by Shelly Barclay

Created on: June 02, 2009

The Moonlight Murderer or, more commonly, the Phantom, was a serial killer that operated in Texarkana, Texas between February 23 and May 4 of 1946. He was supposedly given the name Moonlight Murderer because the murders occurred when the moon was full. This is not true. None of the murders occurred during the full moon. Most likely the killer was given this name due to his propensity to strike at night.

The first crime that is attributed to the Moonlight Murderer occurred on February 23, 1946. The criminal approached a car that was parked on the shoulder of a lonely road. Inside the car was a 24-year-old man named Jimmy Hollis and his girlfriend Mary Jeanne Larey, who was only 19 at the time. The man forced the couple out of the car at gunpoint and then proceeded to knock out Jimmy by hitting him with the butt of his pistol. The assailant then sexually assaulted Mary Jeanne with the pistol. The man fled the scene when another vehicle approached. Both Jimmy and Mary Jeanne escaped with their lives, but the killers next victims wouldn't be so lucky.

The Moonlight Murderer's next attack occurred exactly one month later on March 23, 1946. His victims were Richard Griffin, age 29 and his girlfriend Polly Moore, who was only 17 when she was murdered. They were both killed by gunshot wounds to the back of the head that were inflicted by a .32 caliber revolver. Richard's car was discovered the next morning in Bowie County with both victims inside the car. Evidence suggests that they were shot about 20 ft. from the vehicle and then the killer placed them in the car.

The killer struck again on April 14, 1946, in Spring Lake Park. His latest victims were Paul Martin, age 17 and Betty Jo Booker, age 15. Paul's car was found inside the park, apparently the pair had been abducted from it and killed separately. Paul's body was found one and a half miles away from where his car was parked. He had been shot multiple times by a .32 caliber revolver. Betty Jo's body was found 2 miles away from the car. She had suffered the same fate as Paul.

On May 4, 1946, a couple was from outside of their farmhouse, 12 miles North of Texarkana. A man shot Virgil Starks twice through a window, he didn't survive. His wife, Katy Starks heard the din and entered the room where her husband lay dead and was shot twice in the face. The wounds weren't fatal and she managed to get to a neighbor for help. When the police arrived, the killer was gone. This time the bullets used to kill the victims

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