Changes: Rhonda Hinson

Revision as of 17:00, 9 January 2022

Real Name: Rhonda Annette Hinson
Nicknames: No known nicknames
Location: Valdese, North Carolina
Date: December 23, 1981

Case

Details: On the night of December 22, 1981, just three days before Christmas, nineteen-year-old Rhonda Hinson attended her first office Christmas party. She had recently graduated from high school in Valdese, North Carolina, and started a job as a clerical worker for a local steel company. At around midnight, she and two of her friends left the party and headed home. At approximately 12:30am, she dropped her friends off and began the ten mile drive back home, where she still lived with her parents, Bobby and Judy.
At 1am, Judy awoke from a sound sleep with a strange premonition: she believed that Rhonda had been hurt or possibly killed in a car accident. Bobby also awoke and decided to turn on his police scanner to see if an accident had occurred. They then heard that a homicide had occurred; the victim was Rhonda.
Rhonda's car was discovered on Mineral Springs Mountain Road, just a half mile from her home. The driver's side door was open, and just a few feet away, she was found dead. She was lying on her back, with her arms deliberately placed at her side. She had been killed by a single bullet fired from a high-powered rifle. It had traveled through the trunk and her seat and had penetrated her heart. Police believed at first that her murder was a random act of violence until an investigation revealed that she may have known her killer.

Hinson crime scene — Crime scene photo of Rhonda's car

Rhonda was popular in high school; she was an expert tennis player with many close friends. However, several weeks after her graduation, she began to behave strangely. Although she was normally comfortable driving alone, she began to ask Bobby to accompany her on trips into town. During one, she said that she had something to tell him, and that it was bad. When he asked her to explain further, she said she'd think about it. However, she never explained to him what was troubling her.
Judy also recalled a strange conversation she had with her. Rhonda asked her if it was ever okay to be in a relationship with a married man. Judy said it was never okay, because it would only end in people getting hurt. She did not know why Rhonda asked this question; she did not know if Rhonda was asking for herself or for a friend.
In the weeks prior to Rhonda's murder, Bobby and Judy noticed that she was suffering from insomnia. She also began getting up in the middle of the night and taking showers. She told Judy that she "felt dirty". According to police, this is usually the behavior of someone who has been sexually abused. It suggested to police that she was under some kind of pressure.
Police also uncovered evidence that suggested that Rhonda was being stalked by someone on the night of her death. Between 12:15 and 12:30am, a witness drove under the Interstate 40 bridge on Mineral Springs Mountain Road. She observed a blue GM Chevrolet facing in a northerly direction, with two white males inside. It was parked next to the same off-ramp that Rhonda would later use to exit. It was spotted just thirty minutes before she was shot and just two-hundred yards from where her body was found.
Later that evening, another witness traveling down the same road passed by a similar blue vehicle, with a single man behind the wheel. It was speeding away from the murder site. As he continued down the road, he saw Rhonda's at the same spot where her body would be found. He saw her slumped over the steering wheel with an unidentified man standing at the front driver's side door. He was unable to get a close look at him. Assuming that they were a drunk couple, he drove on.
In order to remember more about his sighting, the witness agreed to undergo hypnosis. He described the car leaving the scene as a blue Chevelle, a 70s model, with a messed up front end, and a gray primer. He described the man next to Rhonda's as between 5'10" and 6'0", with a medium build and dark brown hair. He also recalled seeing another one parked down the road from Rhonda's. It was a black or dark blue Trans Am. Some believe that it was driven by her killer.
Several latent prints were found on Rhonda's driver's side door. Investigators believe they belong to her killer; however, they have never been identified. Her murder has never been solved, and a $20,000 reward is being offered for information.
Suspects: Based on various statements and actions Rhonda made prior to her death, investigators believe that she may have known her killer. Her family does not believe that she would have stopped her car for a stranger. They believe that she stopped for someone she knew, who then shot at her as she drove away.
Shortly before Rhonda's murder, one witness noticed a blue GM Chevrolet parked near the area where she was found dead. Two unidentified white males were inside it.
Another witness saw the same car speeding away from the murder scene. He also saw an unidentified man at Rhonda's driver's side door. He went under hypnosis and described the unidentified man as 5'10" to 6'0", with medium build and brown hair. He was driving a black or dark-blue Trans Am. He described the car leaving the scene as a blue Chevelle, a 70s model, with a messed up front end and a gray primer.
Extra Notes: This case first aired on the November 15, 1989 episode.
Results: Unsolved. According to Judy, foreign DNA was recovered from Rhonda's sweater, however, it has never been matched to a suspect. Recently, there has been speculation that Rhonda's ex-boyfriend and a friend may have been involved in her murder. However, the theory has not been confirmed. Her family and the investigators are still searching for answers.
In December 2021, investigators announced that new leads were being investigated in this now over 40 year old case, and there is optimism it can still be solved despite the amount of time that has passed.
Links:

@@ Line 2: / Line 2: @@
 '''Real Name:''' Rhonda Annette Hinson<br />
-'''Nicknames:''' No Known Nicknames<br />
+'''Nicknames:''' No known nicknames<br />
-'''Location:''' Valdese, North Carolina<br />
+'''Location:''' Valdese, North Carolina<br />
-'''Date:''' December 23, 1981<br />
+'''Date:''' December 23, 1981
 ==Case==
-'''Details:''' On the night of December 22, 1981, just three days before Christmas, nineteen-year-old Rhonda Hinson attended her first office Christmas party. She had recently graduated from high school in Valdese, North Carolina, and started a job as a clerical worker for a local steel company. At around midnight, she and two of her friends left the party and headed home. At approximately 12:30AM, she dropped off her friends and began the ten mile drive back home, where she still lived with her parents.<br />
+'''Details:''' On the night of December 22, 1981, just three days before Christmas, nineteen-year-old Rhonda Hinson attended her first office Christmas party. She had recently graduated from high school in Valdese, North Carolina, and started a job as a clerical worker for a local steel company. At around midnight, she and two of her friends left the party and headed home. At approximately 12:30am, she dropped her friends off and began the ten mile drive back home, where she still lived with her parents, Bobby and Judy. <br>
-At 1AM, her mother Judy awoke from a sound sleep with a strange premonition: she believed that Rhonda had been hurt or possibly killed in a car accident. Her father Bobby also awoke and decided to turn on his police scanner to see if an accident had occurred. They then heard that a homicide had occurred; the victim was Rhonda.<br />
+At 1am, Judy awoke from a sound sleep with a strange premonition: she believed that Rhonda had been hurt or possibly killed in a car accident. Bobby also awoke and decided to turn on his police scanner to see if an accident had occurred. They then heard that a homicide had occurred; the victim was Rhonda.<br>
-Her car was discovered on Mineral Springs Mountain Road, just a half mile from her home. The driver's door was opened, and just a few feet away, she was found dead. She was lying on her back, with her arms deliberately placed at her side. She had been killed by a single bullet fired from a high-powered rifle. The bullet had traveled through her trunk and her seat and had penetrated her heart. Police believed at first that her murder was a random act of violence until an investigation revealed that she may have known her killer.<br />
+Rhonda's car was discovered on Mineral Springs Mountain Road, just a half mile from her home. The driver's side door was open, and just a few feet away, she was found dead. She was lying on her back, with her arms deliberately placed at her side. She had been killed by a single bullet fired from a high-powered rifle. It had traveled through the trunk and her seat and had penetrated her heart. Police believed at first that her murder was a random act of violence until an investigation revealed that she may have known her killer.<br>
 [[File:Hinson_crime_scene.jpg|thumb|right|270px|Crime scene photo of Rhonda's car]]
-In high school, Rhonda was popular; she was an expert tennis player with many close friends. However, several weeks after her graduation, she began to behave strangely. Although she was normally comfortable driving alone, she began to ask her father Bobby to accompany her on trips into town. During one of these trips, she said that she had something to tell him, and that it was bad. When he asked her to explain further, she said she'd think about it. However, she never explained to him what was troubling her.<br />
+Rhonda was popular in high school; she was an expert tennis player with many close friends. However, several weeks after her graduation, she began to behave strangely. Although she was normally comfortable driving alone, she began to ask Bobby to accompany her on trips into town. During one, she said that she had something to tell him, and that it was bad. When he asked her to explain further, she said she'd think about it. However, she never explained to him what was troubling her.<br>
-Her mother Judy also recalled a strange conversation she had with her. Rhonda asked her if it was ever okay to be in a relationship with a married man. Judy said it was never okay, because it would only end in people getting hurt. She did not know why Rhonda asked this question; she did not know if Rhonda was asking for herself or for a friend.<br />
+Judy also recalled a strange conversation she had with her. Rhonda asked her if it was ever okay to be in a relationship with a married man. Judy said it was never okay, because it would only end in people getting hurt. She did not know why Rhonda asked this question; she did not know if Rhonda was asking for herself or for a friend.<br>
-In the weeks prior to her murder, her parents noticed that she was suffering from insomnia. She also began getting up in the middle of the night and taking showers. She told her mother that she "felt dirty". According to police, this is usually the behavior of someone who has been sexually abused. This unusual behavior suggested to police that she was under some kind of pressure.<br />
+In the weeks prior to Rhonda's murder, Bobby and Judy noticed that she was suffering from insomnia. She also began getting up in the middle of the night and taking showers. She told Judy that she "felt dirty". According to police, this is usually the behavior of someone who has been sexually abused. It suggested to police that she was under some kind of pressure.<br>
-Police also uncovered evidence that suggested that Rhonda was being stalked by someone on the night of her death. Between 12:15 and 12:30AM on that night, a witness drove under the Interstate 40 bridge on Mineral Springs Mountain Road. She observed a blue GM Chevrolet facing in a northerly direction, with two white males inside. The car was parked next to the same off-ramp that Rhonda would later use to exit. It was spotted just thirty minutes before Rhonda was shot and just two-hundred yards from where her body was found.<br />
+Police also uncovered evidence that suggested that Rhonda was being stalked by someone on the night of her death. Between 12:15 and 12:30am, a witness drove under the Interstate 40 bridge on Mineral Springs Mountain Road. She observed a blue GM Chevrolet facing in a northerly direction, with two white males inside. It was parked next to the same off-ramp that Rhonda would later use to exit. It was spotted just thirty minutes before she was shot and just two-hundred yards from where her body was found.<br>
-Later that evening, another witness traveling down the same road passed by a similar blue vehicle, with a single man behind the wheel. This vehicle was speeding away from the murder site. As he continued down the road, the witness saw Rhonda's vehicle at the same spot where her body would be found. The witness saw her slumped over the steering wheel with an unidentified man standing at the front driver's side door. The witness was unable to get a close look at the man. Assuming that they were a drunk couple, he drove on.<br />
+Later that evening, another witness traveling down the same road passed by a similar blue vehicle, with a single man behind the wheel. It was speeding away from the murder site. As he continued down the road, he saw Rhonda's at the same spot where her body would be found. He saw her slumped over the steering wheel with an unidentified man standing at the front driver's side door. He was unable to get a close look at him. Assuming that they were a drunk couple, he drove on.<br>
-In order to remember more about his sighting, the witness agreed to undergo hypnosis. He described the car leaving the scene as a blue Chevelle, a 70s model, with a messed up front end, and a gray primer. He described the man next to Rhonda's car as between 5'10" and 6'0", with a medium build and dark brown hair. The witness also recalled seeing another vehicle parked down the road from Rhonda's vehicle. The car was a black or dark blue Trans Am. Some believe that this car was driven by the killer.<br />
+In order to remember more about his sighting, the witness agreed to undergo hypnosis. He described the car leaving the scene as a blue Chevelle, a 70s model, with a messed up front end, and a gray primer. He described the man next to Rhonda's as between 5'10" and 6'0", with a medium build and dark brown hair. He also recalled seeing another one parked down the road from Rhonda's. It was a black or dark blue Trans Am. Some believe that it was driven by her killer.<br>
-Several latent prints were found on Rhonda's driver's side door. Investigators believe they belong to the killer; however, the prints have never been identified. Her murder has never been solved, and a $20,000 reward is being offered for information.<br />
+Several latent prints were found on Rhonda's driver's side door. Investigators believe they belong to her killer; however, they have never been identified. Her murder has never been solved, and a $20,000 reward is being offered for information.<br>
 '''Suspects:''' Based on various statements and actions Rhonda made prior to her death, investigators believe that she may have known her killer. Her family does not believe that she would have stopped her car for a stranger. They believe that she stopped for someone she knew, who then shot at her as she drove away.<br />
-Shortly before the murder, one witness noticed a blue GM Chevrolet parked near the area where Rhonda was found dead. Two unidentified white males were inside this vehicle.<br />
+Shortly before Rhonda's murder, one witness noticed a blue GM Chevrolet parked near the area where she was found dead. Two unidentified white males were inside it.<br>
-Another witness saw the same car speeding away from the murder scene. This witness also saw an unidentified man at Rhonda's driver's side door. The witness went under hypnosis and described the unidentified man as 5'10" to 6'0", with medium build and brown hair. He was driving a black or dark-blue Trans Am. He described the car leaving the scene as a blue Chevelle, a 70s model, with a messed up front end, and a gray primer.<br />
+Another witness saw the same car speeding away from the murder scene. He also saw an unidentified man at Rhonda's driver's side door. He went under hypnosis and described the unidentified man as 5'10" to 6'0", with medium build and brown hair. He was driving a black or dark-blue Trans Am. He described the car leaving the scene as a blue Chevelle, a 70s model, with a messed up front end and a gray primer.<br>
 '''Extra Notes:''' This case first aired on the November 15, 1989 episode.<br />
-'''Results:''' Unsolved. According to Rhonda's mother, foreign DNA was recovered from Rhonda's sweater; however, this DNA has never been matched to a suspect. Recently, there has been speculation that Rhonda's ex-boyfriend and a friend may have been involved in the murder. However, the theory has not been confirmed. Her family and the investigators are still searching for answers.<br />
+'''Results:''' Unsolved. According to Judy, foreign DNA was recovered from Rhonda's sweater, however, it has never been matched to a suspect. Recently, there has been speculation that Rhonda's ex-boyfriend and a friend may have been involved in her murder. However, the theory has not been confirmed. Her family and the investigators are still searching for answers.<br>
+In December 2021, investigators announced that new leads were being investigated in this now over 40 year old case, and there is optimism it can still be solved despite the amount of time that has passed. <br />
 '''Links:'''
 * [http://unsolved.com/gallery/rhonda-hinson Rhonda Hinson on Unsolved.com]
@@ Line 37: / Line 38: @@
 * [https://the-record-newspaper.tumblr.com/post/183916678890/the-killing-of-rhonda-hinson-part-ii?fbclid=IwAR2msmptBzCLpO8DcH-x903i3AcQ__4OHKtxDJZOxJl9eQz0KZrq7BCuMe0 The Killing of Rhonda Hinson]
 * [https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/showthread.php?t=34665 SitcomsOnline Discussion of Rhonda Hinson]
-* [https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/9269119 Rhonda Hinson at Find a Grave]
+* [https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/9269119 Rhonda Hinson on Find a Grave]
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 [[Category: North Carolina]]