Suffolk, Virginia – A recent breakthrough in cold case investigations has linked the late Alan W. Wilmer Sr. to three unsolved homicides dating back to the late 1980s. Among the victims are David Knobling and Robin Edwards, who were found shot in the head along the bank of the James River at Colonial Parkway in September 1987, as well as Teresa Lynn Spaw Howell, who died of strangulation in Hampton in July 1989.
Wilmer, who passed away in December 2017, has been named as the primary suspect in these long-standing cases. Authorities have discovered DNA evidence linking him to the victims after he died, as he was not a convicted felon and therefore his DNA was not in any law enforcement databases.
While Wilmer’s DNA was found to be connected to the victims, no forensic or physical evidence currently links him to the remaining six murders at the Colonial Parkway. Investigators are actively pursuing leads on these other killings and have not ruled out the possibility of Wilmer’s involvement.
The breakthrough has brought a sense of relief and justice to the families of the victims, who have endured decades of uncertainty. Corinne Geller, a Virginia State Police spokeswoman, acknowledged that the process of re-investigating old cases can be time-consuming and complex, but emphasized its effectiveness in bringing closure to families.
The families of Knobling and Edwards expressed their gratitude for the efforts of law enforcement, stating that they have lived with the fear of the perpetrator claiming another victim for 36 years. With the DNA evidence, there is now a sense of relief and closure, knowing that Wilmer can no longer perpetrate violence.
In light of this significant development, investigators continue to reconstruct Wilmer’s movements and encounters during his lifetime, aiming to bring closure to families and ensure that justice is served for all the victims involved.