Texarkana Phantom Moonlight Murders

Murder Files Unsealed

The Texarkana Moonlight Murders were a series of four unsolved murders and related violent crimes that took place in Texarkana, Arkansas and Texas, in early 1946. The crimes, attributed to an unidentified serial killer known as the "Phantom of Texarkana," targeted couples in isolated locations on weekend nights. The murders caused widespread fear and panic in Texarkana, with residents arming themselves and staying indoors at night. The prime suspect, Youell Swinney, was linked to the murders by circumstantial evidence and statements from his wife but was never charged with the murders. The events were widely reported in the media and have been the subject of several books and films, including the 1976 film The Town That Dreaded Sundown. To this day, the identity of the killer remains unknown.