Vanessa Richardson

They cited multiple issues in the original trial, including the use of hypnosis on two of the witnesses and the judge's choice to ban any evidence related to Joseph Paul Franklin. This first appeal was eventually denied, but then in October of that year, an otherworldly presence seemed to intervene. According to Joseph Paul Franklin, a so-called spirit guide came to him with a message.

They cited multiple issues in the original trial, including the use of hypnosis on two of the witnesses and the judge's choice to ban any evidence related to Joseph Paul Franklin. This first appeal was eventually denied, but then in October of that year, an otherworldly presence seemed to intervene. According to Joseph Paul Franklin, a so-called spirit guide came to him with a message.

Even though he'd been behind bars for 14 years and would be spending his life in jail no matter what, he should confess to more of his crimes, including the ones that carried the death penalty. While speaking to one prosecutor, Franklin repeated a lot of the details that Debbie DeFalco had uncovered in 1984.

Even though he'd been behind bars for 14 years and would be spending his life in jail no matter what, he should confess to more of his crimes, including the ones that carried the death penalty. While speaking to one prosecutor, Franklin repeated a lot of the details that Debbie DeFalco had uncovered in 1984.

He said he was driving a Chevy Nova and had stopped at a store on the way up the mountain. He described the women as, quote, dirty, hippie-type broads. And he said he'd killed them because they might have dated black men. But there were some details that didn't match the facts of the case. Most glaringly, Franklin now said that he'd shot the women inside of his car.

He said he was driving a Chevy Nova and had stopped at a store on the way up the mountain. He described the women as, quote, dirty, hippie-type broads. And he said he'd killed them because they might have dated black men. But there were some details that didn't match the facts of the case. Most glaringly, Franklin now said that he'd shot the women inside of his car.

According to the ballistics experts who examined the bodies, this wasn't possible. There would have been way more gunpowder residue on them if they were shot at such close range. But whether Franklin was the actual culprit or not, his confession opened up a new angle for Jacob Beard and his defense team. They filed a motion they hoped would get them a new trial, and it worked.

According to the ballistics experts who examined the bodies, this wasn't possible. There would have been way more gunpowder residue on them if they were shot at such close range. But whether Franklin was the actual culprit or not, his confession opened up a new angle for Jacob Beard and his defense team. They filed a motion they hoped would get them a new trial, and it worked.

Armed with a taped deposition in which Franklin plainly stated that he committed the murders, Beard and his lawyers went back to the courtroom in May 2000. The jury deliberated for just under three hours. In the end, they decided that there wasn't enough evidence against Beard. He was found not guilty. He later won a wrongful conviction lawsuit against the county.

Armed with a taped deposition in which Franklin plainly stated that he committed the murders, Beard and his lawyers went back to the courtroom in May 2000. The jury deliberated for just under three hours. In the end, they decided that there wasn't enough evidence against Beard. He was found not guilty. He later won a wrongful conviction lawsuit against the county.

After 20 years, countless suspects, and one conviction, the Rainbow murders were once again considered unsolved. And they've remained that way. When journalist Emma Copley-Eisenberg spoke with residents of Pocahontas County, many of them still believed that Jacob Beard killed the Rainbow Girls. She also spoke to Beard himself.

After 20 years, countless suspects, and one conviction, the Rainbow murders were once again considered unsolved. And they've remained that way. When journalist Emma Copley-Eisenberg spoke with residents of Pocahontas County, many of them still believed that Jacob Beard killed the Rainbow Girls. She also spoke to Beard himself.

He insisted that none of the local men were involved, and it was probably Joseph Paul Franklin who did it. According to Eisenberg's book, Debbie DeFalco agrees. Beard had made multiple mistakes, starting with the call to Vicki Durian's family in 1982. But at the end of the day, his case had no hard evidence. And besides, he had no real motive.

He insisted that none of the local men were involved, and it was probably Joseph Paul Franklin who did it. According to Eisenberg's book, Debbie DeFalco agrees. Beard had made multiple mistakes, starting with the call to Vicki Durian's family in 1982. But at the end of the day, his case had no hard evidence. And besides, he had no real motive.

Franklin, on the other hand, did have a possible motive. A deep and twisted belief in white supremacy and a hatred of what he referred to as race mixers. And from DeFalco's point of view, there was plenty of evidence against Franklin, from the bullet he drew on the map to the car he was driving. Joseph Paul Franklin was executed in 2013 at age 63.

Franklin, on the other hand, did have a possible motive. A deep and twisted belief in white supremacy and a hatred of what he referred to as race mixers. And from DeFalco's point of view, there was plenty of evidence against Franklin, from the bullet he drew on the map to the car he was driving. Joseph Paul Franklin was executed in 2013 at age 63.

While he was never formally tried for the Rainbow murders, he also never retracted his last confession. Many sources, including a 2011 biography by Mel Ayton, state that he killed Vicki and Nancy outright. But there are still certain details in the case against Franklin that don't add up.

While he was never formally tried for the Rainbow murders, he also never retracted his last confession. Many sources, including a 2011 biography by Mel Ayton, state that he killed Vicki and Nancy outright. But there are still certain details in the case against Franklin that don't add up.

Perhaps if Franklin was willing to speak with authorities earlier, some of these discrepancies would have been cleared up. But at this point, it seems like we'll never be certain. What we do know is this. Whoever killed Vicki Durian and Nancy Santomero ended the lives of two bright, adventurous young women. The two of them had come to West Virginia looking for peace, love, and a place to belong.

Perhaps if Franklin was willing to speak with authorities earlier, some of these discrepancies would have been cleared up. But at this point, it seems like we'll never be certain. What we do know is this. Whoever killed Vicki Durian and Nancy Santomero ended the lives of two bright, adventurous young women. The two of them had come to West Virginia looking for peace, love, and a place to belong.