VA VA - Michael Margaret, 21, & Donna Hall, 18, Richmond, 17 Aug 1984

[William Walker]

In highly publicized trials, Cornelius Florman was sentenced to five years in prison for the 1986 rape of a Chesterfield County woman and tried twice, but not convicted, of the 1986 rape of a Henrico woman.

 

[William Walker]

Thanks so much for this, Bill. I'm going to listen today while I strip wallpaper.

WRT Cornelius Florman, I read up on him a couple of years ago after Mike and Donna's friends mentioned him on their FB page. I hinted at some things, but we should ask mods about discussing him since LE hasn't named him as a suspect and, as of a couple years ago, he didn't have much of a criminal record.

I posted a comment here a couple years ago about the possibility of Demerol in hospital strength being procured from someone who worked with and owned large animals, like horses. Maybe someone who bred race horses, etc. They might have supplies of Demerol at hand. If you recall, it was only available for IV administration. Who has that? A large animal veterinarian or horse breeder. JMO

ETA: I was just thinking of Mike and Donna the other day. Their case is one of those that always stick in your memory, at least for me. Young people, innocent victims of some brutal depraved killer. Like the Colonial Parkway victims, Henry Bedard, etc. Their families and friends are in my thoughts and prayers.

Swampscott Police Renew Push To Solve 45-Year-Old Murder

More on Florman, looks like he was convicted of sexual assault finally in 2019

Sex assault suspect sentenced to 8 years in prison after DNA leads to conviction

Margaret and Hall were deeply immersed in the drug counterculture and I think, that had they never chosen to use illegal drugs, they would still be alive today. In my opinion, they weren't innocent, but they still didn't deserve to be killed.

 

[William Walker]

Thoughts:

1. The killer may have been a convicted felon since the victims were killed with a knife and a convicted felon could be arrested and sent to prison for possession of a firearm.
2. The killer may have been somewhat older than the victims to have time to become a convicted felon. The killer might be in their 60's or 70's by now.
3. The killer is probably a violent psychopath who has killed or injured others.
4. The victims stated they were going camping but were in fact in the woods close to Hall's residence.
5. Perhaps the victims were also using cocaine and hadn't slept for a long period of time and felt they needed some sleep before embarking on their camping journey
and needed Demerol to get to sleep. Or were these woods a common camping
destination?
6. Certainly they wouldn't have taken Demerol if they were expecting to complete a drug transaction in the woods.

 

[tilomagnet]

I wonder if the suspect of the FB group has been looked at by LE. Do they have a DNA profile of the killer from the blood tracks in and around the Jeep?

I agree with other posters that this was very likely a drug related murder and not a CPK crime. They were likely followed by the killer to the eventual crime scene after they took the Demerol either voluntarily or had their drinks or joints spiked.

 

[CastlesBurning]

Bumping for Michael and Donna...it's now been 39 years.

 

[tilomagnet]

This case is solveable imo, at least way more likely to be solved than the Colonial parkway killings from the area that this case has sometimes (wrongly imo) been linked to

 

[threesevenninefour]

Just from online rumblings, it seems that friends of the couple/those who lived in the area at the time have a very good idea of who is involved and are pushing for DNA testing to be done. Apparently, those involved are well-connected in some way, so people believe they weren’t investigated as properly as they should have been when the murders first occurred.

Hoping to see justice for Mike and Donna very soon!

 

[Betty P]

Just from online rumblings, it seems that friends of the couple/those who lived in the area at the time have a very good idea of who is involved and are pushing for DNA testing to be done. Apparently, those involved are well-connected in some way, so people believe they weren’t investigated as properly as they should have been when the murders first occurred.

Hoping to see justice for Mike and Donna very soon!

This is great news! DNA testing is solving so many of these cold cases. This one deserves resolution, JMO. I have a feeling the person who murdered them is still living a good life.

 

[Betty P]

In highly publicized trials, Cornelius Florman was sentenced to five years in prison for the 1986 rape of a Chesterfield County woman and tried twice, but not convicted, of the 1986 rape of a Henrico woman.

Virginia man arrested in 1998 Florida sexual assault

LOW MOOR, Va. (AP) A Virginia man has been arrested on sexual battery, kidnapping and carjacking charges in an attack on a woman in Florida nearly two decades ago.Cornelius Francis Florman was arrested at his home in Low Moor Tuesday on a fugitive warrant

wset.com

Same guy. Police now have his DNA.

DNA links Virginia sex offender to 1998 Fort Myers Beach kidnapping, sexual battery

A Virginia convicted sex offender is a suspect in a Fort Myers Beach abduction and sexual battery almost 20 years ago.

www.news-press.com

Metals industry heir sentenced to seven years for violent Fort Myers Beach rape

Rape victim: "I've been in a prison of sorts for over 20 years. Closing the jail door on you Mr. Florman is finally setting me free.

www.news-press.com

Not saying he's guilty of Mike and Donna's murder. He was an acquaintance of theirs. As a violent convicted rapist, it might make him a suspect worth considering.

 

[Betty P]

Thoughts:

1. The killer may have been a convicted felon since the victims were killed with a knife and a convicted felon could be arrested and sent to prison for possession of a firearm.
2. The killer may have been somewhat older than the victims to have time to become a convicted felon. The killer might be in their 60's or 70's by now.
3. The killer is probably a violent psychopath who has killed or injured others.
4. The victims stated they were going camping but were in fact in the woods close to Hall's residence.
5. Perhaps the victims were also using cocaine and hadn't slept for a long period of time and felt they needed some sleep before embarking on their camping journey
and needed Demerol to get to sleep. Or were these woods a common camping
destination?
6. Certainly they wouldn't have taken Demerol if they were expecting to complete a drug transaction in the woods.

Good analysis. JMO also

• The killer was someone they knew
• It may have been someone they encountered, at a party, etc. just before they went to camp in the woods
• Agree about deciding to camp and sleep instead of driving due to intoxication
• Also agree, they wouldn't have chosen to take Demerol if they planned to meet someone for a drug transaction in the woods
• Their killer either heard them discuss last minute plans to camp in the local woods that night or heard it from someone else Mike and Donna met that night.
• It now seems part of the killer's motive might have been sexual assault, since LE is planning to test DNA from the crime scene. SA seems most likely, but the killer's DNA may also come from a cigarette pack or butt, blood, fingerprint, etc.