Hampton, Virginia – Police have finally identified a suspect in three murders that took place in the late 1980s, after more than 30 years since the victims were murdered. The suspect, Alan W Wilmer, has been linked to the 1987 deaths of David Knobling and Robin Edwards in Isle of Wight County and the 1989 killing of Teresa Lynn Howell in Hampton.
Authorities were led to Wilmer after an undisclosed tip pointed to the fisherman, prompting a DNA request. Despite no reported felonies, Wilmer’s DNA was never collected and put in a criminal database to be identified. Wilmer passed away in 2017 at the age of 63, but authorities said if he were alive, he would have had charges filed against him.
Family members of the victims were in attendance at the conference, learning over three decades later who is to blame for taking away their loved ones. “Only those who have suffered the loss of a child in this way can truly understand the depth of their sorrow and the frustration over not knowing who was responsible for taking their loved one’s life in such a violent and cruel way,” Lieutenant Colonel Tim Lyon, director of the Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation said.
The case was initially thought to be part of the “Colonial Parkway Murders”, a series of double homicides that happened in southeast Virginia between 1986 and 1989, but police have now stated that there is no forensic nor physical precedence to link these particular murders to the series.
Wilmer is also connected to the murder of 29-year-old Howell in the city of Hampton on 1 July 1989. Police are still asking anyone to come forward with information about him to help their investigation. Wilmer worked mainly as a clam and oyster fisherman on his boat named Denni Wade, ran a business called Better Tree Service, and was an avid hunter. He drove a blue 1966 Dodge Fargo pickup truck with the Virginia license plate EM-RAW.
In conclusion, after more than 30 years, authorities have identified a suspect in three long-unsolved murders in Hampton, Virginia. Though the suspect has passed away, his connection to the crimes brings a sense of closure to the families of the victims. Despite this breakthrough, police are still appealing for any further information about Wilmer to aid their ongoing investigation.