Investigators in the murders of two Virginia Tech students in 2009 say they have DNA evidence, and for the first time, they publicly identified the murder weapon.
Montgomery County Sheriff Tommy Whitt says Heidi Childs and David Metzler were killed by shots from a .30 caliber rifle at the Caldwell Fields area of the Jefferson National Forest near Blacksburg. They also announced Heidi Childs’ purse was taken, along with a cellphone, camera, ID and credit card, none of which have been recovered. WFIR’s Evan Jones has more.
[audio:http://wfirnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/03-30-Childs-Metzler-Wrap1-WEB.mp3|titles=03-30 Childs-Metzler Wrap1-WEB]Here is Whitt’s entire announcement:
[audio:http://wfirnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/03-29-Whitt-Newser-WEB1.mp3|titles=03-29 Whitt Newser-WEB]
Sheriff Whitt said for the first time that the task force investigating the killings have DNA evidence, but he did not specify the source or how long they have had it. Whitt says they have asked people who live near the area and some people who frequent the Caldwell Fields area to voluntarily provide DNA samples, and he thanked the many who have cooperated.
Whitt also said investigators are looking for several “vehicles of interest”, vehicles that may have been in that area or along that stretch of Craig Creek Road the evening of August 26, 2009. He says anyone driving them is not necessarily a suspect but might offer helpful information. Here is the list:
1. Green Sedan (Possibly a Taurus or Intrepid) stopping in front of residences on Craig Creek Road around 6 p.m.
2. A dark Blue Dodge Caravan seen parked at the Montgomery County/Craig County line near a logging site around 8:30 p.m.
3. A dark colored, older model van or minivan parked at Caldwell Fields after dark.
4. A dark colored Ford Crown Victoria or Chevrolet Caprice seen driving Craig Creek Road around 10 p.m.
5. A red or red/white Dodge pick-up with dual exhaust and oversized tires, tinted windows, extended cab, driving up Lee Road approximately 11:00 p.m. that night. Lee Road is directly across the street from Caldwell Fields.
6. A gray or cream colored Pontiac Bonneville early 2000 model, parked near Caldwell Field around midnight.
Sheriff Whitt did not take questions, but in closing, he addressed the killer or killers directly: “We have DNA evidence now. We are aggressively and actively pursuing you. We will not rest until you have been apprehended.”
