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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Law enforcement officials from five states asked the FBI Wednesday to profile eight baffling homicides known as the ‘redhead murders” to determine if they are the work of a serial killer. The unsolved killings of eight unidentified women whose bodies were found since October 1983 were discussed in the six-hour summit of 21 officials from Pennsylvania, Ken tucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas and the FBI. “While there are some similarities in the cases, there’s also a great number of dissimilarities,’’ said Steve Watson, deputy director of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. ‘‘All were white females, but only three have red hair. The others were strawberry blond or dark-haired ladies,’ Wat son said. Watson said at least five were killed by strangulation, and all were found along major highways. However, while some were clothed, other bodies were found nude. Also, several of the women had engaged in sex ual activity just before they died, Watson said. “These people would seem to be from areas that were perhaps a considerable distance from where they were found since none have been identified,’’ Watson said. They would tend to have a lifestyle not sufficiently tied to others who would be willing to report their being missing,”’ Watson said. Officials have speculated that the killer or killers ap parently preyed on prostitutes, hitchhikers or those without family ties. As many as 11 unidentified women have been linked to the investigation, which has been tagged the case of the “redhead murders’’ because many of the victims had red or reddish hair. Watson would not comment about suspects in the case, nor about a truck driver from Cleveland, Tenn., who was ar rested in March by Knox County, Tenn., authorities in con nection with the attempted strangulation of an auburn haired woman. However, John Maples, Knox County chief of detectives, emerged from the meeting saying he does not consider the truck driver, 37-year-old Jerry Leon Johns, a suspect in the killings. Watson said the investigation will stress identification of the victims before concentrating on tracking down suspects. Watson said each jurisdiction will continue to pursue the case or cases in their areas and will submit information to the TBI, which will share the information with all five states. He said officials may be on the verge of identifying a woman found April 14 in Greene County, Tenn., from finger prints sent to the FBI by the Tennessee Crime Lab. On Monday, the TBI added the latest body to its list: a red haired corpse recovered April 1 near Interstate 75 outside Corbin, Ky. The TBI’s list includes bodies found near Memphis, Tenn., in October 1983; Sheareville, Ark., last Sept. 16; Comru Township, Pa. last Dec. 23; Jellico, Tenn., on Jan. 1; Her nando, Miss., on Jan. 24; Ashland City, Tenn., on March 31; Corbin on April 1, and Greeneville, Tenn., on April 14. All that was left of one was a severed head and some bones. On March 6, truck driver Johns of Cleveland was arrested by Knox County authorities and charged with aggravated kidnapping and felonious assault in connection with an alleg ed attack on Linda Schacke. Ms. Schacke, who survived having her torn shirt tied around her neck and being thrown into a culvert alongside Interstate 40 in March, identified Johns as her attacker, authorities said. Johns has been questioned about the other murders but faces no charges in connection with them, authorities said. Watson said authorities are not certain that one person is responsible for the killings, or how many victims there might have been. Four women killed between September 1984 and February 1985 in the Fort Worth, Texas, area were dropped from the list after investigators discounted the evidence that original ly linked the cases. And Watson said there doesn’t appear to be sufficient evidence to link a murder victim found April 24, 1981, four miles from Interstate 75 near Dayton, Ohio, with the murders.
Newspaper Details
Fort Walton Beach Playground Daily News
Fort Walton Beach, Florida, US
Thu, Apr 25, 1985
Page 7
Full Page
Clipped by
Amanda L.
USA 21 Jul 2026
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