated that he did not remember the names of most of his victims, but confidently stated that he had killed Debbie Ackerman, Maria Johnson, Colette Wilson and Kimberly Pitchford, as well as two other then-unnamed girls whom he had abducted from Webster in August 1971, later identified as Rhonda Johnson and Sharon Shaw. At the time of the murder, Stallings was living and working in League City, and was near the homes of some of the girls who went missing and were later found dead. Behind prison walls, behind thick glass of a visitation room, Mark Roland Stallings is clear and convincing in his account of what happened 25 years ago. HOUSTON - A Texas prisoner has admitted he killed one of the young women whose body was dumped in the so-called "Killing Fields" of League City. A film adaptation of the deadly events that occurred along the I-45 highway was released on September 9, 2011, with the title Texas Killing Fields. The area is quite far away from civilization as well. It competed in the 68th Venice International Film Festival.[2]. The population was 86,911 at the 2000 census. When familiar local girl Anne goes missing, the detectives find themselves racing against time to catch the killer and save the young girl's life. King and Zwarst were questioned about their involvement in other killings in the 1980s, but both denied having any involvement. [41], Three years later, in 1976, Don Morris and his deputy, Tommy Deal, were arrested and convicted of various crimes, including torture and other misconduct against detainees. Sort By. Both men have since died in prison, King in October 2015 and Zwarst in November 2020. 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 place is described as "a perfect place for killing somebody and getting away with it". Over the last three decades, more than 30 women have been found dead along an area of Insterstate 45 that runs 50 miles between Houston and Galveston. The Texas Killing Fields. Dozens of other bodies of women and young girls were found in the area, although not at the same site, from the late 1970s to the late 1990s. He said they went to a motel and did some drugs. Just off Interstate 45, along the Gulf Coast, the area was a desolate and uninteresting place. In 2001, he questioned Stallings over five days at the scene and said the suspect confessed back then, too. 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. Members of the community have left a memorial site for each of the four victims, though, to acknowledge the horrors that happened there and honor the women whose lives were cut too short, according to the FBI. Her remains were identified along with Georgia Geer's in an Alvin, Texas ditch. There has been little evidence to go on, and nothing to connect the four victims. "I mean even though she was in the condition she was in, I should have just let her play her own life out, you know she wanted to waste it and I should have just let her waste it," Stallings said. In 1971, these two reportedly outdoorsy gals disappeared while hitchhiking, only to have their bodies discovered in the killing fields. The decomposed body was found months later in 1991. I looked at that and it was just tens and tens of girls that had gone missing and I have got a young sister and you know it kind of disturbed me in a way that I just said straight away, I wanted to be a part of this, to get this story out and make people aware of whats gone down there will hopefully maybe shed some light on some of the disappearances and the mysteries involved, he explained. In June 2022, he was extradited to Texas where he was found guilty of the murders of Smither, Cain, and Cox. ", "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.