Halloween 1978: Why Michael Myers’ Second Victim Was Never Discovered

In John Carpenter’s classic 1978 film, Halloween, Michael Myers’ pivotal second victim was never discovered. Dr. Loomis (Donald Pleasence) was on the trail of his escaped patient when he came across the deadly crime scene. Though he found key clues that sent him in the right direction, an important element was overlooked.

When Myers escaped from Smith’s Grove Sanitarium, only Loomis was convinced that he would be returning to Haddonfield to murder once again. The psychiatrist sounded the alarm, warning the authorities that his mute, expressionless patient was bound for his hometown. But Myers, who had stabbed his sister to death 15 years prior, was not considered to be much of a threat. Loomis followed his instincts and drove the 150 miles from Smith’s Grove to Haddonfield, stopping along the way to alert the local police. During his stop, he made an important discovery that would aid in his search for the evasive psychopath.

Loomis happened upon a suspicious looking vehicle not far from the phone booth. The commercial truck, with a Phelps Garage logo on the side, was seemingly abandoned with the driver’s side door ajar. Loomis discovered two key pieces of information at the scene: Myers’ discarded hospital gown and a matchbook from the Rabbit in Red Lounge that was in his stolen car. While these findings offered unequivocal evidence that his patient was on his way back to his hometown, a key piece of evidence was overlooked.

Why The Second Victim In Halloween (1978) Was Overlooked

A few feet from the truck, left in some underbrush, was the dead body of the truck driver. Myers attacked and killed the mechanic, stealing his utility coveralls for a less conspicuous appearance. Had the preoccupied doctor been more thorough in his evaluation of the crime scene, he might have discovered the driver’s body. Solid evidence of Myers’ psychotic behavior would have given Sheriff Brackett (Charles Cyphers, who returns in Halloween Kills) and the local authorities a reason to sound the alarm. Though Loomis had been correct in his assumption that Myers would kill again, there was no solid evidence for such an occurrence.

Giving the audience this key piece of information allowed for Carpenter and his cinematographer, Dean Cundey, to amp up the suspense. It was a clever visual that foreshadowed the violence to come and made Loomis a more sympathetic figure. The mechanic is never mentioned again in Halloween or its 1981 sequel that occurs on the same night. In Halloween 2018, a direct sequel to the original, the first theatrical trailer discounted his murder as well, though the death count was rectified in the actual release. David Gordon Green’s hit follow-up also included an homage to the killing when the escaped Myers kills and then steals the clothes from a gas station mechanic.