ISLE OF WIGHT COUNTY, Va. – Law enforcement officials in southeastern Virginia have identified a suspect in three homicides, including two of the Colonial Parkway Murders. On Monday, January 8, 2024, Virginia State Police and multiple law enforcement agencies revealed that DNA evidence led them to suspect Alan W. Wilmer Sr., of Northern Neck, Virginia, in the 1987 double murder of David L. Knobling, 20, and Robin M. Edwards, 14, and also the 1989 rape and strangulation murder of 29-year-old Teresa “Teri” Lynn Spaw Howell.
Lt. Col. Tim Lyon, Director of the Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation, expressed gratitude to the victims’ families for their decades of patience and understanding, acknowledging their grief and the frustration of not knowing who took their loved ones’ lives in such a violent way. Wilmer, who died in 2017, will not face prosecution for the crimes.
Furthermore, officials identified Wilmer’s connection to Howell’s murder, a case previously unlinked to the Colonial Parkway killings, highlighting a concerning pattern of violence. They urged potential witnesses to come forward as they continue to investigate other possible crimes involving the suspect. Wilmer had no prior criminal history, but his DNA was conclusively linked to these three cases.
The Colonial Parkway Murders, a series of unsolved double homicides between 1986 and 1989, have long haunted the region. Though Wilmer was not directly linked to the six unsolved cases, his identification as a suspect sheds new light on the decades-old cases and raises awareness about the possibility of more victims. Nonetheless, his death in 2017 means he will not face justice for these crimes.
This latest development serves as a reminder of the enduring impact of unsolved murders and the profound effect on the families of the victims. The efforts of law enforcement and advancements in DNA technology have the potential to unearth new leads and bring closure to these long-standing cases, offering hope to those affected by these tragedies.