Janice Morgan

So they had a man who fit their fisherman profile, had excellent aim, owned a fishing knife, was strong enough to overpower someone, and was known to approach random couples on the parkway. Naturally, the FBI questioned Wilmer. He admitted he'd been on the Colonial Parkway the night Keith and Cassandra disappeared, right near where Keith's abandoned car was found.

So they had a man who fit their fisherman profile, had excellent aim, owned a fishing knife, was strong enough to overpower someone, and was known to approach random couples on the parkway. Naturally, the FBI questioned Wilmer. He admitted he'd been on the Colonial Parkway the night Keith and Cassandra disappeared, right near where Keith's abandoned car was found.

He did not admit to anything else. Still, the FBI kept an eye on him. They saw Wilmer clean and repaint his truck, as if he was getting rid of evidence. Quickly, agents put together a search warrant for Wilmer's home. When they got there, they found a pair of handcuffs and a gun, but nothing conclusive. The FBI had one more trick up their sleeves, a polygraph.

He did not admit to anything else. Still, the FBI kept an eye on him. They saw Wilmer clean and repaint his truck, as if he was getting rid of evidence. Quickly, agents put together a search warrant for Wilmer's home. When they got there, they found a pair of handcuffs and a gun, but nothing conclusive. The FBI had one more trick up their sleeves, a polygraph.

As we've mentioned on this show before, polygraphs are not very reliable. But in 1988, they were trusted for detecting lies. So the FBI gave Wilmer a polygraph test that he passed. the FBI had no choice but to let him go, despite their lingering suspicions. With no confession and no bodies, they were back to square one, Keith's abandoned car. Except that evidence was compromised.

As we've mentioned on this show before, polygraphs are not very reliable. But in 1988, they were trusted for detecting lies. So the FBI gave Wilmer a polygraph test that he passed. the FBI had no choice but to let him go, despite their lingering suspicions. With no confession and no bodies, they were back to square one, Keith's abandoned car. Except that evidence was compromised.

When the park rangers first searched the car, they didn't realize it was a potential murder scene. So they didn't use gloves. They even removed some of the clothing they found. And apparently, when they realized the situation was more serious than an abandoned car, they tried to put it all back together the way they'd found it. But it was too late. The damage was done. There weren't other leads.

When the park rangers first searched the car, they didn't realize it was a potential murder scene. So they didn't use gloves. They even removed some of the clothing they found. And apparently, when they realized the situation was more serious than an abandoned car, they tried to put it all back together the way they'd found it. But it was too late. The damage was done. There weren't other leads.

And as weeks turned into months, Keith and Cassandra remained missing. About a year and a half later, in September 1989, another abandoned car turned up. This time, on the side of a rest stop, just off an interstate highway that connects to the Colonial Parkway. Like the other cases, the keys were still in the ignition. Unlike the other cases, there was no sign of a struggle.

And as weeks turned into months, Keith and Cassandra remained missing. About a year and a half later, in September 1989, another abandoned car turned up. This time, on the side of a rest stop, just off an interstate highway that connects to the Colonial Parkway. Like the other cases, the keys were still in the ignition. Unlike the other cases, there was no sign of a struggle.

This case fell into the Virginia State Police's jurisdiction, so it was now two for the state and two for the FBI. Virginia state police officers quickly learned that the car belonged to 21-year-old Daniel Lauer and that he'd been traveling to Virginia Beach with his brother's girlfriend, 18-year-old Anna Maria Phelps.

This case fell into the Virginia State Police's jurisdiction, so it was now two for the state and two for the FBI. Virginia state police officers quickly learned that the car belonged to 21-year-old Daniel Lauer and that he'd been traveling to Virginia Beach with his brother's girlfriend, 18-year-old Anna Maria Phelps.

The two were supposed to arrive at Daniel's brother's place the day before, but never did. Here's the strange part. The car was found on the westbound exit ramp, which heads in the opposite direction of Virginia Beach. Once again, authorities searched for the missing pair, but they didn't find anything. Some wondered, or perhaps hoped, that Daniel and Anna Maria ran off together.

The two were supposed to arrive at Daniel's brother's place the day before, but never did. Here's the strange part. The car was found on the westbound exit ramp, which heads in the opposite direction of Virginia Beach. Once again, authorities searched for the missing pair, but they didn't find anything. Some wondered, or perhaps hoped, that Daniel and Anna Maria ran off together.

But with all the rumors of a serial killer in the area, everyone braced for the worst. Six weeks later, some hunters stumbled upon two decomposing bodies. They were in a forested area near a logging trail, impossible to see from the road. Soon after, Virginia State Police Officer Daniel Plott arrived on the scene. He had forensics run analyses on the couple's remains to confirm their identities.

But with all the rumors of a serial killer in the area, everyone braced for the worst. Six weeks later, some hunters stumbled upon two decomposing bodies. They were in a forested area near a logging trail, impossible to see from the road. Soon after, Virginia State Police Officer Daniel Plott arrived on the scene. He had forensics run analyses on the couple's remains to confirm their identities.

They were, in fact, Daniel and Anna Maria. But determining a cause of death was harder due to the state of their bodies. The medical examiner eventually concluded that Anna Maria likely died of a stab wound, but Daniel's cause of death remained undetermined. Forensics also found a small cut on one of Ana Maria's finger bones.

They were, in fact, Daniel and Anna Maria. But determining a cause of death was harder due to the state of their bodies. The medical examiner eventually concluded that Anna Maria likely died of a stab wound, but Daniel's cause of death remained undetermined. Forensics also found a small cut on one of Ana Maria's finger bones.

Officer Plotz suspected that Ana Maria sustained the wound when trying to block her attacker from cutting her throat. But like the other cases, it was impossible to know for sure without finding the killer. To improve the search, state authorities worked in tandem with the FBI. Seeking a unified theory, they mulled over these main points.

Officer Plotz suspected that Ana Maria sustained the wound when trying to block her attacker from cutting her throat. But like the other cases, it was impossible to know for sure without finding the killer. To improve the search, state authorities worked in tandem with the FBI. Seeking a unified theory, they mulled over these main points.