We all have an idea of the things that happened when this mystery was turned into a horror film for the story of “The Town That Dreaded Sundown,” but what went down with the real people? The “Phantom Slayer” kept the town on edge for four months straight. Here are some things to know about what happened during that time:

Killed Five Of His Eight Victims

Five of them died from shotgun wounds and the other three had traumatic experiences before they were able to escape.

Calling Card: Attacking Couples 

One of the key things the Phantom Slayer did was go after couples, and more than likely it would be on Lover’s Lane. In fact, the first attack happened on February 22, 1946, when Jimmy Hollis and Jeanne Larey were taking a walk after watching a movie. The second one, Richard Griffin and Polly Ann Moore, were found dead a month later at a different lover’s lane.

Cut Out Mask

It was hard to get an accurate description of what the killer looked like, but one thing that was consistent is that he wore a white hood with the eyes and mouth cut out.

Teens Rallied to Catch the Killer

Not only were cops on the patrol, but teens were doing their own investigation to track down the murderer and take him out. In fact, a deputy Tillman Johnson asked a young couple on the road if they were scared. The young lady simply replied that he was lucky that he identified himself because she was ready (a .25 caliber pistol in her hand).

Phantom Not Found

The key fear with all of these murders is it was practically done without a trace. The case is still unsolved.

People Racked Up on Weapons

Not only did guns and ammo get sold out in-store, but people also took the liberty to fortify their windows as well as get some guard dogs.

Texarkana Hosts an Annual “The Town That Dreaded Sundown” 

Every year they host this movie on Halloween lightly based on the events that went down in 1946.