Her Horrific Murder Closed This Rest Stop Forever
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- čas přidán 23. 05. 2022
- The murder location of Kristin Laurite in Morilton, Arkansas. Murdered by Ronald James Ward jr. on August 25th 2000.
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Oh god dude You don't know All right here's the story her clothes were neatly folded if you walked through that area you're kind of there that building that you see the roof has obviously fallen because it was up back then and when you come out of the woods there's a horseshoe and then it starts a field she was and then there was a pond that was raised above the ground and then dug out it looked like it was a cow pond so then they she neatly folded all her clothes and took her shoes off and placed them beside this cow pond I assume to cool off for her and her dog because her mother told me you know it was hot and she was there to cool off her bus because she is going to California moving to California and her bus overheated so when we don't know if there's no blood on the dogs and her mother can't believe that she didn't the dogs didn't attack her attack the attacker so they're in the dog collars one was missing and one was on the wrong dog so Winters collar wasn't even on winter which is a dog's name and the other one was just gone so somebody's had contact with the dogs before we found them well before the Schneider truck drivers found the dogs and we so she was out there cooling off probably with the dogs swimming in this water hole and was found with her head against a tree a small tree seven not 10 cuts in her throat with a pen knife All her blood drained out because it was downhill into the pond and she was completely naked with letters carved into her back and she'd been raped The cops were up in the rest area with the Schneider drivers who called the tag and talked to her mother first doing nothing when my ex-husband came and got me to go find these dogs that ran away nobody knew where they went and so we went to go find the dogs and that's where they took us right to the body it was really the most horrible thing one hand was up under her head and one was back kind of not really back but on her back but back like he had held her arm behind her back and then threw her down is what we assumed but that's just my opinion and then they put memorials out there for and every time they do somebody steals them what kind of trash people's going to steal a woman's memorial at a rest area every year for a long time
Wow! Thank you for this
Longest sentence I ever read
You seriously should have paid attention in school. How can your grammar be that bad with zero punctuation? Try to read your own comment, it hardly makes sense.
The Clown Grammar Police show up to critique the murder story someone is trying to get out of their head concerning a murdered woman's body they saw. I'm sure you guys wouldn't have been touched by it. All the T's crossed and the I's dotted if it'd been you. Nothing but class in the comments section, right boys?
Do you want to try that again but slower?
My ex-husband and I were the truck drivers that found her dogs and called the number on the tag and spoke with her mother. You were pretty accurate with the story but a few thing were not completely accurate. Thank you for keeping her memory alive. There is not a day that goes by that I don't think about her or her dogs.
I can only imagine.
Wow, I'm glad you guys did that. If you didn't there could have been a missing woman case for years before they found her. At least they found out about her right away since you guys called her mom. All they had to do is find her killer. God Bless both of you for stepping in and helping her family.
Heartbreaking story. I hope someone took care of her dogs, I can’t help but believe that would be important to her. Thank you guys for taking the time to find out what was going on. Sadly, some would not. ❤️
Thank you for helping.
Thank you for calling. Most people would of just drive off without another thought. 🙏
One time traveling to see my family in North Carolina, I came across a desolate rest stop somewhere in Virginia. I pulled into the parking lot. It was empty. It gave me creepy vibes. I was traveling with my then 7 year old daughter. I needed to stop, but decided to go to a different rest stop. About a week later I learned that a young woman was attacked at that very rest stop. Trust your instincts. If your alone, don't stop at any rest stop. The busier ones are best.
Yes, it's so very scary to think what could've happened, and I got chills just reading your comment. If you happen to come back and read mine above, I had similar experiences. It could happen to anyone, but you and I are lucky to be alive today to tell the tales. With age and experience, I've come to believe that fear is a part of intuition, so I always listen to and trust mine now.☮️
Glad you and your daughter are safe!
Trust those instincts
Yes but it's hard find a parking spot
If it can be helped, I wouldn’t dare stop at a rest stop again… no matter how busy. It’s almost the equivalent to pumping gas at night. I stopped at one rest stop traveling through Tennessee. I was so exhausted.. to the point of swerving.. so, I had figured the same as most… “There’s a lot of cars. It’s fine”. Told my niece to sleep on the floor in the back seat, behind me. Not the seat itself. I didn’t want anyone to see her. Regardless, I keep my doors locked. Told her if she needed something, wake me up, and never get out the door. I parked in between two cars. Those people were asleep. So after about 15 minutes of being parked (just to make sure my surroundings were still alright) I had finally let my body give out and sleep. My niece already was. Literally maybe 5 minutes later, I hear tapping. Thought it was the car next to me. So, I ignore it. Because, who could be so bold? Now, I’m feeling MY car move so I instantly wake up. I look back at my niece and she’s asleep, I look at her side of the window and there’s a grown, creep pulling on the handle on HER side of the door. He saw me and started violently tugging at it. Turnt my car on, and he bolted. I called the police once I was back on the road, driving away. Just so those other people would be safe… Never again will I stop. I gave them a description over the phone, but I was not going anywhere near back there. Be safe everyone, and please, please, carry. Especially if you are a woman. Get your permit. This world is not safe.
it's just amazes me how you can be minding your own damn business and someone can take it upon themselves to just take your life I'm glad they caught her murderer. My condolences to the family, RIP Christine.
Females are more likely to be victims than males. My advise to women is get a handgun, get trained on how to use it, get your concealed carry license, practice, practice, practice. I'm an old man who served in the military on the front lines and have been in lots of fights; some men are freakishly strong when they get a hold of you but a bullet(s) in the right place will stop them immediately. Don't be a victim.
EXACTLY my thoughts. It's literally the ultimate act of selfishness/narcissism.. it's infuriating. What a POS.
From the video... He killed 5 or more people. If not more .... He was a heavy drug user. Probable robbed people for money besides rape and murder. Have to be careful when traveling. But her VW van did overheat. So just a wrong time wrong place.
Right just ridiculous…. We just should have to worry about aging in a healthy way not be paranoid of evil psychotic ppl…. This world!!!!
Killer got what he deserved; no cause of death announced by the jail authorities means he was murdered by other inmates who likely put the boots to him.
Man, you said "2000" and I think "that wasn't long ago, how the hell is this place so overgrown?" Then I realized it's been 22 years... Damn.
The years are just going to get faster as you get older. 🤷♂️
@@crkmt yep. It's already gotten to where a year passing is like "yo, where did the last six months go?".
@@takeohtyme facts
@@crkmt it feels like a blink of an eye, sometimes i forget my own age 😅
2000 is not “that long ago”…yet 22 years seems like awhile ago. It’s insane the technological advancements within 22 years. It’s a whole new world now, how people interface with each other and the differences in culture.
I love hearing about cases that I never knew about. All these victims deserve a voice and thank you for giving it to Kristin 💔
Glad the POS that did it died in prison in 2014 !
Oh she got it alright
💋
Yes!! bless you
There's a whole video on this case from America's most wanted, called one eyed jacks. This CZcamsr couldn't find any pictures of this rest stop but if you do a simple CZcams search you will find that video above with actual footage of the rest stop and the lake where she was found. Also an interview with the trucker that found her. This guy is a bit late in this story, he can't understand the layout of the park but it's all online . The girl also wasn't moving to California per day, she was following a dead head band , oddly called one eyed jacks, which has a serious masonic sounded name if you know what I'm saying. This CZcamsr showed us only the closed down park not the whole story
Kristin looked like a gentle and loving person -- probably too trusting and innocent. I’m sure she was happy to find a location that her dogs could play, and that she could relax while her vehicle cooled down. It could have been any of us. Please be safe out there everyone.
Anyone driving a vw old skool we’re allways beautiful
Stay safe and stay armed please people!
Train and carry a weapon, you will feel empowered!
Would be alive if she had bought a better vehicle.
I agree, she was trusting and not expecting a mad man, she was alone and vonerable.
She probably didn't know how cold and evil the world is, probably thought it was all butterflies and rainbows
I travel alone with my dogs. I pulled into a secluded rest stop in Utah late at night, I was the only one in the parking lot. I let my dogs run around, and as I entered the restroom, I heard keys drop. I ran so fast to my car, yelling for my dogs, and hightailed it out of there. I had never been so terrified in my whole life. Not another car for miles around. This story really scared me because I remember it being right after my experience. I'm glad her mother took in her dogs, those poor babies must have been traumatized.
That is so scary!!!
My heart would’ve dropped if I heard those keys drop while I was using the restroom or washing my hands. Yikes
😲.....😳
So scary!
Wow scary.. I don’t want to sound mean but maybe her dogs is what got her in that really sad situation for them not to have wounderd off like she might have been ok really sad
Just retired from over 40 yrs in trucking. I remember stopping at that rest stop. I don't recall that it was very developed but I do remember it's odd shape. And of course, I remember this girl's murder and the billboard. I never knew her case had been solved. Glad to hear it. Death in jail by old age was too good for him. But that just means I don't measure up to God's huge love for all of His children. So glad I'm not this guys judge. I hope her family may find some peace.
Did you ever get a creepy feeling there?
You really are a follower of Christ Jesus to come to that conclusion about Gods judgement above our own judgement.
I don't know if God calling you home is exactly how it works tbh, I do believe in God...I believe that he lets things play out so he really has no control when or how this guy meets it right, just as his evil act and Kristen losing her life can you call that God's will?(or Satan's)...I hardly think so, more so he answered for it when HIS time came..
@Ballen Star Nice name - you must be a fellow Mr. Ballen fan?? 😁
Thank you brother ❣️
That's why both men or women need to be really careful when traveling alone without any means of self defense and a huge safety tip always tell someone especially a trusted friend or relative where you are going and which route or highway you are taking. Awesome video Chris. You may have heard about the Colonial Parkway Murders in Virginia and they are unsolved cases to this day.
Yeah he’s covered them in the video before. The Colonial Parkway murders are very interesting and quite terrifying.
@@malamations3680 I am scared now.
So true. For a long time I thought having a dog with me would be enough but after this story, clearly that’s not true. So sad. How can anyone ever hurt and kill another human being.
@@malamations3680 I watched the colonial parkway murders after i watch this video. That was just terrible 4 couples were murder and 1 couple were never found 😩😕😯😧
@E Van so were school shootings.
It looks so dark and creepy! I sure hope you don’t go to places like that alone! Too much evil in the world to be by yourself! Stay safe out there! RIP to Kristin.
It's fine if you have a few firearms on you, but I wouldn't go there unarmed. It's like that in most places here. Even having more than one person around you wouldn't necessarily help you at all
@@davidc.8755 Cause traveling cross country where firearm laws all vary wildly from state is state is impractical and illegal.
@@HighFuel90 Better to be judged by twelve than carried by four. I'm driving with firearms and you just need to have bought the book that tells you the laws in each state
@@HighFuel90 its true that gun laws do vary from state to state but we do have natiinal reciprocity
Also since when is it illegal to have a gun in your vehicle since a vehicle is an extension of your home
It takes just a moment to read a states firearm ordinances lol
This serves as a reminder that many violent crimes are born out of happenstance (wrong place, wrong time for the victims). Thanks for the hard work you pour into these cases/videos.
Yes. Like this guy just snapped,did a bunch of drugs and acted out his sick mind. She JUST had a hot van. Insanity.
True but majority are still usually someone the victim knows, very well
@@jenngibbs4559 I don't think he snapped cause he had murdered before. He was a sick scumbag that would have killed anyone he came into contact with having the chance.
So many women post videos of themselves traveling alone cross country, sleeping in Rest areas and deserted roads. They all need to hear about these stories. There are homicidal human beings all over the country. The animals that do get arrested are typically responsible for multiple homicides, rapes and deadly assaults.
Some rest areas are open all night and are very busy. I'd never sleep on a deserted road or rest area. I've slept in the parking lot of truck stops that are open all night. I park towards the back of the parking lot for cars. They are well lit. I only sleep a few hours and leave when the sun comes up. You can even take a shower, get coffee in the morning. I've never had a problem and have noticed others doing the same thing. I think they get mad if you have an RV and take a truck spot.
All the over the world.
@@scottwilliams8334 Agreed but it seems American women seem to be incredibly naive in this risk.
@@vince1638 just a few years ago a few girls were also murdered in Morocco
Let’s be honest if you’re a women your not safe anywhere including sleepy in your own home.
So sad that this young lady was embarking on a new journey in her life and she intersected with evil. This is an extremely poorly designed rest stop with no visibility from the Interstate. I wish the dogs could have prevented her murder. They must have been a good distance from her for him to feel safe to attack her.
I wonder if it was designed like that to fit long tractor trailers?
@@samanthab1923 it appears in the aerial pic that the truck parking is in the front along the Interstate. Looks like car parking and the restrooms are further back out of view. He mentions a trucker had been killed also. Seems to me the truckers would have further to walk than is typical at a rest stop.
@@kevincarpenter2525 Yikes! Just driving in that deep must have felt creepy.
It's really horrible. I couldn't help but think if she hadn't chosen to drive such an old, unreliable vehicle on her journey she wouldn't have broken down and had to stay at such a dive. This doesn't alter the fact that this vile murderer is entirely responsible but it's so unlucky that her bus had to break down there, where he was stalking. I imagine he would have found someone else if not her, but it still makes me think how sad it is that their paths collided like this
@@PotatoPirate123 if I recall correctly...she pulled over because her van was overheating and to walk her dogs. I don't think the van completely broke down as she made it to the rest stop. Even if she had a completely reliable car...she would still need to go to the restroom on occasion herself as well as allow her dogs to do the same. Sadly it's dangerous to travel alone. But their are also cases in which couples or groups have been attacked or killed. I'm shocked he attacked someone with two dogs.
I have passed lonely looking remote highway rest stops on many occasions. Look for families. When I had to stop late at night - I had loud conversations with my non-existent “travel companion” and took my scary looking dog into the rest rooms with me. If the stop was deserted - sometimes I would just step outside the car door and squat. Tacky - but I did not care. Particularly if there is one loan car in the lot. You won’t get it unless you have been a woman alone traveling cross country.
Many of us have done the same, no problem!
@@Couplescience we dont owe anything to strangers since theyve no common sense on keeping their distance
I have traveled cross country alone several times. So I get it.
Carry a bucket 🪣 and squat in the car. Therefore you won't have to restart the engine..encase there is an issue..
*lone
When traveling solo I have my dogs on leashes at rest stops, but I generally avoid rest stops altogether, especially if isolated and unused. I go instead to Walmart. They have restrooms, a great selection of foods, etc. All you can want plus all night security if you want to take a snooze. Two large dogs in the vehicle are also a deterrent.
I only go to busy rest stops
Just be careful, I had a strange man who was about to come after me in the walmart parking lot last weekend until.he saw my husband. He left the parking lot walking. Idk what his intentions were but they weren't good. He saw me loading groceries in the back of my truck, i didn't even see him until I turned to grab more bags and he was facing me. Please just be careful. There are many evil people out there. He didn't look homeless, but he looked "off"... idk if he was on drugs or just up to no good,
@@Nw2008 SO GLAD u two were alright!!
@@Nw2008 Highly recommended! Get yourself a cc lic. and stay in practice. It’s no good if you’re no good! Take a class in personal safety. Years ago, I worked for a company that had moved into a formerly very rural area. Many other firms did similarly. Jobs were badly needed in the area and were taken largely by women. Since the whole area was picking up population and financial wise, there began to be a problem with crime, break-ins, (in some instances, no need to break in because the rural inhabitants never bothered to lock their doors), mugging, rapes, assaults, shoplifting, even murder. I grew up in NYC in the 1970s-1980s, so I had a kind of sixth sense for trouble and kept habits of security without needing to think about them. After one of female workers had a close call in the parking lot, and people requested to adjust their hours so as to not drive at night, management arranged a five hour class in personal security, prevention, and self defense. Attendance and passage of the written and practical exam was mandatory. I found most of the class enlightening, especially the prevention aspects. To me, most everything was not only well known to me, but I found myself asking in my mind, “Doesn’t everyone do that? Why would you NOT do such and such? Isn’t that just common sense?” Apparently, people did NOT do whatever. It wasn’t automatic. They had never thought of needing to do it. It was not part of their common sense. No wonder there were so many crimes all of a sudden!
An example would be the case of a woman who went grocery shopping. She didn’t lock her car, just went inside and did her shopping. She came out with the cart full, walked directly to her car taking no note of her surroundings, put the stuff in the trunk, never looked inside the vehicle, just got halfway across the lot to find herself with a gun to her head. A man had been crouched down behind the front seat. He climbed over the seat to the front, ordered her to drive a few miles outside of town, then stop the car. He shoved her out and was going to rape her, but a guy on a tractor came around the bend. Seeing that, he tore off, leaving her in the dust on the ground. If it hadn’t been for the farmer, she may well have been raped and murdered. I remember cringing at her carelessness about where she parked, not locking the car, obliviousness to her surroundings, etc. Take classes and refreshers until safety becomes second nature.
@@Nw2008 🧢
This case has always and will forever haunt me. Driving back from California with at that time my 5yr old I stopped at that very same rest stop the day before her body was found. Something about it bothered me to the point where I had to leave. I just got a really bad feeling and left. When I saw that on the news I was spooked.
Being that it was so far off the road as well...
You Californians just need to quit leaving your state
Fr damn and was it a lonely rest stop or was there alor of people ?
"You're completely alone out here" really drove the point of this whole creepy tragic story....
Even whenever I traveled overnight and had to stop at a more updated and better lit rest area, it was still quick run to and from and jumping back in car and locking doors....
Forget rest stops. Try Walmart instead.
@@mariekatherine5238 nope, there's plenty of travel plazas right off the interstate these days, well-lit, there's food, coffee and lots of restrooms....
@@loriem1031 In most places by day, but try driving at night through very rural areas, rest stops with no food, no gas, just a single building with restrooms and a lobby, trash cans and a scattering of picnic tables outside. There’s nobody working there. It’s totally deserted. These are NOT plazas! I will not go in them by myself. I’d rather get off at an exit, dash behind the car or use the emergency jar to do my business!
@@mariekatherine5238 nope, interstate is how we usually travel and the plazas are open 24/7, and always fill up, sooooo we're good to go....
@@loriem1031 As I said, what I’m referring to cannot be called plazas. On which interstates and approximately where do you travel?
Such a sad story to hear about. Thank you for giving the victims a voice when they can no longer speak for themselves
Little did this woman know that 22 years later people watching on CZcams would analyze this story and learn so much about it. That circular shape looks eerie at the end of the pavement and all I see is that VW Bus parked there and sadly she went into those woods and it was a awful situation. I am getting very bad vibes as you walk through those dark woods.
On recent travels in the west, the number of young women traveling alone and stopping at sketchy places in the middle of the night, I couldn't believe it. I wouldn't get out my car without a handgun at these places. Predators EVERYWHERE. This is perhaps the saddest thing I've ever seen.
I'm a truck driver I stop at rest areas to sleep every now and then. I havent seen anything sketchy at them so far
We currently live very close to that rest stop and have never went in there due to the bad vibes. I'm so glad you showed us what it looks like. We found about this story after moving here in 2013. Sad.
Only in the land of the free and home of the brave would a ‘rest stop’ have a bad vibes. Never heard of that in my life.
@@xr6lad I know growing up in NJ they closed a bunch due to the sexual activity going on there.
@@xr6lad its the vIbEs MaN
@@xr6lad Two violent deaths, sex trafficking, drug deals, and drug use = I'm not trying to hang out there, thank you.
@@WOLFTICKVIDEOS You failed to mention the elephant in the parking lot.....giant pile of gravel. No one's hanging out there.
Your channel is one of the best ones on CZcams. Definitely the best when it comes to learning about history and tragic cases. It’s obvious that you put a lot of time and research on the stories you cover. Well done Chris. Hope you hit 1 million this year.❤️
Thanks Julie!
He covers a good range off topics great vids, I can't see his channel slowing down any time soon...I love the crazy old history type places he has shown..but all the vids are as we say here 'Spot on'....✌ from 🇬🇧
I appreciate that you WENT THERE.
@@MobileInstinct
Many discredit someone with answers, So a good 1st credible incident is my most viewed video,, So if you make her out then you can relate with me claiming I'm a Tracker of the suspicions you relate with of there presence
It looks like it would have been a very nice rest stop for non-murderous travelers. To think of being able to get into a little bit of nature after driving on a highway all day sounds nice to me. And some messed up people ruined it.
Honestly it was more like a hiking trail than a rest stop. That thing went way into the woods.
I am originally from NJ and drove in a 1973 VW Bug (brand new) across country to CA where my sister lived. I never drove after dark, had my motel reservation made a day in advance, called my family in NJ and my sister in CA to ck in that I got in safe and did that through my week long travel across country. So scary for this girl. RIP.
Always be careful and never jog alone!
Cell phones and internet were not a big thing yet for the masses in 2000.
I remember back when we traveled around in the 70's and 80's, rest stops were the highlight of the trip. Grandma and Grandpa / Mom and Dad always stopped at each one just say that we visited them along the way. This day and age, I think I would rather just squat on the side of the car with the open front and back doors as my stall.
That's what I do
I stop in the daytime but at night I'd only stop at a travel center. A place with bathrooms, restaurtants, convienent store and gas station.
I don’t even use those restrooms and I’m a long haul trucker. I rather use a bucket out in the middle of nowhere
I remember the story of the women who was attacked during the day at a rest stop and had her throat cu7. Someone found her and saved her with a pen (I always remember now that empty pens can be put in a throat to create a air way) that’s was scary enough for me.
My cousin was murdered at a truckstop in 2005 the killer also killed several more women and left them with nothing on in Tennessee and south carolina. This story is eerily similar it's still unknown but they think Bruce mendenhall is responsible for her murder as he has already confessed to several other women at truckstops also.
I am sorry for your loss. Just so sad and horrible.
Good lord. I'm sorry your family had to go through that.
Thank u
I heard of someone who was murdered by Mendenhall, then stuffed into a trashcan. NO ONE deserves to die that way! I hate it, but because of the world we live in, I always travel with weapons in my car for protection. Please ladies, learn to protect yourselves, trust your instincts and don't trust anyone when traveling. I sure wish things were different, I grew up in a time when there weren't so many sickos around, but that's the way it is.
So sorry for your loss
I was born and raised in Morrilton. To say her death shook our town is an understatement. Everyone was on a manhunt to find him. My husband and I went to the movies in a neighboring town called Conway. We passed through that night. I told him, I have an eerie feeling about this side of the rest stop. It bothered me all night. I've never stopped there, never had a reason to. I wish we would've. In the South most of us have an open carry license and we carry. We protect ourselves and each other with the best of our ability. It eased our minds a little to learn it was a stranger passing through and not a town's person. I have thought so many times, I wish someone would do a story on this beautiful girl to help keep her memory alive. So I thank you from all of us in Morrilton and Arkansas. I just wish we would've stopped. I'll never forget her. 💜
Chris, do you ever get creeped out while wandering around these locations? I get nervous watching.
I would 🤫 locked and loaded
no worry, he is a tough big guy!
What a sad story. I'm just gonna think that POS was brutally murdered as well by a bunch of inmates!
Hopefully a relative paid those inmates to kill him.
That's what it sounds like.
@@Niccole-oq8wo Yeah, since they won't tell us how he died, it was probably an inside job. I'm good with that. Hopefully he suffered like his victims did.
Possibly forever.@@vickieclark5931
If you see an off-leash dog that seems to want you to follow it, follow that dog. They're smart and most know to go to people for help.
I live down the road from this. Have passed it hundreds of times but never knew why it was closed
When I was in college at Arkansas Tech, we traveled that part of the interstate a lot. That was a creepy area, for sure. That was back in the early 70's.
I do recall this case the place is unrecognizable from the media footage. The best thing they did was to shut it down . So glad you shared her story and the truck driver's most people wouldn't know . Safe travels
It was definitely the right decision to close it
@@MobileInstinct Did it feel creepy out there. You’ve been to so many out of the way places.
@@samanthab1923 I'd be more afraid of the copperheads out there or getting caught by the Conway county sheriff's dept for trespassing.
Unfortunately I remember this when it happened. Kristin had been active on the Type 2 email list prior and during the first part of her trip. Just a nightmare when we all found out. I still don't look at rest stops the same way. I know some people will take a nap in their car but the only ones I stop at now are the welcome centers. RIP Kristin.
I was on the Type 2 list back then and I remember this all too well. 😢
What is a Type 2 email list?
Type 2 lists???
@@madamebutterfly851 Hi MaryJo - sorry about that - Volkswagen called their VW Microbus the Type 2 (The Beetle was Type 1). In the early Internet days, the mail list for 'those in the know' was the "Type 2 mail list".
I have one question? Why would you drive a van that old across the country? And why would a single girl want to go to San Francisco? What a hell hole. I wonder where her father was.
I quit going to rest stops years ago. One gave me the creeps. I'm in the west Texas desert miles from anywhere & I stop at one. No other cars but one man standing at the restroom door speaking to someone inside & stops speaking as I park the car. I put my gun in my waist band & approach. My wife walks into the restroom but I remain outside. I hear a noise in the men's restroom. The guy outside chats with me & shuffles his feet. When my wife gets out I walk back to my car backwards with my hand on my gun & watch him until we're in the car. Looking back had I entered the men's restroom we probably both would have been robbed or murdered. No witnesses, no surveillance cameras. Just fingerprints on my steering wheel, maybe.
wow that gave me chills. Very scary.
Wow that's creepy. I bet they were looking to kill your wife. Your heightened senses saved her life.
Wow! I remember this case. I’m from Morrilton. Her picture was on a billboard for years after the murder. There were even names of locals in the town whom people believed had something to do with it.
Wow someone singled someone out on a billboard thats crazy as hell in todays world that would be ine hell of a lawsuit
@@GeorgiaRidgerunner the missing persons photo was in billboards. That’s a Normal thing, no?
@@michchristine6340 re read the comment that i replied to it said the billboards had pictures of people thought to be involved
But yes it is absolutely normal for the missing persons picture to be shown
However putting someones picture on a billboard because you think they had something to do with a person being missing is grounds for a lawsuit if the person pictured wasnt involved
@@GeorgiaRidgerunner read the comment properly.
It's clearly says HER picture was on billboards not other people or there names.
People were just mentioning people's names around town not putting them on boards
@@GeorgiaRidgerunner wtf.. 🤦🏼♂️
I've driven past that so many times and never even knew it was there
I used to travel that stretch of I 40 every summer from DFW to Nashville. It was just me and my young son. Slept in rest stops. I was young and invincible then, amazing how much the good Lord took care of us. RIP sweet lady.
Poor girl. I can't imagine her fear. I've been through many rest stops and many are not lit up enough. RIP
I’m an Arkansan, I recognized the pile of crushed asphalt along I-40. There’s a lot of old rest stops they shut down along interstates in Arkansas. Too much crime and too much maintenance.
Never knew about this dark piece of history.
Why is there so much criminal on rest stops ? I sm from Europe and we all feel safe on rest stops even with truck drivers.
I drove otr many years. All the places I used to go and lay out in the sun on my break never thinking of danger. I get chills now from some of my "spots after learning of some horrible murders.
The trucker that was murdered here was killed for a load of Marlboro cigarettes.
My wife always wonders why want her to carry a weapon when she goes running even though she has three dogs with her
the dogs usually don’t do shit
I stopped at a rest stop about midnight, car was running rough, popped the hood took care of the issue..I got this super creepy feeling, gave me goosebumps.. man I jumped in my car and got the hell out of there...rest stops can be creepy.
Sad story...glad they caught this creep..
What a scary place. So sad. This poor girl, can’t imagine the fear. Just heartbreaking 💔
Excellent video! I watch all of your content on both channels, but these subjects are my favourite. You can feel the creepiness of that area. Brilliant work. Thank you so much for what you do!
Thanks I appreciate that
@@MobileInstinct I'm a new subscriber from the UK. I was directed here by Lamont. Very interesting video and I had never heard of this crime. Please stay safe and look after yourself. All best wishes from Rose in the UK. 👍
It's always a bad day when someone gets murdered at a rest stop....
This place really gives me the creeps, I don’t know how you went back there by yourself! My heart was pounding just watching you go deeper into that literally and figuratively dark place. And speaking of dark, how sad a commentary on human nature is it that a rest area out of sight from the highway is dangerous?! Relieved the dogs were not harmed, and that the POS murderer is gone from this earth. RIP Kristin! 💝
It is a pretty disturbing glimpse into the human mind, actually. Right next to an artery of travel, just a literal stone's throw from hundreds of travelers, is one of the most dangerous places you could be. It just goes to show you how much danger there is lurking amongst us. Just add some sight-obscuring cover to a stop right off a road and suddenly it's "if you build it, they will come." Makes you wonder, how many dangerous lunatics do we drive past every single day?
@@SnibsnBibs Exactly! Well said. 😱
I had car trouble back in 2015 and pulled over at a rest stop. It was approaching dark, and I decided to call my friend 30 miles away. I waited in my truck along with my girlfriend and I noticed this strange middle aged man just staring at her. I guess he didn't know I was in the driver's seat leaned back. I looked at him, and he still kept staring. He drove in a circle through the rest stop,, and returned to his original parking spot.. I got this creepy gut feeling, like this guy was waiting until dark to do something. I've never gotten a feeling like that before, so I got out of my car.. popped the trunk, and grabbed my baseball bat. Luckily, my friend showed up, and we got my car started. I drove into town, but couldn't shake the feeling of that man, and what might've happened if I would've been stuck there all night.
That was me
Man that sounds super scary! I’m glad your friend came just in time and you and your lady was ok.
@@lambdee7006 lol
@@TT.4_ Yea, thanks.. I'm glad too. Nowadays when j go on a long trip, I take a tool kit, battery jumper, and various other emergency/breakdown related items. Stay safe 🙏
@@jdmbeatscan i ask where was this ?
that is so scary! I always hate car trouble, I couldn't imagine
She needed something better than a 70’s VW bus to travel cross country in.
@@samanthab1923 Those are worth fortune nowadays for some reason,they are not great to drive and you mechanical nous to own one...
@@geoffbell166 We have neighbors that bought & restored one. They keep it out at their place in Palm Springs
@@samanthab1923 they've been trendy for many years but they're certainly not a good choice for travel if you want to be confident in not breaking down. She was very brave to do this on her own in such a vehicle but of course wasn't to know that in a sense the vehicle would lead her to such a dark end.
I have one question? Why would you drive a van that old across the country? And why would a single girl want to go to San Francisco? What a hell hole. I wonder where her father was.
I remember my family and I used to always take road trips and we always paused at nearly every rest stop to pee or eat from our cooler that we packed in our car trunk.
Now I will never want to stop at one again. Please just find a Walmart or restaurant/shopping center to take a rest instead. We don’t live in a safe world.
BUT what if you have to pee REAL BAD???? Got a package of Depends???
I'm an ex trucker and there are LOTS of rest areas and even quite a few truck stops that are really shanky. We stopped at a rest area one night similar to this one. I'm not saying it was even in Arkansas, but it was one that was set back off the interstate and was bordered in the back by a fairly dense forested area. Now my husband's Pom was fearless. We could let him down & he would just take off, well lit areas or complete darkness he didn't care. He was good to mind though so we'd just call him back before he got to far in where we couldn't see him. I do not know what it was that night but that Pom was sniffing around headed towards the dark and suddenly he sat down right at the edge of that darkness and just stared into it, like he could see or hear something. I saw no glowing eyes and didn''t hear any growling, but that little dog sat there just staring with his ears perked up. It spooked the hell out of me and I called him to come on and joined back up with my husband and my ShihTzu. We never stopped at that rest area again at night.
Please do tell your unique snowflake stories?
Rest stops are sketchy, I'm a bigger dude and one time a giant of a man came into the restroom in just his underwear. He just stared me down, luckily the cops were a few steps behind him.
🧢
@@JohnWickkkk not cap lol
@@bigcase4449 😅😅
In general, rest stops are not safe. Predatory humans cruise these stops looking for an opportunity. Although, there are some rest stops that are staffed and somewhat safer. In Ohio many have been closed for the same problems you mentioned in the video.
Same with NJ
@@samanthab1923 Yeah, they shoulda closed down NJ. It just ain't safe.
@@the_gilded_age_phoenix8717 Shame. It was a great place to grow up. Never locked our doors. Keys left in the cars. Never afraid to be in the house alone. None of my family lives there any more. 👋
This is why you carry when you travel
@@samanthab1923 All jokes aside, I think it depends on the part of Jersey you live in. You could go to the southern/central pine barrens or the northwest part of the state and be totally fine...or, at least, as safe as you'd be in Ar-Kansas. As they say, Jersey is incredibly diverse.
Thanks for digging up all that info. Sad situation. The old VW microbus wow. Hard to find even in 2000
I’m an alumni of Morrilton Jr and Sr High Schools. Went to 5th and 6th grades there too. Graduated in ‘77. I remember when those rest stops were open. This is the first I’ve heard of this rape/murder. I spent 20 years in Arizona after I graduated from MHS and it happened while I was in AZ, so this is all new news to me. Wow! That piece of schiff who did that isn’t having fun where he is now. Glad to hear he died. He’s now gettin’ what he gave. She suffered only a short time. The perp is being spiritually raped and ripped apart by demons daily 24/7 in hell and he doesn’t get the relief of dying anymore. That’s KARMA. We get what we give!
I remember when this happened. I’ve been working on VWs since I was young and this was all over the VW Bus forums and email lists, since she was active in the VW online community and many Bus owners would stay in rest stops at the time. There was a big push among the community to do anything we could to find her killer.
Kristen was only a couple years older than myself at the time definitely seemed like the type of person I would have gotten along with. Rest In Peace.
Also, two years after this happened was my first time in AR, my girlfriend and I were pulled over about 100 miles west of Morrilton in Van Buren County. At the time, we both had dreadlocks (like Kristin did). The cop mentioned several times how the I-40 corridor was heavily used for drug trafficking and crime. We thought he was messing with us because we were a couple of hippies with out of state plates. I realize now that Kristin’s murder was probably fresh in his mind.
The old Volkswagen vans engines were made of magnesium and they were known for overheating or catching on fire 🔥 and we have a rest area on highway 85 here in Georgia that was shut down due to a rape and murder
Had a friend who had one. Great in the summer. Lived near the beach. Froze in winter, no heat. Oh the folly of youth
I have one question? Why would you drive a van that old across the country? And why would a single girl want to go to San Francisco? What a hell hole. I wonder where her father was.
You're always interesting and always respectful
I remember when it happened, I was told they closed the rest stop after the murder because it had been a bad place for a while and a lot of other criminal activities had taken place there.
Well done. Respectful and compassionate. There are monsters in this area.
You need to be careful too. Is there anyone you can take with you on your video shoots ?
He’s not alone, he usually doesn’t show anyone else in the videos. He covered this years ago in his earlier videos.
Dude you should always have a back up person with you plus a taser or gun, you were as isolated as the victim was, same thing could've happened to you right there...
He’s a black belt 🥋 and his camera is part gun 🔫
I think he has someone videoing, so that be someone else. But your right need a gun or taser
There was case here in San Diego County/ Oceanside, California (1998) where a boy went into a men's bathroom stall and his aunt was waiting for him. He never came out and she found him with his throat cut. A young male transient about 20 years old was arrested, tried, and convicted of Matthews murder. The murdered hanged himself in prison.
The shoe there was creepy.
You did a great job here as usual, very respectful and complete presentation.
Rest In Peace. Sweet lady.
Oh wow, my mother drove us this route a lot during that specific time. She was a bit wild in those days. I remember we would occasionally stop at rest stops due to lack of money for hotels. I can’t recall ever seeing this one so it must have been more hidden. So sad, she looked so lovely and kind. Our world is so dark sometimes.
You were in my husband's hometown. I remember when this happened. This was awful. Yes, that rest stop was a hub for a lot of bad things. I think several rest stops in Arkansas eventually got shut down for similar activities.
Awesome video! gave me chills... it looks like this rest stop was designed to be where people can get killed and no one can find out by who and how.
That’s a specialized engineering degree.
@@Blaculo haha
Thank you for always showing videos and being the voice of victims
I’m a trucker and I remember being at a rest stop near Kansas City Missouri and a lady was just standing in the woods staring at me, I thought maybe she’s waiting for her dog to do it’s thing then she disappeared. I went into the woods thinking maybe her ghost was standing near her body but I didn’t smell or see anything unusual. You can only wonder….???
I'm a not for profit medium and I think it was nice that you went to see if her spirit was showing you where her former body may have been located.
I believe was her spirit 😔🙏
Bullshit
Disappeared as in became hidden by trees and leaves or disappeared in a supernatural sense?
Was it the one on I-35 close to Cameron? I stopped there once before and the place gave me bad vibes.
It’s really sad we have to be extremely careful with whatever we do anymore. Even if we’re taking road trips and have to make a stop for even a couple min for any reason. Things just continue to get worse and it’s really sad. I really hope she’s resting in peace. 🙏🏻❤️
Driven by this many times and did not know the sad history. How incredibly sad and creepy. I hate how sick some people are.
My mothers friend was murdered after she went to a somewhat local (it was about 35 minutes from her hike town..) truck stop / restaurant…
Back in the 70’s teens / early 20s would go there to hangout..
She ran into the wrong person..
I remember that truck stop / restaurant… by the time I was old enough to remember going there, it was very old and not in good shape.. We would stop there on the way up to our cabin for gas / food..
It was eventually demoed..
Just found your channel, love that you travel to the locations. Definitely gets more personal with the victims and what they went thru. Such mindless violence took away a beautiful life. Hearts go out to her family.
I’ve traveled 800+ miles one way many a night in my life. I like to travel at night with 12 hours ahead of me because it’s cooler and easier on the engine. I’ve noped out of rest stops and gas stations because they had a bad aura. Even with truckers parked all over. Even the nicest of rest stops can be dangerous depending on location. I feel so terrible for her. I’m sure she felt safe because of the dogs. I traveled with a Rottweiler and now have a German shepherd, and I’m still leery of certain stops.
Thanks, Chris. I had forgotten this. I lived in Arkansas for 50 years & was living I Little Rock at this time. Went by that areas many times. Just a sad, sad story.
I love these types of videos. I hope you have some sort of protection whenever you’re out exploring these abandon places.
Protection from what? Mosquitos?
I didn't want this one to end.
Here in the Orlando area they started having to put guards at rest stops because so many people were getting robbed and killed at the rest stops.
I find it kind of odd that the dogs were found loose but they didn't attack her murderer. Other cases with dogs are usually found tied up or dead to keep them from attacking the murderer.
Thanks again for all u do ! Top notch as always. 💯🤙🏻
You, my friend, take me on some very scary journeys but you never disappoint! Always very interesting. I never miss an upload. Thank you ❤ From Australia
Not a rest stop I would’ve used, but the 80’s were a different era. I can imagine she got out to let her dogs use the bathroom & exercise, as well as she herself. We have traveled across the country with our dogs so I can see her doing what we did. She was a gorgeous girl, in the wrong place at the wrong time. Rip Kristin
Interesting story, very heartbreaking. I'm glad they found her murderer, may Kristen rest in peace eternally. It's a shame he only spent a few years in prison before he died. He needed to live the rest of his days there, until old age.
I live about 20 mins from here. I have to drive by everyday to work. Morrilton is not a good town. I don't like to stop there if I don't have to. I know the murderer was passing through, but it might help explain why they decided to close the place down. Looking forward to more possible videos from Arkansas.
Our long time neighbors moved to Eureka Sprgs. a couple of years ago. They love it.
What makes it not good? Drugs? Crime? So sick of seeing that happen to small, working class towns.
@@samanthab1923 I love eureka springs my wife and I got married there
@@Recoveringred almost every town has drugs and crime nowadays but yes morrilton is known for that disproportionately for its size
@@jagger35 Not at the Crescent Hotel? Heard it’s really haunted 👻
Love your channel Chris. Your voice is very soothing!
Thanks for bringing us along Chris!!
Thanks for this Chris, coming from the UK there are a lot of these murders I’ve never heard of. But thanks for giving them a voice. Stay safe RIP Kristin 🙏 👍👊🇬🇧🇺🇸
Does this type of stuff happen in the UK? I know America is messy
@@detroitdieselseries5071 hi, yes we do get many murders in the UK involving children which are heartbreaking. Obviously we don’t get the level of murders here as America but still to many. Hope you are well stay safe 👍👊🇬🇧🇺🇸
Thank you, Chris! ❤️
So sad, I love learning about these abandoned places but when a story like this is involved it pulls on the old heart strings.
It’s really creepy that there always seems to be someone lurking and waiting for a victim .
You can’t go anywhere anymore it’s disgusting !
Thank you for bringing this case out to the public
Very sad. So young and didn't have a chance with that guy who seemed to have murder on his mind. Good thing they shut it down.
Both men and women need to be on high alert when traveling alone and stopping along your route. Don't stop at poorly lit areas. You'd be better off pulling off on the shoulder to take a quick pee than stopping at a rest area like this. At least at a random spot along the highway there's far less chance of anyone else being there. Best bet if you can hold it a little longer, find a well lit exit with a gas station or fast food joint.
100% correct; don't exchange pee-pee with your life!
@@eddiechenchen9081 you need meds
Great video, these unknown stories need to be brought to light, these areas are what draw these people out to do what they do, its a shame there weren't any security or cameras.... Thanks for making this.. God bless Kristi ...
I lived close to there never knew the history
Man I seen some wierd crap at rest stops. Try a NJ rest stop on a week end night? Or the morning after, just scary.
I became drunk in NY bar and ended up sleeping in a car at a NJ turnpike in the 80's. Fun times!
@@erirose8680 Yikes! Last one I was in was Vince Lombardi on the NJ Turnpike 90’s. My hubby was more concerned with the rats in the parking lot than actual vermin
I slept at the NJT rest stop the Saturday after Thanksgiving. I was trying to make it back to Boston but the traffic was too bad. I pulled in around 9pm and the place was packed. I went to sleep and woke up around 3am. Tons of people sleeping in their cars. I took off for Boston and it was great driving with no traffic but I'm never traveling by car on a holiday week again.
Tragic. Man, you love doing this research/archeology/exploring stuff like me! We’re always off discovering our own adventures. Once again keep them coming and my God grant you His protection during your many travels.
LAL sent me and I'm glad he did I love the way how well you both tell the victims truth's to the best of your abilities, it must be so difficult to research what happened to these victims and I respect the work that you do. Thank you