Vanessa Richardson

A young boy had actually seen him climb into a black car when he was fleeing the scene. According to North Carolina authorities, it was a Nova. By this point, DeFalco was pretty sure that Joseph Paul Franklin didn't make this story up. But in order to really be certain, she needed to talk to Franklin.

A young boy had actually seen him climb into a black car when he was fleeing the scene. According to North Carolina authorities, it was a Nova. By this point, DeFalco was pretty sure that Joseph Paul Franklin didn't make this story up. But in order to really be certain, she needed to talk to Franklin.

She drove hours to the federal penitentiary and came face to face with him in a cramped, square room. DeFalco's recollections of this meeting are described in detail in The Third Rainbow Girl. According to her, the inmate arrived in shackles. He wouldn't stop staring at her through his one good eye. She sat across from him for more than an hour, asking question after question.

She drove hours to the federal penitentiary and came face to face with him in a cramped, square room. DeFalco's recollections of this meeting are described in detail in The Third Rainbow Girl. According to her, the inmate arrived in shackles. He wouldn't stop staring at her through his one good eye. She sat across from him for more than an hour, asking question after question.

But he flatly dismissed everything. He even denied robbing the bank in North Carolina. DeFalco called the guards in, and they ushered Franklin back into a cell outside of the interrogation room. But then, as the state trooper was leaving, Franklin motioned to get her attention. He beckoned her to come closer, then whispered in her ear... That's when he told her he did it.

But he flatly dismissed everything. He even denied robbing the bank in North Carolina. DeFalco called the guards in, and they ushered Franklin back into a cell outside of the interrogation room. But then, as the state trooper was leaving, Franklin motioned to get her attention. He beckoned her to come closer, then whispered in her ear... That's when he told her he did it.

He added that he dumped Nancy and Vicky's backpacks in the forest. He remembered that one of them was green, which made it easy to hide in the foliage. Vicky Durian had been carrying a green bag. DeFalco told the author that she sped home to West Virginia and dug even deeper into the case.

He added that he dumped Nancy and Vicky's backpacks in the forest. He remembered that one of them was green, which made it easy to hide in the foliage. Vicky Durian had been carrying a green bag. DeFalco told the author that she sped home to West Virginia and dug even deeper into the case.

She talked to more law enforcement agencies and compiled the evidence against Franklin in a comprehensive report. She presented everything to Robert Alkire and the other higher-ups. Her report concluded with a clear statement. Joseph Paul Franklin had the motive, means, and opportunity to commit the Rainbow murders. It was entirely possible that he was the killer they'd been looking for.

She talked to more law enforcement agencies and compiled the evidence against Franklin in a comprehensive report. She presented everything to Robert Alkire and the other higher-ups. Her report concluded with a clear statement. Joseph Paul Franklin had the motive, means, and opportunity to commit the Rainbow murders. It was entirely possible that he was the killer they'd been looking for.

But despite all the evidence DeFalco presented, Alkire and his colleagues didn't buy it. They hardly even entertained it. This may have been because Alkire still thought the killer had to be local. Even though DeFalco presented plenty of reasons to suspect Franklin, the serial killer was an outsider.

But despite all the evidence DeFalco presented, Alkire and his colleagues didn't buy it. They hardly even entertained it. This may have been because Alkire still thought the killer had to be local. Even though DeFalco presented plenty of reasons to suspect Franklin, the serial killer was an outsider.

In fact, Alkire and other investigators had been pursuing a few men from in and around Pocahontas County. In particular, he'd set his sights on a man named Jacob Beard. Back in July 1982, two years after the murders, Vicky Durian's father, Howard, got a phone call at home. The man on the line said he was calling from Pocahontas County.

In fact, Alkire and other investigators had been pursuing a few men from in and around Pocahontas County. In particular, he'd set his sights on a man named Jacob Beard. Back in July 1982, two years after the murders, Vicky Durian's father, Howard, got a phone call at home. The man on the line said he was calling from Pocahontas County.

It was really awful what happened to Howard's daughter, and he wanted to say sorry. The caller went on to say that he'd gone to high school with some of the investigators. They were small town cops, not the sharpest. Howard should probably contact the FBI if he actually wanted to know who killed Vicki. Howard was terrified. After a few moments of silence, he asked what the man's name was.

It was really awful what happened to Howard's daughter, and he wanted to say sorry. The caller went on to say that he'd gone to high school with some of the investigators. They were small town cops, not the sharpest. Howard should probably contact the FBI if he actually wanted to know who killed Vicki. Howard was terrified. After a few moments of silence, he asked what the man's name was.

The caller refused to answer. All he said was that he wasn't the murderer. Then he hung up. Howard contacted Alkire, who put a trace on the Durians' phone line. When the man called again, the police were able to identify him immediately. It was Jacob Beard. Beard had lived in Pocahontas County, West Virginia, for almost all of his life, so of course he'd heard of the Rainbow murders.

The caller refused to answer. All he said was that he wasn't the murderer. Then he hung up. Howard contacted Alkire, who put a trace on the Durians' phone line. When the man called again, the police were able to identify him immediately. It was Jacob Beard. Beard had lived in Pocahontas County, West Virginia, for almost all of his life, so of course he'd heard of the Rainbow murders.

One night, as Beard thumbed through the newspaper, he saw an article commemorating the crime. He said he felt awful that this had happened in his hometown and wanted to call the families of the victims and say sorry. He didn't know how to pronounce Santomero, so he opted for the Durians.

One night, as Beard thumbed through the newspaper, he saw an article commemorating the crime. He said he felt awful that this had happened in his hometown and wanted to call the families of the victims and say sorry. He didn't know how to pronounce Santomero, so he opted for the Durians.