the story.

In 1999, the Springfield Serial Killer was convicted of 3 counts of homicide and 1 count of attempted murder following the his crimes in the 1990s. In August of 1992, the Killer raped and killed Martha (11 years old) and Phree (12 years old) and hid their bodies on Penn Street behind Schulers Bakery. In 1993-=, he murdered Belinda (31 years old) and buried her under a garage floor within a couple hundred feet of his kitchen window. She was found 2 years later. In 1993, he raped and attempted to kill Hazel who crawled her way to safety along the railroad tracks.

In 1996, a woman named Una escaped the Killer with a knife slash to the face. Racing through the woods, she found help and reported the Killer to the Clark County Sheriff’s office. Because of her report, he was arrested and through years of investigations, he was connected to the other crimes. In addition to these crimes in Springfield, he was also charged with multiple cases of arson as well as murder cases spanning from Springfield, OH to Jacksonville, FL, including the murder of Shirley.

Shaking Springfield to the core, this story interweaves through every community, social circle, and neighborhood in the city. Although this story is known amongst the citizens, many of the details have been washed away through the decades, and sadly, much of the victims’s stories, their voices, have been lost. With this project, we will honor those affected, celebrate those who helped catch the Killer, and finally bring a voice back to those who lost theirs 30 years ago.

our mission.

The Children’s Memorial - Springfield, OH

why are we making this film?

1) You cannot erase history. Because this is something that hit our community hard, it deserves to be told as accurately as possible. That is why we have partnered with the Clark County Prosecutor’s Office, the Clark County Court of Courts, the Springfield City Police Department, and the Clark County Sheriff to ensure that all our materials are real, all our testimonies are true, and all the voices are heard.

2) This is for them: the victims. Rather than the Killer being the end of their story, they deserve to have their life celebrated and remembered. That is why this story is rewriting the “true crime” genre; rather than focusing on the Killer, we are focusing on the victims and their stories. Modern true crime TV shows and films glorify the killings - this project’s mission is to acknowledge these victims were real people who went though real trauma, but that they are more than how their story ended. To further this point, we are stripping the Killer of his identity and not using his name. Again, its about the city he impacted and how they came together to hold him accountable.

forever changing the city we live in.

When this film is complete, it is our goal to screen the film at the State Theatre in downtown Springfield where the proceeds will go towards the Children’s Memorial in the names of Martha and Phree.

Then, with the support of local businesses and benefactors, we hope to submit the film to film festivals around the nation, further honoring the victims and changing the landscape for true crime around the nation. It is time for these stories to not just be told, but to be told correctly - by giving voice to those who lost theirs.

our lost voices

Martha Leech, 11

Hazel Pearson

Phree Marrow, 12

Una Timmons

Belinda Anderson, 31

Shirley Ogden

we need your help.

We need funding in order to ensure this project has the best quality possible. We want to honor the victims and tell their stories with the most perfectionism and respect, therefore we would appreciate any financial support. Anything helps, whether it is travel and equipment costs or simply meals for the production team on shooting days.

If you want to consider becoming a production partner, we will be happy to share our budgeting information with you. More importantly, we would love to show how you or your business can benefit from supporting this project and its presentation. For that information, please visit our “funding” page below.

meet the team.

Thomas Edwards - Daydreamer Media, LLC

Director, Executive Producer
Springfield High School, Class of 2021
As a student in the undergraduate film program at Columbia University’s School of the Arts in New York City, I am continuously inspired by everything around me. Born a storyteller, I am ready to change the world one film at a time.

Read Bio
Alex Ryan - Apollo Media, LLC

Executive Producer
Clark Shawnee High School, Class of 2015

Read Bio
Lauren Schack

Assistant Director, Director of Photography
Clark Shawnee High School, Class of 2021

Read Bio