In the autumn of 1987, the life of 14-year-old Robin Margaret Edwards was tragically cut short. On September 23, her body, alongside that of 20-year-old David Lee Knobling, was discovered by a beachcomber at the Ragged Island Wildlife Refuge in Isle of Wight County, Virginia. The two had been reported missing two days prior, having last been seen alive on September 19.
Both had suffered fatal gunshot wounds.
For decades, the double homicide remained a cold case, a source of enduring pain for their families and a lingering mystery for the community. The investigation was complex, and for many years, yielded no definitive answers. Robin's death was one of a series of double homicides that occurred in the area between 1986 and 1989, collectively known as the 'Colonial Parkway Murders.' While sharing similarities with the other cases, there was no immediate forensic evidence to officially link them.
A significant breakthrough in the investigation finally came in January 2024, more than three decades after the crime. Virginia State Police announced that they had identified the man responsible for the deaths of Robin Edwards and David Knobling. Through forensic analysis, Alan Wade Wilmer Sr. was named as the suspect. Wilmer, who was also linked to another homicide, would never face earthly justice for his alleged crimes, as he had passed away in 2017. The identification was made possible through posthumously obtained DNA evidence, which matched samples collected from the crime scenes.
