Two Virginia college students set out for a romantic evening together in Jefferson National Forest but are gunned down in cold blood before they can get out of their car. Who pulled the trigger and why would anyone want to kill Heidi Childs and David Metzler? The answer still haunts visitors of Jefferson National Forest and Virginia State Police.
David Metzler and Heidi Childs
Virginia State Police Poster
Ralph Leon Jackson
Jefferson National Forest
Caldwell Fields - Jefferson National Forest
Episode Source Material
- 2 Va. Tech Students Found Slain At Campground, by The Associated Press
- Patrols Increase After Student Deaths, by The Associated Press
- Friends, Minister Mourn 2 Students, by Dena Potter for the Associated Press
- Honoring Slain Va Tech Students, by staff for The Progress-Index
- Public Help Sought In Probe of VA Forest Slayings, by The Associated Press
- Task Force Probes Slayings of VA Tech Pair, by The Associated Press
- Reward in Tech Killings Up To $50,000, by Rex Bowman for The Roanoke Times
- Investigators In Slayings Looking For Minivan, by The Associated Press
- Blue Ridge Attack Random, by Amanda Codispoti and Jorge Valencia for The Roanoke Times
- 1,000 Leads, No Suspects in VA Double Slaying, by staff for The News Leader
- Tip Leads To Shotgun Attack Arrest, by Amanda Codispoti for The Roanoke Times
- Man Who Shot Two On Blue Ridge Parkway Sentenced, by U.S. Attorney’s Office for Western District of Virginia
- Sheriff To Address Public Thursday On Murder Case, by staff for The Daily Press
- Father of Murdered VA Tech Student Talk About Killer’s DNA, by Scott Wise and Jon Burkett for WTVR News
- David Metzler, Heidi Childs Murder Has New Leads, by Tom Roussey for WJLA News
- Metzler/Child Murders Remain Unsolved, by Parker Slaybaugh for WSET ABC13 News
- The Childs and Metzler Murders: Five Years Later, by Cameron Austin for Collegiate Times News
- Investigators, Families Marking 10-year Anniversary of Metzler, Childs Murders, by Elizabeth Tyree for WSET ABC13 News
- Reward Upped, New Website Rolled Out In Search For Students’ Killer, by Tim Saunder for WDBJ News
- Open Case Virginia: Parents Share Memories as Police Put New Focus on Murder Investigation, by Tim Saunders for WDBJ 7 News
- Virginia Police Asking For Public’s Help in Decade-Old Double Murder, by Alexandra Lo Re for NBC News
- Task Force To Prove 2009 Slaying of Virginia Tech Students, by staff for The News Leader
- “UNSOLVED: Heidi Childs & David Metzler,” Leave The Lights On podcast by Eliza Jennings
- Heidi Childs & David Metzler Memorial Group
- “The Story of the Caldwell Fields Murders,” Vile Virginia A True Crime Podcast, Episode 8
- Virginia State Police Media Release August 23, 2019
- New Leads Advance Investigation Into 2009 Montgomery County Murders, by Ida Domingo for WSET ABC 13 News
- 11 Years Pass Since Killings of Virginia Tech Students; Still No Arrest Made, by Pat Thomas for WHSV News
- Wednesday Marks 11 Years Since Murders of Virginia Tech students Heidi Childs, David Metzler, by Samantha Smith and Annie Schroeder for WSLS News NBC10
- We Need Your Help, Virginia State Police Unsolved Cases Website
- Virginia State Police Heidi Childs Profile
- Virginia State Police David Metzler Profile
- Caldwell Fields Information: Recreation.gov
- Virginia Tech Shooting Fast Facts by staff for CNN News