Police body camera video shows that a suspected serial killer, stopped for speeding in Benbrook in early July, was already planning a trip to West Virginia – days before his eventual death there at the hands of his intended victim.
Police body camera video released Friday night shows that a suspected serial killer, stopped for speeding in Benbrook, Texas, in early July, was already planning a trip to West Virginia – days before his eventual death there at the hands of an escort who may have been an intended victim.
Neal Falls, 45, of Oregon was stopped for driving 64 mph in a 45 mph zone on July 7, according to records released by the Benbrook Police Department.
After Falls' death in West Virginia, and the subsequent discovery of a "kill kit" of weapons in his trunk, investigators from several cities – including Las Vegas, Niagara Falls, Chillicothe, Ohio, as well as others – began looking into Falls as the possible suspect in up to 10 unsolved homicides of women.
When the Benbrook officer asked Falls if he still had the same address in Oregon that is listed on his driver's license, Falls replied:
"Um, nope. I don't know where I'm headed or where I'm going right now."
When asked to explain himself, Falls repeated:
"I don't know where my next stop is."
"Okay, you just got your vehicle?" the officer asked Falls.
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"'Till I get to West Virginia," Falls replied.
Eleven days later, a Charleston, West Virginia escort shot and killed Falls with his own pistol during a reported struggle for her life, according to police.
Following Falls' death, investigators discovered what they described as a "kill kit" in the trunk of his tan Subaru Forrester – the same vehicle he was driving during the Benbrook speeding stop.
In the trunk, Falls was traveling with several axes, knives, a sledgehammer, a shovel, a bulletproof vest, a large plastic bucket, garbage bags and cleaning supplies, police said.
In addition to the pistol, Falls brought with him four sets of handcuffs into the escort's apartment, and a Post-It note that listed the names and phone numbers of several other call-girls – women who Charleston police believe may have been his next intended targets.
It is not yet known what Falls was doing in Benbrook on July 7.
Investigators from Benbrook and surrounding cities, as well as the Texas Rangers, are currently reviewing missing persons cases, in addition to unsolved homicides, according to Benbrook police.
After informing Falls that he was being issued a speeding ticket, the officer again asked where the now-suspected serial killer was headed.
"West Virginia," Falls replied.
"West Virginia, huh? Alright. Slow it down through here," the officer said.
"Um, am I going the right way to get to 30?" Falls asked.
"Yes sir, yes you are," the officer answered.
