A man suspected of multiple murders has been identified as the suspect in the 1988 cold case murder of a Virginia teenager. Authorities announced the development during a news conference on Friday.

Laurie Ann Powell, 18, was last seen on March 8, 1988, walking along a road in Gloucester County, located about 60 miles east of Richmond. Her body was discovered on April 2, 1988, in the Elizabeth River near Craney Island, just off Norfolk. According to Virginia State Police spokesperson Robin Lawson, Powell had been stabbed multiple times.

The suspect, Alan Wilmer Sr., died in December 2017 at the age of 63. DNA evidence has now linked him to Powell's murder. If he were alive today, he would face charges for her death, authorities stated.

Wilmer was previously identified as a suspect in three other murders: David Knobling and Robin Edwards, both killed in 1987, and Teresa Lynn Spaw Howell, who was murdered in 1989. The killings of Knobling and Edwards are part of a series of double murders known as the Colonial Parkway murders, Lawson explained.

Investigators are now exploring whether Wilmer may be connected to additional unsolved crimes. Lawson emphasized the importance of public assistance in these ongoing investigations. "We are still seeking the public’s help through our continued efforts to seek justice for the victims of these and other unsolved crimes," she said. Virginia State Police Captain Timothy Reibel added, "Any tip could be useful in solving other cold cases."

Cindy Kirchner, Powell's sister, shared her memories of Laurie Ann during the news conference. "She didn’t wait for life to happen — she made it happen," Kirchner said. She described her sister as "bold, brave, spontaneous, full of life, witty, smart and beautifully herself. A true firecracker."

Kirchner expressed her family's relief at the recent developments. "After 37 years of heartbreak and unanswered questions, our family has finally received the long-awaited news that the murder of our beloved daughter, sister, Laurie Ann, has been solved," she said, visibly emotional. "While nothing can erase the pain of losing Laurie Ann, today we find comfort knowing that the truth has come to light."