How A Vicious Serial Killer and Violent Railway Gang Preyed on Freight Train Riders in the 1990s

According to the US Department of Justice, the F.T.R.A. was a violent gang that included several brutal killers

Every year throughout the United States a select number of people decide to “Catch Out.” (Illegally hopping and riding freight trains) They do it for various reasons, some are running away from problems, some are struggling with mental health and substance abuse issues. While others have their life together and are just looking for some adventure and excitement.

Professionals and college students looking to have some fun and create some memories. What some of them may not be aware of is that there is an already entrenched subculture of rail-riders, some of whom do not look favorably on interlopers playing hobo.

The rails can be a dangerous place for tenderfoots, and the unseasoned can unfortunately find themselves the victim of rail-riding predators.

This is what happened to Michael Garfinkle in the summer of 1994. At the time, Garfinkle was a 20-year-old engineering student, an acad…