The Case:
In 1884, a string of gruesome murders terrorized the people of Austin, Texas. Three years before Jack the Ripper struck London, a killer—or possibly multiple killers—brutally attacked and murdered eight women in their beds. The heinous crimes stopped as abruptly as they began, and the slayings have remained unsolved for over a century.
Could this be one of the first known serial murders in the United States? Why were those responsible never brought to justice? Six of the eight victims were African American—were the crimes racially motivated?
Armed with modern forensics, the History Detectives interview descendants of the murdered women and enlist the help of modern-day experts in an effort to solve this historical whodunit. Can they finally crack the case?
Season 11, Episode 3
Detective:
Tukufu Zuberi
Detective:
Wes Cowan
Detective:
Kaiama Glover
Location:Austin, TX 1885
Related Content
Feature:
Feature:
Explore
-
Related Investigation
Chandler Tintype
How did this Civil War era tintype help re-ignite a fiery debate about African Americans bearing arms for the confederacy?
-
Also with Wes Cowan
Civil War POW Photos
Were these pictures made in a Civil War prison with a home-made camera?
-
Also with Wes Cowan
Manhattan Project Patent
Was this drawing part of America's secret plans to fuel the atomic bomb?
-
Also in Industrialization: 1870-1900
Cemetery Alarm
Was this explosive device used to stop a morbid black market trade?
-
Also with Wes Cowan
Yakima Canutt's Saddle
What leading role did this saddle play in the birth of the Hollywood cowboy?
-
Also in Industrialization: 1870-1900
Geronimo Photograph
Is this photo really an image of the legendary Apache warrior Geronimo?
Comments
This is a place for opinions, comments, questions and discussion; a place where viewers of History Detectives can express their points of view and connect with others who value history. We ask that posters be polite and respectful of all opinions. History Detectives reserves the right to delete comments that don’t conform to this conduct. We will not respond to every post, but will do our best to answer specific questions, or address an error.