Aaron Mahnke

Despite all the details and the confusion, no charges were ever brought against Ewell Swinney, or anyone else for that matter, in the Moonlight Murders.

To this day, the case remains open.

Although, after 80 years without progress, that case is more than a little cold.

It's hard to move past trauma, whatever form it might take.

As you'd imagine, the people of Texarkana were deeply affected by their unsolved murders.

Although, over the years, they've come to embrace their town's dark past in a strange way.

For instance, when the Phantom Killers crime spree later inspired a film in 1976 called The Town That Dreaded Sundown, the city began a tradition.

Every year on Halloween, the town gathers to watch it together as the season finale of their Movies at the Park.

The Moonlight Murders also inspired two other very famous horror films which rose to the level of cult classic, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Halloween.

But beyond the films borrowing from the very real crimes, other shadows have been left by the attacks.

A number of local myths persist.

One concerns the wooded area where the murders took place.

In the legend, the wooded area remains haunted by those victims.

It's said that if you stand against the right tree, you will feel the invisible rope that bound the victims.

Although it should be noted here that none of the victims were ever tied up.

But why ruin a good legend, right?

But one other tale associated with the murders is one that you have probably heard before.

It's the legendary story of a couple out parking on Lover's Lane.

But when they hear something scraping against the side of their car, they speed away in terror.

It's only when they reach a place of safety and get out to inspect the car that they discover something horrifying.