Texarkana in Bowie County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
The Phantom Killer
City of Texarkana, Texas
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Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 1, 2025
1. The Phantom Killer Marker
The most infamous memory of Spring Lake Park remains The Phantom Killer. In February of 1946 a murderer started targeting young lovers in secluded areas at night, striking terror throughout Texarkana. By early May the killer had murdered 5 people and assaulted three others. The killer's third set of victims, as well as the youngest, were murdered in Spring Lake Park.
During the evening hours of April 13, 1946, fifteen-year-old Betty Jo Booker and sixteen-year-old Paul Martin were both shot to death by a .32-caliber Colt pistol. Martin's 1946 Ford Club Coupe was found parked on North Park Road, about 40 yards north of Spring Lake Park's main entrance.
The identity of the Phantom Killer who gripped the town in fear, remains a mystery. Almost 400 suspects were arrested through the investigation, but no one was ever charged with the murders. The killer and his victims continue to play a role in local lore. Charles B. Pierce's 1976 film, The Town That Dreaded Sundown, a fictionalized account of the killings, has been shown frequently in the park. A remake was filmed in 2014.
Erected 2021 by City of Texarkana, Texas.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Entertainment • Law Enforcement • Parks & Recreational Areas. A significant historical month for this entry is February 1946.
Location.
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Regionally, this marker is in the American South, specifically in the Deep South, and in the Piney Woods. Globally, it is in North America, a Gulf of Mexico state, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain, the Republic of Texas, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Aviation in the Park (within shouting distance of this marker); Spring Lake Park Fairgrounds (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Spring Lake Park (about 500 feet away); The Texarkana Streetcar System (about 600 feet away); The Legend of Hernando de Soto (about 700 feet away); Wooten Springs Cemetery (about 700 feet away); William Wooten & Anthony Ghio (about 700 feet away); Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery (approx. 2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Texarkana.
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Spring Lake Park Walk Through History
Also see . . .
1. Texarkana Moonlight Murders (Wikipedia).
Excerpt: The Texarkana Moonlight Murders, a term coined by the contemporary press, was a series of four unsolved serial murders and related violent crimes committed in the Texarkana region of the United States(Submitted on January 5, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)in early 1946. They were attributed to an alleged unidentified perpetrator known as the Phantom of Texarkana, the Phantom Killer, or the Phantom Slayer. This hypothetical suspect is credited with attacking eight people, five of them fatally, in a ten-week period.
2. Marker detail: Investigators for the Phantom Killer case
The attacks occurred at night on weekends between February 22 and May 3, targeting couples. The first three attacks occurred at lovers' lanes or quiet stretches of road in Texas; the fourth attack occurred at an isolated farmhouse in Arkansas. The murders were reported nationally and internationally by several publications, and caused a state of panic in Texarkana throughout the summer. Residents armed themselves and, at dusk, locked themselves indoors while police patrolled the streets and neighborhoods. Stores sold out of guns, ammunition, locks, and many other protective devices. Investigations into the murders were conducted at the city, county, state, and federal level.
The prime suspect in the case, career criminal Youell Swinney, was linked to the murders primarily by statements from his wife plus additional circumstantial evidence. After Swinney's wife refused to testify against him, prosecutors decided against pursuing murder charges. Swinney was convicted on other charges and sentenced to a long prison sentence. Two of the lead investigators believed Swinney to be guilty of the murders. The book The PhantomKiller: Unlocking the Mystery of the Texarkana Serial Murders (2014), written by James Presley (nephew of Sheriff William Hardy "Bill" Presley), concludes that Swinney is the culprit. The events inspired many works, including the 1976 film The Town That Dreaded Sundown.
3. Marker detail: Texas Ranger Capt. Manuel Lone Wolf GonzaullasArriving in Texarkana in 1946 to investigate the Phantom Murders.
2. The Mystery of the Texarkana Moonlight Murders (YouTube).
In early 1946, the town of Texarkana was gripped by a mysterious killer who targeted young couples parked in their vehicles. By the end of his spree five people would lay dead, and his sudden disappearance would provide investigators with more questions than answers. This is the story of the Texarkana Phantom.(Submitted on January 5, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 1, 2025
4. The Phantom Killer Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on January 5, 2026. It was originally submitted on January 4, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 123 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on January 5, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
