Victims' families frustrated with FBI

NORFOLK, Va. - "I don't have faith in the FBI," said Bill Thomas, shaking his head in frustration.  Monday he marked the somber 23rd anniversary of the day his sister was allegedly murdered by the Colonial Parkway Serial Killer.  He marked it with his first public criticism of local FBI investigators. "What is shocking is that the FBI has not submitted any of the evidence in the Colonial Parkway murders for additional testing, we believe in 15, possibly 20 years," said Thomas.

Investigators believe the killer, or killers, murdered eight young people, four couples, in the Williamsburg area starting with Thomas' sister and her friend on October 12, 1986.

Thomas, who lives in Los Angeles, said he thinks about his sister every day. "I think what is most painful for my family is instead of focusing on the joy and laughter of my sister's 27 years on this planet, I am still discussing the intimate details of the last sad few moments of her life 23 years later. I can't believe I'm doing that."

His sister, Cathleen Thomas, a 27-year-old naval officer, and her friend Rebecca Dowski, 21, were out on a date that October night and ended up the serial killer's first targets.  Their throats were slashed, their bodies doused with diesel fuel.  The back seat of their car was kicked in indicating a fierce struggle.

"Senior law enforcement officials in Virginia law enforcement have spoken to me privately about their frustrations," said Thomas, who tells WAVY.com several retired investigators have voiced their own exasperation with the unsolved cases.  "They have told me that they feel a number of leads were not followed up on by the FBI.  As one of them said, 'Bill, it should not take a public embarrassment of the FBI to get them to do what they should have been doing all along, which is submitting the evidence for additional testing and following up on every lead.' "

Thomas is asking the FBI to immediately submit the evidence in the killings for new forensic testing, considering all the advancements in crimesolving over the years.

Thomas is also issuing a plea to anyone in Hampton Roads who might know something that could give the victims' families the break they so desperately need.  "Well, I know there is someone out there who knows something about this case and if this was their younger sister they'd want to know that someone was willing to step forward.   I think someone should take a chance and call police."

Alex Turner, Special Agent in Charge of the Norfolk FBI office, has told WAVY.com his office is committed to solving the murders and doing what it takes to give the families closure.  Police say they need help from the public as well.

FBI's Norfolk field office:   757-455-0100.