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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: 15244
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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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| 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
Posts: 21291
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: 15244
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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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| wvgirl
Posted:
Sat Nov 22, 2008 8:46 pm |
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Remembering Leah Hickman
Posted: 4:37 PM Nov 22, 2008
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POINT PLESANT, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- It's been almost a year since Marshall University student Leah Hickman was found murdered in the basement of her apartment building.
Now her friends and family are working to keep her memory alive.
Hundreds of people gathered in Point Pleasant Saturday to run in the Leah Hickman 5k.
Organizers say they wanted to show the family and community that they have not forgotten about the case.
We caught up with some of Leah's friends who say time of year is pretty tough with the holidays ahead.
No arrests have ever been made in Leah's murder.
Find this article at:
http://www.wsaz.com/news/headlines/34932399.html
This case drives me crazy. HPD still saying waiting on dna ????? Talk of crooked police, etc...I feel so bad for her parents 
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| wvgirl
Posted:
Sun Dec 14, 2008 7:30 pm |
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HICKMAN ANNIVERSARY
One Year After Leah's Death
Reported by: Bryant Somerville
December 14, 2008 5:51pm
"I've thought about taking the bracelet off a couple times, but everytime I've thought about it a little part of me says, 'you know, just keep it on and keep remembering and make sure that her memory stays alive'," Marshall University Journalism Professor, Dan Hollis, said.
For one year, Hollis has worn a blue bracelet, bearing the name of his former student, Leah Hickman.
"I think I wear the bracelet just to help me to remember that it's still unsolved," he said.
One year ago to the day was the last time that Leah Hickman was ever seen alive. She was found a week later in the crawl space of her apartment building in the 400 block of 8th Ave. Now a year later, no arrests...and no answers. But Huntington Police Chief Skip Holbrook says that doesn't mean they've given up.
"It's going to continue to be a full-court press until we bring some closure," Holbrook said. "We have focused in the same direction from the very beginning, we're still very comfortable with that focus, that direction."
Holbrook says extensive DNA testing is now being conducted in Phoenix, in hopes that it will shed some light on who may be responsible for Hickman's death. And he says that's what this case depends on...hard evidence.
"It's a matter of us putting the pieces together and making a case that rises to the level of an arrest and prosecution," he said.
"They say that they're working on it and I trust that they are," Hollis said.
Hollis says waiting for answers can be frustrating, but understands it's necessary.
"In a way, I guess you just have to trust the process a little bit, but I certainly didn't think it'd be a year," he said.
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| wvgirl
Posted:
Sun Dec 14, 2008 8:03 pm |
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Courtesy of Sherry Russell
Sherry Russell, left, visited a castle in England with daughters Leah Hickman and Jessica Vickers in summer 2006. A year after the death of her daughter Leah, Russell says "My heart just can't accept it — that she is really, really gone."
Hickman's death still a mystery
December 13, 2008 @ 09:41 PM
CURTIS JOHNSON
The Herald-Dispatch
HUNTINGTON -- Christmastime always will be wrapped with a sense of loss for the families and friends of Leah Hickman.
The 21-year-old from Leon, W.Va., died one year ago today. It took place at the Marshall University student's off-campus apartment located at 403 8th Ave. Police found her body seven days later. The case remains unsolved.
Leah Hickman's death rattled a community, captured national attention and left lasting effects that forever altered many lives. It means emptiness for her parents. Her half sister, Jessica Vickers, felt more isolated and depressed. The victim's friends realized the shortness of life and pushed toward accomplishing their goals.
Some emotional wounds are beginning to heal, but those closest to Leah Hickman said no arrest means no closure.
"My heart just can't accept it -- that she is really, really gone," said her mother, Sherry Russell. "It's hard to believe that I have to live the rest of my life without her. I can't understand why anybody would want to hurt her."
Investigators for the Huntington Police Department say Leah Hickman was strangled as part of a targeted attack carried out by someone familiar with the layout of her 8th Avenue apartment. Police found her body hidden in a crawl space located underneath the apartment building. It was connected to a common laundry room.
The investigators say they have a working theory about her killer's identity, but lack evidence needed to prosecute. Some hopes lay with mitochondrial DNA testing in Phoenix.
Police Chief Skip Holbrook will not describe specific evidence, but the state-of-the-art lab generally examines hair, bones and teeth. Holbrook said the first tests were inconclusive. Investigators do not anticipate additional findings until early 2009.
"We've been focusing in a general direction from the very beginning, and that is where we remain today," he said.
Leah Hickman's death captivated many in the region. It also spurred criticism of the Police Department, but her families and friends stand behind the investigation. Vickers embodied many of their comments. She said she knows the detectives are emotionally involved in Leah's case and she feels confident they are doing everything they can.
"I have faith that whoever took her from us will one day be judged," she said. "I hope that it's here on earth, but if not I know they will stand before God one day and He is the ultimate judge."
Parents struggle to cope
Leah Hickman was the daughter of Sherry Russell and Mason County Assessor Ron Hickman. She was born Nov. 22, 1986. The parents parted ways about eight years later, but her love for both continued.
"Her only problem was she didn't have enough time to spend with them," said her longtime friend Caitlin Starkey.
Both parents still struggle to cope with the large void brought by her sudden death.
Russell wears a necklace with Leah's photo. She also wears a memory bracelet on her wrist. She remembered her daughter as selfless and full of love. Leah volunteered to do dishes upon visits home. She called her mother almost every day and every conversation included an "I love you, Mom."
"She always hugged me," Russell said. "If she had been gone for an hour and came back into the house, she hugged me. She would kiss me on the cheek and turn her cheek for me to kiss her."
Leah Hickman loved Christmas, and her family will notice the void every year. It is personified for Russell at the Christmas tree, which Leah helped decorate each year. Russell also misses her daughter offering advice about what to buy and acting secretive about the gifts she purchased.
Russell said those holiday traditions, kisses and hugs have been replaced with the toughest parts of the past year.
"Doing all of these things a mother shouldn't have to do, like picking out a headstone and going to the grave site and putting grass seed on it," she said.
Leah Hickman was her father's only child. He struggles to express his sorrow in words. Many times his unoccupied mind quickly fills with her wants and goals for life. Those plans included grandchildren for her father. It is just another thing her death leaves him without.
"It's just been very, very hard to deal with," he said. "I think about her each day and what a wonderful, sweet, special daughter she was."
Ron Hickman was first elected as Mason County Assessor in 1996. He ran unopposed in this year's election, but he calls the 2008 campaign the toughest of his political career. Leah frequently attended dinners and other functions. She had looked forward to using lessons from journalism school to bolster her father's campaign.
The national attention garnered by Leah Hickman's case surprised her mother. Russell said the national podium is usually reserved for big cases, and it was difficult to realize her small-town daughter was a missing, young female who reached that level.
Russell said the coast-to-coast attention produced overwhelming support. For the first few months that support arrived in the form of letters, cards, books, Bibles and other items. She estimates 72 Dress Barn stores participated in the giving. Her daughter worked part-time at the clothing chain's Barboursville location.
"It was awesome," she said.
The support was much needed. Russell would deal with the tragedy on two fronts -- the sudden loss and widespread speculation that Vickers was involved. Russell is mother to both women. They were half sisters and roommates.
Any such rumor remains unsubstantiated by police. Russell said the widespread speculation was torture and created much of the pain she endured over the past year. She described those people as cruel and attributed their beliefs to watching too much television.
"I know she didn't. I know she is not capable of it. I know the police are doing everything they can to gather the evidence they need to successfully convict the right person," she said. "When they do, these mean people will have to eat their words."
Death of sisterhood
Jessica Vickers said she never has been an outgoing person. She considers herself shy and isolated. The death of her half sister reinforced those character traits and pushed her toward depression.
Vickers said Leah Hickman's death was a "complete upheaval" to an otherwise normal life.
The two girls had been roommates since the fall 2006. Friends and family said Leah initially wanted her own place, but agreed to stay with Vickers to help her half sister with rent.
Vickers said it was an interesting time period, in which they grew closer. The two siblings had separate lives, but still found time for each other. Vickers remembered scary movies that cuddled them together, Sunday breakfasts at Bob Evans and late-night trips to Wal-Mart and Taco Bell.
Vickers described her half sister as loving, vivacious and completely full of life.
"It was hard to be around her without a smile on your face. If you didn't, she was the first to try to make it there," she said.
Vickers particularly remembered her half sister's giddiness and the way she would giggle. Vickers said Leah would burst into her room excited about the most trivial thing.
"Five seconds later, I would turn around and she was completely asleep on the bed -- passed out from exhaustion from having to tell this wonderful story," she said.
Vickers already had experienced the death of about 10 relatives. In those instances she grieved and eventually moved on, but coping with Leah's death only proved more difficult with time.
The grief eventually caused Vickers to shut down one day at work. It became too much and forced her to seek help. It was assistance she had hoped to avoid. She had planned on helping herself and staying strong to assist others in her family.
"I have definitely had moments where it has honestly just hit me like a ton of bricks, and I couldn't breathe just imagining what she had to have gone through," she said.
Vickers, who became front and center of the week-long search effort, quickly retreated. She didn't grant interviews and some criticized her lack of emotion. Some used that to fuel rumors about her possible involvement.
"The best way I deal with things is alone," she said. "I don't put a lot of emotion out there, and I know some people thought that was weird. They expected to see a show, I guess. They expected to see all of us just completely falling over each other and not being able to get out of bed. That's not how we are.
"It's nobody else's business when I cry or why I cry," Vickers added.
Vickers quickly learned about the unsubstantiated accusations. They were publicly posted on Internet message boards and bantered about around local water coolers.
Vickers said she wanted to run out and scream, but resisted the urge. She became more frustrated and secluded as the accusations made her feel paranoid at work and elsewhere.
"It's been a lot easier to stay in my apartment and not have to face people," she said. "I would look at a customer and think, 'What do they think about me? What do they think I'm capable of?'"
Starkey, Leah Hickman's best friend, defended Vickers this week. She said the duo did not have problems. She believes they got along well together and never fought. She called it a testament to their maturity.
"I get really, really serious when people blame Jessica," she said. "Not only does it not make any sense, but it also seems insensitive to a sister trying to grieve."
Vickers elects to cope with Leah's death by focusing on the fact her half sister will never return home, instead of imagining the horror she endured.
Death of friendships
Leah Hickman's death shattered Starkey's support and belief systems. It also altered the lives of other friends, such as Ashley Russell and Kimberly Schoonover.
Starkey was her best friend. The girls went to the same Christian school. They worked a summer job together at a locks and dam. They joined each other at Marshall University.
"We were always together," she said.
Starkey was convinced police would find her friend alive. She was devastated to hear otherwise.
The death shattered Starkey's support structure. Hickman was the person who Starkey called at the first sign of any emotion.
"Leah was basically my rock," she said.
Leah Hickman's death also pushed Starkey forward. She said it forced her to recognize the shortness of life and the need to accomplish her professional goals.
"It really makes you think, 'I may not be around tomorrow,'" she said. "I want to have all of those things she wasn't able to have. I want to do it for her."
Ashley Russell, who is no relation to Leah Hickman's mother, shared a similar story. She met her friend in Christian school and moved to San Francisco after her death.
Ashley Russell said Leah was an amazing person, one who had everything going for her. That passion and direction influenced Ashley Russell to push toward her dream of attaining an arts degree.
Leah Hickman's death also prompted Ashley Russell to be more cautious. She found herself looking for apartments with no fire escapes attached to windows and other precautions to ensure her safety from intruders.
"The fact it could happen to somebody as sweet as her -- it just doesn't seem right," she said. "Suddenly I found myself placed in a situation to where if it could happen in a small town to her, well it could happen to me here in the big city."
Ashley Russell and Kimberly Schoonover exemplify those friends who gather at MySpace.com. Both have moved to other areas. They do not know each other, but are joined in sadness over Leah. Her personal Web page is a place where grief lingers today as many share stories about their friend who passed on.
"It's a way to tell her what's going on," she said. "It's almost as if, in a way, she is still there. Just writing on there to tell her what is going on, it's almost like praying."
http://www.herald-dispatch.com/news/x362300134/A-year-later-Hickmans-death-remains-a-mystery
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Posted:
Sun Dec 14, 2008 8:05 pm |
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Friends, family recall final days and search
December 13, 2008 @ 09:41 PM
CURTIS JOHNSON
The Herald-Dispatch
HUNTINGTON -- Many questions remain about the death of college student Leah Hickman last year, but interviews with family and friends help provide more details about her final days.
The Huntington Police Department believes the 21-year-old from Mason County died Dec. 14, 2007. Investigators follow a theory that points toward her death as a targeted attack carried out by someone familiar with the layout of her apartment at 403 8th Ave.
Friends, family and many others struggle to understand what motivated the attack.
"I know the police struggle with that question just as much as we do," said half-sister and roommate Jessica Vickers. "We have spent hours going over the whys and never coming up with answers. I guess the only person that honestly knows that answer is the person that took her from us."
Sunday, Dec. 9: Leah Hickman's final week started off routinely. She joined Vickers for their weekly breakfast at Bob Evans. They would drink hot chocolate and Leah always would order pie. Strawberry supreme and cheesecake were among her favorites.
Monday, Dec. 10: Classes resumed at Marshall University. Students were in the process of taking finals.
Thursday, Dec. 13: That day brought a trip to Mason County. Leah Hickman visited her mother, Sherry Russell. She was worried because of some recent tests on her mother's heart.
Leah also spoke with her best friend Caitlin Starkey. They discussed plans for Friday night. Leah was supposed to visit Starkey at a local nightclub where Starkey worked.
Friday, Dec. 14: Vickers woke up Leah Hickman to prepare for a trip to the Huntington Mall. The sisters ate breakfast and headed out for Christmas shopping. They arrived about 9 a.m.
About 11 a.m., they left the mall to return home. Vickers described the trip back as special. She discussed a recent e-mail Leah had sent. Vickers praised her sister for improvements in writing skills.
About 1:30 p.m., Leah called her mother. Russell was cleaning. Leah spoke about coming home that evening, even though she was scheduled to work the next day. Her mother convinced Leah to meet her at the Huntington Mall later that evening.
About 3 p.m., Leah called her father, Mason County Assessor Ron Hickman, at work. He described the conversation as her "checking in." It was their last telephone conversation.
About 3:30 p.m., Vickers returned home for lunch. Vickers packed things for a weekend stay at her boyfriend's. She found Leah in the kitchen washing dishes. Vickers said her sister seemed excited about her grades and her spirits were up. They discussed the upcoming Sunday trip to Bob Evans, and Vickers left.
About 5:30 p.m., Leah visits a local McDonald's. She speaks with another friend by cell phone. Leah talked to her friend about cleaning supplies and said she had plans to spend time cleaning, according to Vickers, Russell and Starkey. It was Leah's last known telephone conversation.
Russell and her stepson eventually arrived at the Huntington Mall. The plan was for Leah to call when she arrived, but Russell's stepson forgot his cell phone in the car and Leah had her mother's phone because of a bad battery. Leah never arrived.
Between 6:30 p.m. and 7 p.m., the mother-son duo left the mall. Russell immediately called her daughter from the car, but the call went straight to voice mail. Russell continued calling through 11 p.m. with the same result. She initially feared Leah was mad.
Starkey called Leah multiple times when she did not arrive at the nightclub. There was no answer. Starkey believed her friend fell asleep, tired from a week of final exams.
Saturday, Dec. 15: Russell started calling again that morning. There continued to be no answer.
That afternoon, Vickers went to the apartment at Russell's request. She said her sister's vehicle was at the residence, along with her purse, keys and wallet, but Leah was nowhere to be found.
At 5 p.m., Leah was scheduled to arrive at her part-time job at Dress Barn in Barboursville. Russell tried to call the business, but continued getting a busy signal or no answer during the busy shopping day.
Starkey also telephoned Leah. She became worried when her voice mail was full. She said Leah always checked her voice mail and returned telephone calls.
Sunday, Dec. 16: Vickers called Leah Hickman again on Sunday morning for their weekly breakfast. There was no answer.
Vickers visited the apartment and found everything in the same place from the day before. She started getting worried and called local emergency rooms searching for her sister.
Russell got in touch with someone at Dress Barn. That store employee informed Russell that her daughter never came to work Saturday, despite many phone calls from the business. Russell's concern grew because it was unlike Leah to miss work.
Russell then called Vickers again and dialed many of Leah's friends in a search for answers. She contacted the West Virginia State Police, and they urged her to contact the Huntington Police Department.
That afternoon, Russell traveled to Huntington to file a missing persons report. She was joined by Vickers, Starkey and another friend.
Later, Russell telephoned Leah's father and informed him about the missing person report. Over the next few days, volunteer search efforts began, a reward was offered and the case gained national media attention.
Friday, Dec. 21: The Huntington Police Department discovered Leah Hickman's body in a crawl space underneath her apartment building.
The Police Department took criticism because the body was not found until a week after Hickman was last heard from. Police Chief Skip Holbrook said he doesn't second-guess that week's effort, as her whereabouts were "a completely unknown factor."
The search effort involved civilians and multiple police agencies. Local authorities used tracking dogs and cadaver dogs. They even flew in a dog from California that specialized in the elimination of scents.
Holbrook said there was nothing to indicate Leah Hickman was located inside of the apartment building. The discovery was the result of a brainstorming session that questioned where foul play would have occurred if it took place. They revisited some places she may have been. That led to the discovery.
Holbrook said a full explanation would require officers to release details crucial to solving the case.
"All that I would say is great lengths went into concealing the body from being discovered," he said. "It is easy for people to say, 'The body was right there the whole time.'"
The discovering officer found Leah Hickman, as he searched on his hands and knees. Holbrook said an earlier hands-and-knees search would have been equal to lining everyone up on a street and saying 'Search.'
Russell, Vickers and Starkey also feel the police did as well as possible. Vickers said "armchair quarterbacks" forget that her sister was thought to be a missing person -- not a homicide victim whose body was missing.
http://www.herald-dispatch.com/news/x362300136/Friends-family-recall-final-days-and-search
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