The Map That Exposed a Serial Killer: The Maury Travis Case

During the early 2000s, Black women began turning up dead across Missouri and Illinois. Their bodies were discovered in different jurisdictions, and for months, the connection between them remained unclear. Then, a St. Louis newspaper published a story about one of the women, Teresa Wilson. The article caught the attention of someone who claimed to be her killer—and he responded with a chilling letter, a challenge to the reporter, and a computer-generated map leading investigators to another victim. That map would eventually take authorities to Maury Travis and expose what had been happening inside an otherwise ordinary-looking home in Ferguson, Missouri. In this episode of Murder in the Black, Steph walks through the investigation from the discovery of the women through the digital trail that led police directly to Travis. We also discuss the victims whose names are known, the women who remained unidentified for decades, and how three of those women finally regained their names in 2025. This story is not simply about how investigators caught a suspected serial killer. It is also about whose disappearances receive urgency, whose deaths are connected, and how vulnerable Black women were overlooked until their killer demanded attention. Content warning: This episode discusses murder, sexual violence, torture, substance-use disorder, and violence against women. Follow Murder in the Black on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook. Subscribe to the paid edition on Apple Podcasts for bonus episodes and exclusive content. New listeners can begin with a three-day free trial. Until next time, this is Murder in the Black.