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Today in True Crime History: February 22
1946 — The Texarkana Moonlight Murders begin. The violent crimes were committed near Texarkana by the so-called “Phantom Killer.” Eight people were attacked between February 22 and May 3, and five of them were killed. About 30 years later, a film called The Town That Dreaded Sundown was based on the case. While one person has been the prime suspect in the case, it officially remains unsolved.
2000 — Michelle O’Keefe, an 18-year-old student, is killed in Palmdale, California. She had appeared in a Kid Rock music video earlier in the day and was dropped off at the park-and-ride lot to drive home. The security guard working at the lot was arrested in 2005 and faced three trials. After receiving a life sentence and serving 11 years, the man was exonerated when new evidence emerged. As of today, her case is officially unsolved.
2017 — Adam Purinton shoots two Indian men in a racist attack in an Olathe, Kansas, restaurant. One of the men was killed, and another man who tried to help the victims was also shot and injured. The shooter was found drinking at a bar about 80 miles away. In 2018, he was sentenced to life in prison.
