A man is brutally attacked and stabbed 45 times
In the quiet, early morning hours of August 19, 1984, a brutal and unexpected act of violence shattered the peace of a Manassas, Virginia home. Virginia State Trooper Johnny Rush Bowman, a 31-year-old Caucasian male, answered a knock at his front door around 4:15 a.m. He was met by an unknown assailant, or assailants, who immediately launched a vicious attack, stabbing him between 40 and 45 times. The off-duty trooper, who was unarmed, engaged in a struggle with his attacker. The commotion awakened his two-year-old daughter who was inside the home along with his wife, brother, and sister-in-law. Despite the desperate struggle, Trooper Bowman succumbed to his injuries and died shortly after being transported to a local hospital.
The murder of Trooper Bowman, a five-year veteran of the Virginia State Police and a former U.S. Marine Corps sergeant, prompted one of the most extensive and costly homicide investigations in the history of the state police. Investigators have interviewed over 3,000 people in 41 states, yet the case remains the only unsolved killing of a Virginia State Trooper. The attacker fled the scene on foot, leaving behind crucial pieces of evidence: a wig, sunglasses, and a construction hard hat, suggesting a possible disguise. Over the years, this evidence has been re-examined using advancements in forensic technology, including DNA testing, in the hope of generating new leads.
While the case has grown cold over the decades, it has never been closed. Law enforcement, including the FBI, continues to actively pursue leads and has offered a reward of up to $50,000 for information that leads to an arrest and conviction. A suspect was identified in the past, with some investigators expressing a high degree of certainty, but a lack of sufficient evidence prevented any charges from being filed. Trooper Bowman's daughter, now an officer with the Manassas Police Department, continues to advocate for her father's case, seeking long-awaited answers and justice for his murder.
