Vanessa Richardson

They mentioned they were coming from Arizona, where Nancy and Vicki had met. The cashier then saw the women leave and get into a black Chevy Nova with a man. Alkire learned that the man driving the Chevy was lanky, clean-shaven, and blonde. He purchased gas, then turned right on State Route 219 toward the Rainbow Gathering.

They mentioned they were coming from Arizona, where Nancy and Vicki had met. The cashier then saw the women leave and get into a black Chevy Nova with a man. Alkire learned that the man driving the Chevy was lanky, clean-shaven, and blonde. He purchased gas, then turned right on State Route 219 toward the Rainbow Gathering.

The state troopers started scouring the county for Chevy Novas and any suspicious characters who fit this description. But by the end of July 1980, the suspect list had been winnowed down to zero. There was another interesting turn in the case early on. When Nancy's sister provided identifications, she told them something else.

The state troopers started scouring the county for Chevy Novas and any suspicious characters who fit this description. But by the end of July 1980, the suspect list had been winnowed down to zero. There was another interesting turn in the case early on. When Nancy's sister provided identifications, she told them something else.

Nancy had been traveling in a trio, and if only two bodies were found, that meant one of the girls had to be missing or in serious danger. Authorities all over the country were told to be on the lookout for the so-called Third Rainbow Girl. Officers scoured the woods where Nancy and Vicky were found, but there weren't any other bodies.

Nancy had been traveling in a trio, and if only two bodies were found, that meant one of the girls had to be missing or in serious danger. Authorities all over the country were told to be on the lookout for the so-called Third Rainbow Girl. Officers scoured the woods where Nancy and Vicky were found, but there weren't any other bodies.

After a week of frantic searching, State Trooper Alkire's phone rang. It was a woman named Liz Jondreau, the third Rainbow Girl herself. Luckily, she was very much alive, but she couldn't offer any information to help the case. She had been hitchhiking with Nancy and Vicki, but when they got to a rest stop in North Carolina, Liz told them she wouldn't be able to join the last leg of the trip.

After a week of frantic searching, State Trooper Alkire's phone rang. It was a woman named Liz Jondreau, the third Rainbow Girl herself. Luckily, she was very much alive, but she couldn't offer any information to help the case. She had been hitchhiking with Nancy and Vicki, but when they got to a rest stop in North Carolina, Liz told them she wouldn't be able to join the last leg of the trip.

Her father was getting remarried in Vermont, and she wanted to be there for him. Later, Liz told author Emma Copley-Eisenberg that this was, in fact, a lie. Liz didn't want to go to her father's wedding, but she'd had a premonition the night before, a bone-deep feeling of dread. Her gut was telling her she shouldn't keep traveling with Vicki and Nancy. Summer turned to fall.

Her father was getting remarried in Vermont, and she wanted to be there for him. Later, Liz told author Emma Copley-Eisenberg that this was, in fact, a lie. Liz didn't want to go to her father's wedding, but she'd had a premonition the night before, a bone-deep feeling of dread. Her gut was telling her she shouldn't keep traveling with Vicki and Nancy. Summer turned to fall.

Tips and leads slowed to a trickle. Vicki and Nancy had both been buried in their hometowns, and Liz Jondreau wanted nothing to do with the investigation. Alkire continued to work the case, but other investigations started to take up his time. In her book, Eisenberg described one of Alkire's theories about the murder.

Tips and leads slowed to a trickle. Vicki and Nancy had both been buried in their hometowns, and Liz Jondreau wanted nothing to do with the investigation. Alkire continued to work the case, but other investigations started to take up his time. In her book, Eisenberg described one of Alkire's theories about the murder.

He often told other officers and deputies that he believed the culprit was a local because the girls had been killed in an extremely remote area. He'd made this connection in the first few days of the investigation, and he hadn't wavered.

He often told other officers and deputies that he believed the culprit was a local because the girls had been killed in an extremely remote area. He'd made this connection in the first few days of the investigation, and he hadn't wavered.

But in March 1984, he received a phone call that called that theory into question, because a serial killer had just confessed to the murders of Nancy Santomero and Vicky Durian. Joseph Paul Franklin had been extremely active during the summer of 1980, and, according to authorities in North Carolina, he'd been spotted at that time driving a Chevy Nova.

But in March 1984, he received a phone call that called that theory into question, because a serial killer had just confessed to the murders of Nancy Santomero and Vicky Durian. Joseph Paul Franklin had been extremely active during the summer of 1980, and, according to authorities in North Carolina, he'd been spotted at that time driving a Chevy Nova.

It's pretty likely that Robert Alkire, an investigator in the Rainbow Murders case, had heard of Joseph Paul Franklin. Franklin was a white supremacist serial killer who'd committed dozens of hate crimes up and down the East Coast in the late 1970s. When he was finally arrested in October 1980, the story made national headlines.

It's pretty likely that Robert Alkire, an investigator in the Rainbow Murders case, had heard of Joseph Paul Franklin. Franklin was a white supremacist serial killer who'd committed dozens of hate crimes up and down the East Coast in the late 1970s. When he was finally arrested in October 1980, the story made national headlines.

We've covered him on serial killers before, but his crimes and alleged murders are so numerous, we didn't even get to his confession in the Rainbow Murders case. Joseph Paul Franklin was born under a different name, James Clayton Vaughn, and grew up in Mobile, Alabama. His father deserted the family when he was eight, and his mother beat him and his siblings almost every day.

We've covered him on serial killers before, but his crimes and alleged murders are so numerous, we didn't even get to his confession in the Rainbow Murders case. Joseph Paul Franklin was born under a different name, James Clayton Vaughn, and grew up in Mobile, Alabama. His father deserted the family when he was eight, and his mother beat him and his siblings almost every day.