Vanessa Richardson

He saw two white women looking for a ride on the side of the road. They had a scruffy look to them. They looked like hippies. The girls climbed into Franklin's car and told them they were headed to some kind of rainbow festival. He drove them for a few hours, only stopping once to fill up on gas. Naturally, the three of them got to talking.

He saw two white women looking for a ride on the side of the road. They had a scruffy look to them. They looked like hippies. The girls climbed into Franklin's car and told them they were headed to some kind of rainbow festival. He drove them for a few hours, only stopping once to fill up on gas. Naturally, the three of them got to talking.

As the conversation went on, Franklin started to suspect that they were communists and that they hung around with, or maybe even dated, black men. In his mind, this was reason enough to kill them. Franklin claimed that he ordered the girls to get out of the car once they got to a remote area. Then he shot them point-blank and left their bodies on the side of the road.

As the conversation went on, Franklin started to suspect that they were communists and that they hung around with, or maybe even dated, black men. In his mind, this was reason enough to kill them. Franklin claimed that he ordered the girls to get out of the car once they got to a remote area. Then he shot them point-blank and left their bodies on the side of the road.

At first, the agent was skeptical of this confession. Franklin was already in prison for life, so it was no skin off his back to confess to a crime he didn't commit. He could be making this up to attract attention or boost his number of alleged victims. The agent gave Franklin a pen and paper and asked him to draw the area where he'd supposedly killed these girls.

At first, the agent was skeptical of this confession. Franklin was already in prison for life, so it was no skin off his back to confess to a crime he didn't commit. He could be making this up to attract attention or boost his number of alleged victims. The agent gave Franklin a pen and paper and asked him to draw the area where he'd supposedly killed these girls.

Then he called the West Virginia authorities. State Trooper Robert Alkire listened to everything the Wisconsin agent had to say. When the story was done, he gave the man a courteous thank you and ended the call. Alkire was sure that an outsider like Franklin couldn't have actually committed the rainbow murders. Vicki and Nancy had been killed on the face of a remote mountain.

Then he called the West Virginia authorities. State Trooper Robert Alkire listened to everything the Wisconsin agent had to say. When the story was done, he gave the man a courteous thank you and ended the call. Alkire was sure that an outsider like Franklin couldn't have actually committed the rainbow murders. Vicki and Nancy had been killed on the face of a remote mountain.

It was almost impossible to imagine a random drifter getting up there on his own. But the Wisconsin officer was insistent. He faxed the hand-drawn map to Alkire's office a few days later. To Alkire, it looked nothing like Pocahontas County, and it didn't seem to match the details of the case either.

It was almost impossible to imagine a random drifter getting up there on his own. But the Wisconsin officer was insistent. He faxed the hand-drawn map to Alkire's office a few days later. To Alkire, it looked nothing like Pocahontas County, and it didn't seem to match the details of the case either.

The gas station was drawn on the wrong side of the road, and Franklin made it look like Vicki and Nancy were killed close to the interstate when they were actually several miles away. And he'd referred to the area as Beckley County, which didn't even exist. Alkire put the map out of his mind.

The gas station was drawn on the wrong side of the road, and Franklin made it look like Vicki and Nancy were killed close to the interstate when they were actually several miles away. And he'd referred to the area as Beckley County, which didn't even exist. Alkire put the map out of his mind.

A few months later, Franklin brought up the Rainbow murders again, this time in an interview with authorities from Tennessee. Even though the West Virginia state troopers remained skeptical of Franklin, they felt like they had to follow this lead, and Debbie DeFalco was assigned to the case. DeFalco assumed that this would be yet another dead end.

A few months later, Franklin brought up the Rainbow murders again, this time in an interview with authorities from Tennessee. Even though the West Virginia state troopers remained skeptical of Franklin, they felt like they had to follow this lead, and Debbie DeFalco was assigned to the case. DeFalco assumed that this would be yet another dead end.

But the more she thought about it, the more Franklin made sense as a suspect. In addition to the map, the inmate had drawn a picture of the bullet he supposedly used. It was a large one, 240 grain. DeFalco called the ballistics lab. They confirmed that Vicki and Nancy could have been killed by a bullet that size.

But the more she thought about it, the more Franklin made sense as a suspect. In addition to the map, the inmate had drawn a picture of the bullet he supposedly used. It was a large one, 240 grain. DeFalco called the ballistics lab. They confirmed that Vicki and Nancy could have been killed by a bullet that size.

And when she looked through the old case records, DeFalco was reminded that a general store cashier had allegedly seen Vicki and Nancy right before they died. According to this woman, the girls were traveling with a tall, blonde man who drove a dark-colored Chevy Nova.

And when she looked through the old case records, DeFalco was reminded that a general store cashier had allegedly seen Vicki and Nancy right before they died. According to this woman, the girls were traveling with a tall, blonde man who drove a dark-colored Chevy Nova.

The state trooper started contacting other agencies that were investigating Franklin, trying to figure out if he matched the cashier's description. An agent in Pennsylvania told her that as far as they knew, Franklin had short, blonde hair at the time. DeFalco was able to confirm that Franklin had robbed a bank in North Carolina the day before the Rainbow murders.

The state trooper started contacting other agencies that were investigating Franklin, trying to figure out if he matched the cashier's description. An agent in Pennsylvania told her that as far as they knew, Franklin had short, blonde hair at the time. DeFalco was able to confirm that Franklin had robbed a bank in North Carolina the day before the Rainbow murders.