SUFFOLK, Virginia – Virginia state police recently announced a breakthrough in the case of three cold-case murders from the 1980s. The suspect, Alan Wilmer Sr, who passed away in 2017 at the age of 63, has been linked to the unsolved killings, including two of the Colonial Parkway murders, in which couples were targeted.
Wilmer’s DNA was obtained after his death, and investigators have confirmed that two of the three victims were sexually assaulted. The Colonial Parkway murders involved the deaths of three couples and the suspected death of a fourth couple. The killings occurred between 1986 and 1989 in southeastern Virginia.
It is believed that Wilmer, also known as “Pokey,” was involved in the 1987 deaths of David Knobling, 20, and Robin Edwards, 14, as well as the 1989 killing of Teresa Lynn Spaw Howell, 29. Investigators are still working to reconstruct Wilmer’s movements and encounters with others during his lifetime.
In a joint statement, the families of the victims expressed relief and a sense of justice knowing that Wilmer can no longer victimize others. The announcement brings closure to a 36-year period of uncertainty and fear for the families, who are grateful to the investigating law enforcement agencies.
Investigators are now urging anyone who knew Wilmer to come forward with information. The FBI’s field office in Norfolk has emphasized the importance of seeking out relationships and loyalties that may have changed over time.
This development marks a significant advancement in the effort to solve these decades-old cases, and authorities are actively pursuing leads to further establish Wilmer’s potential involvement in the other killings.