On March 2, 1996, the car of Alicia Showalter Reynolds, a 25-year-old graduate student, was found alongside Route 29 in Culpeper County, Virginia. She was traveling from Maryland to Charlottesville to meet her mother.
Two months later, the skeletal remains of Alicia were found in Lignum, Virginia.
During the investigation, the police found that a white male driving a dark pickup truck was flagging women down along Route 29, trying to get the women to pull over by indicating they had car trouble. Passerbys saw Alicia talking to a man while they were looking inside the hood of a dark colored pickup truck. That was the last anyone saw Alicia.
The man with Alicia was described as aged 35 to 45, Height: 5’10″, Build: medium, Hair: light to medium brown.
There are many theories behind her murder, the most popular being she was a victim of the Route 29 stalker. The other theory is that the murderer is Darrell David Rice. Rice’s supporters say it is Richard Marc Evonitz.
More links:
Cold Case? Alicia Showalter Reynolds & the fall and rise of Darrell Rice
Richmond FBI Office
Route 29 Stalker Still Unknown After 10 Years
Victim in 1996 abduction testifies, identifies attacker despite conttradictions [SIC]
Who killed her daughter?
Has anyone considered that the disappearance of Morgan Harrington has some similarities to this case? I speculate that someone posed as a security or police officer to gain the trust of Morgan outside of JPJ. That person could well have been the same person who took Alicia. I know the search is ongoing this weekend in C’ville, but I think they are looking in the wrong place.
This is scary– Reynolds murderer never found
And now Harrington– are these cases solvable???
I was thinking along the lines of the Route 29 stalker.
I am so sorry to hear the news about Morgan Harrington’s murder. Clearly, Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell, the Virginia State Police Bureau of CriminiaI Inforcement (BCI), the FBI and local law enforcement need to be looking at the pattern of murders in this area over the last 23 years. Starting with the Colonial Parkway Murders, which claimed 8 young people including my sister Cathleen Thomas and her friend Rebecca Dowski from 1986 to 1989, the Route 29 stalker, the killing of the Williams and Winans women in the Shenandoah National Park in 1996, the murder of the two Virginia Tech students in August 2009, Morgan Harrington in October 2009, and others, there is a distinct pattern of unsolved murders in that part of Virginia. With the exception of the two Virginia Tech students, all of these murders happened within a two hour drive of one another. Time for the Commonwealth of Virginia to step up and create a Task Force to break these cases. Much of the evidence held by the Virginia State Police BCI in the Colonial Parkway Murders has never even been tested for DNA using the latest forensic techniques. How many more people need to die before we solve these cases?
Bill Thomas
Los Angeles, CA
Brother of Cathleen Thomas
I was in Charlottesville when Alicia Reynolds was killed. We women were all afraid to drive alone for weeks after that. With the news reports of the serial killer the police caught this morning, it occurred to me how similar this man’s M.O. was to the murders in Virginia, and in fact, he was wanted for murder in Virginia, as well as Michigan and Ohio. I am wondering if this is the same man. I hope that justice will finally come for Alicia.
My opinion is Mrs. Reynolds husband Mark is responsible for her death. I have studied and read everything available and this makes me believe this. My opinion is that Mr. Showalter, the father to Mrs. Reynolds was givin control of the reward money offered by the Grandparents at the time of their deaths and now that reward is no longer available. What did Mr. Showalter do with this money? Someone said it vanished at the time of the Grand Parents death…Maybe he bought some insurance with it…..Mark is enjoying a grand life in Greensboro.NC where he owns & operates TWO dental clinic, married the woman he met BEFORE Alicia died, and has a family.Greensboro must have a special deal for murders.
I don’t know what news reports you have read and studied, but let me assure you that Alicia’s husband Mark had nothing to do with her disappearance and murder. We are glad that Mark has been able to move on in his life and has a lovely family, even though he has grieved greatly.
Also be aware that because no one has ever come forward with information that led to a suspect that could be indicted, there is no reward money. My husband never had access to that reward money, and has not been used for anything.
Mother of Alicia Showalter Reynolds.
I never intend to offend any member of the family who suffered the loss of Alicia, but I think its fair no stone be left unturned until the person/persons responsible is arrested & put away. Everything I have read/studied & people I talk to makes it clear the Virginia State Police is actively working this case. No room for complaint there.
As to the reward money, when it no longer was available it should have been made public, with the same publicity it was given when offered. There still exist several sites that do post the reward.
I would like to see a law made that requires any reward offered be placed in a escrow account with terms of condition for it being collected. Too many rewards are offered with the parties offering it never providing it. I think there are laws that could make it a criminal fraud case. PLEASE…ANYONE WITH ANY INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT THE VIRGINIA STATE POLICE
I trust you are correct about the police working my daughters case. I have been very disappointed in the VSP as well as the FBI involved in this case. I think the VSP is under the influence of the FBI who decided that the focus should be on D. Rice and therefore have not been diligent in pursuing other leads.
I never want to see an innocent person go to prison. Rice was charged at one time with the Shenandoah Park murders, but the charge was dropped when his attorneys were able to prove that there were problems with the investigation. Please also read the articles that were in the Free Lance Star written by Pam Gould in November of 2007 for a very good investigative report on several cases and how possible Evonitz could possibly have been the person involved. He was involved with the Lisk and Silva murders.
Equalizer, I would like to speak with you inreference to your information posted October 20th. I am the case agnet now and would be interested in hearing why you fell the way you do. I can reached at 540/308-8712 if you would be willing to speak with me. Your information will be kept confidential.
The thing that makes me think it was NOT a friend or family member is that the story at the time was that Alicia had responded to someone on the highway near the mall who told her that her car was on fire, so she pulled over to check it out, and that was the last time anyone saw her alive. Right after that, there were several reports from other women, including women I knew, who stated someone had tried to flag them down claiming their cars had mechanical problems. That continued to occur for several weeks after Alicia’s murder.
This case has haunted me because I drove route 29 several times a day right around the time Alicia disappeared. When I saw the news, I decided to keep my eyes open for the pickup truck since I drove that highway so often. One night, I was driving to pick up my boyfriend from Bealeton when a red “muscle car” pulled up alongside me and then dropped back and pulled behind me. The driver started flashing his lights. This went on for a while but no way was I going to pull over. I finally pulled into the truck stop near bealeton and parked right by the door. I ran inside and told the clerk. The car circled the parking lot several times but from far enough away that I couldn’t see the plates.
There was a short time when I suspected Mr. Reynolds. I couldn’t understand why anyone would hop online when their MIL had called them to report their wife hadn’t arrived to her destination on time. You’d think he’d give a call back before jumping online and tying up his phone? What if Alicia called for help?etc. This wasn’t a smart move or the type of thing I’d expect from a loving, protective husband, but it is what it is…I don’t suspect Mr. Reynolds any longer…I read on John Douglas’s site (John Douglas is a retired FBI agent and author of criminal profiling bestseller “Mind Hunter) that Evonitz had directions in his home to the Lisks’ residence as well as directions to the place where Ms. Reynolds’ remains were found. I also suspect Evonitz to be involved with the murders in the park of Lollie Winans and Julie Williams; due to the fact, that there was oil recovered from the victims (not sourced to the victims’ belongings) and no semen. Evonitz was impotent and used oiled up sex toys to assault his victims. I commend Sadie for pointing out that D.Rice may not be the man–he’s no doubt not a person you’d want to spend time around or want in your neighborhood, but is he a murderer? I’m not convinced, and like Ms. Showalter I believe junk justice is not justice. I implore the FBI and VSP to do the right thing and test the DNA recovered from any unsolved cases against the DNA of Evonitz. If not for the victims, for their families and friends who wake up each morning knowing the cruel reality of what the murderer left in his wake.
In 1996 I was living at home with my parents in Charlottesville. We had a very aggressive, creepy neighbor that always made me feel uncomfortable. He drove a small black pickup like the one identified by a witness in this case. Alicia’s remains were found behind this man’s property in a field. My mother never shared her suspicions and I didn’t feel like I had enough info. I always wonder if he had anything to do with her murder.
Cmo:
Thanks for your post. My name is Bill Thomas. I am the brother of Cathleen Thomas, who together with her friend Rebecca Dowski were the first two victims in the so-called Colonial Parkway Murders. My sister’s case has sometimes been linked with the Route 29 Stalker/Alicia Showalter Reynolds case, although I am far from convinced that there is a link between the cases.
Nonetheless, I know Alicia’s parents and some of the investigators who are working this case for the Virginia State Police. I urge you to contact VSP Special Agent Alan Sullivan at 540-308-8712; you never know if your tip may be the the one that breaks the case. If for some reason that does not work for you, please e-mail me at billthom56@aol.com or call me at 917-434-2525.
Thanks.
Bill Thomas
Los Angeles, CA
billthom56@aol.com
917-434-2525 cell
I apologize if I’m repeating my post. My internet shut down before I could confirm my two other posts were transmitted. But, this is a subject I feel strongly about and I’m willing to look stupid or obsessed.
Let me first say, I totally agree with JAB. We need to know if we still have a killer at large. I think everyone in Central Virginia, who lived through this murderous period, should maintain an interest in these cases and make sure they personally do everything possible to prevent a monster(s) like this from victimizing our neighbors, friends and family.
CMO, please call someone you trust in law enforcement. Your tip sounds interesting. Trust the police to do the work and prove or disprove your theory.
Everyone else out there, step up and share any information you may have. We got justice in the Whitlock (Leanne), Silva and Lisks cases. We need it here too.