On the evening of April 9, 1988, Richard 'Keith' Call, a 20-year-old student at Christopher Newport College, picked up 18-year-old Cassandra Hailey for their first date. The couple, both residents of Virginia, planned to see a movie and attend a party. They were last seen leaving a party in the University Square area of Newport News in the early morning hours of April 10. Later that day, Keith's red 1982 Toyota Celica was discovered abandoned at the York River Overlook on the Colonial Parkway. The scene inside the car was unsettling; the keys were on the driver's seat, and Keith's wallet was found in the backseat. A watch and eyeglasses were left on the dashboard. Most of the clothing the couple had been wearing, along with Cassandra's purse, were also found inside the vehicle, though her wallet was missing.
The disappearance of Keith Call and Cassandra Hailey is widely believed to be connected to a series of unsolved homicides known as the 'Colonial Parkway Murders.' Between 1986 and 1989, at least eight people, mostly young couples in cars, were murdered or vanished from the Colonial Parkway and surrounding areas. The isolated and often unlit nature of the parkway made it a known spot for couples, but also a hunting ground for a predator or predators. The discovery of Keith's car, with personal belongings left behind and clothing removed, bore similarities to other cases in the series, particularly a double homicide that occurred in 1987. Despite extensive searches of the area and the nearby York River, no trace of Keith or Cassandra has ever been found.
The case has remained a painful open wound for the families, who have spent decades searching for answers. Over the years, law enforcement has investigated various leads and suspects. In January 2024, authorities announced a significant breakthrough, linking a deceased local fisherman, Alan Wade Wilmer Sr., to several of the Colonial Parkway murders through DNA evidence. Wilmer had been considered a suspect in the disappearance of Call and Hailey early in the investigation but was reportedly cleared after passing a polygraph test. While his DNA has now conclusively tied him to other victims in the series, a definitive link to Keith and Cassandra's case has not been publicly confirmed, leaving their families still waiting for closure. The disappearance of Richard Keith Call and Cassandra Hailey remains a haunting mystery, a story of a first date that ended in a tragedy that has spanned generations.Last Seen: Apr 9, 1988
