The Shocking Story of the Trucker Who Killed 50 People | The FBI Files | Real Crime

Real Crime・2 minutes read

A serial killer targeting hitchhikers across the country, with a bizarre sexual fetish, was stopped by the FBI after evidence linked him to a victim, Regina Walters, leading to his conviction and life sentence. Investigators are working to identify other potential victims of the killer, Robert Ben Rhodes, seeking closure for families and justice for the victims.

Insights

  • The identification of Regina Walters' remains, determined through dental records and forensic analysis, led to the conclusion that she was the victim found in Illinois, strangled with baling wire, showcasing the meticulous forensic work and persistence of investigators in solving the case.
  • The arrest and subsequent conviction of trucker Robert Ben Rhodes for Regina Walters' murder highlighted the importance of forensic evidence, behavioral profiling, and victim identification in closing cases of serial predators, emphasizing the collaborative efforts of law enforcement agencies in pursuing justice for victims and their families.

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Recent questions

  • Who was the victim identified as Regina Walters?

    Regina Walters was identified through dental x-rays.

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Summary

00:00

Interstate Predator: The Search for Regina

  • A depraved predator targeted hitchhikers on the nation's interstates, holding them captive, torturing, raping, and eventually killing them.
  • The FBI aimed to stop the serial rapist who preyed on women across the country, with a bizarre sexual fetish tying him to his crimes.
  • Nicole Tuttle escaped after being kidnapped, tortured, and raped by a trucker named Dustin, who chained her for six days before she fled in Houston.
  • Regina K. Walters, a 14-year-old, went missing while hitchhiking with her boyfriend, prompting her mother to report her disappearance to the police.
  • Detective Suzanne Jackson led the search for Regina, receiving anonymous calls hinting at her whereabouts, but the trail went cold.
  • A disturbing call to Regina's father hinted at her location in a barn loft, but the call could not be traced immediately.
  • Phone records revealed calls made to Regina's parents from different locations, raising concerns of foul play and potential danger.
  • A partial skeleton found near a riverbank in Pasadena, Texas, initially thought to be Regina, was later determined not to be her through dental records.
  • A decayed body discovered in an Illinois barn matched Regina's description, with baling wire around the neck and a small skull indicating a child victim.
  • The anonymity of the crime in Greenville, Illinois, left authorities uncertain of the victim's origin, age, or sex, highlighting the challenge of identifying the victim.

20:24

"Identifying Regina Walters' Sadistic Killer"

  • Forensic anthropologist Mark Johnsy conducted an examination to identify a young female victim, determining her age to be between 14 to 16 years old and her weight between 90 to 110 pounds.
  • The cause of death was determined to be strangulation, with the killer almost severing the victim's head by twisting baling wire around her neck 16 times.
  • The victim was killed almost a year before, with a white fiber found near the body analyzed to be mostly cotton, likely from a towel.
  • Illinois State Agent Mike Shealy listed the victim as a white female, 14 to 16 years old, possibly killed in September of 1989, leading to 950 matches in the national crime database.
  • The victim was identified as Regina Walters, matching a description from a mysterious phone call her father received, and confirmed through dental x-rays.
  • Regina's boyfriend, Ricky Lee Jones, was sought by the FBI, with suspicions that he might be involved in her disappearance and death.
  • Behavioral expert Mark Young profiled Regina's killer as an older white male, possibly a traveler or truck driver, with sadistic tendencies.
  • Partial skeletal remains of a young man found in Texas were believed to be Ricky Lee Jones, leading investigators to conclude that the killer had evaded justice.
  • In Arizona, trucker Robert Ben Rhodes was arrested for assaulting and kidnapping a woman found in his truck, with evidence of a torture kit and sexual sadism discovered.
  • Despite suspicions of Rhodes being a serial rapist and murderer, lack of concrete evidence led to a plea deal in Arizona, potentially allowing him to be released on parole in the future.

38:23

FBI profiler solves trucker murder case

  • Special Agent Mark Young, an FBI profiler, predicted the murderer was likely a trucker or traveling salesman with prior sexual offenses, known for cutting off victims' hair.
  • Bob Lee, an FBI agent, recalled a case where a truck driver, Robert Ben Rhodes, kidnapped a girl, Nicole Tuttle, whose hair was cut similarly to the victims. Nicole later identified Rhodes as her kidnapper.
  • Rhodes was found to have chilling photos of young girls, including Regina Walters, matching her features. The FBI built a case against Rhodes for kidnapping and murder.
  • Evidence linked Rhodes to Regina's murder, including a black dress matching one she wore in photos. Fiber evidence tied Rhodes to the crime scene.
  • Agents traced Rhodes's truck's travels, linking him to calls made to Regina's family. Evidence in Arizona revealed a disturbing message believed to be written by Rhodes.
  • Rhodes was eventually convicted of Regina's murder, receiving a life sentence. Investigators continue to seek closure for other potential victims of Rhodes, working to identify unknown women linked to him.
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