Quote from Angela on April 14, 2021, 12:10 pm

In the 1940s the State of Texarkana fell prey to an unidentified phantom serial killer. This killer claimed five victims, and severely injured many more, yet was never caught.

This case was the highest profile unsolved murder case in the history of Texas and was named The Moonlight Case.

During the Spring time of 1946 Jimmy Hollis aged 25 and Mary Jeanne Larey aged 19 decided to go on a date night to the cinema. On their journey home they pulled over on a quiety concealed dirt road. Soon after, their vehicle was approached by a man who appeared from nowhere wearing a white mask.

He pointed a pistol at Jimmy and said "don't make me kill you". He ordered the two out from the car, and then forced Jimmy to remove his trousers, then smashed his head with a weapon, Mary stood in horror upon hearing the crack of Jimmys skull. His lifeless body lay strewn on the floor. 

The man then threw Mary to the ground and attempted to sexually assault her.  Mary cried and pleaded for her life and he told her "Go! Run!". He then turned to stealing goods from the vehicle.

Mary was wearing stiletto heels but ran as fast as she could along the dirt track. Horrifically, her escape would be shortlived when the slayer began chasing her, caught up and finished what he started. He violently attacked and raped Mary, yet unbeknown to the assailant, Jimmy had regained consciousness and had waved down a passing car to help them.

The assailant escaped leaving the couple barely alive and narrowly surviving, both required intensive hospital treatment. 

However, this serial killers thirst was far from quenched and he went on to murder two more couples just months later and even took them back to his home to prolong their suffering. Once again the victims had been shot and raped, it seemed this killer had a hatred for lovers.

Texarkana is known for its whispering ghosts and dark shadow figures. Locals frequently report the disturbing sighting of an apparition of a man with a blood covered face accompanied by the sounds of unexplained gunshots.

Could this be a residual replay haunting of the coldblooded killer? Could his spirit still be roaming the dusty Texarkana back roads prying on unsuspecting lovers? 

What do you think?

Photographer Seph Lawless captured thirteen stunning shots of real life haunted murder houses. His book '13 : HAUNTINGLY BEAUTIFUL' is available via Amazon, features the house where the Texarkana killer is believed to have taken his victims (pictured below).

There are guided Texarkana Ghost tours available if you are feeling brave enough!