Suffolk, Virginia – DNA evidence has linked a deceased Virginia fisherman to three unsolved murders in the state dating back to the 1980s, including the sexual assault and killing of a 14-year-old girl. Virginia State Police have identified the suspect as Alan W. Wilmer Sr., who passed away in 2017 at the age of 63. If Wilmer were alive, he would be facing charges in connection to these homicides, which occurred in 1987 and 1989, according to prosecutors.
Due to the absence of any prior felonies on his criminal record, Wilmer’s DNA could not be legally collected and tested until after his death. It wasn’t until 2023 that forensic investigators confirmed genetic evidence linking Wilmer to two homicide scenes in Hampton, Virginia and Isle of Wight County.
One of the cold cases involved the murder of two individuals, whose deaths were part of a series of unsolved homicides of couples known as the “Colonial Parkway Murders” in southeastern Virginia. The identification of Wilmer as the main suspect in these cases has brought a sense of closure and peace to the victims’ families, according to Virginia State Police Lt. Col. Tim Lyon.
In 1987, David Knobling, 20, and Robin Edwards, 14, were found shot dead along the southern bank of the James River in Isle of Wight County. The murders of Knobling and Edwards became part of the “Colonial Parkway Murders,” a series of three separate double homicides that occurred between 1986 and 1989 in the region.
Teresa Lynn Spaw Howell, 29, was found murdered in the city of Hampton in 1989 and is also believed to be a victim of Wilmer. While Wilmer is no longer alive, he remains a person of interest in other cold cases, and authorities continue to urge individuals with information related to his movements in the 1980s and early 1990s to come forward.
The families of the victims have expressed relief and gratitude for the closure that has been provided, emphasizing that while it does not bring their loved ones back, it does bring a sense of relief and justice. The FBI and Virginia State Police are still urging anyone with information to step forward and provide any relevant details related to Wilmer’s activities and potential connections to other crimes.
Wilmer’s identification as a suspect in these long-unsolved cases marks a significant development in the pursuit of justice for the families of the victims, bringing hope for closure and resolution to these decades-old mysteries.