[Texas] The Moonlight Murders: Texarkana's Phantom Killer

Bless This Mess: A Southern True Crime Podcast · Jul 30, 2026 · 1h 5m · transcript

In the spring of 1946, the border town of Texarkana was paralyzed by fear as an unknown attacker began stalking local “lovers’ lanes.” Over ten terrifying weeks, a masked assailant known as the Phantom Killer brutally attacked eight people, killing five of them.

In this episode of Bless This Mess, we break down the four horrific attacks that became known as the Texarkana Moonlight Murders, from the first assaults on back roads to the shocking final home invasion. We discuss how the town responded by arming themselves and shutting down nightlife, the massive multi-agency investigation that…