BRISTOL, Va. – Ten days after a 22-year-old woman’s body was found in the woods off East Valley Drive, police are still declining to provide details, including cause of death.
While authorities quickly ruled her death a homicide, Capt. Maynard Ratcliff said the department is “still working on a suspect.”
“This is a very sensitive investigation,” he said. “As soon as we can release other information, to ease the minds of the general public, we will.”
Angela L. Statzer was found March 3, on her 22nd birthday, by a man walking his dog on an overgrown hill across the street from Aerus Electrolux. Police said she was lying on her back, fully clothed in pants, a hooded sweatshirt and shoes. Ratcliff said her body had been there “no more than a few days.”
Statzer is the fourth young woman found dead in local woods over the past several years, prompting a wave of online speculation of a Bristol-based serial killer.
But Ratcliff said the public should not be alarmed.
“I really don’t think people need to worry about going about their daily business,” he said. “There’s no reason to think someone’s going to snatch them up or snatch one of their family members up. We do not feel that the general public is in danger at all.”
In February 2007, the remains of 20-year-old Leah Feltner were found in the brush off Blackley Road in Bristol, Tenn. She had been missing since 2005. Then, 10 months later and just 100 yards away, a grandfather playing with his grandkids came upon human bones, later identified as 21-year-old Jill Cunningham Pope. She had been missing since April 2007.
In October 2008, the body of a woman missing more than two years turned up in an abandoned house in Washington County, Va. Dental records confirmed it was that of Meranda Faith Hayden, who was 26 when she was reported missing in April 2006.
Police long ago linked those three woman through associates and geography, but all of the cases remain unsolved.
Unlike the rest of the women, Statzer was never reported missing, police said. Her brother recalled seeing her two days before her body was found.
“We have a much better chance this time,” Ratcliff said of finding Statzer’s killer. “Because the body was found sooner, evidence hasn’t been destroyed by the elements.”
Friday, authorities said they’re investigating whether there could be a connection between the deaths.
“Naturally, we’re looking into that possibility,” said Major Gregory Baker. “We would be remiss if we hadn’t. We’ve been in contact with Bristol, Tenn., and other jurisdictions, as well.”
But, Baker said, they’re equally entertaining the possibility that Statzer’s death was an unrelated, singular event.
According to police statistics, Statzer’s death is the first homicide in Bristol, Va., since 2006, when there were four murders in the city.
Three other Bristol, Va., homicides, dating back decades, remain unsolved.
cgalofaro@bristolnews.com | (276) 645-2531
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