The Colonial Parkway Killer’s methodology suggested intelligence and careful planning. The isolated locations, varying methods (strangulation, shooting, stabbing), and lack of apparent motive perplexed investigators. Several theories have emerged over the years:
Law Enforcement Involvement
Many speculated the killer might have been a police officer or someone impersonating one. In several cases, the victims’ vehicles were discovered in unusual positions, as if stopped by someone in authority.
Multiple Perpetrators
Some investigators believe that the murders were not committed by the same individual, as the modus operandi and weapon choice varied across cases.
FBI’s Role
Since some of the crimes occurred on federal land, the FBI became involved. Despite their resources, the case yielded few breakthroughs.
Link to Other Killings
Investigators have explored connections to other unsolved murders in Virginia and the surrounding states, though no definitive links have been established.
Challenges
- Lack of Evidence
- Limited forensic evidence was collected at the time due to the era’s technological constraints. For example, DNA testing was not as advanced as it is today.
- Preservation Issues
- Some families have alleged that evidence was mishandled or lost over the years, further hampering efforts to solve the case.
- Time Gap
- With the passage of decades, witnesses’ memories have faded, and potential suspects may have died, making resolution even more difficult.
Theories
- Random Killer: Some believe the murders were the work of a transient killer passing through the area.
- Organized Killer: Others suggest a highly organized individual or group targeting specific types of victims, potentially due to personal grievances or predatory behavior.
- Unconnected Murders: A growing belief among some experts is that not all four cases are connected.
Alan Wade Wilmer Sr., a deceased Virginia fisherman, has been posthumously linked through DNA evidence to three unsolved murders from the 1980s, two of which are part of the infamous Colonial Parkway murders.
Wilmer, who passed away in 2017 at the age of 63, was a resident of Virginia known for his work as a fisherman and hunter. He operated his own boat, the Denni Wade, primarily harvesting clams and oysters, and later started a tree-cutting company. An avid hunter, he was a member of a local hunting club and won archery competitions. He was married in 1975 and later divorced, with two children who were adults at the time of his death.
Connections to the Colonial Parkway Murders:
Wilmer has been conclusively linked to two of these victims:
- David Knobling (20) and Robin Edwards (14): On September 23, 1987, their bodies were found along the James River in Isle of Wight County. Both had been shot to death, and Edwards had been sexually assaulted. They were last seen alive four days earlier.
DNA evidence has identified Wilmer as the perpetrator of these murders. Additionally, he has been linked to the 1989 murder of Teresa Lynn Spaw Howell (29), who was not previously associated with the Colonial Parkway cases.
Investigation and Public Response:
Despite the DNA links, Wilmer’s DNA has not been entered into CODIS, the national DNA database, due to legal constraints, which has sparked public concern. The FBI has sought information from individuals who knew Wilmer during the 1980s to piece together his activities and potential connections to other unsolved cases.
While these developments provide some closure regarding specific cases, the broader mystery of the Colonial Parkway murders remains unresolved, with several victims’ families still seeking answers.
