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Chasing a Serial Killer Across State Lines | FBI Files Movie of the Week | Real Crime

Real Crime・32 minutes read

A killer named Paul John Nolles committed multiple murders across states, leaving police with few clues until his capture in Georgia, where he was shot and killed while retrieving a murder weapon he referred to as his "legacy."

Insights

  • Paul John Nolles, a prolific killer, traveled across states, leaving a trail of murders and abductions, showcasing a pattern of erratic violence and a disregard for human life.
  • The meticulous investigation, aided by informants like Joyce Kirkland and survivor Deborah Taylor, culminated in Nolles' arrest, unveiling a chilling legacy of tapes documenting his crimes and connecting him to a staggering 18 murders, underscoring the importance of collaboration and persistence in solving complex cases.

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Recent questions

  • Who was the killer in the story?

    Paul John Nolles

  • What crucial information did Joyce Kirkland provide?

    Information about Nolles' movements

  • How did Deborah Taylor manage to survive?

    Nolles did not need to kill her at that point

  • What led to Nolles' eventual arrest?

    A vigilant neighbor helped apprehend him

  • How did Nolles meet his demise?

    Shot and killed by GBI agent Ron Angel

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Summary

00:00

Serial Killer Paul John Nolles: The Hunt

  • A killer roams the country, striking in cities hundreds of miles apart and then vanishing, leaving police with few clues.
  • In Palm Beach, Florida, Sarah Mitchell met Daryl Gordon, who attempted to abduct her at gunpoint but failed.
  • Gordon's real name was Paul John Nolles, and police discovered a series of murders linked to him, including a father and daughter in Georgia.
  • Nolles spent time in Georgia and had a girlfriend there, leading investigators to Joyce Kirkland, who provided crucial information about his movements.
  • Kirkland's timeline revealed Nolles' pattern of killing at will and returning to Georgia between murders.
  • Nolles had committed multiple murders in states as far north as Connecticut, with evidence linking him to unsolved homicides.
  • Deborah Taylor, abducted by Nolles, managed to escape and alert police, leading to a manhunt for Nolles.
  • Taylor's survival was attributed to Nolles not needing to kill her at that point, leaving her tied up in a motel room.
  • Taylor's debriefing revealed Nolles' plans to head to Georgia, prompting a search along his likely route.
  • Nolles was eventually spotted by a trooper in Florida, leading to a confrontation where he took the trooper hostage, sparking a massive manhunt.

21:03

Manhunt for Killer Ends in Arrest

  • The killer used a variety of weapons, including scissors, a shotgun, and pistols, reflecting a frenzied approach to killing.
  • Trooper Charles Campbell went missing, leading to a search by the Florida Highway Patrol.
  • Georgia Bureau of Investigation agent Roy Harris learned about Trooper Campbell, a young married man with two children, intensifying the search.
  • The FBI and state law enforcement agencies tracked the killer's movements, focusing on service stations for clues.
  • The killer, Paul John Noles, abducted Trooper Campbell and businessman John Stevens, forcing them into a car.
  • The police received tips on Noles' whereabouts, leading to a search for him and the hostages.
  • Noles was spotted in a blue Ford, leading to a search for the rental car's owner, John Stevens.
  • Noles was eventually located in Georgia, leading to a massive manhunt involving multiple law enforcement agencies.
  • Noles was wounded during a confrontation with police, leading to a search that ended when he sought refuge in a farmhouse.
  • Noles was apprehended with the help of a vigilant neighbor, leading to his arrest but leaving the fate of the kidnapped men uncertain.

43:25

"Murderer's Legacy Revealed in Tapes"

  • On November 21st, two missing men were found shot and lying face down outside of Hawkinsville, Georgia, with handcuff impressions on their wrists, indicating they were handcuffed to a tree before being executed.
  • The murderer, Paul John Nolles, was arrested and bound over for trial after being found responsible for the murders of a Florida state trooper and a Delaware businessman.
  • Nolles refused to provide details on his crimes, referring to tapes in his possession as his "legacy," and investigators pressed him to reveal the location of the murder weapon, which he eventually agreed to show them.
  • During a struggle to retrieve the murder weapon, Nolles was shot and killed by GBI agent Ron Angel, leading to the discovery of tapes detailing his crimes, which helped solve numerous cases and linked him to at least 18 murders.
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