Patricia Candace "Candy" Walsh, a 23-year-old woman from Seattle, Washington, was murdered in January 1990. She and her husband, Douglas Zyskowski, were members of the Every Day Church, an evangelical church in Seattle. In November 1989, the couple decided to hitchhike from Seattle to a religious convention in Georgia. On their way back home, they accepted a ride near El Paso, Texas.
Unfortunately, their decision led to a tragic end.
Douglas Zyskowski was killed shortly after they were picked up by Robert Ben Rhoades, a serial killer. Rhoades held Candy Walsh captive in his truck for over a week, during which he raped and tortured her before ultimately shooting her four times in the head and neck with a .22 caliber rifle. Her decomposed body was discovered by deer hunters in an isolated area near Interstate 15 in Millard County, Utah, on October 26, 1990.
The investigation into Walsh's death was extensive. Rhoades was later arrested and charged with her murder, as well as the murder of Regina Walters and Ricky Jones, who were killed under similar circumstances. Rhoades confessed to the murders and was sentenced to life imprisonment. He has been incarcerated at the Menard Correctional Center in Chester, Randolph County, Illinois, since 1994.
The case of Patricia Candace "Candy" Walsh is a tragic reminder of the dangers of hitchhiking and the heinous acts committed by serial killers. Her family and friends continue to remember her as an outgoing and free-spirited person who believed in sharing her faith with others.
