Serial Killers May Work as Long-Haul Truckers in the U.S.

The FBI’s Highway Serial Killings Initiative was introduced in 2009 after experts identified a disturbing trend of murdered women—many of whom led transient lifestyles characterized by drug use and prostitution—being found along the Interstate 40 corridor, which stretches through Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, and Mississippi.

Analysts utilized the Violent Criminal Apprehension Program, a comprehensive national database that aggregates information on homicides, sexual assaults, missing persons, and unidentified remains. This effort generated a list of numerous victims and suspects, largely comprising long-haul truckers.

Frank Figliuzzi, a former FBI assistant director with 25 years of experience, published a book this year titled Long Haul: Hunting the Highway Serial Killers. In it, he reveals that around 850 murders have occurred on U.S. highways since 1980, with about 200 still unsolved.

“The most vulnerable individuals at risk of being targeted by serial killers are often those who are invisible, lacking family connections and sometimes involved in trafficking,” stated Dominique Roe-Sepowitz, director of Arizona State University’s Office of Sex Trafficking Intervention Research.

There are currently between 300,000 and 500,000 long-haul truckers in the U.S., according to NPR. While the majority are dedicated professionals maintaining the supply chain, their mobile lifestyle and travel through various jurisdictions create a situation with fewer witnesses, increasing the likelihood that they could harm and dispose of vulnerable individuals.

“There are 25 long-haul truckers already imprisoned for multiple murders,” Figliuzzi reported to NewsNation. Some cases have surfaced in greater Cincinnati and Ohio. This initiative has led to the apprehension of suspects linked to various homicides nationwide, according to the FBI.

Roe-Sepowitz criticized the recent discontinuation of the program, viewing it as a setback for vulnerable women who remain unnoticed. “Without national tracking of traffickers, there is nothing linking these crimes together,” she explained. However, she acknowledged that not all truckers are criminals; many work to combat trafficking, as evidenced by the Truckers Against Trafficking initiative that has trained over 235,000 truckers to recognize and act against trafficking situations.

“Truckers can be part of the solution,” Roe-Sepowitz affirmed. “They have the potential to help identify and rescue victims, contributing positively to our communities.”