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Freeway Phantom

Author: iHeartPodcasts and Tenderfoot TV

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Description

Between 1971 and 1972, six black girls went missing in the Washington D.C. area. Their bodies were discarded alongside DC freeways. And their killer was never found. The media dubbed him “The Freeway Phantom.”



From iHeartRadio and Tenderfoot TV, a new podcast reinvestigates the 50 year old unsolved murders of these young girls. Journalist and Public Radio veteran Celeste Headlee (NPR, PBS, TEDx) examines old case files and interviews the investigators and family members who are still haunted by these killings. Headlee will ask the questions: Why didn’t these murders make the news headlines? Did law enforcement do enough to solve these crimes? And how do racial disparities impact these types of investigations, past and present? Plus, we’ll explore new evidence which may crack the cold case wide open again.



If you have any information relating to these unsolved crimes, contact the Metropolitan Police Department at (202) 727-9099. If you have a tip and would like to reach out directly to Tenderfoot TV, email us at tips@tenderfoot.tv.
18 Episodes
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'Freeway Phantom' is a new investigative true crime podcast from Tenderfoot TV, iHeartRadio, and Black Bar Mitzvah. Hosted by Celeste Headlee. The first two episodes drop on May 17th, 2023.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Forgotten Girls

Forgotten Girls

2023-05-1755:1810

On April 25th, 1971, 13-year-old Carol Spinks mysteriously disappeared from her neighborhood in southeast Washington D.C. Six days later, her body was discovered off a nearby freeway. Investigators assumed this was a one-off murder. Little did they know, Carol was the first victim of D.C.'s first serial killer. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Congress Heights

Congress Heights

2023-05-1747:278

In early July of 1971, multiple drivers reported seeing a dead body just off a freeway in D.C. Only weeks later was the cadaver recovered. Police eventually discovered it was the body of 16-year-old Darlenia Johnson, who had gone missing weeks earlier. The killer had struck again...See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Did My Mother See Me?

Did My Mother See Me?

2023-05-2451:389

On July 27th, 1971, 10-year-old Brenda Crockett did not return home from a trip to the grocery store. Hours later, Brenda called home to deliver a cryptic message. And then, the line went dead. Her body was discovered just hours later...See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Moniker

The Moniker

2023-05-3150:414

On October 1st, 1971, a fourth victim was taken and later found dead: 12-year-old Nenomoshia Yates. Finally, news outlets begin to pick up the story of these murdered black girls. And the media gives the killer a name...See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Catch Me If You Can

Catch Me If You Can

2023-06-0747:153

In the early morning hours of November 16th, 1971, police discovered the body of 18-year-old Brenda Woodard. But this time, it's clear that the victim fought back against the killer. And in Brenda's coat pocket, police discover a handwritten note from the Phantom.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Hospital

The Hospital

2023-06-1454:455

After a hiatus of 10 months, police find the body of 17-year-old Diane Williams on September 6th, 1972. Diane would be the final confirmed victim of the Freeway Phantom. Sadly, police attention would be diverted away from the case by the Watergate Scandal. Plus, a suspect is revealed.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Green Vega

Green Vega

2023-06-2150:244

More suspects come to light. And we learn about two other murdered girls who may have been unconfirmed victims of the Phantom: 18-year-old Teara Bryant and 14-year-old Angela Barnes.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Who is the Phantom?

Who is the Phantom?

2023-06-2852:373

Why was the Phantom never caught? Is it possible he's still alive, walking freely? We explore all evidence pointing to his identity. And we ask: what hope is left?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
A New Profile

A New Profile

2023-07-0501:00:493

We recruit a former FBI profiler to create a new profile of the Freeway Phantom. And we look at the systemic issues that led to the Phantom's success.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Epidemic

The Epidemic

2023-07-1258:322

The Freeway Phantom case is but one example of a wider epidemic of missing black girls in DC who don't get the attention they need. How can we fix this? And how can we finally bring the Phantom to justice?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This week, on July 11th, marked “Relisha Rudd Remembrance Day'' in Washington, DC. As you heard in Freeway Phantom, back in 2014, Relisha Rudd, an 8 year old Black girl, went missing from Northeast, DC. Her whereabouts are still unknown. The timeline of Relisha’s disappearance is somewhat unclear but what is clear is that multiple systems failed to keep her safe and the failure of those systems is why no one even knew that she was missing, until it was too late. Tenderfoot TV has partnered with Truer Crime host, Celisia Stanton, to share more of Relisha Rudd’s story with you. In this episode of Truer Crime, Celisia takes a deeper look into what happens when the systems put in place to protect children, ultimately fail them.Truer Crime tells stories of real people who are missing, murdered or misled, digging deeper and challenging listeners to ask questions about the root cause of crime, and what justice really is. You can listen to “Truer Crime '' on Apple podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
BONUS: Courtney's House

BONUS: Courtney's House

2023-07-1943:003

We explore an issue deeply connected to the missing persons cases we've disccused this season: domestic trafficking. Tina Frundt of Courtney's House in D.C. takes us through her story as a survivor, and how her nonprofit works to combat the effects of human trafficking. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Henderson Long has worked on missing persons cases for over a decade. Long was also instrumental in the early stages of our Freeway Phantom investigation. We talk with him about his personal connection to the issue and his work to help families searching for answers in Washington D.C.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Introducing The Estate

Introducing The Estate

2023-09-1438:181

In the early evening on New Year’s Eve, in 1973, a 34 year old man was found bleeding to death on a downtown street in Stockton, California. In his dying moments, he named the men behind his murder: Calvin Jones and Rosalio Estrada. 50 years later, Rosalio’s son, Alex Estrada sets off to find out if his father was actually involved in the murder.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Hi, Freeway Phantom fans! Tenderfoot TV, iHeartPodcasts, and Campside Media bring you a new true crime series called Radical. Hosted by journalist Mosi Secret, Radical tells the story of Jamil Abdullah Al-Amin and asks the question, was Al-Amin truly guilty? Check out the first episode.   Episode Description: Two sheriff's deputies are hit during a shootout near a mosque, and the lead suspect is Imam Jamil Al-Amin. Journalist Mosi Secret begins investigating the shooting, and he encounters a vexing question.   Listen to Radical on the iHeartRadio app, or wherever you get your podcasts! And follow on social media @RadicalPodSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Introducing The Raven

Introducing The Raven

2024-01-1206:47

Who is responsible for two deaths hours after Super Bowl XXXIV in Atlanta? An altercation outside of a nightclub left two men stabbed to death in the street. The prime suspect, Baltimore Ravens star linebacker Ray Lewis. New evidence emerges in one of the most infamous crimes in sports history. Football, murder, and the man in the middle... from the producers of 'Atlanta Monster', 'Monster: DC Sniper', and 'Freeway Phantom', this is ‘The Raven’. Use this link to find 'The Raven' and follow the show.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Payne Lindsey returns to lead a new investigation into the disappearance of Alaska Native Florence Okpealuk, who vanished from the subarctic town of Nome in 2020. From Tenderfoot TV, a new chapter begins, this is season 4... 'Up and Vanished: In the Midnight Sun'.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Comments (1)

Jace

You can immediately tell that it's not the work of HowStuffWorks when there is minimal background music, mid intro and the storytelling comes off as kinda boring, compared to the other series which are compelling

Jun 29th
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