Janice Morgan

Debbie was found soon after Maria, not far away. She too had been bound, undressed, shot, and left in the water. According to the medical examiner, her wounds suggested she had tried to save her best friend by placing her body in front of Maria's. The case did get media attention, but it took a while for people to connect this double homicide to a second, similar crime.

Debbie was found soon after Maria, not far away. She too had been bound, undressed, shot, and left in the water. According to the medical examiner, her wounds suggested she had tried to save her best friend by placing her body in front of Maria's. The case did get media attention, but it took a while for people to connect this double homicide to a second, similar crime.

Another pair of best friends disappeared from Galveston about three months earlier. They, too, were killed and their bodies left in water. They just hadn't been found yet. On August 4th, Sharon Shaw woke up at the home of her best friend, Rhonda Renee Johnson, who typically went by Renee. Confident Sharon was athletically gifted, especially at water skiing, and Renee loved to have fun.

Another pair of best friends disappeared from Galveston about three months earlier. They, too, were killed and their bodies left in water. They just hadn't been found yet. On August 4th, Sharon Shaw woke up at the home of her best friend, Rhonda Renee Johnson, who typically went by Renee. Confident Sharon was athletically gifted, especially at water skiing, and Renee loved to have fun.

And with freshman year of high school looming over them, the inseparable best friends were living for that summer of 1971. That day, they decided to go from Webster, their hometown, to Galveston, about 30 miles away. Their first stop was Wick's Ski School, but the water was rough and choppy, not great conditions for going out on the bayou.

And with freshman year of high school looming over them, the inseparable best friends were living for that summer of 1971. That day, they decided to go from Webster, their hometown, to Galveston, about 30 miles away. Their first stop was Wick's Ski School, but the water was rough and choppy, not great conditions for going out on the bayou.

So they met up with their friend Glenda along one of the city's hotspots, the seawall that runs along the beach. Now, Glenda had a convertible and a driver's license, so the friends spent the late morning cruising up and down the coast. Around lunchtime, Sharon and Renee realized they needed to get back home. They told Glenda they didn't need a ride, they would hitchhike. Then, they vanished.

So they met up with their friend Glenda along one of the city's hotspots, the seawall that runs along the beach. Now, Glenda had a convertible and a driver's license, so the friends spent the late morning cruising up and down the coast. Around lunchtime, Sharon and Renee realized they needed to get back home. They told Glenda they didn't need a ride, they would hitchhike. Then, they vanished.

Their remains weren't found until winter of 1972, about three months after Debbie and Maria's bodies were found. In January 1972, a couple of teenage boys thought they saw a volleyball in the water, but it turned out to be a skull. Officials later found a few other bones nearby, but not many. Dental records confirmed that the skull belonged to Renee Johnson.

Their remains weren't found until winter of 1972, about three months after Debbie and Maria's bodies were found. In January 1972, a couple of teenage boys thought they saw a volleyball in the water, but it turned out to be a skull. Officials later found a few other bones nearby, but not many. Dental records confirmed that the skull belonged to Renee Johnson.

Sharon's remains were found the following month, just a quarter of a mile away from her best friend. This time, the investigators recovered 29 bones, along with some black twine and a surfer's cross, a popular piece of jewelry in the 70s. An autopsy couldn't confirm Sharon's cause of death, but the medical examiner concluded she was killed.

Sharon's remains were found the following month, just a quarter of a mile away from her best friend. This time, the investigators recovered 29 bones, along with some black twine and a surfer's cross, a popular piece of jewelry in the 70s. An autopsy couldn't confirm Sharon's cause of death, but the medical examiner concluded she was killed.

A connection was eventually made, though. Local detectives wondered if an interest in surfing could be the common thread between the four victims. There were other commonalities too, both sets of best friends, both known to have been hitchhiking, both last seen alive in Galveston, and all found in remote waterways.

A connection was eventually made, though. Local detectives wondered if an interest in surfing could be the common thread between the four victims. There were other commonalities too, both sets of best friends, both known to have been hitchhiking, both last seen alive in Galveston, and all found in remote waterways.

All these years later, Lisa Olson and Fred Page want to prove another connection, Ed Bell. In 1970, Bell met a man named Doug Prunes, a local Galveston legend. His surf shop was a popular teen hangout back then, and Bell, an avid diver, did business with him. Debbie and Maria were known regulars, and Bell spent a lot of time there too.

All these years later, Lisa Olson and Fred Page want to prove another connection, Ed Bell. In 1970, Bell met a man named Doug Prunes, a local Galveston legend. His surf shop was a popular teen hangout back then, and Bell, an avid diver, did business with him. Debbie and Maria were known regulars, and Bell spent a lot of time there too.

Maybe that's why Debbie and Maria seemed to know the person driving the white van that day. In 2011, Lisa gets the opportunity to interview Bell in person.

Maybe that's why Debbie and Maria seemed to know the person driving the white van that day. In 2011, Lisa gets the opportunity to interview Bell in person.

Bell's now in his early 70s, with a white crew cut and hard of hearing. It makes their conversation difficult through protective glass. But there's another challenge, too.

Bell's now in his early 70s, with a white crew cut and hard of hearing. It makes their conversation difficult through protective glass. But there's another challenge, too.