Explore the real-world places that appear in Long Haul: Hunting the Highway Serial Killers by Frank Figliuzzi. Each location on the map shows what happens there in the novel, the real history of the place, and what's there today. Featured locations include Interstate 70 - West Virginia Stretch, Cline Avenue Bridge - Hammond, Indiana, FBI Field Office - Indianapolis, Rest Area on I-95 - North Carolina, Truck Stop on I-40 - Tennessee and 9 more.
Charleston to Beckley — The hunting ground
I-70 through West Virginia serves as one of the primary corridors where multiple highway serial killers operated, targeting hitchhikers and vulnerable travelers. Figliuzzi traces the pattern of murders along this interstate, where victims were picked up and never seen alive again. The desolate stretches of highway became a predator's paradise during the 1970s and 1980s.
Interstate 70 was completed through West Virginia in 1972, creating a direct east-west corridor through Appalachia. The highway transformed regional commerce but also created isolated stretches where criminals could operate with relative anonymity.
I-70 remains a major transcontinental route, heavily trafficked by trucks and commuters. Modern rest stops, improved lighting, and communication technology have made it considerably safer than during the serial killer era.
Visit: Interstate 70 (landmark)
Interstate 90/94 junction — Body disposal site
The Cline Avenue Bridge over the Grand Calumet River became a notorious dumping ground for highway serial killers operating in the Chicago region. Bodies of victims were discovered in the river below, many of them hitchhikers or vulnerable individuals who had disappeared from nearby interstate rest stops. Figliuzzi documents how the bridge became a focal point in connecting multiple murders across state lines.
The Cline Avenue Bridge was constructed in 1920 and has long been associated with industrial Hammond's darker history. The Grand Calumet River area became known for organized crime activity dating back to Prohibition and continued through the 20th century.
The bridge remains an active part of the Hammond-East Chicago transportation system. The river below has been subject to environmental cleanup efforts, and the area is now monitored more closely by law enforcement.
Visit: Cline Avenue Bridge (landmark)
10 W. Market Street — Task force headquarters
The Indianapolis FBI Field Office became central command for investigating highway serial killers operating across the Midwest. Figliuzzi, as an FBI profiler and official, coordinated investigations from this location, analyzing patterns across multiple jurisdictions. The office served as the nerve center for connecting disparate cases and identifying the serial killers responsible for dozens of deaths.
The FBI Field Office in Indianapolis was established in 1939 and has long been one of the Bureau's key Midwestern operations centers. During the 1980s and 1990s, the Indianapolis office became a leader in highway serial killer investigations.
The FBI continues to maintain a significant presence in Indianapolis, operating from federal buildings in the downtown area. The office remains instrumental in investigating interstate crimes and organized criminal networks.
Wake County near Raleigh — Hunting ground
Interstate 95 rest areas in North Carolina became hunting grounds for serial killers who targeted hitchhikers and travelers seeking rides. Figliuzzi documents how predators would pose as helpful motorists, offering rides to vulnerable individuals who frequented these rest stops. Multiple disappearances and murders are connected to I-95's North Carolina stretches.
Interstate 95 was completed through North Carolina in 1975, creating the main north-south artery along the East Coast. Rest areas were designed as safety stops but often became isolated locations where criminals could operate.
I-95 rest areas in North Carolina now feature improved security, surveillance cameras, and regular law enforcement patrols. Travelers are encouraged to use official facilities and avoid accepting rides from strangers.
Visit: I-95 Rest Area (landmark)
Near Knoxville — Victim pickup location
Truck stops along I-40 in Tennessee became strategic hunting locations where serial killers posed as long-haul drivers, offering rides to hitchhikers and vulnerable transients. Figliuzzi traces how predators used the truck stop culture to blend in and select victims who would never be immediately missed. Multiple victims last seen accepting rides at these stops simply vanished.
Interstate 40 through Tennessee was fully completed by 1973, and truck stops proliferated to serve the growing commercial traffic. These establishments became 24-hour hubs where anonymous interactions were commonplace.
Major truck stops along I-40 now feature security measures including surveillance cameras, better lighting, and driver verification systems. The love of the road remains, but modern technology has reduced anonymity.
Visit: I-40 Truck Stop (landmark)
I-5 near Grants Pass — Body disposal location
The Rogue River bridge area along I-5 in southern Oregon became a dumping ground where at least one serial killer disposed of victims' bodies. Figliuzzi examines how the remote, wooded terrain of Oregon's Cascade region provided ideal conditions for murder and concealment. The discovery of remains in the river helped establish a geographic pattern linking multiple killings.
The Rogue River has been a significant geographical feature in southern Oregon for centuries. The I-5 bridge construction in the 1960s created new access routes through previously isolated terrain.
The Rogue River area is now a popular outdoor recreation destination. The bridge carries over 40,000 vehicles daily on I-5, one of America's busiest interstate corridors.
Visit: Rogue River Bridge (landmark)
Interstate highways nationwide — Kill sites
Figliuzzi documents how several highway serial killers used budget motel chains like Motel 6 as base camps for their crimes. These establishments, with their anonymous check-in policies and minimal surveillance, became temporary headquarters where murderers brought victims or planned their next killings. The transient nature of motel culture provided perfect cover for predators moving between jurisdictions.
Motel 6 was founded in 1962 and became iconic in American road culture, advertised as affordable lodging for travelers. The chain's minimal amenities and anonymous atmosphere made it popular with both legitimate travelers and criminals.
Motel 6 remains a budget hotel chain operating hundreds of locations nationwide. Modern security features including surveillance cameras and digital check-in have improved safety, though the business model continues to attract transient guests.
Visit: Motel 6 (landmark)
Ohio State Highway Patrol headquarters — Data analysis center
The Ohio State Highway Patrol's records center became crucial in Figliuzzi's investigation, as analysts cross-referenced missing persons reports, victim descriptions, and suspect vehicles across multiple jurisdictions. Ohio's geographic position on I-70 and I-75 made it a focal point for identifying patterns. The state police's database helped connect seemingly unrelated cases that spanned years and hundreds of miles.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol was established in 1933 and developed one of the nation's most sophisticated law enforcement databases. Columbus, as Ohio's capital, became home to crucial record-keeping and analytical operations.
The OSHP continues to maintain comprehensive databases of highway crimes and missing persons. Modern forensic analysis and digital technology have dramatically improved the speed of investigative connections.
Atlanta to Jacksonville — Major hunting ground
I-75 through Georgia and Florida became one of the most dangerous stretches of American highway during the height of the serial killer epidemic. Figliuzzi documents how multiple predators operated along this North-South corridor, targeting hitchhikers, particularly women traveling alone. The combination of major population centers with long, isolated stretches made it ideal for serial killers hunting victims who would cross multiple state jurisdictions.
I-75 was completed through Georgia and Florida by 1977, creating the primary North-South artery connecting the upper South with Florida. The massive influx of traffic and transient populations accelerated during the 1980s.
I-75 now carries over 100,000 vehicles daily in many sections, making it one of America's busiest interstates. Enhanced patrols, emergency communication systems, and surveillance have made it considerably safer than the highway serial killer era.
Visit: Interstate 75 (landmark)
Interstate exits — Victim selection points
Figliuzzi traces how serial killers used gas stations and convenience stores as observation points where they could identify vulnerable victims. Hitchhikers and transients using bathrooms or purchasing supplies became targets for predators who would offer rides. The intersection of commerce and vulnerability made these seemingly ordinary stops deadly hunting grounds.
The modern convenience store model proliferated along American interstates starting in the 1960s. These 24-hour establishments became symbols of highway culture and provided criminals with perfect vantage points.
Gas station convenience stores now feature surveillance cameras, improved lighting, and security measures. Many have installed emergency call boxes and panic buttons for customer safety.
Visit: Gas Station Convenience Store (landmark)
Near Somerset — Dumping ground
The rugged terrain surrounding I-70 in western Pennsylvania became a disposal area for victims of highway serial killers. Figliuzzi documents how bodies were abandoned in wooded areas accessible from the interstate, some remaining undiscovered for years. The Appalachian landscape provided natural concealment for predators operating across state lines.
I-70 through Pennsylvania was completed in 1976, providing a crucial link through the Allegheny Mountains. The surrounding landscape of dense forests made it ideal for hiding evidence of crimes.
I-70 remains heavily trafficked with commercial traffic. The surrounding area is now better monitored, and digital communication systems allow quick reporting of suspicious activities.
Visit: Interstate 70 (landmark)
Marine Corps Base Quantico — Serial killer profiling center
Figliuzzi references the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit at Quantico as the analytical backbone for understanding highway serial killer methodology. The BAU's profilers analyzed the patterns, victim selection, and geographical movement of multiple predators, creating profiles that helped law enforcement identify and apprehend killers. The unit's work was instrumental in connecting disparate cases across jurisdictions.
The FBI established its training facility at Quantico in 1940. The Behavioral Analysis Unit was formally created in 1985, revolutionizing criminal profiling and investigative psychology.
The BAU remains one of the world's premier criminal profiling centers. Located within the FBI Academy at Quantico, it continues to analyze complex criminal patterns and assist investigations nationwide.
Near Charleston — Victim dumping area
Rest stops along I-64 in West Virginia became sites where serial killers abandoned victims' bodies or left evidence. Figliuzzi traces how the isolated nature of West Virginia's highway infrastructure made it attractive to predators. Bodies were discovered in wooded areas adjacent to rest stops, and investigators used the locations to map the killers' movement patterns.
I-64 through West Virginia was completed in 1973, connecting the Mid-Atlantic with the interior regions. The mountainous terrain meant most rest stops were relatively remote.
I-64 rest areas in West Virginia now feature better maintenance, security cameras, and regular law enforcement patrols. The state has invested in improving safety infrastructure along the interstate.
Visit: I-64 Rest Stop (landmark)
FBI National Crime Information Center — Database coordination
The FBI's National Crime Information Center in Washington, D.C., became essential for Figliuzzi's investigation into highway serial killers. The NCIC database linked missing persons reports across state lines, allowing investigators to identify patterns that individual jurisdictions might miss. The center's analytical work helped establish the geographic and chronological scope of multiple killings.
The National Crime Information Center was established in 1967 as the FBI's central database for criminal information. It revolutionized law enforcement's ability to share data across jurisdictions.
The NCIC operates as the nation's premier criminal information network, accessible to law enforcement agencies nationwide. Modern digital systems have dramatically increased the speed and accuracy of criminal pattern recognition.
More by Frank Figliuzzi: All Frank Figliuzzi books
Other nearby maps: Murderland: A Thousand Miles of Killing on the Highway by Caroline Fraser locations map