ISLE OF WIGHT, Va. — Virginia State Police are facing obstacles in verifying whether a recently identified cold case killer could be responsible for more crimes due to laws governing DNA collection.
Alan Wade Wilmer Sr. is now believed to be responsible for the murders of 20-year-old David Knobling and 14-year-old Robin Edwards in Isle of Wight in 1987, as well as the murder of 29-year-old Teresa Howell in Hampton. According to the FBI, these three homicides categorize Wilmer as a serial killer.
The Knobling and Edwards murders were initially associated with the Colonial Parkway killings, which remain unsolved and include six additional murders.
Authorities are now investigating whether Wilmer, who passed away in 2017, may have been involved in more crimes. Virginia State Police recently checked Wilmer’s DNA against unsolved cold cases, while other local police departments are also reviewing cases that match Wilmer’s MO from the 1970s and 80s.
The law requires that an individual have a conviction on their record before their DNA profile is entered into the CODIS system, hindering the ability of Virginia State Police to confirm potential matches between Wilmer’s DNA and DNA collected at crime scenes.
Wilmer, who lived a double life as a successful fisherman without ever being charged with a felony, remains a potential suspect in other unsolved cases, according to law enforcement agencies.
After Wilmer’s death, his DNA was obtained to confirm his identity, and investigators subsequently tested it to match it to two murder cases from over 30 years ago.
Although Wilmer’s DNA has not been entered into the database due to the lack of a conviction, his ties to the Knobling, Edwards, and Howell murders were established through extensive cooperation between multiple agencies and the use of the Sexual Assault Kit Initiative.
The FBI, Virginia State Police, and other law enforcement agencies are continuing to investigate Wilmer’s potential involvement in other cases, including cold cases in various cities and counties. However, there is currently no evidence to connect Wilmer to other Colonial Parkway murders.
In 1988, Wilmer was briefly considered a suspect in the disappearance and presumed murders of Cassandra Hailey and Richard Call. Despite initial suspicions, Wilmer passed an FBI polygraph and was no longer pursued as a suspect.
Investigators are still reconstructing Wilmer’s movements and encounters, with the FBI indicating that multiple ongoing investigations are exploring potential connections between Wilmer and other victims.
Law enforcement is urging anyone who may have crossed paths with Wilmer to come forward with any information that could aid in the investigation.
As investigations continue, law enforcement remains hopeful that new leads or evidence will emerge, potentially shedding light on Wilmer’s potential involvement in other cold cases.
Overall, law enforcement is approaching the case with caution, keeping it officially “open” as they continue to explore any possible leads, tips, and evidence related to Wilmer and his potential connections to other unsolved crimes.