Author hopes to spark interest in I-70 killings, including in Terre Haute

Jan. 22—A veteran journalist has written a book he hopes will help investigators solve a series of 1992 homicides along Interstate 70 that included one Terre Haute victim — and perhaps another a decade later.

Bob Cyphers, a retired journalist from KMOV-TV in St. Louis, spent a year collaborating with a multi-city police task force assembled in 2021 to take one more look at the unsolved I-70 homicides.

The 30-day shooting spree, which claimed six victims, five of them women, took place in Indiana, Kansas and Missouri in April and May 1992 and was connected by ballistics to the I-70 killings.

The killings took place in broad daylight in busy areas.

One of the victims was Michael "Mick" McCown, 40, who was working at what was Sylvia's Ceramics Shop on U.S. 41 near I-70 in Terre Haute.

In April 1992, the serial killer walked into the store, shot McCown at close range and fled. Less than $50 was taken from the store. The killer was in and out in minutes.

A homicide that occurred almost 10 years later at a liquor store on Prairieton Road may also be connected to the I-70 serial killer; the victim was Billy Brossman, who worked at the 7th &70 Liquor Store.

Brossman was killed Nov. 30, 2001.

Cyphers' book, "Dead End: Inside the Hunt for the I-70 Serial Killer," follows on the work done by the task force with the goal of keeping the story alive in the public eye.

"I'm not doing this so Bob can make a dollar; for all the time and hours I put in, I'd be getting paid by the penny," Cyphers said in an interview Tuesday.

He said he wrote it for the dedicated police departments working hard to solves the killings "and for these families that have heartbreaking stories, one after another, after another."

He added, "I wrote the book for them just on the one shot in a million they can get some closure on this."

Family members he interviewed included two sisters of Terre Haute victim Michael McCown; they met at the former ceramics shop.

"They are heartbroken, still, after all these years," Cyphers said.

As a result of the task force meeting two years ago, a portal now exists enabling the various police departments to communicate and share information.

Those task force members attending went back to their hometowns with new information and contacts, particularly with regard to DNA testing.

Detective Kelly Rhodes of the St. Charles, Missouri, police department oversees the collaboration and works on the I-70 killings full-time, Cyphers said.

Respective investigations continue.

Technology has continued to evolve and departments have submitted items for DNA testing, but so far there is no match, Cyphers said.

Investigators are hopeful, "but they wait," he said.

In Terre Haute, McCown's wallet was missing; while investigators aren't sure if the killer took it, they sent McCown's pants for DNA testing.

Cyphers also said that police are actively investigating a possible connection of the Brossman killing to the I-70 killings; they do have a DNA sample from the suspect in the Brossman case.

When the police task force was created two years ago, they asked Cyphers of KMOV-TV to follow them along, city by city.

Police wanted more than a "one and done" news conference. At that time, "I'd do anything to help. I never knew at that point in time I'd write a book," he said.

He wrote a series of stories and did a seven-part YouTube series that won the Edward Murrow award. After he retired, he thought he was done, but law enforcement asked if he had ever thought about writing a book.

Dead End, Inside the Hunt for the I-70 serial killer, has been published by Genius Book Publishing and can be purchased at various websites as well as at: https://geniusbookpublishing.com/products/dead-end

Those with information or tips about the I-70 killings should contact the I-70 hotline at 1-800-800-3510 or contact their local police departments, Cyphers said.

Sue Loughlin can be reached at 812-231-4235 or at sue.loughlin@tribstar.com Follow Sue on Twitter @TribStarSue