“DNA Links Deceased Fisherman Alan W. Wilmer to Unsolved Murders in Virginia since 1980s”

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Virginia state police identify Alan W. Wilmer as suspect in three cold cases

DNA evidence has finally provided a breakthrough in three long-standing cold cases in Virginia. The unsolved murders, which date back to the 1980s, have been linked to a deceased fisherman named Alan W. Wilmer Sr.

Virginia State Police announced on Monday that Alan W. Wilmer Sr., who passed away in 2017 at the age of 63, has been identified as the prime suspect in the 1987 and 1989 murders. If Wilmer were still alive, he would have faced charges for these crimes.

Due to the absence of any criminal record, collecting and testing Wilmer’s DNA was not legally permissible until after his death. In 2023, forensic investigators confirmed that genetic evidence found at two murder scenes in Hampton, Virginia, and Isle of Wight County matched Wilmer’s DNA.

Among the cases reopened is the infamous “Colonial Parkway Murders,” which involved the killings of two couples. The murders of David Knobling, 20, and Robin Edwards, 14, in 1987 were part of this series of unsolved crimes in southeastern Virginia.

Lieutenant Colonel Tim Lyon of the Virginia State Police expressed empathy, saying, “Only those who have suffered the loss of a child in this way can truly understand the depth of their grief and the frustration of not knowing who was responsible for the violent and cruel killing of a loved one. I hope that the identification of the killer provides some sense of closure and peace for them.”

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Understanding the “Colonial Parkway Murders” and other crimes linked to Wilmer

In 1987, the bodies of David Knobling, 20, and Robin Edwards, 14, were discovered on the banks of the James River in Isle of Wight County. Edwards had been sexually assaulted, according to investigators.

The day after the two victims were last seen alive together, Knobling’s abandoned pickup truck was found in the parking lot of the Ragged Island Wildlife Management and Refuge Area.

Over time, the murders of Knobling and Edwards became part of a series of three double murders between 1986 and 1989, known as the “Colonial Parkway Murders.” The killing spree also involved the suspected deaths of another couple, whose bodies were never recovered.

In addition to the “Colonial Parkway Murders,” Alan W. Wilmer Sr. was also identified as a suspect in the 1989 murder of Teresa Lynn Spaw Howell in Hampton.

Howell’s murder, though not connected to the “Colonial Parkway Murders,” occurred in the town of Hampton. Her body was found in a wooded area near a now-closed nightclub. Investigators discovered discarded women’s clothing near a construction site, leading them to the sexually assaulted and strangled victim.

Relief and closure for the victims’ families

During a press conference, Virginia State Police spokeswoman Corinne Geller read a joint statement from the Knobling and Edwards families, expressing their gratitude to investigators.

The statement said, “For 36 years, our families have lived in a vacuum of the unknown. We lived with the fear that a person who might intentionally kill Robin and David might attack and claim another victim. Now we feel a sense of relief and justice because we know he can no longer victimize anyone else. His death will not allow us to search for answers to countless questions that have plagued us for so long.”

Hampton Police Captain Rebecca Warren also read a statement from Howell’s family, expressing their gratitude for law enforcement’s dedication and efforts.

The statement said, “Their dedication, tireless efforts, and evolving technology have brought us the closure we have sought for the past 34 years. While we are grateful for the closure, nothing will bring Terry back. The void left by her absence over the years is unspeakable.”

Unresolved cases and potential links to other crimes

Virginia State Police spokeswoman Corinne Geller stated, “Wilmer remains a person of interest in other unsolved cases, and investigators continue to pursue leads and reconstruct his movements that may link him to other murders.”

Before his death, Alan W. Wilmer Sr. owned a small commercial wooden fishing boat called the Denni Wade, which he built himself for clam and oyster farming.

Wilmer, who also operated a business named Better Tree Service, was known to dock at marinas in Gloucester and Middlesex counties in Virginia. He frequently stayed in the Northern Neck area, the northernmost peninsula on the western shore of the Chesapeake Bay.

The FBI revealed that Wilmer, an avid hunter, was a member of at least one hunting club in the Middle Peninsula region. In the 1980s and early 1990s, he drove a distinctive blue 1966 Dodge Fargo pickup truck with the Virginia license plate “EM-RAW,” among several vehicles he owned.

FBI Norfolk Special Agent in Charge Brian Dugan stated, “We recognize that relationships and loyalties change over time, as do people and their perspectives. There are cases where people who may have had knowledge of an incident did not feel comfortable. We have not shared this information in the past, but we want them to know that it is not too late for them to take a step forward.”

Anyone with information about these cases can call the FBI’s anonymous tip line at 1-800-2255-324 or submit a tip online at www.tips.fbi.gov. Virginia State Police can also be contacted by email at [email protected]

Contribution: The Associated Press

Eric Lagatta covers breaking and breaking news for USA TODAY. Reach him at [email protected]