Ep 2. The Eastbound Strangler

In the second episode of Dark Minds season 1, titled "The Eastbound Strangler," the show delves into the case of a serial killer who remained at large for decades. The Eastbound Strangler was responsible for the deaths of at least seven women who were all found along the eastbound side of the Interstate 4 highway in Florida.

The episode starts with John Kelly, a criminal profiler, and host of Dark Minds, introducing the case and the victims. He explains that despite a long and expensive investigation, the Eastbound Strangler was never caught, and the families of the victims were never given answers. The lack of evidence and the killer's ability to avoid detection has led many to believe that he must have had law enforcement or military training.

Kelly then introduces the episode's guest expert, Anthony Meoli, a retired detective who investigated the Eastbound Strangler case for over a decade. Meoli explains that the women who fell victim to the Eastbound Strangler were all poor and working-class, and many were involved in drugs or prostitution. He also reveals that the killer had a particular style, he strangled his victims with a ligature, which was usually either a telephone cord or a belt.

As the episode progresses, Kelly and Meoli interview family members of some of the victims to get a sense of who they were and what their lives were like. They also speak with other law enforcement officials who were involved in the case, including detectives who worked the crime scenes and a forensic artist who created a composite sketch of the Eastbound Strangler.

Throughout the episode, Kelly and Meoli also explore theories about who the killer might be. They consider various suspects, including a man who was convicted of the murders of two other women along the Interstate 4 corridor. Although this man is currently serving life in prison, Kelly and Meoli both agree that there is a possibility that he was involved in the Eastbound Strangler case as well.

They also look into the possibility that the Eastbound Strangler was a truck driver, as many of the victims were found near rest stops along the highway. They even speak with a woman who claims to have been a victim of an attempted abduction by a truck driver on the same stretch of highway where the Eastbound Strangler operated.

As the episode comes to a close, Kelly and Meoli admit that, despite years of investigation and countless leads, they still aren't sure who the Eastbound Strangler is or if he is even still alive. They do, however, express hope that the episode might spark new leads or encourage someone to come forward with information that could finally bring the case to a close.

"The Eastbound Strangler" is a genuinely gripping episode of Dark Minds that masterfully weaves together interviews with experts, family members of victims, and law enforcement officials to create an engaging and emotional portrait of a horrific crime. Despite the lack of resolution, the episode serves as a reminder that the families of victims of unsolved crimes never forget and never stop seeking answers.