Suffolk, Virginia – DNA evidence has led investigators to link a deceased fisherman to three unsolved homicides from the late 1980s in Virginia. Alan W. Wilmer Sr., 63, who passed away in 2017, has been connected to the murders of David Knobling, 20, and Robin Edwards, 14, as well as the killing of Teresa Lynn Spaw Howell, 29.
According to authorities, Wilmer is suspected to be behind the deaths of Knobling and Edwards at Colonial Parkway in September 1987, as well as Howell’s murder in Hampton in July 1989. The victims were found shot and sexually assaulted. Wilmer, who was not a convicted felon, was not in any law enforcement databases, hindering efforts to link him to the crimes during his lifetime.
A breakthrough occurred when Wilmer’s DNA was added to the database after his death, leading to the discovery of a genetic match between him and the victims. However, officials have confirmed that Wilmer is not linked to the remaining six unsolved murders at the Parkway, leaving those cases still active.
Family members of the victims expressed gratitude for the closure brought about by the DNA match. Investigators are actively pursuing leads on the other killings and have not ruled out Wilmer’s potential involvement. They are reconstructing his movements during his lifetime, including his use of distinctive vehicles and his work as a fisherman.
For 36 years, the families lived in uncertainty, but now there is a sense of relief and justice in knowing that Wilmer can no longer victimize others. The families are grateful for the closure but recognize that nothing can bring their loved ones back. The void left by their absence over the years is indescribable.