Virginia : Heidi Childs & David Metzler
Virginia is a state known for its rich American history. It is the birthplace of the nation, the mother of presidents and was the state of the first English settlement in Jamestown. 4 of the first 5 Presidents of the United States were born there and Virginia was originally inhabited by several indigenous tribes, including the algonquin, not a yay (nottoway) and Me-herrin tribes. Old World diseases diminished the indigenous population quickly along with colonization putting strain on natural resources causing over 75% of the tribal population to perish.
In the mid 1800s the capital city of Richmond was the capital of the confederacy before it fell. We are navigating 200 miles west of Richmond to a vibrant town called Blacksburg, Virginia. Blacksburg is perhaps best known as the home of Virginia Tech, a prominent university with a strong focus on research and education. It offers over 280 different degree programs and has a prominent sports presence. When I think of Virginia Tech, I am taken back to my own college years when the 2007 Mass shooting occurred. April 16, 2007, a student opened fire and fatally shot 32 faculty members and students. At the time it was the deadliest mass shooting committed by a lone gun-man in history. Neighborhood scout dot com lists Blacksburg as a community that is safer than 49% of similar municipalities. The chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime is 1 in 999. Not what I would consider as a violent crime, but According to Virginia Code 18.2-57, it is considered a misdemeanor to tickle women or other persons against their will. Some say that this law is why the state saying is “Virginia is for lovers”.
Heidi Childs and David Metzlers were just that. Lovers. After knowing each other for many years having attended and participated in the same church youth group in nearby Lynchburg, Virginia.
Before college, Heidi was mainly home-schooled and loved all things outdoorsy. She was the fourth of eight children and spent much of her free time hiking, skiing, camping and always with friends. She played basketball for her church team and was musically inclined. She could play guitar and sang but didn’t like the spotlight to be on her. Heidi was an honor roll student and earned a full academic scholarship to Virginia Tech. Having taken many dual credit classes since she was a sophomore in high school, the 18 year old was able to enroll in college with several hours already under her belt. Heidi was majoring in biochemistry and excited for her future.
David was equally as ambitious as Heidi. Having moved to the Lynchburg area after serving as missionaries in China, David’s family settled into the community. David’s father was a medical doctor in town. David loved to play golf, soccer, guitar and spending time with his family. The 19 year old had been accepted into the college of engineering and was planning to major in industrial and systems engineering.
The two worked at an ice cream shop together and eventually began dating after high school. Their families said they were inseparable and made a great team together. The two were strong in their faith and shared that with others.
Just 2 days after the start of her sophomore year at Virginia Tech on August 26, 2009, Heidi had made the decision to enroll in a pre-med program changing her major. She called her parents giddy with excitement and wanting their opinions before her scheduled meeting with her advisor on the following day to finalize the change.
That evening David wanted to take Heidi out to a camping area that he had been to approximately 15 miles away from campus. He had told his roommate that it was going to be a “special date”. Maybe to celebrate Heidi’s decision to change her major or just to spend quality time with her.
David had been out to Caldwell Fields Campgrounds in Jefferson National Forest for a men’s retreat and wanted to take Heidi there. He asked her to wear comfortable clothes and to bring her guitar. David wanted to sit out in nature and talk and play guitar. This campground is just off of Craig Creek Road and is essentially a rocked parking area. Hikers, tourists, college kids and locals are all familiar with this popular spot. There are mountains, forests and quiet all around. Cell phone reception is spotty and perhaps that is one of its allures.
The two got into David’s 1992 Toyota Camry and headed to the campgrounds before 8:30 that evening. The two both had early starts to their following day and did not plan to stay out late.
The couple would never make it home that evening.
A man was out walking his dog at Caldwell Fields at 8 am when he came upon the couple’s Toyota. In the driver’s seat he found David had been murdered. Heidi was then found on the ground on the passenger side of the vehicle.
David had been shot through the driver’s side window. It appeared as though Heidi was attempting to run away since she was on the outside of the vehicle mere feet away and also shot with the same weapon.
Initial investigations are tight lipped. On September 1, 2009, law enforcement put out a plea for help asking that anyone in the vicinity of the campgrounds or the shooting range roughly 8 miles away between the hours of 8pm and 8 am to contact police. They believed the two had been murdered between 8pm and 10 pm. A search warrant was issued on David’s car and only 3 items were listed as being found. A hair, a sweatshirt and the car itself. No further descriptions.
That same day, David and Heidi’s funeral was held together and over 1,000 friends, family and students were in attendance. Their caskets sat side by side. David’s a dark brown wood and Heidi’s light pink. Everyone who knew the two thought they would get married in the future and their families buried them side by side.
There are many discussions around why little to no information was released. Some say that because of the mass shooting happening two years prior, another gun related crime could cause some turmoil in the community.
The first press conference held for Heidi and David was in March of 2012, when law enforcement announced they had assembled a task force to investigate. They released to the public that the weapon used was a .30 caliber rifle that is a common gun used to hunt deer. They further announced that they had DNA they suspected came from the killer. This was also the first mention of what was taken from the couple. Heidi’s purse was taken. Inside held her purse was a silver Motorola Razr phone, silver Sony Cybershot Camera, her university ID card, Virginia Tech Lanyard and a credit card. The guitar remained inside the vehicle. Was robbery the motive? Investigators still have not released what they believe happened.
They did however receive several leads pointing to 6 vehicles that may have been in the area.
A green sedan, possibly a Ford Taurus or Dodge Intrepid, was seen stopping in front of residences on Craig Creek Road around 6 p.m.
A dark-blue Dodge Caravan was seen parked near the border of Montgomery and Craig counties, near a logging site, around 8:30 p.m.
A dark-colored van or minivan was parked at Caldwell Fields after dark.
A dark-colored Ford Crown Victoria of Chevrolet Caprice was seen driving on Craig Creek Road around 10 p.m.
A red or red and white Dodge extended-cab pickup with dual exhaust, oversized tires and tinted windows was seen driving up Lee Road at about 11 p.m., directly across from Caldwell Fields.
A gray or cream-colored early 2000s model Pontiac Bonneville, parked near Caldwell Fields around midnight
In 2019, a second press conference was held still seeking answers in Heidi and David’s murder. They also announced a $100,000 reward for information leading to an arrest after the FBI donated $28,000.
14 years later, Heidi and David’s murderer remains unknown. If you have any information about Heidi, David, their murderer or any of the cars of interest, please contact the Virginia State Police at 540-375-9589.
Sources:
https://parkpredators.com/the-couple/
https://www.wdbj7.com/2022/08/27/police-ask-help-childs-metzler-cold-case-thirteen-year-anniversary/
https://www.wdbj7.com/2021/08/26/police-continue-seek-justice-childs-metzler-cold-case/
https://lightsonpod.medium.com/brutal-virginia-tech-murders-7b425cdf6454
https://wset.com/news/local/new-leads-advance-investigation-into-2009-montgomery-county-murders
https://www.wdbj7.com/2022/08/27/police-ask-help-childs-metzler-cold-case-thirteen-year-anniversary/
https://www.wdbj7.com/2021/08/26/police-continue-seek-justice-childs-metzler-cold-case/
https://www.wdbj7.com/2022/08/27/police-ask-help-childs-metzler-cold-case-thirteen-year-anniversary/
https://wset.com/news/local/new-leads-advance-investigation-into-2009-montgomery-county-murders
https://abcnews.go.com/US/time-forward-reward-offered-2009-double-murder-virginia/story?id=65192739
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VM4NN7GRkDY
https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2020/08/26/wednesday-marks-11-years-since-murder-of-virginia-tech-students-heidi-childs-david-metzler/
