At a Glance
- The FBI announced on Jan. 20 that the 1986 murders of Cathleen Thomas and Rebecca Dowski have been solved.
- Alan Wade Wilmer Sr., a Virginia fisherman who died in 2017, was identified as their killer.
- Wilmer is now tied to five murders along or near Virginia’s Colonial Parkway between 1986 and 1989.
- Why it matters: Families who waited nearly four decades now have answers, and investigators vow to keep pursuing remaining unsolved cases.
Federal authorities have identified two more victims of a suspected serial killer connected to at least five murders and disappearances of young people in Virginia between 1986 and 1989.
On Tuesday, Jan. 20, the FBI announced that the 1986 cold-case murders of Cathleen Thomas and Rebecca Dowski had been solved. Authorities linked the killings to Alan Wade Wilmer Sr., a Virginia fisherman who died at age 63 in 2017. The break came through “persistent investigation” and “breakthroughs in forensic technology,” according to an FBI Norfolk Field Office press release.
The 1986 Colonial Parkway Murders
Thomas, 27, a U.S. Naval Academy graduate and stockbroker, and Dowski, 21, a college student, were last seen together on Oct. 9, 1986. Their bodies were discovered inside Thomas’ white Honda Civic along the Colonial Parkway. Both women had been strangled and stabbed to death.
“Thomas was a vibrant young woman known for her compassion, intelligence, and close relationships with family and friends,” the FBI stated. “Dowski was a talented musician and college student with a promising future, remembered for her creativity, kindness and love of music. Their lives were tragically cut short, but they were never forgotten by the investigators who continued to pursue justice on their behalf.”
Authorities said that had Wilmer Sr. been alive today, the evidence developed through this investigation would have supported federal prosecution.
Additional Victims Linked to Wilmer
Wilmer is also connected to the murders of:
- David L. Knobling, 20
- Robin M. Edwards, 14
- Teresa Lynn Spaw Howell, 29
All five cases became known as the “Colonial Parkway Murders” because the killings occurred along or near Virginia’s Colonial Parkway and surrounding areas.
Knobling and Edwards were found shot to death on the shoreline of a wildlife management area in Isle of Wight County on Sept. 23, 1987. Edwards had been sexually assaulted.
Howell was discovered dead outside a club in Hampton on July 1, 1989, three days after she was reported missing. She had been sexually assaulted and strangled.
DNA evidence in these three cases linked Wilmer to their murders.
Who Was Alan Wade Wilmer Sr.?
Wilmer operated a commercial fishing boat named the Denni Wade. During the 1980s he made his living farming clams and oysters. He drove several pickup trucks, including a blue 1966 Dodge Fargo with a Virginia license plate that read “EM-RAW.”
He also owned a business called Better Tree Service and was an avid hunter.
Investigators continue to pursue unsolved cases related to the Colonial Parkway murders, authorities said.
Timeline of the Colonial Parkway Murders
| Date | Victims | Key Details |
|---|---|---|
| Oct. 9, 1986 | Cathleen Thomas, 27, and Rebecca Dowski, 21 | Last seen together; bodies found in Thomas’ Honda Civic along Colonial Parkway; strangled and stabbed. |
| Sept. 23, 1987 | David L. Knobling, 20, and Robin M. Edwards, 14 | Found shot to death on Isle of Wight shoreline; Edwards sexually assaulted. |
| June 28, 1989 | Teresa Lynn Spaw Howell, 29 | Reported missing; body discovered July 1 outside Hampton club; sexually assaulted and strangled. |
Investigative Breakthrough
The FBI credited “persistent investigation” and “breakthroughs in forensic technology” for solving the Thomas and Dowski homicides. DNA evidence tied Wilmer to the Knobling, Edwards, and Howell killings.
Authorities have not disclosed what specific forensic advances cracked the case, but the statement underscores that investigators never closed the files.
Next Steps for Law Enforcement
- Investigators continue to review unsolved cases tied to the Colonial Parkway murders.
- The FBI encourages anyone with information to contact the Norfolk Field Office.
- Families of the victims have been notified of the developments.
Key Takeaways
- A single suspect, Alan Wade Wilmer Sr., has now been tied to five brutal killings.
- The cases span three years and multiple jurisdictions along Virginia’s Colonial Parkway.
- Modern forensic techniques solved a 38-year-old double homicide.
- Investigators remain committed to resolving any remaining unsolved linked cases.
