SUFFOLK, Va. – Virginia police have identified a deceased hunter and fisherman, Alan W. Wilmer Sr., as a suspect in three unsolved murders dating back to the 1980s. Using DNA evidence, investigators linked Wilmer to the 1987 murders of David Knobling and Robin Edwards in Isle Of Wight, and the 1989 murder of Teresa Lynn Spaw Howell in Hampton.
Wilmer Sr. passed away in December 2017 in Lancaster County, Virginia, at the age of 63. Officials from Isle of Wight County and City of Hampton Commonwealth’s Attorneys stated that if Wilmer were still alive, charges would be filed against him.
The Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation expressed gratitude to the families of the victims for their patience and understanding over the years. Lt. Col. Tim Lyon acknowledged the pain and frustration they had endured, expressing hope that the identification of the killer brings them closure and peace.
The first murders connected to Wilmer occurred in September 1987. Knobling and Edwards, 20 and 14 years old, were found shot to death along the shoreline of the Ragged Island Wildlife Management and Refuge Area on the south bank of the James River. Edwards had been sexually assaulted.
In July 1989, Teresa Lynn Spaw Howell, 29, was found dead after being seen outside of the Zodiac Club in Hampton. She had also been sexually assaulted.
Wilmer had no felonies on his criminal record, so his DNA was never obtained until it was needed to identify him following his death. According to the Virginia State Police, a genetic match to Wilmer was confirmed in 2023 based on evidence collected from the homicide victims.
Authorities are now seeking the public’s help in their investigation, urging anyone who may have worked with Wilmer or had encounters with him to come forward. They provided a description of Wilmer and details about his work as a fisherman and hunter in the 1980s.
The Virginia State Police and the FBI are encouraging individuals with information to contact them, as they continue to pursue new leads in the case.
In conclusion, Virginia police have identified deceased hunter and fisherman Alan W. Wilmer Sr. as a suspect in three unsolved murders dating back to the 1980s. Authorities are seeking the public’s help in their investigation, urging anyone who may have information to come forward.