Vanessa Richardson

The annual event had been held since 1972. Rainbow gatherings were all about coming together as a community to celebrate peace and freedom, and folks from all over were invited. In its early years, the event occurred along the West Coast, but that year, 1980, the Rainbow family planned to congregate in the Monongahela National Forest in West Virginia. Local politicians were outraged.

The annual event had been held since 1972. Rainbow gatherings were all about coming together as a community to celebrate peace and freedom, and folks from all over were invited. In its early years, the event occurred along the West Coast, but that year, 1980, the Rainbow family planned to congregate in the Monongahela National Forest in West Virginia. Local politicians were outraged.

West Virginia's Secretary of State said that the Rainbow family wasn't allowed in the area because they didn't align with West Virginia values. He referred to the group as derelict misfits. As many as 6,000 visitors arrived and pitched their tents in the National Forest. Most of the residents in the area seemed indifferent toward the Rainbows. Others, not so much.

West Virginia's Secretary of State said that the Rainbow family wasn't allowed in the area because they didn't align with West Virginia values. He referred to the group as derelict misfits. As many as 6,000 visitors arrived and pitched their tents in the National Forest. Most of the residents in the area seemed indifferent toward the Rainbows. Others, not so much.

Before the event was officially underway, members of the Rainbows reported that gunshots were fired toward their camp. One woman attending the gathering was Kathy Santomero. She'd planned to meet up with her sister, Nancy. When the 19-year-old didn't show, Kathy didn't think much of it. But then she saw an image that gave her pause.

Before the event was officially underway, members of the Rainbows reported that gunshots were fired toward their camp. One woman attending the gathering was Kathy Santomero. She'd planned to meet up with her sister, Nancy. When the 19-year-old didn't show, Kathy didn't think much of it. But then she saw an image that gave her pause.

A sketch had been circulating in the Rainbow Gathering's daily newsletter. It depicted the two dead women found on the mountain. State Trooper Robert Alkire had supplied them, hoping somebody would come forward to help ID the victims. Kathy noticed that one of the women bore a slight resemblance to her sister, but initially she thought the whole thing was too unlikely.

A sketch had been circulating in the Rainbow Gathering's daily newsletter. It depicted the two dead women found on the mountain. State Trooper Robert Alkire had supplied them, hoping somebody would come forward to help ID the victims. Kathy noticed that one of the women bore a slight resemblance to her sister, but initially she thought the whole thing was too unlikely.

She figured Nancy had probably just gotten wrapped up in another adventure and bailed on the rainbow gathering altogether. That's why she didn't show. But when Kathy returned home and still hadn't heard from Nancy, she had a terrible feeling. Shortly afterward, she identified one of the so-called Rainbow Girls for law enforcement. It was Nancy Santomero.

She figured Nancy had probably just gotten wrapped up in another adventure and bailed on the rainbow gathering altogether. That's why she didn't show. But when Kathy returned home and still hadn't heard from Nancy, she had a terrible feeling. Shortly afterward, she identified one of the so-called Rainbow Girls for law enforcement. It was Nancy Santomero.

Kathy also knew that Nancy was traveling with her friend Vicky Durian. Investigators confirmed Vicky was the other victim discovered on Droop Mountain. Identifying Nancy and Vicki may have felt like a triumph for Alkire, the state trooper, but many of his most basic questions about the case remained unanswered. For one, he still had no idea why the women were killed.

Kathy also knew that Nancy was traveling with her friend Vicky Durian. Investigators confirmed Vicky was the other victim discovered on Droop Mountain. Identifying Nancy and Vicki may have felt like a triumph for Alkire, the state trooper, but many of his most basic questions about the case remained unanswered. For one, he still had no idea why the women were killed.

In his mind, there were three possibilities. Vicki and Nancy could have been victims of a robbery gone wrong. Two, the motive could have been sexual. Or three, they could have been murdered because they symbolized the Rainbow family, a group that hadn't exactly been welcomed into town. At first, the sexual angle seemed like the most likely.

In his mind, there were three possibilities. Vicki and Nancy could have been victims of a robbery gone wrong. Two, the motive could have been sexual. Or three, they could have been murdered because they symbolized the Rainbow family, a group that hadn't exactly been welcomed into town. At first, the sexual angle seemed like the most likely.

The young hitchhikers could have gotten into a car with someone who intended to take advantage of them. But the medical examiner had found no signs of assault on the women, so that motive was moved to the bottom of the list. Robbery was also eliminated as the most likely motive when, months later, a group of deer hunters found Vicki and Nancy's backpacks deep in the woods.

The young hitchhikers could have gotten into a car with someone who intended to take advantage of them. But the medical examiner had found no signs of assault on the women, so that motive was moved to the bottom of the list. Robbery was also eliminated as the most likely motive when, months later, a group of deer hunters found Vicki and Nancy's backpacks deep in the woods.

They'd been hidden under a bush about 60 miles away from where their bodies were found. Nothing was stolen from the bags. To investigators, the most likely motive seemed to be hatred of the Rainbow family. Alkire threw himself into this one, trying to track down anyone who had expressed strong negative feelings toward the gathering.

They'd been hidden under a bush about 60 miles away from where their bodies were found. Nothing was stolen from the bags. To investigators, the most likely motive seemed to be hatred of the Rainbow family. Alkire threw himself into this one, trying to track down anyone who had expressed strong negative feelings toward the gathering.

Meanwhile, his office was swamped with tips after the Rainbow girls' names were released. Dozens of people claimed that they'd seen the girls at some point before they died. Alkire was sure that most of these stories were bogus. But he was intrigued by a possible sighting at a general store. The cashier told police that Nancy and Vicki stopped in around 5.30 or 6 p.m.

Meanwhile, his office was swamped with tips after the Rainbow girls' names were released. Dozens of people claimed that they'd seen the girls at some point before they died. Alkire was sure that most of these stories were bogus. But he was intrigued by a possible sighting at a general store. The cashier told police that Nancy and Vicki stopped in around 5.30 or 6 p.m.