Nov 23, 2009 10:00 pm US/Central
Cold Case Minute: Maury Travis
Police Seek Help Identifying Three Victims Of Serial Killer Who Videotaped Torture
(CBS)
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Illinois State Police are seeking help identifying these three women, who they suspect were victims of serial killer Maury Travis. Their bodies were found in southern Illinois in 2002.
CBS
It's a cold case mystery that tracked a serial killer through cyberspace, into his own home, where investigators unearthed a videotape collection of torture.
The video evidence police recovered shows rape, torture, and -- in at least one case -- murder. The videotapes were so graphic, police ordered psychological counseling for all officers who viewed them.
In 2001 along the banks of the Mississippi River in southern Illinois, a serial killer was hunting. His victims? Women; mainly prostitutes. His method? Torture, rape and strangulation
By 2002 the body count numbered six. Victims who were dumped in stream beds and ditches provided little clues.
Tire tracks on a leg and some DNA; but without a name to compare the case went cold until a letter arrived.
It was from the killer, boasting to a reporter about the murders and including a map to another body. X marked the spot of victim number 7.
It also led investigators to the Internet and the Illinois State Police cyber crime unit.
By tracking Mapquest's search engine they pinpointed the IP address of 33-year-old Maury Travis.
His tire treads matched those on a victim's leg. DNA from a coke can hit on all markers.
The most damning evidence -- and the most horrific -- was a videotape labeled "Wedding Day."
In the video, Travis can be seen saying, "This is first kill; kill number one"
The killer caught himself on tape and provided detectives with conclusive evidence of a sadistic murderer
Travis could be heard telling one victim, "I can't hear you! Say it clear!" She responded, "You are the master it pleases me to serve you"
Three days after Travis was arrested, he hanged himself in jail.
"We had a million questions, a million and one questions," said St. Louis Police Sgt. Tim Sachs. "And he took every answer with him."
Or did he? Detectives have only been able to identify some of the women Travis is suspected of killing.
It's a cold case puzzle where the victim's are the mystery.
Three bodies were discovered in southern Illinois in 2002:
Jane Doe #1 was found January 2002 in Mascoutah; she was under 30 years old, wearing a black jumpsuit.
Jane Doe #2 was found March 2002 in Collinsville; she also was under 30 years old, 5 foot 3 inches, wearing a Tommy Hillfiger shirt, bracelets and a ring.
Jane Doe #3 was found March 2002 in Columbia; she was between 30 and 50 years old, 5 foot 1 inch, wearing this a Maverick T-shirt and Chazz pants. She had a healed fracture on her forehead from childhood and she's believed to have given birth.
Police need you to help put a name to these lost faces. If you have any information, call the Illinois State Police at 618-346-3781
Travis is suspected of killing between 12 and 20 women. In the letter that would prove his demise, he identified the body as "victim number 17." If that's the case, there are at least five more unidentified bodies.
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