The Colonial Parkway Murders: The Breakthrough Linking Alan Wilmer to a Fourth Victim
Colonial Parkway Murders Suspect Was Identified in 2024
The Colonial Parkway Murders: The Breakthrough Linking Alan Wilmer to a Fourth Victim
For nearly four decades, the Colonial Parkway murders have haunted Virginia. Stretching across the tidewater region between Williamsburg, Yorktown, Jamestown, and Gloucester County, these cases created a chilling legacy: young people vanishing or turning up dead, vehicles abandoned in eerie condition, and families left in long-term anguish without answers.
Between 1986 and 1989, at least four couples—and several individuals—were attacked in or near secluded roads, pull-offs, and waterways tied to the historic Colonial Parkway. Despite large investigative efforts, the case turned cold and remained one of the nation’s most infamous clusters of unsolved homicides.
But in recent years, breakthroughs in forensic science have begun peeling back the darkness. In 2024, investigators publicly linked a man named Alan W. “Pokey” Wilmer Sr. to multiple Colonial Parkway–era murders through modern DNA analysis. In 2025, the Virginia State Police confirmed yet another connection: this time, to 18-year-old Laurie Ann Powell, whose life was cut short in 1988.
This new revelation marks the fourth case tied to Wilmer and may finally explain long-lingering mysteries around the Colonial Parkway’s most disturbing cold cases.
A Scenic Road Cloaked in Fear
The Colonial Parkway is celebrated for its quiet beauty—rolling tree-lined curves, marshland views, and isolated scenic overlooks perfect for couples seeking privacy. But in the mid-to-late 1980s, this picturesque road became the center of a terrifying pattern.
Young couples would disappear without explanation. Vehicles were found parked awkwardly—with keys still in the ignition, doors left open, or items undisturbed as if the occupants had been pulled away suddenly. In several cases, bodies were later discovered near water. In others, the victims were never found.
Over time, the public began referring to these cases collectively as the Colonial Parkway murders, a phrase that carried an eerie weight.
For years, rumors swirled—a serial killer, multiple killers, a rogue law enforcement officer, a local fisherman with deep knowledge of waterways. Leads came and went, files stacked up, and families suffered in silence.
The case grew cold… until DNA changed everything.
Alan Wilmer: A Name That Emerged From the Past
Alan W. Wilmer Sr., a waterman and tree-service operator from the Northern Neck region, was never publicly named as a suspect during his lifetime. He died in 2017 at age 63.
But in 2024, everything shifted.
Old biological evidence from two Colonial Parkway–era murders was retested with modern DNA methods, and investigators announced a match: Wilmer’s genetic profile linked him to the 1987 double murder of 20-year-old David Knobling and 14-year-old Robin Edwards.
That alone was a massive breakthrough.
Soon after, a third case was tied to him: the 1989 murder of 29-year-old Teresa Howell, also killed near a rural Virginia roadway.
Then in late 2025, the Virginia State Police made a fourth and even more haunting announcement: DNA tested from the 1988 stabbing of 18-year-old Laurie Ann Powell linked her killing to Wilmer as well.
With this revelation came the strongest indication yet that Wilmer may be responsible for multiple unsolved homicides across southeastern Virginia—and possibly more than the four now connected to him.
The Night Laurie Ann Powell Vanished
March 8, 1988 began as an ordinary evening for Laurie Ann Powell, an 18-year-old from Gloucester County. But that night would end in tragedy.
According to investigators, Laurie was riding with her boyfriend, Chris Cutler, when the two had an argument while driving in the rural area of Fiddler’s Green Road near Route 614. Around 11:30 p.m., she got out of the car and began walking in the dark toward Route 17.
She was never seen alive again.
For nearly a month, her family and authorities searched for answers. On April 2, 1988, their fears were confirmed. Laurie’s body was found in the Elizabeth River near Portsmouth. She had been sexually assaulted and stabbed multiple times in the back.
The brutality of the attack stunned investigators. Over the years, numerous theories emerged, but no suspect was ever identified.
The case grew cold—until 2025.
Now, modern forensic analysis confirms what detectives long suspected: Laurie did not simply vanish into the night. She crossed paths with a predator.
And evidence shows that predator was Alan Wilmer.
Patterns That Match the Colonial Parkway Murders
With Powell’s murder now linked to Wilmer, investigators and analysts see chilling consistencies that match other Colonial Parkway cases:
1. Use of Remote Roads
Victims were often last seen or abducted near isolated roadways with limited lighting. Laurie Powell was last seen walking alone on a dark rural road—consistent with other Parkway-era victims.
2. Waterway Disposal
Wilmer had deep familiarity with Virginia’s waterways. At least two victims linked to him were found near rivers or marshlands. Laurie Powell was also discovered in a river.
3. Sexual Assault and Overkill
Laurie’s murder involved sexual assault and repeated stabbing—behaviors consistent with a highly violent offender.
4. Victim Profile
Young, vulnerable individuals in transitional or isolated moments—walking alone, parked in a car, or leaving a location at night—were repeatedly targeted.
5. Geographic Mobility
Wilmer worked on boats and in tree service, giving him freedom of movement across coastal Virginia and secluded back roads.
Each new case linked to him sharpens the picture: this was a predator who exploited rural darkness, quiet roads, and isolated lovers’ lanes.
The Breakthrough: Cold Case DNA Testing
The turning point in Laurie Powell’s case came when investigators once again opened the file using today’s evolved DNA capabilities.
Traditional forensic methods in the late 1980s were limited—especially in rural jurisdictions. But modern retesting allowed analysts to extract genetic material that had been unknowingly preserved for decades.
That evidence produced a match to Alan Wilmer.
With three killings already tied to him, Powell’s case strengthened the theory that Wilmer’s crimes spanned several counties and years, and that his victim list may not yet be fully identified.
A Fourth Unsolved Murder Also Under Review
Around the same time as the announcement in Powell’s case, Virginia State Police revealed they were examining a fourth unsolved homicide that also appeared tied to Wilmer. While they have not yet released the victim’s name publicly, investigators stated that evidence strongly supports his involvement.
This makes at least four deaths now definitively linked to Wilmer:
David Knobling (20)
Robin Edwards (14)
Teresa Howell (29)
Laurie Ann Powell (18)
And officials indicated that additional cold cases from the region are now being re-examined with Wilmer in mind.
“We are not ruling anything out,” one spokesperson said—a statement that shook long-silent families of other Parkway-era victims.
Why Did It Take So Long?
The Colonial Parkway murders were always complicated because:
The geography was vast and isolated
Crime scenes were staged or manipulated
Evidence was often minimal or water-damaged
Multiple jurisdictions were involved
Technology was decades behind today’s standards
Wilmer also had no publicly known criminal record that would have placed his DNA in any national database. For years, this left his identity shielded from law enforcement.
It wasn’t until after his death—and significant advancements in forensic science—that the truth began to emerge.
The Families’ Mixed Emotions: Relief, Grief, and New Questions
For Laurie Ann Powell’s relatives, the identification of her killer brought a long-awaited sense of resolution.
Her sister, who spent years hoping for answers, said she was grateful that investigators didn’t give up. But with relief came renewed grief, the realization of what Laurie endured, and the understanding that justice cannot be served in court because the suspect is deceased.
Families of the other Parkway-era victims expressed similar mix of emotions: gratitude for answers, anger for the stolen decades, and fear that other victims may still be out there.
One family member said, “It’s not justice, but at least it’s the truth.”
Could There Be More Victims?
Investigators say yes.
Now that Wilmer’s name is public, citizens across the region have come forward with tips about suspicious encounters, unsolved disappearances, and abandoned vehicles from the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Detectives are actively reviewing cases involving:
Women or teens who disappeared walking along roads
Bodies found near rivers or marshlands
Unexplained drownings
Abandoned cars found with keys left behind
Unsolved stabbings or assaults
While the Colonial Parkway name is tied to specific couples murdered between 1986 and 1989, it is increasingly clear that Wilmer’s violent activity may have extended beyond those cases.
The question now is how many.
Who Was Alan “Pokey” Wilmer?
Little has been shared publicly about Wilmer’s private life, but the picture emerging suggests:
He was deeply familiar with Virginia’s waterways
He drove a distinctive blue 1966 Dodge Fargo pickup
He worked in physically demanding jobs that provided mobility
He lived in proximity to most crime scenes
He would have known secluded areas well
He had ample opportunity to encounter victims traveling alone at night
Crucially, DNA links his biological presence to at least four murdered victims.
Though he died in 2017, his shadow over these communities remains heavy.
The Colonial Parkway Murders—Revisited Through a New Lens
Now that Wilmer has been tied to four separate killings, investigators are reconsidering the entire Colonial Parkway cluster.
Some longtime analysts believe that Wilmer may be responsible for nearly all of the Parkway-era cases, while others believe there may have been more than one killer operating in the region around the same time.
The truth remains complex.
But one thing is now certain: Wilmer is no longer just a name whispered in cold case files. He is the first—and currently only—suspect scientifically tied to multiple Colonial Parkway–related murders.
A Turning Point for a 38-Year Mystery
The identification of Alan Wilmer as the killer of Laurie Ann Powell marks a new chapter in Virginia’s most notorious unsolved case. It brings long-awaited answers to a grieving family, connects another thread in a decades-old pattern, and opens the door to solving more cases thought forgotten.
For investigators, this is both progress and motivation.
For families, it is both closure and heartbreak.
And for the public, it is a reminder of the cold, quiet violence that once stalked Virginia’s backroads—and of the relentless patience required to uncover the truth.
As modern forensic science continues to evolve, it is possible—perhaps even likely—that more names will soon be attached to Wilmer’s legacy, and more families may finally receive the answers they deserve.
The Colonial Parkway murders may not be fully solved yet. But with every new piece of truth uncovered, the darkness surrounding these cases grows a little thinner.