Post by Scumhunter on Jul 25, 2014 13:05:34 GMT -5
The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office has closed the 12-year-old case of the murder of Erica Heather Smith.
In a statement released today, Sheriff Mike Chapman says the 14-year-old Ashburn girl was killed by a suspect who committed suicide during the course of the investigate. Chapman did not name the suspect.
According to the statement, the decision to close the case followed a comprehensive review of the documentation and evidence collected over the past 12 years. Specifically, during the past two years, the case was worked as the first focus of Chapman’s special Cold Case initiative, with investigators considering a broader perspective of the relationships developed and a new review of the evidence.
Recently, investigators came to the conclusion that the deceased suspect was responsible for Erica Smith’s death.
“Thus, I felt it was important at this time to share with the Smiths that this link was made as the twelfth anniversary of their daughter’s murder approached,” Chapman stated. “Regrettably, there will be nothing further that the judicial system can do given that this subject took his own life.”
Smith disappeared July 29, 2002, and her body was located 10 days later in a wooded area in the Beaumeade Corporate Park in Ashburn.
With few publicly known leads, the case have been subject to annual efforts by her parents and family to urge witnesses to step forward. In 2009, the case was featured in the nationally syndicated TV show “America’s Most Wanted.”
In his statement, Chapman outlined the investigative steps and resources devoted to solving the case. “The tremendous work done by the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division with the assistance of outside agencies/partners has led to this announcement today," Chapman stated.
Chapman also pointed out that the Erica Smith case has helped to protect other Loudoun children as the inspiration for the Child Safety Day program.
“After taking office, I reached out to the Smith family and asked them to be a part of our first-ever Child Safety Day. At the event we introduced the cold case initiative and highlighted Erica’s case. As we joined with the Smith family, we also wanted to educate the community on safety measures they can take to protect their children,” Chapman stated.
Child Safety Day this year will be held from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 2 at the Village at Leesburg.
www.leesburgtoday.com/news/cold-case-closed-sheriff-says-erica-smith-s-killer-is/article_086a40b0-1420-11e4-a091-001a4bcf887a.html
web.archive.org/web/20090504223454/http://www.amw.com/fugitives/brief.cfm?id=46879
In a statement released today, Sheriff Mike Chapman says the 14-year-old Ashburn girl was killed by a suspect who committed suicide during the course of the investigate. Chapman did not name the suspect.
According to the statement, the decision to close the case followed a comprehensive review of the documentation and evidence collected over the past 12 years. Specifically, during the past two years, the case was worked as the first focus of Chapman’s special Cold Case initiative, with investigators considering a broader perspective of the relationships developed and a new review of the evidence.
Recently, investigators came to the conclusion that the deceased suspect was responsible for Erica Smith’s death.
“Thus, I felt it was important at this time to share with the Smiths that this link was made as the twelfth anniversary of their daughter’s murder approached,” Chapman stated. “Regrettably, there will be nothing further that the judicial system can do given that this subject took his own life.”
Smith disappeared July 29, 2002, and her body was located 10 days later in a wooded area in the Beaumeade Corporate Park in Ashburn.
With few publicly known leads, the case have been subject to annual efforts by her parents and family to urge witnesses to step forward. In 2009, the case was featured in the nationally syndicated TV show “America’s Most Wanted.”
In his statement, Chapman outlined the investigative steps and resources devoted to solving the case. “The tremendous work done by the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division with the assistance of outside agencies/partners has led to this announcement today," Chapman stated.
Chapman also pointed out that the Erica Smith case has helped to protect other Loudoun children as the inspiration for the Child Safety Day program.
“After taking office, I reached out to the Smith family and asked them to be a part of our first-ever Child Safety Day. At the event we introduced the cold case initiative and highlighted Erica’s case. As we joined with the Smith family, we also wanted to educate the community on safety measures they can take to protect their children,” Chapman stated.
Child Safety Day this year will be held from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 2 at the Village at Leesburg.
www.leesburgtoday.com/news/cold-case-closed-sheriff-says-erica-smith-s-killer-is/article_086a40b0-1420-11e4-a091-001a4bcf887a.html
web.archive.org/web/20090504223454/http://www.amw.com/fugitives/brief.cfm?id=46879
