TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — For nearly three decades, one question has loomed over law enforcement in several states, who is the I-70 Killer?
In 1992, a man known as the I-70/I-35 Killer went on a murder spree across the Midwest. Six victims were killed in Kansas, Missouri and Indiana in 29 days.
The identity of the suspect is not known.
Challenges created for investigators include the time passed since the killings and the lack of technology available in the early 1990s.
Last October, officials released new sketches showing what the killer would look like in present day.
Since then, the I-70/I-35 Killer Task Force created a new portal for DNA testing and for agencies in Raytown, St. Charles, Terre Haute, Wichita and Indianapolis to use. The agencies have shifted the investigation to be more collaborative based.
“This case needs solved,” Detective Brad Rumsey, with THPD, said.
Harry Edward Greenwell, the newly identified “I-65 Killer” is a new lead being looked into. He’s accused of killing three women along the Interstate 65 corridor in the 1980s, years before the first murder committed by the I-70 killer.
“The sketch was similar. The I-65 Killer did target women and he did shoot them in the head with a handgun so there’s definitely those similarities,” Kim Rhodes, a Detective with the St. Charles Police Dept., said.
She adds the I-65 Killer is older than the I-70 Killer, but says that is not enough grounds to dismiss him as a suspect.
Rumsey said the Task Force is potentially looking to resubmit the ballistics report from the handgun used in the 1992 murders.
“As of right now, no potential suspects have been interviewed at other agencies. But, that’s not to say something else isn’t in the works,” He stated.
On April 27, 1992, Michael “Mick” McCown was shot and killed in Terre Haute at a local ceramics shop. He is the only male victim of the 6 dead.
One piece of evidence from that scene was sent for testing at a D.N.A. lab in Florida. St. Charles has also sent and received evidence, but officials are not confirming if there are any similarities.
“It’s believed that that piece of evidence was either touched or handled by the potential suspect and most likely had D.N.A. transferred to that item,” Rumsey said.
Once all evidence is returned the agencies will look for similarities.
But, for the families of McCown and others, the search for justice continues.
“I think these cases are solvable, especially with the technology we have now,” Rhodes said.
