VA VA -Brian C. Pettinger, 25,last seen @dance studio, Hampton, his bound& partial-clothed body, floating in the James River, 1 Feb 1988,*New initiative*

Feb. 4, 2026

'On Feb 1, 1988, officers responded to Eclipse in reference to a body that was found floating in the James River. Jewelry left on the body helped identify him as Brian Pettinger.

Pettinger was found partially clothed and tied up. He was reported missing on Dec. 4, 1987 in Newport News. He was last seen on Dec. 2 at a dance studio in Hampton. It was believed Pettinger had been in the water for weeks or even months. An extensive investigation by multiple jurisdictions led to no arrests.''
Feb 4, 2026
The Suffolk Police Department is seeking information on a cold case from 1988, according to a post from the department on Facebook. More information: https://www.wavy.com/news/local-news/...

Mar 23, 2026 rbbm
More than 35 years ago, 10 On Your Side first raised the question in the Brian Pettinger murder case that, whether due to proximity to the other victims and the close timing of the murders, Pettinger, who was murdered in 1987, must be considered as part of the Colonial Parkway murders.
'In our report we show the blurred image of Brian Pettinger’s body in the water, but the autopsy pictures are so brutal we can’t show them.
However, in previous reports in 1989, while operating under different broadcast standards, 10 On Your Side did show pictures from the Pettinger crime file from Suffolk Police.
The lead investigator in the case believed that Pettinger had likely been hog-tied.'