All Episodes

April 9, 2025 149 mins

In this deeply personal and powerful episode, Bill Thomas, the older brother of Cathy Thomas—one of the victims of the Colonial Parkway Murders—shares his journey of grief, advocacy, and the pursuit of justice. Cathy, along with her girlfriend Rebecca Dowski, was tragically murdered in 1986, their bodies discovered in a remote area along the Colonial Parkway in Virginia. Their deaths remain part of an unsolved case that still haunts the region.


Bill, now a passionate advocate for the victims, discusses not only his personal loss but also the broader impact of the case, shedding light on the importance of keeping such stories alive in the media. Alongside his co-host Kristin Dilley, Bill continues his advocacy through the Mind Over Murder  podcast, using his platform to keep the victims' memories alive and push for answers, for victims alike.


Bill and Celene Beth delve into the rising popularity of comedy true crime podcasts discussing the often delicate balance between entertainment and the gravity of real-life tragedy.


Bill also reflects on his friendship with the late, great Michelle McNamara, the celebrated author and true crime advocate. Bill shares personal stories about their time together and how her work, particularly her groundbreaking efforts, has shaped his own journey in advocating for the Colonial Parkway victims.


This episode is a moving tribute to Cathy, Rebecca, and the other victims, as well as a candid exploration of the complexities and emotional weight of advocating for justice, both in the media and in law enforcement.


If someone has information related to the Colonial Parkway Murders, they can contact the FBI's Richmond Field Office. Here are the contact details:

Phone: (804) 261-1044

Email: richmondtips@fbi.gov


Additionally, tips can be submitted online through the FBI's tip submission page: https://tips.fbi.gov⁠


Mark as Played

Advertise With Us

Popular Podcasts

Stuff You Should Know
My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark

My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark

My Favorite Murder is a true crime comedy podcast hosted by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark. Each week, Karen and Georgia share compelling true crimes and hometown stories from friends and listeners. Since MFM launched in January of 2016, Karen and Georgia have shared their lifelong interest in true crime and have covered stories of infamous serial killers like the Night Stalker, mysterious cold cases, captivating cults, incredible survivor stories and important events from history like the Tulsa race massacre of 1921. My Favorite Murder is part of the Exactly Right podcast network that provides a platform for bold, creative voices to bring to life provocative, entertaining and relatable stories for audiences everywhere. The Exactly Right roster of podcasts covers a variety of topics including historic true crime, comedic interviews and news, science, pop culture and more. Podcasts on the network include Buried Bones with Kate Winkler Dawson and Paul Holes, That's Messed Up: An SVU Podcast, This Podcast Will Kill You, Bananas and more.

The Joe Rogan Experience

The Joe Rogan Experience

The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.

Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2025 iHeartMedia, Inc.