most recent response from the detectives in charge of Hazel's case :
Thank you for bringing these potential leads to my attention. I have reviewed these three cases with both Detective Holsinger and Detective Schihl so that all three of us could review each case. I do not believe that the three cases are connected to the disappearance of Hazel Klug. We still have a strong person of interest in her disappearance, however, are still awaiting DNA evidence to be analyzed.
In regards to the three cases that you mentioned I wanted to give you some reasons as to why the three of us do not believe they are connected.
Serial rapist and murderer Lloyd Lee Welch (Maryland / Virginia)
During this crime the Lyons sisters (10 and 12) were abducted from a shopping center in a Maryland suburb of Washington DC. While at the shopping center they were observed speaking to a male, later possibly identified as Welch based on a noticeable scar on his face. Sometime that same year a relative helped Welch dispose of the possible bodies by setting them on fire on a mountain property in Thaxton, Virginia. Welch has been in and out of prison for sexual assault of at least two additional 10 year old girls. He goes to trial in Bedford County, Virginia in October 2016. Although the abduction and murder of the Lyons sisters are around the same time as Hazels disappearance there are some marked differences. I cannot go into all of the details but the main difference is a serial predator has a specific victim type and M.O. they operate on. Specific signatures that they will use is picking their victim, the way they abduct them, and then how they perpetuate their crime. Welchs victim type has been that of a 10-12 year old white female. It is very unlikely that Welch would graduate to choosing Hazel as a victim due to her age, physical stature, and the ability to fight back.
Disappearance of Tara Grinstead (Ocilla, Geeorgia)
Tara Grinstead was 30 at the time of her disappearance, a beauty queen, and high school teacher who disappeared on October 22, 2005 in Ocilla, Georgia. She disappeared from her residence and only thing out of ordinary was her vehicle was unlocked and her purse was missing. A lone latex glove was located that contains male DNA at the scene. Even though this case does share some similarities with Hazels disappearance we also do not believe they are connected. Tara and Hazel do share a lot, to include appearances, however the biggest difference is the time between disappearances. Hazels attacker at the time would have most likely been between 20-40 years old in 1986 to have been able to abduct her and this would place the attacker between 40-60 years old at the time of this crime.
Murder of Lisa Renee Tiggs (Dale City - May 21, 1986 disappearance and May 24, 1986 body discovery)
Lisa Renee Tiggs (15 year old WF) was walking down a road in Dale City walking pass a traveling carnival when she disappeared. Her body was discovered face down in a creek a short distance away in a wooded area. Cause of Death was blunt force trauma to head. It appears that this incident may be a spur of the moment crime. Hazel was at her residence and on the phone shortly before her potential disappearance. There is information that we have that Hazel was not planning to leave the house that night which would have reduced the spur of the moment crime. The person who committed this murder did not care if Tiggs was discovered as there was no attempt to hide her body from discovery. However Hazel has not been discovered to this day, or at least DNA has not matched any potential remains, which suggests that her attacker is more methodical or the crime was preplanned.
Sergeant Kevin Howdyshell
