The unidentified predator who hunted specialty stores along Interstate 70

Countries & Cities · Published 12 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: In the spring of 1992, a series of targeted killings terrorized the American Midwest. The killer, known for targeting small specialty shops, left behind a trail of confusion, mistaken identities, and a signature .2/2-caliber weapon, yet his identity remains one of the region's most chilling mysteries.

In Indianapolis, the 26-year-old Robin Fuldauer was killed on 8 April 1992, marking the start of the rampage. The killer's pattern involved targeting small, specialty businesses during quiet hours, such as after lunch or near closing time. The motive appeared to be robbery, though the amounts stolen were remarkably small—often less than $100. The victims were typically young, petite, brunette women, often shot in the back of the head.

The killer's methodology occasionally led to errors in target selection. In Terre Haute, Indiana, 40-year-old Michael McCown was killed because investigators believe the killer mistook him for a woman due to his long hair and the store's name, Sylvia's Ceramics. Similarly, a single incident in Wichita involved two victims, Patricia Smith and Patricia Magers, because the killer likely believed only one woman was present in the bridal shop.

While the Midwest killings are the core of the case, investigators have explored links to shootings in Texas during 1993 and 1994, including the deaths of Mary Ann Glasscock and Amy Vess. However, a ballistics test showed the firearms used in Texas were not the same as those used in the I-7 and Midwest murders, leaving the connection unconfirmed. Despite high-profile features on programs like Unsolved Mysteries, no suspects have been publicly named, and the killer remains unidentified.

Forensic clues provided a narrow profile: a slender white man, roughly 5'7" to 5'9" tall, with reddish or sandy blond hair and lazy eyelids. Traces of jeweler's rouge were found on the .22-caliber ammunition casings. As of 2021, police released age-progressed sketches, estimating the perpetrator would be between 52 and 70 years old today if still alive.

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