A significant breakthrough in three unsolved homicides that took place in the late 1980s in Isle of Wight County and the City of Hampton was announced Monday afternoon at a joint press conference held by officials from the City of Hampton Police Division, City of Hampton Commonwealth’s Attorney, Isle of Wight County Commonwealth’s Attorney, Virginia State Police and FBI Norfolk Field Office.

In addition to resolving the 1987 Isle of Wight County murders of David L. Knobling, 20, and Robin M. Edwards, 14, DNA evidence also confirms the same suspect was responsible for the 1989 murder of Teresa Lynn Spaw Howell, 29, in Hampton, according to the joint press release.

Over time, the Isle of Wight County double homicide became known as one of four separate double homicides that spanned from 1986 through 1989 and were coined the “Colonial Parkway Murders.”

The suspect, Alan W. Wilmer Sr. of Lancaster, died in December 2017 at the age of 63. Both the Isle of Wight County and City of ...