Ep 6. A Killer On The Road

In The Killing Season season 1 episode 6, titled "A Killer On The Road," documentary filmmakers Joshua Zeman and Rachel Mills continue their investigation into the long-haul trucker serial killer known as the "Highway Serial Killer."

The episode starts with the filmmakers meeting with Lieutenant Dan Duncan, who heads up a task force dedicated to tracking down these elusive killers. The task force has made some progress in recent years, but they're still struggling to solve some of these cases, with over 400 currently unsolved murders or disappearances.

Josh and Rachel hit the road to visit the sites of some of these cases, traveling through Missouri and Tennessee. They stop at truck stops and rest areas, talking to truckers and other travelers about their experiences and asking if they've ever seen or heard anything suspicious.

One particularly chilling interview takes place with a trucker who says he once witnessed a man trying to abduct a young woman from a rest area. He intervened and called the police, but the suspect managed to flee the scene. The trucker provides a detailed description of the man and his vehicle, but the case remains unsolved.

The filmmakers also interview family members and friends of some of the victims, humanizing these women who are often reduced to statistics in police reports. They learn about the victims' passions and dreams, and how their lives were tragically cut short by a killer who was able to slip through the cracks in law enforcement.

As they continue their investigation, Josh and Rachel begin to piece together a disturbing pattern – many of the victims were last seen near major highways, suggesting that the killer(s) may be using the interstate system to commit their crimes and avoid detection.

At the end of the episode, the filmmakers get a major break in the case when they receive a call from a woman who says she may have encountered the "Highway Serial Killer" on the road. The woman provides a detailed description of the man and his vehicle, and says she saw him picking up a female hitchhiker.

This leads the filmmakers to a rural area where they discover a makeshift camp that seems to have been used by the killer. They find evidence that suggests the killer may still be active and on the road, causing them to fear that they may be in danger themselves.

Overall, "A Killer On The Road" is a riveting and disturbing episode that shines a light on the often-overlooked issue of long-haul trucker serial killers. Through interviews with law enforcement, victims' families, and other experts, the episode provides a comprehensive overview of the case while also keeping viewers on the edge of their seats with its tense and unsettling tone.