Henrico Police offer new information about unsolved 1987 rape
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The Henrico County Police Division’s Cold Case Review Team has released an advanced composite of a person of interest in connection to a 1987 unsolved rape. Detectives are seeking information from the public about the identity of this man following new evidence gathered in this case as the result of technological advancements.
On April 13, 1987, a 22-year-old Henrico woman reported she was raped at knifepoint in her apartment in the 200 block of Carleigh Court in the Colonial Apartments complex. The investigation concluded that the suspect had been watching the victim as she left the apartment multiple times that day.
“The offender was waiting inside the victim’s home when she returned from running an errand,” said Henrico Police Cold Case Detective J. Schihl. “He cut through a back screen door to get inside before violating the victim.”
The incident occurred between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. on a Monday.
“We believe this person had committed a violent act like this before,” Schihl said. “In the late 1980s, there were several serial rapes that had occurred in the Metro Richmond area.”
At the time, the offender was described as a white man, mid to late 20s, roughly 5 foot 10 inches tall, weighing 170 to 180 pounds, with dark brown hair and a regular mustache. During the incident, the victim said the man was wearing a work uniform, similar to one a delivery driver, maintenance worker or utility person may wear.
In 1987, Henrico Police created a composite of a person of interest. In 2024, Cold Case Detectives obtained an advanced composite of what the offender may look like now.
As the result of technological advancements since the crime occurred, evidence in the case was retested with a “hit” on a new lead.
"Due to the sensitive nature of the case, we are unable to share specifics," police wrote in a statement.
Anyone with information related to the case is asked to contact the Henrico Police Cold Case Review Team at hpdcoldcase@henrico.gov or (804) 501-5848 or submit tips anonymously via Metro Richmond Crime Stoppers at (804) 780-1000 or by using P3tips.com.