Colonial Parkway Murders - Part I

Murder Files Unsealed

The Colonial Parkway murders refer to a series of serial killings involving at least eight individuals in Virginia from 1986 to 1989. These crimes are connected to the Colonial Parkway, a 22-mile roadway that traverses the Colonial National Historical Park, linking the historic sites of Jamestown, Williamsburg, and Yorktown. The parkway features long stretches without streetlights and is notably secluded, making it a favored spot for young couples.
In each case, a young couple parked in a vehicle was targeted, resulting in the deaths of both individuals. Three pairs of victims were found, while another couple remains unaccounted for and is presumed deceased. Additionally, several other homicides have been tentatively associated with the confirmed cases. The victims suffered various causes of death, including strangulation, gunshot wounds, and stabbing. Notably, there was no indication of burglary or sexual assault in any of the incidents. The perpetrator also moved the victims' vehicles away from the crime scenes. The connections among the four confirmed cases are primarily circumstantial.
In January 2024, law enforcement officials revealed that at least two of the murders, those of David Knobling and Robin Edwards, had been definitively linked to a primary suspect, Alan W. Wilmer Sr., a local fisherman who passed away in 2017. DNA evidence also connected Wilmer to the previously unrelated murder of Teresa Lynn Spaw Howell. He has been identified as suspect number one in the suspected murders of Cassandra Hailey and Keith Call, although he was released following an FBI-administered polygraph examination.