BONUS: Colonial Parkway Killer Linked to Laurie Ann Powell Murder (Part 1)

About this episode

The episode discusses the link between the Colonial Parkway Killer and the murder of Laurie Ann Powell.

Join "Mind Over Murder" co-hosts Bill Thomas and Kristin Dilley in a new episode as the Virginia State Police break the news that Colonial Parkway Killer Alan Wade Wilmer, Sr. is linked via DNA to the 1988 rape and murder of Gloucester, Virginia resident Laurie Ann Powell. This Part 1 of our series on Wilmer, a confirmed serial killer responsible for at least six deaths. The episode originall;y ran on November 15, 2025. NBC: FBI Norfolk field office links deceased suspect to additional Colonial Parkway MurdersIn January 2026, the FBI announced Alan Wade Wilmer Sr. is responsible for the 1986 Virginia murders of Cathleen Thomas and Rebecca Dowski. https://www.nbcnews.com/dateline/cold-case-spotlight/colonial-parkway-murders-cathleen-thomas-rebecca-dowski-resolved-rcna255097 WY Daily https://wydaily.com/latest/2025/11/14/deceased-colonial-parkway-murders-suspect-linked-to-1988-death-of-gloucester-county-teen/ American Detective TV series: Colonial Parkway Murders: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fp3rNRZnL0E Washingtonian: A Murder on the Rappahannock River: https://www.washingtonian.com/2019/06/27/murder-on-the-rappahannock-river-emerson-stevens-mary-harding-innocence-project/…

People in this episode

Hosts: William F. Thomas, Kristin M. Dilley

Topics covered

• Colonial Parkway Killer
• true crime
• DNA evidence
• serial killer
• unsolved cases

Keywords

• Colonial Parkway Killer
• Laurie Ann Powell
• Alan Wade Wilmer
• Virginia State Police
• FBI
• true crime
• DNA

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Virginia State Police, FBI

Places: Gloucester, Virginia

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