Sixteen years pass without arrest in murder of young couple

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Va. (WDBJ/VSP Release) - Virginia State Police continue to investigate the murders of a young Virginia Tech couple. No one has been arrested.

It has been 16 years since Heidi Childs and David Metzler were murdered August 26, 2009, at the Caldwell Fields Recreational Area in Montgomery County. Virginia Police say the case has remained an active investigation, and local, state and federal law enforcement officials are encouraged by information that is still being provided by the public, with leads still being followed.

Police say Heidi Childs, of Bedford County, and David Metzler, of Campbell County, met through their church youth group while in high school, but didn’t start dating until attending Virginia Tech. Both were just weeks into their sophomore year at VT when they headed to Caldwell Fields in Metzler’s navy 1992 Toyota Camry that Wednesday night in 2009.

Childs is remembered by family for her bright, bubbly personality; Metzler on the quieter side, showing his true colors through science and sports.

Investigators have determined it was sometime between 8:25 p.m. and 10 p.m. that both were shot and killed. Metzler’s guitar, which he had taken to play that night, was still in the car; but some of Childs’ things were missing, according to police. Their bodies were discovered in that same parking lot early the next morning, Aug. 27, 2009, by a man walking his dogs.

Anyone with information regarding this investigation is asked to call Virginia State Police at 540-375-9589. There is a $100,000 reward for any tips that lead to an arrest.

For more about Metzler, Childs and the investigation, click here.