He drove the country's interstates for years, using his rig to find victims far from anyone who might notice. Investigators believe his true victim count was never fully established.
A Pattern Across State Lines
Robert Ben Rhoades, a long-haul truck driver, used his position and his vehicle to target women and hitchhikers across multiple states over more than a decade, converting the sleeper compartment of his truck for use in his crimes. We are not detailing the specific nature of what took place inside his truck; investigators who worked the case have described it in extensive detail elsewhere for anyone specifically seeking that level of information.
The Arrest
Rhoades was arrested in 1990 in connection with a string of at least four abductions that spring, including the murder of 24-year-old Patricia Candice Walsh, whose body was found in central Utah, and the killing of her husband, Douglas Scott Zyskowski, in Texas. Investigators in multiple states pursued charges against him as the scope of his crimes became clearer.
A Broader Pattern Suspected
Law enforcement officials who investigated Rhoades, including retired FBI profiler Mark Young, have said they believe his confirmed victims represented only a portion of his actual crimes, given the nature of his profession and the years spanned by his activity.
Conviction
Rhoades was convicted of multiple murders across the states where he was charged and received life sentences.
FAQ
How was Robert Ben Rhoades finally caught?
He was arrested in 1990 after a string of abductions in the spring of that year led investigators to him.
How many victims did he have?
He was convicted in connection with several murders, though investigators have said they believe his actual victim count, spanning more than a decade of interstate trucking, was likely higher.
What happened to Robert Ben Rhoades?
He was convicted and sentenced to life in prison.