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| Leah Hickman - Another Missing College Student!! - Goto page Previous 1, 2 |
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wvgirl
 Posted:
Fri Feb 15, 2008 9:55 pm |
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Questions remain in Hickman homicide
Feb 12, 2008 @ 11:46 PM
By CURTIS JOHNSON
The Herald-Dispatch
HUNTINGTON -- Scientific testing continues as police try to sort out what happened to Marshall University student Leah Hickman.
Dan Hollis, like many others in the Tri-State, is awaiting answers, but knows they may not be forthcoming for a while.
"She was one of my students. I'll always wonder what happened as long as it's an open case," said the journalism professor at Marshall. "The fact that we don't have any answers leaves you expecting answers because you assume the answer is coming."
Thursday will mark two months since Hickman disappeared. Authorities believe she died on the same day, Dec. 14.
Forensic detectives found the 21-year-old's body a week later in a crawl space underneath her apartment building at 403 8th Ave. The crawl space was connected to a common laundry room.
The state Forensic Laboratory completed its DNA testing. The final report is being reviewed for accuracy, but preliminary results already have been shared with the Huntington Police Department.
Police Chief Skip Holbrook said he doesn't expect any surprises when the department receives the final DNA report. He said other detailed tests are ongoing. He would not describe the nature of those additional tests.
"We're as focused now as we were two months ago," he said of the investigation. "I'm always confident and hopeful."
No criminal charges have been filed and many questions remain.
The police department's last press conference was Dec. 24, when it announced Hickman's body had been positively identified.
Holbrook still declines comment when asked about any suspected motivation and cause. He continues to urge calm, but will not say if she died from a targeted attack or a random act of violence. He said police would be obligated to warn residents if a threat existed.
Detectives stay in frequent contact with Hickman's family, and Holbrook said those discussions keep everyone motivated.
"It's gut wrenching every time," he said of those talks. "Contrary to what many believe, things of this nature are of a very, very personal nature to the detectives and it always is. Nothing gets shelved."
Holbrook hoped to have provided more information in early January, but those answers depended upon scientific test results.
State Police Lt. H.B. Myers has completed DNA testing on two sets of evidence. He would not discuss specifics. His results are currently being reviewed by two independent analysts. He hopes a formal report will be completed later this week. It will not be released to the public.
"It's just to see that another analyst would have the same opinions that I reached," he said.
Holbrook would not explain the impact of Myers' findings on the investigation.
Hollis, the Marshall professor, was a television news reporter before he started teaching at Marshall. He covered homicides and other tragedies. He is personally confident his questions will be answered.
"It may not be today or tomorrow," he said. "Sometimes it can take years. Again, I'm not trying to defend the police or anything, but it is a process and sometimes you've got to let the process work itself out. I wish that we knew something. I wish that the police were providing us with more information, but I recognize it is a process."
Holbrook said he looks forward to a time when he can give the community more answers, but he said that is not the proper way to conduct an ongoing investigation.
"I'm not going compromise that to satisfy somebody's curiosity," he said.
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Copyright © 2008 The Herald-Dispatch Some Rights Reserved.
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| gwen
Posted:
Fri Feb 15, 2008 10:00 pm |
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Thanks, wvgirl.
What a bizarre case...
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AKA Gagal_05
Joined: 24 Feb 2007
Posts: 14301
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| wvgirl
Posted:
Fri Feb 15, 2008 10:06 pm |
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Yes it is. No idea how she was killed or anything. I hope Huntington PD do have a clue to what happened and follow up accordingly. Alot of the comments posted are outraged because it's taking so long, and are scared because they don't know if they could be next. Then, there has always been talk that her sister did it because she showed no emotion ??? I don't know, but it breaks my heart for her and her family.
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| wvgirl
Posted:
Fri Feb 22, 2008 4:53 pm |
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February 22, 2008
Marshall scholarship to honor murdered student
Marshall University has established a scholarship in honor of murdered student Leah Hickman.
By Veronica Nett
Staff writer
Marshall University has established a scholarship in honor of murdered student Leah Hickman.
The Leah Hickman Memorial Scholarship in Journalism will be awarded to a full-time freshman, sophomore or junior in the university's W. Page Pitt School of Journalism and Mass Communications, according to a news release from the school. The first scholarship will be awarded at the school's annual spring banquet on April 25.
Hickman, a 21-year-old broadcast journalism student, was found dead in a crawl space in her apartment building Dec. 21. Police have not named a suspect in her murder.
"Leah Hickman's desire to help others will live on through this scholarship that bears her name," Marshall University President Stephen J. Kopp said in the written statement. "The recipients of this scholarship and their life works will be a testament to Leah's life and the generosity of the many who have expressed their support of Leah's family during this tragic and difficult time."
To contribute to the scholarship, visit www.marshalluniversityfoundation.com or call 696-6781.
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| gwen
Posted:
Fri Feb 22, 2008 4:56 pm |
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Thanks, wvgirl!
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AKA Gagal_05
Joined: 24 Feb 2007
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| wvgirl
Posted:
Fri Feb 22, 2008 8:01 pm |
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YW Gwen. This just drives me crazy that they haven't got who did this and have not released any info of how she was killed. I'd like to think they know what they are doing, but there are alot of unsolved murders in that area, so.... I have 2 nephews that go to Marshall University. I'm glad they are guys and not gals.
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| wvgirl
Posted:
Fri Mar 14, 2008 4:58 pm |
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03/13/2008
Police: Leah Hickman Strangled To Death
Staff
Huntington
Huntington Police say a Marshall University student was strangled to death by someone she knew. Police released limited additional information Thursday afternoon in the murder investigation of 21-year-old Leah Hickman.
The Mason County native's body was found in a crawl space in her Huntington apartment house a few days after her Dec. 14th murder.
Huntington Police Chief Skip Holbrook says investigators have known for sometime the cause of death, but only now feel comfortable releasing the Medical Examiner's Office information to Hickman's family and the public.
"We're comfortable in saying that it's not random, we believe she knew her killer and the cause of death is strangulation," the chief said.
Investigators also say Hickman was not sexually assaulted. Captain Steve Hall says ruling that out, rules out a possible motive for the crime.
Chief Holbrook says police met with family members yesterday and they understand the deliberateness of the investigation. He says information released by police will continue to be limited.
"If this was your family, your daughter, you would certainly understand that we don't want to share something that would hinder an investigation," Holbrook said.
Investigators have received back certain DNA evidence from the West Virginia State Police Crime Lab, but Captain Hall said the FBI, which has more capability than the state lab, would further test other items of evidence.
Chief Holbrook says police continue to cast "a wide net" and are speaking with lots of people in hopes of finding Hickman's killer.
Captain Hall would not be specific about possible suspects.
"We haven't excluded anyone," he said. "To say that it's narrowed down to one, two or ten would probably not serve a good purpose at this time," Hall said.
http://www.wvmetronews.com/mediaplayer.cfm?storyid=23920&source=story
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| wvgirl
Posted:
Fri Mar 14, 2008 5:01 pm |
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Home Back Print Homepage
Hickman strangled to death, police say
Mar 13, 2008 @ 08:33 PM
By CURTIS JOHNSON
Herald-Dispatch.com
HUNTINGTON — Marshall University student Leah Hickman was strangled to death in December, likely by someone she knew and who knew the layout of her apartment, according to investigators who spoke at a press conference Thursday.
The cause of death for the 21-year-old Mason County native was the first new information released about the case in almost two months. Hickman apparently died Dec. 14 and her body was found a week later in a crawl space underneath her off-campus residence at 403 8th Ave.
Police also said they did not believe the killing was a random act, and Capt. Steve Hall said there is no evidence of sexual assault.
“We feel strongly that the person(s) responsible for this crime were familiar with Leah and the layout of the apartment building,” he said.
The state’s crime lab has finished scientific testing in the case, but investigators said more extensive testing will be necessary. Evidence now will be sent to Quantico, Va., and other FBI facilities in the region. Forensics analysts at the state level already conducted DNA, fingerprint and trace evidence tests.
The FBI will not be testing evidence already analyzed. Instead, FBI Resident Agent Joe Ciccarelli said his agency has resources not available at the state level. It will enable agents to perform a couple of different tests. Huntington Police Chief Skip Holbrook called it a “graduated, stair-stepping process.”
“It’s not that the Charleston lab didn’t do something right,” Holbrook said. “It’s just a more specific test.”
None of the officers would discuss motive, but Hall said ruling out sexual assault helped focus the investigation. He also would not quantify the number of possible suspects. Holbrook said the department has cast a wide net, and Hall said no one has been ruled out in the investigation.
Members of the Huntington Police Department and the FBI met with Hickman’s family Wednesday. It was the first time investigators informed the family as to her cause of death. Holbrook said that conversation prompted Thursday’s press conference.
“They are from a small community in Mason County. They deal with a lot of rumor and speculation. It’s been an awful grieving process for them,” he said. “Once you discuss information outside of the investigative circle, it tends to get out. So we felt like it was probably a good time, since we were telling them this information, to go ahead and share that with everybody else.”
Investigators have asked the family not to discuss the case publicly.
Thursday’s gathering was the first press conference concerning Hickman’s death since Christmas Eve. The lack of information and absence of an arrest caused some to begin losing hope that the case would be solved.
“It feels like they just gave up,” Doug Peters, a junior geology major from Hurricane, W.Va., said Wednesday.
Holbrook quickly dismissed any idea that his department has given up. He said several officers from multiple agencies are working on the case, which remains a top priority at his department. The chief said a lack of information should not indicate a lack of effort. He described the investigation as a “painstaking process” and one that does not leave a detective’s mind until the case is solved.
“That in itself is motivation on our end,” he said. “It’s unfortunate that we can’t share information. If this was your family or your daughter, you would certainly, I hope, understand we do not want to share something that would hinder an investigation just simply to cave into somebody’s curiosity. I can’t stress enough. People have to understand that.”
Circumstances concerning Hickman’s case has caused the state to delay releasing public portions of her death certificate. Huntington police have not given the state authority to release the information, according to state spokesperson Marsha Dadisman.
Mood among students
Many students interviewed this week said they generally feel safe on the Huntington campus. They also feel safe off-campus, as long as they stay away from trouble spots and walk with others. But sorority member Lauren Snyder and others said no arrest means Hickman’s killer is still on the loose.
“By now something usually would have come about,” she said. “Whether it is somebody she knew or somebody she didn’t know, there is still somebody that has killed somebody in the public area.”
Bill Bissett, chief of staff at Marshall University, said the administration continues to receive updates from the police department. He said university officials stand by and support the detectives’ effort, along with decisions about when to release and when to withhold information.
“We remain hopeful that this person will be found,” he said. “We continue to remember Leah Hickman here on this campus.”
Bissett said many students and faculty remember Hickman by wearing blue wristbands. The university also has established a memorial scholarship for future journalism students in her honor. It was made possible through donations from Hickman’s former employer, The Dress Barn Inc., and donations from family and friends.
Holbrook made a point Thursday to say there is no connection between Hickman’s death and the university. He said Hickman simply was a student who died at her off-campus home on Christmas break.
Police are still holding some items close to the vest, including talk about any struggle between Hickman and her killer. Holbrook said they hold back information to determine credibility during the interview process.
Chris Swindell was one of Hickman’s journalism professors. He said he understands the need to keep some details quiet. He said guarding the integrity of the case always should be top priority.
Swindell also believes public perception needs to be managed as well. The former television news reporter said police should realize not releasing information will produce three results — the trigger of misinformation, then rampant speculation and finally some measure of concern that a case is not progressing.
Holbrook acknowledged widespread rumors in January. He urged patience and said the rumors wreaked havoc within the victim’s family.
Swindell said the general public does not want to jeopardize the case, but it does expect broad details about any high-profile investigation. Such information included the cause of death and regular updates even when nothing has changed.
There is currently no reward being offered in Hickman’s case. Holbrook said the idea has been discussed, and it is a strategy that could be used at a more appropriate time. Anyone with information should contact the department’s detective bureau at (304) 696-4420.
Hope for answers
Rachel Gergely is a Marshall sophomore and graduate of Cabell-Midland High School. She compared the Hickman case to a nearly three-year investigation into who killed four teenagers on prom night in May 2005. Gergely was friends with the youngest of those victims, Megan Poston.
No charges have been filed in connection with the quadruple homicide.
“It disturbs me,” she said Wednesday. “It would be nice to have some type of update on what is going on. Just to give us a sense that they are doing their job, rather than sitting around looking at case files.”
Greg Lake, 38, praised the department’s work and credits it with keeping many details quiet. He is confident the case will be solved, but he does not anticipate a quick arrest. He said police need time to manage many factors and many leads.
“It’s not cut and dry,” he said. “There is more to it than what they are letting out. I’m sure they don’t want to let out too much information because it may let the person who did it realize they are close to him.”
Holbrook said some cases are more difficult to solve than others. Since he became police chief in June 2007, the city has witnessed six homicides. Hickman’s death is the only unsolved case.
When Hickman was first reported missing in early December, 18-year-old freshman Anna McCallister of Putnam County quickly decorated her personal Web site with photos and messages about Leah.
McCallister said a few pictures of Hickman remain, but she admits she has moved on. She hears more about the case when she goes home.
“The fear is not there as much. It’s kind of like you don’t hear as much about 9/11 anymore. It’s just kind of died down,” she said.
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Copyright © 2008 The Herald-Dispatch Some Rights Reserved.
http://www.herald-dispatch.com/homepage/x112307790/index.html?printview=true
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Location: Almost Heaven
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| wvgirl
Posted:
Sun Jun 15, 2008 9:17 pm |
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‘There is not a day that goes by that I don’t cry,’ Hickman's father says
Jun 13, 2008 @ 11:40 PM
By CURTIS JOHNSON
The Herald-Dispatch
HUNTINGTON -- Time stands still six months after the death of Marshall University co-ed Leah Hickman.
Blue and white bows still adorn a tree at her apartment building, and her MySpace.com page is decorated with Christmas images. The Web page features a picture with her eyes closed and a last login date of Dec. 14, 2007.
That is the day Huntington police believe someone strangled the 21-year-old. Her body was hidden in a crawl space underneath her 403 8th Ave. apartment building. And like then, the case remains unsolved.
Her father, Ron Hickman, said the family keeps hoping and praying every day.
"There is not a day that goes by that I don't cry. It's very difficult to deal with," he said. "No one wants it solved more than what I do. ... The Hickman family, we're a close family and it has just absolutely devastated all of us."
The victim was last seen Dec. 14. Police believe she visited a nearby McDonald's about 5:30 p.m. that Friday. She was never heard from again.
Leah Hickman's loss continues to be felt by many. Her friends continue leaving messages on her MySpace.com page, knowing there will be no reply.
One friend talked about her upcoming wedding. Leah Hickman would have been a bridesmaid for sure, she said. Another friend wished the victim was alive to see the recently released "Sex and the City" movie. Another talked about looking through old pictures, while another remembered childhood stories.
"Hey girl hey! Love ya and miss ya," the poster writes. "I was thinking today about how we would have slumber parties when we were little girls and you would snore, then we would put stuff in your nose."
Ron Hickman spoke with The Herald-Dispatch on Thursday. He spent time talking about the case, reminiscing about his daughter and describing ways he's coped with her loss. He said the loss touched many in Mason County.
"A wonderful young lady"
Ron Hickman said he has no idea why someone would kill his little girl.
"She was just a wonderful young lady," he said. "Anytime that there is a senseless act like this, it's hard to deal with."
Leah Hickman was her father's only child, his parent's first grandchild and a helper in his campaign for Mason County assessor. Her former colleagues at the Dress Barn in Barboursville, where she worked, referred to her as "our angel."
"She was a very special, loving person," her father said. "I just think that again, what The Dress Barn has done and the response of Mason County in this tragedy speaks volumes of her character."
The Dress Barn's support included paying for Leah's funeral. Her father said the company's help was comforting.
"It's been overwhelming," he said. "I think it speaks volumes of the type of company and organization they are."
Ron Hickman was first elected as assessor in 1996. His daughter's Christian school was located near the courthouse, and she quickly became a fixture in the office.
"I've had long-serving staff members who have been here since she was small," he said. "Everybody here has been devastated."
Leah Hickman was ready to be involved in her father's most recent campaign for assessor. The journalism student looked forward to using lessons learned at Marshall University to bolster his campaign.
Her participation was nothing new. Ron Hickman said she would frequently attend dinners and other functions. He was unopposed in the May primary and will be unopposed again in November, but this year's campaign is still the most difficult he has waged.
"She's always been there with me," he said. "You just remember the good times."
Coping with tragedy
Leah Hickman was missing for a week before Huntington police located her body. That gave seven days for her story to catch national attention during the holiday season.
Ron Hickman stays in touch with national headlines. He has watched many stories about missing young women, but this time it was his daughter's face that became a fixture on cable news networks.
"It was odd to see," he said. "It's just something you wish wasn't there, but it was."
Many volunteered to search for Leah Hickman. Her family was front-and-center on many newscasts. That all changed when detectives found her body.
"Of course you never wanted to give up," he said. "It was just very hard to put into words. I can't say enough about the community here and the whole county for the support they've shown. It's been tremendous."
Police found her body four days before Christmas, and it tragically changed her father's holiday season. He became emotional when talking about her wish list. He said the family's gathering shifted from a time of celebration to support.
"The younger members of the family really were the ones who received the gifts, but it was just time spent being a family," he said.
Ron Hickman said he continues to lean on a multitude of friends. He finds support in his office, at church and within his family.
"It's the hardest thing I've ever had to deal with," he said.
Her father also has found Christian support in Cabell County Assessor Ottie Adkins. The two meet up at statewide meetings and he stops by Adkins' office any time he drives through Huntington.
"If he sees me out, he has always come up and just given me a hug and let me know that he's there for me," Ron Hickman said.
Ron Hickman did not have a message for those responsible in his daughter's death, other than saying many people are praying for justice.
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Copyright © 2008 The Herald-Dispatch Some Rights Reserved.
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| SavannahStar
Posted:
Mon Jun 16, 2008 5:31 am |
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Thank you for posting that, wvgirl.
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**SuperStar**
Joined: 24 Mar 2006
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Location: Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil
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| wvgirl
Posted:
Fri Jul 11, 2008 8:01 pm |
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UPDATE: 7/11/08
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- Huntington Police say they're still actively searching for the person who killed Marshall student Leah Hickman last December.
Sergeant Williams tells WSAZ.com's Carrie Cline that they're still awaiting results from DNA testing. They’re having some intricate tests run that just finished one stage at an FBI lab in Arizona and are now headed to the next stage.
According to Williams, detectives are still talking to a small pool of people and are developing new leads. He adds that they still have their theories that they're working on.
The case is ongoing and police say they're aggressively seeking any and all information that could lead to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible for Leah Hickman’s murder.
Hickman was found strangled in a crawl space in her apartment building in December -- one week after she was reported missing.
So far, no suspects have been named in the case.
http://www.wsaz.com/news/headlines/16642431.html
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| gwen
Posted:
Fri Jul 11, 2008 8:05 pm |
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Thanks for the update, wvgirl.
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AKA Gagal_05
Joined: 24 Feb 2007
Posts: 14301
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| wvgirl
Posted:
Fri Jul 11, 2008 8:24 pm |
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YW. Not much of an update though  I don't understand why it's taken over 6 months to get dna testing back
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| wvgirl
Posted:
Fri Aug 29, 2008 4:15 pm |
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HPD: 'We believe we have the right person of interest' in Hickman Case
Posted: 12:29 PM Aug 28, 2008
Last Updated: 3:08 AM Aug 29, 2008
Reporter: Carrie Cline
Email Address: carrie.cline@wsaz.com
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UPDATED VIDEO: From 6 p.m.
RAW INTERVIEW: Capt. Hall on Hickman Case
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A | A | AUPDATE: 8/28/08
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- With the return of Marshall University students and the start of a new school year comes new questions about the status of the Leah Hickman murder case. The Marshall student was found murdered in her Huntington apartment last December.
Captain Steve Hall with the Huntington Police Department says they have a “person of interest,” but are awaiting the results of DNA tests. Detectives received some preliminary results from the WV State Police Crime Lab in January. They couldn’t release those findings. Instead, they sent the evidence to an FBI lab in Arizona for additional, highly specialized testing. Detectives continue to await the outcome of those tests which typically takes a minimum of six months, although they’re not giving any timeline for when they expect to receive the results.
“We believe we have the right “person of interest”, but won’t know until we receive the DNA results. That test could either lead to an arrest or clear the individual,” said Capt. Hall.
Hall says the wait is very frustrating for the department and the family, but they all remain hopeful there will be an arrest and eventual closure to this case. In the meantime, leads have significantly diminished, but they’re still following up on everything they get.
Hickman went missing December 14th from her 8th Avenue apartment in Huntington. Her body was found a week later in a crawl space in the basement of her apartment building. Police later released she was strangled, but not sexually abused.
http://www.wsaz.com/news/headlines/16642431.html#
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