They were unable to identify this victim, and she became known as a Jane Doe. Crime Scene: The Texas Killing Fields tells the story of the Calder Road Oil Field, colloquially known as the Texas Killing Fields, a 25-acre patch of land . Netflix has recently dropped a three-part docuseries titled "Crime Scene: The Texas Killing Fields," which explores the unsolved murders of four Texas women that occurred between the '80s and . The filmmakers hired officers Goetschius and Land as consultants while making the movie. This started in 1971 when three Galveston girls disappeared. Local and federal investigators believe, at least, some of the cases are. 30 bodies have been found along the stretch of land since 1971. The fact that dedicated people like Ferrarone, Land, and Goetschius were on the job brings as much comfort to the families of the victims as one might think could be had. The search for culprits spanned decades and eventually revealed that two serial killers had allegedly committed the crimes independently of each other. After this revelation, Reece confessed to killing Jessica Cain and Kelli Cox, leading the investigators to the bodies' burial sites. While in real life there have been several itinerant serial killers involved over the years, the film focuses on specific local Texas City suspects. The bane of police departments around the country, these so-called killing fields make it next to impossible for detectives to gather enough evidence to catch the murderers. Police arealsostill working on trying to identify Janet Doe and are asking for help. Browse 205 texas killing fields stock photos and images available or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. The Texas Killing Fields is a 25-acre patch of land in League City, Texas situated a mile from Interstate Highway 45 and approximately 26 miles southeast of Houston.Since the early 1970s, 33 bodies of murder victims have been found along the I-45 area. tv In 1997, 12yo Laura went missing. Get an all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! Her body was found bound and partially nude in Turner's Bayou along with her friend, Maria. Four women, Heidi Fye, Laura Mills, Audrey Lee Cook, and Donna Gonsoulin Prudhomme were found dead in that patch. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. In April of the next year, a dog dug up Villareal-Fye's bones in the rural oil field and carried her skull to its owner, The Washington Post says. Last seen near her apartment on Jacquelyn Street in Houston. In 1976, some of her remains were found by police, but due to neglect, weren't identified as hers until a new detective took over the case in '81 and re-examined the ditch where they were originally found. He was convicted of Dickens' murder and was sentenced to 70 years in prison. But Grant said Stallings later recanted. The woman had a small caliber gunshot wound to the back. Click here for more information about Janet Doe and who to contact if you think you may know who she is. Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! Two years later, on Feb 3, 1986, children riding dirt bikes in Calder Field smelled an odor and located the body of an unidentified female, who was given the name Jane Doe. "The effect that this has had on people for the last 30 years is still there," said Miller. Debbie Catherine Ackerman 23 Jun 1956 - 16 Nov 1971 . It was only after his death that a number of police officials, including the former Harris County District Attorney, stated their belief that Self was wrongly convicted. Brian Goetschius and Mike Land, who dedicated their careers to solving the mysteries of I-45. Between 1971 and 2006, 30 bodies have been found . Roadway Killers Are Still Active In United States Today. In 1993, he was arrested in Panama and extradited back to the United States, where he was subsequently convicted of Dickens' murder and received a 70-year sentence. In 1998, he wrote several letters to the Harris County Attorney, in which he confessed to killing 11 girls in total. The series is set to premiere on November 29, 2022. Last seen accepting a ride near an island ice cream shop with Maria Johnson. As compiled by the show's executive producer, Joseph Schneier, here are the five biggest killing fields in Americathat we know of so far: 5. In Texas City, Texas, detective Mike Souder (Sam Worthington) and his partner, Brian Heigh . texas killing fields crime scene photos. The documentary focuses much of its attention on a suspect named Clyde Hendrick, a roofer who lived in League City at the time. Tim Miller, the father of Laura Miller, said he saw the film for what the filmmakers intended to raise awareness about the crimes and to generate new tips. [52] A jury deliberated for about 30 minutes and found Smith guilty. Last seen at her job as a night clerk at the Casa Del Mar Condominiums at approximately 6 a.m. According to law enforcement officials, the qualifications are simple: a mix of hot, humid climate and hungry wildlife to ensure the quick destruction of evidence, and a location remote enough to prevent unwitting visitors from stumbling across a body, but not impossible for the perpetrator to reach in the dead of night. Her body was found two days later, near Lynette's off the side of a dirt road near Cleveland, Texas. On September 8, 1991, additional remains were retrieved from Calder Field. It was directed by Ami Canaan Mann and starred Sam Worthington and Jeffrey Dean Morgan. After hours of interrogation, Self confessed to the murders. The area surrounding the killing fields (Hobbs Rd/518) was pretty well developed with housing, gas stations, fast food restaurants, etc. The 25-acre patch of land in League City along Interstate Highway 45, between Houston and Galveston, is known as The Texas Killing Fields. Stallings, 50, is serving more than two life sentences for unrelated crimes, including aggravated kidnapping for a 1998 escape attempt while in prison. Texas Killing Fields (location) - Unionpedia, the concept map The Texas Killing Fields is easily one of the most discussed topics of the last decade due to the massive mystery around the area. Between the early 1970s and mid-2000s decades many girls have been found murdered there. Photo:Facebook/Chloe Grace Moretz The Angel. Hendrick was arrested in 2013 for Beason's murder and still remains a suspect in the Killing Fields murders. A dog discovered the first victim, Heidi Villareal Fye, 23, on April 4, 1984. Newsweek has everything you need to know. Discovered in a field in the 3000 block of Calder Road alongside Laura Miller, coroners estimate the woman was 22 to 30 years old and 5-foot-5 to 5-foot-8, and that she died six weeks to six months prior to being found. Sort By. Dickens removed the keys from Bell's vehicle and refused to return them. Click here for more information about Janet Doe and who to contact if you think you may know who she is. Thats something that Goetschius does in real life. Years later, in 1991, a fourth body was found in the field and became known as Janet Doe, according to the FBI. if (theYear < 1900) The DNA matched Smith, who had been arrested for a minor drug offense in 2010. It may be labeled a cold case, but that doesnt mean its sitting on a shelf and isnt being worked, said Special Agent Richard Rennison in the article from the FBI. [2] An overgrown field and a stretch of highway connect a series of grisly murders spanning several decades as grieving families search for answers.SUBSCRIBE: ht. Already serving time for the attempted murder and kidnapping of Sepo, Reece was convicted of Johnston's murder and sentenced to death. She had lived most of her life in Port Arthur, Texas, and was married with two sons. "There she is right there. Though the show focuses on the murders of Heidi Villareal Fye, Laura Miller, Audrey Lee Cook, and Donna Prudhomme whose bodies were all found in a specific spot known as Calder Road, there have been over 30 bodies found in the area, and numerous disappearances over the years. 19 relations. He was sentenced to life in prison. After 33 years, the body was identified as Audrey Lee Cook. Was The Colonial Parkway Killer Pretending To Be Law Enforcement? Miller was a Clear Creek High School sophomore at the time of her disappearance two years earlier. Since 1971, dozens of murder victims have been found in a 25-acre area near Interstate 45, between Galveston and Houston. Souder, a homicide detective in a small Texan town, and his partner, transplanted New York City cop Detective Heigh, track a sadistic serial killer dumping his victims' mutilated bodies in a nearby marsh locals call 'The Killing Fields'. Dozens of other bodies of women and young girls were found in the area, although not at the same site, from the late 1970s to the late 1990s. Released in 2011, Texas Killing Fields went on to critical acclaim, but the mystery of what actually took place in those fields remains etched into the minds and memories of investigators. Since. Miller's father is Tim Miller, who after her death founded Texas Equusearch, a search and rescue organization devoted to finding missing persons. Nevertheless, on September 18, 1974, Self was convicted of killing Shaw and received a life imprisonment term, despite the fact that his confessions showed great discrepancies concerning the victims' clothing, the date of the murders, the locations of the bodies, how they were killed, and various other details. "[4] Also, despite the fact that many popular true crime podcasts have grouped the murders of Dean and Tina Clouse with these victims, Dean and Tina Clouse were actually found in Houston off Interstate 10 in the 13,000 block of Wallisville Road, not League City (the location of the Texas Killing Fields). She was a mother of two who had left her husband after he allegedly became abusive, said her sister. She is known only by an artist's rendering as Janet Doe. Some shared similar physical features, such as similar hairstyles. Nowhis story is changing again. In 1972, convicted sex offender Michael Lloyd Self became a suspect in the murders of Rhona Johnson and Sharon Shaw. Details related to these and other abductions and murders in the area which Goetschius has had experience with are further outlined in the CBS interview, a link for which is provided here. Yes, there have been multiple arrests in the numerous murders that have been associated with the Texas Killing Fields. It's not that simple, according to investigators at the League City Police Department. She said she'd walk herself the short way back home. The area is quite far away from civilization as well. The Texas Killing Fields is a 25-acre patch of land in League City, Texas situated a mile from Interstate Highway 45 and approximately 26 miles southeast of Houston. But . Last seen with Brooks Bracewell at the U-Totem convenience store off of FM 517 and I-45. Before long, the killer changes the game and begins hunting the detectives, teasing them with possible clues at the crime scenes while always remaining one step ahead. For over 3 decades, dozens of women & girls along a stretch of TX highway have gone missing, or been found murdered. Reader discretion is advised. Members of the community have left a memorial site for each of the four victims, though, to acknowledge the horrors that happened there and honor the women whose lives were cut too short, according to the FBI. View the links for more information on the Texas Killing Fields. July 7, 2012 - CBS News The real-life mystery of Texas' killing fields During the search, there was another gruesome discovery, though: One more woman was found dead. During the interview, Stallings pointed out the location of Janet Doe's bodyon a map he had drawn for Carroll. texas killing fields crime scene photos. "I mean even though she was in the condition she was in, I should have just let her play her own life out, you know she wanted to waste it and I should have just let her waste it," Stallings said. Page 1. After some roadblocks, she ultimately brought her children to live with her mother. He died on December 21, 2000, and 16 years later, a number of police officials admitted their belief that Self had been wrongly convicted, according to Fox News. Has 1 dangerous predator prowled this area, or perhaps more than one. I-45 near Calder, TX, 30 Bodies Discovered to Date Since the 1970s, more than 30 young women have disappeared or been found dead along Interstate-45 in Texas. Opening theatrically Oct. 7, "Texas" looks likely to go to the ancillary killing fields quickly. The Texas Killing Fields is a 25-acre patch of land in League City, Texas[1] situated a mile from Interstate Highway 45 and approximately 26 miles southeast of Houston. However, despite efforts by the League City, Texas police, along with the assistance of the FBI, very few of these murders have been solved, and those that have been solved were predicated on confessions given by prisoners, or confessions given under duress from the police. The fact that any of this occurred is unsettling, to say the least. Only one perpetrator has been apprehended since early 1970s. Since the 1970s, 30 bodies have been found in and around the area, leading to the. Coroners estimate that that female victim was 24 to 34 years old, 5 feet to 5-foot-3 and weighed 100 to 130 pounds. Texas EquuSearch founder Tim Miller announces documentary Crime Scene: The Texas Killing Fields on Netflix. His arrest and conviction for murder came 16 years after Baker's body was found in March 1996. Cars drive on the infamous Interstate-45, July 12, 1999 between Houston and Galveston, TX. 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The Texas Killing Fields, a Netflix true crime series from the makers of "Crime Scene: The Vanishing at Cecil Hotel", explores the deaths of women discovered dead on a Texas highway. Heres what you need to know. Not knowing the identities of the victims was a major reason behind the stalled investigation that saw no evidence, links, or suspects. It is believed that many of the murders are the work of multiple serial killers. Based on true events. Several killings occur along Houston's I-45 corridor between Houston and Galveston, in and around an area known as "the Killing Fields". After telling her mother she was going on a 20-minute jog, Laura was last seen running down the same street that her home sat on. "[9] Metacritic gave the film a rating of 49/100, based on 17 reviews. The lot measures nearly 25 acres and is full of overgrown mesquite trees and is criss-crossed with dirt roads. Where Is Alex Murdaugh From Murdaugh Murders Now? [59], In 2021, Reece was convicted of Johnston's murder and sentenced to death. Were taking a look at the worst such dumping grounds in the country. From 1971 to 2006, over 30 women were . Get all your true crime news from Oxygen. He stated that he did not remember the names of most of his victims, but confidently stated that he had killed Debbie Ackerman, Maria Johnson, Colette Wilson and Kimberly Pitchford, as well as two other then-unnamed girls whom he had abducted from Webster in August 1971, later identified as Rhonda Johnson and Sharon Shaw. By Benjamin Hedda. Over 30 victims mostly women or girls were found along the 1-45 corridor south of Houston between 1971 and 2016. [41], Three years later, in 1976, Don Morris and his deputy, Tommy Deal, were arrested and convicted of various crimes, including torture and other misconduct against detainees. While the remoteness of a location can make it desirable in the short-term, its the influence of the surrounding terrain and weather that makes it a prime candidate for a killer. Texas Hill Country Facebook page is growing by over 1,000 fans per For multiple decades on a desolate stretch of road in Texas, a nightmare unfolded. Jan 20, 2013. It competed in the 68th Venice International Film Festival. The next day, her bike was found in the foyer of the church. Texas Hill Country. He even knew two of the victims, Debbie Ackerman and Maria Johnson, who frequented the store. But the reality of the fields is far more disturbing than any horror movie; their remoteness and atmospheric conditions lend the fields perfectly to anonymous body disposal. Her body was ultimately discovered under an interstate bridge. In 2001, he questioned Stallings over five days at the scene and said the suspect confessed back then, too. Last seen leaving her job as a waitress at Gaido's beach-front restaurant in Galveston. 14-year-old Brenda Jones from Galveston disappeared in 1971 while walking to her aunt's house. She had been beaten, raped and strangled. After his arrest, Zwarst told the police that he had hidden the body in one of the fields, where the other bodies were found. In 1978, Bell, while masturbating on the street in front of a group of teenage girls, he was confronted by 26-year-old former Marine Larry Dickens, while his mother called the police. Her body was found bound and partially nude in Turner's Bayou along with her friend, Debbie. Email them at iteam@khou.com. [47][48], Clyde Hedrick was named as a suspect in the 2022 documentary series Crime Scene: The Texas Killing Fields. We are born and bred in The Furthermore, many young girls have disappeared from this area; the girls' bodies, if deceased . While in prison, Reece provided a map of the burial sites and afterwards offered to fully help investigators in order to avoid the death penalty. We may earn commission from the links on this page. AG. He pleaded guilty and received a life sentence. "I think he's trying to clear his conscience, because he knows he's not going to get out," Carrol said. Michael Land served as a study for Sam Worthingtons film character. For multiple decades on a desolate stretch of road in Texas, a nightmare unfolded. Photos of Kevin Edison Smith and William Lewis Reece. Before they were known as the Texas Killing Fields, the 25 acres in League City, Texas were regarded as nothing more than an abandoned oil field where people dumped their trash. The first victim was a 23-year-old League City bartender named Heidi Fye. Is "Daisy Jones & The Six" Based on a True Story? The Texas Killing Fields was where over 30 bodies were dumped between the 1970s and 1990s, with fears that two serial killers were on the loose. Despite his partner's warnings, he sets out to investigate the crimes. It makes a body deteriorate so much faster.. Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. Jane Doe was finally named as Audrey Lee Cook, a 30-year-old mechanic who worked in various parts of Texas and had last been seen alive in December 1985. [4], The film was distributed overseas by Entertainment Film Distributors, a British company. The Texas Killing Fields is an extremely large area of land (approximately 25-acres) off of Interstate 45 in southern Texas, between the cities of Houston and Galveston. Last seen accepting a ride near an island ice cream shop with Debbie Ackerman. The same day Miller was found, police discovered a third unidentified body that they named Jane Doe. In 2009, Smith had been arrested on a drug charge in Louisiana. Following The Vanishing at the Cecil Hotel & The Times Square Killer, Joe Berlinger's next installment in the Crime Scene docuseries examines the eerie connections between the still-unsolved murders of three young women. Our The series was released on November 29 but the grisly story of the 'Texas Killing Fields' has been told in books, a 2011 film, and numerous Houston Chronicle reports on the series of murders dating back to the time they began. She was found in April 1984, when a dog brought a human skull over to its owners. This remote tract of land became a dumping ground for killers. Hill Country, and we welcome you to our family. [61][62], Janet Miller, mother of victim Laura Miller, said in an interview with the Dallas Morning News that she was angry at first about the film, stating "I was upset because no one notified me. Four bodies were found in the Calder fieldbetween 1984 and 1991. In 1996, the body of 13-year-old Krystal Jean Baker of Texas City was found dumped in Chambers County. As for the other three victims, Stallings denies every killing them and League City Police said they continue to build a case on another suspect in those murders. Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV. Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! Growing up in LC in the 80's & 90's, it was definitely a suburban area with many developed subdivisions and shopping areas. "Jane Doe", who was 30 at the time and whose remains were found in 1986, was identified as Audrey Lee Cook. Last seen at Dobie High School while she was there for a driving test. Netflix. In June 2022, he was extradited to Texas where he was found guilty of the murders of Smither, Cain, and Cox. Roland remains a prime suspect in the 1991 murder and two other slayings in Fort Bend County. The Texas Killing Fields is easily one of the most discussed topics of the last decade due to the massive mystery around the area. In September 1974, he was convicted of killing Shaw and was sentenced to life in prison, despite questions over the credibility of his confession. Texas Killing Fields on Pluto TV | Thrillers | 1hr 45 min | In the Texas bayous, a local homicide detective . 21 Breathtaking Images Of The Golden Gate Bridge, Five Fascinating People Who Inspired Your Favorite Fictional Characters, What Stephen Hawking Thinks Threatens Humankind The Most, 27 Raw Images Of When Punk Ruled New York, Join The All That's Interesting Weekly Dispatch. Her family believes police found a white blouse that belonged to her after one of her convicted kidnappers, Gerald Peter Zwarst, drew them a map of where to find her body, but she still has never been found. Between December 2013 and January 2016, the two wrote more than three dozen letters back and forth. Then you may live next to one of Americas infamous killing fields. Fye vanished six months earlier after walking from her parents' home to use a pay phone. It took decades of work before two of the four women were identified. "[11] Betsy Sharkey of the Los Angeles Times commented that "like the Texas City killer's plans, something's gone terribly wrong" with the film. In 2010 Killeen's population shot to 127,921. Her car was found the next day, stuck in mud, blood-stained, and abandoned on the side of an I-45 access road, south of the Galveston causeway. [5][6][7] Filming began on May 3, 2010,[5] in Louisiana, United States. On the map, Forseth included several destinations known for being haunted in Texas the Texas Killing Fields, which are roughly 30 miles outside Houston; the Bakers Hotel at Mineral. Although the majority of the 33 murders tied to the Texas Killing Fields are unsolved, several confirmed and plausible suspects have been posited. A man named Kevin Edison Smith was sentenced to life in prison in 2012 for murdering a 13-year-old girl named Krystal Jean Baker in 1996, according to The Houston Chronicle. [49] Hedrick was released from jail in 2021 after serving eight years for the murder of Ellen Beason in 1984. Are you praying for their souls? the CBS correspondent asked. The place is described as "a perfect place for killing somebody and getting away with it". The Texas Killing Fields. According to reports, some time later, two boys on dirt bikes found another body. There was also William Reece, who this year admitted he was responsible for the 1997 murders of Jessica Cain and Laura Smither. Her skeletal remains were found two years later in. "I know I had no right to take this young girl's life;she was just an innocent girl," Carroll read from one of the letters. . Police have not yet found Lauras killer: With the climate and terrain making the area a perfect killing field, its likely they never will. Jim Carroll is an ex-con who exchanged letters with Stallings for more than two years. Texas Killing Fields (Blu-ray, 2012) | Films & TV, DVDs & Blu-rays | eBay! They were mainly the bodies of girls or young women. While not the official name, the "Killing Fields" has become a term used to describe the 25-acre stretch of an abandoned oil field located in League City, Texas, not far from the Gulf of Mexico. Though Texas Killing Fields is a particular spot, the entire I-45 corridor saw multiple murders take place throughout the 50-mile stretch. "I'd walk out there right now and point straight at where she was," Stallings said.