Suffolk, Virginia – DNA evidence from a deceased Virginia fisherman has been linked to three unsolved murders from the 1980s, including the sexual assault and killing of a 14-year-old girl. The suspect, Alan W. Wilmer Sr., who passed away in 2017 at the age of 63, was identified by the Virginia State Police on Monday. While it is unclear when Wilmer became a suspect, authorities stated that he would have been charged if he were still alive.
Wilmer, who had no previous felonies, was not legally required to provide DNA samples until after his death. In 2023, forensic investigators confirmed that his genetic evidence was connected to two homicide scenes in Hampton, Virginia, and Isle of Wight County. One of the cold cases involved the “Colonial Parkway Murders,” a series of unsolved homicides of couples in southeastern Virginia.
The victims’ families expressed relief at the news, acknowledging the years they had lived in uncertainty. Wilmer was also identified as a suspect in the 1989 slaying of 29-year-old Teresa Lynn Spaw Howell in Hampton, who was found dead in a wooded area after being sexually assaulted and strangled.
Wilmer remains a person of interest in other cold cases, and investigators continue to pursue leads to tie him to other killings. Before his death, Wilmer was known to own a small wooden commercial fishing boat, as well as a business called Better Tree Service. The FBI hopes that by reconstructing his movements, they can link him to additional crimes.
The families of the victims expressed gratitude for the closure that has been provided, but noted that nothing would bring their loved ones back. The FBI has encouraged anyone with information to come forward, assuring them that it is not too late to do so.