Tommy Coulet left home at 9 p.m. on Dec. 23, 1995 and would never return. His body was discovered the next morning in a known lovers’ lane spot on the western edge of Ridgewood just off Interstate 80.

Investigators wouldn’t know it at the time, but Tommy Coulet would be the first known victim of the most prolific serial killer in American history.

This is the story of how it all began.

Crime Adjacent is the never-ending true crime story told weekly. New episodes every Wednesday.

Listen to the next episode: https://pod.link/1815598180

Find behind the scenes details or join our true crime and criminal profiling reading group at our Patreon page -- http://www.patreon.com/crimeadjacent -- hope to see you there!

Crime Adjacent is produced & edited by Multitude.

Want more Shelterwood news and updates? Check out our Patreon or subscribe to the quarterly newsletter, The Shelterwood Gazette!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices