Nineteen-year-old Rhonda Hinson lived with her parents in rural Valdese, North Carolina, seventy miles northwest of Charlotte.  She worked as a key punch operator for the Hickory Steel Company, sixteen miles east of Valdese. Rhonda’s co-workers and bosses thought highly of her, but they, along with her parents and friends, were concerned that she had not seemed like herself for several weeks. Something seemed to be bothering Rhonda, but she had not conveyed to anyone what it was.

On the evening of December 22, 1981, the Hickory Steel Company hosted its Christmas party. Rhonda’s troubles, whatever they were, seemed to evaporate once she arrived at the gathering. She commingled, danced, and had a smile on her face for the whole evening. All in attendance agreed she was enjoying herself, and all were glad because it appeared the old Rhonda had returned. Sadly, the soiree would be Rhonda’s swan song.

The party ended shortly after midnight on the morning of December 23. Within an hour, so did the life of Rhonda Hinson.

Rhonda Hinson

In high school, from which she had graduated six months earlier, Rhonda was popular, achieved good grades, and was a good athlete, particularly in tennis. Several weeks after graduating, however, her parents and friends noticed she seemed preoccupied and depressed. Rhonda was also hesitant to go anywhere alone, began suffering from insomnia, and was frequently taking showers in the middle of the night.

Rhonda never told anyone what was bothering her, but she may have dropped hints to her parents.

Popular In High School And At Work

Rhonda conveyed to her father, Bob, she had something to tell him but was afraid. When he told her she could tell him anything, Rhonda said she would think about it. She assured him she had not done anything illegal, but she appeared to be ashamed of something.

A couple of weeks later, Rhonda asked her mother, Judy, if it was all right for a woman to date a married man. Judy replied it was not and then inquired why her daughter had asked that question. Rhonda never provided a clear reason and Judy did not press her about it.

Bob and Judy Hinson

Rhonda’s Parents

Rhonda’s friends talked her into the attending the Christmas Party at the American Legion Hut in Hickory. She drove her Datsun 210 from her rural home between Valdese and Hickory to her friend’s home in Hickory, where she left her car while the friend drove Rhonda and another girl to the party.

After the party ended around midnight, the driver dropped the third friend at her home and drove Rhonda back to Hickory.  From there, Rhonda called her boyfriend, Greg McDowell, and they chatted for a couple of minutes. Significant others of company employees had been invited to the company Christmas party, but Greg, at home from college, did not wish to attend.

Rhonda then began the ten mile drive to her home near Valdese. She had not drunk much at the party and was fit to drive.

Rhonda And Greg

Bob and Judy say Rhonda had told them her she planned to spend the evening at a girlfriend’s house in Hickory because she did want to drive home alone at that late hour. For whatever reason, she changed her mind.

If Rhonda had stuck to her original plan, the subsequent events may not have occurred.

Heading Home

Rhonda proceeded west on Interstate 40 and exited onto the Mineral Springs Mountain/Highway 350 off-ramp. She turned right (north) and began traveling up a steep hill toward her home.

At approximately 1:00 a.m. on December 23, Rhonda’s car was found along the ramp approximately one-half mile from her home. The vehicle was running and the driver’s door was open.

Crime Scene Photo Of Rhonda’s Car

A group of teenage boys had found Rhonda dead a few feet away, lying on her back in a ditch beside the open driver’s side door.

Her arms appeared to have been deliberately placed at her side.

Rhonda Is Found Dead

An autopsy determined Rhonda had been killed by a single bullet fired from a high-powered rifle. The bullet had passed through the trunk of her car and continued through the back seat and driver’s side seat before piercing her lung and heart.

Rhonda’s car appeared to have rolled backwards across the opposite lane into a ditch near the top of the grade after Rhonda was shot. Police believe the assailant pulled her body from the car and placed her in the ditch because medical experts are almost certain she was instantly killed and are certain she would have been, at the least, incapacitated after being shot.

Shot To Death

A woman driving under the Interstate 40 Bridge on Mineral Springs Mountain Road between 12:15-12:30 a.m. observed a parked blue Chevrolet facing north along the off ramp Rhonda used to exit. Two white males were in the vehicle. Authorities determined the sighting was approximately half-an-hour before Rhonda was shot and was only two-hundred yards from where her body was found.

Later that morning another witness traveling down the same road passed a similar car, driven by a white male, speeding away from what was determined to be the murder scene. As he continued down the road, he saw Rhonda’s vehicle parked at the spot where her body would be found. He noticed a woman slumped over the steering wheel and a man standing at the door. Because it was the party-filled holiday season, the driver paid little attention, believing the couple were drunk.

Under hypnosis, the witness recalled the car appearing to be a blue 1970s model Chevelle with gray primer. The front of the vehicle looked to have been damaged. He described the man he saw as approximately five-feet-ten to six-feet tall, with a medium build and dark brown hair.

The witness also recalled seeing a second car, which he believed was either a black or dark-blue Trans-Am, parked farther down the road from Rhonda’s vehicle. Some investigators believe that car could have been driven by her killer.

View Of Bridge From Mineral Springs Mountain

Where Rhonda’s Body Was Found

Several theories have been offered in the murder of Rhonda Hinson.  Some of her friends believed she had a crush on an older, married man and have surmised she asked her mother about dating such men as she was fantasizing about being with him or was already having an affair with him. Police have not said if any evidence supports the theory.

Rhonda’s recent habit of frequently feeling dirty and taking late evening showers are actions often taken by women who have been sexually abused, but nothing has been found suggesting she had been violated.

Others believe Rhonda’s death may have been a random murder or a case of mistaken identity. The mention of two men waiting in a vehicle with another parked car farther down the road has brought about suggestions of an organized hit, and that Rhonda, an unlikely target for such a crime, was killed by mistake.

Due to the incline of the road, the darkness, and likely distance the bullet traveled, it seemed like a million-to-one-shot. Some believe Rhonda was accidentally shot, perhaps by a hunter or people shooting for fun.

Theories Abound

Police, however, have officially ruled Rhonda Hinson’s death a homicide. They say they have evidence that she was stalked on the night of her death, but have not elaborated.

Latent fingerprints were found on the open side door of Rhonda’s car and unidentified DNA was found on the driver’s side door and in the armpit of her sweater. Authorities believe it belongs to the person who pulled Rhonda from her car. This person may have been a Good Samaritan, but he or she more likely was Rhonda’s killer.

Because the fingerprints and DNA have not produced a match, Rhonda’s killer is likely someone who has not committed a major crime either before or after her murder.

DNA Has, So Far, Not Produced A Match

Nothing I found has suggested that Rhonda’s boyfriend, Greg McDowell, had any role in her death.

Some sources on wesbsleuths chat boards have posts made by people claiming to have known Rhonda suggesting an unnamed ex-boyfriend and a friend may have been involved in her murder.

Greg Is Not A Named Suspect

Articles from the News-Herald say the murder of Rhonda Hinson is Burke County, North Carolina’s only unsolved murder case in recent history.

A $20,000 reward is offered for information leading to the identify of Rhonda Hinson’s killer(s.) If you have any information about the murder of Rhonda Hinson, please contact the Valdese, North Carolina, Police Department at (828) 879-2102.

The County’s Coldest Case

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/9269119/rhonda-annette-hinson

SOURCES:

• Burke County, North Carolina Sheriff’s Office
• The Charlotte Observer
• Fox News
• The News-Herald
• Unsolved Mysteries