Nearly three decades after the brutal murders of Laura “Lollie” Winans and Julianne “Julie” Williams in Virginia’s Shenandoah National Park, DNA evidence has identified their killer as Walter “Leo” Jackson Sr., a convicted serial rapist who died in prison in 2018.
The FBI and U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Virginia announced this breakthrough on Thursday. As per to the source yahoo
Winans, 26, and Williams, 24, were found dead on June 1, 1996, after an extensive search near their campsite by Skyland Resort. For years, the case remained unsolved until a new FBI team re-evaluated evidence in 2021.
DNA from the crime scene was retested by an accredited private lab, which matched Jackson’s DNA profile in the FBI’s Combined DNA Index System.
Jackson, a known hiker familiar with Shenandoah National Park, had a criminal history of kidnapping, rapes, and assaults. His DNA was confirmed to match the evidence from the slayings, providing closure to the victims’ families after 28 years.
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“We finally could tell the victims’ families we know who is responsible for this heinous crime,” said Stanley M. Meador, FBI Richmond’s special agent in charge.
U.S. Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh expressed hope that this resolution offers some solace to the families of Winans and Williams.
The identification of Jackson underscores the importance of persistent investigative efforts and advancements in forensic technology in solving cold cases.
Jackson died in a Cuyahoga County, Ohio prison in March 2018. The collaboration between the FBI, Virginia State Police, Cleveland Police, and the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office was crucial in solving the case, marking the end of a decades-long quest for justice.