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Robin Edwards And David Knobling
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Robin Edwards and David Knobling were last seen on September 19, 1987.
Edwards and Knobling became acquainted at an arcade. The two, along with David's brother and another friend left the arcade to cruise York County in Knobling's pickup. The three boys took Ms. Edwards home before 11 p.m. and went back to the Knobling home. David Knobling left the house again soon afterward. His 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.
The two weren't reported missing until Monday morning because it wasn't unusual for Knobling to spend a night or two away from home. 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.
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," Kathy Knobling, David's mother, 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 belive 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.
The two weren't reported missing until Monday morning. It was not uncommon for Knobling to stay away from home for a night or two. ms. Edwards's parents though she may have run away as they waited for the social services office to open to report her missing.
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 Killer case or any of the victims, contact:
Virginia State Police, Det. James A. Huddle, 757-424-6850
and/or
Federal Bureau Of Investigation, Norfolk, Virginia Office, Agent Robert Wessells, 757-424-6855
NCIC Number:
M-871430466
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
