Alicia Showalter Reynolds: Thirty years later

[Sean Conner]

I just caught up on this episode and it was disturbing. Imagine the survivors of the dry runs - or the woman who got away after it appeared she was going to be his first kill? You gotta wonder if this guy is still out there doing this. So many people go missing on our roads every year that who knows how many, if any at all, are tied to him.

It's scary that we're coming up on 20 years now (well in 2016) and we're still no closer to solving this crime.

It's important, especially if you're female, to never, ever get into the car with a stranger. It doesn't matter how nice they look - just don't do it. And never pullover for anyone that isn't a cop (and even then, you've got to be careful).

[ZanzibarBlue]

I watched this segment again last night. It's ranks up there among the creepiest that UM produced.

For what it's worth, I understand that the woman who got into the car, who the perpetrator pushed out, identified someone. That person was also implicated in an attempted abduction of a woman from a nearby state park, after Alicia Showalter Reynolds went missing. Because there was an eyewitness identification, and the woman was sitting next to him in the truck cab, it's difficult not to believe that he was also responsbile for the murder of Alicia Showalter Reynolds.

[WishfulDreamer]

I don't mean to be gross, but was there sexual assault? It seemed like that's what he wanted when he attacked the woman who was able to get away. It's just sick to think of him having this perverse fantasy and then killing an innocent woman over it. And amazing how they got an actor who looked very close to the sketch. He was able to play the good guy so well, too, and it goes to show that the wolf in sheep's clothing is very real and something we all need to look out for.

[WishfulDreamer]

Going to bump this thread up as I've just watched the segment again. This is one of the cases that really, really bothers me. The descriptions of the suspect are so distinct (particularly the nervous behavior of him tucking his hair back frequently) and the sketch is pretty decent. I'm surprised someone didn't call in (also based on his car) and say that it sounded like somebody they knew.

[MegtheEgg86]

Originally Posted by WishfulDreamer

Going to bump this thread up as I've just watched the segment again. This is one of the cases that really, really bothers me. The descriptions of the suspect are so distinct (particularly the nervous behavior of him tucking his hair back frequently) and the sketch is pretty decent. I'm surprised someone didn't call in (also based on his car) and say that it sounded like somebody they knew.

I want to say some witnesses said he was seen in different vehicles. I wonder just how many. A car and a truck would be one thing. If he's been seen in even three or four or more different vehicles, that would make for interesting speculation.

Something about this man strikes me as someone who is probably completely and totally benign and normal to the vast majority of people, like he could be the next-door neighbor who weed-eats around your mailbox for you, or the co-worker who gets a coffee for you on his way to work in the morning.

[thinwhiteduke74]

Cold case file update: http://www.wjla.com/articles/2014/05...ed-103068.html

[TheCars1986]

I don't understand why they won't release certain details about this case. It's been almost 20 years now, and it still hasn't been solved.

[JannTosh]

Originally Posted by WishfulDreamer

I don't mean to be gross, but was there sexual assault? It seemed like that's what he wanted when he attacked the woman who was able to get away. It's just sick to think of him having this perverse fantasy and then killing an innocent woman over it. And amazing how they got an actor who looked very close to the sketch. He was able to play the good guy so well, too, and it goes to show that the wolf in sheep's clothing is very real and something we all need to look out for.

A really late response but it has been mentioned that police never released information on how exactly she died

[jjmcgr]

Originally Posted by Sean Conner

I just caught up on this episode and it was disturbing. Imagine the survivors of the dry runs - or the woman who got away after it appeared she was going to be his first kill? You gotta wonder if this guy is still out there doing this. So many people go missing on our roads every year that who knows how many, if any at all, are tied to him.

It's scary that we're coming up on 20 years now (well in 2016) and we're still no closer to solving this crime.

It's important, especially if you're female, to never, ever get into the car with a stranger. It doesn't matter how nice they look - just don't do it. And never pullover for anyone that isn't a cop (and even then, you've got to be careful).

I think this crime has been solved only because a guy plead guilty to the earlier attack, the one where the woman got away near Quantico. His name is Darrell Rice. A relative had a home in Culpepper at which Rice often stayed. He also probably killed two women campers in Shenandoah National Park several months later. Rice checked into the park on all the days around the murders even though he did not live that close to it. He was later convicted of an attack on a hiker in the park a year later. I think the police simply do not have enough direct evidence to try him for the other crimes. He has been in and out of jail in recent years and I think he lives in Maryland with his parents now.

[baloony]

Man, it's hard to believe it has now been another 10 years since the 10 year anniversary of this crime.

[DALLASTEXAN!!]

Saw this today nothing new but police still circulating this I guess. Every time I see a vehicle on the side of the highway with its flashers on I think about this segment.

http://wtop.com/virginia/2016/03/20-...investigation/

[jjmcgr]

Originally Posted by DALLASTEXAN!!

Saw this today nothing new but police still circulating this I guess. Every time I see a vehicle on the side of the highway with its flashers on I think about this segment.

http://wtop.com/virginia/2016/03/20-...investigation/

I still think it was Darrell Rice who did it. He was was actually convicted of the Quantico attack which happened a month before Showalter and not that far away (but not on US 29). What are the odds two similar attacks would happen in the same area of Virginia and have never happened before. He probably killed those two girls in the National Park as well as he was also convicted of attacking a woman in the park and was checked into the park on all the days around the murders even though it is kind of far away from where he was living.
They apparently do not have enough evidence to prosecute him and last I heard he was out now living in Maryland.

[1990 UM fan]

Can't believe it's been 20 years as of March 2nd. Do they have any DNA evidence from the crime scene or Alicia's car to tie to a suspect?

[ctgrumpybear]

Originally Posted by jjmcgr

I still think it was Darrell Rice who did it. He was was actually convicted of the Quantico attack which happened a month before Showalter and not that far away (but not on US 29). What are the odds two similar attacks would happen in the same area of Virginia and have never happened before. He probably killed those two girls in the National Park as well as he was also convicted of attacking a woman in the park and was checked into the park on all the days around the murders even though it is kind of far away from where he was living.
They apparently do not have enough evidence to prosecute him and last I heard he was out now living in Maryland.

There was talks he moved to CO but no proof have show up
Funny he is not on any Sex Offender Registry seeing he did time on federal kidnaping

[Kane]

Originally Posted by 1990 UM fan

Can't believe it's been 20 years as of March 2nd. Do they have any DNA evidence from the crime scene or Alicia's car to tie to a suspect?

According to a 2014 article at the link below, police wouldn't comment on any evidence in the case, which is understandable. So, if they have any DNA evidence, they haven't tied it to anyone.

http://wjla.com/news/crime/alicia-re...nsolved-103068