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The bodies of Rebecca Ann Dowski, 21 and Cathleen Marian Thomas, 27 were discovered On October 12, 1986, in the back seat of their car. They were found by a jogger. The Honda Civic had been pushed down an embankment of the York River, seven miles east of Williamsburg and about a mile from Cheatham Annex . An autopsy found rope burns on their necks and wrists, signs of strangulation, and their throats had been slashed. Their bodies had been doused with diesel fuel, and several matches were found outside the car. Their purses and money were found inside the car. Both women were found fully clothed and there was no evidence of sexual assault. Law enforcement officials believe that someone attempted to set the vehicle ablaze. Unable to start a fire, the killer then tried to push the car off the bluff into the York River.
Rebecca Ann Dowski was from Poughkeepsie, New York and was a senior business management major at the College of William and Mary. Cathleen Marian Thomas was a native of Lowell, Massachusetts, a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis and was employed as a stockbroker in Norfolk, VA. Some believe that Cathleen Thomas and Rebecca Dowski were killed because they were lovers.
If you have any information concerning the Colonial Parkway murders or any of the victims, contact:
Virginia State Police at 757-424-6850
and/or
Federal Bureau Of Investigation, FBI Special Agent Crosby Brackett at 757-435-4708
NCIC Number:
M-871430466
Rebecca Ann Dowski and Cathleen Marian Thomas
David Lee Knobling and Robin Edwards
Cassandra Lee Hailey and Richard Keith Call
Annamaria Phelps and Daniel Lauer
