Crime Stories with Nancy Grace - Virginia Suspect Linked to 1988 Teen Cold Case Murder | Crime Alert 6AM 12.09.25

Episode Date: December 9, 2025

Investigators in Virginia have announced a breakthrough in the nearly 35-year-old murder of 18-year-old Laurie Ann Powell, finally identifying the individual responsible for her death in 1988. Police have arrested a suspect in a 1997 Long Island homicide that was once considered potentially linked to the Gilgo Beach serial killings, providing long-awaited clarity for a decades-old investigation. Two members of the West Virginia National Guard were shot while on duty in Washington, D.C., in an incident that occurred close to the White House, raising questions about security for personnel assigned to federal locations. An internal affairs review has concluded that the 2023 death of a 19-year-old Rutland, Vermont police trainee could have been prevented, citing failures by supervising officers to adhere to department pursuit policies.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Crime Alert, I'm John Lemley. At this hour, investigators in Virginia say they've finally identified the person responsible for the 1988 murder of 18-year-old Lori Ann Powell. Her body was found in the Elizabeth River near Craney Island after she disappeared that march. She had been stabbed multiple times. The suspect is Alan Wilmer Sr. who died in 2017 at the age of 63. Through modern DNA analysis, authorities recently connected Wilmer to Powell's killing, even though he died more than a quarter century ago.

Wilmer was already suspected in several other murders, including the 1987 killing of David Knobling and Robin Edwards, part of what became known as the Colonial Parkway murders, as well as the 1989 slaying of Teresa Lynn Spaw Howell. Investigators say they are now reviewing other unsolved cases from the region to determine whether Wilmer may have been involved in additional murders. For the Powell family, this long-delayed identification offers a measure of closure. Powell's sister said that Laurie, quote, didn't wait for life to happen. She made it happen. Authorities continue to evaluate whether more cases could ultimately be tied to Wilmer. Thanks, John. For the latest, Crime and Justice News, go to crimeonline.com.

please join us for our daily podcast, crime stories. More crime and justice news after this. Now with the latest crime and justice breaking news, Crime Online's John Limley. Police have arrested a man in connection with the 1997 murder once thought potentially related to the Gilgo Beach serial killings. 66-year-old Andrew Dykes was taken into custody in Tampa, Florida, on a warrant from Nassau County, New York.

He faces two counts of murder and the deaths of 26-year-old Tanya Denise Jackson and her two-year-old daughter, Tatiana Marie Dykes. Jackson's remains originally unidentified and referred to only as peaches because of a distinctive tattoo were found in Hempstead Lake State Park in 1997. Years later, skeletal remains of her young daughter washed ashore near Gilgo Beach during a search related to other missing women. Earlier this year, genetic genealogy helped law enforcement confirm their identities and ultimately led investigators to Dykes, who is the toddler's father. He is being held in Florida while officials in New York seek extradition. Although this case had once been grouped with the Gilgo Beach killings, authorities say there is currently no evidence linking Dykes to the other victims in that case.

Two members of the West Virginia National Guard were shot while on duty in Washington, D.C., not far from the White House. The attack claimed the life of 20-year-old Sarah Bextram, her colleague, 24-year-old Andrew Wolfe, survived and remains hospitalized. Officials say Wolf has shown encouraging signs of recovery, including responding to commands, giving a thumbs up and moving his toes. His head wound continues to heal, but he is expected to remain under intensive medical care for several more weeks. The suspect, 29, year old, Romano Lelakanwal, an Afghan national, was also wounded in the exchange and has pleaded not guilty to murder and related charges. Authorities have described the incident as a targeted

attack on federal forces deployed to assist law enforcement in the Capitol. The shooting has sparked renewed debate over the role of the National Guard troops in civilian policing and raise concerns about security even in areas considered highly protected. A newly released Internal Affairs report concludes that the death of a 19-year-old trainee with the Rutland City Police Department in 2023 was preventable and that supervising officers failed to follow department policy during a pursuit. The trainee, Jessica Ebenhausen, died when suspect Tate Rehom, attempting to flee, collided nearly head-on with her cruiser on Woodstock Avenue. The review determined that the chase should never have been initiated. Officers lacked proper authority and did not adhere to key pursuit guidelines. Riyom, who was injured in the crash, initially faced charges that included negligent operation

causing death and fleeing from police. With a report now public, his defense attorney is questioning the appropriateness of the most serious charges, arguing the supervisory failures within the department significantly contributed to the fatal outcome. The findings portray a broader break. breakdown in procedures suggesting that Ebenhausen's death stemmed not only from the pursuit itself, but from systemic lapses within the police department. Thanks, John.

For the latest crime injustice news, go to crimeonline.com, and please join us for our daily podcast, Crime Stories, where we do our best to find missing people, especially children, and solve unsolved homicides. With this crime alert, I'm Nancy Grace. This is an I-Heart podcast. Guaranteed human