RICHMOND, Virginia (WRIC) – The Richmond Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation is seeking help from the public in investigating the 25-year murder of two women in Shenandoah National Park.
The FBI said two young women went for a hike in the park in 1996 but never returned.
Julianne “Julie” Williams, 24, and Laura “Lollie” Winans, 26, were found by park rangers at their backcountry campsite near Skyland Resort on June 1, 1996 after Winans’ dog was found on the trails and turned into rangers has been.
The press release said the initial response to the killings led agents across the country to search for clues. But the murder remains unsolved.
The holiday weekend marks two years since Chad Austin’s disappearance when VSP continued investigations into the murder
Law enforcement said the people in the park may no longer be in Virginia during the murders. Because of this, the FBI said it was important that this case be shared nationwide to see if anyone, not necessarily those in the Commonwealth, had any information about the case.
“No information is insignificant, and your tip could be the piece of evidence that will bring this twenty-five year old case to a close,” the statement said.
This ongoing homicide investigation is a joint effort by the FBI’s Richmond Field Office, the National Park Service, and the Virginia State Police. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact their local FBI office, FBI Richmond, at 804-261-1044 or send tips online Here.
Get the latest news, weather and sports on your smartphone with the WFXR News app, available on Apple and Android.