FBI releases update on suspected serial killer linked to murders in Virginia over four decades ago
The deaths of Cathleen Thomas and Rebecca Dowski were cold cases up until this point
Almost a decade after his own passing, a supposed US serial killer has been deemed responsible for two more deaths that happened in 1986.
Only through advancements in technology and forensic science has the late Alan Wade Wilmer Sr become personally linked to the cold-case tragedies.
His newly identified victims, Cathleen Thomas, 27, and Rebecca Dowski, 21, were discovered inside a car together along the Colonial Parkway; having already been suspected of at least six other slayings and various disappearances throughout Virginia between 1986 and 1989.
The FBI said: "Despite extensive investigative efforts at the time, the case remained unsolved for decades."
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Wilmer Sr was a local fisherman who died in 2017 at the age of 63.
However, the US Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia confirmed this week that if he had still been breathing, the evidence collected against him would support federal prosecution.
Per the official FBI update, Thomas was described as a 'vibrant', 'compassionate' and 'intelligent' individual, while the 'creative' and 'kind' Dowski was a 'talented musician with a promising future'.
FBI Norfolk Field Office special agent Dominique Evans said in a statement when the case was finally closed: "I am incredibly proud of the work done by the men and women of FBI Norfolk, whose tenacity and commitment to justice never wavered.
"This investigation demonstrates the strength of our partnership with the Virginia State Police, the Hampton Police Division, and the Suffolk Police Department, and our shared determination to never give up on victims or their families. We are thankful that advances in technology and DNA evidence allowed us to finally bring answers in this case."
The division itself went on to add: "The Hampton Police Division extends its sincere appreciation to our partner agencies and the investigators whose commitment and determination ensured these cases remained active over the years. We also thank our community for its continued support and valuable information. It is our hope that this development provides the families with a measure of closure, comfort, and peace."
Meanwhile, Colonel Jeffrey Katz of the Virginia State Police also paid tribute to the 'tireless work' carried out by the team of investigators.
"We share our deepest condolences with the victims' families and loved ones, and hope this resolution brings them a measure of peace and healing moving forward. We never give up in the pursuit of justice and will continue to investigate other cold cases with the same resolve," he said.
Thomas' brother, Bill, admitted that his head was 'kind of spinning' after hearing the news.
"It's kind of hard to absorb it all," he told News 3, before adding: "I'll admit I was surprised. We've had 150 persons of interest in this case and I was still surprised it was Wilmer. I always knew that was a possibility but other suspects had sounded more likely somehow."
The FBI noted that 'investigators continue to actively pursue unsolved cases related to the Colonial Parkway murders' and it 'remains dedicated to seeking justice for all victims'.
Dan Seddon