Twenty-eight years after the murders of a Unity College student and her girlfriend, the Federal Bureau of Investigation has identified the suspect in their killings, bringing closure to her former classmates.
Laura “Lollie” Winans, a student at Unity College, and Julianne “Julie” Williams were camping in Shenandoah National Park in Virginia with Winans’ dog, Taj, in May 1996 when they were found dead. Winans was studying outdoor recreation, and was on track to graduate that December.
The FBI released a statement Thursday announcing that DNA testing of evidence found a positive match to convicted serial rapist Walter Leo Jackson Sr., who died in an Ohio prison in 2018.
Winans’ friend and classmate Hauns Bassett said the Unity College community has stayed in touch about Winans and has never forgotten her.
“I got texts today from friends who were passing along the news that this happened,” Bassett said Thursday. “We had it posted in our private Unity College alumni group that this had happened. So like, for 28 years, we have openly remembered Lollie and Julie and grieved their loss, but also remembered them and talked about them and kept this alive.”
Bassett gave credit to the FBI for continuing to investigate the case. In its statement, the FBI said it formed a new team in Richmond in 2021 to conduct a methodic review of the case.
Bassett said the case has remained in the minds of all who knew Winans and Williams, and the technology of DNA testing finally caught up.
“I’m very glad that we have this closure,” Bassett said.
