The Redhead Murders
Between 1978 and 1992, the bodies of numerous young women were discovered along highways across several states. Many shared striking similarities: they were redheaded or had reddish hair, had been sexually assaulted, and were left near major roadways. For years, the murders remained a mystery, leading investigators and the media to refer to them collectively as the "Redhead Murders."
In this episode, we examine the life of truck driver Jerry Leon Johns, the investigation that linked him to several of the killings, and the evidence that finally connected him to victims decades after some of the murders occurred. We also explore the challenges investigators faced in identifying victims, the role of forensic advancements in solving cold cases, and the unanswered questions that remain about how many women may have crossed paths with a killer hiding in plain sight on America's highways.
