The Man in the White Van is a new thriller flick currently playing in theaters. It tells the story of a young girl named Annie (Madison Wolfe) whose life is thrown into chaos when a sinister white van begins stalking her every move. She desperately tries to warn her family, but no one believes her. As the danger grows, Annie must face an unimaginable nightmare, becoming the next victim of the man in the white van.
Warren Skeels directed the film from a screenplay he co-wrote with Sharon Y. Cobb. However, it's not purely fictional. This movie is actually based on the true crimes of real-life convicted serial killer and sex offender, Billy Mansfield Jr.
But while the film shows the killer driving a white van, there is no definitive evidence that Mansfield Jr. specifically used a white van during his murders. It appears that the writers may have included the white van association in the movie as an added detail to create suspense or symbolism, possibly to heighten the sense of danger or mystery. In other words, the white van aspect of the film seems to be a fictional addition created by the filmmakers.
Who is Billy Mansfield Jr.?
As mentioned earlier, Billy Mansfield Jr. (aged 67-68) is a convicted serial killer and sex offender. He is known for his involvement in multiple murders in the late 1970s and early 1980s. He's convicted of the murders of at least five women and girls, with his crimes taking place primarily in Florida.
He reportedly buried four of his victims' bodies underneath the property of his Florida home before traveling to California and killing his fifth victim. In 1981, he was arrested and was later sentenced to multiple life terms in prison for these heinous crimes. He's currently imprisoned at the California Health Care Facility in Stockton, California, where he serves five life sentences.
Earlier this year, it was revealed that Mansfield Jr. confessed to the murder of a sixth victim, 18-year-old Carol Ann Barrett of Zanesville, Ohio. However, the state declined to pursue charges. While he's only been convicted of five murders, it's believed that there are additional unidentified victims.
The Man in the White Van is now showing in theaters.