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Robin Edwards and David Knobling were last seen on September 19, 1987.
Edwards and Knobling met at the Knobling home that evening. Knobling's brother and cousin had planned to go to the movies with Edwards on motorbikes, however, it was raining. David volunteered to drive them in his truck, instead. The group tried to see a movie, but it was sold out. They came back home before going to an arcade. After leaving the arcade, they dropped Edwards off (before 11PM) and came back home, where they watched television and had pizza. David Knobling left the house again soon afterward.
Knobling's mother began calling acquaintances Sunday afternoon, concerned about her son's whereabouts. Robin's parents had reason to believe she had run away so they were waiting for the Newport News social services office to open to report the problem. Knobling's black Ford pickup was discovered September 21 near the Ragged Island Wildlife Refuge at the foot of the James River Bridge. The truck's keys were in the ignition. The driver's door was open. There was no sign of a struggle. Knobling's mother arranged to visit the scene with her employer. she then reported David Knobling missing. According to family, the Isle of Wight police did not believe there was any cause to suspect foul play, so the vehicle was left at the scene for a couple of days. Knobling's mother insisted to police that there was something bad must have happened. The vehicle was eventually taken to Knobling's father's house. Police eventually took fingerprints from the vehicle, which were subsequently lost, according to family members.
The bodies of David Lee Knobling, 20, of Hampton and Robin M. Edwards, 14,of Newport News were discovered in the Ragged Island Wildlife Refuge. They had been murdered. The two were partially clothed. Knobling was wearing jeans with 13 quarters in the pockets. The belt on Ms. Edwards jeans was not fastened. Her bra was around her neck under her blouse. The area they were found was on the south shore of the James River in Isle of Wight County, near Smithfield, Virginia. They were discovered about a mile down the river bank. Knobling's black truck was parked at the Refuge several days prior to discovery of the bodies. The radio was on, the keys were in the ignition and Knobling's wallet was on the dashboard. Two pairs of underwear and Ms. Edwards' shoes were found in the vehicle. The two bodies washed ashore almost two miles downriver from where Knobling's truck was found.
"When we first found the truck, the driver's side window was half down," David's stepmother, said. "It was raining out that night, so why would David have had the window down unless someone with a badge approached him and asked for ID."
Police believe the two were probably marched more than 1 1/2 miles through the woods and down a wooden pier, where they were executed and dumped into the river.
Note: The Ragged Island Wildlife Refuge is a popular cruising area for homosexuals. The area had become so rampant that in the early 1990s the area was closed to the public. While Knobling and Edwards were not gay, there is speculation that Cathleen Thomas and Rebecca Dowski were killed because of their sexual orientation. If this was the case, the killer of Knobling and Edwards may have looking for a gay couple.
If you have any information concerning the Colonial Parkway murders or any of the victims, contact:
Virginia State Police at 757-424-6850
and/or
Federal Bureau of Investigation - Norfolk Branch
Special Agent in Charge
Alex J. Turner
150 Corporate Boulevard
Norfolk, VA 23502
Phone: (757) 455-0100
Fax: (757) 455-2647
E-mail: Norfolk_FO@ic.fbi.gov
NCIC Number:
M-871430466
$20,000 Reward
FBI Press Releases:
Cold Case Murders Seeking Information on Colonial Parkway Murders
FBI Norfolk Holds Press Conference About Colonial Parkway Murders
Rebecca Ann Dowski and Cathleen Marian Thomas
David Lee Knobling and Robin Edwards
Cassandra Lee Hailey and Richard Keith Call
Annamaria Phelps and Daniel Lauer
You can contribute to this cause at the address below:
Colonial Parkway Victims Fund
536 Rainbow Court #101
Newport News, VA 23608
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