Two Virginia Tech students are found dead in the parking lot of a state forest On the evening of August 26, 2009, 18-year-old Heidi Childs and her 19-year-old boyfriend, David Metzler, were tragically shot and killed in the Caldwell Fields parking lot of the Jefferson National Forest in Montgomery County, Virginia. The couple, both sophomores at Virginia Tech, had driven to the rural recreation area for a quiet evening together.
Their bodies were discovered the following morning by a person walking their dogs.
Heidi, known for her bright smile, was a biochemistry major who grew up in Bedford County and was one of eight children. She and David, an engineering major, had met through a church youth group in high school. The investigation determined that they were killed between 8:25 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. David was found inside his 1992 Toyota Camry, while Heidi was found on the ground nearby. The weapon used in the murders was identified as a 30-30 caliber rifle.
Heidi's purse, containing her cell phone, camera, college ID, and credit cards, was missing from the scene and has never been recovered. Despite an extensive and ongoing criminal investigation involving numerous interviews with local residents and the identification of persons of interest, no arrests have ever been made in connection with the murders of Heidi Childs and David Metzler. The case, sometimes referred to as the 'Caldwell Fields murders,' remains an active investigation with local, state, and federal law enforcement continuing to seek new leads. A significant reward has been offered for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible.
