VA VA - The Colonial Parkway Murders, 1986-89

[Richard]

Bumping this thread up.

 

[dotr]

Jan 10, 2025

One year after development in Colonial Parkway Murders, where do things stand?

"There's been a lot of promises made in terms of what the next steps might be by the Virginia State Police and the FBI but we haven't seen much in terms of results."

www.wtkr.com

''NORFOLK, Va. — For Bill Thomas, it's been another year of wanting to know more.
"It continues to be one of these hurry up and wait situations."

''News 3 has talked several times with Thomas over the years, including last year at the taping of a true crime podcast he hosts, which he says leads to the public coming forward with tips.''

 

[tilomagnet]

I predict thats all you'll ever from LE reg. the CPM. They are likely sure Wilmer did it all and LE knows they screwed up in period by letting him off the hook. So they have no interest in constant publicity for the CPMs. Sad.

 

[Betty P]

Jan 10, 2025

One year after development in Colonial Parkway Murders, where do things stand?

"There's been a lot of promises made in terms of what the next steps might be by the Virginia State Police and the FBI but we haven't seen much in terms of results."

www.wtkr.com

''NORFOLK, Va. — For Bill Thomas, it's been another year of wanting to know more.
"It continues to be one of these hurry up and wait situations."

''News 3 has talked several times with Thomas over the years, including last year at the taping of a true crime podcast he hosts, which he says leads to the public coming forward with tips.''

I really hope Bill Thomas is successful in getting them to finish investigating Kathy and Rebecca's murders. He's done a monumental service over the years in getting resolution for these cases. He deserves the peace of mind in finally having some answers. He's such a nice guy, so helpful to everyone. I have the greatest amount of respect and admiration for him.

 

[Richard]

Bumping this thread up.

 

[billthom56]

I really hope Bill Thomas is successful in getting them to finish investigating Kathy and Rebecca's murders. He's done a monumental service over the years in getting resolution for these cases. He deserves the peace of mind in finally having some answers. He's such a nice guy, so helpful to everyone. I have the greatest amount of respect and admiration for him.

Thank you so much.

Bill Thomas, Brother of Cathy Thomas, Colonial Parkway Murders

 

[billthom56]

New show:
Joe Kenda
Investigation Discovery
American Detective: Colonial Parkway Murders episode Season 5, Episode 1

We thought that the show was well done-- a few minor errors, but an excellent review of the Colonial Parkway Murders. Some viewers had a bit of a hard time finding the new episode. It is Season 5 episode 1. If you search for American Detective Colonial Parkway Murders you should be able to find it.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fp3rNRZnL0E

One takeaway we are not comfortable with is that Alan Wade Wilmer Sr. is definitely responsible for all four of the Colonial Parkway Murders. That may be a working theory, but FBI Norfolk and the Virginia State Police have a lot more work to do to prove that.

Let us know what you think.


Bill Thomas, Brother of Cathy Thomas, Colonial Parkway Murders

 

[billthom56]

Many thanks to Celene Beth Olsen for the fantastic conversation!

www.facebook.com/share/p/1AiPNp8XXM/

podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bills-personal-tale/id1765299017?i=1000702826028

 

[dotr]

November 14, 2025​

‘Colonial Parkway Murders': Virginia man linked to fourth cold case killing

A man whose DNA was linked to three of the notorious “Colonial Parkway Murders” in the 1980s has now been tied to a fourth killing, Virginia police say. Virginia State Police announced Friday that Alan Wilmer Sr. was responsible for the 1988 murder of 19-year-old Laurie Ann Powell. Wilmer died...

www.nbcwashington.com

''Virginia State Police announced Friday that Alan Wilmer Sr. was responsible for the 1988 murder of 19-year-old Laurie Ann Powell. Wilmer died in 2017 at the age of 63.

Powell was last seen walking down a Gloucester County road after having an argument with her boyfriend.

Her body was discovered more than three weeks later floating in the Elizabeth River.''

''Bill Thomas said he's frustrated that Virginia law prevents authorities from putting Wilmer's DNA into CODIS, the FBI's national DNA databank, because he was never convicted of a crime.

He believes if Wilmer's DNA were entered into the database, it would link him to other crimes.''

VA Post in thread 'Laurie Ann Powell, 18, Gloucester County, March-Apr, 1988'

Nov 14, 2025

According to a news brief, forensic evidence ties Alan Wade Wilmer to Laurie’s death.

She was in such a vulnerable position after fighting with her boyfriend and ultimately being stranded late at night in the region. With Wilmer not far away. It is so tragic. So senseless.

Laurie is his 4th known victim. How many more is what needs to continue to be investigated.

GLOUCESTER COUNTY, Va. (WAVY) — Virginia State Police are expected to announce Friday that a fourth homicide is connected to a former Northern Neck resident who died in 2017, 10 On Your Side has learned.

Virginia State...

• Mountain Mama

• 

 

[Ladyotm]

November 14, 2025​

‘Colonial Parkway Murders': Virginia man linked to fourth cold case killing

A man whose DNA was linked to three of the notorious “Colonial Parkway Murders” in the 1980s has now been tied to a fourth killing, Virginia police say. Virginia State Police announced Friday that Alan Wilmer Sr. was responsible for the 1988 murder of 19-year-old Laurie Ann Powell. Wilmer died...

www.nbcwashington.com

''Virginia State Police announced Friday that Alan Wilmer Sr. was responsible for the 1988 murder of 19-year-old Laurie Ann Powell. Wilmer died in 2017 at the age of 63.

Powell was last seen walking down a Gloucester County road after having an argument with her boyfriend.

Her body was discovered more than three weeks later floating in the Elizabeth River.''

''Bill Thomas said he's frustrated that Virginia law prevents authorities from putting Wilmer's DNA into CODIS, the FBI's national DNA databank, because he was never convicted of a crime.

He believes if Wilmer's DNA were entered into the database, it would link him to other crimes.''

VA Post in thread 'Laurie Ann Powell, 18, Gloucester County, March-Apr, 1988'

Nov 14, 2025

According to a news brief, forensic evidence ties Alan Wade Wilmer to Laurie’s death.

She was in such a vulnerable position after fighting with her boyfriend and ultimately being stranded late at night in the region. With Wilmer not far away. It is so tragic. So senseless.

Laurie is his 4th known victim. How many more is what needs to continue to be investigated.

GLOUCESTER COUNTY, Va. (WAVY) — Virginia State Police are expected to announce Friday that a fourth homicide is connected to a former Northern Neck resident who died in 2017, 10 On Your Side has learned.

Virginia State...

• Mountain Mama

• 

This makes me angry. There should be some legal way to run his DNA at this point.
I recently served as a juror in a murder case. A SLED agent testified that they will not run DNA unless the local police have identified a suspect for a potential
to run it against. I could not believe what I was hearing. How hard is it just to run the DNA to see if it matches anyone in the system! This should be the norm.

 

[Richard]

This makes me angry. There should be some legal way to run his DNA at this point.
I recently served as a juror in a murder case. A SLED agent testified that they will not run DNA unless the local police have identified a suspect for a potential
to run it against. I could not believe what I was hearing. How hard is it just to run the DNA to see if it matches anyone in the system! This should be the norm.

Truly a Catch 22 type situation. In order to run his DNA against other cases, he has to be convicted of an offense - but he can't be convicted because he's dead.

How about the DNA of a known serial killer who is not convicted, but instead confined in a mental facility for life? Would his DNA be excluded as well?

Running DNA through a national data base could not only solve a number of open cases, it could potentially free someone who was wrongly convicted of a capital crime.

 

[Leprikawn]

Too bad they can't do a trial and convict him even though he is dead. The truth always deserves to come out.

 

[scapa]

Too bad they can't do a trial and convict him even though he is dead. The truth always deserves to come out.

Or at least a coronial enquiry-type procedure where evidence could be adduced and discussed and family members and other survivors encouraged to make their own contributions with (in this case) LE participation so conclusions can be publically and transparently arrived at and protocols / procedures improved where needed.