“Alan W. Wilmer Sr., Deceased Fisherman, Linked to 1980s Cold-Case Homicides in Virginia”

Accident – death – Obituary News : A Smalltime Fisherman Linked to Cold-Case Homicides in Virginia

A shocking revelation has emerged in the world of crime-solving as law enforcement officials in Virginia announced on Monday that a smalltime fisherman who died in 2017 has been linked to three cold-case homicides from the 1980s. These brutal murders include two that were part of a series of unsolved slayings of couples known as the “Colonial Parkway Murders.”

The suspect in question has been identified as Alan W. Wilmer Sr. by the Virginia State Police, although limited details have been provided regarding his connection to the killings or when he became a suspect. However, authorities have made it clear that if Wilmer were alive today, he would face charges in relation to these crimes.

Corinne Geller, a spokeswoman for the Virginia State Police, explained that the investigation into these cold cases involves a meticulous process of re-examining witness statements and evidence. She emphasized that while this approach is time-consuming and complex, it has proven to be highly effective in bringing justice to long-unsolved cases.

Investigators were able to obtain Wilmer’s DNA legally after his death. It is worth noting that Wilmer was not a convicted felon, which means his DNA was not present in any law enforcement databases. Disturbingly, two of the three victims in these cold cases were sexually assaulted.

The infamous “Colonial Parkway Murders” revolve around the deaths of three couples and the presumed death of a fourth couple, whose bodies were never recovered. These heinous crimes took place between 1986 and 1989 near a scenic drive that connects Jamestown, Williamsburg, and Yorktown in southeastern Virginia.

One of the murders occurred in 1987 when David Knobling, 20, and Robin Edwards, 14, were found fatally shot near the south bank of the James River in Isle of Wight County. While no forensic or physical evidence currently links this double homicide to the others, authorities have emphasized that the investigations into the remaining cases are still active.

In a troubling turn of events, dozens of graphic crime scene photos from the “Colonial Parkway Murders” were leaked to the public in 2009, according to CBS affiliate WTKR-TV. These photos were being used by a retired former FBI photographer to teach a class at the time.

During the press conference, Geller read a joint statement from the Knobling and Edwards families, expressing their gratitude towards the law enforcement agencies involved in the investigation. The families have lived with uncertainty for 36 years, and they now feel a sense of relief and justice knowing that the perpetrator can no longer harm anyone else. However, they acknowledged that many questions will remain unanswered due to Wilmer’s death.

Apart from the Colonial Parkway killings, Wilmer has also been identified as the suspect in the 1989 slaying of Teresa Lynn Spaw Howell, 29, in the city of Hampton. Her strangulation death is not connected to the other murders. Howell’s body was found at a construction site, approximately 11 miles away from where Knobling and Edwards were discovered two years earlier. She was last seen outside a popular nightclub.

Captain Rebecca Warren of the Hampton Police read a statement from Howell’s family, expressing their gratitude towards the investigators. They acknowledged that the closure provided by the investigation cannot bring Terry back, and the void left by her absence over the years is indescribable.

Despite Wilmer’s death at the age of 63, investigators are actively pursuing leads on the remaining killings and have not ruled out his potential involvement. They are reconstructing his movements and interactions throughout his lifetime to gather more information.

Descriptive details of Wilmer are crucial in identifying potential witnesses or acquaintances who may have valuable information. According to the police, he was 5’5″ tall, muscular, and weighed approximately 165 pounds. Wilmer had sandy-brown hair, blue eyes, and a close-cropped beard.

Wilmer went by the nickname “Pokey” and drove a blue 1966 Dodge Fargo pickup truck with the license plate “EM-RAW.” He owned a small fishing boat named “the Denni Wade,” often residing on it while docked at marinas along the waterways in southeastern Virginia. Additionally, Wilmer operated a small business called “Better Tree Service” alongside his fishing and clamming endeavors.

Brian Dugan, the special agent in charge of the FBI’s field office in Norfolk, appealed to anyone who knew Wilmer to come forward. He acknowledged that relationships and loyalties can change over time, and people’s perspectives may have evolved. Therefore, individuals who may have had knowledge of the incidents in the past but were hesitant to come forward are encouraged to do so now.

If you have any information regarding Alan W. Wilmer Sr. or his potential involvement in these cold-case homicides, please contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or submit a tip online at www.tips.fbi.gov. Your assistance could play a crucial role in bringing closure to these long-unsolved cases and providing justice for the victims and their families..