Bedford Police looking to find who killed 2-year-old Brandy Barlow in 1980

BEDFORD, Va. (WDBJ) - It’s a case that’s haunted the Town of Bedford community for more than 45 years and is still talked about in the community today, said Detective Sergeant Jonathon Chilcott with the Bedford Police Department.

“I’ve been at the police department for 13 years and ever since I started working here, you hear out in the community individuals talk about this case and how it was unsolved,” said Chilcott.

In October of 1980, 2-year-old Brandy Barlow went missing from her apartment in the 300 block of South Street.

“There’s a grocery store right nearby there…it would have been the type environment that, there were sidewalks and children out playing,” said Chilcott.

WDBJ7 covered the story when it happen and even spoke to her grandmother who she was living with at the time.

“I don’t understand that.”

There were searches done in the area which we also covered, but nothing turned up.

“Then come February 22nd of 1981, unfortunately she was found deceased….Right on the town/county line she was discovered in a culvert and it appeared she’d be intentionally stuffed down in this drainage pipe,” said Chilcott.

Senior Reporter Joe Dashiell covered the story at the time and spoke with the men who found her.

“That’s how I knew it must have been a human because I thought it was a doll, when I first looked at it, then I noticed the shoes and the leg.”

According to police, an autopsy determined the little girl had been strangled to death.

At that time investigators tried to find her killer, doing interviews and collecting DNA, but...

“No one has come forward that was an eyewitness. So I think, police at the time and the sheriff’s office were really starting from scratch as far as, hey, who could have done this,” said Chilcott.

As the years passed the case was looked at by different investigators and remained unsolved but never forgotten.

“Within the last year, there was another submission for some items that were found at the crime scene where she was found deceased at. And just in hopes to make that connection here years later,” said Chilcott.

Police believe this case can be solved and are interviewing persons of interest who are still alive today.

“The fact that it’s gone unsolved all these years is even more eerie and heartbreaking to the community,” said Chilcott.

This case remains a top priority for the department, hoping one day justice can happen for little Brandy Barlow and her family.

“Our main two duties are preserve life and protect the vulnerable and that fits this case perfectly. So these are priorities, even though they happened long ago,” said James Moore, Chief of the Bedford Police Department.

If you have any information about the Brandy Barlow case, you are asked to contact the Bedford Police Department.

Click here for other Unsolved Virginia cases.