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Moonlight Murders

Moonlight Murders

Written by: Joe
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 The Moonlight Murders: Texarkana's Phantom Killer

In the spring of 1946, a masked killer terrorized the twin cities of Texarkana, attacking young couples in lover's lanes under the cover of darkness. Five brutal assaults. Three dead. Two survivors who would never be the same. And a community gripped by fear so intense that hardware stores sold out of locks and guns.

This is the story of the Phantom Killer, one of America's most infamous unsolved cases. Across seven episodes, we'll walk through each attack in chilling detail, follow the desperate investigation that spanned multiple jurisdictions, examine the suspects who could never quite be ruled in or out, and explore how these murders shaped Texarkana forever.

From the first attack on Jimmy Hollis and Mary Jeanne Larey to the murders of Virgil and Katie Starks, from the questionable confession of Youell Swinney to the theories that still swirl today, we're diving deep into a case that inspired The Town That Dreaded Sundown and continues to haunt true crime enthusiasts decades later. The Phantom was never caught.

The case was never solved. But the story deserves to be told.Copyright Joe True Crime
Episodes
  • Episode 2: Double Murder on Spring Lake Road

    Episode 2: Double Murder on Spring Lake Road
    Jan 12 2026
    Episode 2: Double Murder on Spring Lake Road

    March 24, 1946. A motorist discovers Richard Griffin and Polly Ann Moore shot execution-style in Griffin's Oldsmobile on South Robison Road near Spring Lake Park. Both victims have been shot in the back of the head with a .32 caliber pistol. A pool of dried blood twenty feet from the car reveals the killer moved the bodies after shooting them. The crime scene is compromised by rain and poor security. Texarkana realizes the February attack wasn't isolated. A serial killer is hunting lovers' lanes.

    This episode chronicles the double homicide that transformed a local crime story into national news and unleashed mass panic across Texarkana. Discover how jurisdictional chaos between Texas and Arkansas law enforcement agencies hampered the investigation from the start. Learn about the arrival of legendary Texas Ranger Manuel "Lone Wolf" Gonzaullas, whose media-savvy approach prioritized headlines over forensic protocol. Witness the birth of the killer's infamous nickname and the gun-buying frenzy that followed.

    Featuring detailed crime scene analysis, the questionable tactics that contaminated evidence, and the escalating pattern that predicted another attack in three weeks. The Phantom was just getting started.
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    21 mins
  • Episode 1: The Town Between Two States

    Episode 1: The Town Between Two States
    Jan 3 2026
    Episode 1: The Town Between Two States

    February 22, 1946. A masked attacker with a white hood and pistol terrorizes a young couple on a secluded Texas lovers' lane. Jimmy Hollis suffers multiple skull fractures. Mary Jeanne Larey is sexually assaulted and flees half a mile for help. The brutal attack on the outskirts of Texarkana goes largely unreported by local newspapers. Police dismiss it as an isolated incident. No warnings are issued to the public. Three weeks later, the killer strikes again.

    This episode introduces the Texarkana Moonlight Murders, one of America's most infamous unsolved serial killer cases. Discover how this unique border city spanning Texas and Arkansas became the hunting ground for a predator known as the Phantom Killer. Learn about the lovers' lane culture of 1940s America, the post-war boom that transformed Texarkana, and the first violent attack that law enforcement fatally underestimated. The victims' conflicting descriptions of their attacker would complicate the investigation for decades.

    Featuring detailed accounts of the February 22nd assault, the geographical complexities that hindered the investigation, and Jimmy Hollis's chilling warning: "If you don't find him, he's going to kill someone."
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    19 mins
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