The Highway Hunter: Tracking the I-70 Killer
When you think of serial killers, you might picture a dark alley, a sinister figure lurking in shadows, or a city on high alert. But what if the killer preferred daylight? Quiet, small-town strip malls? Boutique shops with soft music and clerks folding clothes? And what if he was never caught?
Welcome to the terrifying case of the I-70 Killer.
In the spring of 1992, a nameless, faceless killer traveled the American Midwest, executing retail workers in seemingly random, brutal fashion. Over the course of just 29 days, six people were shot dead across Indiana, Kansas, and Missouri. All the scenes were near Interstate 70. All the victims were working alone. All were shot in the head with a .22 caliber weapon. And just like that, the killer vanished.
The murders seemed disconnected at first. The first victim, 26-year-old Robin Fuldauer, was gunned down in a Payless ShoeSource in Indianapolis. Police suspected robbery—but with only a few dollars missing, it didn't quite add up. Days later, in Wichita, two more women were murdered in a bridal shop, shot execution-style. Then a man—Michael "Mick" McCown—was killed in a ceramics store, possibly mistaken for a woman. Then Nancy Kitzmiller in Missouri. Then Sarah Blessing. Same weapon. Same method. Same disappearing act.
It wasn’t until ballistics tied the shell casings together that police realized the scope of what they were facing: a spree killer, hopping from state to state, stalking and killing store clerks like a predator on a highway safari.
The public panicked. Women working alone in small stores were terrified. The FBI got involved. Task forces were formed. Composite sketches were circulated. A weapon was identified—a rare Erma Werke ET-22 pistol, vintage and uncommon. But the killer had no known link to the victims, no clear motive, and seemed to leave no DNA. He was as ghostly as he was ruthless.
Then, just as suddenly as it began, the spree stopped.
But did it?
In 1993 and 1994, similar murders occurred in Texas, along I-35. Young women working alone in retail stores were shot in the head with small-caliber weapons. In one case, a survivor named Vicki Webb lived to tell the tale after playing dead. The shooter’s gun jammed when he tried to finish the job. He laughed and walked away. Police suspected it was the same killer—with a different gun.
In 2001, another eerie case surfaced. Billy Brossman, a clerk in Terre Haute, Indiana, was shot execution-style in a liquor store robbery captured on surveillance video. The crime mirrored the I-70 murders. The killer even looked similar to the original sketch—just older. Still, no ID.
So where does that leave us?
Today, a new task force is working the case. With modern DNA techniques, age-progressed composites, and a renewed public interest in cold cases, investigators hope they’re closer than ever. Detectives believe the killer may still be alive—possibly living quietly in the Midwest, never caught, never suspected.
What drives someone to murder strangers without rhyme or reason? Why did he stop? Did he ever really stop?
The I-70 Killer remains one of the most unsettling mysteries in American criminal history. He wasn’t motivated by money. He didn’t want to be famous. He didn’t even want to taunt investigators. He just... killed. Efficiently. Quickly. Then disappeared down the nearest highway ramp.
And that’s why we tell this story. Not to glorify him. But to remember the victims, to keep pressure on the case, and to remind ourselves: justice has no expiration date.
If you recognize the man in the composite sketches or know someone who might fit this dark puzzle, it’s never too late to come forward. Somewhere out there, the answer is still waiting. Click here and here to see composite sketches.
If you have any information—no matter how minor—that could assist in identifying the I-70 Killer, please contact the St. Charles, Missouri Police Department's dedicated tip line at 1-800-800-3510. This line is monitored by the multi-agency task force actively investigating the case.
You can also reach out directly to Detective Kelly Rhodes, the lead investigator assigned full-time to this case. She is committed to pursuing every lead to bring justice to the victims and their families.
A reward of up to $25,000 is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible. For more details and to view composite sketches of the suspect, visit the St. Charles Police Department's official website or their social media channels.
Remember, even a small detail could be the key to solving this decades-old mystery. If you recall anything unusual from the time or have heard someone discuss details matching the case, don't hesitate to come forward.
Listen to our full deep-dive episode, "The Highway Hunter: Tracking the I-70 Killer," wherever you get your podcasts. We follow the timeline, examine the evidence, and uncover the chilling details that keep investigators up at night.
Stay safe. Stay aware. And stay tuned.
Have thoughts on this story or other cases you’d like to see highlighted? Share them with us in the comments or connect with us on social media. Together, we can ensure that stories like this are never forgotten.
Don’t forget to follow us on social media, share your thoughts, and let us know what you’d like to hear about in future episodes. If you have any true crime stories of your own, send them our way crimeclueless@gmail.com to be featured on a future episode! And as always, remember: refuse to be clueless, careless, or caught off guard. Not today, murderers.
See you in the next episode of Crime Clueless!
📚 References
Cyphers, B. (2023). Dead End: Inside the Hunt for the I-70 Killer. Palmetto Publishing.
FBI. (1992). Behavioral profile of unknown suspect in I-70 murders. Internal report (declassified summary referenced in Cyphers, 2023).
KSHB 41 News. (2022, January 25). St. Charles police release new sketch in I-70 serial killer case. Retrieved from https://www.kshb.com/news
NBC News. (2022, February 1). The hunt for the I-70 serial killer intensifies 30 years later. Dateline NBC. Retrieved from https://www.nbcnews.com/dateline
People Magazine Investigates. (2022, Season 6, Episode 9). The I-70 Killer. Investigation Discovery.
Peterson, K. (2017, May 7). Sarah Blessing's murder remains unsolved 25 years later. KCTV5 News. Retrieved from https://www.kctv5.com
St. Charles Police Department. (2022). I-70 Serial Killer Task Force public case files. Internal memo (as cited in KSHB 41 & People Magazine Investigates, 2022).
Terre Haute Police Department. (2021). Unsolved homicide case file: Billy Brossman. Public release summary.
Texas Department of Public Safety. (1993–1994). Unsolved homicide reports: Mary Ann Glasscock, Amy Vess, and attempted murder of Vicki Webb.
Webb, V. (2022). Survivor interview as featured in People Magazine Investigates and NBC News Dateline.
Wichita Police Department. (1992). La Bride d’Elegance double homicide case file. Retrieved via FOIA request and summarized in Cyphers (2023).
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