Two Virginia Tech students are found dead in the parking lot of a state forest In the late summer evening of August 26, 2009, 19-year-old David Metzler, a White male, and his girlfriend, Heidi Childs, both students at Virginia Tech, drove to Caldwell Fields, a recreational area nestled within the Jefferson National Forest in Montgomery County, Virginia. The young couple, just weeks into their sophomore year, were seeking a quiet place to spend time together. David, an engineering major, had even brought his guitar.
However, their peaceful outing turned tragic in an act of violence that has yet to be solved. Sometime between 8:25 p.m. and 10:00 p.m., both David and Heidi were shot and killed in the parking lot.
The following morning, a man walking his dogs discovered the horrific scene. David Metzler was found inside his 1992 Toyota Camry, having been shot through the driver's side window. Heidi Childs was found on the ground nearby. Investigators determined the murder weapon was a 30/30 caliber rifle. While David's guitar remained in the car, some of Heidi's personal belongings were missing, including her purse, cell phone, camera, and her Virginia Tech ID on a lanyard, suggesting robbery as a possible motive.
Despite an extensive and ongoing investigation involving local, state, and federal law enforcement, no arrests have been made in the double homicide. The case has remained an active investigation for over a decade, with authorities pursuing numerous leads and interviewing many individuals in the surrounding counties. Investigators have publicly stated that they have collected DNA evidence from the scene and have identified persons of interest, but no specific suspects have been named. A reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible has grown to $100,000, yet the case of who killed David Metzler and Heidi Childs remains unsolved, leaving their families and the community waiting for justice.
