After nearly 30 years, the FBI has announced a breakthrough in the case of the brutal killings of Laura “Lollie” Winans and Julianne “Julie” Williams in Virginia’s Shenandoah National Park. The women, aged 26 and 24 respectively, were found dead at their campsite near the Skyland Resort on May 24, 1996.
Recent advancements in DNA technology led investigators to positively match the DNA evidence to Walter “Leo” Jackson Sr., a convicted serial rapist from Cleveland, Ohio, who passed away in prison in March 2018. Jackson had a criminal history that included kidnapping, rapes, and assaults.
The case gained momentum in 2021 when a new FBI investigative team conducted a thorough review of the evidence, ultimately linking Jackson to the murders. This development came after a previous suspect, Darryl David Rice, was cleared of involvement based on forensic evidence that excluded him.
US Attorney Christopher Kavanaugh emphasized that the murders, although brutal and hateful, did not appear to be motivated by the victims' LGBTQIA+ status, as initially suspected. The families of the victims were not present at the recent news conference where the FBI announced the breakthrough.
Kavanaugh expressed confidence in the strength of the evidence linking Jackson to the crimes and stated that if the suspect were alive, appropriate action would be taken based on the new information.
The FBI’s Richmond Field Office, through a methodical case review and DNA analysis, was able to provide closure to the families of the victims by identifying the perpetrator of this heinous crime after decades of uncertainty.
