 The Jameses identify common features to these crimes, many of which are also found at the Villisca scene.The killer selected families who lived near railroad tracks (hence their book's title), seemingly struck in ambush at about midnight while the victims were asleep, used the blunt side of an ax rather than the blade to strike the victims in the head and face, used an ax found at the victim's home and left in plain sight after the murders, the killer covered the victims with blankets to prevent blood splatter, covered windows from inside the house and locked the doors before departure.In Mueller's suspected crimes there was often but not always a sexual motive directed towards a pubescent girl, as with Lena's being partly disrobed.