Felonious Florida: Episode 5 - “Blind as a Bat”

Release Date: July 5, 2024

Introduction and Background

In the gripping fifth episode of Felonious Florida, titled “Blind as a Bat,” host David Shoots delves deep into one of South Florida’s most haunting unsolved cases: the hunt for the elusive Pillowcase Rapist. Spanning nearly three decades, this case has baffled investigators and instilled fear across Miami and Broward counties.

The February 1986 Breakthrough

The narrative takes a pivotal turn on the night of February 11, 1986. A 36-year-old business executive awakens to a terrifying encounter in her North Miami apartment. Unlike previous victims, who were left blindfolded by the rapist, she catches a fleeting glimpse of her attacker, providing the first substantial lead in the case.

“She screamed at the sight of him, and he spun around and lunged toward her bed.” ([04:56])

Despite the imminent danger, the victim employs quick thinking to deceive her attacker:

“I can’t see. I can’t see my glasses over here on the nightstand. I’m blind as a bat.” ([05:44])

Her ruse forces the rapist to reveal his face, a risk he hadn’t taken before.

Investigation Intensifies

This encounter allows police to create one of the most detailed sketches of the suspect to date. The widespread dissemination of this sketch—over a million flyers distributed within the first week—marked the largest manhunt in South Florida’s history.

“Police say they doubt all this publicity will stop the Pillowcase Rapist from making assaults or force him to leave town.” ([02:02])

To enhance recognition, a local sculptor was commissioned to produce a three-dimensional bust of the suspect, aiming to improve identification rates.

“It’s going to be easier for people to identify something that looks like a person rather than looks like a drawing of a person.” – Detective Dave Simmons ([08:26])

Challenges in Solving the Case

Despite the massive efforts, the investigation hit numerous roadblocks. Detective Dave Simmons and his team meticulously analyzed over 25 cases linked by blood subtype evidence, focusing their search within a small geographical area in South Miami. However, the lack of unique characteristics in the suspect’s description made it exceedingly difficult to pinpoint the perpetrator.

“Nobody could be completely sure that all the rapes were linked, but all agreed that the pillowcase rapist had to be taken off the streets.” ([12:18])

As months passed without further attacks, frustration grew within the investigative team. The absence of new incidents led to the dismantling of the specialized task force in April 1987.

“We thought there’s a good chance we chased him away from the jurisdiction and he’s gone to another state.” – Detective Dave Simmons ([17:11])

The Case Goes Cold

With the task force disbanded, Simmons was left to grapple with the unresolved case, the only significant investigation he couldn’t close.

“It really haunted me. After I retired, it was the only big case that I left open.” – Detective Dave Simmons ([18:25])

Re-opening the Investigation Years Later

Fast forward to 2017, nearly three decades after the last known attack, Detective Sergeant Cammy Floyd from the Broward County Sheriff’s Office revisits the cold case. Advances in DNA technology reignite hope for solving the decades-old mystery.

“Because of technology, we’re solving more crimes than we thought we would have been able to in the past.” – Detective Sergeant Cammy Floyd ([24:32])

Despite numerous challenges, including damaged evidence and faded memories, Floyd and her team persist in their quest for answers.

DNA Breakthrough

The breakthrough arrives unexpectedly in 2019 when a routine felony charge leads to a crucial DNA match. Robert J. Koehler’s DNA, submitted during a domestic violence case, links back to one of the original Pillowcase Rapist attacks from 1983. However, this presents a perplexing twist: Koehler wasn’t born at the time of the earliest crimes, indicating that the perpetrator was his father, Robert Eugene Koehler.

“If I was going to spend the time to risk my life to do something stupid, heinous like that, you think I would spend only five minutes with a woman?” – Robert J. Koehler ([30:34])

Conclusion and Cliffhanger

As authorities close in on Robert Eugene Koehler, the episode leaves listeners on a suspenseful note, promising revelations in the next installment.

“You never know what becomes of them. Because rapists don’t generally just stop abruptly.” – Detective Dave Simmons ([14:23])

Stay tuned for the next episode, where the final chapter of the Pillowcase Rapist case unfolds, revealing the true identity of the man who evaded capture for so long.

Notable Quotes:

• “She screamed at the sight of him, and he spun around and lunged toward her bed.” – Dave Simmons ([04:56])

• “I can’t see. I can’t see my glasses over here on the nightstand. I’m blind as a bat.” – Victim ([05:44])

• “Nobody could be completely sure that all the rapes were linked, but all agreed that the pillowcase rapist had to be taken off the streets.” – David Shoots ([12:18])

• “It really haunted me. After I retired, it was the only big case that I left open.” – Detective Dave Simmons ([18:25])

• “Because of technology, we’re solving more crimes than we thought we would have been able to in the past.” – Detective Sergeant Cammy Floyd ([24:32])

• “You never know what becomes of them. Because rapists don’t generally just stop abruptly.” – Detective Dave Simmons ([14:23])

Felonious Florida continues to unravel the dark and complex layers of unsolved crimes in the Sunshine State, offering listeners an in-depth exploration of justice, persistence, and the relentless pursuit of truth.