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Loudoun County sheriff seeks person of interest in 34-year-old slaying | Loudoun County sheriff seeks person of interest in 34-year-old slaying |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Authorities in Loudoun County released an updated sketch of a man who they say is a person of interest in the 34-year-old cold case slaying of a Fairfax County woman. | Authorities in Loudoun County released an updated sketch of a man who they say is a person of interest in the 34-year-old cold case slaying of a Fairfax County woman. |
Thursday marked the anniversary of Veronica Hepworth’s death. The 20-year-old’s partially clothed body was found on Feb. 25, 1982, along a driveway on Route 50 east of Route 15, near Gilberts Corner, according to the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office, which is helping Virginia State Police in the investigation. | Thursday marked the anniversary of Veronica Hepworth’s death. The 20-year-old’s partially clothed body was found on Feb. 25, 1982, along a driveway on Route 50 east of Route 15, near Gilberts Corner, according to the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office, which is helping Virginia State Police in the investigation. |
Officials said they did “an age progression sketch of the man who they say was Hepworth’s “last-known serious boyfriend.” The man’s name was not released. | Officials said they did “an age progression sketch of the man who they say was Hepworth’s “last-known serious boyfriend.” The man’s name was not released. |
The sketch was done by a certified law enforcement artist who specializes in forensic work, authorities said. The man is described as being white, with dark hair. He is believed to be in his mid-50s to early 60s at this time. | The sketch was done by a certified law enforcement artist who specializes in forensic work, authorities said. The man is described as being white, with dark hair. He is believed to be in his mid-50s to early 60s at this time. |
Hepworth was said to have only been dating the man shown in the photos for a short time before the slaying, authorities said. Officials said the man is not necessarily a suspect, but they do want to talk with him and hope he can provide some information. | Hepworth was said to have only been dating the man shown in the photos for a short time before the slaying, authorities said. Officials said the man is not necessarily a suspect, but they do want to talk with him and hope he can provide some information. |
Sheriff officials said Hepworth was last seen alive around 1:30 a.m. on Feb. 25, 1982, at the Fancy Dancer Bar on Route 1 in Alexandria, where she was with a group of people to celebrate a friend’s birthday. Her body was found around 7 a.m., about an hour’s drive from the bar. | Sheriff officials said Hepworth was last seen alive around 1:30 a.m. on Feb. 25, 1982, at the Fancy Dancer Bar on Route 1 in Alexandria, where she was with a group of people to celebrate a friend’s birthday. Her body was found around 7 a.m., about an hour’s drive from the bar. |
It is not known if Hepworth left the bar alone. She may have hitchhiked to get to her home or left with someone, authorities said. | It is not known if Hepworth left the bar alone. She may have hitchhiked to get to her home or left with someone, authorities said. |
After the news of the homicide was reported, a UPS driver told law enforcement that while he was on his way to work the morning of Feb. 25, 1982, he saw a truck around 4 or 5 a.m. in a driveway along Route 50 with its lights shining out into the roadway. The driver said he noticed a man “bent down in the truck,” according to Chris McClure, who is a senior special agent with the Virginia State Police and is one of the lead investigators on the case. | After the news of the homicide was reported, a UPS driver told law enforcement that while he was on his way to work the morning of Feb. 25, 1982, he saw a truck around 4 or 5 a.m. in a driveway along Route 50 with its lights shining out into the roadway. The driver said he noticed a man “bent down in the truck,” according to Chris McClure, who is a senior special agent with the Virginia State Police and is one of the lead investigators on the case. |
Officials said a truck, matching a description from the UPS driver — a red, late 1960s or 1970s model — was found near “the farm where her body was left.” | Officials said a truck, matching a description from the UPS driver — a red, late 1960s or 1970s model — was found near “the farm where her body was left.” |
Hepworth had suffered some blunt force trauma to her body and head, and investigators later determined that she had been strangled. | Hepworth had suffered some blunt force trauma to her body and head, and investigators later determined that she had been strangled. |
“It appears there may have been some altercation,” McClure said. | “It appears there may have been some altercation,” McClure said. |
Over the years, authorities said they have received some tips and leads but “nothing has panned out” to lead to an arrest, according to McClure. | Over the years, authorities said they have received some tips and leads but “nothing has panned out” to lead to an arrest, according to McClure. |
McClure said some DNA from one of her pieces of clothing was submitted using new testing technologies that weren’t around at the time of the case. | McClure said some DNA from one of her pieces of clothing was submitted using new testing technologies that weren’t around at the time of the case. |
Anyone with information is asked to call 703-803-2655. |
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