Podcast Summary: Murder in America

EP. 224—SERIAL KILLER: The PHANTOM Killer, The MOONLIGHT MURDERS & The Town That Dreaded Sundown
Release Date: November 14, 2025
Co-hosts: Courtney Shannon & Colin Browen

Episode Overview

This gripping episode of Murder in America explores the haunting Texarkana Moonlight Murders—a series of brutal attacks and killings in 1946 that left the town of Texarkana (straddling the Texas-Arkansas border) in terror. The assailant, known only as the Phantom Killer, was never caught, and the case remains one of America’s most chilling unsolved mysteries, spawning enduring legends, paranoia, and even a cult-classic horror film.

Main Themes & Purpose

• Examination of the Moonlight Murders: Detailed retelling of each attack, the victims, community’s reaction, and police investigation.
• Impact on Texarkana: The psychological effect on the town, the rise in fear and vigilantism, and the alteration of daily life.
• Unsolved Mystery: Exploration of suspects, investigative shortcomings, and the lasting legacy of the case.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Setting the Scene: Texarkana in 1946

• Texarkana is a bifurcated town—two cities and police departments on the state border, thriving post-WWII but largely unaware of its criminal underbelly and soon-to-split innocence.
  (04:31–07:08)
  "They believed it was the ideal American city. High school football, hot dogs, and white picket fences." —Courtney [05:45]

2. The Phantom’s First Assault: Jimmy Hollis & Mary Jean Larry

• Date: February 22, 1946
• A young couple is attacked on a lovers’ lane by a masked man wielding a gun. Jimmy is savagely beaten; Mary Jean is assaulted with the weapon, then both left for dead but survive.
  (07:08–14:12)
  • Notable Quote:
    "I don't want to kill you, fellow, so do what I say." —Attacker (as recounted by Courtney) [08:35]
  • Investigation is hindered by conflicting victim accounts, lack of evidence and forensic technology.

3. The First Double Murder: Richard Griffin & Polly Ann Moore

• Date: March 23–24, 1946
• Found shot execution-style in a car parked on another lovers’ lane, with subtle signs of sexual assault—kicks off the fear that a killer is preying on lovers.
  (17:10–23:29)
  • Rain washes away most evidence, only .32 caliber shell casings found.
  • First hints at pattern; community begins to panic.

4. Escalation & Community Fear

• Police and Media Response: Search for witnesses, public warnings, offers of reward—over 200 people questioned to no avail.
  (23:29–25:28)
• Social Effects:
  "Some concerned residents even took to patrolling lovers’ lanes as others searched for a perpetrator… In just over a month, Texarkana had shifted from a town of ease to a community on edge." —Courtney [25:28]

5. The Third Attack: Paul Martin & Betty Jo Booker

• Date: April 13–14, 1946
• Close friends, both teens, are murdered after a night out: Paul is found shot multiple times, Betty Jo’s body is discovered miles away, staged and also a victim of assault.
  (27:32–33:29)
  • A missing saxophone leads police briefly to a suspect, who is later cleared.
  • Heightened public panic, rumors, and false leads ensue.

6. The Town in Crisis: Vigilantism and Paranoia

• Police deploy decoys and Texas Rangers, notably Manuel T. Gonzales (“The Lone Wolf”), arrive to coordinate the hunt.
  (33:29–37:16)
• Every unusual occurrence or person is suspect; rumors and amateur investigations flourish.
  • "Teens went about armed, like they were preparing for war. Many people kept guns in their cars." —Courtney [41:12]
  • Captain Gonzalez: "The rumors…[are] a hindrance to the investigation and harmful to innocent persons." [41:12]

7. Final Phantom Attack: The Starks’ Farmhouse

• Date: May 3, 1946
• Virgil and Katie Starks attacked at home; Virgil shot dead, Katie gravely wounded but survives and escapes.
  (42:20–53:06)
  • Crime differs: older, rural victims; weapon now a .22 caliber rifle.
  • Bloodhounds and roadblocks fail; the attack increases fear as nowhere feels safe.

8. Aftermath & Community Response

• Mary Jean Larry returns to aid police; all attacks linked as the work of the Phantom.
• Texarkana becomes a virtual armed camp:
  • "Liquor stores were closed at 9:30pm, restaurants, nightclubs and theaters were seldom more than half full. People even began to stay in hotels rather than at home." —Colin [56:00]

9. Suspects, False Confessions & Dead Ends

• Key Suspects:
  • Ewell Swinney: Arrested for auto theft; wife Peggy confesses multiple times to his involvement, leading police to crime scene details the public didn't know.
    • Ultimately dropped due to inconsistencies and lack of hard evidence.
    • “All they had left to prove Ewell’s guilt was minor circumstantial evidence. And so they were forced to drop the murder charges leveled against him.” —Courtney [68:37]
  • Henry Booker Tennyson: Suicide note “confession” later proven false due to age and lack of access to weapons.
• Numerous false confessions, mistaken identities, and dead ends—no conviction for the murders.
• Possible links to later serials like the Zodiac are considered but unproven.

10. Legacy: The Town That Dreaded Sundown

• Impact on Pop Culture:
  • The story is adapted into a 1976 horror film, with Texarkana embracing the legend through annual outdoor screenings.
    • "The film would become a major staple for the city… Every Halloween, Texarkana hosts a public screening..." —Colin [71:57]
• Lingering Fear:
  • “One cannot forget the truth of these attacks. They were not a fun thrill on movie night. There were five lives lost and three more forever scarred. It was a community forever changed…” —Courtney [74:48]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the randomness and terror:
  “It had been such a traumatic experience because there were no signs. No one seemed to be out for their blood until the bullets were fired into their home.” —Colin [53:06]
• On the killer’s elusiveness:
  Sheriff David: “No one sees him, hears him in time, or can identify him in any way.” [54:11]
• Public psychology:
  “Loaded guns were kept under people's pillows. Children were ordered to sleep on the floor in the same room as their parents.” —Courtney [54:11]

Important Timestamps & Segments

| Timestamp | Segment Description | |-----------|--------------------| | 01:02 – 03:24 | Atmospheric narrative intro sets the tone for the terror of 1946 Texarkana | | 07:08 – 14:12 | First attack on Jimmy Hollis & Mary Jean Larry—survivors' story | | 17:10 – 23:29 | Double murder of Richard Griffin & Polly Ann Moore | | 27:32 – 33:29 | Betty Jo Booker & Paul Martin murders, Stolen saxophone, intensified investigation | | 41:12 – 42:20 | Public panic, armed teens, rumors, and statement from Captain Gonzalez | | 45:42 – 49:12 | The farmhouse attack on Virgil and Katie Starks; Katie’s dramatic escape | | 53:06 – 56:00 | Investigation’s roadblocks, rumors, police and community response | | 61:44 – 68:37 | Focus on Ewell Swinney & Peggy’s confessions | | 70:02 – 71:57 | Henry Booker Tennyson “confession” and debunking | | 71:57 – 74:48 | Legacy—connection to urban legends and pop culture | | 74:48 – 76:18 | Closing reflections on the case, community scars, and the ongoing mystery |

Closing Thoughts

The episode paints a vivid, unsettling portrait of a town ripped from innocence by a faceless killer. Despite technological and manpower advances, the Phantom Killer was never caught. The attacks left five dead, three survivors scarred, and an entire region forever changed—its sense of security shattered. The case’s enduring legacy is a cautionary tale about the limits of justice, the contagiousness of fear, and how reality can eclipse even the darkest fiction.

For Listeners

• This episode thoroughly covers both the crime details and the human cost—from the graphic facts of the murders to the psychological ripple effects on Texarkana.
• Primary suspects are discussed, but the hosts clearly convey the deep uncertainty and mythology that envelop the case.
• The connection to broader cultural phenomena (urban legends, horror movies, conspiracy) is woven into the narrative, giving context to why this story endures.

If you want a deep, atmospheric, and emotionally resonant account of one of America’s most infamous unsolved serial killings, this is a can’t-miss episode.

Recommended segments:

• [07:08–14:12] First Phantom attack (Jimmy & Mary Jean)
• [27:32–33:29] Teen best friends murdered; escalation of community fear
• [45:42–49:12] Terrifying home invasion and survivor testimony
• [61:44–68:37] The investigation’s near miss with Ewell Swinney
• [74:48–76:18] Haunting, reflective closing on the murders’ legacy