VA Debbie Anwyll, March 8, 1979, 14 years old, Chantilly

[Zach Ford]

I'm trying to compile information on the March 8, 1979 murder of Debbie Anwyll, a 14-year-old stabbed to death in her home in the Greenbriar neighborhood of Chantilly, Virginia. I have collected the standard newspaper sources and spoken to a couple of people who lived in the neighborhood at the time. I would be particularly interested in hearing from anyone else who knew Debbie or lived in the same subdivision.

Here is a contemporary article from the Washington Post:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1979/03/09/chantilly-girl-is-found-dead-apparently-a-stabbing-victim/25d13d95-d171-475a-89fe-da2a61a8d01f/

It's a somewhat peculiar case; there was not (at least not publicly released) evidence of sexual assault and it would seem to be a bizarre time for her to run into a burglar. She was killed soon after coming home from school and it would seem even the dumbest or most amateur burglar would think that was not a good time to commit a burglary when many people would be returning home. She was killed in a one-hour window between when she came home and when her mother arrived home. Police have always suspected it was someone who knew Debbie's patterns and who could quickly blend into the neighborhood.

In 1996 police conducted DNA tests on a suspect. I do not know if he was actually cleared vs. a match not being possible/incomplete profile/etc., but he was not charged.

Below is the sole article I've found discussing the 1996 DNA tests. I have never found a follow-up article.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1996/05/16/police-put-old-case-to-new-test/c96debe8-53f9-406e-b90f-1ab5b2453201/

 

[HopeRains]

Very sad. I don't have anything additional to offer. I will say that in reading the articles, it seems she was found around 330 pm by her mother, having arrived home ~ 1 hour earlier, 230 pm. I don't think of that as being right before people are coming home - I guess I think of that time as being later with most people working an 8-5 type job.

 

[Zach Ford]

What I'm getting at is that any burglar would probably guess that kids would be coming back from school in the late afternoon and break in earlier in the day. The '96 suspect was a dropout from the same school Debbie went to, so he certainly would have known what time school got out.

 

[SuzyQuinn]

Have info; grew up in Greenbriar. Attended same HS when this happened. Knew family, location, parties involved. Horrible and stunning details, hard to believe this was never solved. True, location of their house made for easily hidden escape. But still...

 

[NancyDrew81]

I'm trying to compile information on the March 8, 1979 murder of Debbie Anwyll, a 14-year-old stabbed to death in her home in the Greenbriar neighborhood of Chantilly, Virginia. I have collected the standard newspaper sources and spoken to a couple of people who lived in the neighborhood at the time. I would be particularly interested in hearing from anyone else who knew Debbie or lived in the same subdivision.

Here is a contemporary article from the Washington Post:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1979/03/09/chantilly-girl-is-found-dead-apparently-a-stabbing-victim/25d13d95-d171-475a-89fe-da2a61a8d01f/

It's a somewhat peculiar case; there was not (at least not publicly released) evidence of sexual assault and it would seem to be a bizarre time for her to run into a burglar. She was killed soon after coming home from school and it would seem even the dumbest or most amateur burglar would think that was not a good time to commit a burglary when many people would be returning home. She was killed in a one-hour window between when she came home and when her mother arrived home. Police have always suspected it was someone who knew Debbie's patterns and who could quickly blend into the neighborhood.

In 1996 police conducted DNA tests on a suspect. I do not know if he was actually cleared vs. a match not being possible/incomplete profile/etc., but he was not charged.

Below is the sole article I've found discussing the 1996 DNA tests. I have never found a follow-up article.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1996/05/16/police-put-old-case-to-new-test/c96debe8-53f9-406e-b90f-1ab5b2453201/

View attachment 424091

I'm curious why you're trying to compile information on Debbie's case. What's your interest? I went to school with her and her brother. Her mother was one of my teachers. Did you go to CHS? If so, what year did you graduate? Many students have tried to help solve this case over the years. Just wondering what your interest is and why?

 

[asmi106082]

I'm curious why you're trying to compile information on Debbie's case. What's your interest? I went to school with her and her brother. Her mother was one of my teachers. Did you go to CHS? If so, what year did you graduate? Many students have tried to help solve this case over the years. Just wondering what your interest is and why?

This entire website is dedicated to finding missing persons and bringing justice to cold cases. Users of this site will share links about these types of cases so that the community can chip in and in many cases, help solve them. It’s very rare that someone on this site has a personal motive for sharing these stories. We are all just trying to help. No ulterior motives. MOO

 

[legomonster]

I'm curious why you're trying to compile information on Debbie's case. What's your interest? I went to school with her and her brother. Her mother was one of my teachers. Did you go to CHS? If so, what year did you graduate? Many students have tried to help solve this case over the years. Just wondering what your interest is and why?

I'm so sorry for your loss. I can tell you a little about myself, I have a degree in mathematics and science and am a little sponge with learning and am really good at identifying patterns and statistical probabilities. I like to give input on here that could help in any way because I am very empathic as well and can't imagine the type of loss you experienced. Sometimes outside eyes or new eyes on a cold case, or as years go on people who once thought something so trivial and didn't speak of it then, can open new possibilities to help solve. Again, I am so sorry for your loss and see why you are so protective of her.

 

[Zach Ford]

I'm curious why you're trying to compile information on Debbie's case. What's your interest? I went to school with her and her brother. Her mother was one of my teachers. Did you go to CHS? If so, what year did you graduate? Many students have tried to help solve this case over the years. Just wondering what your interest is and why?

Hello, I have a general interest in researching and getting exposure for historic cases in Northern Virginia/DC. I have published two books related to this: True Crime Northern Virginia in the 50s and 60s and Murder at the National Cathedral, both published by The History Press. 1979 is a bit outside my usual period of research, so I probably wouldn't end up covering this particular case in a future book, but I don't live far from Chantilly, so Debbie's case sticks in my mind. It would be a shame not to collect what information is out there before it is completely lost to time, so if I come across something, I add it to my research files.

 

[MissVaSleuth]

Hi, so umm my dad and uncle were class of 79’ at CHS and lived just down the street from her. They both had known of her, she was friends with some of their friends who lived in the neighborhood, and they rode the same bus. My uncle and dad both have slightly different memories of that day(mind u it’s been 46-47 years, they both think it was 78’ and not 79’ cause my dad joined the army a year after/before he graduated), but from both of their accounts they had (and others in the neighborhood) believed that it was a friend of her older brothers (i’ll add the name if they remember). Many neighbors speculated her murder had to due with her brother owing money or drug activity he was involved in, something of the liking. Honestly, I don’t have all the information yet, but my uncle and dad knew the guy (bros friend) and suspected it was him after hearing the call over the radio (former fairfax volunteer fire/ems) and then hearing the account from the ambulance that had been sent, which btw the call had been for a possible heart attack and when paramedics got there they figured out pretty quick not a heart attack. Blames been placed on her brother for a long time, because it could've been his friend/his own fault. Anyway, it’s been too long for it not to be solved and i’m rambling so i’ll add anything i find out later on.

 

[dotr]

By Jill S. Devine July 30, 2025

11 Unsolved Cold Cases in Northern Virginia

Local detectives continue to look for evidence and advancements in cold cases in Fairfax, Fauquier, Loudoun, and Prince William counties.

northernvirginiamag.com

Debbie Anwyll​

Date of Incident: March 8, 1979

Shortly after returning home from school, 14-year-old Debbie Anwyll was murdered in her house on Morning Springs Lane in Fairfax’s Greenbriar neighborhood. A family member arrived home and found Anwyll’s body, stabbed multiple times, in the living room.

 

[HopeRains]

So many unknown answers