The brutal murders of Laura "Lollie" Winans and Julianne "Julie" Williams in Shenandoah National Park in 1996 not only ignited national discussions on wilderness safety and homophobic hate crimes but also raised questions about the justice system's handling of the case.
Author and journalist Kathryn Miles explores the possibility of authorities wrongfully implicating Darrell Rice in the murders, despite forensic evidence leading to his exoneration (capital murder charges were dropped in 2004). In her book, "Trailed: One Woman’s Quest to Solve the Shenandoah Murders," Miles delves into the intricate challenges of crime-solving in the wilderness and proposes the presence of a serial killer hiding in plain sight as the true perpetrator of these cold-case murders.
During your 2016 interview with the FBI field office, their suggestion that collaborating with the National Park Service was problematic due to their limited experience in deep forensic work struck you as peculiar. What aspects of their comments seemed unusual to you?
During my conversation with the FBIon the 20th anniversary of Lollie and Julie's murders, their emphasis on having the right suspect already struck me as peculiar. Additionally, it appeared that the FBI was placing blame on the National Park Service, portraying them as lacking expertise in deep forensic work.
This seemed odd as law enforcement rangers at the National Park Serviceundergo training similar to FBI agents, particularly in solving and investigating challenging crimes, often excelling in wilderness crime resolution. The tension between the FBI and the National Park Service, given their different areas of expertise, stood out as unusual.
What unique challenges might detectives face when investigating a homicide in a national park, distinct from those encountered in an urban setting?
When considering the training of homicide investigators, the initial steps prescribed, such as securing the premises and assessing the size and space of a room, become impractical in the backcountry. In the wilderness, determining the boundaries of a crime scene is elusive, making it challenging to distinguish naturally occurring elements from potential evidence.
Factors like rocks, which could have been used as weapons, are indistinguishable from their surroundings due to natural elements like animals, wind, and precipitation altering their positions. The difficulties in securing and resolving backcountry cases are truly manifold.
You've delved into the occurrences of homicides and violent crimes in national parks, given the absence of specific statistics maintained by the National Park Service. Can you share your approach and methods for conducting this research?
You've outlined your method of research involving Department of the Interior reports and local newspapers to uncover details about crimes in national parks, emphasizing the lack of comprehensive data on demographics and incidents within the agency's records. Additionally, you've shed light on internal reports from National Park Service watchdogs regarding unreported crimes and harassment.
Your efforts aim to draw attention to the need for a more standardized reporting system within the Department of the Interior to provide a clearer picture of safety in national parks and address underrepresentation and underreporting of violent crimes.
Why do you think the National Park Service chooses not to disclose these statistics to the public?
Some national parks lack a standardized reporting system, and the transient nature of rangers, who often move between parks, contributes to the unclear responsibilities. Additionally, the reluctance to deal with paperwork for seemingly inaccessible information, coupled with a phenomenon of rangers giving each other leniency, results in a lack of reporting. This misplaced benevolence, though understandable, ultimately disadvantages the public.
In 'Trailed,' you suggest an anomaly in perceiving men as the primary crime victims at national parks, despite statistics indicating higher victimization rates for women. Do you believe this discrepancy influenced the handling of Lollie and Julie's murders by law enforcement and the media?
One of the shocking aspects for the family and friends of Lollie and Julie was the public revelation of their lesbian identity, which occurred on the day of their funerals, making national headlines. The abrupt disclosure of their sexuality and relationship was particularly challenging for family members, not due to objections or issues with their sexual orientation, but because they were denied the opportunity to learn about it privately.
From the perspective of the rangers involved in the investigation, there is no indication that Lollie and Julie's sexuality and gender influenced their treatment of the case. The dedication and emotional investment of the rangers in solving these cases stood out. The motive behind targeting Lollie and Julie remains uncertain, and while other cases near the Appalachian Trail suggest a connection to the victims' sexuality or gender, definitive conclusions await the identification of the perpetrator.
As per your book, different DNA proofs exonerates Darrell Rice, but police have not officially eliminated him as a suspect. Can you explain why is that?
Confirmation bias, a prevalent issue in law enforcement and violent crime investigations, is explored in the book. This cognitive tendency, where preconceived notions influence the interpretation of information, is exemplified by the FBI agents working on Yosemite Park murders involving Cary Stayner.
The agents' fixation on one suspect led to overlooking Stayner's credible suspicions. This scenario underscores the risk of tunnel vision in investigations, potentially diverting attention from genuine leads and allowing criminals to evade justice, as seen in Stayner's subsequent crimes.
In this context, the book suggests that investigators faced challenges as Julie and Lollie's case grew cold, compelling them to resolve it and provide closure to the grieving families. Moreover, external pressures from Congress and the Department of the Interior, amid concerns about park safety, heightened the urgency to solve the crime.
The fixation on Darrell Rice initially seemed reasonable, given the circumstances. However, the introduction of a second suspect and the inability to exclude his DNA underscored the need for a reevaluation and a redirection of resources towards more promising leads.
In the year 2003, the FBI’s Richmond office eliminated Rice as a suspect which tested DNA from hairs at the crime scene but failed to eliminate serial killer Richard Evonitz. Why was this one of the most shocking side of your interrogation?
The mitochondrial DNA test results were striking, showing that the hairs were a match for Richard Evonitz in 799 out of 800 positions. The one discrepancy was attributed to a phenomenon called heteroplasmy, signifying a misfiring of the protein in the body.
Despite the FBI lab's recommendation to retest Evonitz's DNA for potential inclusion, the agents chose a different course of action. Instead of revisiting Evonitz's DNA, they ran additional tests against Darrell Rice. The decision not to follow the lab's suggestion raises questions about the handling of critical evidence in the investigation.
Why authorities did not focus on Richard Evonitz, despite his connection to the murders of three teen girls in Virginia and his subsequent suicide in 2002?
In the spring of 2002, Attorney General John Ashcroft faced pressure to demonstrate toughness on hate crimes against Muslim and Middle Eastern Americans. When announcing Darrell Rice's indictment, Ashcroft held a national press conference with a strange attempt to draw comparisons, suggesting that indicting Rice would contribute to the nation's healing after September 11th.
This case was intended to be the nation's first federal hate crime prosecution. The Justice Department seemed reluctant to back down, possibly driven by ego. Another odd aspect was investigators assuming that Richard Evonitz was a pedophile due to some victims being young teens, leading to decisions hindering the recognition that a predator targeting a 15 or 16-year-old could also go after a young-looking 24-year-old woman.
In the true crimegenre, why do you believe cases like Julie and Lollie's don't receive as much attention?
We are drawn to stories with positive resolutions, and this one lacks that. True crime enthusiasts often find comfort in exploring the abnormal psychology of a criminal or knowing that justice was served. In my book, I present the case in a way that allows readers to become detectives themselves. There are multiple suspects, and readers can form their own conclusions about who they believe is responsible.
How researching for your book prompted you to confront your own experience of sexual assault at the age of 16?
At the age of 26, the same age as Lollie when she was murdered, I, too, was a survivor of teenage sexual assault. Struggling to make sense of the trauma and harboring self-blame, I sought an escape from my body. It was during an environmental studies course, featuring a mandatory backpacking trip, that I discovered solace and empowerment in nature.
However, learning about the brutal murder of two contemporary, wilderness-savvy women shattered my sense of safety in the woods. This crime, affecting an entire generation, particularly women and non-binary individuals, has taken away the sanctuary of the outdoors. It is high time to reclaim that space.
What message or understanding do you hope readers will gain after completing the book?
I aim to spark a national dialogue about the issue of wrongful convictions and the imperfections in forensic testing, shedding light on the thousands who have been exonerated and emphasizing the possibility of many more innocent individuals behind bars. Simultaneously, I want to bring attention to the question of accessibility and safety in wilderness areas.
By discussing who feels secure in places like national parks and trails, I hope to contribute to the broader conversation about ensuring these natural spaces are welcoming and safe for all Americans, as they are valuable national treasures that should be accessible to everyone.
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