Cold case: Tammy Thorpe's 1988 murder in Virginia still unsolved after 38 years
Police in Fauquier County are still seeking leads in the 1988 shooting death of 20-year-old Tammy Thorpe, found off Route 17 near Warrenton.
Fauquier County Sheriff's Office appeals for information in 38-year-old unsolved killing
Nearly four decades after her death, investigators are no closer to naming the killer of Tammy Thorpe, a 20-year-old woman shot twice in the head and left off Route 17 just outside Warrenton, Virginia. Rappnews.com reports that the Fauquier County Sheriff's Office has renewed its public appeal for information in the case.
Thorpe's body was discovered on 23 October 1988. She had been shot twice with a .25-calibre pistol. That same morning, her car — a gold Pontiac Grand Am bearing the personalised Virginia licence plate "86-TAMMY" — was found at the Warrenton Plaza Shopping Center, keys still in the ignition. Her purse appeared undisturbed, and no drugs or alcohol were found at the scene or in the vehicle, according to a Virginia State Police news release.
The last confirmed sighting of Thorpe alive was at approximately 2:45 a.m. that morning, when she stopped for fuel in Warrenton. Earlier that evening she had attended a dance at the Ruritan Club in Marshall. She was wearing a white blouse, blue trousers, flat-heeled shoes and a watch.
Fauquier County Sheriff's Office Sgt. John Payne, the lead investigator on the case, said in the release: "Investigators remain committed to pursuing all available leads in this case. We encourage anyone with information, no matter how small it may seem, to come forward and assist law enforcement."
The release acknowledged that "there have been suspects over the years," but stated that "evidence has not confirmed their involvement."
Thorpe's brother Ricky appealed directly to the public. "Her family loves and misses her very much and she is thought of every day," he said. "The family would greatly appreciate anyone's help in solving this case by coming forward and contacting the Fauquier County Sheriff's Office."
Her sister Lisa spoke of what might have been. "I wonder what our lives together would look like," she said. "Would we get our nails done together or would Tammy still do her own? She wanted to have five children and to spend her life being a good mother. We celebrated our birthdays together, and mom always said we were like twins at times. She was a nice person, a good sister and it is hard to put into words what happened to her. She did not get to experience a lot of things in life — I wish she was still here."
Tammy Thorpe's birthday was 30 June. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Fauquier County Sheriff's Office at 540-347-3300.
Source: Google News MT — Crime (en)