In a significant breakthrough, Virginia State Police announced on Monday that a deceased fisherman, Alan W. Wilmer Sr., has been named as the prime suspect in three unsolved cold-case killings that date back to the late 1980s. Through DNA evidence, Wilmer was connected to the 1987 shooting deaths of David L. Knobling and Robin M. Edwards, as well as the 1989 strangulation of Teresa Lynn Spaw Howell.

Wilmer, who passed away in December 2017 at the age of 63, had no previous felonies on his criminal record, which prevented authorities from obtaining his DNA until after his death. However, in 2023, the Virginia Department of Forensic Science confirmed a genetic match to Wilmer based on evidence collected from the victims of the two shootings and one strangulation.

Had Wilmer been alive today, authorities confirmed that charges would have been filed against him for the three homicides. The bodies of Knobling, 20, and Edwards, 14, were discovered on the south bank of the James River in Isle of Wight County on September 23, 1987. Both victims had been fatally shot, and Edwards had also been sexually assaulted. These murders were later incorporated into the infamous "Colonial Parkway Murders," a series of unsolved killings that occurred between 1986 and 1989.

Despite the connection between Wilmer and the two shootings, there is currently no forensic or physical evidence linking these particular murders to the other cases within the Colonial Parkway series. The investigations into those cases remain ongoing, according to Virginia State Police spokesperson Corinne Geller.

The announcement of Wilmer's involvement in the cold-case killings prompted emotional reactions from the families of Knobling and Edwards, who had long endured the uncertainty surrounding their loved ones' deaths. In a joint statement, the families expressed relief and a sense of justice, knowing that Wilmer can no longer harm others.

In addition to the two shootings, Wilmer's DNA was also linked to the killing of 29-year-old Teresa Lynn Spaw Howell, who was found strangled and sexually assaulted on a construction site in Hampton on July 1, 1989. Howell's murder, however, is not connected to the Colonial Parkway deaths.

As investigations progress, police are exploring Wilmer's possible involvement in additional cases and are urging the public to come forward with any information they may have. Details about Wilmer's cause of death were not disclosed, but it is known that he stood at 5 feet 5 inches tall and weighed approximately 165 pounds. During the time of the murders, Wilmer drove various pickup trucks, including a blue 1966 Dodge Fargo with the Virginia license plate "EM-RAW."

While closure has been provided for some of the victims' families, who have been living with unanswered questions for decades, the pain of losing their loved ones remains indescribable. The impact of these heinous crimes is enduring, and the search for justice continues.