Ep 8. Knoxville, TN: Phantom Hitman
- December 11, 2004
- 44 min
In the small town of Knoxville, TN, a series of murders occurred that left the community in shock and fear. The show City Confidential takes a closer look at this case in season 10 episode 8, titled "Knoxville, TN: Phantom Hitman."
The episode follows the investigation into a string of murders that seemed to have no connection to each other. Each victim was killed execution-style, and the police were unable to find any evidence that could link the murders together. However, there was one thing that did connect the murders: they all took place in or around the city of Knoxville.
The police were stumped, and the case went cold for several years. But in 2005, a break in the case came when a man named Eric DeWayne Boyd was convicted of helping plan the murder of a prominent businessman in the city. During his trial, Boyd made a stunning confession: he claimed to have been the "phantom hitman" responsible for the murders that had haunted Knoxville for years.
The episode delves into Boyd's confession, examining the evidence that was presented during his trial and questioning whether or not he was telling the truth. The prosecution argues that Boyd had a clear motive for the murders: he was paid by a drug dealer to eliminate witnesses who were set to testify against him. But the defense counters that Boyd's confession was coerced and that there was no physical evidence linking him to the murders.
As the episode unfolds, viewers are taken on a journey through the city of Knoxville, retracing the steps of the phantom hitman and examining the evidence that was collected during the investigation. Interviews with local law enforcement officials, journalists, and community members shed light on the impact that the murders had on the town and the efforts that were made to bring the killer to justice.
Ultimately, the episode raises more questions than it answers. Did Eric DeWayne Boyd really commit the murders that haunted Knoxville for years? Or was his confession nothing more than a ploy to reduce his sentence? Viewers will have to watch "Knoxville, TN: Phantom Hitman" for themselves to form their own opinions about this haunting true crime story.