Richard L. Griffin, a 29-year-old white male, was found dead on March 24, 1946, in Texarkana, Texas. Griffin, a war veteran who had been discharged from the Seabees in November 1945, was discovered alongside his girlfriend, 17-year-old Polly Ann Moore, in his 1941 Oldsmobile. The couple was parked on a secluded road known as a lovers' lane. Both victims had been shot in the back of the head, with Griffin found between the two front seats on his knees, his head resting in his hands.
Moore was found face down in the back seat, though evidence suggested she may have been murdered outside the car and placed there later. The couple had last been seen around 10 p.m. the night before, having dinner with Griffin's sister.
The murders of Griffin and Moore were part of a series of violent attacks attributed to an unidentified perpetrator known as the "Phantom Killer" or "Phantom Slayer." These attacks, which occurred over a ten-week period from February to May 1946, targeted couples in isolated locations, primarily on weekends. The Phantom Killer's first known attack occurred on February 22, 1946, when Jimmy Hollis, 25, and Mary Jeanne Larey, 19, were assaulted while parked on a secluded road. Hollis was severely beaten, and Larey was sexually assaulted but both survived. The second attack, which resulted in the deaths of Griffin and Moore, marked the beginning of a series of murders that would terrorize the Texarkana community.
The investigation into the murders was extensive, involving city, county, state, and federal authorities. Despite the efforts of law enforcement, the case remained unsolved. Over 400 suspects were investigated, but no definitive evidence linked any individual to the crimes. The prime suspect, career criminal Youell Swinney, was linked to the murders primarily through statements made by his wife and additional circumstantial evidence. However, Swinney's wife refused to testify against him, leading prosecutors to drop the murder charges. Swinney was convicted on other charges and sentenced to a long prison term. Two lead investigators believed Swinney was guilty of the murders, but without his wife's testimony, the case against him could not proceed.
The murders caused widespread panic in Texarkana, with residents arming themselves and locking their doors at night. The media dubbed the perpetrator the "Phantom Killer," and the case received national and international attention. Despite the passage of time, the identity of the Phantom Killer remains unknown, and the case continues to be a subject of speculation and intrigue. The events inspired various works, including the 1976 film "The Town That Dreaded Sundown," which contributed to the myth and folklore surrounding the Texarkana Moonlight Murders.
