Virginia State Police announced on Monday that a deceased fisherman has been identified as the suspect in three cold-case homicides from the 1980s, including two of the notorious "Colonial Parkway Murders" that once struck fear in the hearts of the local community. The suspect, Alan Wade Wilmer Sr., was positively identified through forensic evidence in the 1987 double murder of David L. Knobling, 20, and Robin M. Edwards, 14, in Isle of Wight County, as well as the 1989 murder of Teresa Lynn Spaw Howell, 29, in the city of Hampton.

Alan Wade Wilmer Sr., who passed away in December 2017 at the age of 63, was found to be a genetic match to evidence discovered on the victims. Prosecutors for Isle of Wight County and the city of Hampton stated that if Wilmer were still alive, charges would be filed against him in connection with the three deaths. This revelation came after a fresh look at the case led the Virginia Department of Forensic Science to "positively link" Wilmer to the three slayings.

The case of Knobling and Edwards dates back to September 19, 1987, when the two were last seen alive. The following day, Knobling's abandoned pickup truck was found in the parking lot of the Ragged Island Wildlife Management Area. The keys were left in the ignition, and the radio and windshield wipers were still on. On September 23, 1987, the bodies of Knobling and Edwards were discovered along the shoreline of Ragged Island, located on the south shore of the James River in Isle of Wight County. Both victims had been shot, and Edwards had also been sexually assaulted.

During a news conference, Virginia State Police spokesperson Corrine Geller shared a statement on behalf of the Knobling and Edwards families. The families expressed their relief and sense of justice knowing that the perpetrator can no longer harm others. They have lived for 36 years in a state of uncertainty and fear, worrying that the person responsible for the deaths of Robin and David could strike again. The families acknowledged that while Wilmer's death brings some closure, it does not provide answers to the countless questions that have haunted them for so long.

The Colonial Parkway Murders, a series of killings that occurred between 1986 and 1989, have long been a source of intrigue and terror in the area. The murders, which took place along the Colonial Parkway, a scenic roadway connecting Jamestown, Williamsburg, and Yorktown, remain unsolved. The victims were all young couples, and their bodies were found in various locations near the parkway. The case has baffled investigators for decades, but the identification of Alan Wade Wilmer Sr. as a suspect in two of these murders brings some hope of closure to the families affected by these heinous crimes.

While the Colonial Parkway Murders may still be shrouded in mystery, the identification of Wilmer as the suspect in the Isle of Wight County and Hampton murders is a significant breakthrough. It represents a step towards justice for the victims and their families, who have endured decades of pain and uncertainty. The Virginia State Police, along with local prosecutors, are determined to pursue justice even in the absence of a living suspect. The announcement of Wilmer's involvement in these cold cases serves as a reminder that justice can prevail, even after many years have passed.