Paper Ghosts: The Texas Teen Murders

Episode: "He Went to Sleep Forever" (December 3, 2025)

Host: M. William Phelps (Investigative Journalist)
Featured Guests: Patricia Springer (journalist/author), Mel Mitchell (private investigator), Weatherford Police Lt. Johnny Quals

Episode Overview

This episode reopens the Wendy Robinson case, examining its striking parallels with the unsolved 1983 murders of teenagers Shelly and Vincent in Weatherford, Texas. Host M. William Phelps and guests meticulously trace the timeline, delve into investigative missteps, revisit the wrongful focus on serial killer Ricky Lee Green, and follow new leads that challenge decades-old assumptions about who killed Wendy—and possibly about a broader web of teen deaths plaguing the area.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Disappearance and Discovery of Wendy Robinson

• Wendy Robinson, 19, was last seen July 8, 1987, at "the Wall," a popular hangout at Lake Weatherford (04:19).

• Her car, a Monte Carlo (same as driven by Shelly and Vincent), was found abandoned the next morning. Initially, friends, family, and police noticed the car wasn’t present during the first search, suggesting it was moved post-abduction—a crucial similarity to Shelly and Vincent's case (05:54, 07:03).

  Phelps: "Here's a similarity we see in Vincent and Shelly's case. You have a murder victim's car found in a place where scores of people reported it had not been previously, as if her killer had moved it." (06:00)

• Wendy was found three days later, on July 11, in front of a cattle guard on a remote ranch. She was bound and decomposed, still wearing a bathing suit and shorts (08:09).

• The community was shaken:

  Springer: "It was like shock waves going through the community. No one could believe it... It was scary for parents and scary for young women." (10:29)

2. Early Investigation and Connections to Other Cases

• Wendy’s case, similar in victimology and crime-scene oddities, prompted speculation of a connection with Shelly and Vincent’s murders. The possibility of a local serial killer, drug-related crimes, and even involvement from individuals connected to law enforcement were all discussed (11:44, 44:43).
• The rumor mill cited everything from jealous rivals and meth dealers to a local businessman involved in human trafficking, but no firm leads emerged (11:44).

3. Ricky Lee Green: Confession and Recantation

• Serial killer Ricky Lee Green, notorious for brutal killings in the area, confessed to Wendy's murder. He admitted guilt hoping to get his father (a drug dealer) a better deal on unrelated charges (15:04).

• Law enforcement and the community quickly latched onto his confession:

  Springer: "He thought, 'they've got me on four [murders], you know, why not? What's one more?'" (15:04)

• But, crucially, Green later recanted, and evidence never matched his known methods (17:47). He always used knives—not blunt force as with Wendy.

• Serial killers’ pathological lying and bargaining were highlighted; Green maintained his innocence regarding Wendy—and others—up until his execution. The host describes this orchestrated confession/recantation phenomenon, tying it to the broader problem of false confessions (20:10–21:38).

  Springer (on Green's denial): "[He] denied it. And right before he went to the Walls unit to be executed, I asked him for one last time, will you please tell me if you kill Wendy Robinson? And he said, no, I did not." (25:01)

  Green's last words: "I do want to tell the family that I am sorry, but killing me is not going to solve nothing. I really do not believe that if Jesus were here tonight that he would execute me. Thank you Lord. I am finished." (26:37)

• Notable Reflection: Even with Green executed, frustration lingered among families and authorities for lack of answers and definitive closure (27:51).

4. Investigative Rabbit Holes, Community Pain, and Cold Case Complexity

• Miscommunication, jurisdictional rivalry, and missed investigative opportunities plagued the case:

  Former Weatherford Police Chief Elwood Hohertz: "Winifred wasn't supposed to be investigating it, but did not want that case. Body was found out in the county, and really nobody knows if she's a deputy up this lake or that... so I had to let my detectives take the case." (43:26)

• Cold Case Perspective:

  • The importance of not letting rumors or easy narratives drive investigations, but instead following evidence (38:28–41:45).

  • Families’ heartbreak and the way lack of answers breeds misinformation and speculation:

    Lt. Johnny Quals: "People ... wanted to do their part. They didn't want to lose sleep at night by not passing it on ... But, you can't share all that information..." (39:46–41:10)

    "When they don't get the answer ... it frustrates them... that results in some of the ... speculation and misinformation being spread." (41:10)

5. Critical New Developments: The Real Suspects Emerge

• A break came when a man’s daughter reported her father, Ricky Lee Adkins, confessed his involvement in Wendy’s murder (48:32).
• Adkins was a known presence at Lake Weatherford at the time (48:56).
• Police linked him to a composite sketch related to a robbery the same day as Wendy’s abduction—her belongings were found with the robbery victim's wallet (44:43–49:17).
• This new information, and the lack of evidence tying Green to Wendy (she was bludgeoned, not stabbed), steered the investigation away from the serial killer and toward local suspects (46:03–46:40).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On confronting Green about Wendy's murder:
  • Springer: "I told him that I wanted to know about Wendy Robinson. And he just smiled and said, 'I didn’t kill her.' ... every time I asked him, and I interviewed him for three years, every time I asked him, he denied it." (25:01)
• On the execution:
  • Springer: "It really is like they just go to sleep. ... I was prepared ... and then he just went to sleep forever." (26:10)
• On investigative mistakes:
  • Springer: "Very few were listening to what the evidence dictated. Most were stuck on the obvious. A serial killer says he did it, then I guess he did it. They took Greene at his word, a huge mistake." (46:40)
• Community pain and rumors:
  • Lt. Quals: "People fill in the blanks... it just causes more confusion." (41:35)
• Discovery of new suspect (Ricky Lee Adkins):
  • Springer: "Her father had confessed to her that he was part of the murder of Wendy Robinson in Weatherford. ... the pieces start to fit." (48:32–49:17)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Wendy's disappearance and initial investigation – 04:19–10:48
• Serial killer Ricky Lee Green focus, confession, and recantation – 13:19–21:38
• Springer confronts Green, execution, and aftermath – 25:01–27:51
• Investigation gets bogged down, police rivalries, and suspect composite – 43:26–46:40
• Green ruled out, new suspect (Adkins) emerges – 48:32–49:29
• Notable details about Wendy's car and the evidence trail – 31:59–36:51
• Reflection on the nature of cold case work and community trauma – 38:28–42:48

Episode Tone & Language

The tone is sober, analytical, empathetic, and often indignant, especially when discussing investigative failures, the pain endured by families, and the tenacity required to work cold cases in the face of misinformation and dead ends.

Conclusion

This episode reveals how easy answers—such as blaming a local serial killer—can derail murder investigations for years, especially when law enforcement and community hunger for closure outpace the evidence. The emergence of a credible new suspect demonstrates the critical importance of following leads, even decades later, and listening to both physical evidence and family intuition. The systematic, human-centered focus of Phelps and his guests brings both clarity and emotional gravity to the enduring mystery of the Texas Teen Murders.

For more, listen to the next episode, where new leads shed further light on what—and who—might have been behind these chilling crimes.