This week, Jess takes us into part 4 of our season finale James Waybern “Red” Hall…the Arkansas Hitchhike Killer.

The investigation into the murders connected to Red Hall revealed disturbing details about his actions and mindset. He provided law enforcement with detailed descriptions of his crimes, even taking them to the site where he left his wife, Fay. The identification of Fay was made possible through a jawbone, and as detectives continued their inquiry, they discovered that Red had traveled to California after her murder. This raised suspicions that he might have committed more murders during his travels, prompting authorities to share his picture and fingerprints nationwide. As information poured in from various states, law enforcement sought connections to other unsolved cases, including the Lambert/Nipper killings in Kansas and other murders in Oklahoma and Texas.

As the investigations progressed, Red Hall's personality and interactions with law enforcement became increasingly notable. Despite his heinous acts, he managed to charm those around him, leading to moments of dark humor and disturbing revelations. During his trips with police, he reenacted some murders and expressed a bizarre sense of pride in the attention he garnered, even likening his situation to a carnival sideshow. Red's confessions, filled with contradictions, included claims of having killed numerous individuals, yet he continued to deny involvement in specific cases despite the mounting evidence against him. The investigations highlighted the complexities of Red Hall's character, leaving many questions unanswered as law enforcement agencies worked tirelessly to piece together his dark past.

Don’t forget! If you haven’t listened to Episodes 89-91, please do so now! We can’t have our cousins being lost!

**Please check out Janie Nesbitt Jones’ book “The Arkansas Hitchhike Killer: James Waybern ‘Red’ Hall” wherever you get your books!

Sources:

• The Arkansas Hitchhike Killer by Janie Nesbitt Jones

• Murderpedia - James Waybern Hall

• Arkansas Democrat Gazette

• Youtube

• The Hitchhiker from Hell: Life of Serial Killer James Waybern Hall by Jack Smith

• Daily News, January 26, 1946, Page 272.