Episode 15: Vickie Lynn Belk – Bryans Road, MD

What should’ve been a routine lunch break in Washington, D.C. ended in tragedy that left Vickie Lynn Belk’s family fighting for answers for more than four decades.

Episode Summary

In 1979, 28-year-old Vickie Lynn Belk seemed to have it all figured out—a loving family, a young son, a promising career with the Department of Agriculture, and a bright future ahead. But on August 27, during her lunch break from work in Washington, D.C., Vickie vanished. Two days later, her body was found off a quiet road in Bryans Road, Maryland. She had been sexually assaulted and shot.

The investigation stretched on for decades, with few leads and no clear suspects. Vickie lived a low-risk lifestyle, and no one could imagine who would want to hurt her. Evidence was preserved, but in 1979, there was no DNA testing. Her family never stopped fighting for justice, even as the years passed and the case went cold.

It wasn’t until 2022 that advancements in forensic science cracked the case wide open. DNA recovered from Vickie’s clothing linked the murder to Andre Taylor, who was just 18 years old at the time of her death. More than four decades later, Taylor was finally arrested and convicted for Vickie’s murder, bringing long-awaited justice to her family.

In this episode of True Crime Unwind, we share Vickie’s story—from her trailblazing role in school desegregation to her heartbreaking final day, and ultimately, to the strength of her family, who never stopped seeking the truth.

For more about Vickie’s legacy and the scholarship foundation created in her honor, please visit vickiebelkfoundation.org.

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