Victims' families find renewed hope

PORTSMOUTH, Va. - WAVY.com has learned retired Richmond medical examiner Dr. Marcella Fierro, who is the former Chief Medical Examiner for the Commonwealth of Virginia, and current state medical examiner Dr. Leah Bush have told the family of one of the Colonial Parkway Murder victims they will help in trying to solve the 23-year-old cold case.

"It's a very exciting development," said Bill Thomas, the brother of victim Cathleen Thomas. "The two women are going to be reviewing the medical records of all the victims of the Colonial Parkway murders over the next two weeks."

The infamous crime spree began 23 years ago this week in York County on the Colonial Parkway, where Cathleen Thomas and her friend Rebecca Dowski were found with their throats slashed.

In all, eight young people were murdered, and two have never been found.

The FBI has said it is doing a bottom-up review of all the evidence. Thomas is hopeful the help of the two medical examiners will lead to a long awaited break in the case.

"It's just another step of the refocus in energy and resources on this case which we are very pleased about," said Thomas.