Suspect Breakthrough: The Colonial Parkway Murders

The Colonial Parkway murders were the serial murders of at least eight people in the U.S. state of Virginia between 1986 and 1989.

In this episode of Zone 7, Crime Scene Investigator, Sheryl McCollum, Sheryl sits down with Bill Thomas and Kristin Dilley to discuss the latest developments in the Colonial Parkway murders. They discuss the identification of Alan Wade Wilmer Sr. as a suspect, its implications for the case, its emotional toll, and the relentless pursuit of answers and justice.

If you have any information regarding the Colonial Parkway Murders or Alan Wade Wilmer Sr. call 1-800-225-5324 (1-800-CALLFBI)

Bill Thomas is a true crime podcaster and entertainment executive now living in Connecticut who sadly is the brother of a murder victim. His sister Cathy Thomas along with her girlfriend Rebecca  Dowski, were the first two victims in the Colonial Parkway Murders, a horrific crime series that claimed the lives of eight young people near Williamsburg, Virginia from 1986 to 1989. 

Kristin Dilley is a true crime podcaster, researcher, writer, and teacher from beautiful Williamsburg, Virginia. After losing a good friend's mother to homicide, she developed an interest in true crime and has become a passionate advocate for the families of unsolved murder victims.

Resources: 

MIND OVER MURDER: True Crime Podcast

Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI) 

Show Notes:

[0:00] Welcome back to Zone 7 with Crime Scene Investigator, Sheryl McCollum.  

[1:00] Sheryl introduces guests Bill Thomas and Kristin Dilley to the listeners 

[3:00] Introduction and background of the Colonial Parkway Murders

[3:15] Mind Over Murder 

[11:00] The trio discuss the news of Alan Wade Wilmer Sr. as a prime suspect

[14:30] Question: Tell us what happened on Columbus Day weekend 1986 at the Cheatham Annex Overlook in Williamsburg. What happened exactly to Cathy?

[20:30] Potential motives for the murders 

[25:30] Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI)  

[26:00] Question: What do you think the next steps are for you all, and law enforcement?

[31:30] Kristin discusses how she is re-evaluating her knowledge of the Colonial Parkway murders 

[33:00] Discussion on the suspect's profile and methodology

[36:00] If you have any information regarding the Colonial Parkway Murders call 1-800-225-5324 (1-800-CALLFBI)

[38:30] FBI identifying the suspect, Alan Wade Wilmer Sr

[42:45] Ways the public can get involved 

[0:00] “I know when I was there prosecuting homicides in the District of Columbia, One of the most effective units there was the cold case squad, which had FBI agents as well as Metropolitan Police homicide detectives working together.” -R.M

Thanks for listening to another episode! If you love the show and want to help grow the show, please head over to iTunes and leave a rating and review! 

---

Sheryl “Mac” McCollum is an Emmy Award winning CSI, a writer for CrimeOnLine, Forensic and Crime Scene Expert for Crime Stories with Nancy Grace, and a CSI for a metro Atlanta Police Department. She is the co-author of the textbook., Cold Case: Pathways to Justice. Sheryl is also the founder and director of the Cold Case Investigative Research Institute, a collaboration between universities and colleges that brings researchers, practitioners, students and the criminal justice community together to advance techniques in solving cold cases and assist families and law enforcement with solvability factors for unsolved homicides, missing persons, and kidnapping cases.  

You can connect and learn more about Sheryl’s work by visiting the CCIRI website https://coldcasecrimes.org

Social Links:

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @ColdCaseTips

Facebook: @sheryl.mccollum

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.