This week Beth and Wendy discuss the case of the New Bedford Highway Killer, a serial killer active between 1988 and 1989. Eleven women disappeared from the streets of New Bedford, Massachusetts, with nine bodies found along local highways. The victims were marginalized and the case received less attention than other crimes of the time.
Key suspects included local attorney Kenneth Ponte and construction worker Anthony DeGrazia, though no one was ever convicted. The case remains unsolved, with speculation about multiple suspects, including theories connecting it to other serial killers or snuff films. The investigation was hindered by the lack of resources and public indifference to the victims’ lives. The story also touches on themes of race, classism, and victim-blaming, emphasizing the marginalized status of the women.
This episode was researched & scripted by Wendy & Beth Williams and edited by Minnie Williams.
Thanks for listening! This is a weekly podcast and new episodes drop every Thursday, so until next time… look alive guys, it’s crazy out there!
Shout Outs
Empire City: the untold origin story of the NYPD (podcast)
Trial by Media (docuseries)
Where to find us:
Our Facebook page is Fruitloopspod and our discussion group is Fruitloopspod Discussion on Facebook; https://www.facebook.com/groups/fruitloopspod/
We are also on Twitter and Instagram @fruitloopspod
Please send any questions or comments to fruitloopspod@gmail.com or leave us a voicemail at 602-935-6294. We just might read your email or play your voicemail on the show!
Want to Support the show?
You can support the show by rating and reviewing Fruitloops on iTunes, or anywhere else that you get your podcasts from. We would love it if you gave us 5 stars!
You can make a donation on the Cash App
https://cash.me/$fruitloopspod
Or become a monthly Patron through Patreon
patreon.com/user?u=11415202
Footnotes
Articles/Websites
Richard, Barry. (03/20/2023). After 35 Years New Bedford Highway Killings Remain Unsolved. WBSM. Retrieved 09/06/2024 from https://wbsm.com/new-bedford-highway-killings-remain-unsolved/
Wikipedia. (06/01/2024). New Bedford Highway Killer. Retrieved 09/07/2024 from
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Bedford_Highway_Killer
Brown, Curt. (09/02/2017). The Highway Killings. South Coast Today. Retrieved 09/07/2024 from https://www.southcoasttoday.com/story/news/2017/09/03/the-highway-killings/18906859007/
Southcoast Murders and Mysteries. (n.d.). Highway Murders 1988-1989. Retrieved 09/07/2024 from https://southcoastmurdersmysteries.weebly.com/highway-murders.html
CapeCod.com. (09/25/2019). Search warrants executed in Eastham, Orleans and Dennis leading to arrest of Eastham man. Retrieved 09/07/2024 from https://www.capecod.com/cape-wide-news/search-warrants-executed-in-eastham-orleans-and-dennis-leading-to-arrest-of-eastham-man/
VineLink. (n.d.). Franklin J. Pina. Retrieved 09/07/2024 from https://vinelink.vineapps.com/person-detail/offender/25675315
Franckling, Ken. (04/17/1989). Serial killings haunt neighborhood plagued by drugs. UPI. Retrieved 09/10/2024 from https://www.upi.com/Archives/1989/04/17/Serial-killings-haunt-neighborhood-plagued-by-drugs/6308608788800/
Griffiths, Josie. (10/17/2017). On The Loose. The Sun. Retrieved 09/10/2024 from https://www.thesun.co.uk/fabulous/4703023/terrifying-true-story-new-bedford-highway-serial-killer-murdered-nine-women-seven-months/
Fraga, Brian. (01/27/2010). Former suspect in unsolved highway killings case found dead in New Bedford home. South Coast Today. Retrieved 09/10/2024 from https://www.southcoasttoday.com/story/news/crime/2010/01/28/former-suspect-in-unsolved-highway/51724211007/
History
Richard, Barry. (03/17/2023). New Bedford’s Weld Square Is Not Where You Think It Is. WBSM. Retrieved 09/06/2024 from https://wbsm.com/new-bedford-weld-square/
New Bedford Whaling Museum. (2022). Sailing to Freedom: Maritime Dimensions of the Underground Railroad. Retrieved 09/10/2024 from https://www.whalingmuseum.org/exhibition/sailing-to-freedom/
Explore New Bedford. (n.d.). New Bedford Is Rich In History. Retrieved 09/10/2024 from https://explorenewbedford.org/history/
Wikipedia. (07/22/2024). New Bedford Massachusetts. Retrieved 09/10/2024 from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Bedford,_Massachusetts
City of New Bedford. (n.d.). Population. Retrieved 09/10/2024 from https://s3.amazonaws.com/newbedford-ma/wp-content/uploads/sites/34/20191219201416/Demographics-page-2-population.pdf
National Park Service. (04/13/2021). Herman Melville. Retrieved 09/10/2024 from https://www.nps.gov/nebe/learn/historyculture/hermanmelville.htm
How Not to Get Murdered
Blackandmissinginc
pomc.org
Ncmissingpersons
namus.nij.ojp.gov
missingkids.org
lauthmissingpersons.com
mmiwusa.org
rcaanc-cirnac.gc.ca
worc.org
mpsupportcenter.org
Music
“Abyss” by Alasen: ●https://soundcloud.com/alasen●https://twitter.com/icemantrap ●https://instagram.com/icemanbass/●https://soundcloud.com/therealfrozenguy●
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
“Precinct Lullaby” by Marlene Miller. Used with permission. Find her Facebook and Instagram under SEMNCHY or marlenemiller138@gmail.com
“Keep the Tab” “classical latin hop” by greyguy
http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/greyguy/29227
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
“Baba Yaga” & “Furious Freak” by Kevin MacLeod
https://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/full_list.php
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Connect with us on:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQHgsKYPbzsI4AEiMrUgabA
Twitter @FruitLoopsPod
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/fruitloopspod
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Fruitloopspod and https://www.facebook.com/groups/fruitloopspod
Fruitloops 