“Family of Robin Edwards, Victim in Colonial Parkway Serial Killings, Speaks Out”

Accident – death – Obituary News : **HAMPTON ROADS FAMILY SPEAKS OUT ABOUT COLONIAL PARKWAY SERIAL KILLINGS**

Hampton Roads, VA – The family of one of the victims in the infamous Colonial Parkway serial killings has finally opened up about the tragic incident. Robin Edwards, a 14-year-old girl, was found dead near the James River Bridge alongside 20-year-old David Knobling. State police have recently identified Alan Wilmer Sr., who died several years ago, as the main suspect in this case.

In an emotional interview, Janette Santiago, Robin’s younger sister, shared her thoughts and memories of her older sister. She vividly recalled the events of September 23, 1987, when their father, Karl Knobling, searched for David, who had been missing for three days. It was during this search that both David and Robin’s bodies were discovered.

Santiago expressed her determination to visit the crime scene despite her family’s concerns. She felt the need to be there and pay her respects to her sister. After 36 long years, this once-cold case has finally been solved with the identification of Alan Wilmer Sr. as the killer.

Crime scene photographs revealed that David’s black pickup truck was found at the Ragged Island Wildlife Management Area Parking lot. The investigation suggested that Wilmer had surprised them at gunpoint and forced them to the James River. David attempted to escape but was shot in the back, while Robin was both shot and raped by Wilmer.

The breakthrough in the case came from DNA evidence collected from Robin’s assault, which confirmed Wilmer’s involvement. Santiago expressed mixed emotions regarding the closure she has found. She acknowledged that knowing the identity of the killer brings a sense of relief, knowing that he can no longer harm anyone else. However, she also believes that there may be more victims and cases yet to be uncovered.

Santiago fondly remembered Robin as a fearless and energetic young girl, wise beyond her years. She hopes that her sister’s memory will remain vibrant and full of life. The pain of Robin’s suffering is something that Santiago still carries with her, unable to comprehend the horrors her sister endured at such a young age.

For the Edwards and Knobling families, the past 36 years have been filled with anguish and unanswered questions. Now that the truth has been revealed, they hope that other families affected by the Colonial Parkway Murders will also find closure soon.

Santiago admitted to feeling a sense of disbelief when she attended the recent Virginia State Police news conference, where the identity of the killer was revealed. She never thought this day would come and always feared that the killer would remain unknown and unpunished.

In addition to her own family’s pain, Santiago also expressed sympathy for Wilmer’s family, specifically his son, Alan Wilmer Jr. She learned from a friend that Wilmer Jr. was devastated upon discovering his father’s dark secret, realizing that his life would never be the same. Santiago recognized that they, too, are victims in this tragic turn of events.

Wilmer was previously a primary suspect in another Colonial Parkway murder case, as well as the disappearances of Cassandra Hailey and Keith Call. However, the FBI had released him due to his passing a polygraph test, just seven months after he had killed Robin and David. Santiago acknowledged that back then, technology and DNA testing were not as advanced as they are today, and thus, she does not blame the FBI for their actions.

In the end, the Edwards and Knobling families hope that the identification of Robin’s killer will bring closure not only to them but also to the other families affected by these heinous crimes. They finally have some answers after decades of waiting, and they pray that justice will prevail for all the victims of the Colonial Parkway serial killings..