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Colonial Parkway Murders: DNA Solved 2 of 8. Who Killed the Rest?
Between 1986-1989, eight young people were murdered or vanished along Virginia's Colonial Parkway. For 37 years, families sought answers. In January 2024, DNA identified a suspect: Alan Wade Wilmer Sr., a commercial fisherman who died in 2017.
THE VICTIMS:
- Cathy Thomas (27) & Rebecca Dowski (21) - Oct 1986
- David Knobling (20) & Robin Edwards (14) - Sept 1987
- Keith Call (20) & Cassandra Hailey (18) - April 1988 (still missing)
- Daniel Lauer (21) & Annamaria Phelps (18) - Sept 1989
THE BREAKTHROUGH: January 2024: DNA links Wilmer to Knobling/Edwards murders | Also connected to Teresa Howell killing (1989) | Wilmer was "suspect number one" in 1987 but passed polygraph | FBI sought him in blue 1966 Dodge pickup for approaching couples | Known as "Pokey," lived on boat "Denni Wade" | Commercial fisherman with access to waterways | Died 2017 before charges filed | DNA never entered into CODIS database—a critical failure
WHAT WE COVER: How DNA finally identified Wilmer after 37 years | Why polygraphs failed | The 2009 photo leak scandal exposing 80+ crime scene images | Law enforcement impersonation theory | Nautical connections and waterway access | Single vs. multiple killer debate | Why three cases remain unsolved | Where Keith and Cassandra's bodies might be
KEY QUESTIONS: Was Wilmer responsible for all eight murders? | Why wasn't his DNA in the system earlier? | Who else might be involved? | Will the other cases ever be solved?
SOURCES: Virginia State Police & FBI (2024-25) | "A Special Kind of Evil" by Blaine Pardoe & Victoria Hester | Daily Press, Virginian-Pilot, Richmond Times-Dispatch | "Lovers' Lane Murders" (Oxygen, 2021) | Bill Thomas advocacy & "The Family Perspective" (Forensic Genomics, 2020) | FBI profiler Jim Clemente | Detective Steve Spingola | Virginia Dept of Forensic Science
HAVE INFO? FBI: 1-800-CALL-FBI | tips.fbi.gov
DISCLAIMER: For educational/entertainment purposes only. Based on publicly available information. We are not legal/law enforcement professionals. Views are hosts' opinions, not official findings. Individuals discussed are presumed innocent unless convicted. Information may be incomplete or developing. We treat all victims and families with respect. Contact authorities directly with any information.
Three cases remain unsolved. Keith Call and Cassandra Hailey's bodies have never been found.
Send us your theories
Support the show
👀 Want more? Follow us @MugshotMysteries on TikTok and Instagram for case photos, crime scene breakdowns, and stories too wild for the full episode.
⭐ Leave a rating—it helps other true crime obsessives find us.
🎧 New episodes drop weekly on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and everywhere you listen.
Stay curious. Stay suspicious. See you next week with another face... and another mystery
View all episodes
By Kathryn and GabrielBetween 1986-1989, eight young people were murdered or vanished along Virginia's Colonial Parkway. For 37 years, families sought answers. In January 2024, DNA identified a suspect: Alan Wade Wilmer Sr., a commercial fisherman who died in 2017.
THE VICTIMS:
- Cathy Thomas (27) & Rebecca Dowski (21) - Oct 1986
- David Knobling (20) & Robin Edwards (14) - Sept 1987
- Keith Call (20) & Cassandra Hailey (18) - April 1988 (still missing)
- Daniel Lauer (21) & Annamaria Phelps (18) - Sept 1989
THE BREAKTHROUGH: January 2024: DNA links Wilmer to Knobling/Edwards murders | Also connected to Teresa Howell killing (1989) | Wilmer was "suspect number one" in 1987 but passed polygraph | FBI sought him in blue 1966 Dodge pickup for approaching couples | Known as "Pokey," lived on boat "Denni Wade" | Commercial fisherman with access to waterways | Died 2017 before charges filed | DNA never entered into CODIS database—a critical failure
WHAT WE COVER: How DNA finally identified Wilmer after 37 years | Why polygraphs failed | The 2009 photo leak scandal exposing 80+ crime scene images | Law enforcement impersonation theory | Nautical connections and waterway access | Single vs. multiple killer debate | Why three cases remain unsolved | Where Keith and Cassandra's bodies might be
KEY QUESTIONS: Was Wilmer responsible for all eight murders? | Why wasn't his DNA in the system earlier? | Who else might be involved? | Will the other cases ever be solved?
SOURCES: Virginia State Police & FBI (2024-25) | "A Special Kind of Evil" by Blaine Pardoe & Victoria Hester | Daily Press, Virginian-Pilot, Richmond Times-Dispatch | "Lovers' Lane Murders" (Oxygen, 2021) | Bill Thomas advocacy & "The Family Perspective" (Forensic Genomics, 2020) | FBI profiler Jim Clemente | Detective Steve Spingola | Virginia Dept of Forensic Science
HAVE INFO? FBI: 1-800-CALL-FBI | tips.fbi.gov
DISCLAIMER: For educational/entertainment purposes only. Based on publicly available information. We are not legal/law enforcement professionals. Views are hosts' opinions, not official findings. Individuals discussed are presumed innocent unless convicted. Information may be incomplete or developing. We treat all victims and families with respect. Contact authorities directly with any information.
Three cases remain unsolved. Keith Call and Cassandra Hailey's bodies have never been found.
Send us your theories
Support the show
👀 Want more? Follow us @MugshotMysteries on TikTok and Instagram for case photos, crime scene breakdowns, and stories too wild for the full episode.
⭐ Leave a rating—it helps other true crime obsessives find us.
🎧 New episodes drop weekly on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and everywhere you listen.
Stay curious. Stay suspicious. See you next week with another face... and another mystery