VA VA - David Metzler, 19, & Heidi Childs, 18, fatally shot, Montgomery Co, 26 Aug 2009

[Soulmagent]

I remember watching Heidi's dad speaking right after this happened. His body posture made me believe they had a person of interest because he seemed very focused and not angry. I thought maybe the LE had shared information with him that made him feel confident in an arrest at the time. Maybe it was his Law enforcement face put forward and not his emotional parent side.

 

[p7byrd]

1000 Leads, No Suspects in VA Double-Murders

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/local/ap/1000-leads-no-suspects-in-va-double-slaying-85222742.html

 

[Hambone1480]

Last week's shootings of a young man and woman in Virginia (along the Blue Ridge Parkway) seems way too coincidental with the Childs and Metzler murders. The woman eventually lived and the man unfortunately died. A 50-year-old male mechanic was arrested in connection with last week's shootings.
In both cases, a man and woman were together enjoying nature in a scenic part of Virginia. Also, in both cases, the man and woman were shot at for no apparent reason by an unknown assailant.
Here is a link about last week's shootings and arrest.
http://www2.wsls.com/sls/news/state_regional/article/investigators_to_give_update_on_parkway_shootings_at_5_p.m/91781/

 

[Blondie in Spokane]

This guy sounds like a real nutcase....thank God the woman was able to fight him off and escape....I will be shocked if he's not implicated in the Childs/Metzler murders as well.

I wonder how long this freak has lived in that area.....the unsolved Parkway murders date back for many, many years.....

 

[lizzybeth]

I think I heard twenty-five or thirty years. If this guy is fifty then he was old enough to be doing this type of crime at the earliest murders.

 

[lizzybeth]

Last week's shootings of a young man and woman in Virginia (along the Blue Ridge Parkway) seems way too coincidental with the Childs and Metzler murders. The woman eventually lived and the man unfortunately died. A 50-year-old male mechanic was arrested in connection with last week's shootings.
In both cases, a man and woman were together enjoying nature in a scenic part of Virginia. Also, in both cases, the man and woman were shot at for no apparent reason by an unknown assailant.
Here is a link about last week's shootings and arrest.
http://www2.wsls.com/sls/news/state...e_update_on_parkway_shootings_at_5_p.m/91781/

Here's an update on the young lady that survived the attack and an account of what happened.

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/crime-scene/update-on-the-news/blue-ridge-parkway-shooting-vi.html

“I asked, 'Why are you doing this? Why are you doing this?' “ she recalled. “He said, 'Cause I'm crazy.' His eyes were, like, empty. He didn't seem angry or anything.”
At last the stranger grabbed Floyd by the hair and flung her over the edge of the precipice. She landed on a ledge no more than 6 feet down and scrambled up the side, toward the parking lot. But the stranger grabbed her again. And again, the two struggled to see which one would be tossed over the edge.

 

[Belinda]

Thanks for the update, lizzybeth. Wow, what a totally intense story.

 

[Blondie in Spokane]

The only word I have to describe that article is "horrifying"...thank you for posting it, lizzybeth....that girl in so lucky to be alive...and thank God she is so that this freak will be locked up forever.

 

[rossva]

http://www.montgomerycountyva.gov/filestorage/1146/98/179/719/7369/Media_Handout_03-29-12.pdf

A REWARD IS BEING OFFERED IN EXCESS OF $70,000 FOR
INFORMATION LEADING TO THE ARREST AND CONVICTION OF
THE PERSON OR PERSONS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MURDER OF
DAVID METZLER AND HEIDI CHILDS ON OR ABOUT AUGUST 26, 2009

“WE HAVE DNA EVIDENCE. WE ARE ACTIVELY AND AGGRESSIVELY PURSUING YOU, WE WILL NOT REST UNTIL YOU ARE APPREHENDED.“

 

[maureen]

I wonder what the police know that they're not telling. It's hard for the public to help without more info, for example was Heidi sexually assaulted? It seems like they had either just arrived at the campsite or were just leaving since it seems David was driving and was probably shot first and Heidi tried to run. So frustrating!

 

[dienermom]

I wonder what the police know that they're not telling. It's hard for the public to help without more info, for example was Heidi sexually assaulted? It seems like they had either just arrived at the campsite or were just leaving since it seems David was driving and was probably shot first and Heidi tried to run. So frustrating!

Agreed. Has LE ever said if the DNA matches any other assaults? There are a number of unsolved assault/murders in the same general area (mid-Atlantic generally) and I've always wondered if they are connected. Murders of the two women campers in the Shenandoahs (or maybe Adirondacks?), Morgan Harrington and others. So sad for these kids' families.

 

[neverletgo]

Central Virginia's unsolved homicides
Posted: Saturday, August 27, 2011 10:27 PM EST
By Carrie J. Sidener

Snipped:

Heidi Childs and David Metzler, Aug. 27, 2009

The bodies of Heidi Childs and David Metzler, both students at Virginia Tech, were discovered by a man walking his dog near the Caldwell Fields area of the Jefferson National Forest in Montgomery County on Aug. 27, 2009.

Childs, 18, of Forest, and Metzler, 19 of Campbell County, had been shot the night of Aug. 26, 2009 at the popular natural area and hangout for students, located just 15 miles from Virginia Tech’s campus.

Metzler’s body was inside a blue Toyota, while Childs’ body was outside the car. Police have not identified any suspects.

http://www.wsls.com/story/20847880/central-virginias-unsolved-homicides

 

[neverletgo]

David Metzler, Heidi Childs murder has new leads
By Tom Roussey
March 29, 2012 - 05:18 pm

Snipped:

Metzler and Childs had been a couple for about four years. On the night of Aug. 26, 2009, they had arrived at the Jefferson National Forest after leaving Childs' apartment in Blacksburg.

They reportedly didn't plan to stay long, just talk and play guitars. But in a parking lot someone murdered them.

http://www.wjla.com/articles/2012/03/david-metzler-heidi-childs-murder-has-new-leads-74363.html

 

[neverletgo]

New Info In Slaying Of Virginia Tech Students
CHRISTIANSBURG, Va. (AP)

Snipped:

Whitt also said at a news conference Thursday that investigators have developed DNA evidence and have been collecting DNA samples from residents and people who frequent the area. He said the killer stole Childs' purse containing a cell phone, camera, ID card, credit card and Virginia Tech lanyard. The items have not been recovered.

http://www.wric.com/story/17287833/authorities-have-dna-ev

 

[neverletgo]

Release from the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office

Snipped:

I have a message for the murderer:

"WE HAVE DNA EVIDENCE. WE ARE ACTIVELY AND AGGRESIVELY PURSUING YOU, WE WILL NOT REST UNTIL YOU ARE APPREHENDED."

http://www.montgomerycountyva.gov/filestorage/1146/98/179/719/7369/Media_Handout_03-29-12.pdf

http://www.wric.com/story/17287833/authorities-have-dna-ev

 

[neverletgo]

Video at link:



http://bcove.me/tqx5y7sr

 

[neverletgo]

Was the murder of two VA Tech students the work of a serial killer?
October 16, 2009

Snipped:

Both Metzler and Childs were sophomores. Childs’ father is a Virginia State Trooper.

What little evidence there is, points to the possibility of the killer being someone posing as law enforcement.

http://www.examiner.com/article/was-the-murder-of-two-va-tech-students-the-work-of-a-serial-killer

 

[neverletgo]

Reward increased in Heidi Childs-David Metzler murders
Posted: Wednesday, February 24, 2010 5:17 PM EST
By Wsls News Staff & Lynchburg News & Advance

Snipped:

Montgomery Co. Sheriff Tommy Whitt and lead investigator Dennis Rakes said the task force has followed up on more than 1,000 leads in the case. Rakes said the evidence shows the suspect or suspects are very familiar with that area. Back on October 19, 2009, Sheriff Whitt told WSLS that there is a "person or persons" of interest in the case, during a community meeting on the Childs-Metzler killings.

http://www.wsls.com/story/20830862/reward-increased-in-heidi-childs-david-metzler-murders

 

[neverletgo]

Childs, Metzler murderer might alter behavior
CHRISTIANSBURG, VA.

Snipped:

Whitt said a person responsible for such a crime sometimes, but not always, acts differently immediately following the crime or around anniversary dates of the killing.

This behavior could consist of increased anger or irritability, unusual or excessive interest in the crime, heavier consumption of alcohol or drugs, and possibly even leaving the area.

“The offender may not initially appear like someone who could commit such a terrible act,” said Whitt.

http://www.southwesttimes.com/2011/08/archive-6268/

 

[neverletgo]

2 Virginia Tech Students Found Murdered in Forest
Published August 28, 2009
FoxNews.com

Snipped:

Police believe the most recent crime may be random, according to the Norfolk Crime Examiner.

"We are going to step up our patrols in that area even though we think it was a random act of brutal violence," the Examiner quoted Montgomery County Sheriff Tommy Whitt as saying.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/2009/08/28/2-virginia-tech-students-found-murdered-in-forest/