A shadowy figure roams the streets, looking for his next murder victim… It sounds like the plot of a horror movie – and it is. But it’s also a true story that’s based on a disturbing killing spree, which happened in Arkansas decades ago. The story of the Phantom Killer isn’t as widely known as those of Ted Bundy or Jeffrey Dahmer, but for many Arkansans, the unknown killer was a very real threat in the mid-1900s. He also left a few scars… and is still unapprehended. Here’s the story:
In the spring and summer of 1946, a serial killer, who would later be dubbed the Phantom Killer, terrorized the residents of Texarkana, a town that straddles the state line between Arkansas and Texas.
Jimmy Emerson Dalton/Wikimedia
The Phantom Killer struck for the first time on February 22, 1946.
Public Domain/Wikimedia
The first victims, Jimmy Hollis, 25, and Mary Jeanne Larey, 19, were attacked while parked at a local lovers’ lane. Despite being terribly beaten, the two survived.
In the months that followed, the Phantom Killer embarked on a murder spree, which the media coined the Texarkana Moonlight Murders. He primarily targeted teenagers, and wore a white mask to conceal his identity.
Texarkana Daily News/Wikimedia The second attack came about a month after the first. Much like the first, the second incident involved a pair of sweethearts. Both were shot and killed. Their bodies were discovered the next day.
A majority of the murders took place in Texas. However, the Phantom Killer struck in Arkansas, too.
Carol Von Canon/Flickr The masked murderer didn’t just target teen lovebirds, though. On May 3, 1946, the Phantom Killer set his sights on the residents of a secluded farmhouse in Miller County. Virgil Starks was shot twice and killed. His wife, Katy Starks, was shot twice while trying to call the police. Surprisingly, Katy Starks survived and was able to escape to a neighbor’s house.
Police officers from Arkansas and the Texas Rangers joined forces in an attempt to catch the Phantom Killer.
Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum/Facebook Officers weren’t the only ones focused on the case. The media caught wind of the killing spree, and before long, reporters from all over the nation flocked to Texarkana.
Officials didn’t have much to go on.
Texarkana Gazette/Wikimedia The Phantom Killer didn’t leave behind many clues. However, the cops did have one lead. They knew the killer used a flashlight, like the one pictured. The Texarkana Gazette published a photo of the flashlight, asking the public to keep an eye out for anyone using one like it.
There is great debate as to whether or not the Phantom Killer is still at large today. Many believe that the killer has already been caught and apprehended on other charges. Regardless, his story lives on through the 1976 horror movie, The Town That Dreaded Sundown.
Arkansas Historical Association/Facebook There are a few discrepancies between the film and real life. However, for the most part, the movie follows reality as it depicts the eight Moonlight Murder stories and victims.
Watch the video below to learn more about the Texarkana Moonlight Murders, the Arkansas killing spree that shook the region.
Jimmy Emerson Dalton/Wikimedia
Public Domain/Wikimedia
The first victims, Jimmy Hollis, 25, and Mary Jeanne Larey, 19, were attacked while parked at a local lovers’ lane. Despite being terribly beaten, the two survived.
Texarkana Daily News/Wikimedia
The second attack came about a month after the first. Much like the first, the second incident involved a pair of sweethearts. Both were shot and killed. Their bodies were discovered the next day.
Carol Von Canon/Flickr
The masked murderer didn’t just target teen lovebirds, though. On May 3, 1946, the Phantom Killer set his sights on the residents of a secluded farmhouse in Miller County. Virgil Starks was shot twice and killed. His wife, Katy Starks, was shot twice while trying to call the police. Surprisingly, Katy Starks survived and was able to escape to a neighbor’s house.
Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum/Facebook
Officers weren’t the only ones focused on the case. The media caught wind of the killing spree, and before long, reporters from all over the nation flocked to Texarkana.
Texarkana Gazette/Wikimedia
The Phantom Killer didn’t leave behind many clues. However, the cops did have one lead. They knew the killer used a flashlight, like the one pictured. The Texarkana Gazette published a photo of the flashlight, asking the public to keep an eye out for anyone using one like it.
Arkansas Historical Association/Facebook
There are a few discrepancies between the film and real life. However, for the most part, the movie follows reality as it depicts the eight Moonlight Murder stories and victims.
Did you know about the Texarkana Moonlight Murders? Or the fact that The Town That Dreaded Sundown was linked to Arkansas? Know of another unsolved Arkansas crime? Tell us!
If you’re not creeped out enough yet, here are eight Arkansas urban legends that will keep you up at night.
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Address: Texarkana, AR 71854, USA
The OIYS Visitor Center
The Phantom Killer & Related Info November 15, 2022 Jennifer Who is the most famous serial killer in Arkansas? Like many states, Arkansas has had its fair share of serial killers, violent criminals, and still-unsolved mysteries. Here are a few well-known apprehended individuals and serial killers who visited, lived in, or committed gruesome crimes in Arkansas:
Ronald Gene Simmons, Sr. Samuel Little James Williams Ted Bundy James “Big Jim” “Red” Waybern Hall Paul Ruiz John Markle Christina Riggs Charles Ray Vines Lavinia Burnett
What are the best museums in Arkansas to learn about state history? Arkansas is chock full of both natural and man-made history, spanning back to well before America was founded. Here are some of the best, most highly-rated museums in Arkansas:
Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville Mid-America Science Museum, Piney Museum of Discovery, Little Rock Museum of Native American History, Bentonville MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History, Little Rock Arkansas Air and Military Museum, Fayetteville Fort Smith Museum of History, Fort Smith Japanese American Internment Museum. McGehee Museum of the Arkansas Grand Prairie, Stuttgart Josephine Tussaud Wax Museum, Hot Springs Historic Arkansas Museum, Little Rock Bradbury Art Museum, Jonesboro Shiloh Museum of Ozark History, Springdale Arkansas Inland Maritime Museum, North Little Rock Gangster Museum of America, Hot Springs
The OIYS Visitor Center
The Phantom Killer & Related Info
November 15, 2022
Jennifer
Who is the most famous serial killer in Arkansas? Like many states, Arkansas has had its fair share of serial killers, violent criminals, and still-unsolved mysteries. Here are a few well-known apprehended individuals and serial killers who visited, lived in, or committed gruesome crimes in Arkansas:
Ronald Gene Simmons, Sr. Samuel Little James Williams Ted Bundy James “Big Jim” “Red” Waybern Hall Paul Ruiz John Markle Christina Riggs Charles Ray Vines Lavinia Burnett
What are the best museums in Arkansas to learn about state history? Arkansas is chock full of both natural and man-made history, spanning back to well before America was founded. Here are some of the best, most highly-rated museums in Arkansas:
Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville Mid-America Science Museum, Piney Museum of Discovery, Little Rock Museum of Native American History, Bentonville MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History, Little Rock Arkansas Air and Military Museum, Fayetteville Fort Smith Museum of History, Fort Smith Japanese American Internment Museum. McGehee Museum of the Arkansas Grand Prairie, Stuttgart Josephine Tussaud Wax Museum, Hot Springs Historic Arkansas Museum, Little Rock Bradbury Art Museum, Jonesboro Shiloh Museum of Ozark History, Springdale Arkansas Inland Maritime Museum, North Little Rock Gangster Museum of America, Hot Springs
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
Like many states, Arkansas has had its fair share of serial killers, violent criminals, and still-unsolved mysteries. Here are a few well-known apprehended individuals and serial killers who visited, lived in, or committed gruesome crimes in Arkansas:
- Ronald Gene Simmons, Sr.
- Samuel Little
- James Williams
- Ted Bundy
- James “Big Jim” “Red” Waybern Hall
- Paul Ruiz
- John Markle
- Christina Riggs
- Charles Ray Vines
- Lavinia Burnett
What are the best museums in Arkansas to learn about state history?
Arkansas is chock full of both natural and man-made history, spanning back to well before America was founded. Here are some of the best, most highly-rated museums in Arkansas:
- Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville
- Mid-America Science Museum, Piney
- Museum of Discovery, Little Rock
- Museum of Native American History, Bentonville
- MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History, Little Rock
- Arkansas Air and Military Museum, Fayetteville
- Fort Smith Museum of History, Fort Smith
- Japanese American Internment Museum. McGehee
- Museum of the Arkansas Grand Prairie, Stuttgart
- Josephine Tussaud Wax Museum, Hot Springs
- Historic Arkansas Museum, Little Rock
- Bradbury Art Museum, Jonesboro
- Shiloh Museum of Ozark History, Springdale
- Arkansas Inland Maritime Museum, North Little Rock
- Gangster Museum of America, Hot Springs
