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gwen
 Posted:
Tue Dec 18, 2007 7:40 pm |
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Leah Hickman - Another Missing College Student!!
Search is on for missing student
Dec 17, 2007 @ 11:18 PM
By ANTWON PINKSTON
The Herald-Dispatch
HUNTINGTON-- Huntington police are looking for a 21-year-old Marshall University student whose family reported her missing since Friday.
Sherry Russell, of Leon, W.Va., told police that the last time she talked to her daughter, Leah N. Hickman, was early Friday afternoon. She said she and Hickman talked about coming home for the holidays and that Hickman's dad, Ronald Hickman, was worried about the weather.
"Then I called her later on that evening and her phone went straight to voicemail," Russell said. "The third time I called, it said her voicemail box was full."
Russell said the family became worried and contacted the police after Hickman didn't show up for work Saturday or Sunday at Dress Barn on Merritts Creek Road.
Huntington Police Sgt. John Williams said detectives consider every missing person case to be serious and that they haven't found any reason why Hickman would be missing.
When police checked Hickman's apartment in the 400 block of 8th Avenue, they found that her car, purse, coat and keys were still at the apartment, which Williams said is unusual.
"We've contacted friends, neighbors and no one has seen or heard from her. She usually keeps close contact," Russell said.
Hickman's roommate and older sister, Jessica Vickers, said she had last seen Hickman pack her bags Friday before going to spend the night with a friend. Vickers said that when she returned to the apartment Saturday, Hickman's bag and the rest of her items were still there.
Thousands of flyers with a picture of Hickman have been put up in neighborhoods, restaurants and service stations from Huntington to South Point, Ohio, Russell said. Local churches and churches spreading as far as Illinois have become aware of the missing woman and have either prayed with or contacted her family.
Hickman is a junior at MU and is majoring in journalism. She is described as a white female, 5 feet, 4 inches tall, about 125 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes.
"Leah wanted a job that she could use to help people," Russell said. "She is a thoughtful and caring person and I couldn't ask for two better daughters in the world."
Anyone with information regarding Hickman's disappearance is asked to call the Huntington Police Department at (304) 696-4444.
http://www.herald-dispatch.com/homepage/x611865058
Last edited by gwen on Sun Jan 13, 2008 8:12 pm; edited 1 time in total
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AKA Gagal_05
Joined: 24 Feb 2007
Posts: 15244
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| wvgirl
Posted:
Wed Dec 19, 2007 8:29 pm |
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NEW INFORMATION: Marshall University Student Missing
http://www.wsaz.com/news/headlines/12576086.html#
Posted: 7:44 PM Dec 17, 2007
Last Updated: 8:17 PM Dec 19, 2007
Reporter: Dave Benton
Email Address: dave.benton@wsaz.com
112 comments Photos
A new search is underway in the neighborhood where a missing Marshall University student lived.
Leah Hickman is 21 and was last seen at 4 p.m. on Friday in her Huntington apartment. She lives at 403 8th Ave. with her sister, Jessica Vickers. According to the police report Hickman’s purse and keys were inside her apartment and her car was still parked.
Police say there hasn’t been any cell phone calls from her phone since Friday. Police have contacted friends and family, but no one has seen or heard from Hickman.
WV State Police and Huntington Police are searching buildings and homes in and around the 400 block of 8th ave. About 8 officers are involved in the canvass which began around 11 am Wednesday.
A number of the homes in the area have been abandoned and officers are paying particular attention to these structures. Two supervisors with the detective bureau are spearheading this investigation. They canvassed the neighborhood looking for any clues that could lead them to Leah Wednesday. They searched alleys, yards and abandoned homes for any clues and police say time is of the essence with a missing persons case.
Hickman has shoulder-length brown hair and blue eyes. She's 5'2" and 130 pounds.
Katie Hay is on a mission to find her friend.
“We have people in Charleston looking, MySpace, Facebook. We're checking allies and knocking on doors.” Katie said.
Hickman's college friends say they're determined to find Leah. They're hitting local businesses. They're also using the web to drum up support for national media coverage.
All these efforts aren't going unnoticed by Leah’s father.
“I want to thank Leah’s friends for all their hard work they've done and for praying for us for strength,” Leah’s father Ron Hickman said, “More exposure we get, better chance to find my daughter.”
Leah's sister, Jessica talked live via telephone on MSNBC Wednesday morning. Leah's friends are going at this full force. They've covered a lot of territory and they say they won't stop until they find their friend.
Leah's step-father says the family is holding on to hope.
“All I got is hope and prayers. What else can you do?” Leah’s step father Brian Russell said.
There is a $10,000 reward from Leah’s employer, The Dress Barn. The money will be given to anybody who has information that can help police find Leah.
A candlelight vigil is set for 6 p.m. Thursday night at the student center fountain on Marshall’s campus.
Anybody with information that can help police find Leah Hickman should call the Huntington Police Detective Bureau at (304) 696-4420.
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| wvgirl
Posted:
Fri Dec 21, 2007 11:28 pm |
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BREAKING NEWS: FRIDAY NIGHT
Huntington Police found what they believe to be the body of missing Marshall University student Leah Hickman. Huntington Police made the announcement at a news conference Friday night.
Police found the body of a young adult female matching the description of Leah Hickman in the crawlspace of her apartment building. Police forensic teams are currently examining the body and the crime scene for evidence. Hickman's apartment was on the second floor. Police say the crawlspace was accessable from several areas.
Forensic investigators began concentrating on the basement laundry area of Hickman's apartment building Friday afternoon.
"It's a tragic situation." said Huntington Police Chief Skip Holbrook.
Police say they have no suspects. Hickman was last seen last Friday. Her family reported her missing on Sunday after she failed to show up for work.
Investigators found the body around 5pm.
State Police and investigators rushed to Hickman’s apartment in Huntington late Friday afternoon. Police have taped off a large area around Hickman's apartment and blocked off surrounding streets.
We have a crew on the scene and will update this story as new information becomes available.
Stay tuned to WSAZ NewsChannel 3 and wsaz.com for the latest on this developing situation.
www.wsaz.com
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Joined: 23 Mar 2006
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| gwen
Posted:
Sat Dec 22, 2007 12:14 am |
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Thanks, wvgirl.
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AKA Gagal_05
Joined: 24 Feb 2007
Posts: 15244
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| AC
Posted:
Sat Dec 22, 2007 9:47 am |
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OK....there is so much of this happening....does anyone think this might be some serial killer who is a truck driver....or someone who travels for a living? This seems to have become an epidemic!
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| gwen
Posted:
Sat Dec 22, 2007 7:09 pm |
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Woman's Body Removed From W.Va. Building
Published: 12/22/07, 6:25 PM EDT
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (AP) - Investigators on Saturday removed the body of a young woman found in a crawl space at an apartment building where a missing Marshall University student lived, authorities said.
Officials have not identified the body but believe it is that of Leah Hickman, 21, a journalism student who has been missing since Dec. 14. The body was sent to the state medical examiner's office in Charleston for an autopsy.
"Although we strongly believe the body is that of Leah Hickman, a positive identification will be made by the medical examiner," Lt. Rocky Johnson said in a statement.
Johnson described the death as an apparent homicide, The Herald-Dispatch reported.
Police have released few details about the case, though Police Chief Skip Holbrook said Friday night that there are no suspects. The agency planned an update about the case for Monday.
Marshall University spokesman Bill Bissett declined to comment until a positive identification is released.
Authorities searching for evidence found the body Friday in a crawl space of a common laundry room in the basement of the four-unit building. News of the cast a somber tone over a concert to raise a reward fund.
Hickman's stepbrother Nicholas Russell left immediately after hearing the news, according to Jason McCoy, who said he attended Point Pleasant High School with Hickman.
"I can't believe how they found her - my heart just goes out to them," McCoy said.
The concert however went on as planned. "We just wanted to do a performance in memory of her," said performer Derek Newell, another former high school classmate.
After visiting with Hickman's family, Huntington Mayor David Felinton told newspaper that they appreciate the community's support.
"Her family is certainly in our prayers and particularly at this time of year," he said.
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AKA Gagal_05
Joined: 24 Feb 2007
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| pax
Posted:
Sat Dec 22, 2007 7:56 pm |
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My heart goes out to everyone in Huntington, West Virginia and the family and friends of Leah Hickman.
What causes someone to do this to another human being?
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Posts: 16326
Location: Wish You Were Here
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| wvgirl
Posted:
Mon Dec 24, 2007 6:04 pm |
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MONDAY
Huntington Police have positively identified the body of a woman found Friday in the crawlspace of a Huntington apartment building as that of Leah Hickman. Hickman's body was found late Friday afternoon.
Police made the announcement at a scheduled news conference Monday afternoon. Police say they have recovered evidence from Hickman's apartment building but are releasing little additional information.
Police say they have no suspects at this time and continue to conduct interviews. Huntington Police Chief Skip Holbrook would not comment if investigators were looking out of state.
Stay tuned to WSAZ.com for the latest information on the case. Stay with WSAZ.com for the latest information
www.wsaz.com
I guess this thread should be moved to the crimes forum. 
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| wvgirl
Posted:
Wed Dec 26, 2007 8:24 pm |
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December 25, 2007
Body ID'd as missing student
Huntington police decline to release details
By The Associated Press
HUNTINGTON — Police confirmed Monday that a body found in a crawl space at an apartment building is that of a missing Marshall University student.
Investigators found the body Friday evening in a common laundry room in the basement of the four-unit building where 21-year-old Leah Hickman lived.
Huntington police announced Monday that the body had been positively identified as Hickman, a journalism student at Marshall.
An autopsy has been completed, but police declined to release any details about how she died.
The last known contact with Hickman was a cell phone conversation with a friend late on the afternoon of Dec. 14. Police say Hickman’s cell phone hasn’t been used since.
The phone is missing, but Hickman’s keys, purse, car and the bags she’d packed to go to visit her parents in the Point Pleasant area were found at her apartment, which she shared with her sister.
Hickman’s death is being investigated as a homicide but there are no suspects, police said.
“If it was July it would still be a tragedy, but at this time of the year it’s very hard,” said Huntington police Capt. Steve Hall. “Most of us are dads with kids and so certainly this has an effect on us.”
On Monday, trees outside the apartment building were decorated with blue ribbons placed by Hickman’s neighbors and friends. Her friends had said at a vigil last week that blue was Hickman’s favorite color, said Corley Dennison, dean of Marshall’s journalism school.
A missing person flier, one of hundreds distributed in the area during the search for Hickman, was still attached to a telephone pole across the street from the building.
“The sad thing is, she thought it was going to be safe to live here with her sister than living on campus alone,” said Jeanelle Johnson, a retired nurse and neighbor of Hickman’s.
She said Hickman and her sister “always had a kind word and the sweetest smiles.”
“Leah was just delightful,” Johnson said.
In a statement issued Monday, Marshall President Stephen J. Kopp said Hickman would be missed.
“This outcome was not the way we had hoped the search for Leah Hickman would culminate. The Marshall community and the citizens of Huntington are saddened by her loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family, friends and everyone who was touched by Leah’s life.”
http://www.wvgazette.com/section/News/2007122414
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| wvgirl
Posted:
Wed Dec 26, 2007 8:28 pm |
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12/26/2007
Funeral Services Planned For Missing Student
Staff
Huntington, W.Va.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday in Mason County for the Marshall University student who was found dead in her Huntington apartment building on Friday, a week after she had been reported missing.
Twenty-one-year old Leah Hickman will be remembered in services Saturday night at the National Guard Armory in Point Pleasant, her hometown. Her family will receive visitors from 1 p.m. Saturday through 7:30 p.m. That's when services will begin.
Huntington Police have confirmed the body found in a crawl space on Friday, Dec. 21 was the Marshall student.
She was a junior journalism major at Marshall University. Investigators say her death is being treated as a homicide though no suspects have been named at this point.
http://www.wvmetronews.com/index.cfm?func=displayfullstory&storyid=22718
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| wvgirl
Posted:
Sat Dec 29, 2007 8:55 pm |
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Dec. 28: No Suspects in Leah Hickman Murder Case
“At this time, we don't have a definite suspect. The best way to answer is no one has been excluded,” Huntington Police Sergeant Rocky Johnson said.
That's frustrating for Sgt. Johnson who's been working the Leah Hickman case around the clock since the day she was reported missing two weeks ago.
“We've gone back and interviewed previous tenants from way back, the landlord, maintenance people, the mailman, anyone who's been in that building,” Sgt. Johnson said.
There’s still been nothing, though. Sgt. Johnson says it was because of good police work that they found her body by checking and re-checking their footsteps.
“Started at basement and worked our way up,” Sgt. Johnson said, “There were no tips. It came to our forensic guys and different types of search lead to the body.”
While police don't mind talking about how they found her body, the condition it was in, how it got there and what lead to her death in the first place are all still very much hush-hush.
“You don't want to taint witnesses, potential jurors, don't want false confessions,” Sgt. Johnson said.
Meanwhile, the Dress Barn continues its strong support. They're giving the $10,000 they originally put up as a reward for information to find Leah to the family now to pay funeral expenses. Saturday employees from other stores will come in to work that one in Barboursville, so Leah’s co-workers can attend the funeral.
The big question is why all of this for a young woman who worked here for less than six months? The store's response was after day one at the Dress Barn, you're family and they treat all of their employees as such.
Sgt. Johnson says as mysterious as this case has turned, there's no reason for any paranoia or even fear.
“It's hard to say if she was targeted,” Sgt. Johnson said.
Huntington police continue to ask for you to call in with any leads no matter how minor or insignificant you may think they are.
Leah's funeral is scheduled for Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at the Army National Guard Armory in Pt. Pleasant.
It's been a week since police found Leah's body in a crawl under her building and still no developments in her murder case, but police say their lack of leads isn't for lack of trying.
wsaz.com
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| wvgirl
Posted:
Sat Dec 29, 2007 8:57 pm |
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Saying Goodbye: Leah Hickman Funeral Save Email Print
Posted: 7:20 PM Dec 29, 2007
Last Updated: 7:32 PM Dec 29, 2007
Reporter: WSAZ New
Email Address: News@wsaz.com
0 comments
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Leah Hickman Calling Hours
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Friends, family, and even stragners are in Point Pleasant this evening, saying goodbye to Leah HIckman.
Hickman was found dead in her apartment building after police and her family searched for a week to find her.
Services are being held at the Armory in Point Pleasant.
Leah was 21 and a junior at Marshall University.
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Joined: 23 Mar 2006
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| BhamMom
Posted:
Fri Jan 04, 2008 3:29 am |
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This is so tragic. Do any of you recall the plane crash that killed the football team and coaches of Marshall in the early 70's? I couldn't help but think, this is just one more tragedy for this college.
Why can't I find any information on this case? It seems there is nothing current as in the cause of death or anything about the investigation. 
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** Banned **
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| Ezgoing
Posted:
Sat Jan 05, 2008 9:17 pm |
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So awfully sad. My heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of this young lady. What is happening in this world? It is really frightening in many ways.
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Joined: 06 Mar 2007
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| wvgirl
Posted:
Sat Jan 05, 2008 9:29 pm |
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| BhamMom wrote: | This is so tragic. Do any of you recall the plane crash that killed the football team and coaches of Marshall in the early 70's? I couldn't help but think, this is just one more tragedy for this college.
Why can't I find any information on this case? It seems there is nothing current as in the cause of death or anything about the investigation. |
I do remember the plane crash Regarding this case, I search everyday for something, plus watch the local news-Huntington is about 2 hours from here. I have a nephew who goes to Marshall
Anyway, the Huntington Police Dept are not rsaying anything. No cause of death, whether she was sexaully assaulted, nada. It was said mid week that dna testing was back and maybe we would hear some news this weekend. But nothing so far. It is very sad and very disturbing. The students and residents of that area are very afraid.
I havent read the comments on wsaz.com today, but from what I've read, Leah was an all around good girl. Not known for partying, boyfriends, etc. But alot of the comments seem to think it was someone close to her 
Here's the latest article with comments at the bottom of page.
http://www.wsaz.com/news/headlines/12944387.html
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| wvgirl
Posted:
Mon Jan 07, 2008 1:35 pm |
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UPDATE; Leah Hickman: Preliminary Lab Results in Save Email Print
Posted: 11:58 PM Jan 6, 2008
Last Updated: 11:04 AM Jan 7, 2008
Reporter: Carrie Cline
Email Address: carrie.cline@wsaz.com
4 comments
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A | A | A Preliminary lab results are back in the death of the missing Marshall student. But, police aren't releasing anything to the public. Huntington Police Chief Skip Holbrook says early results about the cause of death and other evidence surrounding Leah Hickman's death are inconclusive. Holbrook says they're still waiting on complete results. They hope to receive those results sometime this week.
"Until we get all of the information, we're not drawing any conclusions. Once we get the results, we'll determine how many, if any, details we'll release to the public," said Chief Holbrook.
At this point, Holbrook says very limited information has been released to the family and nothing will be released to the public for fear of jeopardizing their case.
Police are still questioning individuals and aggressively pursuing leads in the case. But, they won't confirm or deny whether they've narrowed their search.
Leah Hickman was last seen December 14 by her half sister in their apartment at 403 8th St. in Huntington. A week later, her body was found in a crawl space in her basement.
www.wsaz.com
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Joined: 23 Mar 2006
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| prolific
Posted:
Mon Jan 07, 2008 2:11 pm |
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I had not heard this. How sad.
Every day we're hearing stories like this. What in the world is going on?
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Joined: 24 Mar 2006
Posts: 9570
Location: Living happily in my "clueless" little world.
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| Saucey
Posted:
Sat Jan 12, 2008 5:53 pm |
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I am praying for some resolve in this sad case.
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Joined: 06 Apr 2007
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| wvgirl
Posted:
Sat Jan 12, 2008 6:57 pm |
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| Saucey wrote: | | I am praying for some resolve in this sad case. |
Me too. There has be no information released since the 6th. I hope they are close to solving this. Such a waste
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Location: Almost Heaven
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| wvgirl
Posted:
Sat Jan 12, 2008 9:43 pm |
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Here's Leah's myspace page
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=51341948
And this one of a friend of hers, has a video that made me cry my eyes out.
http://www.myspace.com/rogeraparker
I just hope they get who killed her
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| BhamMom
Posted:
Sun Jan 13, 2008 1:30 am |
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Me too, wvgirl. Those eyes of hers are haunting. They appear to look right into your soul.
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** Banned **
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| wvgirl
Posted:
Sun Jan 20, 2008 6:01 pm |
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January 20, 2008
Student’s killing leaves Marshall afraid and on alert
By Veronica Nett
Staff writer By Gary Harki
Staff writer
HUNTINGTON — Four weeks after Leah Hickman’s body was found in her apartment building, police have yet to release any details of what’s happened.
“I am completely terrified,” said Autumn Crank, a friend of Hickman’s. “I work at a 7-Eleven and I don’t know if who comes in, if the person I just checked out, did it. That always scares me.
“I don’t think one of her friends feels totally safe,” she said.
People are always going to talk, Crank said, and they just want answers.
“Because no information is available, students are starting to make things up,” said Tamera Rembert, a journalism senior at Marshall University, where Hickman was a student. “It’s raising concerns and fears.”
Concerned for her safety, one student said she bought a Taser. Another said she now carries pepper spray.
“[Students] don’t know if there’s a murderer running around and [we] don’t know if they’re targeting certain types of people,” Rembert said.
Hickman, a 21-year-old broadcast journalism student, was found dead in a crawl space in her apartment building Dec. 21. She was reported missing Dec. 14. After she did not show up for a 5 p.m. shift at the Dress Barn in Barboursville, where she worked part time.
When Hickman’s family reported her missing, students had already left campus for winter break. Classes resumed last week.
Despite the slaying, Marshall University has no plans to increase campus security or provide additional safety training and information to students.
Marshall University President Stephen Kopp said Hickman’s homicide happened off campus, and the university is already doing all it can to keep students safe.
“This campus is very, very safety-conscious,” Kopp said. “What we do on campus [for student safety] we do exceptionally well.”
Students and parents decide where a student lives, and students decide whom they associate with, Kopp said. Those decisions sometimes have bad consequences, he said.
Police playing it cautious
Police are still waiting on results from the State Police crime lab, which could come at any time, said Huntington Police Chief Skip Holbrook.
“We are concerned that information could get back to the family that is not accurate, so we take efforts to get with them,” he said. “We reassure them that if the information doesn’t come from us, it’s not credible.”
Holbrook stressed that police have not released any information about Hickman’s death because they don’t want to jeopardize the case.
“We have to be cautious not to pigeonhole ourselves in a corner by the statements we make,” he said.
Still, he did say there’s nothing to indicate that this is “any type of serial investigation,” Holbrook said.
“We tell people to be personally cautious at all times, not just when a tragedy happens,” he said. “So that’s certainly a cause of concern — not that we suspect it will happen again.”
Kopp said he has talked with Huntington police several times, and while he does not know why police have not released more information, he believes they have a legitimate reason for their caution.
“If there was a risk to the community, we would have heard about it,” Kopp said. “[I’m] not going to put any more pressure on them than they already have, but we’re all eager for more information.”
A homicide tends to make people more safety-conscious, said Christopher Swindell, a broadcast journalism professor at Marshall. The fact that the victim apparently was killed at her own residence makes some people worry.
“It’s not a huge topic around campus, but it’s in the back of everybody’s mind,” said Holly Rice, a journalism junior student.
Tired of the speculation
“Most students do not personally feel threatened or in danger. [They are] more concerned for the family and finding the perpetrator,” said Henry Hensley, Marshall’s director of academic affairs. “I’ve not heard about any fear or concern.”
During a television news class Wednesday, students discussed how they would report on Hickman during their first broadcast of the semester.
Students in the class decided on three news stories about Hickman’s slaying: what happened and what information has been released since the discovery of her body, how students have reacted to the killing, and how students can protect themselves.
The Parthenon, Marshall’s student newspaper, also plans a spread on Hickman in its first edition of the semester this Wednesday.
“Uncertainty leads to speculation, but there’s no predicating if people’s speculation is right or wrong,” Hensley said.
Roger Parker, a friend of Hickman’s, is tired of the speculation.
“What gets me is where people are coming out of every corner. You can go into different places in Huntington and hear, ‘Oh, she was a slut, she was this and this.’ She wasn’t.” Parker said.
“She was very faith-oriented. That’s not to say she was perfect. She wasn’t flawless, but ... people are getting the wrong idea in the whole thing.”
Hickman was always full of life and willing to help others, Parker said. He wants her to be remembered that way.
“I hope they find who did it, but it took them a week to find the body,” he said. “I understand why they can’t release things. I understand why [police] play so close to the vest, and I think they are doing everything in their power to bring justice to her.”
To contact staff writer Veronica Nett, use e-mail or call 348-5113. To contact staff writer Gary Harki, use e-mail or call 348-5163.
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| Saucey
Posted:
Sun Jan 20, 2008 7:19 pm |
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That video really brings this one home. Once again this could have been anyone's relative or friend. I hope they get her killer soon!
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| wvgirl
Posted:
Sat Jan 26, 2008 6:01 pm |
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Home Back Print Homepage
DNA testing ongoing in Leah Hickman case
Jan 25, 2008 @ 11:33 PM
By CURTIS JOHNSON
The Herald-Dispatch
HUNTINGTON -- Work is ongoing to complete DNA testing in the death of Marshall student Leah Hickman.
The 21-year-old was last seen and heard from Dec. 14. Forensic detectives found her 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.
No charges have been filed in the case, and detectives have not released the cause of death. Huntington Police Chief Skip Holbrook said he wants forensics results before releasing that information.
The lack of information has caused some residents to be anxious, but Holbrook continues to urge calm and patience. He said his department would be obligated to warn people if a threat existed. Still, he stops short of saying that Hickman's death was a targeted attack.
"I'm not saying there is not someone out there that has an uneasy feeling, but I think the general consensus is that people aren't walking around in fear," he said Friday.
Soraya McClung, director of the State Police Crime Lab, said her facility received two sets of evidence from Huntington police. The first set of DNA tests are complete, but analysts are still waiting for the second set to yield results.
McClung and Holbrook would not describe what type of evidence is being tested. But in general, McClung said DNA tests examine skin cells and hair, along with bodily fluids, such as blood, sweat and saliva.
"If you have a known fluid or something like that, you can identify the source," she said. "You can match it to a person. Say you find blood at a crime scene. Then you can see if it belongs to the victim or another person."
Holbrook has said detectives hope forensic testing in the Hickman case will lead them to identifying a suspect. He declined comment when asked if the department has comparative samples to use in linking the results to a suspect.
McClung estimates DNA testing can take one to three weeks. She said the lab recently received the second set of evidence, but she deferred comment to Huntington when asked for a specific date. Holbrook had no comment as to when it was delivered.
Both officials said the Hickman investigation is a top priority.
McClung said the DNA lab averages five to 20 "priority" cases at any given time. She said Hickman's case has been assigned to an analyst, and it is the top item on that person's list.
"Right now, it is what we're working on," she said. "We do have a huge backlog, but we have prioritized that case."
Holbrook said he is confident in the state lab's expediency. He said the case has attracted attention from State Police Col. D. L. Lemmon and Gov. Joe Manchin.
Manchin's office said he has offered any assistance that the State Police can provide Huntington investigators, according to Press Secretary Matt Turner.
"We're at the front of the line, so we are not frustrated by any means," Holbrook said. "Lab work is not something that is done just in a few minutes. A lot of the chemical and serology is a multi-step process. It takes time. We certainly don't want them to rush anything they are doing where you might use up a sample in your quest to expedite the process."
Holbrook said he and his department are staying in contact with the State Police. They also have some preliminary test results, but he declined comment when asked if he was encouraged by those results and discussions with the state troopers.
Holbrook and the department also stay in contact with Hickman's family. He said the department has instructed both parents to ignore any rumors they hear and only count on information from his department.
"There's a lot of rumors out there, and it is wreaking havoc on the family," he said. "Inevitable with all the amateur detectives that are out here, somebody in the rumor process may actually guess how she was killed or certain aspects of the case may be accurate, but again it's just a guesstimate on their part. It's not anything that is coming from a credible source."
Detectives have eliminated many leads, and Holbrook said the investigation is much more manageable. He also said they can rule out some people as suspects, but he would not release those names.
"We're not prepared to say that yet," he said.
Holbrook's detectives are not sitting idle, waiting for the results. He said they are still conducting interviews.
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Copyright © 2008 The Herald-Dispatch Some Rights Reserved.
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| wvgirl
Posted:
Thu Feb 07, 2008 10:17 pm |
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Still no news on this case. All we know is that 6 days after she went missing she was found in the crawlspace of her apt building and that as of Jan 26th article, PD is still waiting for the remainder of the dna results. There are daily posts on the wsaz.com website wondering what is going on and if this will be yet another crime that goes unpunished.
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